BOKO RARAM- OBJ blames Jonathan

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61753

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012

BOKO HARAM:

OBJ blames Jonathan

BY SAM EYOBOKA

Scammers fake Fashola's wife on Facebook •P.9

"But my fear at that time is still my fear till to- W

day. When you have a sore and fail to attend to it quickly, it festers and grows to become something else. Whichever way, you just have to attend to it. Don’t leave it unattended to".

ARRI—FORMER P r e s i d e n t Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, blamed the incumbent president Goodluck Jonathan for allowing the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, to grow into a monster that is now uncontrollable by his failure to act on a report submitted to the government.

The former president who spoke at a lecture delivered by Professor

Continues on page 5

HALLIBURTON:

How millions of dollars bribe money were wired •P.7

Back to the trenches •P.17 DEAR BUNMI •P. 38

ROTIMI FASAN •P.19

OGAGA IFOWODO •P.19

ANNIVERSARY—From

left: Former Editor, Entertainment Magazine , Mr Olutade Makinde; former Editor-in-Chief, Nigerian Tribune; Mr Felix Adenaike; the celebrant; King Sunny Ade and Chairman Planning Committee, Oloye Lekan Alabi during the "Media day" organised as part of activities marking the 35th anniversary of King Sunny Ade in music. Photo: Dare Fasube.

THE BOOK YOU MUST READ

Promoting Privatisation, Deregulation and Liberalisation l on 7 a i r •Se.36&3 Pgs

By Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

NASS can't create new states — Ekweremadu •P.6

Mr & Mrs

2 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012 — 3

4 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012 — 5

POCKET CARTOON

Boko Haram: OBJ blames Jonathan Continues from page 1 Bolaji Akinyemi to mark the 40th anniversary of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor’s call to ministry at the Word of Life Bible Church, Warri in Delta State, also tasked Nigerians to choose between a strong leader who might adopt unusual approach to tackle a problem or a weak leader who will leave the problem to fester.

Answering a question from a pastor from Borno State on how he could forge any form of unity with those who are perpetuating violence in the northern part of the country, Obasanjo went emotional, saying: “Boko Haram is an ill wind that blows nobody no good.”

He proceeded to narrate his experience when he went on a fact-finding mission to Borno State which was regarded as the base of Boko Haram.

He said: “They Boko Haram stated their grievances and I promised to relay them to the authorities in power, because that was the best I could do. I did report.

But my fear at that time is still my fear till today.

When you have a sore and fail to attend to it quickly, it festers and

"Have a weak leader and the rest of the problem is yours.” grows to become something else.

“Whichever way, you just have to attend to it.

Don’t leave it unattended to. On two occasions I had to attend to the problem I faced at that time. I sent soldiers to a place and 19 of them were killed. If I had allowed that to continue, I will not have authority to send security whether police, soldier and any force any where again.

So, I had to nip it in the bud and that was the end of that particular problem,” he said.

He was, however, careful to admit that all problems might not require that kind of treatment. According to him, “if you say you don’t want a strong leader who can have all characteristics of leaders including God fearing, then have a weak leader and the rest of the problem is yours.”

He argued that “the beauty of democracy is that power rests in the people, and every elected person would

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR

BY PASTOR ITUAH ITUAH

Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared – Buddha. Find someone to share something with.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Give graciously and receive gratefully. Grace and gratitude are the energizing factors of giving and receiving— Sandy Bidinger

I

T is a phenomenal law. Whatever energy you give will come back to you in an amazing way.

You may give away your time, for example, and it comes back to you much later from an unexpected source in an unexpected form in a way that benefits you greatly. You cannot insist on a particular way and time it will come back to you, but you can be assured it will come back in the best way for you.

It is the energy behind the giving that matters, so do not give grudgingly. The law of cause and effect guarantees that you shall receive plenty for what you give. Give what you have of your – time, money, smiles, love, compliments, anything. And you will get back what you do not have on you.

By taking care of others, you take care of yourself.

Share with and give to nature. It is the goose that lays the golden eggs, and it needs to be protected and nourished so that it can protect and nourish you.

seek your votes to come back; if you don’t want him, he won’t come back.

He noted that people had been saying that he brought President Goodluck Jonathan but what they have failed to admit is that he didn’t give all the votes that brought the man to power.

The erstwhile president therefore charged Nigerians to stand up and take their destinies in their own hands, reminding them of a Yoruba adage, “if you say it the way it is, you will die; if you don’t say anything at all, you will die, why don’t you say it and die?”

Akinyemi blasts former leaders Earlier in his lecture, titled: “The Nigeria of my Dream: Towards the consolidation of national unity ”, Professor Akinyemi had, among others, said emphatically that the way we can have a consensus in the country is to have a national conference.

The former External Affairs Minister was appalled by the hypocrisy shown by ex-presidents and ex-heads of state who had continued to preach what they did not practice while they were in office. “How does one explain revelations that from 1960, outflow of funds from Nigeria had got worse and yet the sanctimonious speeches about anti-corruption continue to rent the air,” Akinyemi asked, arguing that current attempts to amend the constitution would not solve the sociopolitical problems troubling the nation.

According to him, “we will continue to amend the constitution and further amend and there will be no solution until we all agree to sit down at a round table to write a constitution that Nigerians can truly identify with.”

The professor had argued that if, “at independence in 1960, the

political elite had reached a broad consensus on the fundamental values that should be the overriding principles of governance in order to make life more abundant for all, to cater for the poor, to increase opportunities for all, to provide safety net for the widow and the orphan and to reduce the gap between the rich and the poor, between the North and the South and between the haves and the have nots, they would have laid a solid foundation for stability in Nigeria.”

Obasnjo oppose SNC But Chief Obasanjo disagreed with the argument people had often preferred to canvas for a sovereign national conference, saying there would be no room big enough to accommodate every Nigerian at a roundtable conference to find a national consensus, noting that he would rather want to see a Nigeria where justice, fairness and equity reign supreme.

“Only a mad man will fail to acknowledge that there is high level corruption in the country”, he said, stressing that the same World Bank that is always releasing figures about Nigeria’s poor state of economic condition, recommended a structural adjustment programme for the nation and nearly all the eggheads in the country bought it even when the political leaders at the time said it would be detrimental to the nation.

Obasanjo argued that the World Bank had been talking about corruption in the country and “I challenged them to tell me the names of the Nigerians who had stashed monies abroad but they were not forthcoming except for the case of the Abacha loot.

We recovered a large chunk of that loot and they told us there was still over $1 billion from that family but my successors did not pursue any further.

SAP made us poorer — OBJ “What I am saying is that it is the same World Bank that came to us with structural adjustment and some of us said it would make us poorer, you (Akinyemi) were in

government at the time.

We went for structural adjustment and we were poorer. And then they came up with an excuse that we didn’t do it the way they wanted us to do it. Many years later, they accepted that we were right and they were wrong,” Obasanjo stated.

Emphasising the need to tackle corruption in the country, the ex-head of state narrated an experience he had in Anambra State, saying the government signed a contract for turnkey project for carpets for $10 million, the money was paid but no job done and when I asked they referred me to the terms of the contract.

“I called World Bank, they said go and look at the agreement, and the agreement says they are not responsible for how the money is spent. The Word Bank then told me that is the agreement and there is nothing we can do.

“I don’t say that we are not corrupt, we are. But are we doing something about it? Once, people said, the fear of Ribadu is the beginning of wisdom. Then what happened to Ribadu? Then there was no longer any wisdom,” he stated.

Obasanjo also disagreed with Akinyemi on federal character. While the political science professor wants the nation to dump federal character as a means of choosing leaders, Obasanjo was of the opinion that every nation of the world has its own peculiar way of addressing its peculiar problems.

“I don’t see anything wrong with federal character if we want to wedge this country together because if you want to enter a place where there are 40 people and they require somebody and you are Urhobo and at the back you find somebody

speaking Urhobo, the tendency is for you to go for that man. It’s natural. So there is some form of security in the application of federal character,” he said.

On the location of strategic and military assets which the lecturer argued are located on the Zaria-Kaduna axis out of mutual suspicion, and recommended that the nation must adopt the South African model of locating military formations across the nation, Obasanjo said: “If you look at the deployment of troops and formations in the country, it is fairly well spread.

“When I joined the army, there were five battalions, Enugu, Abeokuta, Ibadan and two were stationed in Kaduna. That was done by the colonial masters.

Immediately after independence, our political leaders decided that there must be a battalion in Jos, Lagos, but as at today after the civil war there is a battalion in Warri and some other places.

“When we were doing that, we took into account the strategic interest of this country and don’t forget that there are certain types of trainings that you can get in certain parts of the country,” he pointed out.

Obasanjo, Akinyemi and the two other discussants including Elder Gamaliel Onosode, and Prof. Jim Omatseye extolled the virtues of Pastor Oritsejafor, praying that the 40 years he had spent in ministry would be like the 40 years of tutelage of Moses.“Your achievements in the last 40 years must be regarded as mostly time of preparations and now you are beginning again. Those of your flock who love you and believe in you will be with you all the way through,” they said .

6—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012

BY HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA — HOPES for the creation of new states at the end of the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution by the National Assembly were dashed yesterday.

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu speaking at a press conference to flag off the forthcoming Senate zonal public hearing on the review of the constitution affirmed that the National Assembly on its own cannot create new states.

Senator Ekweremadu who is also chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, SCRC said that those desirous of creating new states would have to kick-start the process carrying along other stakeholders in the National Assembly, State House of Assembly and Local Government Areas in the affected areas.

"So, I don’t think that the South-East will expect either myself or any person to announce that they are going to get a state tomorrow or next tomorrow because that is not what the constitution says. They will naturally follow the provisions which the constitution has provided,” Ekweremadu said.

The Deputy Senate President further explained that the National Assembly could only advise on how many states can possibly be created based on what the system can sustain. He affirmed that the constitution specifically in Sections 8 and 9, ruled out any specific power for the National Assembly in the creation of new states.

56 requests received

Ekweremadu nevertheless disclosed that 56 requests had been received so far for the creation of new states, adding that 241 memoranda have also been received from Nigerians to update those carried over from the Sixth Senate.

He also assured that the work of the committee would be concluded by the third quarter of 2013 well ahead of politicking that could shape the 2015 general elections.

The Deputy Senate President who noted that having held the national public hearing, the Senate was now moving the process to the people with the public hearing simultaneously in the six geopolitical zones.

He said that the North Central will hold in Makurdi; North East in Gombe; North West, Sokoto; South East, Enugu;

South South, Calabar and South West, Lagos.

Senator Ekweremadu’s position that the Constitution review will not come up with new states, is coming on the heels of requests from Nigerians for state creation both at the National public Hearing organised by the Senate in Abuja last October and the one day public sessions organised last Saturday at the 360 Federal Constituencies by the House of Representatives.

Constitution review won’t result in state creation

Ekweremadu said: "on the issue of state creation, I want to take the two together. I was in Enugu on Sunday where I met with my constituents regarding the constitution amendment exercise and I made it clear to them that Nigerians are confusing things and that is why anyone cannot begin to expect that at the end of this exercise, somebody will come up to announce that states have been created.

"That is not going to happen because the constitution does not make such provisions. So, the issue of state creation is completely different from what we are doing because if you look at sections 8 and 9, they are two different issues.

"So, any group that wants a state can necessarily start the process without the committee. It is something that can run its own course without involving the committee.

"What is going on really is that Nigerians are making their requests for the creation of states based on the fact that they believe that these two committees can come up with criteria that will favour them. We are supposed to make laws for the good governance of this country and in doing so, as part of this exercise, what we can naturally do is that, we have 56 requests for state creation. As responsible citizens of Nigeria, we can advise our colleagues on how many states that can possibly be created and that the system can sustain.

"If, for instance, we say, well, in the circumstance, the Nigerian system can contain maybe four states, three or eight states, we can possibly advise on how these states would be allocated to the various parts of the country. ‘’Then, naturally, the people who are requesting for states will still go and generate their requests and submit to the National

From right: Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; Professor Bolaji Akinyemi and Deacon Gamaliel Onosode during a lecture entitled "The Nigeria of my dream: Towards the consolidation of national unity" in honour of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor's 40 years in the Ministry at Word of Life Bible Church, Warri, Delta State, yesterday.

N-Assembly can't create new states— Ekweremadu zSays our hands are tied z54 requests received zAs Senate gets c'ttee’s report March 2013 Assembly and then generate resolutions of the requisite authorities, the council, the House of Assembly and it will still come up to the National Assembly, the Senate and the House will vote. Then, it will still go for referendum after which it will go to the House of Assembly of all the states in Nigeria.

State agitatiors must follow procedures

"So, even if you are requesting for a state in Sokoto, the House of Assembly in Abia State will also vote for it. I hope this has afforded me the opportunity to explain this so that nobody will say I came back from Abuja without bringing a state. Anybody expecting a state must follow all the procedures and I think we need to do more enlightenment for Nigerians to understand this process clearly because if those accusing any person of hidden agenda understand all these, they will not be worrying themselves. They will go and do more home work because if you look at Section 8, it is like passing a big snake through the eye of a needle. It is a cumbersome process and it just has to pass through that process because that is what the constitution says."

On Kwankwanso’s allegation

Responding to insinuations by Governor Rabiu Kwankwanso of Kano State that he had an agenda to impose an additional state of the South-East on his colleagues in the National Assembly, Ekweremadu said : "I have addressed this issue before and I don’t intend to join issues with my

friend, the governor of Kano State. If I have differences with him in respect of the conduct of what we are doing, I would like to discuss that with him directly but for the purpose of your question, we should read Section 9 (1) on the process of constitution amendment let us see if it is something an individual can have his own agenda.

"It is obvious that the process of constitution amendment is so rigorous that 109 Senators are involved, 360 members of House of Representatives are involved and all the members of the State Assemblies in 36 states are involved. So, there is certainly no way an individual can come up with an agenda and expect to market that agenda or get it through. It is practically unthinkable.

Over 100m Nigerians can't be properly identified —NIMC

BY PETER DURU

M

AKURDI—THE National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, has said that over 100 million Nigerians cannot be properly identified as citizens due to non availability of identification database in the country.

This was disclosed, yesterday, by the Director of Information Technology at NIMC, Alhaji Aliya Aziz, at a one-day public forum, in Makurdi, the Benue State capital to sensitise the people of the state on the new national identification number project.

Aziz further said over 75 per cent of the identification

cards in circulation in Nigeria were fake as there were no means of authenticating their genuineness.

He said: “Over 100 million of Nigerians have no identification either by phone or any other means; and of those we can be identified, we discovered that 75 per cent of the identification cards in circulation in the country are fake because there are no means of authenticating their genuineness.”

He, however, noted that with the new identification project, Nigerians would be properly identified and documented irrespective of age, sex, religion and social status.

In his remark, Director General of NIMC, Mr Chris Oyemenam, said when fully implimented, the newidentification project would co-exist with the old National Identification Card adding: ”But after a period of time, we will phase out the former, and even direct banks not to render services to people who do not have the national identification number.”

In his speech, the Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State, who was represented by his deputy, Chief Steven Lawani, urged the commission to ensure the establishment of tamper proof database for the country.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012—7

East-West road: 2014 completion date stands — FG

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

A

BUJA

—

NOTWITHSTANDING the recent flood which submerged the UgheliPatani section of the project, the Federal Government has re-assured that the N350 billion dualisation of the East-West highway project will be completed by December 2014, as it said the funding hitches suffered by the project were over.

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubube, who gave the assurance while leading top officials of the ministry on the post flood inspection tour of the highway project said funding would not threaten the 2014 completion dateline of the project.

The minister who assessed the impact of flood on sections I and II and part of section III, beginning from Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, enroute Warri, Delta State, told journalists at the worst affected Ughelli-Patani portions that the ministry decided to devote more of their funds to fast track the speedy completion of the project, which he described as flagship project of the ministry.

According to him, the ministry is on course and is set to deliver on the EastWest Road project, at the stipulated time. He disclosed that to complete the project, the ministry made extra efforts to secure funding from alternative sources as a result of the poor budgetary allocation.

From left: Mr Jide Adeosun, Commercial Development Manager, Africa GSK; Mr Jimi Agbaje, Chairman of occasion; Mr Anselme Sahabo,Managing Director, Eris Ltd., Uganda and Prof. Udoma Mendie, Guest Speaker during the launch Branded Generics in Africa by GlaxoSmithkline, in the Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

Halliburton: How millions of dollars bribe money were wired

Nigeria has highest oil spill in the world —Senate zAccount numbers of prominent Nigerians involved uncovered

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA — THE Senate, yesterday, disclosed that Nigeria has the highest number of oil spill incidences among oil producing countries with no penalty regime attached to such oil spills.

It noted that the level of spills in the country was a reflection of the total disregard on our environment and the dignity of our people.

Declaring open a public hearing on National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, Amendment Bill 2012 in Abuja by Senate Joint Committee on Environment and Ecology, Chairman of the Committee, Senator Bukola Saraki, said oil spill had become an irresponsible environmental behaviour

and reckless waste of the people’s wealth and benefit, adding that it was high time multinational oil companies in the country stopped oil spills.

Saraki said the move had become imperative against the backdrop of its devastating effect on the environment and livelihoods of the people, even as he lamented that the statistics of oil spills in the country was “shameful” while the impact on the environment is “offensive.”

He said that the Bill titled: “An Act to amend the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) establishment, etc, Act 2006 and for other matters connected therewith” was designed among others to redress the legal loopholes in the existing Act.

Lagos-Ibadan expressway: FG okays Bi-Courtney’s work

BY EMEKA MAMAH

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AGOS — THE Federal Government has asked the Bi-Courtney Highway Services Limited, the concessionaire of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to ensure that the ongoing reconstruction work on the expressway reaches appreciable level before the Christmas saeson, when the road normally witnesses significant increase in

traffic.

The government’s delegation which said it was satisfied with the pace and quality of the ongoing work on the road, Monday, however, expressed optimism over the timely completion of the project.

The government however, assured Nigerians that it would offer Bi-Courtney all the necessary support needed for a successful delivery.

zJulius Berger’s $26.5m yet to be recovered

A

BUJA — FOLLOWING a directive by President Goodluck Jonathan that the $180 million Halliburton bribery scam be reopened and the principal suspects rearrested for prosecution, Vanguard has uncovered a list of some of the foreign banks through which huge sums running into millions of dollars were wired to prominent Nigerians.

According to sources, such principal suspects like a former military head of state (names withheld), used the American Express Bank Annex at the Towers World Financial Centre, New York, the Seaway National Bank, Chicago, and the Bank of New York to wire over $37.5 million of the bribe money.

Accounts used by the former head of state between 2002 and 2003 include A/C No 187765 Chips VID 250517, Maizubi Holdings, Minna, A/C No 0074952045, Rooting No 071001216, Foundation Inc. A/C No 9800263826 Swift/Sort Code GHBAGRAA001 and A/C No 0039342923-21 Rooting No 052001533.

Another principal suspect through who the

British/Israeli lawyer, Jeffrey Tesler wired huge sums to prominent Nigerians is Air Vice Marshal Abdul Dominic Bello and the banks/ account numbers through which over $68 million were wired are Lloyds Bank of London, A/C No 736827, Tri-Star, Bank of Credit and Commerce International, London, Tri-Star, American Express Bank, A/C No 2101653,Tri-Star, HSBC, A/C No 31505024, and Lloyds Bank, A/C No 0737041, Tri-Star.

It was gathered that these huge sums of bribe money were shared with the active knowledge and connivance of the Company Secretary of the NLNG then, Mrs. Sena Anthony, hence her arrest, detention and interrogation for days during the first investigation and subsequent conclusion that she is key to unraveling the complete list of the bribery beneficiaries.

Concerning another former head of state (names withheld), Vanguard learnt that a total of about $39 million was collected on his behalf by cronies over a period of time using a construction giant as go between and purporting that the huge sums of money were invested in a

prominent political party whereas, only a minute fraction actually got to the party.

The source disclosed that Malabo Oil owned by a former minister of petroleum benefitted from the bribery scam to the tune of about $2 million; Umaru Shinkafi, through the American Express Bank in London and in a Joint account he operated with Ashiru Bisiji Aliyu, got wired $1. 65 million.

For the brother of former head of state, Abdukadir Abacha, various sums amounting to about $13 million through account names—Headway Eng. Ltd. A/C No 68579222; Strategic Ind. Ltd-A/c No 76434366; and Action Invt.

Intern Ltd. Ibrahim Aliyu, a former federal permanent secretary, among many other transactions, used Union Bank Plc London office at Copt Avenue with account No 02101/01/010 312/Swift Address UBNIGB31A. Mr. MG Bakari owner of SHERWOOD used various accounts acting for himself and a former head of state to wire huge sums and they include Bank HSBC, Euston Road, London, A/C No 39067293 Sort Code 4004-07, Swift Code MIDOGB; A/C No 024002112100; Monument Trust, Channels Island,

Sherwood A/C No 024002112001 through which the sum of Euro 664, 020. 83 were wired to Sherwood.

Recall that the decision of President Jonathan to order the re-opening of the case of Halliburton bribery scandal involving prominent Nigerians, for prosecution followed the insistence by the US authorities that the about $130 million presently in the US government coffers, will only be returned to Nigeria if the prime suspects are prosecuted.

Consequently, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, directed the office of the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge Force Criminal Investigations Department to resuscitate the investigative report of the CP Ali Amodu-led panel that investigated the scandal and submitted its report in 2010.

Meanwhile, Vanguard gathered that the whereabouts of the $26. 5 million returned by construction giants, Julius Berger, in a plea bargain arrangement, to avoid prosecution, is yet to be located and handed over to the police, as nobody, including the police, knows where the money was paid or deposited.

8 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012

Ugborodo leadership tussle deepens as Eghare-Aja kidnapped W

ARRI—THE crisis rocking Ugborodo Community over leadership tussle between two factions, both respectively laying claim to the Ugborodo Trust Board has deepened as the Eghare-Aja of Ugborodo, Chief Wellington Ojogor, has been reportedly kidnapped, yesterday, in Warri.

The two factions laying claim to leadership are those led by Mr. David Tonwe, a former Chairman of Warri South-West Local Government Area in Delta State, while the other faction is led by Chief Thomas Ereyitomi.

Vanguard gathered that the group led by Chief Ereyitomi has the backing of a top member of Delta State Government, while the group led by David Tonwe has its support base from the elders of Ugborodo Community, which include the Eghare-Aja and Pa J.O.S Ayomike. Few months ago, Pa Ayomike by a whisker escaped the assassin's bullets.

Speaking to Vanguard through the telephone, yesterday, Pa Ayomike condemned the the kidnapping of Eghare-Aja and said: "First they came to kill me, and God saved me and now they have kidnapped the Eghare-Aja. God will save Eghare-Aja also.

"These incidencts are strange to Ugborodo Community. Once government gets itself involved in Ugborodo leadership tussle, this is the result."

In his reaction, Chairman of Ugborodo Trust Board, Mr. David Tonwe con-

demned the kidnapping of the Eghare-Aja, saying that these "merciless acts of brigandage cannot dampen the resolve of the Ugborodo people to independently chart their course."

He called on the police to fish out the perpetrators.

Airlines get six months to install Demuren said: “I think safety gadget we are giving them six

BY LAWANI MIKAIRU

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AGOS—AIRLINE operators in Nigeria have been given six months to install Automated Flight Information Reporting System, AFIRS, the newest safety device in aviation, in their aircraft or face sanction.

Director-General of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Dr. Harold Demuren, who issued the ultimatum to airlines in an interview with journalists, shortly after the presentation of his paper at the ongoing Airbus Industry

Workshop Training for indigenous airline operators in Lagos, yesterday, said it cost NCAA about $30,000 to acquire and install the equipment in its headquarters in Lagos .

He noted that all the airlines currently operating in Nigeria were interested in fixing the equipment in their airplanes and that it would cost them more.

He, however, said they could pay in installment to the manufacturer of the equipment after the initial payment of about $60, 000 on each aircraft.

months to install the gadgets in their airplanes. We need to give them sometime. It is not a thing you can do in one day.

Fuel subsidy scam: Ubah's travail injustice to Ndigbo —S-East CAN Presidential Committee

BY TONY EDIKE NUGU—CHAIR MAN of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, South East zone, Bishop Emmanuel Chukwuma, yesterday, condemned in strong terms the recent attack launched against Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah, Managing Director of Capital Oil and Gas Industry Limited by the Presidential Committee on Fuel Subsidy.

He said the development had again exposed the injustice against Ndigbo and their economic interest.

Calling on the Federal Government to dissolve the

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headed by AigImoukhuede, which he accused of being biased, having engaged in what he called “selective negligence,” Chukwuma, who is Anglican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, said available evidence had shown that “there is an act of intimidation and attempt to ruin the business of Ifeanyi Ubah.”

The CAN chairman, also frowned at the refusal of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Alome Mukthar to swear in Justice Ifeoma Jombo-Ofo as Justice of the Court of Appeal.

DTHA lifts resolutions against DESOPADEC chair

BY EMMAARUBI A R R I — D E LTA State House of Assembly, DTHA, has lifted whatever uncomplimentary remarks in its resolutions made against the Chairman of the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Mr. Oritsuwa Kpogho, in the

W

process of the dissolution of the former board as it pertains to his professional competence.

Mr. Kpogho who was grilled by the lawmakers for forty-five minutes during his screening for the job for a second time was, however, successful in clearing all allegations made against him in the former board but ac-

cepted responsibilities for the lapses observed during his first one year before the board was dissolved as the head of the Commission, saying that he holds the House in very high esteem and would ensure greater and regular communications with the legislators henceforth if offered the position again.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012—9

SUBSIDY SCAM:

Tukur, Alao’s sons discussing with EFCC over charges

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH with agency report

IKEJA — TWO oil marketers, Mahmud Tukur and Abdullahi Alao yesterday informed an Ikeja High Court that they were in discussion with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, regarding the charges preferred against them.

Tukur and Alao were charged to court for an alleged N1.8 billion fuel subsidy fraud.

The defendants are sons of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and prominent businessman, Alhaji Abdulazeez ArisekolaAlao, respectively.

They were arraigned alongside Ochonogor Alex and Eternal Oil and Gas Plc before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of a Lagos High Court.

The defendants had pleaded not guilty and were each granted bail in the sum of N20 million.

At the resumed proceedings yesterday, the defence counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun and Prof. Taiwo Osipitan (both Senior Advocates of Nigeria), hinted the court of the talks between the parties.

Olanipekun said:”We have studied the processes filed by the prosecution.

“We as senior counsel, owe it as a duty to our clients to enter into discussion with the prosecution regarding the charge.

“That is why we did not challenge the charge when it was filed.

“We are, therefore, asking the court to give us more time to engage in this discussion, so that the matter can be

speedily resolved”.

EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) also confirmed that both parties were talking.

The judge acceded to their request and adjourned the matter to Dec. 15 for mention.

Meantime, an oil marketer, Rowaye Jubril and his firm, Brila Energy Limited were yesterday arraigned on a

13- count charge of obtaining money by false pretense, uttering and forgery.

According to the charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before Justice Lateefat Okunnu, they are accused of allegedly swindling the Federal Government of N963.7

Lagos govt gives festival contractors 4 -day ultimatum

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AGOS — THE Lagos State Government has ordered contractors handling projects for the 18th National Sports Festival to hand over by Saturday.

The Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire, gave the ultimatum on Tuesday in Lagos after inspecting the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre, Yaba and the University of Lagos Sports Complex.

The 18th National

From left: Mrs. Uta Bergmann, CEO, Raumplus Germany; Mr. Adelakun Adeyanju, CEO, Raumplus Nigeria; Mr. Carsten Bergmann, MD, Raumplus Germany and Mr. Femi Fabuyi, MD, Raumplus Nigeria, at the official opening of Raumplus Nigeria's new showroom, on Victoria Island, Lagos, weekend.

Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor

DIVORCE SUIT: Court jails 'adamant' husband L

AGOS – AN Agege Grade ‘A’ Customary Court yesterday in Lagos sentenced a man, Edem Asuquo, to two months imprisonment for contempt.

The president of the

court, Mr. Emmanuel Sokunle, said Asuquo should be kept behind bars for flouting a subsisting judgement.

Asuquo’s wife, Grace, had filed a suit seeking the dissolution of her 13-

year-old marriage on the grounds that her husband was threatening her life because she was childless.

Forty-two-year-old

Grace, who lives at No. 4, Thompson St., Ishaga, a Lagos suburb, had been sent out of the house by the husband.

However, in his earlier ruling, the court’s

Fashola raises alarm over wife’s impersonation in Facebook

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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AGOS — GOV. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday denied the involvement or existence of any

Facebook account for his wife, Abimbola, the First Lady of the state.

According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media,, Mr. Hakeem Bello, the First Lady of

the state does not operate a Facebook, Twitter or indeed any social media account “Perpetrators of the criminal act should desist henceforth or should be ready to face

the music when the long arm of the law catches up with them.,”the Special Adviser warned.

