BOKO HARAM: Angry soldiers open fire on GOC's vehicle by Vanguard Media Limited

...towards a better life for the people

VOL. 25: NO. 62144

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N150

THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014

Tinubu, Ikimi struggle EXTENSION OF EMERGENCY RULE: Senate summons Service for control of APC 9 Chiefs, IG, NSA, DSS 4

BOKO HARAM:

Angry soldiers open fire on GOC's vehicle •Protest killing of colleagues by Boko Haram members •It's an internal affair which has been resolved —DHQ •Borno villagers ambush, kill 200 Boko Haram terrorists

BY NDAHI MARAMA

AIDUGURI— THE General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Ahmadu Mohammed, yesterday, escaped death as angry soldiers opened fire on his official vehicle when he came to address them at the Maimalari Barracks in Maiduguri, the Borno Continues on page 5

We were paid N140,000 to kill Lagos bizman — Suspects 7

Mr & Mrs PRAYING FOR CHIBOK GIRLS—Members of The Christian Defence Coalition pray in front of the Embassy of Nigeria in Washington, DC during a prayer vigil, yesterday in support of the schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram from Chibok. Photo: AFP.

COLUMNISTS:

President Goodluck Jonathan's fallout from Chibok •P.17 C M Y K

Chibok girls as game changer •P.19

As I remember Elder Isemede

•P.19

Committee gets 31 demands for new states

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BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE & JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

BUJA— THE Senate and the House of Representatives have invited the service chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police to appear before them and brief them on the security situation in the troubled states before commencing debates on President Goodluck Jonathan’s request for extension of emergency rule. This is just as Senators from the North, operating under the umbrella of Northern Senators Forum, NSF, after their closeddoor meeting yesterday, which lasted about three hours, vowed to frustrate moves for the extension of emergency rule in the three North-East states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe. In their resolve to stop the extension of emergency rule, the northern Senators stated that they would mobilise in their numbers to have the constitutional requirement of two third to vote against the President’s decision to extend the emergency rule. The Senators maintained that the extension of the emergency rule was not the best way to combat the insurgency that had paralysed social and economic activities in the affected areas even though they welcomed the intervention of friendly nations in the fight against terrorism.

NSF sets up c’ttee Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Chairman of NSF, Senator Umaru Dahiru, said the group had set up a committee to meet with the government of the affected states on the way forward. Senator Dahiru, who represents Sokoto South Senatorial district in the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said: “Our meeting this (yesterday) afternoon discussed basically the issue of emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states. Everybody in attendance made contributions and a lot was said. “The majority position is that we are not going with the state of emergency. That is our categorical position because we are not convinced that it is only the issue of emergency rule that could make the security personnel to achieve success in the area. “We believe a lot of things ought to be addressed to conquer the issue of insurgency. “We are going to engage the three governors in the affected states. We want to know what went wrong to be able to come up with better ways to tackle the crisis. “The constitution requires two third majority in terms of voting. Of course we are going to vote on the issue. If we can outnumber them during the

VISIT:

Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal (left) and former President of Ghana, John Kufuor, during his courtesy visit to the Speaker in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: Gbemiga Olamikan.

EXTENSION OF EMERGENCY RULE: Senate summons service chiefs, IG, NSA, DSS voting, fine.” He commended the efforts of the military against the insurgents and pledged the support of his group on whatever would be needed to ensure their success. Senator Dahiru expressed support for the decision of friendly foreign powers to assist the country to rescue the schoolgirls abducted by the Boko Haram sect, but noted that such help must be on the terms of the Nigerian government.

Service chiefs, IG for debriefing Meanwhile, the Senate, yesterday, invited the service chiefs and the InspectorGeneral of Police, IGP, to appear before it today for a briefing on the security situation in the three states where state of emergency was imposed, before commencing debates on the President’s extension request. Also to appear before the Senate are the National Security Adviser, Minister of Defence and the Minister of Police Affairs. While postponing debate on the motion, the Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma Egba, who was to move the motion for the extension of the emergency rule urged members to allow the item be stepped down until another legislative session.