D e s c r i b i n g impersonation as a criminal offence punishable by law,

Group calls for Christian governor for Lagos NKIRUKA NNOROM

A NON— political and religious organisation, Concerned Citizens of Lagos State, has called for a Christian governor in Lagos State come 2015.

Speaking after their general meeting in Badagry, the State

Sports Festival, tagged “Eko 2012”, with the theme 'Igniting the Spirit of Friendship' is scheduled to start on Nov. 27 and end Dec.9.

“Majority of the contractors had said that they will round off by Thursday.

“But we are giving them till Saturday to vacate the premises and venues so that we can assign the facilities to the Facility and Venue Subcommittee of the LOC,” she said.

Orelope-Adefulire, who is also the Local Organising Committee (LOC) Chairman, said that she would personally visit the centres on a daily basis to ensure the contractors delivered on schedule.

“Part of the preparation informed our visit to the Games venues.

“I think so far, we are making progress and I can say that we are ready to host and receive our visitors.

“And as the torch of unity is still moving round, I call on all Lagosians to host with us our visitors with the enthusiasm that we are known for,” she said.

Orelope-Adefulire assured participants that they would enjoy their stay during the festival.

Coordinator of the group, Buraimoh Mustafa Ojora, said that since the dawn of the present democracy in 1999, the governors have been Muslims.

He said that though they have nothing against Muslims, Lagos is a plural state, saying that good conscience

demands that power should be rotating among the two major religious organisations so that everybody would have a sense of belonging.

Ojora, therefore, advised all the political parties that would contest for the governorship election in the state to field

Christians as candidates.

He commended the harmonious relationship existing between Christians and Muslims in Lagos, adding that for the interest of equity and justice, Christians should be given the opportunity to produce the next governor of Lagos State in 2015.

Hakeem warned unsuspecting members of the public should avoid falling victims of f r a u d s t e r s impersonating the First Lady on the facebook or any social media outlet.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the First Lady of Lagos State, Dame Emmanuella Abimbola Fashola does not operate any Facebook, Twitter or indeed any social media account,” he stated.

The warning became necessary following the recent alert over the activities of impostors posing as the wife of the Governor of Lagos State

president ordered the man to allow his ex-wife to pack her belongings from her matrimonial home, but the adamant husband refused.

Sokunle said:“I gave a judgement on Oct. 30 and I ordered the woman to go with some policemen to pack her property from Asuquo’s house, but he refused.

“He insisted that he would not leave the woman even after judgement was given and this is tantamount to contempt of court.

“Asuquo is hereby sentenced to two months imprisonment for contempt of court”.

In his defence, Asuquo, 51, who lives at No. 4, Ikokoyi Close, Iju Water Works, urged the court not to dissolve his marriage.

He said his wife accused him of battery and threatening her life and that attracted the court’s sympathy.

10—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012

Ogbomoso ACN divided over Ajimobi’s leadership choice

BY OLA AJAYI

I

From left: Senator Felix Ibru, former Governor of Delta State; Mrs. Stella Ugbona, former President, International Federation of Women Lawyers [FIDA]; Mr. Goodie Ibru, chairman of of the occasion and Mr. Victor Oyolu, Managing Partner, Avis Oyolu &Associates, during the Seminar on the Law of Defamation entitled: The challenges of the Law of Defamation in the Face of Rapid Development in Information and Communication Technology,' at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

Congratulate Mimiko, Afenifere advises Ondo guber candidates

BY DAYO JOHNSON

Dr. Olusegun Mimiko as the loser of the US KURE – THE Pan- election congratulated Yoruba Socio - the winner, President Political Group, Afenifere Barrack Obama. has advised candidates Secretary General of who lost in the October Afenifere, Chief Seinde 20 governorship election Arogbofa, speaking in in Ondo State to learn Akure asked the from the United States of candidates of the parties America (USA)’s election that lost to focus on their and accept defeat in next political future good faith. instead of crying over The group said the spilt milk. candidates should rather Arogbofa said the congratulate the winner,

A

margin through which the winner of the election, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko defeated his opponents was too wide for anybody to challenge the outcome of the election.

He said that the “People should learn from America’s election.

These candidates should stop unnecessary quarrels. The gap was so wide that they should be

thinking ahead.

Also speaking in another development, the Deputy Chairman of LP in the state, Chief Dele Akinyele said everybody in the state knew that Mimiko won the election free and fair, adding that all relevant organs of government that conducted the election attested to the credibility of the election.

8,000 Osun PDP members join ACN

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

OSOGBO – Ahead of the 2014 governorship election in Osun State, the camp of the main opposition party in the state the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was yesterday further depleted with the mass defection of about 8,000 members of the party to the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN. The defectors were from all the 30 Local Government Areas of the state including Ife East Area office, ModakekeIfe. At the rally held at the Government Technical College, Osogbo thousands of PDP supporters led by Chief Adekunle Oluawo, a former Chairman of the State Water Corporation under the administration of former Governor

Olagunsoye Oyinlola, said the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola motivated them to move en masse into ACN. Governor Aregbesola who received the defectors to the party, said his administration has within the last two years transformed the state with his Six-Point Integral Action Plans, which according to him are aimed at abolishing poverty in the state.

He saluted the courage of the former PDP members and assured them of equal treatment in the party, stressing that there would not be preferential treatment for the new comers, as the ACN and the present administration in the state are prepared to carry everybody along in their transformational agenda.

Acting Chairman of the party, Mr. Adelowo

Adebiyi said it was time for members of the opposition parties in the state to put sentiments apart and rally round the progressive government of Aregbesola in the interest of the state.

Leader of the decampees, Chief

Oluawo said he and other members of the PDP who decamped to the ACN left the party on principle, adding that the PDP lacks discipline, transparency and accountability, which he said contributed to the ruin of the party.

BADAN – BARELY four days after the death of the Oyo State leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Alhaji Lamidi Adesina, crisis is already brewing among three factions of the party in Ogbomoso.

The crisis was occasioned by the nomination of Chief Matthew Fasola as the Interim Chairman of Ogbomoso South Local Government by Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

The Executive Committee and the elders of the party in a letter sent to the House of Assembly rejected the nomination of Fasola who was chosen to replace Mr. Isaac Olajide and asked the National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande, and National Leader of the party,

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene before the crisis assumes an unmanageable proportion.

The party elders based their objection on the ground that the nomination contravened the spirit of generally agreed sharing formula.

They explained that there were three factions of Action Congress of Nigeria in Ogbomoso South at the inception of this administration.

Under the sharing formula of positions, the elders who spoke through Prince Sobaloju Olorode and Chief Ayoade Ayandele, said a faction was given chairmanship of the local government, and the ANPP masquerading as ACN members had six members in the interim committee while PDP who worked for ACN had two members.

Oyo Assembly holds session for Lam Adesina

BY OLA AJAYI

IBADAN — THE Oyo State House of Assembly will hold a special session to honour the former Governor of the state, Alhaji Lamidi Adesina who died in the early hours last Sunday.

The Speaker of the House, Hon. Monsurat Sunmonu, disclosed this yesterday.

According to her, Governor Abiola Ajimobi, members of the State Executive Council and close associates of the former governor will be expected to witness the special session.

She explained further that the special session

was to appreciate the i m m e a s u r a b l e contributions of the former governor to the socio-political and economic development of the state.

Sunmonu said in a statement that “Adesina was a member of the House of Representatives in the Second Republic.

He was outspoken and stood by the people”.

In addition, the legislative arm put on hold its sittings for Tuesday and Thursday.

This, the Speaker said was to observe seven days of mourning which Governor Abiola Ajimobi had earlier announced.

Fayemi’s wife, others reject constitution review outcome

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

ADO EKITI – Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi and other women leaders in the state have rejected outcome of the public hearing on the proposed constitution amendment held in the state last Saturday The women leaders operating under the umbrella of Ekiti Women Stakeholders Forum,

EWSF, in a statement in Ado Ekiti yesterday faulted the method and timing adopted by the law makers for the conduct of public hearing The women, however , demanded the insertion of 35 per cent representation of women at all levels of government in the proposed new constitution.

In a statement jointly

signed in Ado Ekiti yesterday by the President of the state chapter of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, Mrs. Rita Ilevbare and her National Council of Women’s Societies counterpart, Mrs. Nike Obatayo, on behalf of the EWSF, described the public hearing as ‘ hastily’ arranged The group described the activities of the participants at the

public” as not the true representation of the views of the majority of the citizens of Ekiti State on many of the complex issues debated during the session.

“The Ekiti Women Stakeholders Forum, on behalf of the vast majority of Ekiti women, totally dissociate ourselves from the purported outcomes of the November 10, 2012 meeting, which took place in Ekiti.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012—11

Bayelsa pensioners threaten legal action over N3.5bn gratuity debt

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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PRESENTATION: Mr. Pope Ejiofor (left); Chief of Staff to Bayelsa Governor, Chief Ikhiogha (middle) and the Secretary to Bayelsa State Government, Professor Edmund Allison-Oguru, during the presentation of food items and other relief materials to flood victims in the state by James Jephathah Foundation.

Jesse riot: 6 shot dead, 25 injured ... as angry villagers raze monarch’s palace

BY EMMA AMAIZE, FESTUS AHON, GODWIN OGHRE & AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE

J

ESSE—SECURITY agents shot dead six persons and left about 25 others critically injured yesterday morning at Idjerhe (Jesse) Kingdom in Ethiope-West Local Government Area of Delta State.

Vanguard was informed that soldiers opened fire when villagers who wanted to lynch a suspected ritualist stoned and prevented them from taking away the suspect from the palace of the monarch for interrogation.

In a reprisal attack, irate villagers razed the palace of Ovie of Idjerhe, His Royal Majesty, Erhikevwe I, who, they suspected, invited the soldiers.

A source said: “Three persons were killed at first, but the death toll increased later, as the youths continued their attack on soldiers.”

Soldiers, however, whisked the embattled monarch away from the palace to save his life.

As at 9.00 am when Vanguard visited Jesse, the palace was still burning.

“Jesse is on fire, soldiers are everywhere, there is tension, nobody knows what is going to happen next. This is disastrous,” a concerned villager told Vanguard.

The palace itself was a

no-go area, as soldiers, who cordoned the bastion, refused our reporter access.

Spokesperson of the Police in Delta State, Mr. Charles Muka, told Vanguard: “Please, give me some time, we are still gathering information on what happened.”.

At about 2.00 pm, Muka called to confirm that three persons were shot dead, one hospitalised and 12 others arrested in connection with the incident, adding that the Police did not shoot anybody.

Trouble supposedly started when the villagers seized a man, suspected to be a ritualist, and brought him to the palace of the king, expecting that he would authorise them to carry out jungle justice on the suspect.

For two weeks running, a source said, ritualists had been on the rampage in the area, killing about nine persons, a development that made the monarch to set up a committee to probe the development.

It was gathered that the villagers mounted a search party and the efforts reportedly paid off when one of the suspected ritualists was nabbed in the bush and brought to the palace.

The monarch, however, resisted the pleas of his people to lynch the suspect and consequently invited security agents to handle the matter.

He urged the people to allow security agents to interrogate the suspect and get more information about the activities of his gang.

His subjects, particular-

ly the youths, were angry that soldiers came to take away the suspect for interrogation and stoned them.

“They tried to stop the soldiers who came lawfully take away the suspect and that made the soldiers to shoot indiscriminately, gunning down about three persons in the first instance, another person later died,” the source stated.

Hell was let loose in Jesse when the people saw that some persons had been shot dead.

“That was what made them to attack and set the palace ablaze,” he added.

As at 10.00 am, soldiers had taken over the streets of Jesse, while some of those injured were seen being taken to the hospital for treatment.

E N A G O A — PENSIONERS in Bayelsa State have threatened to drag the state government to court over the continued failure of the latter to pay their gratuities which they put at N3.5bn.

The aggrieved pensioners warned that they might be forced to embark on a peaceful protest on the streets of the state capital at the end of this month, if the government failed to pay them, adding that they would subsequently later take legal action against the government.

State chairman of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Chief Emmanuel Namatebe, who made the

Uduaghan lauded for appointing Uroye Warri South boss

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ARRI—ONETIME Chief Whip of Warri South Local Government Council, Legislative Arm, Mr. Griftson Omatsuli, has commended Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan for appointing former Secretary to Warri South Local Government, Dr. Austin Uroye, as Caretaker Chairman of the Local Government.

Omatsuli, who made the commendation shortly after receiving Association of Community Newspaper Publishers of Nigeria, ACNPN, Delta Leaders of Excellence award, enjoined Dr. Uroye to see the appointment as a call to service

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S A B A — D E LTA State House of Assembly, yesterday, passed a resolution urging the governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, to direct the Commissioner of Police and other security agencies in the state to move into Jesse and restore order to the troubled community.

Six persons were feared dead in the community

and the palace of the monarch was razed by an angry mob over the king's refusal to allow them to lynch a suspected ritualist.

The motion, which was moved under matters of urgent public importance by the member, representing Ethiope West Local Government Area, John Nani, was unanimously adopted by the lawmakers.

He said there was total anarchy in the area be-

cause of the incident, adding that the order was to allow for proper investigation.

Majority Leader, Chief Monday Igbuya, Keston Okoro, Dennis Omovie and others, who spoke in favour of the motion, stressed the need for immediate action to avoid a spillover of the crisis.

Deputy Speaker, Basil Ganagana, who chaired the session, agreed that the situation should be brought under control.

and a challenge to develop the communities, and entire local government.

The former lawmaker, and present Secretary to Warri South Local Education Authority, advised the new council boss not to rely solely on monthly federal allocations in his quest to develop the local government, but revive the internal revenue generation drive of the council.

It will be recalled that Omatsuli was among 25 distinguished Deltans, including the State Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama, who received the recent ACNPN maiden award of excellence in Asaba, Delta State.

Government College Ibadan, Class of 1947 mourn Harriman

....As Delta House urges Uduaghan HE Class of 1947, to intervene T Government College, Ibadan, has

BY EMMA AMAIZE & FESTUS AHON

disclosure at a media briefing in Yenagoa, noted that pensioners in the state were living in penury after their retirement.

Though he admitted that Governor Seriake Dickson had promised to effect payment of the pensioners’ gratuities, after the submission of the report of a committee set up by the state government to look into the complaints of the pensioners, he said nothing had been done.

He said: ”To be precise, as at March, 2012, after the submission of the report of the committee headed by Mr. Philip Daunemugha, Governor Seriake Dickson gave assurance that all that was due us would be cleared which was verified to the tune of N3.5 billion.”

mourned the death of Chief Hope Harriman, describing him as one who lived and died fighting for a better educational structure and system in the country.

National President, Government College Old Boys Association, Abiodun Jolaoso, who stated this in a tribute to the deceased, said: “We have lost our precious Harriman but he has left us with living Hope.

Hope lurks in our breasts

for a better GCI and a better Nigerian educational structure and system for which ideals he lived till he breathed his last.

“His stature loomed large in GCIOBA where he was a member of our Board of Trustee. His contributions to the growth of our Association cannot be measured. He was passionate about GCI, Nigeria and his native Warri. In his chosen profession – Estate Survey and Management, he was a pioneer, pillar and frontrunner."

12 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012

Amaechi, Senate hold session on review of 1999 Constitution

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IMMUNISATION: From left: Mrs. Roli Uduaghan, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State; Mr. Enrico Liggeri, Country Manager, Nigeria and East Africa Region, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, and Mr. Kodjo Soroh, Medical Director, Nigeria and East Africa Region, Pfizer Biophatmaceutical Businesses, during an immunisation at ICE flood camp, Asaba. Photo: Nath Onojake.

IVERS State Gov ernor, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, and the Senate will today hold a state public session on the review of 1999 Constitution.

The session will be chaired by Justice Adolphus Karibi Whyte, JSC, while lead speakers are Prof. Nimi Briggs, Prof.

W. O. Wotegbe-Weneka, Prof. A. O. Ijeoma Gabriel and Prof. Obianime.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. David Iyofor, said civil society organisations, professional bodies, trade unions and associations,

political groups, traditional leaders and royal fathers, opinion leaders, women groups, youth organisations and all other relevant stakeholders were expected to atend the session.

The statement further stated that the event would commence at 10.00am at the Main Bowl of Alfred DieteSpiff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt.

Iyofor advised all groups or individuals who have papers to present at the forum to come early and register at the front desk of the Civil Centre Main Bowl from 8:30am.

Oghenekaro passes on

Kidnappers demand N10m to release R Vanguard reporter’s wife

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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KU— KIDNAP PERS of Mrs. Marian Onoyume, wife of Vanguard correspondent in Rivers State, Mr. Jimitota Onoyume, have made a demand of N10 million ransom to release her.

She was kidnapped last Monday at Eku, Ethiope Local Government Area of Delta State.

Mr. Onoyume said in a text message, yesterday: “They called me with my daughter ’s number at about 7.00 pm yesterday, (Monday) demanding N10 million.

“I pleaded with them that I had never held N1million in my life, but they said I have an SUV, that I am a rich man.

“I, again, begged them that the SUV was bought fairly used and it is 1995 model of Pathfinder. I

begged them to please release my wife, that I am a reporter.

“Journalists are not known to be rich, we may be seen on television, but we are only doing our job. They later said I should send MTN airtime, which I did.

“My wife’s car has been recovered. It was abandoned at Abraka, Ethiope –East Local Government Area of Delta State.

“I am begging the kidnappers to have mercy on us. They should release my wife; we do not have money, I am a re-

Dangote to establish N300bn fertilizer plant in Edo

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN—THE groundbreaking ceremony of a $2 billion (about N300 billion ) fertilizer plant, the biggest in Africa, which will be sited in Agenebode, Edo State, will be done before the end of January, next year, President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has said.

Disclosing this at a reception in Benin City, Monday, as part of activities to mark the 2nd term inauguration of Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Alhaji Dangote said arrangements had been concluded for the ceremony this December or before the end of January 2013.

He said the fertilizer plant was expected to be the biggest in the coun-

Navy allegedly burns boat loaded with stolen diesel in Delta

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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A R R I — PA N D E MONIUM broke out in three communities in Warri, Delta State, in the early hours of yesterday, when residents saw a smoldering boat loaded with illegally refined diesel, allegedly set ablaze

by Navy personnel, floating on the waters.

Vanguard learnt that residents of Firewood village, Ogbogbebene and

porter.”

Spokesperson of Delta State Police Command, Mr. Charles Muka, told Vanguard when contacted on the matter, yesterday, that he had received information that the kidnappers were asking for N10 million ransom.

Sandfill villages ran helter-skelter because of fear that the fire might engulf their communities.

It was learnt that Navy personnel, at about 5.00 am, intercepted the boat laden with illegally refined diesel, suspected to have been brought for sale in Warri by oil thieves.

The suspected oil thieves probably jumped into the river to escape arrest, but men of the

Navy, who intercepted the boat, reportedly set it ablaze.

The blazing boat, with no pilot, glided towards some harboured houseboats, near Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, Warri, which also caught fire.

A human rights activist, Comrade Austin Ozobo, who condemned the attitude of the Navy in setting the boat ablaze, said: “What they did is harmful to the environment."

try.

Alhaji Dangote, listed

by Forbes magazine as Africa’s richest man, said the company, which is expected to employ more than 10,000 people directly and indirectly, will be completed in three years.

He said: “Yes we will build the biggest fertilizer plant in Africa here in Edo State. Comrade Oshiomhole has delivered on road, infrastructure, but now he’s going to deliver on job creation.

“We will partner with him to make sure he gives us a conducive environment to create jobs here in Edo State .

“He has already mentioned that we will set up a fertiliser plant here in Edo State. I am sure he wants me to reaffirm that.

Yes, we will build the biggest fertilizer plant in Africa here in Edo State.

“It is a commitment and I am reassuring you, your excellency, by this year, either in December of January, next year, we will perform the groundbreaking ceremony in Edo State . It will be at a cost of $2 billion."

EV. Canon J. A Oghenekaro (rtd), of Owhrodi, in Udu Local Government Area, Delta State, is dead. He died on September 27, 2012.

A statement by the family said funeral ceremonies will take place in his hometown on December

27 and 28.

Late Oghenekaro

LOSS OF INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT A LEBANESE INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT BELONGING TO MR. TANNOUS KHATTAR, A LEBANESE NATIONALE, IS MISSING. THE PASSPORT NUMBER IS RL2011355, ISSUED IN BEIRUT, LEBANON.

IF FOUND, PLEASE CONTACT MR. TANNOUS ON 08138074030.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012 — 13

14 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012 — 15

FG launches oral health policy

BY CALEB AYANSINA

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BUJA—FEDERAL Government, yesterday, launched a National Oral Health Policy, with a promise to equip 12 federal tertiary hospitals with basic dental equipment across the federation.

Also, the Senate President, David Mark, as the National Oral Health Champion for Nigeria, promised to use his office to ensure that all existing Primary Health Care Centres had functional dental clinic soonest.

Minister of Health, Prof.

Chukwu Onyebuchi, at the launching supported by maker of Oral-B product, Procter and Gamble Company, said: “The target of the policy is to have at least 50 percent of all Primary Health Care, PHC, Centres with functional dental clinic by the year 2015.”

Areas covered by the policy are oral health promotion, training, service delivery, oral health financing, research and oral health information system.

Minister, NTI boss argue over SMASE 2012 budget

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

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BUJA—DRAMA ensued at the Ministry of Education, yesterday, between the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike and Director-General of National Teachers Institute, NTI, Dr. Ladan Sharehu, over the disparity in Strengthening Mathematics and Science Education,

SMASE, proposed budget.

The minister and Sharehu had, in Abuja on Monday, argued over the proposed budget of SMASE which Wike said was N87 million, but the NTI boss, who also serves as Chairman of the Ministerial Committee on the Review of the Implementation of SMASE Nigeria project, claimed it was N100 milion that was pro-

FCT targets 10,000 for employment

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

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BUJA—FEDERAL Capital Territory, FCT, has targeted employment of 10,000 women through its Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, before December 31.

FCT Minister of State, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide,

said in Abuja, yesterday, while receiving FCT chapter of the National Council of Women’s Society, led by the President, Mrs. Nancy Bulus, in her office.

Akinjide explained that the FCT Administration had established a Project Implementation Unit for the programme towards empowering and training women and youth in differ-

ent skills and vocation.

She said: “The administration of President Goodluck Jonathan is gender-friendly and has initiated some programmes to economically empower our women and youths.

“One of the pro grammes is the SURE-P, which was established to oversee and ensure the effective and timely im-

plementation of projects to be funded with the savings accruing to it from partial removal of subsidy on petroleum products.

“There is going to be massive employment of women and youth in the FCT before the end of this year. We are employing about 10,000 women and youth under the SURE-P.”

posed for the project, for which only N34 million was released.

The minister stood his ground, insisting it was N87 million that was proposed and not N100 million as stated by the NTI boss.

Wike said: “I remember that in your proposal, it was N87 million and not N100 million. Where did you get that from? You want to add N13 million more?

“What you could not get from the door, you think you can get it from the window?”

However, Sharehu insisted that a proposal of N100 million was submitted to the minister, out of which only N34 million was given.

He, however, appealed to the minister to intervene in the 2013 budget, adding that if funds were not released, nothing much would be achieved.

Sharehu further argued

that the committee could achieve little results due to inadequate funds from the Federal Government.

Wike then told the Ministerial Committee to make funds available for the project through counterpart funding.

He said: “I have directed that it should be included in the counterpart funding to promote the teaching of science and Mathematics in the country.”

Wike, however, warned heads of parastatals, who were in attendance, to desist from nonchalant attitude typical of civil servants.

Members of the committee include Prof.

Muhammad Junaid, Prof.

Godswill Obioma, Prof.

Charles Onocha, Prof.

Adewale Solarin and Dr. Ahmed Bello and Engr.

Micheal Ofor, who was dropped yesterday because he was absent from the meeting.

16—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012

NOA launches campaign

BY VICTORIA EDEMA

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LECTURE: From left— Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development, Guest Lecturer; Mr. Segun Aina, President/Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, CIBN, Chief Host; Chief Ernest Shonekan, former Head of State, Guest of Honour, and Otunba (Mrs) Debola Osibogun, 1st Vice President, CIBN, at the Institute's annual lecture on The New Agricultural Transformation in Nigeria: Opportunities for Banks and Other Stakeholders in Economic Diversification in Lagos. PHOTO: Diran Oshe.

Court dismisses former Adamawa PDP exco's suit

BY UMAR YUSUF

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OLA—AN Adamawa State High Court sitting in Yola, yesterday, dismissed the case filed by the former executives of the state chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The former executives, led by Mijinyawa Kugama, had approached the court, asking it to nullify the decision of the party’s National Working Commit-

tee, NWC, which dissolved the state executive and replaced it with a caretaker committee headed by Umar Damagum.

Kugama and his group asked the court to nullify the decision of the NWC and declare it illegal.

However, the court presided over by the state Acting Chief Judge, Justice Bobboi Umar, said he lacked jurisdiction to entertain the case as it was an “an intra-party affair.”

Lions mark World Diabetes Day

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O fewer than 200 children were screened for type-1 diabetes in Lagos by the Lions Club International District 404B Nigeria.

The screening, preceded by an awareness talk, was said by the District Governor, Lion Stella Agbogu, to have been informed by the rise in cases of amputation, sudden blindness, hypertension, heart failure resulting from bad management of diabetes.

Chairman, Diabetes

Awareness Campaign Committee, District 404B, Lion (Mrs.)Azighode Idoko, decried an upsurge in diabetes at the exercise, which was also in commemoration of the World Diabetes Day today.

She said: “If we could curtail type-1 diabetes through management, prevention or imbibing in children a change of lifestyle before it develops to type-2, we would have less problems in future because diabetes is one of the most danger-

MINENT personalities, yesterday, joined the National Orientation Agency, NOA, in its campaign for Nigerians to ‘’do the right thing,’’ at the launch of the ‘Campus Focus’ aspect of the programme at the University of Calabar, UNICAL. Those who spoke included the immediate past Vice President of the World Bank, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili; the Managing Director of the Guardian Newspapers,

Varsity lecturer, 2 others killed

BY ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD & NDAHI MARAMA

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AIDUGURI— TWO people including, a lecturer with the University of Maiduguri, UNIMAID, and a Deputy Director in Borno State Ministry of Land and Survey were, yesterday, killed by some gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members.

The UNIMAID lecturer with the Department of Geography, Mr. Babagana Kolo, was trailed by his assailants to his house in Ummarari Ward of Maiduguri metropolis at 5pm, Monday, and shot dead, while the Deputy Director, Mallam Yerima was equally trailed to his house in Galadima area at 7:30am, yesterday, and killed.

This was even as suspected armed robbers, yesterday afternoon, raided the popular Wapa Bereau de-Change in Kano State, killing a teenager and carted away huge amounts in foreign and local curren-

cies.

Eyewitness told Vanguard that the robbers struck at 1pm, when Muslims were observing their midday prayers.

The Joint Task Force, JTF, spokesman in Maiduguri, Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa, said he was not in Maiduguri, but at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja for an official assignment.

JTF source

However, a top security officer attached to JTF, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, confirmed the separate killings.

He said: “Monday at Galadima area of Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, one Yarima, a Deputy Director in the Ministry of Land and Survey, was shot dead at his residence by unknown gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members.

“Yesterday, at Umarari Flour Mills area of the metropolis, one Babagana Kolo, a lecturer in the Department of Geography, UNIMAID, was shot dead at his residence by

suspected Boko Haram sect members.”

Robbers in Kano

Meanwhile, in Kano State, a source said some armed robbers who were dressed in police uniform had arrived the scene on four motorcycles and two utility vehicle.

The sourcesaid: “Their barrage of gunshots sent everyone around scampering for safety.”

According to the source, the bandits made straight to a particular stall, where they shot and killed a teenager and made away with both foreign and local currencies already stocked in sacks.

Wapa Bereau deChange is located at the heart of the Kano Business District, surrounded by two military checkpoints and a Divisional Police Station. But the area had witnessed several violent incidents in recent time.

Yesterday ’s attack, however, triggered pandemonium around the city, forcing people to close their shops temporarily at the adjourning

Lawmaker's mum, 24 others injured as PDP, ACN supporters clash in Benue eral Constituency, Mr clash, a similar crisis also ernment elections in the

BY PETER DURU

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AKURDI—NO fewer than 25 persons, including the mother of a federal lawmaker in Gboko, were reported to have been seriously injured in both Gboko and Makurdi, in Benue State, when supporters of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, clashed in the two

towns.

Eyewitnesses told Vanguard that suspected thugs from both political parties clashed at Amaco Hotel, Gboko where their members held separate meetings, Monday evening setting part of the hotel ablaze.

The sources also said that hoodlums had earlier attacked the residence of the member representing Gboko Fed-

Emeka Eluem-Izeze; Director-General of NOA, Mike Omeri; Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke and Professor of Political Strategy, Femi Odekunle.

Others included Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba; Professor of Law at ABU, Dr. Abubakar Ladan; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students’ Matters, Mr. Jude Imagwe; human rights activist, Mr. Ene Ede.

John Dyegh, injuring some of his aides and mother as well as a popular Benue gospel singer, Mike Jerusalem before proceeding to the Amanco Hotel, venue of the meeting.

The source said: ”Most of those injured are receiving treatment at the Gboko General Hospital and the Makurdi Federal Medical Centre.”

Meanwhile, barely 24 hours after the Gboko

erupted between supporters of the two political parties in Makurdi yesterday.

The thugs reportedly besieged the Wurukum Round About and disrupted free flow of traffic for hours while residents of the areas and commuters scampered for safety.

Sources who witnessed the mayhem said one of the political parties was on campaign for the forthcoming local gov-

state when another rival party attacked the campaign train which resulted in the fight that left two vehicles completely damaged by the hoodlums.

Confirming the story, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, for Benue State, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Daniel Ezeala, said that the vandalised vehicles had been taken to the police headquarters.

Sabon Gari Market.

Security agents booed

Security agents were said to have arrived the scene of the incident after the robbers had fled the area, leading to their being booed and yelled at by those around.

Confirming the story, the acting Police Public Relations Officer, Kano State Police Command, Mustapha Abubakar said details of the incident were sketchy, adding that a press statement would be issued on the matter later.

Abubakar further noted that the Command, working in concert with other security agencies, had extended their dragnet to arrest the fleeing robbers.

Transition

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RS. Oghenevwaire Obaro, the Okpako Re Ewheya (most senior woman) of ErhobaroOrogun, in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, is dead.

She was aged 132 years.

Service of songs holds Friday, November 23, followed Saturday by interment at her home in Erhobaro-Orogun, after a funeral service on the same day, at St Peter’s Anglican Church, Erhobaro-Orogun.

She is survived by many children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Late Obaro.

— 17 Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012— “It is a good thing to follow the First Law of Holes; if you are in one, stop digging.”- Denis Healey, 1983

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Back to the trenches

President Goodluck Jonathan

Bewildering summersaults

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n the midst of all these bewildering summersaults, budgets began to

Mrs. Diezani Alison Madueke variants were still being influenced by the awesome powers of industry players and even foreign nations directly. As we speak, the National Assembly is set to conduct public hearings on it, and no one should hold their breadth over its outcome. It is almost certainly going to be a rehash of the same arguments over its weaknesses and limitations from key industry players; and the need to verify its authenticity and implement it by civil society groups and labour unions.

The Farouk Lawal-Otedola bribery saga which is still being investigated had all the hallmarks of an ambush, and appears to have succeeded in tainting the efforts of the House of Representatives to isolate and submit massive fraud around subsidy to the demands of the law. Then the battle moved to the heart of government

BY ALEX AYEWOH

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itself: skirmishes involving powerful ministers of finance, justice and petroleum over what steps to take against which people suspected, being investigated, or proven to have received illegal payments for importing revenues threatened to scuttle the whole exercise. Persons who have become intimately involved with the political fortunes of the administration faced threats of being hung out to dry, and therefore began to manipulate the many fault lines in the supply chain they are extremely familiar with. When the state threatened to lean hard on them, they pressed buttons which instantly created long quenes, or ran to shadowy, powerful power-brokers for relief. Token attempts at prosecution of a few importers became spectacles as expensive legal firms battled to secure bails and stall commencement of trials.

INCE the altercation between the Chairman of the Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and his deputy, Mr. Steven Oronsaye, over the report of the committee which it submitted to President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday, 2 November, 2012, it has been a rain of criticism and invectives on the latter in the media and other fora for public discourse. There is hardly a day one does not get to read one article or comment in the print or social media castigating the former Head of Civil Service for daring to disown the report of the committee of which he was deputy chairman. While some threw caution to the dogs and descended to name-calling, others took the popular path of reading meaning to his words and actions and summarily declared him guilty of playing the spoilsport, of allowing himself to be used by those in authority to discredit the report of the committee.

This type of media mob action against Mr. Oronsaye is fast becoming typical of the Nigerian society where it appears most citizens are just lurking around waiting

Civil society groups mobilise

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ow civil society groups are beginning to mobilise and reclaim lost ground. They believe that they have the high moral ground to say that the administration of President Jonathan is insincere and undeserving of any more trust from Nigerians. If they do succeed in generating sufficient interest and support to reengage the presidency and the National Assembly on any scale approximating the popular resistance of January 2012, then the nation is in for another bruising, but quite possibly more prolonged encounter. For a nation already face-to-face with an

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HE President’s men are busy putting out lengthy repudiations of allegations and suspicions that he has an agenda to scuttle the numerous initiatives towards arresting corruption and waste in our oil and gas sector.

They say he has no personal interest or agenda in the outcome of the various investigations into the subsidy regime, recovery of funds, reorganisation of the sector, or the prosecution or other punitive action against proven fraud. The media blitz is intended to repair major damage arising from the publicised fall-out over the report submitted by Malam Nuhu Ribadu and his colleagues, and which was ambushed and trashed by Steven Oronsaye, (a member of the committee who did not participate in its work), and a member of the Board of the NNPC and the CBN. The presidency must also be doing a good job feeling the pulse of the nation regarding many other developments over which there is rising frustration over seeming lethargy or indecision, or over moves to scuttle progress earned only through massive public outcry.

If the men who have responsibility for evaluating their public relations outings do their jobs well, they should know that they are fighting a lost battle. Indeed, the frantic efforts to assure Nigerians that reforms of the oil and gas sector are on track, and President Jonathan’s commitment is beyond question are evidence of some awareness that most Nigerians feel that they have lost all the advantages they gained through one of the most popular acts of resistance against entrenched corruption and impunity around the Nigerian state by citizens.

The national uprising against the removal of subsidy provided a rare opportunity to subject the entire sector to a most rigorous scrutiny and genuine reform. The nation watched as the President set up committees with people of registered levels of competence and integrity, and set in motion reforms towards improving transparency and accountability in an industry which had resisted reforms for decades. Additional costs of petroleum products were tolerated on the basis of arguments that the long-term benefits will be well worth the pains of the removal. Doubts regarding the credibility of an exercise superintended by some of the very people that had overseen the industry were assuaged by assurances that President Jonathan himself will take charge of reforms.

It did not take long before cynics began to be proven right. The strategic Petroleum Industry Bill became subject of intense debate, and its many

theft is now the biggest organised crime, depriving the nation of billions.

Benefits of the removed subsidy show little impact, and youth unemployment in particular was spectacularly highlighted by the engagement of doctorate degree holders as drivers by Dangote.

Just when you think things couldn’t get worse, they do. Government spokesmen now say that Steven Oronsaye’s denunciation of Nuhu Ribadu committee’s report as incomplete and unreliable is its official position. There is a lot of apprehension over the outcome of the House of Representatives’ investigation into the Farouk-Otedola bribery saga, with a new twist added when Otedola sued the Speaker recently. Carefully crafted insertions into newspapers as news stories hint at serious in-fighting at the top achelons of government over directions of policy and strategy for the entire industry. Personal security of key ministers is reportedly an issue, and there are planted stories of serious resistance from colleagues against attempts by some ministers to affect real change in the sector.

For a nation already face-to-face with an expanding insurgency, various threats to life and property and dwindling opportunities for employment particularly among the young, mass action against the administration on any issue at this time will be disastrous

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bear hallmarks of the past. Amounts budgeted for payments for subsidy showed little gain from removal, whichever figure was used. Queues began to emerge and then disappear.

Refineries worked and failed, and Nigerians in most parts of the nation bought petrol at anywhere between N120 to N150 per litre. Government says it is exporting more crude than it has ever done, and admits that crude

expanding insurgency, various threats to life and property and dwindling opportunities for employment particularly among the young, mass action against the administration on any issue at this time will be disastrous. The nation is back in the trenches, but there may still be time to salvage the benefits which were won with lives, blood and sweat around this time last year.

OPINION The Ribadu/Oronsaye tango for anyone on whom to hang the toga of a villain and then proceed to visit him with their own version of justice. The curious and dangerous aspect of this trend which is fast becoming a culture is that when situations like this arise, there is almost always a conspiracy of silence from everyone, even among those who should know better.

It is true that corruption has grown to assume a life of its own in Nigeria to such a level that everyone is yearning for a monument of deterrence, a drastic punitive action against some members of the ‘untouchable’ class to serve as a signpost to warn others to desist from the evil. Noble as this yearning seems, it has bred a mob sentiment which tends to make people see every other person as the, villain, the rogue or robber who should be crucified. Anyone who dares to raise a voice of caution is automatically branded a traitor, an enemy of the public or an accomplice who deserves to die with the ‘villain’.

That is what the Ribadu vs Oronsaye imbroglio has brought out in stark relief. His dissention with the report of the committee of which he was deputy chairman is seen as an act of treachery for which he is being pilloried. The overwhelming urge to catch and punish the ‘fat’ thieves in the oil and gas sector has drowned the voice of caution which Oronsaye represents. It is not that he does not want the ‘fat’ thieves to be punished as insinuated by many of the commentators. Nothing he said at that occasion suggests or connotes that. He only dissociated himself from the report on the ground that the process of arriving at the report was flawed and that he would not want to be associated with a report that did not follow due process.

Continues on pg. 18

*Mr. Ayewoh, a public affairs commentator, wrote from Abuja.

18 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012 ANYONE who listened attentively to former President Olusegun Obasanjo would think that the challenge Nigerian politicians faced was the absence of party manifestoes to guide their relations with the electorate.

“In Nigeria, manifestoes are prepared, read and thereafter thrown away after elections. Worse still, in other instances, some political parties do not even have manifestoes. How then do we hold political parties accountable?,” Obasanjo asked at a conference the National Assembly organised on “Party Politics and Election in Nigeria,” at the National Institute of Legislative Studies. “We rarely find political parties delivering services to the people to justify the confidence reposed in them by the electorate.”

At the root of Nigeria’s political and social problems is poverty and low access to economic opportunities. The improvement in the well-being of Nigerians is the ultimate objective of the PDP’s economic policy, to make accessible to every Nigerian the basic needs of life. The focus would be to create a market-based economy driven by small and medium scale businesses and

BY ALEX AYEWOH Continued from pg.17

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HAVE not met Oronsaye in person, but those who know him closely say he is a forthright person. His words and action at the report submission ceremony were consistent with that reputation.

It takes a forthright person to insist that the right and proper thing be done and due process be followed when his boss says otherwise. Oronsaye’s argument was simply that even if the President has directed that the report of the committee be submitted to him on a particular date, the committee should have been bold enough to request for extra time to ensure that due process is followed in compiling the report so that all loose ends are tied before submitting the report.

It is easy to understand how a rational position like that from a man known for being a stickler for due process and excellence could be misconstrued as a sign that he has been compromised to make the report look bad so as to give the government a reason not to implement its findings and recommendations. For one, the pervasive nature of corruption in the land and especially the oil and gas sector, and the urgent need to stem it has put a lot of people in a thief-catching mode. Then,

We Need More Than Manifestoes regulated by a reformed public sector.

At the very foundation of the above objective of the party is the pursuit of a strong, virile and diversified economy built to stem rural - urban migration through investment in modern agricultural methods.

PDP’s economic policy is centred on people and seeks to realize the Millennium Development Goals while aiming to: i. Develop a middle class driven by small business owners, professional class with access to credit. ii. Create easy access to transferable property rights in urban and rural areas. iii. Protect the weak and poor through initiatives that is designed to integrate them in the economy. i v. Improve investment in physical and

social infrastructure.

The PDP aims, altogether, at establishing the leading economy in Africa and one of the 20 leading and largest economies in the World by 2020; an economy that experiences rapid and sustained growth of not less than 10% per annum.

Obasanjo expressed concerns that in reality, most of the current political parties in the country are fledging and hardly able to stand on their feet, while many others exist mainly on paper, and were floated to attract the financial subventions, which the 1999 constitution hitherto guaranteed them.

According to him, even the big parties, which control various executive and legislative arms of government, are often mired by internal convulsions, lack of cohesion, indiscipline and glaring absence of internal democracy. These problems, Senate President, David Mark said have been the bane of party politics in Nigeria.

He described as unfortunate the term that lobbying has come to acquire a pejorative connotation, despite its many inherent and positive benefits, noting that this is due largely to the abuse to which it is often liable.

OPINION The Ribadu / Oronsaye tango (2) Ribadu, being a former police chief and anti-corruption crusader, is naturally imbued with the zeal to catch thieves and criminals. So when Ribadu raises the alarm through the report of the committee that thieves abound in the oil and gas sector, everyone is bound to rush out with clubs to catch the thieves and lynch them. Thus, anyone who comes out at that point to caution that due process was not followed in arriving at the conclusion that thieves actually abound in the sector (just like Oronsaye did) could easily be dubbed a spoilsport by the mob.

But what a rational and civilized mind would do is to ask if there is some truth in Oronsaye’s assertion that due process was not followed so as to avert hounding innocent people. Unfortunately, many of the people who are writing and commenting on the issue have not read the report to verify Oronsaye was actually lying.

A close look at the reports (both the leaked version and the one submitted to the President) would reveal to any objective reader that the committee was actually in too much of a hurry, apparently driven by the zeal of its

chairman, to nail the thieves that it jettisoned due process which could have ensured that a water-tight case is made against any person or agency indicted in the report. For instance, in its cover letter to the report, the committee admitted and stated:“The data used in this report was presented by various stakeholders who made submissions to the Task Force in the course of our assignment at various dates which have been discussed in relevant sections of the report.

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ue to the time frame of the assignment, some of the data used could not be independently verified and Task Force recommends that government should conduct such necessary verifications and reconciliations.’’ What this simply means is that because of time constraint, the committee could not follow the due process of independently verifying the data submitted to it by the various agencies. The wider implication of this is that the figures and allegations contained in the report are not to be taken as facts until they are verified.

This clearly highlights the absence of due process that Oronsaye pointed out.

What due process was supposed to achieve is to cast the report on the solid ground of facts so that no one can easily impugn it. Because at the end of the day, it is one thing to catch a thief, it is quite another to prove that he stole and get him/her convicted.

The committee, by its own admission, did not succeed in catching any thief as it tried to make Nigerians believe.

Perhaps, if it had followed due process as suggested by Oronsaye it we would have been celebrating the imminent arrest and prosecution of some thieves as the ground for their indictment would have been cast on concrete.

At the end of the day, the Ribadu/ Oronsaye imbroglio is a bold contest between raw zeal and propriety, and it is not difficult to say, in this case, which wins. And the question that ultimately comes to the fore is: If you were Oronsaye, would you endorse a report that disclaims itself the way the Ribadu Committee did?

Concluded

*Mr. Ayewoh, a public affairs commentator, wrote from Abuja.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012— —19

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VEN if it still continues with its destruction of properties and killings in different parts of the North in a mindless campaign of terror that is bound to end in its defeat, there is every indication that the terrorist group that has been hiding under the veneer of religion and avowed hatred of Western civilisation to commit unspeakable atrocities is running out of steam. And nothing proves that more than their lame attempt at calling for a truce with Abuja and choosing Muhammadu Buhari, a retired General and former head of the junta that ousted the Shagari administration, to lead its peace talk with the government. The confusion that has entered the operations of this group that is apparently now in factions united by their common blood lust manifests in the infighting that has seen them turn on one another with the various factions pointing accusing fingers at one another.

What the internal bickering has also revealed is the undercurrent of disagreement among Northern politicians,

especially those in the NorthEastern states, as fuelling the activities of the terrorists. Like in the case of the Niger-Delta where thugs and other criminal elements in the pay of politicians who abandoned them on getting into office turned the arms in their care to other criminal purposes while claiming to be fighting against the marginalisation of their region, the killer squads of politicians in the North are in the centre of the many terror attacks in the region. The accusations and counteraccusation between Ahmad Khalifa Zanna, a serving senator, and Ali Modu Sheriff, a former governor of Borno State, following the arrest of Shuaibu Bama, allegedly in the house of Zanna, illustrates the point I’m driving at. Bama, a nephew of Zanna, is a confirmed member of the terror group in these parts of the country. While Mr. Sheriff identifies Zanna as a sponsor of the terror group, Zanna claims Sheriff is the owner of the house in which Bama was arrested and is a sponsor of the

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terror group. The murder of Mohammed Shuwa, a retired General of the Nigerian Army and leader of one of the major parties in Borno, opens another dimension to the matter. In its call for peace, one of the demands of the terror group is that Ali Modu Sheriff be arrested and prosecuted- for what really?

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t should be remembered that before now, there have been accusing fingers pointed at some politicians in the North-East on account of their questionable links to members of the terror group. Indeed a serving commissioner in one of those states was said to have been an active member of the group. The tendency of some of these politicians to defend the activities of the terrorists or keep silent in the face of their murderous activities proves their link with the group. What remains to be seen is how Abuja responds to these developments.

From the

Once again, Ribadu plays the fool!

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HICH of the following statements, in your opinion, best reflects President Goodluck Jonathan’s “honestto-God” attitude to corruption? (A) The “I don’t give a damn” outburst provoked by the simple demand that he declare his assets publicly? Or (B) this, from his inauguration speech: “The bane of corruption shall be met by the overwhelming force of our collective determination, to rid our nation of this scourge” and in which he declared anew a war against corruption in order to ensure that “the limited resources of this nation will be used for the growth of our commonwealth?” In answering the above question, did you consider his rejection of the report of the Nuhu Ribadu special task force on petroleum revenue?

I thought as much: Statement A. And, yes, you are both amused and mortified by the latest scene from Jonathan’s absurdist drama entitled "My War Against Corruption". A truly funny war; one that is more metaphor than marching armies. It does not require men of character, of probity and proven moral courage, which is why public assets declaration has no place in it. Only words, spoken by him or written in the reports of countless probe panels, committees and special task forces. In the light of the unfolding drama around the Ribadu report, of Jonathan’s determination to “rubbish” it, as the Punch headline of November 9th aptly put it, I am reminded of the words spoken by Jonathan four months ago, on July 1, 2012, through Reuben Abati, his special adviser on media and publicity. In that despatch from the war front, Abati assured us that the war was being bravely fought and won by his boss. Yet, instead of an account of the mounting casualties, of the many corrupt enemies either socially dead or mortally wounded or in panicked retreat, Abati

sought only to dismiss the notion that the Commander-in-Chief is “soft on corruption.” The allegation of tardiness in the prosecution of the war, said Abati, is “aimed at creating the totally false impression that the Jonathan administration is not doing enough to curb corruption.” For the true picture of the battle-field showing the army of the corrupt in disarray, we must first “be wary of those who seek to heat up the polity by politicizing the issue of corruption in the pursuit of their selfish personal and sectional agenda.”

In other words, if you believe that Jonathan is not doing enough to “curb” let’s not even speak of combating corruption, then you are selfish. Pursuing a sectional interest. And heating up the polity (wish we had one to heat up!), as much as or far more, perhaps, than Boko Haram’s bombs and bullets. Abati had gone on to recite Jonathan’s many war victories, among them, his appointment of “a tried and tested corruption investigator to head the EFCC,” his decision not to “swear in a nominee for the chairmanship of the ICPC when questions were raised by the public” (so he gives a damn about the public?) “about the propriety of his nomination and clearance by the Senate,” his referral of the report of the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee on fuel subsidy to the EFCC, the pending review of the report of the Aig-Imoukhuede committee to verify fuel subsidy payments, and his directive that “the report of the technical committee which reviewed the Petroleum Industry Bill be speedily evaluated and appraised by relevant government ministries and presented to the Federal Executive Council for approval before being returned to the National Assembly for speedy promulgation.” Just the way wars are fought, not so?

foregoing, it should be clear things are fast falling apart in the camp of the terrorists. They are in disarray and their call for peace is a way to prevent a disorderly retreat and give their activities a cover of respectability. Which should explain why they chose General Buhari as their representative in their proposed peace talk. There shouldn’t be any doubt about their intention which is to launder their tattered image. What they’ve presented to Buhari is a poisoned chalice.

It’s, therefore, no surprise that the General has rebuffed the offer. For one Buhari, far from his military antecedent, is now a practising politician, one who has thrice presented himself as presidential candidate, twice on the platform of his Congress for Progressive Change, a party with wide following in the North.

His apparently inflammatory comment after his last defeat by incumbent President Jonathan in the 2011 election was viewed as inciting as presumed followers of his party went on rampage in different parts of the North, killing and maiming in the name of defending their principal’s position. Buhari then defended the right of the rampaging people to express their displeasure in a manner they thought fit. But many Nigerians saw this as unseemly defence of sectional interest which is unbecoming of a former head of state and one who still nurses the ambition of returning to the highest office in the land.

Thereafter Buhari kept his distance from the government, content to make periodic statements and observations on the administration- an attitude

And so with the war going so well, Jonathan had no qualms rejecting the report of a special task force he constituted through his petroleum minister, the oil goddess Diezani Alison-Madueke, for the principal purpose of

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Buhari as spokesman for terror?

His choice by the terror group is certainly a slander in the circumstances before us; should he go ahead to speak for them, he would definitely have destroyed his record as a Nigerian leader

We cannot settle for the mere hope that “ultimately” the named and yet-to-be-named thieves robbing us to death will be tried and punished under the law

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determining and verifying upstream and downstream petroleum revenues. This time, it fell to the self-styled “attack lion”, Doyin Okupe, to send the war despatch.

Ribadu and his fellow task force members, he says, did a shoddy job. Expectedly, they were hindered by personal and political interests. “It was a job handled badly and only political and personal interests were bandied,” says Okupe, the clumsy diction betraying his intent to mislead. But when did the government discover that Ribadu was not up to the task, given that the sixth term of reference mandated him to “submit monthly reports for ministerial review and further action?”

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nd how could Ribadu have failed to see this coming? Can he have forgotten so soon how he was butt-kicked out of the EFCC and hounded after his exit? Constrained to go after only those highly placed treasury looters that

he took up following his first defeat by the PDP government under his former boss, General Obasanjo, in 2003 and the late Umar Yar ’Adua in 2007.

Beyond this, there has been nothing linking General Buhari directly to this or any terrorist group in the country. General Buhari has not consciously presented himself as a champion of Northern interest but he exudes an attitude that gives him away not only as such but also as an Islamist with a fundamentalist bent. This reading of him might have led to his being chosen as spokesperson for the terrorists in their fire fighting talk with Abuja. Yet, it can be said that for all his rigid and stern outlook on many issues, General Buhari remains a principled person who can be trusted to act on his beliefs.

Should he find it necessary to support a terrorist group, he will very likely not hide his face in the cowardly manner of the terror group menacing the North. His choice by the terror group is certainly a slander in the circumstances before us. For while he might give the group a respectable face, should he go ahead to speak for them, he would definitely have destroyed his record as a Nigerian leader and would be open for possible prosecution for aiding and abetting a terrorist group.

For a group that claims to act on principle then, is it not surprising that not one person has come out to openly identify with it? Even now that it proposes peace talks, it turns to others with no known links to it to speak on its behalf.

happened to be “enemies” of former president Obasanjo — who, lest Abati and Okupe forget, declared the first war against corruption, bandied about the phrase “zero tolerance” and swore to know no “sacred cows” — Ribadu had nonetheless managed to arouse hope and qualified optimism that with just enough sincerity the corruption monster might be chained, if not slayed outright.

Now that another president has made a fool of him once again, it should be clear that the greatest error any one can make is to believe a single word of Jonathan’s anti-corruption drivel. “Certainly, nothing has been done or left undone under the President’s watch to justify the labelling of his administration as 'soft on corruption',” says Abati. Well, here is one thing that has been left undone, not minding things not done: Jonathan’s public declaration of his assets. If he won’t do this very simple thing to prove his determination by deed and not mere words, thereby striking fear in the hearts of all who bleed the country to death with their thieving, he should spare us the constant aggravation by confessing what the world already knows: that he does not give a damn.

Corruption is eating us alive and we cannot be patient. We cannot settle for the mere hope that “ultimately” the named and yet-to-be-named thieves robbing us to death will be tried and punished under the law. For as John Maynard Keynes famously put it in a different context, ultimately, meaning in the long run, “we are all dead.”

20 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012

Debate of the masses

Nigeria: Great nation, creative people

BY EBELE ORAKPO

“

*A crowd of shoppers inside the TBS during the just ended Lagos International Trade Fair Pix by Diran Oshe

Lagos International Trade Fair of sadness and joy ...Traders reap fortune, commuters lament traffic jam

T

HE 26th Lagos Inter national Trade Fair as organised by Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, may have come and gone but the memory lingers on among many Lagosians, especially those on Lagos Island given the proximity of the venue, Tafawa Balewa Square, TBS. To some, the 10-day fair which began on Friday November 2 and ended last Sunday, was a beehive of activities as it played host to people from diverse fields. But to others, it was the largest meeting point for an all-inclusive participation by all stakeholders in the business, investment and commerce world, especially in the West-African sub-region.

The fair was shifted from its traditional Trade Fair Complex venue on the Lagos-Badagry expressway to TBS due to the on-going construction works on the expressway. According to reports, this year’s event with the theme: “Promoting Trade for a Sustainable Economic Transformation” attracted over 500,000 foreign and local exhibitors.

But the fair was almost

marred by the fact that many people were forced to trek several kilometres to the venue and back home as the roads leading to the TBS witnessed a glut of human and vehicular activities, especially during Vanguard Metro’s visit last Thursday. Places like Awolowo Road, Onikan, Obalende and the popular Marina were no exception as so much man hours were lost to the resulting gridlock.

S

ome participants who spoke to VM said the trade fair was full of fun but called on the organisers to take steps to ensure better performance in future. Chief Executive Officer of a manufacturing company in Lagos, Alhaji Lateef Odekunle, said the fair was an avenue to meet new faces in the sector.

“It was a period when my company usually records a boost in business. For instance, we recorded about 75 per cent sales during the period,” he said, beaming with smiles.

Another participant Madam Maria Okorie said the annual event is usually an avenue to relate directly with some manufacturing companies. “I use the

opportunity to get original hair products; adulterated products are everywhere but the fair has enabled me to deal directly with the manufacturers. That is why I come all the way from Matori,” she said.

However, Okorie lamented shortage of parking space around

,

BY BOSE ADELAJA

The trade fair usually attracts a huge crowd; as a result, traffic jam is the order of the day; TBS is too small for this type of event because it involves many companies

,

the trade fair complex, decrying the N500 she paid for using the car park.

Superintendent of Press, TBS, Mr. Okeoma Ugochukwu, said the trade fair complex can no longer cope with the volume of human traffic to the event. “The

trade fair usually attracts a huge crowd; as a result, traffic jam is the order of the day. TBS is too small for this type of event because it involves many companies,” he noted.

W

ith a gate fee of N200, the trade fair has enabled some people to explore new ideas or mix and interact with others. For instance, a resident of Onikan, Mrs. Arowolo Mojisola, said the trade fair has helped her put food on her table. “I lost my job with a new generation bank since January but I was able to utilise the trade fair to the fullest. I rented a space near the complex where I sell drinks and snacks and by the grace of God, I was able to put food on my table compared with what obtained since January,” said Arowolo.

A marketer with a herbal company, who simply gave his name as Mafia, said he recorded a daily profit of about N2,000 at the fair. “I stayed at the bus-stop to hawk the products which was well patronised. I work on commission basis and was able to record a minimum of N2,000 daily profit,” he informed.

Nigerians will never cease to amaze and amuse me.

Very creative, ingenious, highly intelligent, just name it; we’ve got it in abundance. They can never be caught napping. If you *Strange vehicular think you are contraption?...It beats Okada smart, they are sure to outsmart you,” ter. “ Yes nah! You wan enthused Tosin, a passenger in the commuter hunger to murder the bus heading to Mile-2 man and his family? He from Oshodi this Mon- had to devise a means of survival. I don’t blame day morning.

“Of course! We know all him at all. With this, no overzealous policeman that,” agreed Ojo. “Hmm, peacocks, na will harass him. I’m sure pride go kill una. So with in his heart, he will be all your ingenuity and daring the policemen to smartness, what have arrest him if they could,” you got to show?” Julie stated Mercy.

“They no fit. He has asked with a sneer.

“Ehn, if you don’t not contravened any law. praise yourself, no one The vehicle has four will do it for you,” noted wheels like others on the Ojo, to which Tunde road,” replied Uzo. “Oh, I like that!” exreadily agreed. “That’s true Bros. After all, the claimed Mercy.

“The problem with our Agama lizard fell from a tree, looked right and leaders is that although left and when it saw that they have good intenno one was ready to tions, they do not give praise it, it began to nod the people to be affectto itself in praise of that ed by their policies any alternative. You ban okagreat feat.”

“By the way, what da in a state without were you raving about,” creating alternative asked Abel, looking at means of livelihood for the millions directly or Tosin.