Gazette before debate Senator Ndoma Egba stated that the aspect of the constitution dealing with emergency rule had not been gazetted and that the Senate was yet to review the success or otherwise of the emergency rule which had

As northern Senators vow to frustrate move been in place since May last year. He said: “The proclamation by the requirements of the constitution is supposed to be gazetted. We must circulate the gazette before we can debate it. Secondly, it has been the tradition of this Senate that before debates, we appraise and access the performance of the state of emergency. “So I will move that this distinguished Senate do invite the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Inspector-General of Police and the Director General of the Department of State Services, DSS, to brief this Senate at 10a.m. today in a close session to enable us to commence debate on the President request.” Senator James Manager seconded the motion and added that the National Security Adviser, Minister of Defence and Minister of Police Affairs be also invited. The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the session, described the motion as very serious, adding “I, therefore, appeal that in accordance with the motion moved by the Senate Leader, we should step it down till another legislative day.”

Reps defer voting until… The House of Representatives also deferred voting on the extension till today to enable all the service chiefs brief them on the security challenges in the troubled states. The Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, who presided, made the announcement at the

plenary after contributions by some members, said the service chiefs would brief the House before the commencement of voting today. Leading the debate, the Majority Leader, Mulikat Akande Adeola (PDP Oyo), said the House on November 20, 2013, considered and approved the extension of emergency in the three states.

The constitution She said according to the provisions of Section 305 (6) (c) of the Constitution, as amended, would elapse after a period of six months from the date of approval, except the period is extended by the National Assembly. The Section states: “Provided that the National Assembly may, before the expiration of the period of six months aforesaid, extend the period for the proclamation of the state of emergency to remain in force from time to time for a further period of six months by resolution in the like manner.” More than 20 lawmakers spoke in support of the extension, withe six against. Leader of the Borno caucus in the House, Mohammed Monguno (APC), who was first to contribute, said the Borno caucus was in support of the extension. Kaka Gujbawu (PDP, Borno), said the emergency rule should be extended so insecurity could be tackled. Titsi Ganama (PDP, Adamawa), Ali Yakubu (PDP, Yobe) and Toby Okechukwu (PDP, Enugu) are some of the lawmakers who spoke in support of the extension.

No to extension Goni Bukar Haruna (APC, Yobe), who spoke on behalf of two other lawmakers from the state, said: “On behalf of the people and government of Yobe State, I stand to oppose the extension of the state of emergency. It has not helped us in any way. Rather, it only succeeded in aggravating the insurgency. Since they declared it one year ago, many people have been killed in the states more than when there was no emergency.” Hassan El Badawy (APC, Yobe) and Emmanuel Jime (APC, Benue), opposed the extension, with the latter adding that Jonathan should “invoke his constitutional powers” to make the Terrorism Prevention Act come to full force. Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, said emergency rule affects the rights of the people in the affected states and advised Jonathan to invoke his constitutional powers, while Andrew Uchendu (APC, Rivers), suggested a meeting of the leadership of the National Assembly with the President to fashion out a workable way of checking terrorism. Constitutional lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN) and Mr. Yinka Farounbi, Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Ikeja branch, backed the extension. While Sagay pointed out that no power exists in the Constitution for removal of governors because of the declaration of state of emergency, Farounbi called for a collaborative effort in addressing the security challenges in the states.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014 — 5

POCKET CARTOON

from patrol duties in Chibok were being conveyed to the morgue. There is calm in the cantonment and all normal operations activities are ongoing“.

Borno indigenes rise up against Boko Haram, kill 200 in Rann

VISIT: President Goodluck Jonathan (riight), receives Mark Simmons, UK Secretary of State for Africa and British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Andrew Pocock at the State House, Abuja, yesterday.

Angry soldiers open fire on GOC's vehicle Continues from page 1 State capital. This came as local villagers succeeded in repelling a Boko Haram attack, killing about 200 of the sect members in the process. Conflicting reports said the soldiers rebelled when they were forced to return to Maiduguri from Chibok as they considered it unsafe. The soldiers argued that it was dark and dangerous to return to Maiduguri that night. They therefore requested the GOC to allow them spend the night in one of the villages considered to be safe for them, but the GOC insisted that they must return the same night and report to Maiduguri.