Replied Tosin: “Oh, I indirectly involved in saw the photo of a young the business. For God’s man, probably an ex- sake, it’s unfair,” said okada rider who con- Nancy.

“But wait oo, so human verted his okada to a beings will board that four-wheeler.”

“What do you mean?” vehicle?” asked Uzo. “Before nko? Na aniasked Abel and others, mouth agape in mals go board am? asked Tosin in reply. amazement.

“The vehicular object Maybe you have never looked like an okada in been stranded before, a wooden barrow with otherwise, you won’t be four wheels, lights, etc, asking this question. Is and the guy was rubbing it not in Lagos that Area shoulders with other ve- Boys ferry people on hicles in the traffic,” ex- their bare, sweaty backs across flooded areas for plained Tosin.

“Oh my God! Una no a fee? If you are too go kill person oo,” said proud to climb their Julie as all the passen- backs, you risk drowngers erupted in laugh- ing.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012 — 21

Traffic Law: Fashola tasks LCCI on new business plan for Okada riders

By MONSUR OLOOWOPEJO

G

From left: Special Adviser to the Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Mr. Steve Amase; Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom and CEO, Blue Diamond Logistics Limited, Festus Mbisiogu during the minister’s visit to China International Trade Fair.

OVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has urged the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) to urgently design a new business plan that would engage commercial motorcycle operators popularly called Okada riders who were recently restricted from plying 475 roads in the state.

Fashola made the appeal at the weekend at celebration of the 2012 Lagos State day and the closing ceremony of the 2012 Lagos State Trade Fair and Exhibition held at the Tafawa Balewa Square, (TBS), Lagos.

Fashola said that this is the only way the chamber can

Agriculture: FG woos Chinese investors an estimated growth rate of about 10 percent in the past 30 years, investing in the country’s agriculture would provide Chinese investors the opportunity to tap from the potentials vested in the nation’s agricultural sector.

Speaking at the justconcluded China Trade Fair in Guangzhou City, Ortom posited that such investment, apart from boosting food security in Nigeria, would also enhance the economy of both countries.

“Investment, particularly, in

By CHIOMA OBINNA

A

S part of strategies for Nigeria to attain its projected growth by 2020 and tackle the high rate of youth’s unemployment, the Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom, has called for stronger trade relations between Nigeria and China in the area of agricultural investment.

According to Ortom, China being one of the world’s fastest growing economy with

153.05

+3.15

2,390.00

+32.00

19.35

+0.29

109.33

-0.07

85.31

-0.23

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL DOLLAR

154.75 245.7121 EURO 196.6563 FRANC 163.1351 YEN 1.948 CFA 0.2804 WAUA 235.6144 RENMINBI 24.8418 RIYAL 41.2634 KRONA 26.3665 SDR 236.3961 STERLING

154.25 246.506 197.2917 163.6622 1.9543 0.2904 236.3756 24.9225 41.3967 26.4516 237.1599

SELLING 154.75 247.2999 197.9271 164.1893 1.9606 0.3004 237.1369 25.0032 41.53 26.5368 237.9237

CBN Exchange rate as at 13/11/20127

the areas of importation of industrial raw materials for China and the exportation of same by Nigeria will enhance the economy of both countries.”

Assuring Chinese investors of enabling environment, the Minister noted that Nigeria is blessed with a lot of investment opportunities, regretting that out of the 88million arable land in the country, only about half is being utilised.

Ortom said the Federal and State governments were already working towards developing a sector-specific

investment policy that would provide a level playing ground for genuine investors and necessary support and incentive that would make their business succeed when they invest.

On his part, Chief Executive Officer of Blue Diamond Logistics Limited, Festus Mbisiogu, who was in China while lending his weight to the minister’s request, urged the Federal Government to address some of the factors affecting investment climate in

Nigeria such as multiple taxation, epileptic power supply, lack of access roads and general infrastructural problem staring the nation in the face. Maintaining that Nigerians in diaspora were also ready to come home and invest in agriculture and other sectors of the economy, he opined that involvement of these Nigerians would ensure the attainment of the present administration’s transformation agenda and the vision 20:2020.

partner with the state government on the new road traffic law signed into law on August 2nd in the state.

According to the governor, who was represented by his deputy, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, “The reason why we seek the partnership of LCCI is that the present administration in Lagos State knows the importance of the chamber as the umbrella body for business in the country, especially Lagos state.”

“And because of this, LCCI is one body that is in a better position to help the state government in developing a sustainable business plan that would accommodate all the okada operators who by virtue of the new law may not be able to engage in the business again.

“We need a sustainable business plan for these residents of the state. This is because okada is not a sustainable means of transportation for any state, especially Lagos State, which has a megacity status.”

“Before the restriction of okada in the state, the number of orphans, widows and widowers was increasing daily, and hospitals in the state were being congested with victims of okada accidents.

The governor emphasised that since the restriction, the state has recorded a drastic reduction in the number of accidents and crime across the state.

EFCC, ICPC to prosecute printing firms over fake documents

By ONOZURE DANIA

T

HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have said that as an effort to tackle corruption in the country, they are ready to prosecute any printing firm in Nigeria which engages in production of fake documents.

Both Anti-graft agencies said they are going to work hand in hand with the Chartered Institute of Professional Printers (CIPPON), which regulates printing in the

country to identify printers who are not registered and engage in crime.

EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, and his ICPC counterpart, Ekpo Nta, said this at the Nigeria 52nd Independence Anniversary Lecture organised by CIPPON and the Federal Ministry of Information, which was tagged, ‘Transformation Agenda: Fighting against Corruption and Generating Employment through Printing’.

Larmode, who was represented by Mr Osita Nwajah, said the fight against fake documents printing

began with the raiding of the Oluwole market on September 1, 2005 where over 40,000 fake international passports, 50,000 assorted bank cheque books, thousands of travelers’ cheques and fake certificates, among others were seized.

He said that fraudsters destroy the country’s image abroad; urging CIPPON to report to security agencies once it has reasonable suspicion about questionable print job orders. “The EFCC is ready to work with you in ensuring that the problem of fake documents is eliminated,” he said.

22—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012

Guinness records N2.6bn PBT in Q1 2012

G

From left: Taiwo Joda, Head, Food, Beverages/Agriculture; Segun Esho, Head, Performance Management; Irunna Ejibe, Head, Learning & Development, Napoleon Esmudje, Chief Human Resources Officer, all of Fidelity Bank and Dr. (Mrs) Adesua Atanda, representative of Industrial Training Fund, ITF, at the ITF 2011 Award ceremony recently

Capital market rule bars stockbrokers from suing NSE

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

T

HE Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, has warned that any stockbroker that dares institute court action against it shall be suspended from participating in the stock market pending the determination of such suit.

According to the updated rules and regulations guiding the activities of dealing member firms obtained from the NSE’s website, it also warned dealing members against carrying out business for clients/investors who are in default to another dealing member.

It said, “No dealing member shall institute legal proceedings to enforce a claim against another dealing member or a member arising out of any stockbroking transaction without first exhausting all procedures set out for dispute resolution in accordance with these rules and regulations.

“No dealing member shall institute legal proceedings against the Exchange without first exhausting all procedures set out for dispute resolution in accordance with these rules and regulations.”

It continued, “It is the duty of every dealing member to notify the secretary the name and circumstances of every of such default.

The circumstances of each default shall be submitted to the council, which may at its discretion cause the name to be in a list to be kept by the secretary for purpose of circulating the name of defaulters to all dealing members and members of the

Exchange. The council may from time to time cause any name to be deleted from the list.”

The NSE also stated that no dealing member is permitted to engage in any business other than securities trading and related businesses.

It noted that the rules were made pursuant to the Memorandum and the Articles of Association of The Nigerian Stock Exchange and are subject to the provisions of the Investments and Securities Act (ISA) of 1999.

It further stated that it is the

duty of each dealing member to act as watchdog on other members by reporting breach of any part of the rules in writing to the National Council of The Exchange, or through the Branch Councils to the National Council of The Exchange.

“Any dealing member, being aware of any breach on the part of another dealing member and failing to report the same to council as aforesaid, shall himself/itself be guilty of a breach of these rules and regulations,” it said Some parts of the rule read:

“With respect to activities on the Exchange, no dealing member shall without special consent of the council, and subject to such conditions as the council may impose, enter into partnership or any agency or profit sharing agreement or any association of which the Council may not approve, with any person, firm or limited liability company who or which is not a member of the Exchange.

Aso Savings optimistic on success of N5bn rights issue

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

M

ANAGING Director/Chief Executive Officer of Aso Savings and Loans Plc, Mr. Hassan Usman, has said that he is assured that the N5 billion rights issue embarked on by the mortgage bank will be well subscribed to, going by huge patronage that greeted it.

The company had recently embarked on right issue to raise N5 billion from existing shareholders in order to restructure and consolidate its leading position in the mortgage industry.

With the company’s shareholders’ funds at N3.5 billion, the N5 billion fresh capital is expected to increase it to about N8.5 billion and well over the minimum N5 billion stipulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for mortgage banks.

Usman explained that the company will likely embark on a further capital raising exercise from other sources so as to exploit the huge business opportunities in the mortgage and housing sector of the Nigerian economy.

He said that the company has not raised capital from shareholders in the last three years, noting that many changes have taken place that warranted fresh capital to remain ahead of competition.

“We have been there without raising capital for the last four or so years from the shareholders. There are many developments in the mortgage market. There are new entrants in our market. The market place has increased significantly. What we can do in the market is a function of our shareholders’ funds. We are therefore, raising capital to be able to service larger capital market,” he said.

Usman disclosed that the management and board of Aso Savings are always innovating ways to remain a leader in the industry, adding that the company is currently going through a restructuring.

“We are looking at what we are doing on daily basis and see what we can do better.

We are now going through a restructuring that will lead to a stronger platform so that we can deliver better services for our customers and returns for shareholders.

UINNESS Nigeria Plc has announced a N2.6 billion profit before tax in its 2012/2013 first quarter financial year.

The company in a statement said the highlight of the financial results ended September, 2012 showed revenues at the same level as the same period last year while cost of sales went down year on year by three percent despite double digits inflation figures as the company benefited from increased production efficiencies.

Its gross profit was also up by four percent but profit before tax stood at N2.6 billion following increased spending on advertising and promotion to support its brands and financing costs as a result of its ongoing capacity expansion programme.

Mr. Seni Adetu, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Guinness Nigeria Plc said: “Our year on year growth was flat versus last year in a quarter which witnessed an overall decline in the beer and malt market and continued pressure on disposable income.

Shonekan to chair ICC 2012 Annual Dinner

F

ORMER Head of State, Interim National Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Ernest Shonekan, will chair the 2012 Annual Dinner/ Dance of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Nigeria.

ICC is the world business organisation, a representative body that speaks with authority on behalf of enterprises from all business sectors in every part of the world. The fundamental mission of ICC is to promote trade and investment across frontiers and help business corporations meet the challenges and opportunities of globalisation.

Nigeria became a member of the ICC about 30 years ago, sequel to the realisation of the benefits which Nigerian business community could derive from joining the international organisation.

ICC Nigeria is focused on its vision of projecting Nigerian businesses to the international community by ensuring that its members tap into international business practices and opportunities within the broad ICC network of 120 countries worldwide.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012—23

DIARY Select ICT events zLTE North America 2012. Holds 14-15 November 2012 in Dallas, Texas, USA.

EDITED by Adekunle Adekoya

z Advancing Innovation & Profitability for a Digital Africa.

Holds 14 -15 November 2012 @ CTICC Cape Town, South Africa. z AfricaCom 2012.

Holds 14-15 Nov 2012 in Cape Town, South Africa. z Opportunities in the Evolving Cloud Dynamics. Holds 4-5 December 2012 @ Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, UAE. zDigital TV Summit 2012. Holds 4th – 5th December 2012 in London UK.

New inventions shaping life and living

Exhale ceiling fan uses no blades

IT penetration: Our three-in-one strategy,

by Johnson z Johnson

BY ADEKUNLE ADEKOYA & EMMA ELEBEKE

The Exhale bladeless ceiling fan creates an indoor breeze that’s smoother and quieter— and safer for cats.

Currently seeking funding on Indiegogo, the Exhale fan was inspired by Nikola Tesla, and features a stack of spinning discs that take advantage of the science of laminar flow to move air throughout the room.

The air is directed around the room in a 360° horizontal flow, moving with a smooth, uninterrupted stream and mixing the air in the room to eliminate hot or cold spots. The Exhale fan is currently seeking funding on Indiegogo

I N S I D E

PC for students: The President must intervene

T

O fast-track IT penetration in the country, the Ministry of Communications Technology has perfected a three-pronged strategy through the Student PC ownership scheme launched last week by the Minister, Mrs Omobola Johnson. The student PC ownership scheme is the first leg of the strategy, the other two being reversal of poor acceptance of local computer brands and poor capacity utilisation of indigenous PC assembly plants. It is hoped that the student PC ownership scheme will trigger action in the desired direction.

Speaking at the launching of the scheme last Thursday in Abuja, Mrs Johnson noted that “we have a fairly well established device assembly

Toyota tests cars that communicate with each other

industry. Some of the companies that you see represented here today are over 20 years old and have operations in countries other than Nigeria.

Unfortunately, our preference of international or global brands who have much better marketing, research and production capacity has led to the

,

,

Preview

zThe assembly line at Omatek Engineering, an indigenous computer maker. The PC ownership scheme will help businesses like these and more in the coming months.

poor capacity utilisation of these assembly plants.

Federal and state governments have been their biggest customers which means that they are dependent on the most uncertain world of government supply contracts."

As a result, she said her ministry and the implementing agency, NITDA, “saw a very clear window to literally kill the two

Our preference of international or global brands who have much better marketing, research and production capacity has led to the poor capacity utilisation of these assembly plants

birds of poor PC ownership by students and poor acceptance of local brands and poor capacity utilisation of our PC assembly plants with one stone. As you well know, our youth tend to be most critical, vocal and demanding of goods and services they procure. Once they are sold however they will be the greatest advocates of the brand and will demonstrate loyalty well beyond their student years.

Providing them with computers that are built to exacting world class standards, designed with Nigeria in mind and aesthetically pleasing will go a long way to earning this loyalty.”

To actualise this desire, the Ministry and NITDA, in partnership with original equipment manufacturers, OEMs, Intel Corporation and Microsoft

FUT Minna wins 2012 ISPON Software cup

launched a students PC ownership scheme for students in 12 selected universities in the country.

The scheme hopes to deepen PC ownership penetration in Nigeria, empower local brands by creating an active market for them and aid Nigerian students to achieve better certificates through integration into the digital and information community. The scheme was aimed at creating a brand loyalty and patronage for local computer assemblers through a minimum non government subsidy but with quality assurance from Intel and Microsoft as active partners to sustain the programme.

The minister added that the current three percent PC penetration in Nigeria is very disgraceful and

Continues on page 26

ISPON 2012 Conference: A European perspective

24—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY,NOVEMBER 14, 2012

PC for students: The President must intervene

L

AST Thursday, something very good happened to Nigeria and Nigerians, though many of us may not immediately capture the import of the development.

The Federal Ministry of Communications Technology, through the National Information technology Development Agency, NITDA, launched a Student PC Ownership Scheme. Details of the scheme are available on the page preceding the one you are reading.

What makes the development a good one is that if implemented with patriotic zeal, that initiative alone is capable of triggering transformations that can rapidly take this nation to heights that had remained at the levels of rhetoric for more than half a century.

Five indigenous device makers — Zinox, Omatek, Brian Systems, Veda Computers, and Beta Computers, working in tandem with Intel Corporation which is expected to supply processors and Microsoft which will supply software — have been provided with a golden opportunity to compete with global computer brands through the scheme. Every year, some 1.5 million students apply through JAMB for placement into the higher institutions, though there are admission spaces for only one third of that number. That means there is potential to sell that many computers every year to individual students.

The implication of this scheme is more employment generation in the IT sub-sector, and given the flexible payment structure, a guaranteed market. So far, so good.

However, the journey is still long, in fact several miles ahead. For me, the goal, the aim, and the objective should be the allNigerian computer. Great will be the day when everything needed to make a computer function well is made here in Nigeria,

globalization or not. If, for now, we can’t make processors here, I do not think we completely lack capacity in terms of software.

The Minister of Communications Technology was at the recently concluded ISPON conference and software competition, and surely is aware of developments in that direction.

To quote Mrs Johnson: “As you well know, our youth tend to be most critical, vocal and demanding of goods and services they procure. Once they are sold however they will be the greatest advocates of the brand and will demonstrate loyalty well beyond their s t u d e n t years. Providing them with computers that are built to exacting world class standards, designed with Nigeria in mind and aesthetically pleasing will go a long way to earning this loyalty.”

As the scheme is being implemented, I think it is in our best national interest to be futuristic and begin to see how the students’ PCs will run on local software, for as the minister remarked last Thursday quoted above, that will be a very good way to build brand loyalty.

Overall, it is a commendable initiative, seeing that telcos are expected to connect the PCs with bandwidth, processors from Intel, software from Microsoft, credit from the banks. Obviously a lot of work has gone into preparing the scheme. The minister and her team are to be commended. One thing, though. The price range (the first level is from N48,500; the second level is N70,500 and the third level is N85,000N100,000) grossly underestimates the level of poverty in this country. I think Mr President ought to look at the scheme personally and see how the Federal Government can subsidize the scheme by at least fifty per cent. That will be five-star national service.

Even countries that have uninterrupted power supply do not fly cables overhead carelessly the way we do

,

Toyota Motor Corp. is testing car safety systems that allow vehicles to communicate with each other and with the roads they are on in a just completed facility in Japan the size of three baseball stadiums.

The cars at the Intelligent Transport System site receive information from sensors and transmitters installed on the streets to minimize the risk of accidents in situations such as missing a red traffic light, cars advancing from blind spots and pedestrians crossing the street. The system also tests cars that transmit such information to each other.

In a test drive for reporters last Monday, the presence of a pedestrian triggered a beeping sound in the car and a picture of a person popped up on a screen in front of the driver. A picture of an arrow popped up to indicate an approaching car at an intersection. An electronic female voice said, "It's a red light," if the driver was about to ignore a red light.

Toyota officials said the smart-car technology it is developing will be tested on some Japanese roads starting in 2014. Similar tests are planned for the U.S., although details were not decided. Such technology is expected to be effective because half of car accidents happen at intersections, according to Toyota.

Toyota tests cars that communicate with each other

Toyota's Lexus LS stops automatically in front of a dummy during a demonstration of the pre-collision system (PCS) at its Higashi-Fuji Technical Center in Susono, southwest of Tokyo, Monday, Nov. 12, 2012. The PCS, one of the automaker's pedestrian accident countermeasures, watches out for pedestrians to avoid collisions with them. AP Photo Managing Officer Moritaka Yoshida said Toyota sees preventing collisions, watching out for pedestrians and helping the driving of the elderly as key to ensuring safety in the cars of the future.

"We offer the world's toplevel technology," he told reporters.

All automakers are working on pre-crash safety technology to add value to their cars, especially for developed markets such as the U.S., Europe and Japan. But the strongest sales growth is coming from emerging markets which are eventually expected to show more in-

terest in safety technology.

Toyota's Japanese rival, Nissan Motor Co. recently showed cars that were smart enough to stop on their own, park themselves and swerve away from pedestrians who suddenly jumped into the vehicle's path. — AP

DSTv Eutelsat tasks students on innovation, satellite technology

BY EMMA ELEBEKE

D

STV Eutelsat Star Awards, the panAfrican competition sponsored by MultiChoice and Eutelsat Communications, records a milestone as over 1,000 entries from high school students across Africa were received for this year’s edition of the contest. The competition, now in its second year, is designed to provoke thinking on how innovation and satellite technology can propel Africa into the future.

MultiChoice Africa’s Regional Director East Africa, Stephen Isaboke said he welcomed the choice to host the awards in Dares Salaam: “We are privileged to host these awards in Tanzania. It will be a proud moment at the gala awards function when two of Africa’s brightest stars will take the world stage and represent the continent overseas as they make their way to a launch site for an incredible opportunity to watch a rocket go into space and to visit Eutelsat’s head office and satellite facilities. We wish the finalists all the best in the last stretch of the competi-

From left: Dr. Wesley Okei, University of Lagos; Segun Fayose, MultiChoice Nigeria; Mrs. Aderonke Bello, MD, Innovative Technology Literacy Services Limited and Prof. Folorunsho Falade of University of Lagos at the final judging exercise of the 2012 DStv Eutelsat Star Awards, in Lagos. tion.”

According to the sponsors, Patrick Baudry, a French astronaut born in Douala, Cameroon and a member of the fifth NASA Discovery mission, is expected to chair this year’s jury.

Speaking on behalf of the jury, Patrick said: “We are committed and passionate about the development of high-tech skills for young people and honoured to play a role in shaping young minds and encouraging ambi-

tion. We look forward to judging the ideas and creative thinking by the finalists in Dar-es-Salaam on 22 November and to assigning this year ’s prize.”

“We are astounded by the talent we see emerging through this competition. As founding sponsors of this initiative with MultiChoice, we are delighted to showcase a new generation of African creativity and to see last year’s winning poster by Michael Yeboah go into

space on the Ariane rocket flying our latest satellite,” said Joaquim Pereira de Lima, Regional Sales Director for Africa at Eutelsat. With the closing of entries for the year, the grand finale will hold in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania on November 22.

Eutelsat Communications is the holding company of Eutelsat S.A. With 29 satellites covering Europe, Middle East, Africa and parts of Asia and the Americas, it is a leading satellite operator.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY,NOVEMBER 14, 2012 — 25

FG begins $15m software incubation in Lagos, Calabar ...targets 6 more states by 2015 STORIES BY EMEKA AGINAM

N

IGERIAN quest to become an ICT capable country in the knowledge economy has started yielding expected results as the Federal Government on Monday announced plans to invest about $15m in the software incubation centers in Lagos and Calabar in the first phase respectively.

While targeting 6 more

centers across the nation including Kano, Enugu, Abeokuta, Ife, Abuja among others,by 2015, the Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson at a stakeholders session held in Lagos on Monday, told the gathering that software incubation centres will go a long way in accelerating the development of a commercial software industry by ensuring that appropriate support and funding was available to software and other IT

entrepreneurs.

The project, the Minister disclosed will have six months pilot phase while implementation phase will have duration of 18 months.

By December 2012, the Minister assured that the capacity building program would have been established, adding that private sector partnership was essential..

According to her, the Ministry has looked at other countries including India, Egytp, Kenya among others where it

has worked as a model With optimism, she said that software incubation centres will enable indigenous software developers in the nation• fs burgeoning Information Communication Technology (ICT) landscape, tap into the mufti-million dollar global applications development market.

With the intention of raising software development capabilities of the nation, the Minister said that the Nigeria youths would

not only be able to develop the necessary skills that would enable them innovate and create software applications to be reckoned with, but will also enable them establish IT businesses that can thrive and make a difference in their lives.

The future belong to the youths. We need to begin now to grow them.

We need to support them. We need to train them to be able to compete with their peers at the global stage. The incubation centers will act as a hub of innovation that will supports software development. Enterprise software development, linguistic software, mobile software application, business intelligence among others sge said were the program focus , she added.

With huge funding from the National Information Technology Development Agency, (NITDA) the incubation center, she said would attract funding from the international donors.

This framework will include minimum IT infrastructure requirements, the creation of a technology innovation venture capital fund, avenues for the commissioning of bespoke software by the business community, institutional support for incubates in the form of business services and a strong mentoring framework by successful business entrepreneurs and a transparent and credible process to select incubates.

• gThe youth of Nigerian are innovative, dynamic, creative , hardworking, entrepreneurial in nature and hungry for technology. If given the chance and the enabling environment to develop their inherent skills, they will not only thrive but will make Nigerians and Africans proud.

• gWe have seen the result of what exposure to ICT can do with the remarkable achievement of some of our youths who have excelled in several local and international software competitions especially the just ISPON software cup and the Microsoft Imagine cup,• h the minister said.

Unfolding details of the software incubation centers, the program manager of the capacity building project, Mr. Helen Anatogu, disclosed that the Federal Government was seeding N500m for technology venture capital fund..

We expect $3m from Nigerian information development fund. AdditionaL $12m will come from other sourcesh she added.

According to her, the center will also cater for those who are not privileged to be students but who have the passion for software development..

• gWe do not want to exempt those that are not students. Any youth who have the skills for software can come and develop solution. Business skills and entrepreneurial training are where the students will come in• h she added.

First bank launches mobile money service

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OMMITTED to excellent customer service and reduction of high percentage population of unbanked adults in across the country, First Bank of Nigeria Plc. In partnership with Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) have introduced Firstmonie Mobile Money Service, an innovative product that enables customers to access financial and other value added services offered by the bank through their mobile phones.

Firstmonie mobile money service was birthed as part of First Bank’s dynamic innovative drive to drastically reduce the rate of unbanked adults in Nigeria while providing “convenient and safe banking” for the “under banked “and the “banked” to access their bank account through their wallet and transfer fund from their bank account to wallet and vice versa using their mobile phone.

Aware of the value this financial solution will add to the individuals and the economy at large, FirstBank and CWG team have successfully deployed the Firstmonie Mobile Services C M Y K

in order to provide cost effective and excellent services to FirstBank customers.CWG has worked with FirstBank right from the pre-approval stage through to the approval in principle stage to the final stage of license approval from CBN up to this moment in the capacity of mobile technology solution provider and hosting partner.

According to ChumaEzirim, Group Head, E-business, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, “We are excited at being at the forefront of supporting CBN initiatives for financial inclusion and confident that this solution will add value not only to our operations but to our existing customers and prospective customers as it is our custom to put our customers first.”

He said that this is a movement from the traditional bank account opening where the customer has to visit the bank to open an account and carry out other banking transaction to a technology trend that provides cost-effective and convenience of self-service to the customer with mobile phone as the only infrastructure to be provided by the customer.

26 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER, 14, 2012

IT penetration: Our three-in-one strategy, by Johnson Continues from Page 23 should not be allowed to continue if Nigeria must move ahead in realization of its goal of becoming a digital and knowledge based economy by year 2020. Her words: “What is happening here is a collaboration in a way that President Jonathan’s administration is structured and operates. We do not work in isolation. We have been working with other stakeholders to birth a programme that will benefit

our students. The objective of this programme is about PC penetration. The three percent PC penetration for Nigeria is disgraceful. That is not acceptable to us and we need to address it.

“We want our students to participate meaningfully in the digital economy and graduate students that use PC to learn and interact and contribute well in the global community. Again, we want to increase local capacities and create jobs. For every local original equip-

ment manufacturer, OEMs, so that any young person can start up his own company and compete with the rest of the world; building capacity and creating jobs for young Nigerians is our goal,” she said.

On sustainability, she said “the sustainability we brought into this scheme makes it different from previous and similar schemes that failed. What you see here is a chain and any of these links that grows weak is going to affect this project. That is

why we are not leaving any link behind at ensuring that we succeed.”

She then charged all the partners not be the weak link in the chain, so that the scheme would surpass the set target towards building a digital economy.

“This programme will transcend us and everybody that has contributed to it. We will make sure that government play the role it should play as a gardener and enabler and a catalyst and not contracting anything, she

BY MATTHEW HERREN

I

Tinapa and Calabar (C-River State) To say the least Tinapa and Calabar were completely unlike either what I had expected them to be or imagined they could be — in terms of the scenery,

ISPON 2012 Conference: A European perspective or even a functional prod-

,

NITIAL impression of Nigeria and Lagos For the first six years of my life I lived in Nigeria (Ibadan), but arriving on October 26, 2012 marked the first time that I’ve been back in the country in 23 years. It was clear instantly, right from the airport, how much had changed.

As I last remembered, flights were much fewer (and some big names of the day then, such as Air Afrique – no longer exist.

But, I was immediately taken aback by, not just one, but two, US airlines directly serving the airport.

Junior Pius Ekeh greeted me at the airport, and we immediately developed a close rapport, which I hope will be followed by a long friendship. We drove to our Lagos hotel where I met ISPON President Chris Uwaje, whose dedication, commitment, generosity and friendliness are amongst the highest I’ve ever experienced, and whose logistical abilities are, I think, unparalleled.

At the hotel I also met Professor William Megalos and Daniel Molina for the first time. They too, I believe would have developed relations that will exist for years to come.

While I have been heading a game development company for some time, I had not really thought about how much the fields of television/film share with the field of games.

(In my defense, I’ve never sold myself off as game designer – technical architecture, concept and product managements are where my time is better spent.)

One of the most promising ways in which Tinapa can fully realize its calling as a ‘Knowledge City’ is to provide the necessary resources for entrepreneurs

the development and (certainly not least) the people. When government officials were describing Calabar as the most environmental state in Nigeria, we drove along scenery that left no doubt to the statement. The governor of Cross River State, His Excellency Senator Liyel Imoke, has made strong commitment to building the types of infrastructure that is conducive environment for technology-driven companies, and results of some of these stand testament to the resolve of these commitments. That said, there is still more to be done. I do believe that with follow-through in this regard Tinapa surely has the potential to develop into the Silicon Valley of Africa. As someone who has gone through the arduous process of starting two companies, I believe that most important further steps for Tinapa (and, indeed, most apply to Nigeria as as whole) are as follows: zConnectivity: In order to develop into a hub for technology innovation, and the base of a vibrant community of young startups, both internet band-

width and reliability of cell-phone communication must be radically improved. To a certain extent this process has already started, as evidenced by the sponsorship of conference by companies such as MainOne Cable and Airtel (and the participation of Mrs. Funke Opeke, CEO of Mainone Cable Company and Tobe Okigbo, Director of Airtel Nigeria). zMains Electricity: Although we did not experience any power breaks while in Tinapa, many of the people I talked to mentioned that one of the biggest impediments to Tinapa’s realization of its (vast) potential is insufficient and unreliable electricity. zStart-up Incubation: In my opinion, this is perhaps the most fundamental challenge that needs to be overcome. In the few days that I was in Tinapa, I was fundamentally surprised at the number young Nigerians with first-class technical skills, most of which had been developed into functional software. However, the transition from having a groundbreaking concept,

uct, into being a successful company with profitable product (or line of products) is — in my opinion — a significantly more challenging phase.

I think that one of the most promising ways in which Tinapa can fully realize its calling as a ‘Knowledge City’ is to provide the necessary resources for entrepreneurs going through this process. I would point to such incubators in the US such as Y-Combinator or the Unreasonable Institute.

They have similar concepts: both provide housing, office space and a stipend to the entrepreneurs, but most importantly, coaching and training, and vitally, a small round of seed financing. They also serve as networking hubs, connecting entrepreneurs to their peers, future clients, and further investors. The best part about these (especially Y-Combinator) is that this is not done (solely) out of benevolence on their part. In return for what they provide, they take (reasonably-sized) stakes in the companies.

Some of the biggest ‘stars’ of the Web 2.0 era were hatched in the shared workspaces of YCombinator.

The conference

In general, I view my participation at the conference as having two elements – the first was in the meeting rooms, where I delivered a presentation on how CodeSustainable designs and develops social games, and the sec-

added. What we done is that we are the enabler and this project will take a life of its own. The ecosystem will work for the sustainability of it. It will take a life of its own and sustainability will no longer be an issue,” she added.

She also called on parents, guardians to support the scheme by sponsoring young Nigerian students whose parents may not be able to buy them computer and to fast track PC penetration in the country.

In his remarks, the Director General of NITDA, Prof. Cleopas Angaye said the student PC ownership scheme was born out of the dire need to increase PC penetration among the students of higher learning especialond was all the ‘informal’ discussions that I had with participants (especially the students) during the time. I found both to be highly rewarding. I was particularly surprised however at intense focus on the topic of securityfocused application development, especially in light of high barriers to entry in such a market (a situation even more pronounced when your company is a small, ‘newborn’ startup. I think that the proliferation of App Stores on the various mobile platforms totally revolutionized the start-up industry, and chances of success for small companies with big dreams. I would strongly encourage Nigeria’s entrepreneurs to focus more on it. It will be to your benefit!

Future prospects

I would be honoured to continue sharing ideas, mentoring and doing what I can to help the incredible talent that I witnessed in Nigeria. At a point, doing this through a forum hosted on the ISPON website was mentioned. In addition, I would be most eager to explore the opportunities for collaboration between CodeSustainable and people and companies in Nigeria to design, develop and launch mobile applications for the Nigerian market. I believe this journey is only beginning, and I whole-heartedly look forward to it.

Once again, many thanks to all the organizers, the amazing group of presenters, and the future tycoons of Nigeria that I met. It would be remiss of me to not once call out ISPON's Chris Uwaje, and thank him for the amazing opportunity, and salute him for a wonderful conference. zMatthew Herren, CoFounder and Executive Director of CodeSustainable wrote in from Zurich, Switzerland.

ly in Nigerian universities.

He said that the scheme was designed to ensure that students have access to learning resources, promote local content and develop competencies and capacities among the young people. The twelve universities were selected from each geo political zone at a random.

The NITDA boss also said the scheme was also a means of challenging the licensed OEMs to boost their productive capacities, which is expected to have a multiplier effect in job creation, poverty reduction and increase their market share in the global competitive economy.

“What we are witnessing today is just the beginning of some of the government policies targeted towards ensuring increased access to information technology resources and youth empowerment,” he said.

He challenged OEMs to develop, train and employ middle level manpower to ensure that the systems are adequately maintained for after sales services that are competitive with international standards and urged them to collaborate with the computer science/information technology departments in the tertiary institutions for the management and maintenance of the PCs, this according to him, will assist in building the necessary capacity and experiences in the institutions to create the needed synergy between the higher learning and the industry.

The selected universities from the six geo political zones of the country were selected at random. The scheme has three entry levels agreed by the stakeholders so that students can have an option to choose based on the capability of their sponsors.

The first entry level is from N48,500; the second level is at the price of N70,500 and the third level goes at the price of N85,000 to N100,000.

NITDA would be the programme manager through quality assurance and managing sustainability while Intel would supply processors and Microsoft will supply software. Other programme facilitators are banks, university administrators, insurance companies and ministry of Communication Technology sponsoring and monitor success.

OEMs will champion local brands and while telcos will provide aggregate bandwidth.

Benefitting universities will play the role of validating and authenticating the students, support the programme across all the institutions, provide acaContinues on Page 30

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012—27

FUT Minna goes home with ISPON software cup 2012, gets N3.25m prize *Winners represent young generation of entreprenuers, says Imoke

BY EMEKA AGINAM

After a keenly contested software competition involving 17 schools from Nigerian tertiary institutions last week at the African knowledge city, Tinapa, Calabar, Cross River state, two software innovators from the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State won the 2012

national software Innovation competition organized for students in Nigerian tertiary institutions.

The second national software conference and competition with the theme: “Cloud Computing and the future of software Nigeria” was organized by the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria, (ISPON) and

hosted by the Cross River State government.

The software code warriors, Mr. Olofu Mark and Oguntade Temitope from the department Mathematics and Computer Science and Electrical and Computer Engineering respectively had during their presentation before panel of judges showcased innovative solution titled :

One School, a one-stop solution that provides generic and unified solution to support elearning, e-teaching and e-school administration.

Apart from the two million naira from the Cross River State government won by the team for emerging the overall winner, the team also received ad-

ditional one million naira from the state government for winning Prof. Cleopas Angaye Cup as the best Open Source Software Developer of the Year.

Similarly, the team also won Prof. Cleopas Angaye Cup for the best Open Source Software Developer of the Year worth two hundred and fifty thousand naira to be awarded by the DirectorGeneral of National Information Technology Development Agency, (NITDA).

This brings the total prize award to three million two hundred and fifty thousand naira.

Additionally, the Cross River state government gave the first runner-up and every category winner of the competition one million naira each.

According to ISPON, Software licenses are major challenges to both software industry and the end-users. It is therefore important that conscious efforts are made to develop solutions that are progressively made free to the society irrespective of the users’ platform. This category of award recognizes the best solution developed using non-proprietary platform.

With excitement the Governor of Cross River State Government, Senator Liyel Imoke while pre-

senting the award told the gathering on Tuesday night that the winners represent a young generation that can compete with anybody in the world. “Everyone who participated in this process is a champion” the Governor said. This is great hope for the future.

We see no industry that has propelled economic growth than software.

There is no greater infrastructure you can develop like human being.

“Today provide you with real opportunity to express yourselves. We look at you as generation of hope. No matter how brilliant you may be in software development, that brilliance must be put to use to the benefit of mankind. You are the future bill gates. You are our great leaders.

Through you, Nigeria can be the great; leading technology of the world” he said.

For the ISPON President, Chris Uwaje, the software code warriors represent new Nigeria.

“Go into the international job market and be what you want to be”.

ISPON and Cross River State Government are proud of you. Nigeria is proud of you. Your future begins here” the Oracle said to the students.

18 educators from Africa, Middle East for Microsoft partners in learning

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OR enhancing stu dent success through innovative use of technology in the classroom, the software giant, Microsoft, yesterday announced that 18 educators from Nigeria, Ghana, Jordan, Mauritius, Oman, Pakistan, Lebanon, Qatar, Turkey, South Africa, Egypt, UAE, Lesotho, Saudi Arabia, Uganda and Morocco will represent the Middle East and Africa in the Partners in Learning Global forum which will take place in Prague, Czech Republic from November 28 to December 1 2012.

The 18 educators had 15 project winners and a recognized top Moroccan host country project. The projects were selected from 90 projects, having previously competed at national Forums in their home countries.

A distinguished panel of regional judges including representatives from Nigeria, Saudi, Egypt, Oman, South Africa, Lesotho, Jordan, Turkey, Indian Ocean Islands and Morocco — evaluated the 90 educator projects.

31 Middle East and Africa finalists were announced followed by the award to the 15 winning projects.

Meanwhile, the innovative educators are not limited to the following: Ayodele Odeogbola from Abeokuta Grammar School, Nigeria for Rescue Mission, Sarah Adei from Ghana for Child Labour; A Child’s Perspective, Ghadeer Obaidat and Rania Obaidat from Jordan for Glimmer of Hope, Deoranee Sunno from Mauritius for Science for Eco- Learners, Jamila Al Ghafri from Oman for Tell me a stor y, Munazza Riaz from Pakistan for Aqua Crunch, Yosser Alchidiak from Lebanon for Warak Warak Method, Tamer Farghaly from Qatar for Robots in math and science, OzlemPaker from Turkey for Communications and the Digital Natives, Charli Wiggill from South Africa for Braille Memory Game and Toys for the Blind, Tamer El K ady and Walid Ibrahim from Egypt for One Human, One Planet, Praveen Afroaz from UAE for World Wild Web, Lucille Kabelo Mahlatsi from Lesotho for Literature at our fingertips, Mona Alkhodairi from Saudi Arabia for Save the Planet and.

28 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012

Martins, Ejide fight for Eagles captaincy

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*Martins

bafemi Martins and goalkeeper Austin Ejide will be considered to lead Nigeria against Venezuela on Wednesday, according to officials.

Both skipper Joseph Yobo and his assistant Vincent Enyeama are not available for this game, while Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi opted out of this friendly which will serve as a warm-up to the Eagles 2013 Africa Cup of Nations campaign.

The Eagles spokesman Ben Alaiya told MTNFootball.com from Miami, USA, that

*Austin Ejide either Martins or Ejide will be given the responsibility to lead the team out against La Vinotinto, as the Venezuela team are known by their fans.

“The captain and his assistant as well as Mikel are not here, so the captain’s arm band will be given to Obafemi Martins or Austin Ejide considering their experience with the team,” Alaiya said.

“That decision is yet to be taken, but I can tell you it will be between these players.”

Ameobi wants to be Nigerian hero

A

fter getting his international clearance to appear for the Nigerian national team, Shola Ameobi has revealed his

excitement at getting the call to play against Venezuela on Wednesday in an international friendly match.

“I’m really excited about it and hopefully I can go and meet up with the rest of the guys and see where we go from here,” Ameobi told the Daily Mail.

“My focus right now is getting through this week and really looking forward to the game next weekend against Swansea,” he added.

The 31-year old also revealed his lingering desire to make an international career.

“You’d be a fool if you didn’t want to play at the very highest level and certainly I’m no fool.

“I want to play at the top as every other player does - that’s what drives me and that’s why I’m still here wanting to play in the Premier League.

“Newcastle United will always be No 1 for me, that is the bread and butter so that is something we’ll look at.

Levante striker Martins is staging a return to the team after a long absence, while Israel-based Ejide has been part of the national team setup since 2001.

This will be the second clash between Nigeria and Venezuela at full international level after both countries first met in a pre-2002 World Cup warm-up for the Eagles.

The Eagles won that game in London courtesy of an Austin “Jay Jay’ Okocha goal.

Chelsea close in on •60m Falcao

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lub chiefs, acting on the instruction of owner Roman Abramovich, have made it clear to Falcao that they want to activate the release clause in his Atletico Madrid contract.

Goal.com understands that the Colombian striker has responded to the interest by telling Chelsea that he wants to move to Stamford Bridge in the winter window.

Despite competing enquiries in the 26-year-old from Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, Falcao is now destined for a switch to Stamford Bridge at the turn of the year.

The deal is a complex one because of thirdparty ownership issues - with super agent Jorge Mendes part of a consortium holding an interest in Falcao - but Chelsea have intensified their efforts to land the front man in recent weeks in a bid to ensure the transfer can be completed in January.

The European champions have made Falcao a contract offer and it is believed that personal terms have already been agreed on a deal that is likely to make the striker one of the highest paid players in Premier League history.

I

t is not only Nigeria that will be fielding a make-shift team in Miami, USA when the Super Eagles take on Venezuela tonight, almost all the countries participating in international friendlies today and tomorrow will be missing the services of most of their regulars in their setups.

England manager Roy Hodgson will go to Sweden on Wednesday with a squad stripped of a number of key players.

Theo Walcott is out after limping out of Arsenal’s draw against Fulham on Saturday, joining Wayne Rooney who had to come off after taking a knock with 11 minutes left to play in Manchester United’s win over Aston Villa.

Jonjo Shelvey, Kyle Walker and Aaron Lennon are also now unable to play, prompting Hodgson to call up Arsenal defender Carl Jenkinson, Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Tom Huddlestone.

Caretaker Scotland manager Billy Stark has been hit by nine withdrawals for the friendly in Luxembourg on Wednesday, but Hibernian striker Leigh Griffiths has been given his first call-up.

Goalkeeper David Marshall, defender Phil Bardsley, midfielders

Global s friendlie

T

oday ’s latest round of intern around 30 games, the pick of w old European rivals: Italy-France a Also catching the eye on a day when c without the pressure of having to collect Slovakia’s visit to neighbours Czech Repub and Panama’s home game with world and

Italy-France Six years on from facing off in the Fina Germany™, Italy and France meet again in to continue their recovery after disappointin Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has opened th and opted for a more expansive style of pl back into the top five of the FIFA/Coca-Co owe their recent recovery to former world Didier Deschamps, the former’s successor Prandelli will pair bright young things M Shaarawy in attack for the first time in Parm Pirlo to supply the bullets. As for France, D their recent 1-1 Brazil 2014 qualifying draw he believes “something big happened” for months, Yoann Gourcuff could well make h

Netherlands-Germany With illness and injury ruling out Mi respectively, coach Joachim Low has taken credentials of U-21 captain Lewis Holtby a Sebastian Jung, who received a call-up for also be looking to continue his exceptional important run-out against their neighbou selecting his squad on the basis of form, Ne has left out Wesley Sneijder, who has on injury.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012 — 29

Mancini ready to sell Balotelli *Van Persie

*Rooney

Mass withdrawals hit international friendlies James Morrison, Shaun Maloney, Charlie Adam, Matt Phillips, Barry Bannan and strikers Steven Fletcher and Jamie Mackie have all pulled out.

Germany will be missing the services of influential midfielder Mesuit Ozil while Holland will also do battle without prolific scorer, Robbin van Persie.

*Mikel

spotlight falls on es

national friendlies features which are meetings involving and Netherlands-Germany. oaches can perm their players t valuable qualifying points are blic, USA’s match-up with Russia, European champions Spain.

al of the 2006 FIFA World Cup n Parma, with both sides anxious ng showings at South Africa 2010. e door to the country’s youngsters lay, which has seen them climb ola World Ranking, while France d champions Laurent Blanc and r in the dugout.

Mario Balotelli and Stephan El ma and ask the evergreen Andrea Deschamps is looking to build on w away to Spain, a game in which r his team. Frozen out for several his return to Les Bleus’ line-up.

M

anchester City will explore the possibility of selling Mario Balotelli in January if he does not heed the latest wake-up call from manager Roberto Mancini.

Balotelli watched Sunday’s win over Tottenham from the stands after he was left out of the squad altogether for what Mancini described as a ‘technical’ reason, and then flew back to Italy for Wednesday’s international against France amid fresh speculation over his future in England.

It is understood that Mancini wants to see a dramatic improvement from the 22-year-old striker whose impact on the pitch – just two goals in 13 appearances this season – no longer justifies the distraction he causes.

Balotelli was spotted partying by City fans the night before the Spurs game. He was seen entering the Panacea Restaurant and Bar in Alderley Edge at 1am — with City kicking off at 1.30pm against Spurs that afternoon.

Balotelli had been axed from the City squad the previous day and told he was not required at the team hotel that night.

Although Balotelli had not officially broken any rules by being out as he was not in the squad, the latest indiscretion has not gone down well.

Palace want £20m for Zaha Crystal Palace co-owner Stephen Browett says interested parties would have to pay £20million for Wilfried Zaha.

The 20-year-old winger has been linked with a step-up into the Premier League for some time, having impressed on a consistent basis in the Championship.

A big-money move in January has been widely touted for a man drafted into the latest senior England squad.

Browett insists Palace have no intention of allowing Zaha to leave, but has made it clear that were their hand to be forced, it would take a sizeable fee to land the youngster.

“If you finish last in the Premier League you get £60m and with parachute payments over four years you are guaranteed £100m,” he said, with the Eagles pushing hard for promotion.

“The figure of £20m has been talked about and that has let interested clubs know we are serious.”

Djokovic, simply the best

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iroslav Klose and Mesut Ozil n the opportunity to examine the nd Eintracht Frankfurt defender r the first time. Mario Gotze will l recent run of form in what is an urs and long-time foes. Despite etherlands coach Louis van Gaal nly just returned from his thigh 2006 Wolrd Cup final between France and Italy

ith one last lunge of 2012, Novak Djokovic sent an astonishing backhand pass down the line, over the highest point of the net, to leave Roger Federer flailing despairingly in defeat.

If there is a signature for the current golden era of men’s tennis it is the 25-year-old Serb’s extraordinary ability to cover the court and deliver winners from anywhere, and this is the image that will linger as the sport heads into its brief off-season.

That parting shot sealed a 7-6, 7-5 victory over the indoor master himself, who brought his best game to the court and his Barmy Army to the O2 Arena.

30—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER, 14, 2012

IT penetration...

Continues from Page 26

Why telecom tariff may soon differ between states

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

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ARING any intervention from the federal government Nigerians may soon pay different prices for using telephones depending on which part of the country they live or do business at.

This is because the telecom operators have decided to hike call and other services tariffs to recoup some investments they describe as unwarranted because some states allegedly take laws into their hands to introduce double taxes and forcefully, illegally close down telecom facilities.

The operators complained that having done everything to see that these obnoxious acts stopped to no avail, it has decided to up its service prices in states where such acts are perpetrated to recoup such extra spending.

Giving backing to the intended action, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria ALTON, Engr Gbenga Adebayo, said that sub-

scribers in states that were hostile to service providers through tax administration would pay more for telecoms services.

For him, “What we are going to do is to adjust the meter so that people making calls from such states pay more than what others are paying,” Adebayo who addressed journalists in Lagos, weekend on the issue, berated the continued indiscriminate closure of telecom sites and said that operators had decided not to reopen any site closed down by state governments without a court order but will visit the situation with discriminatory tariff regime.

He regretted the poor telecom services witnessed across the country in recent times but blamed it on two factors – natural and man made disasters.

Man made and natural Disasters

According to him, “in September 2012, we had significant attacks and

destruction of telecommunications Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) and other infrastructure in some parts of Northern Nigeria. The attacks, which occurred in the early hours of the 5th, 6th 7th and 8th of September 2012 and other incidences afterwards, resulted in severe service disruptions in the areas primarily affected and by extension other parts of the country. The attacks have since limited the ability of millions of Nigerian subscribers to access telecommunications services.

Floods

“In recent times some parts of the country witnessed unprecedented flood due to high water levels, one in the history of the country. This flood in some cases completely destroyed Telecom Transceiver sites (BTS) along its path leading to significant service disruption in the

affected areas, with consequential impact on service availability in some other parts that were not affected by the flood.

Other than disruption to services, our members have lost equipment worth several billion of Naira to the flood disaster across the Country.

Over additional 300 BTS sites were affected by the Flood.

Closure of telecom facilities

“In addition to the above issues faced by our industry, we continue to face closures of functional sites by Agencies of Government, and we hereby draw the attention of the Federal Government and the general public to the continuous incessant and unlawful closure of telecommunication facility sites by some individuals, communities and indeed State authorities, in spite of the disasters that we face”.

demic studies of the students and include up to date payment as part of the procedure. Universities will also ensure that students coming into this are regular students and genuine.

The whole process will be managed by a porter, as it is going to be technology driven and information driven. The consortium assured that the prices were negotiated with OEMs and that the products will be comparable with those in the market and payment will made over a period of 15 to 18 months.

Also speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of Nigerian University Commission, NUC, Prof. Julius Okojie described the scheme as a laudable project said pledged the willingness of NUC to partner with the stakeholders to ensure the success of the scheme.

He however, called for the expansion of the scheme to other tertiary institutions in the country to boost the PC penetration and enhance learning process.

“This is a good project, the NUC buys into it.

NUC will ensure quality education in Nigeria and would not hesitate to support anyone working in this direction. The CT ministry is a worthy partner.

This project would help to address the challenge of poor access to information and technology. I lend my voice in saying that this should not be limited to the 12 universities alone. It will be useful and meaningful if the project is expanded to capture the entire university system. This should be the drive because what is good for these pilot universities will be good for others. You have done the university system a lot of good,” he added.

Speaking on behalf of the OEMs, Managing Director of VEDA Computers, Bode Pedro said the OEMs were glad for the opportunity given them to showcase their capacity and boost their market share in the country. He assured their readiness to work within the given guidelines and specifications.

Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012 —31

From left: Mr. Akinfela Akoni, President, Oxford and Cambridge Club of Nigeria; Ambassador Martin Uhomoibhi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representing President Goodluck Jonathan; Mr, Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda/guest speaker and Ms Omobola Johnson, Minister of Communication & Technology, at the 2012 Spring lecture, organised by the club.

From left: Mr. Song Wei, Director, Star Time Mobile Television; Mr. Aminu Muritala, Technical Manager, and Mr. Yomi Badejo, Managing Director CMC Cornect, at briefing in Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, Speaker, Nigeria House of Representatives (right) and Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, during the launch of Africa Municipal and Local Government Unions Network and conferment of award of Grand Patron of AMALGUN to the governor in Abuja. Photo: Henry Unini.

Chairman, Amuwo Odofin LCDA, Mr. Ayodele Adewale (2nd left) and others during the inspection of on-going construction of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu legislative building (Freedom House) in Lagos.

Prof. Akin Osibogun, Chief Medical Director, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH (left); Mr Ola Ijimakin, GM, Marketing, Fidson HealthCare Plc and others during the Walk For Life to mark the 50th anniversary of the Hospital in Lagos. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

THE VANGUARD STAFF WALK

From right: CSP Lanre Ogunlowo, DPO, Kirikiri Police Station, Apapa, Lagos, Mr Sola Ogundipe, Health Editor, Vanguard; Vanguard Corporate Affairs Manager, Mr Victor Omoregie; Mr. Hassan Balogun of Vanguard,and Mr Soji Olawale, Vanguard Business Manager. Photos: Diran Oshe.

The walk being led by Vanguard staff and other participants.

From right: Mr Sola Ogundipe , Health Editor. Vanguard; Mr Victor Omoregie, Vanguard Corporate Affairs Manager, and Mr. K. O. Adigun of Federal Road Safety Commission, Apapa, Lagos.

Cross section of Vanguard Staff.

32—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012—33

‘Pension contribution can provide long term funds for developmental projects’ A

S contributions into the new pension scheme continue to grow, stakeholders are canvassing that part of the fund should be set aside for repairing the country’s decayed infrastructure. In this interview, Managing Director of Stanbic IBTC Pensions, Mr. Demola Sogunle, said that utmost care should be taken in making such investment so as not to waste pensioners’ money.

From left: Mr. Wale Onaolapo, guest speaker at the education seminar of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria, CIIN, and Mr. Wole Adetimehin, President of the CIIN.

board and management have kept faith with the core vision of the business. It is a vision founded upon strong convictions that avenues do exist in our nation for wealth creation and preservation.

Also, sound professionals exist who can midwife such portfolios for the entire stretch of 10 to 50 years. Being part of the Standard Bank Group reinforces that belief of 150 years of service and wealth creation in Africa.

What is your take on

,

What role do you think pension funds can play in bridging Nigeria’s financing requirements?

A common challenge in Nigeria has been matching long term developmental goals with short term capital funding. The pension funds provide an opportunity to match long-term projects with long-term funds; however the fiduciary responsibility of all stakeholders must be met to ensure that at the end, everyone is better off. The work to be done now is setting up the institutional framework that ensures people’s pensions, 10 -30 – 40 years from now don’t get swallowed in projects.

It is also important that fixed income securities, floated to finance long term projects such as infrastructure, are structured in such a way as to protect the contributors against inflation, which can erode the real returns on such instruments in the long term.

Do you feel enough is being done by key stakeholders to raise awareness and enlighten people about pension matters in the country? What more could be done?

A lot is being done already, but more can be done. Just being here and talking to you is one way of doing more.

Basically, as many communication channels as possible must be used to spread the message about the new scheme. Probably, the voices of religious and traditional leaders will lead to more awareness; that is one avenue yet to be fully exploited.

Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers has been in operation for less than a decade, what have been the key drivers of your rapid growth?

We can attribute that to a few factors; firstly, people. From inception we have been fortunate to assemble a world class team of professionals, their ideas, commitment and energy is one of the key drivers of the business today.

The second factor is vision; the

handling staff retirement and disengagement, so some of these internal company processes do not align with the pension laws. Such organisations are notified of what is required and amendments are gradually being made. Also if bottlenecks do arise, we immediately contact the client through multiple channels like SMS, phone calls and emails. This way the issues are quickly addressed.

How is Stanbic IBTC

Probably, the voices of religious and traditional leaders will lead to more awareness; that is one avenue yet to be fully exploited

Delayed and irregular payment of retirement benefits and what is Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers doing to ensure prompt and easy access to retirement benefits by its customers?

We keep introducing new ways to ensure that at the point of submitting the application all documents and issues are ironed out. The documentation process and calculations done at the point of submission is vital, most delays can be avoided if the right sets of documents are submitted at the right time, however different companies have several ways of

,

Pension Managers able to overcome this challenge?

The information is in the public domain, there is nothing hidden. The fund performance of PFAs is shown on their respective websites and on the PenCom website.

Annually, PFAs and PFCs are statutorily required to publish the financial reports of their Retirement Savings Account Portfolios. The industry is transparent. In SIPML, we do all these without fail What differentiates Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers from other Pension Fund Administrators?

I would say it is the people.

If you take the same set of people into a new business today and give them the same amount of time, you will probably get the same results more or less. It is all about commitment.

Are there any lessons from other markets where the contributory pension scheme has worked that Stanbic I B T C Pension Managers is bringing to bear on its

operations in Nigeria, considering its Standard Bank heritage?

Yes, we are leveraging our parentage to introduce a robust IT platform for improved operations and service quality. In addition, we have rode on the mobile electronic banking platform to introduce multiple remote access points for our clients to make enquiries and check their RSA balances via email, cell phone, short code and the latest cardless transaction on ATM Although Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers is amongst Nigeria’s foremost PFA, what goals have you set for the company in the medium and long-term?

Beyond our borders, SIPML has served as a reference point for similar businesses in West Africa. Hence, in the long term we aim to be Africa’s reference point for pension management.

The demographics and institutional architecture of most African nations are very different from Europe, Asia and America; hence how we manage pensions in Africa should be slightly different.

Also, we aim to out-perform our past in terms of delivery of quality service. We honestly believe there are many things that could be done better regarding turnaround time for payments, communication with clients and sensitising employers about the need to participate in the scheme.

BRIEFS Niger Insurance gets award for dynamism, excellence

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

N

iger Insurance Plc has received the Best Enterprise award, a prestigious European award on quality and management, given to reputable organisations with niche for excellence.

The award was given to Niger Insurance by Europe Business Assembly (EBA) for the company’s dynamism and reliability.

During the award ceremony in Oxford, United Kingdom recently, the company ’s Managing Director, Dr. Justus Uranta, was also presented with an award as the “Best Manager of the Year ” and given a personal certificate.

EBA’s Director General, Mr. John Netting, pointed out that the company’s receipt of the international prize will extend the business frontier of Niger Insurance and attract positive attention of world business society to the organisation.

He further explained that by virtue of the award, Niger Insurance’s data will be placed in the official catalogue and the dynamic companies’ European list; while the data of the company ’s Chief Executive Officer will be placed in the official catalogue and the successful managers’ European list.

Insurance indus tr industr tryy ttoo get direct or director oryy

T

he insurance industry would soon get a directory to boost the ongoing insurance awareness campaign.