Another source said the soldiers went on an operation in Kala Balge council area of the state but they were instructed to withdraw from the assignment and return to Maiduguri immediately. The source said on their way back, they were ambushed leading to the death of some soldiers. According to the source: “The troops arrived with the corpses of the slain soldiers to Maimalari barracks while the GOC was addressing some troops on the ongoing operation against the insurgency. But when the soldiers sighted the corpses of their deceased colleagues, and learnt about how they died, they condemned the way their superior officers allegedly treated them in

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

God gave you gifts that make you unique, gifts that hold great possibilities. But you have to discover them and develop them. A sign on a DIY shop says it all: ‘We’ve got it, if you can find it.’ Nobody was ever born without talent, including you, but you’ve got to find it.

TAKE HEART BY ELLA RANDLE

“allowing” is the absence of negative vibrations or doubt. The best way to allow anything is to remove doubt. So how do you remove doubt? “Find proof or evidence,” “When we can prove something or we can get evidence, that helps us whittle away the doubt, and things can come to us much faster and much smoother — Michael Losier

O you feel you are only getting a fraction of what you truly desire? Do the things you want take too long to come your way? If that’s the case, you may need to work on the “allowing” part of the manifestation process. You must learn how to allow the law of attraction to work for you so you can create the life you want. The proof you need is all around you — it’s everything and anything that you have desired, given attention and attracted. The more you notice the things you’ve attracted, the less doubt you will have and the more you will manifest, he says. “Become a seeker of proof, and start seeking things that you can say, ‘That’s here because of me!

the course of the operation, and therefore started shooting sporadically, while others opened fire on the GOC’s vehicle as he narrowly escaped from the scene”. According to the source, “ what angered the soldiers most, was the unnecessary deduction of their allowances and subjecting them to harsh working conditions without proper equipment to carry out their duties and as a result, many of them were being killed like rats by the insurgents”.

DHQS to probe incident According to BBC Hausa service monitored in Maiduguri by our Correspondent, “the Defence spokesman, Major General Chris Olukolade who was called on phone could not answer, but a text message was sent to him and he later replied that, “it was an internal affair which has since been resolved”. Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters has set up an enquiry into the incident. A statement issued later, yesterday, from the Joint Information Centre of the Counter Terrorism Campaign and signed by Major General Chris Olukolade said: “The 7 Division of the Nigerian Army is to institute a military board of inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the conduct of soldiers who fired some shots today (yesterday) while the General Officer Commanding was addressing troops in Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri. "The incident occurred when the corpses of four soldiers who died in an ambush while returning

Meanwhile, residents of Rann, the headquarters of Kala-Balge Local Government Area in the North-Eastern part ofBorno State, successfully repelled a Boko Haram attack and killed 200 of the insurgents. But the residents want immediate military support in anticipation of a reprisal attack from the badly humiliated Islamists. The bold move came as the previously traumatised local population in Borno State took their survival in their own hands and laid ambush for the insurgents that were approaching the village to raid and kill them as in past experiences. Reports from Maiduguri said the residents who had turned a blind eye to the sect’s reign of terror decided to confront them. Before now, Boko Haram had cowed the residents of local villages in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa but the people of Rann town in Borno State decided to fight back and killed about 200 of the Boko Haram terrorists in an angry reaction to their reign of terror. Reports said “the abduction of the Government Girls Secondary School Chibok schoolgirls, has changed the orientation and attitude of the people who are now prepared to die fighting the criminal band who use Islam as a cover up for their atrocities." An eye witness account said this was the second attempt by Boko Haram to attack Rann after trying it about a month ago but were equally repelled. About 300 insurgents were on their way to storm Rann and other adjoining villages at about 4am yesterday but met resistance from the people who had advance knowledge of the impending attack. “Exasperated with the endless terror unleashed upon them, local people have finally had enough and decided to take direct action to rid themselves of the menace. "Early this morning, (Tuesday) armed with just traditional fighting equipment and charms,

the residents launched a ferocious counter offensive as they were determined not to allow their town become a terrorist haven”. One of the participants in the counter offensive said: “The people in Rann and its environs used traditional fighting equipment and charms to repel the attacks. We really confronted the attackers who were equally ready for fight. “The villagers succeeded in protecting their dwellings from the attackers, killing about 200 members of the sect while many others escaped with serious wounds. "Our people also recovered over 70 motorcycles that the attackers came in, including two Hilux vehicles and an Armoured Personnel Carrier, while some of the attackers were captured alive. ”The Rann battle lasted several hours.

How Borno villagers killed the insurgents According to reports, the villagers who got wind of the plan, prepared for the Boko Haram attack by digging trenches for the purpose. The Rann village, located in the middle of a Boko Haram strong-hold, had been attacked by Boko Haram in the recent past. According to reports, over 400 Boko Haram terrorists stormed Rann and neighbouring villages in the early hours of Tuesday, with their usual convoy of Hilux trucks, motorcycles and APC (Armoured Personnel Carriers) only to meet villagers ready for them this time. The civilian villagers reportedly pounced on the terrorists with mere rocks, bows and arrows, local dane guns, swords and “charms”. Boko Haram members, said to be much frightened of Civilian-JTF, ran from the civilians. The battle

reportedly raged till the sun came up and ended with the civilians killing over 200 Boko Haram terrorists, capturing several prisoners and recovering several of their vehicles. Last week, Boko Haram terrorists ravaged Gondura Ngala town, reportedly killing over 300 residents. On April 14th, Boko Haram stormed Chibok and abducted over 200 girls. The Shehu of Bama was reported to have ordered his citizens to go get guns, after his town was completely decimated twice by Boko Haram terrorists with no military response for the full eight hours of carnage.

Boko Haram Begins to Destabilise Cameroon Meanwhile, Senior defence officials say that Cameroon has been infiltrated by Boko Haram and there are fears the nation, is drifting into chaos. “Right now, we are being infiltrated by Boko Haram. The military has decided to strengthen the intelligence system to effectively counter this threat, which seems to be gaining local support,” Colonel Didier Badjeck, spokesperson for the Cameroon Ministry of Defence, told IPS. Governor of Cameroon’s Far North Region, Augustine Awa Fonka, told IPS that the precision with which the extremist group attacked a military post in the region on May 5, lends credence to the fact that the attack was carried out with the help of local informants. Cameroon’s north western border runs along the length of Nigeria’s eastern border, stretching to Nigeria’s north-east — a Boko Haram stronghold.

6 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014

Gunmen abduct mother, child, shoot man in Onitsha BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO

NITSHA — GUNMEN, suspected to be kidnappers, yesterday, abducted a woman and her child in the commercial city of Onitsha, Anambra State, despite claims by the state government and security agencies that criminals are being given hot chase in the state. The gunmen, who operated in the afternoon at the popular Enugu Park, near Zik’s Mausoleum, at the Onitsha end of Enugu/Onitsha expressway, also gunned down a passer-by while shooting sporadically as they carried out the nefarious act. According to the source, trouble was said to have started for the woman as she was being driven in her Sport Utility Vehicle, SUV, with her child on her laps. On getting close to Enugu Park, the source said the hoodlums crossed the SUV and immediately, five men wielding AK-47 rifles, started shooting indiscriminately into the air ostensibly to scare aware any challenge. They forced the driver, the woman and her child to lie face down inside one of their cars and whisked them away to an unknown destination. A stray bullet hit a man on the leg and he was said to have been rushed to a nearby hospital. The sound of the shooting which rented the air resulted in travellers at the Enugu park and other road users scampering for safety. Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka, said he was yet to be informed of the incident, adding that he is making contact to get the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in charge of Awada Police Station, in whose jurisdiction the incident occurred.

Police nab ‘prophetess' for setting 9-yr-old daughter ablaze •I was obeying God’s instruction —Suspect

was going to carry out a deliverance session on her. A nurse at the hospital said: "She told the policemen that her mother accused her of being possessed with the spirit of witchcraft. "She said during the purported deliverance session, her mother poured kerosene on her and struck a match, setting her ablaze. She said she had to run out and cry for help and the next time she opened her eyes, she found herself in the hospital. But she is responding to treatment."