The Insurance Directory Project, a baby of Inspenonline, has been endorsed by the insurance regulator, National Insurance Commission, and all the trade groups in the industry Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) and the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN). The Editor of Inspenonline, Mr. Chuks Udo Okonta, said the process of producing the directory has commenced, and collection of relevant data from operators and ancillary professionals in the industry. He said the project has become necessary due to the depth of awareness about insurance operations in the country. He noted that the project when completed would bring insurance closed to the public and help stem the rate of fake insurances.

34— Vanguard,WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012

BY VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU

O

WING to the i n c e s s a n t complaintsfrom Nigerians resident in several countries around the globe, intending Nigeria applicants who seek entry into different countries for various reasons should endeavor not to take such decision in a hurry.

It is imperative that they carry out proper investigation, concerning countries of interest and if the desired countries have instituted laws that may not be foreigner friendly, they should reconsider their plans. This is to avoid deportation, leaving them worse than they were, while in Nigeria Health implications Some countries experience severe climate conditions and when an applicant declines his/her health conditions and gets exposed to a weather that is unfriendly to his health, the effect is always hazardous and in most cases could lead to death.

Those who are promised

How not to offend the law in foreign land millions of dollars to traffic/ smuggle drugs through several health compromising routes, should have it at the back of their minds that there is 99% chance that it could put an end to their lives, because it is like a time bomb waiting to explode.

Therefore, you are promptly advised not to, for any reason put your health/ life on the line for any amount of money, if you are caught in possession of even the least quantity of drug in some countries abroad, it is death sentence.

Work type Having prior knowledge about the kind of work, business or study that you intend to indulge in, is instrumental to experiencing a better stay in countries of choice.

Most Nigeria women have become trapped in foreign land for the fact that they failed to get themselves properly equipped with information concerning countries they intend to migrate to, thereby, falling

victims of circumstance and bearers of distorted dreams.

It is noted that both Nigeria men and women are desperately seeking an escape from grinding poverty, yet the conditions

they are made to go through in foreign lands can not be exchanged for the freedom in their home country, no matter the cost.

In order to pay for their travel, many of them incur

massive debts, with lustful hopes that a lucrative regular job awaits them at the other end.

And in a case whereby their dreams were on the negative, they get

themselves prepared to undergo various ill commitments so as to make sure they repay the money on pain of death or insanity.

All these excess practices to acquire wealth, is in fact not justifiable.

US partners practical Habitat on urban development

BY PRISCA SAMDURU

T

HE US consulate last week in Lagos, held a lecture in support of the global importance attached to urban development.

The lecture by US speaker Shawn Strange on Urban Planning and Policy Analysis for stakeholders and professionals in sectors such as; Policy Makers, Consultants, Town Planners, Architects, Engineers, civil society, Real Estate Developers, environmentalists, infrastructure providers and Public Private Partnership Collaborators

was organized in collaboration with Practical habitat Ltd, a leading housing solutions company.

The program was also designed to serve as a strategic workshop to Develop dynamic and practical Regional and Urban Planning policies to protect the interests of all key stakeholders from the Government at all levels, citizenry, developers, financiers as well as mortgage providers.

Speaking on the significance of the workshop, Mr. Shawn M. Strange, Program Manager of the Sustainability Education and Economic

Development (SEED) Center, an initiative of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), Washington, DC, provided a model that can be utilized when approaching solutions to critical issues.

He spoke extensively on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in addition to their quantitative capabilities and qualitative opportunities. Strange also discussed how these tools can be used in displaying data on migration or economic activity as well as more complex data compositions such as community resilience, some political and social indexes, and climate

modeling data, adding that such a model can expose areas of climate insecurity and vulnerability at a continental level.

Mr Strange who further divided his research into Academic, civil society, private sector and local government partnerships noted that the model can identify common issues in specific geographic locations that make the use of mapping tools valuable due to their inherent representational nature stressing that through this model, a facilitated process emerges for all participants, particularly at the academic level with the contribution of local government and community input.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012 — 35

MIDWEEK SERMON

with SAM EYOBOKA sameyoboka@yahoo.com

Okposo, Ayefele, Ekiye for Oritsejafor's triple jubilee

In no time, Boko Haram 'll become history — Osasuyi

Most (Snr) Apostle Joshua Osasuyi (JP, MFR) is the Spiritual Leader/General Overseer, Christ’s Chosen Church of God with headquarters in Benin City, Edo State. In this interview

by GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE the man of God who is preparing to celebrate his 50th anniversary in the Lord’s Vineyard, he spoke on contemporary national issues.

On the state of insecurity in the country, he blamed the emergence of the Islamic Sect, Boko Haram on certain individuals who do not wish the country well, insisting that no religion preaches violence. He prophesied that Boko Haram would soon fade away in the history of the country.

While lamenting the poor handling of the Bakassi Peninsula issue by the Federal Government, he appealed to the government to immediately resettle the displaced people just as he described the suggestion that churches should pay tax to the government as satanic and from the pit of hell.

Excerpts: Nigeria has just celebrated its 52 nd Independent Anniversary. What is your assessment of the journey so far?

I w i l l s a y s o f a r, s o good. We have had our challenges associated with any developing society. The good news is that in spite of our differences, we are still a people united under one country and God. One of the major problems facing the country currently is the state of insecurity caused by the activities of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram. What is your comment on this?

I have mentioned in several fora that Boko Haram is the creation of some persons who are ignorant and do not mean well for Nigeria. No religion preaches violence. Islam and Christianity are anchored on one great man, ‘Abraham’ or is it ‘Ibrahim’. If this is true, how can brothers and sisters be fighting and killing themselves? I prophesy that in no time, the name “Boko Haram” shall become history.

How do you see the killing of Christians in the North with Muslim leaders looking the other way?

I just gave you the answer: ignorance, lack of understanding and illiteracy. No educated youth would die for another without cogent reasons.

If any leader pushes the child of another to die,

death would await in a most tragic manner his own because it is what a man sows that he reaps.

What is your comment on the Federal government’s handling of the

What is your view on the handling of the current flood disaster by NEMA, Federal Government and the affected states?

Well, no one thought it would take this dimension. I believe that all the organs of government have done their best. I believe they would not rest until succor is given to all the victims. I call on other well-meaning Nigerians to also assist our fellow brothers and sisters.

How do you think that future occurrences can be averted?

Dams should be constructed and the River Niger be dredged.

There is the call that churches should now pay tax to the government.

What is your take on this?

The church is a charitable organisation made up of people who pay their taxes to government. Any such suggestion that the

Most (Snr) Apostle Joshua Osasuyi Bakassi Peninsula issue?

Nigeria had the opportunity to appeal against the judgment of the International Court of Justice at The Hague. The government took things for granted. It is painful that we have lost part of our territory. For now, I can only advise the government to properly resettle our brothers and sisters displaced.

church should pay tax is satanic and from the pit of hell. It would also amount to double taxation. However, when churches have commercial outfits like schools, hospitals and printing press, then such outfits should pay levies not the church.

Recently, the Federal Government honoured

you with a national award.

What is your comment on this?

I feel great that the Federal Government recognised what we are doing here. We bless God for the honour bestowed on the church.

And also a Benin-based newspaper, Merit Media Ltd nominated you as man of God of the year 2012 representing SouthSouth of Nigeria. What is your reaction?

Again, the reaction is the same. If I am nominated from among all the great men of God in the region, then we must appreciate Him for this honour which I believe is for my church and God.

By Januaryyear, you will be celebrating 50 years as a Minister of God. What is the journey so far?

We thank God for His grace. The journey has been very interesting filled with challenges, landmines, obstacles and problems. In all, God has been faithful making me an overcomer. To be in the ministry for half a century can only be possible by His Grace and mercies.

What is your comment on the involvement of churches in running educational institution?

Ordinarily, the churches ought to take charge of the running of educational institutions so as to properly mold our future leaders to respectable and God-fearing citizens. I think the church should be more involved.

What is your assessment of Governor Oshiomhole’s achievements in four years in office and your advice for his second term?

Simple, he has done his best as a human being and this was appreciated by the number of people who voted for him in the just concluded gubernatorial election. My advice to him is that on this second term, he should remain focussed and beware of sycophants, political jobbers who sing hallelujah today and crucify him tomorrow.

Messages to Nigerians as Christmas approach.

As Christmas is approaching, it is my prayer that all Nigerians would celebrate in peace. You must avoid rancor, ill-feeling and violence. Christ is the Prince of peace.

Therefore, as we celebrate Christmas, we must all shield our swords and be our brothers’ keeper.

Martins urges youths to rejoice in spite of all odds

BY ETOP EKANEM

T

HE Archbishop of Metropolitan See of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Martins has urged the youths not to be despair irrespective of uncertainties, pains and stress prevalent in the society.

He made the call during t h e C a t h o l i c Yo u t h Organisation of Nigeria (CYON) 2012 National Retreat with the theme: “Rejoice in the Lord Always” at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Apapa, Lagos.

Martins who was represented by Msgr. Anthony Erinle, Dean of Apapa Deanery and Parish Priest, St Charles Cathedral Church, Olodi Apapa, Lagos, said: “Unfortun a t e l y, m a n y o f t h e youths of this generation and age find little or no reason to rejoice especially when one considers the spirit of the time they live in. They are surrounded by a secular world that has lost the sense of sin and God. They are faced with the problems of poor e d u c a t i o n , unemployment, poverty, corruption, unfulfilled dreams and other sundry negatives that paint a bleak picture of the future.

“They are buffeted and besieged by the modern culture and promotes absolute freedom, freethinking, relativism and ‘anything goes’ way of life. They are browbeaten

by the virus in information technology that drains their brains, vitiates their potentials and glorifies sexual promiscuity. As a result of escape and in pursuit of ‘lasting’ happiness they resort to all kind of wrongdoings ranging from anarchical adventures, violence, drugs, alcoholism, immorality, felony, to countless unwholesome behaviours.”

The cleric, therefore, urged the youths to rejoice in the Lord because "only in God in whom we live, move and have our beings, is our hearts at peace."

On his part,NBational President of CYON, Mr David Dzalla, condemned the continued inhumane treatment "on fellow citizens by members of Boko Haram sect.

According to him, "we say unequivocally, that no threat is strong enough to dissuade us from our Catholic faith. We strongly believe and know that the menace of Boko Haram can be c h e c k e d i f a u t h o r i t y, particularly, our nothern elite will thread the path of sincerity.

"The aspirations of our promising youths are sacrificed on the altar of unguided quest for power. We can no longer travel within our country without having our hearts in our mouth due to unannounced kidnappings, bombings, manslaughter as in Ebonyi, Port Harcourt and Mubi."

Benue First Lady urges women to pray for peace in Nigeria

BY PETER DURU, MAKURDI

B

ENUE State First Lady and Chairperson of the Northern Governor's Wives Forum, Mrs. Yemisi Suswam has urged Nigerian women to rise up to the security and developmental challenges facing the country by raising their voices in cry and prayers to God for peace to reign in Nigeria.

Mrs. Suswam who spoke in Makurdi at the 36th monthly Breakfast Prayer Fellowship with the theme: "The enemy of the woman and her seed" which she organised for women of Benue State.

She urged them to set up altars in their homes and continually pray for the country and the leaders.

She said: "Our prayers as women avails much. So I enjoin women of our state

and country to pull themselves together and go down on their knees because if we as women cry unto God He will definitely heal our land."

She urged Nigerians not to be their own enemies but ensure peaceful coexistence wherever they find themselves, adding: "We, Nigerians, cannot afford to continue to be our own enemies.

We must eschew all acts that create bad blood, violence and crisis in our country.

"We must all join hands as a people who were brought together by destiny and uphold the unity of our country so that peace and progress can reign in our country."

Mrs. Suswam further enjoined women to always respect and honour their husbands to engender peace in the family and the larger society.

36 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012

A book you must read

DAY 3:

Promoting Privatisation, Deregulation, and Liberalisation

poor and inefficient deliverer of basic services. Most public enterprises were persistently in a precarious financial position, generating significant debts and losses. Often unable to pay workers’ salaries, they also had huge pension liabilities - more than a trillion naira (US$8.3 million) in 2003.

Moreover, the enterprises suffered from a great deal of political interference in the running of their affairs.

More than 5,000 board seats were said to have been created, conferring enormous patronage powers on political leaders. Board members often saw themselves not as responsible for overseeing the organisations for the benefit of the Nigerian public, but as beneficiaries of financial payback for their political contributions. Management decisions became infected with personal and political agendas costly to the economy. Four examples of poor performance and poor service delivery illustrate this state of affairs.

Electric Power •Ngozi Okonjo Iweala

Yesterday...

Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Managing Director of the World Bank Group and Nigeria's Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance wrote about Nigeria being one of the most volatile economies of the world and highly undiversified lthough successful macroeconomic stabilisation was necessary to restore economic growth, it was not sufficient. To get to the 7 percent per year growth rate targeted in NEEDS and sustain it, we needed to complement macroeconomic stabilisation with a set of micro economic reforms designed to change the direction and structure of the economy and lay the basis for longer-term growth.

We focused on sectors and areas that our analysis showed were large drains on public finances or were blocking private-sector activity and in which economic activity tended to be marred by corruption and the role of the state was a hindrance rather than a help to economic growth.

We targeted deregulation and liberalisation of the telecommunications sector, the downstream petroleum sector, and the power sector; privatisation of hundreds of publicsector enterprises; reform of the civil service; reform of the trade, tariff, and customs regime; and restructuring and consolidation of the banking sector.

A

Liberalising important sectors of the economy and privatizing public enterprises Between 1973 and 1999, the Federal Government of Nigeria invested the equivalent of about US$100 billion in 590 public enterprises, 160 of them commercial, in virtually every sector of the economy, from petroleum refineries

to flour mills, from telephone and electric power companies to radio stations, from oil palm plantations to car assembly plants. By the early 1980s, with oil revenues dwindling, the financial burden of maintaining these enterprises had become overwhelming.

The fiscal unsustainability of the public enterprises was an indication of broader problems. Often they were not only poorly managed but were also hotbeds of corruption, resulting in severe inefficiencies in operation and poor service delivery.

State-owned enterprises depended predominantly on financial support from the government, which came through several direct and indirect means. These included direct subventions from the budget for workers’ payments, annual grants awarded for capital accumulation, discounted loans, guaranteed thirdparty loans to enterprises, import duty waivers, exemptions from taxes applicable to comparable private companies, and monopoly privileges.

But there were further drains on the Treasury, in the form of their very low rates of return - O.5 percent, on average - forgone taxes on profits, mismanagement of assets, and bad debts. Between 1992 and 1999, public enterprises consumed an average US$3 billion per year in direct and indirect subsidies, the Bureau of Public Enterprises estimated.

Nigeria was not the only country that created state-owned enterprises. In the 1960s and the 1970s, many of the newly independent African countries did the same. In those years, the view of the role of the state was vastly different.

There was a much more interventionist ideology that saw the state not just as an enabler or a regulator of private enterprise but as a producer of goods and services. First, the government was seen as the primary driver of economic development, and it was expected to provide critical infrastructure and

,

By Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

NEPA, the Nigerian Electric Power Authority - also said in Nigeria to stand for Never Expect Power Always - was a giant public utility responsible for generating, transmitting, and distributing electricity. It consistently delivered one of the lowest levels of average per capita electricity production in the world

,

services such as power, transportation, and telecommunications at affordable prices to support economic activity in the economy. Second, given the relative weakness of the existing private sector after independence and the limited private capital available for investments, the government also participated actively in other sectors, including manufacturing, finance, and hospitality.

Government spending and investment were expected to produce multiplier effects in various sectors of the economy.

Third, against the backdrop of nationalism, the government wanted to encourage indigenous enterprises in the place or absence of those run by the colonial powers. Fourth, by promoting local production of goods and services, the government sought to reduce imports, in line with the prevailing import-substitution theory of the time.

The government proved to be a bad manager of businesses, however, and a

NEPA, the Nigerian Electric Power Authority - also said in Nigeria to stand for Never Expect Power Always - was a giant public utility responsible for generating, transmitting, and distributing electricity. It consistently delivered one of the lowest levels of average per capita electricity production in the world.

In 1999, when President Obasanjo took office, a review of the sector showed that no new plants had been built and no major overhauls of existing plants had taken place for a decade, that only 19 of 79 generating units were in operation, and that no transmission lines had been built since 1987. One-fourth of the average start-up cost for a business was for private power generation, and virtually all Nigerian manufacturing firms and small and medium size enterprises had back-up generators.!

Telecommunications The Nigerian Telecommunications company (NITEL), a 50-year-old government telecommunications monopoly, had been able to provide only 450,000 land lines to Nigerians by 1999, when President Obasanjo first opened the sector for licensing of new mobile providers. NITEL’s mobile telephony arm, MTEL, has never been able to compete.

Oil and Gas At the center of Nigeria’s complex oil and gas sector is Nigeria’s giant petroleum company, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, which controls both the upstream sector (that is, exploration and production) and the downstream sector (including four refineries that scarcely function despite repeated investments in turn-around maintenance). Because of the country’s moribund refineries, very little of the refining is done in the country; almost all the refined products are imported.

Moreover, prices of refined petroleum products were heavily subsidised, with subsidies running close to 40 percent

Continues on Page 37

A book you must read of the international price at the time of the reform program in 2003. A combination of inefficiency, corruption, and unsustainable subsidies led to frequent shortages of refined products, with long lines and rationing at gas stations nearly every day in the world’s eighth-largest oil exporter. Government had to step in to bear an annual financial burden of about US$l billion in subsidies - out of a federal budget of around US$10 billion as of 2004 - to keep petrol prices low at the pump.

Ports

The Nigerian Ports Authority, responsible for the operation of the country’s seven ports, was also extremely inefficient. Thousands of tons of imported goods slated for manufacturers were held up at the ports, resulting in higher costs for the businesses. Nigerian port charges were high even by West African standards. In addition, Nigerian ports were grossly overmanned.

Corruption was endemic in the ports, organised crime was rife, and security was lax.

In addition, the Nigerian Railway Corporation, the Nigerian Gas Company, and dozens of commercially oriented enterprises were all operating inefficiently, running up debts, and incurring losses that were contingent or direct liabilities on the budget. The scale of the inefficiencies, the staggering financial losses, and the poor or nonexistent service delivery to the Nigerian public and the Nigerian economy meant that Nigerians were paying twice over for these public enterprises. A solution was needed.

In 1999, the democratically elected government of President Obasanjo relaunched and reinvigorated the privatisation and commercialisation programme, including the modification of Decree 25 on privatisation and its enactment as the Privatisation Act. In a July 1999 speech at the inauguration of the National Council on Privatisation, Obasanjo accused public enterprises of “gross incompetence and mismanagement, blatant corruption, and crippling complacency.” The Bureau of Public Enterprises, under the leadership of Mallam Nasir El Rufai and later (2005-2007) Irene Chigbue, was strengthened, and a methodology and an institutional framework were put in place to guide the privatisation, commercialisation, and liberalisation programmes. As prominent members of the Economic Team, and with the support of team members, El Rufai and Chigbue fought many battles to keep this important part of the NEEDS agenda moving.

Telecommunications The biggest and most successful push happened in the telecommunications sector. Decree 75 of 1992 liberalised that sector and opened it up to competition.

The National Communications Commission (NCC) was established as the regulatory authority, and the national telephone company NITEL was commercialised. A number of private companies received licenses, but not much happened to transform the sector until 2001, when the NCC auctioned three digital mobile licenses to operators Econet (now Zain), MTN, and MTEL. The use of mobile telephony in Nigeria began to explode. In 1999, NlTEL had an installed capacity of

Promoting Privatisation, Deregulation, and Liberalisation 450,000 telephone lines in the entire country. By 2007, owing to the mobile network, this number had increased to 38 million, making Nigeria the country with the world’s fastest-growing teledensity. By April 2010, the number of mobile phone lines had increased to 85 million, with many people subscribing to multiple lines. The transformation of the telecommunications sector was a huge success.

T

his explosion was enhanced by the Telecommunications Act of 2003, which strengthened the role of the NCC and encouraged still more entry and competition in the sector. New national companies (including Glo, a Nigerianowned mobile operator) also came on the scene. The NCC estimates that there were new investments of about US$37.5 billion in the years 2003-2007, creating about 100,000 direct jobs and about 5 million indirect jobs. The sector continues to be one of the most profitable for investors in Nigeria, while opening up hitherto unavailable services to Nigerians everywhere but especially in the rural areas. Mobile phones improved access to market information for farmers and traders, facilitated banking transactions, and improved connectivity among communities and families in both rural and urban areas and with the expansive Nigerian diaspora. Experts believe that there is still a potential for expansion, and many applications are still to be exploited. This will be enhanced by bringing the relatively high unit costs of services down, and by improving quality.

While the liberalisation and deregulation of the sector was very successful, the privatisation of NITEL and its mobile arm MTEL did not achieve the same success, and at various times met with widespread public criticism and controversy. There were four attempts to privatize NITEL. The first attempt (in 2001) failed because the winning bidder, Investors International London Limited, a joint Nigerian foreign venture, famously failed to pay the balance of 90 percent of its bid price of US$1.3 billion, and the transaction was accordingly terminated.

NITEL was put under management contract for two years with the idea that perhaps it could be restructured and its operations improved, rendering it even more attractive for privatisation. The contract managers (Penta scope, a Dutch-Nigerian consortium) could not pull this off and came under public criticism for failure to do so while collecting significant management fees.

Its contract was terminated.

In December 2005, a second attempt was made to privatise NITEL. That attempt failed because the amount offered by the top bidder, Orascom, a well-known Egyptian-based telecommunications company, at US$256.5 million, was felt to be unacceptably low and likely to lead to public criticism of selling off “one of the country’s crown jewels” at a giveaway price. In the meantime, NITEL’s operations had deteriorated, the company was in decline, and its 8,000

workers were a significant burden on the public purse.

In 2006, a third attempt was made to privatise the company. Through a negotiated “ willing buyer-willing seller” approach, NITEL was sold to Transcorp, a new Nigerian conglomerate put together by a group of wealthy Nigerian investors and government officials. Transcorp paid US$500 million for 51 percent of NITEL’s shares, with the remaining 49 percent held by the Federal Government.

Even this sale at a more favorable price did not escape controversy.

Nigerians were suspicious and very critical of a sale that looked like an inside deal to a group of the elite. An editorial in the July 9, 2006 issue of the newspaper ThisDay captured the public

,

Continues from Page 36

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012 — 37

Nigeria’s program of deregulation, liberalisation, and privatisation remains controversial. Part of this controversy is ideological... but part of the controversy is due to a suspicion among the general public - a suspicion that has sometimes been borne out - that not all of the privatisation agenda has been carried out in an open and transparent manner

,

mood: “From the stalled attempt by the Investors International (London Ltd. IILL) to acquire the company, to Pentascope’s controversial management of it, the NITEL story had been a running sore. After years of poor management and loss of revenue, it ought to be something of good news that the telecommunication company is now privatised. Ironically, however, that joy is being clouded by doubts. And much of this doubt stems from the controversy over the ownership and vision of Transcorp.”

Even after two years, Transcorp failed to turn the fortunes of NITEL around.

Consequently, in an emergency meeting on June 1, 2009, the National Council on Privatisation approved the revocation of NITEL’s sale to Transcorp, citing its failure to adhere to the terms of the Share Sales Purchase Agreement and its failure to pay the salaries of staff members for more than 12 months.

A fourth and final attempt at NlTEL’s privatisation, which commenced in 2009, was terminated in 2011 as New Generation Communications Limited and Omen International Limited respectively the preferred and the reserve bidder - failed to pay their respective bid sums of US$2.5 billion and US$985 million.

Results, challenges, and opportunities

The deregulation, liberalisation, and

privatisation agenda of the reform program was ambitious, and much progress was made. The fact that reforms met with mixed results even in the relatively s u c c e s s f u l telecommunications sector is a testimony to how difficult this agenda was and still is. Though the opening up of the telecommunications sector was a huge success, the privatisation of NITEL and MTEL continues to be uncertain.

Similarly, in the petroleum sector, the initial gains with phasing out subsidies, which could have opened up the downstream sector to competition, were not sustained and were soon reversed.

Nevertheless, the privatisation program opened the door to a new way of doing business in many sectors of the economy. It also brought receipts from the proceeds of privatisation into the Treasury - about 251.4 billion naira (the equivalent of about $US2 billion) between 1999 and 2011. Another US$10 billion in annual transfers to public enterprises was saved as a result of these reform efforts. The program attracted investment from reputable international companies such as Lafarge (France), Holciem (Spain), and Scancem (Norway); from Dangote (a domestic cement firm), from A.P. Møller in ports, and from the Indonesian firm Indorama in petrochemicals.

Nigeria’s program of deregulation, liberalisation, and privatisation remains controversial. Part of this controversy is ideological. There is a core of intelligentsia inclined toward socialism in Nigeria - in academia, in the media, in labor unions, and elsewhere - who, despite the obvious failures of the state in Nigeria’s case, still believe in the role of the state as producer, employer, and equaliser in society. To them, the whole privatisation agenda, far from being an attempt to get the state out of activities it has not done well, is a neoliberal ploy being visited on Nigeria by the West.

Part of the controversy is due to vested interests. There were and still are many members of the political elite who depend on the privileges and handouts from state-owned enterprises to take care of their dependents and large numbers of hangers-on. They were always going to be opposed to the privatisation agenda.

B

ut part of the controversy is due to a suspicion among the general public - a suspicion that has sometimes been borne out - that not all of the privatisation agenda has been carried out in an open and transparent manner. There has been political interference (leading to reversals of some deals), there has been a lack of transparency, and there have been hints of corruption in the implementation of some privatisations in telecommunications, petrochemicals, steel, aluminum, and other industries.

Although these occurrences taint the privatisation agenda, their adverse effects do not outweigh the positive results that have been obtained. Policy makers should pursue the agenda to its logical end, along the way learning lessons on what has gone right or wrong, particularly as to transparency, and using these lessons to conclude the privatisation of the remaining public enterprises and improve the regulatory framework of those sectors now in private hands.

38 — VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012

Should I believe him

My wife and mistress are pregnant Dear Bunmi, After series of my wife's miscarriages, I thought of trying for a child with one of my girlfriends. My marriage could have been happier but for my philandering. My wife had caught me out a few times, but I always promised to change.

When my current girlfriend told me she was pregnant, I was shocked because my wife was pregnant again and we were hoping she’d carry it to full term.

When I told my girlfriend my wife was pregnant, she was furious. She reminded me I told her my marriage was more or less over and encouraged her to have a child for

me. When I got home a few days later, my wife was in tears. She’d had another miscarriage and was inconsolable. I gave way to tears and when I eventually told my girlfriend, she said we should both take a chance at being parents since I didn’t love my wife. That the miscarriage was rather convenient. Now I feel I have to support my current girlfriend, but how do I leave my wife when she’s so unhappy?

Desmond, by e-mail

Dear Desmond, Your wife needs a lucky break; with her unhappy situation, she would be better off without you.

She’s sad about the miscarriage now but she is better being free of you without the complication of a child, getting hurt by the fall-out of your repeated cheating.

When she’s stronger, tell your wife you have realised you would be better off apart.

She ought to know that by now anyway.

However, tell her about the separation plan; don’t tell her your mistress’s pregnant -that will be cruel.

Your wife needs support and she should be encouraged to go for counselling and a thorough medical check-up. In the meantime, face up to your responsibility to your mistress and your unborn child and stop playing with people’s lives.

Why is he so controlling?

Dear Bunmi, I’ve never seen such a control freak as my partner. We live together and he seems to have his own way of doing things. Whenever I’m in the kitchen, he’s always hovering around, telling me how to get better results, yet, refuses to cook. He lectures me on how to drive and argues all the time about my friends’ behaviour and mode of dressing.

I love him a lot but his constant moans are wearing me down. How do I cope with this unusual problem?

Yemisi, by e-mail

Dear Yemisi, Your problem is not as uncommon as you think. Faultfinders abound everywhere and one of the ways to deal with your man could be to simply disagree with everything he says. That, of course, means you should be ready to cope with the escalating arguments that follow. This way, your man may realise you’re making a point about his criticisms and change.

You could also decide to ignore him and simply let his fault-finding wash over you.

Once in a while, agree with whatever he says. You don’t cook well? Ok, so let him show you there and then how he feels it should be done. You could ask him to take over the driving if he doesn’t feel comfortable about the way you drive when you’re together.

Agreeing with fault-finders tends to throw them completely off track and knowing you can choose how to react

puts you back in the saddle.

So don’t choose to let your man’s fault-finding get you down.

But how does he expect me to feel sharing him with some disease-infested take-aways?

He's my mum's ex Dear Bunmi IT certainly is a small world!

My current boyfriend is over 20 years older but I love him a lot. He is young at heart and a good father to his two daughters from a previous marriage. When he mentioned the neighbourhood he grew up in, I told him my mother came from the same area. He asked what her maiden name was and he was visibly embarrassed. He admitted he’d had a relationship with my mum whilst they were growing up and that they had sex a few times.