BY EVELYN USMAN

AGOS — THE Police in Lagos have arrested a self-acclaimed prophetess, who allegedly set her nineyear-old daughter ablaze in Epe area of Lagos, during a spiritual cleansing. Residents of Ijebu-Ode Road, around Odo-Mola, were said to have been jolted by the little girl’s cry for help immediately she was set on fire, weekend, consequent upon which policemen from Epe were contacted. Eye witnesses said some visible angry youths in the area put out the fire before the arrival of the police. The girl identified as Damilola was said to have thereafter been rushed to Epe General Hospital by the policemen, where she is currently receiving treatment for what doctors described as first degree burns. Little Daramola was said to

I was obeying God’s instruction —Suspect

Bose Oluwole, the suspect. have managed to explain to the operatives next day that her mother had called her that fateful day, informing her that she

However, in her statement, the 37-year-old suspect identified as Bose Oluwole reportedly told policemen that she was instructed by God to carry out the act with a view to chasing out witchcraft spirit that

possessed her. The prophetess who attends a white garment church, is said to be well-known around the area. She told the police during interrogation: "I was only obeying God’s instruction. I had a vision while praying that my daughter is from the witchcraft world. When I prayed to God over it, I received an instruction through the Holy Spirit to burn my daughter's body in order to deliver her from the evil society." The woman, according to sources at Epe division, was charged before an Igbosere magistrate's court on a two-count charge of felony to wit: an attempt to commit murder but was transferred to Family Court 2 owing to the victim’s age. The suspect was said to have pleaded not guilty to the offence but was ordered to be remanded in Kirikiri prison until June 2 by the magistrate in charge of the Family Court, Mrs. O. O. Oshin.

Cultists kill Kwara poly student in Ilorin BY DEMOLAAKINYEMI

LORIN — THERE was pandemonium on the campus of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, yesterday afternoon as suspected student cultists went on the rampage, shooting sporadically. Consequently, a male National Diploma, ND, student was shot. He was pronounced dead later in the day. Contacted, rector of the polytechnic, Alhaji Moshood Elelu, said the affected student was not a student of the school. The shocked Elelu who spoke with journalists during the conferment ceremony of award of excellence on him by the leadership of West African Students’ Union said there had been desperate attempts from students of other striking polytechnics to frustrate the institution which have been consistently resisted. According to him, “Reports from the network of security made available to me confirmed that the student who was shot is not our student. We have refused to join the strike and there have been various attempts to frustrate us which have been successfully resisted.“ The victim was reportedly killed around the Institute of Finance and Management Studies area in the institution. He was quickly evacuated to the nearby University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital for urgent medical attention. Academic activities were con-

sequently paralysed as majority of the students couldn’t attend lectures again as they were seen in groups

discussing the development while others went back home. Vanguard can reveal that

there had been supremacy tussle between two rival cult groups — Eiye and Black Axe on the campus.

Vehicles wading through the flood at Bucknor, Oke-Afa, Jakande gate in Isolo, Lagos State, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

One dies, 3 injured in Ogun auto crash, N700,000 recovered BY SEGUN OLATUNJI

BEOKUTA — An unidentified person was confirmed dead in an auto crash at Kobape, along the Abeokuta-Siun-Sagamu expressway. Three others were also critically injured in the accident which occurred at about 2: 40p.m when a VW Golf car with registration number Lagos AKD 659 CB allegedly rammed into a moving articulated vehicle from behind.

The sum of N700,000.00 was also recovered from the scene of the accident. The driver of the car whose identity could not be ascertained died on his way to the hospital, while three others injured were rushed to the State Hospital, Ijaye, Abeokuta by officials of the State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, TRACE. Commander Ayodeji Adekoya, who led the TRACE

rescue team which evacuated the dead and the injured victims from the wreckage of the car, said the driver of the vehicle was suspected to have been reckless and lost control when he attempted to overtake the trailer. Adekoya said the trailer did not stop after the accident. He said N500, 000 was found in the pocket of one of the victims, while another N213, 440 hidden in a nylon bag was also recovered from the car.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014 — 7

3 arrested over plot to assassinate Lagos businessman •We were paid N140,000 to assassinate him — SUSPECTS BY EVELYN USMAN

AGOS — OPERATIVES of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Ikeja, have foiled an attempt by some hired assassins to snuff life out of a Lagosbased businessman, one Ade Adelakun, popularly known as Ade Lexus, arresting three suspected members of the syndicate. Recovered from the suspects were two guns and a picture of their intended victim. However, in their confessional statement, the suspects alleged that they were hired by a hotelier in Ibadan whose identity they gave simply as Orekoya and were paid N140,000 to carry out the dastardly act. They stated that their sponsor alleged that their target snatched his wife. The suspects, numbering four, reportedly arrived Lagos last Saturday and waited at a night club on Allen Avenue, awaiting the right moment to strike.. But luck ran against them, as a man later discovered to be an undercover policeman at SARS reportedly overheard their discussion and alerted the commander, Abba Kyari, who subsequently drafted a team to the club. The operatives were said to have arrived the night club at about 1 a.m and arrested the trio of Ibrahim Lawal, 27; Yomi Olanrewaju, 25; and Emmanuel Adewale, 25. The command in its bulletin made available to Vanguard said: "Around 1 a.m. on May 10, 2014, information was received that four assassins were sent from Ibadan by one Adebayo Orekoya, a.k.a. Bobby Ibadan who lives in Ibadan GRA. "The instruction given to the assassins was to kill one Ade Victor Adelakun of Ogudu GRA. Consequently, two SARS teams proceeded to Pekas Night Club, where the suspects were planning their attack. Three men were ar-

rested while their driver, identified only as Samuel, escaped in a Sienna Spacebus "On interrogation, the suspects confessed that Bobby Ibadan sent them to kill Ade Lexus, his former business partner. N100,000 of the N140,000 given to the suspects as mobilisation fee has been recovered as well as a picture of the victim." Pretending to be one of the suspects, an operative was said to have contacted the alleged sponsor of the botched assassination attempt on phone where he was quoted to have said: "I want that job done today by all means. Go to the night club where Ade

Lexus hangs out and kill him there. If you don't see him at the night club, go to his house and get the job done." But when they stormed his Ibadan abode, the alleged sponsor was said to have fled.

Adelakun dismisses wife snatching allegation Expressing his gratitude to God and operatives of SARS for botching the assassination attempt, Adelakun told reporters at his showroom on Lateef Jakande Street, Ikeja, yesterday, that he was shocked when he received a call from SARS informing him that he was the target of an assassina-

tion attempt. He stated: "Bobby is not my business associate, neither is he my friend. A friend of mine in the United Kingdom introduced us and I have only met Bobby on a few occasions. "If he had succeeded with the assassination, no one would have suspected him because he does not stay in Lagos neither do we chat often. "He told me to lend him some money and I refused. I guess he was angry because I turned him down. The suspects said Bobby told them I snatched his wife. That is not true because I am a happily married man with beautiful children."

Scene of an accident at Berliet bus stop on Oshodi-Apapa expressway in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN.

2 in EFCC net over $60,000 fraud

of $60,000 under the pretence of registering his company with National Agency for Foods AGOS — THE Economic and Drug Administration and and Financial Crimes ComControl, NAFDAC, to enable mission, EFCC, yesterday, said it supply the Federal Ministry it has arrested two suspected of Defence with pre-cooked fraudsters, Nnanna Kalu, 26 meals in sachets. and Ukaegbu Arisa Oti, 27, over Vanguard gathered that the $60,000 fraud. duo are alleged members of a five-man syndicate that specialise in defrauding foreign investors. The accused persons pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them. Thereafter, the prosecuting counsel, Mainforce Adaka Ekwu asked the court to fix a date for trial and to remand the accused persons in prison custody. Counsel to the accused, Saint Moses Ogbonna asked the court for a short date to enable him file an application for bail. Justice Olubanjo adjourned the matter till May 15, 2014 for the hearing of bail application and June 19, 2014 for trial. The Retirees of defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) protesting over unpaid accused are to be remanded in pensions in Ibadan, yesterday. Photo: NAN. prison custody. BY IFEANYI OKOLIE

The suspects, who were arraigned before Justice F. A. Olubanjo of the Federal High Court, Umuahia, Abia State on a 28-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and forgery, met their waterloo when they defrauded a South African, Michael J. Firm