This has really shaken me badly. I don’t know if I can keep on seeing him with the possibility of both him and my mum meeting again after all these years. What if we eventually get married? It will certainly be weird sleeping with

a man who’d slept with my mum in the past!

Jumai, by e-mail

Dear Jumai, Whether you keep on seeing this man will depend on how freaked out you and your man are.

With so much ‘history’ between you, one or both of you may be reluctant to go on.

Thank goodness you’re not deeply involved yet, and it shouldn’t be too hard to let the relationship go.

But what really is your problem here? You know there is an age gap and he’s obviously had other relationships over 20 years ago. There might be an awkward movement when he and your mum meet, but I’d advise you to concentrate on what you have now, not what happened in the past.

Dear Bunmi, I am 16 and there’s this 19year-old guy who has been sending me text messages informing me how much he loves me. He keeps on trying to convince me that I’m the only one who occupies his heart. When I told him that I don’t want him to be my boyfriend, he said that he will always love me even if I’ve torn his heart out. Two days later, he phoned me and told me he really loves me. I truly love this guy, but I’m not sure if he’s trying to deceive me or not. What should I do in such a situation?

Rolly by e-mail

Dear Rolly, So he’s professing his love for you, but why don’t you believe him? Perhaps, by discovering the answer to the question, you’ll know what to do. There could be several reasons why you don’t trust him.

He might be insincere, and you can't see the truth through all what he says. It could be that you’re just not ready to commit to such a relationship, and it’s really your doubts that are causing you to disbelieve him, rather than anything he did or said. That’s a real concern you should heed, but you need to realise where it’s coming from, or maybe a friend of yours who knows this boy put some doubts in your head. Maybe she’s heard stories about him that she’s repeated.

Could it be your parents had drummed it into your head not to trust boys, and that’s what is causing you to question his sincerity? So think about all of this and try to figure out why you feel the way you do. When you get the answer, may be you’ll decide to keep pushing him away, or maybe you’ll let him get a little closer. But only you can make that decision.

When I told my girlfriend my wife was pregnant, she was furious. She reminded me I told her my marriage was more or less over and encouraged her to have a child for me.

He often visits prostitutes Dear Bunmi, In this day and age, and with all the noise on STDs and AIDS, I was shocked to find out that my partner of six years sleeps regularly with prostitutes! We have a lovely daughter and I got to know about this through a friend’s sister who works in one of the motels he frequents. When I confronted him, he denied it, but when I told him my source, he became very contrite and ashamed. He begged me not to tell anyone because he couldn’t live with the embarrassment. But how does he expect me to feel sharing him with some disease-infested take-aways?

Ebele, by e-mail

Dear Ebele, You have reason to be devastated by your man’s behaviour and it might take you a while to get over the shock.

You will be amazed to what extent seemingly-decent men resort to the services of prostitutes. This does not, however, excuse your man’s behaviour; luckily, he fully realises his behaviour has hurt you, and the two of you have a good chance of turning things around positively if you want to.

Unfortunately, there is no guarantee he wouldn’t do it again. The fright of exposure might just deter him. So keep talking to him without making him feel like a pervert.

Share your problems and release your burden. Write now to Dear Bunmi, Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos. or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

Vanguard Vanguard,,

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 VIRGO; Emphasis will continue to be on career related issues. However you will not be wrong if you take mattersof-the-heart more seriously now. Be more loving.

LIBRA; Mid-morning till early afternoon period may bring more promises than it can actually deliver; your being clever will see you through. Be very practical.

SCORPIO; Continue to attach necessary importance to your family values. Here is a day when joint ventures can bring you under pressure between 9.46am and 12.43pm.

SAGITTARIUS; Other people will continue to feature in your activities; that is to say you will need to be as cooperative as reason permits. Watch it between 9.46am&12.43pm CAPRICORN; You may be in position to minimise the pressure of yesterday. And you will need to watch your mood from 9.46am to 12.43pm.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012

LEISURE

YOUR LUCK TODAY

— 39

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

O

UR elders say ‘a man does not wake up in the morning and start pursuing rabbit’. In other words a man does not start the day with some level of unseriousness.

For a good morning portends a good day.

How is your morning?

If I may ask you, how is your morning like? What are your programme for the day? Or do you just wake up as a matter of course without a well laid out goals for the

TERROR MUDA

day? No objective, no direction, wherever the wind blows you, there you go? Haba!

You can’t afford to live your life this way. You can’t be a victim of anything goes.

in “Never say goodbye”

Define your day. You can do this by charting a programme of action for your day, daily. This you can do a day before the day of execution. Some even plan weeks and months ahead. You can.

Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

AQUARIUS; It is important you don’t take things for granted around mid-morning and early afternoon period so that you will not run into avoidable disappointments.

PISCES; If you are in position to control your actions you would fare better if you can wait till after 12,43pm before you make an important move. Be family minded.

ARIES; Your being receptive can enhance your prospects but that is not to say you have to be naïve, especially during mid-morning and early afternoon periods.

TAURUS; Success is boldly printed on your cards and like yesterday if priority attention is given to money the scope of your success will be wider.

GEMINI; Although things may be happening around you, you are the right person to make things happen and give others opportunities.. Be wise.

CANCER; Take note that others may break promises made before early afternoon period; that is to say you should not take anybody for granted before 12.43pm.

LEO; Although friends are willing to assist you circumstances may not allow complete help as expected. 9.46am to 12.43pm can be a bit sensitive.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat tr ological datee and place of bir th ttoo the As Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

Are they compatible?

Dear Joshua, Kindly analyse horoscopes of two young lovers willing to share the rest of their lives together. I am concern because one of the is my own son. However I want you to leave out their birth dates.

Babajide, Umuahia.

Dear Babajide, COMPATIBILITY GUIDE What will follow here-under are analyses of their horoscopes , so that they will know each other very well vis-à-vis strong and weak points of each other. By this you will decide if actually what you are looking for is in the relationship.

THE HOROSCOPE DATA/PLANETARY PLACEMENT OF THE LADY SUN SIGN = AQUARIUS; SUN IN 13TH DEGREE OF AQUARIUS. MOON SIGN = CANCER ; MOON IN 3RD DEGREE OF CANCER MERCURY IN IST DEGREE OF AQUARIUS VENUS IN ZERO DEGREE OF ARIES MARS IN 29TH DEGREE OF PISCES JUPITER IN 29TH DEGREE OF CAPRICORN SATURN IN 27TH DEGREE OF SCORPIO. URANUS IN 16TH DEGREE OF SAGITTARIUS. NEPTUNE IN 2ND DEGREE OF CAPRICORN PLUTO IN 4TH DEGREE OF SCORPIO. NORTH NODE IN 23RD DEGREE OF TAURUS. SOUTH NODE IN 23RD DEGREE OF SCORPIO. ANALYSIS OF THE CHART SUMMARY Here is a gentle person who cares so much for both her extended family (especially her mother) and her personal family. She can be highly emotional, although highly intelligent too THE WEAK POINT She can unexpectedly burst into tears whenever she fails to control her husband. And if she does not result to weeping she can many times force this man to turn violent to the detriment of too many things. She in particular will many times become jealous for no reason and can be difficult to manage by this man.

Although she loves freedom, she will want to be in firm control of the man’s freedom. Issues of control and freedom must be clearly defined before final marital rite, or else serious trouble would be the result.

THE HOROSCOPE DATA/PLANETARY PLACEMENT OF THE MAN SUN SIGN = TAURUS MOON SIGN = ARIES; MOON IN 20TH DEGREE OF ARIES. STELLIUM SIGN = SAGITTARIUS MERCURY IN 22ND DEGREE OF TAURUS.

VIRGINIA

Commen3

dadadekola@yahoo.com

by Lawrence Akapa

40—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012

CHARITY: From left— Dr. Akudo Ikemba, CEO/Founder, Friends Africa; Mr. Emmanuel Babayaro, ex-Eagles international and Friends Africa Goodwill Ambassador; and Mr. Segun Arinze, Nollywood star, at a briefing on a December 1 novelty football match between ex-Eagles stars and entertainment icons to mark World AIDS Day in Lagos, Monday. PHOTO: Oboh Agbonkhese.

Lawmaker empowers constituents

W

ARRI—THE member representing Okpe/ Sapele/Uvwie Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. (Mrs.) Evelyn OboroOjakovo, has given out 27 vehicles to party leaders and various empowerment materials to petty traders and other persons interested in skills acquisition.

Meanwhile, Delta State Deputy Governor, Prof.

Amos Utuama, has advised politicians in the state to approach 2015 elections with the knowledge that power comes from God. However, the lawmaker said her constituency empowerment programme, which gulped millions of naira, was not a ploy to campaign for re-election.

The Federal legislator

stated this at the Trade Fair Complex, Osubi venue of her empowerment programme.

According to Hon. Oboro-Ojakovo, she was elected on a mandate that has a four-year lifespan, noting that she has more than two years more and as such cannot be thinking of 2015 elections.

She said that after her election, she decided to establish the Evelyn Oboro Foundation, in a bid to help the less-privileged in her constituency.

On challenges as the first Urhobo woman in parliament, Hon Oboro-Ojakovo said a lot of her constituents misunderstand the duties of a lawmaker with that of a commissioner or council chairman.

We should produce Delta gov in 2015— Ndokwa

N

DOKWA people have appealed to other ethnic nationalities in Delta State to give them a chance to produce the governor of the state in 2015.

President of Ukwuani Foundation Union, UFU, Lagos branch, Chief Joseph Olise, who made the appeal during the celebration the union’s 75th

anniversary in Lagos recently, said Ndokwa was least developed in spite of her contributions to the national coffers through oil and gas.

He said: “The only Federal and state presence in Ndokwa are prison and police stations even when we host the largest gas plant in the area.”

Igwe Onyelu dies at 88

I

GWE Eugene Marire Onyelu, 88, first traditional ruler of Achi town in

Late Igwe Onyelu.

Oji River LGA of Enugu State, is dead.

A statement, by his eldest son, Prince Okey Onyelu, said there will be a Christian wake-keep on Thursday, November 15, at Eze-ala palace.

He will be buried on Friday, November 16, at his palace, after a requiem mass at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Nkpokolo Achi by11am.

He is survived by children and many relations.

CAMPAIGN: From left— Mr. Tola Oyewole-Osaigbovo, Director of Planning and Research, Mission to Save Sight Africa Foundation, MTSSAF; Mrs Chibuzo Patrick, MD/CEO, Meljenstin PR; Dr. (Mrs) Olufunke Ani, Founder, MTSSAF; Dr. Moses Ani, CEO, Hovas Hospital, Lagos, and Mr. Henry Ekeocha, Resident Physiotherapist, Sunfit Int. Ltd, at the MTSSAF annual campaign on Health Empowerment Fiesta/Exhibition in Lagos, weekend. PHOTO: Lamidi Bamidele.

Orodje, FRSC, club, Knights donate to flood victims

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—MOVED by the plight of those sacked from their homes by flood, the Orodje of Okpe, HRM Orhue I; FRSC; Delta Unity Club; Ughelli Council of Knights, Anglican Communion, have donated cows, food stuffs and other materials to flood victims in Delta State’s relief camps.

The Okpe monarch donated three cows, food items and other relief materials to victims in Ughelli, Otu-Jeremi and Ewu camps in Ughelli North and South Local Government Areas of Delta State.

In separate presentations at the three camps, the monarch said the donation was for the upkeep of his brothers and sisters in the camps, adding that he had penultimate Tuesday donated relief materials at Asaba to all the government-designated camps in the state.

The monarch, who expressed hope that the items would be judiciously used for the flood victims, was represented by a former Commissioner for Special Duties in the state, Chief

Cosmos Ighoraye.

Also, a social club, Delta Unity Club, last weekend donated three cows and toiletries worth thousands of naira to flood victims at Ughelli, Oleh and Patani relief camps in Delta State.

Presenting the items on behalf of the club, chairman of the visitation committee, Mr. John Agori, said the donation was the club’s token towards complementing the efforts of the state government.

Similarly, Ughelli Coun-

cil of Knights, Anglican Communion, also donated relief materials worth over N500,000 to flood victims at Ikprukpu and Ekiugbo camps, Ughelli North and Oginibo, Ughelli South local government areas of the state.

Presenting the items, leader of the group, Sir Vincent Orhiunu, urged the victims to keep faith in God, praying God to meet them at this critical time of need.

Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Ughelli,

Delta State, yesterday, also donated relief materials to flood victims at Oharisi Primary School camp, Ughelli, Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state.

Presenting the items, the Unit Commander, Mr. Moses Okhihan, said the donation was the unit’s token towards contributing its quota to alleviate the sufferings of displaced persons in conjunction with unit 11 of the Special Marshal in the area.

Orji tasks judges on corruption

BY ANAYO OKOLI

U

MUAHIA—GOVERNOR Theodore Orji of Abia State has challenged judges to be strong partners in the crusade against corruption, saying their role was vital in the crusade.

According to Governor Orji, the judiciary is a very vital arm of the government, which plays great role in the development of the country, hence the need for the sector to be actively in-

volved in the war against corruption.

Orji, who spoke while swearing-in three High Court Judges and two members of the Customary Court of Appeal, also promised to continue to provide very conducive environment for them to put in their best.

He said: “Be good agents of change by uplifting the image of the judiciary through incorruptibility.

Key into the government reformative programme by improving the justice sys-

tem in Abia State.

“If you do this, the sky which is the Supreme Court, will be your limit.”

Responding on behalf of the new judges, Justice (Mrs.) Ugbo Ononogbo said they were aware of the responsibilities entrusted on them and assured that they would not fail the people.

She promised that they would work hard to keep the stream of justice pure and remove all encumbrances in the justice delivery system.

Ministry advocates laboratory analysis for produce

F

OR Nigeria’s pro duce to meet international standards, there is need for laboratory analysis to be carried out on them as done in the West.

Director, Commodities and Produce Inspectorate Department of Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, Mr. J. Apanisile, made the observation in his keynote address at the just-con-

cluded 29th conference of Directors of Produce in Lagos.

According to him, laboratory analysis will help determine the quality and chemical residue level in every exportable produce before they are sent out of the country, to enhance their marketability.

He said: “You could recall that in our last meeting in 2011, we did men-

tion the issues of laboratory analysis, which is used in the western world to determine produce quality and chemical residue levels.

“We are not there yet in Nigeria and the only way we can be sure of churning out high quality produce to the international market and processing mills is by ensuring that parameters used in our

empirical quality analysis for determining grades and standards are strictly adhered to “We cannot afford to compromise this as the image of our country is at stake.”

He expressed regrets that only Kano State, in the whole of northern Nigeria, had witnessed appreciable progress in produce inspection.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012—41

KOGI ASSEMBLY CRISIS:

No end in sight

BY BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO

S

OLUTION to political imbroglio in the Kogi State House of Assembly is not in sight giving unfolding events in the state. Efforts by

J

UST ten months ago, four of the five members of the House of Representatives and all three senators from Bayelsa State were pitched in battle against one of their colleagues from the state.

The man on the other side at that time was Rep. Serikae Dickson, a one time leftist, near socialist and political ideologue of the Soviet school. As state chairman of the Alliance for Democracy, AD, in Bayelsa State in 1999, the radical leaning Dickson had helped in the election of the only AD senator from the south-south geopolitical zone. That was Senator Emmanuel Diffa.

Even after his surreptitious surrender to the bourgeoisie class, Dickson apparently retained his fighting faculties.

If Dickson would not fight, then his imposing physique would not let him be.

It was as such not surprising that Dickson turned out to be the front man in the vengeful and hazardous political war between Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and former Governor Timipire Sylva ahead of the Bayelsa State gubernatorial election last February.

stakeholders to settle the crisis are not yielding dividends.

Though the House of representative has waded into the crisis and some political stakeholders are calling on the camps to sheathe their sword, the

battle is still raging. Each of the caucuses has remained adamant, refused to shift ground and is still laying claim to the leadership fof the House.

Already, the state is suffering from the stalemate at the

POLITICAL METABOLISM with

EMMANUEL AZIKEN

Yes, fight Jonathan fight Ahead of that battle many were loath to side with Jonathan. It was not surprising. In several political battles prior to the Bayelsa election, Dr. Jonathan had disappointed many.

Even where he had the power and the instrument of office to deal with his political ‘foes’, he, like the biblical children of Ephraim though being armed, turned back in the day of battle. here were many instances of the president refusing to fight even on the behalf of those who helped him in his own political odyssey. As one of his aides has often said, President Jonathan would not exert his presidential powers for personal benefit.

But as the Bayelsa election drew near in the twilight of 2011, commonsense it seemed,

dawned on the president.

Leaving Governor Sylva in office it was believed, would bring incalculable political risk, especially if Jonathan were to leave office in 2015 with Sylva remaining as governor till 2016.

If Governor Gbenga Daniel could make Abeokuta inhabitable for President Olusegun Obasanjo after 2007, then Sylva would almost surely throw Jonathan into the ocean in 2015 it was assumed.

So, when the battle line was eventually drawn in the fourth quarter of 2011 there were many who did not believe that Dickson could win it.

Neither the intimidating physical prowess of Dickson nor the president’s command of the armed forces were

Assembly, as both groups, with 12 and 13 members respectively do not have the required majority to receive any correspondence from the executive.

Now, the caucus of the embattled Speaker, Abdulahi Bello has shifted its base to Abuja drawing support from those who were aggrived by the choice of Idris Wada as the successor of the former governor, Ibrahim Idris.

Vanguard gathered that the crisis has now gone beyond the executive – legislative crisis has those whose feet were steps on deemed strong enough to overwhelm the structures of good and evil that Sylva was repeatedly alleged to have erected all over Bayelsa.

Ahead of the battle, Dickson’s four colleagues in the House of Representatives and all three senators from the state, including those who were friends of President Jonathan took position against Dickson in the election.

T

he Senators who remarkably were friends of Dr. Jonathan turned against Dickson reportedly because it was Sylva who gave them their return tickets while Jonathan was looking the other way.

Dickson was the only one who fought for and won his ticket without Sylva’s support.

As Sylva’s associates claimed at that time, Dickson was the only one of the three senators and the five house members from the state who was against Sylva’s re-election.

But in the contest of wills and machinations that preceded the PDP primaries and election, Jonathan and Dickson clearly won and without shedding of blood.

in the course of making Wada governor have ironed out their differences and team up to fight against the new leadership of the House whom they felt is the handiwork of the former State governor.

Following the leadership crisis that engulfed Kogi Assembly, the House of Representatives had sealed off the Assembly complex barring any of the factions from sitting or performing their legislative duties.

Chairman of the six-man AdHoc Committee set up to look into the crisis, Hon. Mohammed Mourktar Ahmed, made the declaration after holding a public hearing with State legislators at the State Assembly Complex.

Hon. Mohammed, who said the committee would not recognise any of the factions' speakers stressed that none of the factions is allowed to sit or perform legislative function until the crisis is resolved.

Mohammed warned that if House members failed to respond positively to ensure quick resolution, the House of Representatives would be left with no other option than to take over the legislative duties of the House in line with provisions of the constitution..

Undaunted, the new leadership of the Assembly defied the Reps' and commenced seesions in a hotel, where they among others considered a bill to establish the Kogi State College of Education, Ankpa and suspended two members-Henry Ojuola of YagbaEast state constituency and Air commodore Funsho Daniel of Mopa/Muro state constituency Continues on page 42 It was as such remarkable last weekend that ahead of the House of Representatives Public Sessions with constituents that all five members of the House of Representatives, including Dickson’s replacement, Dr. Stella Dorgu (Keme2Keme) visited Governor Dickson pledging their loyalty. It was a reflection of the paradigm shift in the politics of the state.

The development inevitably draws attention to the powers of the president to do and undo in these shores. As has been repeatedly said, the Nigeria president is arguably the most powerful in the world.

Given the powers available to him, then one is almost at a loss why the president is shying away from deploying them to good use in combating the multi malfeasances in the land.

If the president could deal with the stresses from Sylva, he could well deal with the machinations of the oil marketers and the corrosive culture of corruption all over.

He could only if he decides to fight.

42—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012

IFEANYI UBA: In oily ripples

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR

T

HIS is certainly not the best of times for Managing Director of Capital Oil and Gas Industries Ltd, Mr. Ifeanyi Uba. Few weeks after quietly marking his 41st birthday unlike the society-shaking bash he had in 2011, the Anambra-born businessman is facing challenges from many quarters.

He is still smarting from a 10day detention following his October 9 arrest by the Special Fraud Unit, Milverton Ikoyi, over the alleged involvement of his companies in N42.291 fuel subsidy scam. Uba also has a stormy matter to trash out with the President of Coscharis Group, Dr. Cosmas Maduka, who has vowed to recover the $164 million or N26.24 billion the oil merchant allegedly owes him from a botched oil deal.

At home in Anambra, Uba also has to contend with a horde of political opponents, who are said to be ready to battle him to a standstill over his rumoured 2014 governorship ambition and perceived affinity with the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh. A section of APGA backed by the Anambra State Government is said to favour Anambra North, which has never produced the governor, to produce the helmsman in 2014. Uba is from Nnewi in Anambra South.

Indictment by panel According to the Aigboje AigImoukhuede-led 15-man

Continues from page 41 for defecting to another party without meeting constitutional requirement.

The suspended members have debunked the decision describing it as 'illegality of an illegal sitting'.

Their suspension was based on a petition frmo the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) declaring their positions vacant for leaving their party under which they won elections into the state House of Assembly.

The factional Speaker, Hon. Momoh Lawal Jimoh told the House at the sitting that about two months ago, the former leadership of the Assembly had been informed by the ANPP leadership about the defection through a letter dated 20th of August 2012, signed by Patrick Daudu and Isaac Ainoko, Chairman and Secretary respectively of the party, stating the grounds for which they sought that the two seats be declared vacant since the two lawmakers violated section 109(1)(g) of the constitution of Nigeria.

Henry Ojuola was elected on the platform of the ANPP but

allegations against his brother on national TV is only a throwback to the crude and dirty politics that have bedeviled Anambra State in recent years and have continued to cast it in an inglorious light.

While we believe and also advocate that every business deal and agreements must be transparent and fair, we also know t h a t disagreement do exist in some b u s i n e s s transactions, in such cases the judiciary comes

presidential panel constituted by President Goodluck Jonathan to verify and reconcile the findings of the report of an earlier investigation panel set up by the Ministry of Finance on fuel subsidy payments valued at over N2 trillion, Capital Oil and Gas was alleged to have obtained N42.291 billion from the Federal Government by claiming that it imported and sold 538.7 million litres of petroleum during the 2011 fiscal year through 26 transactions.

Set up on July 5, the AigImoukhuede-led panel, which submitted its report on July 24, indicted Uba’s company and 20 other oil marketing and trading firms for fraudulent activities to the tune of N382 billion. It recommended that the indicted firms should be prosecuted Detention Following Aig-Imoukhuede’s committee’s recommendations, Uba was arrested on October 9 and later taken to court. Efforts to bail him, on self recognition, hit the brick wall and he was remanded in custody for 10 days on the order of Magistrate Martins Owumi of the Lagos State Magistrate’s Court.

Kinsmen kick However Uba’s ordeal is not going without challenge from his kinsmen. Given that 21 oil firms were indicted, some Anambra citizens wondered why Uba was singled out for prosecution.

Indeed, Anambra Generation Next (AGN), a group of young professionals of Anambra State,

*Ifeanyi Uba said political battle for Anambra in 2014 might not be divorced from the issue.

Urging politicians in the state to eschew politics from bitterness, acrimony and vendetta and pursue noble causes that would engender peace, unity and development in the state, the group, in a statement by its Secretary-General, Mr. Obiajulu Nwosu, said it was appalled by the campaign of calumny being orchestrated by a son of the state against Ifeanyi Uba. "Making unprintable

KOGI ASSEMBLY CRISIS: served a running mate in the gubernatorial election in the state under the Action Congress of Nigeria while Hon. Micheal Folusho Daniel was elected under the ANPP platform to the Assembly and defected to the PDP in September.

A three man Ad-hoc committee

*Gov Wada

was thereby constituted to investigate the ANPP petition.

The session which was held in the presence of the Clerk of the House of Assembly as well as the Sergent-at-Arms also resolved to condemn the State Police Commissioner whom it accused of sealing off the Assembly premises adding that it will make an official report to the office of the Inspector General of Police.

Using hammer

as gavel

to play as an arbiter in ironing out any grey areas of the business and also renders justice. That is the civil thing to do rather than resort to convicting a business partner in the media,” it said, adding that “followers of Anambra State politics know that the current challenges against Chief Uba is not unconnected with his taunted political ambition in the state and the current crisis in the leadership of the ruling party in the state, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.”

Also, Uba’s kinsmen from his native Nnewi community and a non-governmental organization under the aegis of the Anambra Peoples’ Movement (APM) have decried the manner the business man was arrested and detained.

They accused some unnamed top officials of the Federal Government of working handsin-glove with security agencies in an attempt to tarnish the image of the oil magnate.

APM Leader, Chief Tempest Udenze, said the way Uba was arrested had raised more questions than answers: “One of which is whether Capital Oil and Gas Ltd, a duly established corporate entity that has legal rights to sue and be sued is no longer so? Why wouldn’t the relevant federal agencies follow this simple time-tested path of our laws?”

He continued: “In as much as our organization is not favourably disposed to any form of fraud whatsoever, we wish to state in very clear language that selective justice is no justice at all. Such is unconstitutional, unfair and unacceptable to all good conscience.

If the Federal Government, as it were, is sincere in its motive, they should go for the main culprits that are well known to all as earlier published. The group noted that Uba’s travails appeared to have started the moment he announced his interest in the politics of Anambra and warned that “the person who shall occupy the Awka Government House come March 17, 2014 will never be imposed on us from Abuja, Lagos or by any cabal, but must be a popularly elected candidate of the people.”

No end in sight

The new Speaker who used a hammer to conduct the session liaised with higher authorities to ensure that they hold a proper sitting at the Assembly complex against the directive of the Reps.

This development infuriated the National Assembly which called for a total lock of the Assembly complex pending the time the House of Reps will present the report. But that was also thwarted as the "progressive’ group continued their session

against the purported directive to Inspector General of Police IGP and the Director of SSS to shot down the premises of State House of Assembly.

The House resumed sitting amidst tight security. Motorists were frisked while vehicles were thoroughly searched by both anti bomb policemen and plain clothes security operatives to forestall possible breakdown of law and order as workers and visitors who were not properly badge were turned back.

Moving the motion for the business of the day the caucus Majority Leader Hon. Aliyu Akuh announced the first reading of the Bill for a Law to establish Kogi State College of Education Ankpa and other matters connected therewith (repeal and re-enacted bill 2012) which was read and adopted.

Speaking to journalists after the sitting on the purported directive to shut down the House Hon.Aliyu Akuh hinted that the House had earlier passed a resolution declaring the action of the House of Representatives adhoc committee as null and void and of no effect. He noted that

the state was not in the state of emergency but undergoing leadership change which is permissible in a democracy.

However, political stakeholders including Ibrahim Idris are seeking political solution to free the state from the present logjam.

Vanguard gathered that some stakeholders recently met in Abuja and agreed to dialogue with the factions with the view to resolving the impasse, which has tainted the image of the new administration.

Also, the former governor, Alhaji Idris was among those calling for truce. Two seperate peace meetings have so far been held with the Alhaji Abdullahi camp on one hand and Lawal Momoh Jimoh led faction on the other hand. The meeting Vanguard gathered was called at the instance of the former governor of the state.

However, the meeting which was held at the private residence of the former governor may not have yielded positive result, as both factions were said to have refused to shif grounds.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012 — 43

We inherited structures not designed for tertiary institutions —Prof. Adeyuyigbe R

ECENTLY, the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, OAUTHC, recorded a landmark by performing the first successful laparoscopic surgery in a government owned hospital in Nigeria, utilising a medical team comprising only Nigerian doctors. As one of the first generation teaching hospitals established by the Federal Government to provide qualitative health care delivery to its people, OAUTHC has a visoin to be a leading centre of excellence in every clinical, training and support service. Its mission is to be in the fore-front of comprehensive health care delivery in Nigeria. But several years down the line, has this health institution fulfilled its role of providing affordable costeffective integrated healthcare service designed to secure improvement in the physical, mental and socio-economic well being of the people of Nigeria?

In this interview with SOLA OGUNDIPE, the Chief Medical Director, Professor Olusanya Adejuyigbe, speaks on the challenges, successes and future expectations of the healthcare institution. Excerpts: variety of reasons why people choose where they go. Many people go not for medical reasons alone and sometimes they will not want to voice out why they go out for the treatment.

For a better illustration, many women decide to have their babies abroad, not because babies cannot be delivered in Nigeria, but they might want to increase the likelihood of wanting •Professor Olusanya Adejuyigbe their babies to acquire foreign passports in future. And that is not medical reason.