Workers protest verbal sack by firm BY WILLIAM JIMOH

AGOS — LEADERS of the National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees, NUFBTE, and workers of Nosak Distilleries, Lagos, yesterday, protested against their alleged verbal disengagement without benefits or due process. The company refines ethanol. The protesters who arrived the Amuwo Odofin Industrial Estate base of the company, around 9 am displayed placards with inscriptions including, "NUFBE declares workers disengagement illegal", "GMD-Alex Osunde, Receiver Manager-Dr Joe Nwobike, Receiver Manager (2) Akin Obisesan, Chairman- Toni Ogunbo pay our entitlement in accordance with Labour Law, verbal disengagement is anti-labour and against the law," among others. According to the union leaders, they embarked on the protest following their verbal disengagement by the General Manager of the company, Mr. Alex Osunde, last month with a promise of just a month basic salary which they claimed was yet to be paid. Speaking during the protest, Amadasun Osamudiamen, NUFBTE, Nosak Branch Chairman, claimed the union and management of the company, currently under receivership, had earlier reached an agreement to resolve the matter internally only for the management to lock its gate against the workers since April 30, 2014. He said: "On April 30, the branch union locked the company gate until the DPO of Festac Police Division intervened and advised parties to resolve the matter amicably and avoid actions that could breach of peace of the area. "Unfortunately, what we saw the following day was that they locked the company refusing workers entrance. Because of that, we gave them two weeks ultimatum to call for a meeting and today marks the end of the first week. If by next Tuesday we do not hear from them, we will drag them to the labour court."

8—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15 , 2014

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Tinubu, Ikimi struggle for control of APC BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, Political Editor

major struggle to grab the soul of All Progressives Congress, APC, from the grip of the pair of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.) is on the way. Leading the onslaught against the two national leaders is Chief Tom Ikimi, erstwhile national chairman of the defunct National Republican Convention, NRC. Ikimi, it is alleged, is the face of many of the governors are allegedly hoping to use Ikimi to assert their influence in the party. The shape of the battle was formally expressed at a national caucus of the party in Abuja on Tuesday that lasted into the early hours of yesterday. At that meeting, Tinubu and Ikimi were said to have engaged themselves in a shouting match that followed

Battle over zoning of national chairmanship slot rages reservations from some party officials including Tinubu over the leakage of a memo from Ikimi to party elders. Ikimi and Tinubu were also divided on the recommendation of the governors that the next National Chairman of the party should come from the South South. In the memo, exclusively published by Vanguard last Friday, Ikimi, the National Vice Chairman (South South), expressed strong concern over recent developments in the party which has led to the exodus of senior party members from some states, notably Ikimi’s own Edo State.

A memo’s contents In the memo directed to the National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande and copied to several

party stakeholders, Ikimi particularly noted the failure of the party leadership to resolve issues concerning the recent congresses organised by the party across the country. He also noted his concern that top level issues that ordinarily should be resolved by the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the party were reportedly being decided by a few unnamed persons. At the Tuesday night national caucus hosted by Governor Rochas Okorocha at the Imo State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja and attended by several governors and NEC members, Tinubu was said to have taken up Ikimi on the leakage of the memo asserting that it was against party discipline for internal

issues of the party to be taken to the press. Ikimi, however, vehemently denied leaking the memo as he said that it was copied to several party officials. Multiple sources at the meeting told Vanguard yesterday that the two men exchanged strong words on the developments in the party. “That is what happens when adults get to talk,” a member of NEC told Vanguard yesterday. “It was not that bad,” another member of the national caucus said. “You know politicians. We would talk but it was not that bad,” the APC chieftain said.

It’s no issue— LAI The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, also played

down the development yesterday as a non-issue, saying that it was not strange in a democratic setting for personalities to have different perspectives on issues. He said: “They disagreed on issues. So what is the issue there? That is democracy. Did they fight? These are very strong personalities and they disagreed on their perspectives to issues, so how does that become an issue. “It was a very impassioned meeting and people expressed their divergent views and that is the essence of democracy, isn’t it.” However, underlying the differences, Vanguard learnt, is the outlook of powerful blocs in the party on the constitution of the next executive of the party. The governors, it was learnt, had recommended that the next national chairman of the party should come from the South South geopolitical zone. Tinubu, some party elders, however, allege, wants Akande to continue as national chairman after the national convention.

Curbing control

AGM: From left— Mr. Uaboi Agbebaku, Company Secretary/Legal Director; Chief Kolawole Jamodu, Chairman; Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde, Managing Director/CEO, and Mr. Olusegun Adebanji, non-executive, all of Nigerian Breweries Plc, during the company's 68th Annual General Meeting in Lagos. PHOTO: Diran Oshe.