We do renal The truth is that our expertise and equipment are currently underutilised transplant here but and if public office holders partronised our people still go us, it would have been an advantage in to India for this that it will give the local people a sense of appreciation that the President, same treatment and Governors or Senators and their wives the reason is that come here for treatment. By doing that, they will know what next we are in culturally, our need of. We would have a dual people are advantage of being appreciated and our leaders will see the need to invest reluctant to donate more in local infrastructure and part of their bodies human resources.

For instance, we do renal transplant even to help a here but our people still go to India for dying relation; in this same treatment and the reason is that culturally, our people are India they will only reluctant to donate part of their bodies pay and get a even to help a dying relation. In India kidney of unrelated they will only pay and get a kidney of unrelated person which has a reduced person which has a chance of survival in them. Although reduced chance of they will survive the post-operative period because they will be on heavy survival in them doses of appropriate drugs but down the line the consequences will show. they travel abroad for medical Recently the Minister of Health said treatment but I can assure you that a restriction had been placed on trying to protect oneself is a personal public office holders going abroad issue. We have managed some for medical treatment, yet government Governors, their families and notable officials still rarely patronise local personalities in this hospital but that health institutions. How do we does not mean they cannot patronise rationalise this? us more.

Only our leaders can answer why How much is the budget you are

,

What are the challenges facing the OAUTHC? We inherited structures that were not designed for tertiary institutions because, contextually, this institution was founded on the expectation that we would utilise the existing structures and since then, there has been need, both in the care and complexity of services we render that has necessitated the need to upgrade what is on ground and, if possible, build new ones.

The end result of that is that in the last few years we had to put in place structures to meet the challenges of increased patronage and popularity of services.

The maternity hospital is the same we have been using since inception of the medical school and teaching hospital is the one inherited from the state with few modifications. Definitely it is outdated and there has been the need to put up a modern facility that will take care of pregnant women and their new born babies.

When we started, some of the specialities we have now were not in existence. Our needs, at that time, were fairly modest, but now we have some specialities in various branches.

Examples are open heart surgery and laparoscopic surgery. These would require new facilities, so there has been the need to improve on our infrastructures.

Government has approved our various budgets but we face tremendous challenges in getting the funds released. The government should please appreciate what our immediate needs are and make available to us funds needed in executing all these projects.

Does this health institution have what it takes to make people at the top, public office holders such as President Goodluck Jonathan, patronise your facilities with confidence?

I’ll tell you that 95 per cent of people travelling abroad are not going strictly for medical reasons. I cannot say we have all the infrastructure and personnel on ground to take care of all medical conditions, but there are

,

talking about now and what would be adequate budget to finish these projects and make them functional?

This year, the budget we have is N405 million. Last year, the government did not release up to N410 million.

Ideally, if the left over balance is given we would have completed some of the ongoing projects we have started either buying equipment or building structures. Each year, we now have projects which we have started with approval without such projects being completed because what they gave is not enough to complete them. Contractors will also complain that the bills of the previous year are no longer valid.

This year, we have a lot of projects going on in this hospital and our fear is that if we are going in this way, it may be difficult to catch up.

When the Executive failed to give you money at the right time, why were you quiet?

We were not quiet. There are periodic records given to appropriate government officials who are monitoring and supervising some of these things. They know what is happening but sometimes the solution may be beyond the immediate supervisor because he himself is in the same straight jacket because the money is not with him.

Is it an issue with the Central Bank of Nigeria?

It is not only the CBN. It can speak for itself, but I believe it is when they are instructed to pay that they will give out the money. From our interaction with CBN locally, we realised that whenever our money is credited into our account, we can spend as per amount released earlier into the account, we can spend by approval. I don’t think there is any supervisory agent that does not know the plight of various parastatals under its provision.

We tell them our problems and whenever documents are needed we show them and they collate it and forwarded it to another arm of government.

Where do the Minister of Health and Commissioner of Health come into the picture?

They supervise us and make us follow government policies. Our money is not released through the Ministry but directly into our account through the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Do they speak on your behalf?

Yes, they do; they follow us to the National Assembly, which would agree with us, but at a higher or parallel level they would collate all Continues on Page 44

44—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012

We inherited structures not designed for tertiary institutions —Prof. Adeyuyigbe that is needed and divide by what it is available. And there is also competing interest and it is those who are able to set priorities right that get whatever is being offered.

What is your own priority area in their hierarchy order?

We now have more experts in certain areas and we believe that if these services are adequately rendered, the health of Nigerians will be better thereof. For example, the maternity we have been using has been there for years and it is no longer adequate to cater for the number of pregnant women we now attend to now. We therefore decided to have a new maternity that will take care of the pregnant women and for them to be little comfortable after delivery.

The hospital being on a major highway always gets accident victims which has made our orthopaedic ward a trauma unit to the extent that we might not have beds for patients some times. When this hospital started, we had just two surgeons who are both late but today, we have seven . The situation would have been better if we had about four hospitals of this cadre, serving our catchment area because at times we engaged in some areas that should be carried out by state, general or primary health centres.

But the public will want to partronise teaching hospitals because of their belief that there are reasonable measures of expertise and equipment that will attend to them.

The more you get better, more people get even where they ought to be assisted, the facilities are not there. Teaching hospitals in this country serve as primary healthcare centre, general hospital, specialist hospital and tertiary health care centre. In addition to that, there are burden of municipal services we need to carry like provision of water, electricity, amongst others.

Where do you think

OAUTHC should be as at now?

We should be here providing high quality tertiary health care in all specialist areas of medicine. We are able to do some but we are handicapped in some others where we have trained personnel. For example, we have our transplanting; they can do more with a little help particularly in funding

,

Continues from Page 43

The implication is that your vision will be delayed but we pray that they will still be actualised. It is very frustrating because your people no longer believe you and it is also frustrating to the man at the fore front because he is handicapped. But there is a greater danger in that Nigeria is not building a culture of

Up to 99 per cent of what Nigerians need in terms of tertiary health can be provided in our current situation; if we upgrade our facilities regularly, encourage people to train and improve themselves from time to time

of the processes. It takes about N3 million to carry out and care for a patient who needs renal transplantation. As at today many of the patients who come to us cannot afford it and they are not happy. We would have been able to virtually do one procedure everyday if virtually everything is on ground personally.

But there is no donor and people do not have money to carry out the surgery.You see a patient in your care wasting away in spite of the fact that you can help and it’s a big frustration.

Another is in the area of open heart surgery.

We have established but we are yet to have the advantage because of the cost per patient which is quite exorbitant.

Many of the patients are not able to meet up with their bills.

There is need for expansion of our infrastructure base to take care of increased patronage and personnel we have on ground. We have set up and provide a minimal heart surgery and recently our gynecologist did a minimal laparoscopy.

We are also setting up a cardiac care unit which is about 40 percent complete; we hope to finish it this year but I am afraid if balance of what we need is not released we may not able to finish it until next year.

What is the implication of this?

,

providing a high healthcare simply because everybody believes we cannot afford it. Up to 99 per cent of what Nigerians need in terms of tertiary health can be provided in our current situation. If we upgrade our facilities regularly, encourage people to train and improve themselves from time to time.

Do we have enough hospitals to cater for us despite all these short comings or should we be thinking of merging hospitals?

We can do e-banking but not e-health because banking only involves figures without touching the money and still be credit worthy. There is still no subsidy for care giver and receiver in medical practice.

What is it about emedicine?

E-medicine only allows me to do distance consultation and sharing of opinion. I can be here sharing opinion with my colleagues but you cannot be in Moscow and operating a patient in Ile-Ife. There will still be someone who will be on stand which is physical factor. Part of care is to share, talk to me, I respond and you share from my perceptive which is yet not mechanised.

On merging of hospitals, we do not have enough hospitals in the country for the kind of population we are having.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012 — 45

46 — Vanguard, Wednesday November 14, 2012

By IFEANYI OKOLIE

L

AGOS State Police Command, over the week, recorded a breakthrough by arresting a 31year-old man, Tochukwu Nweke, suspected to be the most notorious illegal arms dealer in the country.

Arrested with the suspect are five other members of the gang that allegedly coordinated the high profile Sunday September 9 robbery in Lagos State during which several persons including three policemen were killed.

The gang members were also suspected to be the brains behind the deadly robbery operation at the First Bank in Kwara State on September 11, 2012, where they overran a police station, killing several policemen and carting away their rifles.

Parading the suspects before journalists at the state police command headquarters, Ikeja, yesterday, the Commissioner of police, Lagos State, Umar Manko, told reporters that a total of 14 Ak-47 rifles, one General Purpose Machine Gun, GPMG, 125 magazines, loaded with 6,672 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, four GPMG chain bullets with 100 rounds of live ammunition fully loaded, and 180 rounds of 9 mm live ammunition were recovered from the suspects.

Cp Manko, who gave the identities of the other suspects as Nonso Ndubisi, 26, Akindele Akinyemi,30, Emmanuel Ehianeta,27, Segun Runsewe,39, and Isiaka Lawal,55, added that their arrest came following the deadly robbery attack in Lagos State and Kwara on September 9 and 11, 2012 where several lives of innocent citizens and police rifles were lost.

According to him; “the close circuit television (CCTV) footage of the first bank, Share, obtained from Kwara state command was carefully analyzed and one Akindele Akinyemi, who has been on Police list as the most wanted armed robbery kingpin in recent time, was identified. He was lured by the officer in charge of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, SP Abba Kyari and his men from where he was hibernating in Cotonou, the Republic of Benin and he was arrested with three other members of his gang; Ehianeta, Runsewe and Lawal. The above mentioned exhibits were recovered from them after the arrest.”

C

ontinuing, the Police boss stated that this group merged with Uche Okeagbu’s group who were earlier arrested in September 2012, to carry out the September 9 and 11 robberies in Lagos and Kwara States.

“They were formerly members of a notorious armed robbery gang which included Fatia Sule, Tude Oyebade, Adewale Adeniyi, Bode Oyekan, Ismaila Showemimo, Ayomide Jeremiah and many others who have earlier met their waterloo in a gun battle with SARS operatives. A total of 11 Ak47 rifles, two pump action guns, two pistols, 59 magazines, 1,770 live 7.62mm ammunition, six .9mm and one live cartridge were recovered through diligent follow up between November 2011 and July 2012. The

B-R-E-A-K-T-H-R-O-U-G-H

Police arrest suspected notorious illegal arms dealer •Buys from Gadaffi’s looted amoury in Libya •Weapons packed inside bags of onion, sent as waybill suspects confessed to series of bank, bullion van, and Bureau De Change robberies in Lagos, Ogun, Ekiti, Ondo, Kogi, and Edo states.”

P

olice sources intimated Crime Alert that based on the confessional statements made by Akinyemi and Ehianeta after the large catch of arms and ammunition were recovered from them, the name and

contact address of their arms supplier, who they identified as Tochukwu Nweke was obtained. Ehianeta reportedly claimed ownership of all the arms and ammunition and also confessed that he bought them with over N20 million from Nweke. He also revealed during interrogation that Nweke was getting his stock from the looted amoury of former Libyan leader, Muamar Gadaffi stating that Nweke

has a contact in Niamey, the capital of Niger Republic who received a large cache of arms and ammunition looted from Libya. The AK-47 rifles, he claimed were bought for as much as N450,000 while the GPMG was sold to him for N1million adding that Nweke had many other patronizers from different parts of Africa including Nigeria where they make the biggest and fastest sales. The suspects also disclosed that Nweke sup-

Vanguard, Wednesday November 14, 2012 — 47

paid off on November 6, 2012, around 10 pm, Nweke was tracked to Sea Park Hotel, Asaba, in Delta State and the next day, the operatives invaded the hotel and arrested him. They searched his Mercedes Benz 230 and found two Ak-47 rifles, 750 live ammunition and 14 magazines concealed in specially constructed compartment under the back seat of the car.

“When Nweke was interrogated, he confessed that he imports Ak-47 rifles, GPMGS, Rocket launchers, and other military grade arms and ammunitions into the country from Niger Republic.

He gave the name of his supplier as one Alhaji who resides at the border between Benin Republic and Niger Republic stating that each time he makes an order, Alhaji will package the arms and ammunition inside bags of onion and they will send them through waybill from Benin Republic into the country. He also gave us the names of some of his buyers and led us to one Nonso Ndubisi, in Onitsha whom he had supplied four Ak-47 rifles.”

W

plies dangerous weapons to the whole of South South and South Eastern parts of the country.

B

ased on these startling revelations, Crime Alert learnt that operatives of the special anti-robbery squad launched a massive manhunt for the man described as ‘the most notorious illegal arms dealer’ in the country. The Officer in charge swiftly mobilised a team of operatives to track down the notorious arm dealer. The first thing the operatives did was to establish contact with some of his boys in Lagos State.

“At that time, we discovered that his phone lines were not connecting as he was out of the country.

One of our operative who posed as a prospective buyer that needed two Ak-47 rifles started communicating with his boys and he asked us to pay N600, 000 for each of the rifles amounting to N1.2. We agreed to his prices and offered to pay N900, 000, as first installment. And we asked him how we could get the money across to him and get rifles. He asked us to be patient and wait for instructions. While he thought we were waiting, we ran a track on Nweke and it was discovered that he was back in the country and his location was Onitsha. We quickly moved down to Onitsha and started hunting for him. Eventually our efforts

hen Crime Alert interviewed some of the suspects, Akinyemi and Ehianeta admitted taking part in some deadly bank and bullion van robberies in various states. Ehianeta also told Crime Alert that he owns all the arms and ammunition recovered from them. According to him “ I am from Edo state and I do not have a fixed address in the country, I spend most of my time in Ghana and Benin Republic. I was formerly into internet fraud but I quit and joined armed robbery because it is faster and easier. I invested over N20 million into armed robbery and I bought all my arms and ammunition from Tochukwu. He sold Ak-47 rifles to me for N450,000, magazines for N10,000, 7.62mm ammunition for N1,000 per one , GPMG for N1m and it .9mm ammunition, N1500 per one. He told me he could sell rocket launchers for N1.5m and the rocket for N500,000.

I decided to buy these ammunition because whoever owns the arms and ammunition used during any operation gets the highest share. I never knew I was going to be arrested this way. I have had several successful trips but on the day I was arrested, I was with Akin and we got a call from a client who said he has a job for us.

The client said he wanted us to rob somebody of the sum of N10 million.

So, I and Akin traveled to Lagos from Cotonou and asked the client to meet us at Ojota, but unknown to us, we were in a police sting operation. We didn’t know that the client was a police officer that wanted to lure us for arrest.

“When we got to Ojota and we met with the client, before we knew what was happening, we have been surrounded by SARS operatives and they arrested us. I cooperated with them because I know the end has come. I took them to the place where I keep my rifles at the home of my herbalist in Ogun State and they recovered every thing. I have given them all the information I have and I hope I will get a second chance.”

Tension mounts at Ladipo market

…as traders recount how leader was dumped inside prison on trumped up charges

By DANIEL ADEWOLE

T

HE lingering leadership tussle at the popular Aguiyi Ironsi International market, Ladipo, Lagos has taken a turn for the worse. This followed the unexpected incarceration of the President of the traders union, Jonathan Okoli, at the Ikoyi prisons over what his followers called ‘trumped up charges’. As at yesterday, most of the traders trooped out in protest against the continued detention of their president at the prison without carrying out investigations into the charges against him.

The Secretary of the traders association, Christian Ibegbunem who narrated their ordeal to Crime Alert alleged that a serving female Commissioner of Police was behind the plight of their President adding that she cooked up stories against the leadership of the market union and used her position to hoodwink both the police and the court. According to him, “Our President was invited by the State Security Service, SSS, at Shangasha few weeks ago. When he got to their office, they directed him to go to the Police headquarters in Ikeja. When he got there, he met with the police authorities and he was asked to explain what he knew about the crisis in the market.

“He took time to narrate the genesis of the problem in the market, exposing the machinations of the serving female Commissioner of Police to enthrone one of her sons as the leader of the market union when he is not even a trader. He supported his explanations with documents and ended up telling them that their counterparts at the Force Criminal Investigations Department, Alagbon have been directed by the Inspector—General of Police to investigate the case. He also dismissed claims by the petitioners acting under the aegis of concerned traders that he attempted to kill them stating that all the photographs tendered with the petition was that of members of his association who were wounded by the thugs hired at the instance of the son of the serving

female Commissioner of police to disrupt the smooth running of the market by their genuine leaders.

“After his honest explanations, we were shocked that he was taken to the State Criminal Investigations Department at Panti, from where he was hastily charged to court few days later. At the court, the state lawyer urged them to remand him for attempted murder. This was coming when no investigation was carried out by the police. All efforts by our lawyer to stop the kangaroo trial failed even after he pointed out that the case was a bailable one. They ended up throwing him into Ikoyi prison where he will await for the advise of Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution, DPP. What we are saying is that the whole trial is a calculated attempt to detain him indefinitely at the prison while the son of the serving female Commissioner of Police who is a land developer and not trader, takes over the running of our market against the wishes of majority of the traders whose hard-earned money was used to build the market. Our passionate appeal is that the InspectorGeneral of Police whose antecedents on the issue of justice for the downtrodden is well known, should quickly step into this case by ordering his men at Panti to withdraw the matter without delay and hand over all investigations to Alagbon where he earlier directed that it should be taken to. Anything short of this is a travesty of justice and the repercussion is far-reaching because tension is very high in the market.

It should be noted that the so-called concerned traders that signed the petition were just former leaders in the market who were indicted over financial misappropriation. They woke up overnight and decided to team up with developers who are just after money to destabilize our business in the market.

Our President has been trying to calm the situation from prison but I am not sure it will last long,”he stated.

Group expresses concern over insecurity in Nigeria

By BOSE ADELAJA

I

rked by the present state of insecurity in Nigeria, African Youths Initiative on Crime Prevention, AYICRIP, has called on government to support and embrace crime prevention programmes capable of fighting crime through preventive strategies.

The body also expressed concern over the killing of four undergraduates of University of Port-Hacourt and forty others in Mubi, Niger State and called for due compensation to affected families by both the Federal and

State Governments.

Addressing journalists in Lagos, AYICRIP Executive Director, Christogonus Chidiebere said the present state of insecurity in Nigeria calls for great concern adding “the human and social consequences are compelling, from the physical abuse, psychological and emotional trauma, to the economic and political implications of unabated crime, the impact on individuals and society is clearly destructive and unacceptable. This implies that we must not fold our hands to watch our nation being destroyed by those who has refused to see peace as a great tool for National integration and development,” he said.

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We're not hypocrites — Chelsea D

EFIANT Bruce Buck insists Chelsea are not ‘hypocrites’ for reporting Mark Clattenburg over an alleged racial slur.

The Blues have been in the spotlight since they accused Clattenburg of abusing John Obi Mikel following their 3-2 defeat to Manchester United.

It came just weeks after the London club stood by John Terry after he was found guilty by the FA of a racial abuse charge.

Terry was banned for four games and called a “unreliable” witness by FA bosses. The club were also slated in a report.

Yet Buck today stands by Chelsea’s official complaint against Clattenburg and denies the club have shown double standards.

The Stamford Bridge chairman said: “Suppose we had tried to sweep this under the rug and said to the various players, ‘Look, it’s not a big deal and the Press are going to be all over us, maybe you want to reconsider’.

“If that had leaked out, we would’ve really been crucified.

“I spoke to the players involved, either because they were allegedly the recipient of that abuse or had heard it, three separate times.

“I asked them if they could be mistaken. I asked them if they might have heard ‘Mikel’ instead of

BY MMACHI ILECHUKWU

T

RACE ROW 2 ... Mark Clattenburg and John Obi Mikel. ‘monkey.’ I thought I had covered that base.

“Looking into the players’ eyes, I could see they were unhappy but no player or staff demanded that we file a complaint.

“They gave us their statements. The decision was made by us, the Chelsea management.

“The Press seem to juxtapose ‘our support’ of John Terry and what’s going on here and looking at us as being a bit hypocritical.

“We have to divorce the John Terry situation from this. From our perspective, the latest situation was pretty straightforward.

“We have an obligation to report what may be

Ejide leads Eagles against Venezuela Continued from BP Christopher.

The Eagles number one jersey has since been alternated between the duo, with Enyeama having the lion’s share, but Wednesday’s game will be another opportunity for Ejide to lay claim to the Eagles number one shirt.

In the meantime, Newcastle United of England’s longest serving player, Shola Ameobi, has said he was simply delighted to be part of the Nigerian set up for the first time and hopes it turns out well on Wednesday (Thursday morning in Nigeria).

Ameobi spoke after dinner on Monday night on arrival from England.

“Its good to be here and I will learn to speak Pidgin English as the

Swedish golfers invade First Bank Amateur Open

players have directed”, he joked after his former teammate at the Toons’, Obafemi Martins challenged him to start speaking in Pidgin English, which Keshi has adopted as the official language each time the team is in camp.

Also in ecstacy over his call up is Bright Dike of MLS side Portland Timbers in the United States, who was the last to join camp. Dike said at breakfast on Tuesday morning that it was a dream come true for him to be part of the Nigerian set up, as Assistant Coach, Sylvanus Okpala tries to size up abilities to speak the Ibo language.

“I understand it but don’t speak fluently, it will get better now that I will start coming to Nigeria”, he said amidst smiles.

misconduct. We did that, in good faith and not maliciously.”

Buck was adamant Terry did not get any special

treatment from the Chelsea hierarchy. And he delivered a blunt message to the conspiracy theorists: Roman Abramovich runs this club.

Afcon referees to be ‘quarantined’ Referees in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations will be kept secluded from the public during the tournament in South Africa next year to avoid match-fixing, a local organising committee (LOC) said on Tuesday.

Organisers will apply the same security measures than during the 2010 World Cup, which the country hosted as well, LOC CEO Mvuso Mbebe told a parliamentary committee.

“We are using the same concept we did during the World Cup where the referees will be quarantined... in a

particular hotel which no one has access to,” he said.

“When they leave, they leave match day minus one, to go to the city... they cannot have contact with members of the public, because you don’t know what can be exchanged in that plane,” Mbebe added.

Security force members will escort the referees from their hotels to the stadiums. The quarantine will be lifted at the end of the tournament, he said, adding that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) had approved the measures.

OP professional golfers from Sweden will be in Lagos to conduct clinics for participants in the 51stFirst Bank Amateur Open Golf Championship which tees off the 17thof November at the prestigious Ikoyi club 1938 Golf course in Lagos.

The tournament is open for amateur players from ages 14 and above Organisers said, the event would provide a platform for busy executives, who are members of Ikoyi club to not only watch the game from the sidelines but to also learn the first steps of the game. It is also an avenue for participants and spectators to learn more about the customer centric approach of First

Bankers Games: Fidelity Bank maintain overall dominance

F

IDELITY Bank looks to retain their title as the overall winner of the Nigeria Bankers Games as they perch atop the overall medals’ log with two gold, Silver and four bronze medals. This is even as the bank is still contending for at least silver medals in five of the six events that will be concluded on the final day.

The remaining events which have Fidelity Bank as finalists include Table Tennis for women in which the bank is vying for the gold medal with

Calabar Stadium wears new look for Golden Eaglets

T

HE government of Cross River State is pulling all the strings to ensure that the Golden Eaglets’ last 2013 African U-17 qualifier home game against Mali on Sunday would be in a blaze of glory and fanfare as the U. J Esuene Stadium is now undergoing redecoration General painting of the 10,000-capacity stadium started on Monday and would expectedly be completed before Sunday’s crunch game between Nigeria and Mali.

The stadium’s manager,

Koko Bassey-Omara informed that the Golden Eaglets’ game against Mali would not have come at a better time than ahead of the huge annual Calabar Carnival.

“The renovation at the U.J Esuene stadium would serve dual purposes for the Golden Eaglets’ last game against Mali on Sunday and importantly our biggest annual festival, the Calabar Carnival,” he said. “We have really enjoyed the Golden Eaglets here and it is a pleasant coincidence that the team’s last

bank in its bid to be of benefit to all strata of the banking public.

Captain of the golf section, Ebi Pinnick announced that this year’s golf clinic will be handled by two top professionals from Sweden, Joakim Rasik and Bjorn Petterson.

First Bank head, marketing and corporate communications, Mrs Folake Ani Mumuni said the choice of top professionals was because Nigeria needed to start operating at a world class level.

First bank which has been sponsoring the event for several decades pledged their undying commitment to the championship.

The organizers of the event disclosed that the golf will make a return to the Olympics at the Rio Games in 2016.

game is coming just before the start of the 2012 Calabar Carnival.”

It was learnt that the His Excellency Senator Liyel Imoke has spared little in ensuring that the U.J Esuene stadium is at its posh best for the two forthcoming big events. “ Frankly, the Governor doesn’t joke with beautification of Calabar and I think it is only fitting that the Golden Eaglets that have been here for this long would see the stadium at its colourful best which is usually the case for the Calabar Carnival,”he added.

First Bank. In Lawn Tennis men doubles and singles, the Ihejiani Team are contending for the gold medal with StanbicIBTC while they are also in the race for women singles, Fidelity Bank has Standard Chartered Bank in the battle for gold. Another possible medals source for Fidelity Bank is in the athletics event covering 100, 200, and 4x100m relay for men and women.

Emmanuel Esinnah, Head of Corporate Communications at Fidelity Bank attributed their success to good planning and adequate motivation by the management. “We would have loved to win the football event also but then we are happy to remain favourites for the overall event winner which is a result of our good planning and excellent motivation by management”, explained Esinnah.

First Bank’s Solomon Idowu is however confident of clinching the gold medal for the men’s table tennis singles which he also won last year. “The fact that I am in the finals is sufficient motivation to retain the title I won last year and I look forward to having the gold medal on my neck”, declared Idowu.

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012

— Page 55

Ejide leads Eagles against Venezuela •Keshi hands him Captain’s armband •Kick-off: 2a.m.Thursday in Nigeria

I

•Skipper ... Ejide

•Goal machine... Obafemi

SRAELI-based goalkeeper, Austin Ejide, will step out of the shadows of his national

I’ll shoot my way to Nations Cup — Obafemi

O

BAFEMI Martins, who is styled the Weapon of Mass Destruction, has vowed to get a shirt with his performance on the pitch on Wednesday and in subsequent camping of the team. “My return is for real and Nigerians will see”, TODAY'S

he said. Indeed, Martins looked the sharpest among attackers in camp as he banged in goal after goal in Monday evening training.

The game will be played at the Marlins Stadium in Miami 8pm Miami time and 2am Thursday Nigerian time.

PUZZLE

•Leo has gun pointed at head — They said I've got to go to Riyadh ... gun points at Messi in Saudi airport.

YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS: 2 Climb (5) 7 View (5) 8 Attempted (5) 10 Audibly (5) 12 Epoch (3) 13 Track (5) 15 See (7) 17 Haphazard (6) 19 Squatted (3) 20 Squanderer (7) 23 Rind (4) 25 Trade (4) 26 Remainder (7) 30 Rotter (3) 31 Restraint (6) 34 Depict (7) 37 Roost (5) 38 Extra run (3) 39 Pattern (5) 40 Ardent (5) 41 Recover (5) 42 Horse-race (5)

teammate, Vincent Enyeama, on Wednesday night in Miami, United States, when he leads the team out as skipper in the international friendly against Venezuela at the Marlins Stadium in the American city.

Head Coach Stephen Keshi said after critical consideration, he has decided to hand Ejide the armband for the match.

Indeed, Ejide first joined the national team from Gabros of Nnewi, in the run-up to the KoreaJapan 2002 World Cup, alongside Enyeama and the likes of Justice

Continues on page 55

DOWN: 1 Zodiac sign (5) 2 Sedate (5) 3 Inexperienced (6) 4 Praise (4) 5 Built (7) 6 Hire (5) 9 Anger (3) 11 Swell (7) 13 Rubbish (5) 14 Rage (5) 16 Scull (3) 18 Road material (7) 21 Prise (5) 22 Collision (5) 24 Reading desk (7) 27 Spoil (3) 28 Splendid (6) 29 Bird (5) 32 Pass on (5) 33 Upbraid (5) 35 Cereal (3) 36 Drawing frame (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS

Across: 2, Extra 7, Keen 8, Wintry 9, Dense 11, Pie 13, Wit 15, Rest 16, Cos 18, Line 19, Bronzed 20, Taut 22, Toss 23, Austere 25, Corn 27, Ewe 28, Veto 30, Try 31, Den 33, Brawn 36, Refine 37, Else 38, Throw

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

•Ameobi

Down: 1, Eerie 2, End 3, Tin 4, Awe 5, Inn 6, Train 10, Shoo 11, Protect 12, Estuary 13, Widowed 14, Tension 16, Crate 17, Snare 18, Let 21, Tun 24, Ewer 26, Order 29, Tense 32, Pit 33, Bet 34, Air 35, New

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

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

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

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

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