CHIBOK SCHOOLGIRLS: Northern leaders back FG deal with Boko Haram BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North

S the Federal Government explores ways of rescuing the girls seized by terrorists from their school in Chibok, Borno State, over a month ago, two northern groups have said that there is nothing wrong with the plan by the government to negotiate with the insurgents in order to free the captives. Chairman of the Northern Elders Council, NEC, Alhaji Tanko Yakassi, and the National Coordinator of Northern Politicians, Academics, Professionals and Businessmen, NPAPB, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, in separate interviews with Vanguard

yesterday, threw their weight behind the plan by the Federal Government to dialogue with the sect in a bid to free the more than 200 girls in its custody. Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has rejected the idea of a swap of Boko Haram prisoners for the schoolgirls, Britain’s Minister for Africa said after talks with him in Abuja, yesterday. “He made it very clear that there would be no negotiations with Boko Haram that involved a swap of abducted schoolgirls for prisoners,” Mark Simmonds told a news conference. The northern leaders, who

are delegates to the ongoing National Conference, said the Federal Government had no option than to negotiate in good faith with the sect to return the children to their parents and end their agony. He said: “As far as we are concerned, discussion with the group is a step in the right direction. There is no substitute to dialogue. What we want in this country is peace.” The leader of NPAPB, Mohammed, said that despite the provocation by Boko Haram, the Federal Government should seize the offer made by the sect and dialogue in utmost good faith to free the children. According to Mohammed, the attention of the Federal

Government and men of goodwill should be focussed on securing the release of the children unharmed and returning them to their parents. The Second Republic politician, who described Boko Haram as a repugnant group that does not represent the interest of anyone, asked the government to learn lessons from what the sect had done in recent years and bring it to an end. While welcoming the assistance of the United States of America, USA, to help find the missing school children, Mohammed said that all other conditions should be subordinated to saving the children.

A source said: “Ikimi and the governors know that the only way that they can curb Tinubu’s influence in the party is to zone the office of national chairman out of the South-West where Tinubu has almost total control of the party.” Tinubu is also said to be wary that Ikimi could emerge as the national chairman if the office of national chairman is zoned to the South South. Many in the party, however, also question Ikimi’s activism, saying his past activities in the Sani Abacha government and political infidelity before joining the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, CAN, made him ineligible to lead the struggle against Tinubu. “I hear he is now born again, but I still have my doubts,” a senior party official privy to the development told Vanguard on the condition of anonymity. The national caucus, which was supposed to provide a guide towards resolving the crisis that followed the ward congresses, it was learnt, could not focus much on the issue. It was, however, resolved that APC NEC should meet next week to resolve the fault lines triggered by misgivings on the conduct of the congresses. Among the states that have been seriously engulfed in crises following the congresses are Delta, Ogun, Edo.

10— Vanguard , THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014

Lekki residents sue ASCON over petrol station BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

A G O S —L A G O S High Court sitting in Igbosere, yesterday fixed June 11 for the hearing of a suit by some residents of Lekki Scheme 1 to stop ASCON Oil Ltd from constructing a filling station in the area. The plaintiffs are Chief Rasheed Williams, Chief Kayode Aderinokun, Alhaji Useni, Mr Malachy Ezeoke, Mrs Ogunmokun and Mr Olajide Kuti. Joined as defendants are the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority and the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development. The plaintiffs had filed the suit through their counsel, Mr Osaro Eghobamien (SAN), challenging the construction of a filing station by ASCON at Block 36, Plot 10, Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1, Lagos. The case which was earlier fixed for the hearing of a preliminary objection to the suit was stalled because of the absence of Justice Kazeem Alogba, who was said to be indisposed. The suit was adjourned to June 11 for hearing. The plaintiffs are seeking among other reliefs, an order of perpetual injunction restraining ASCON from further constructing the filling station on the land. They also want an order setting aside any development permit or approval purportedly granted to the company by the second and third defendants for the construction of the filling station. They also want an order of perpetual injunction restraining the second and third defendants from granting any further permit to ASCON for the construction of the station. Justice Kazeem Alogba had on March 6 granted an interim order stopping further construction activities until the suit was determined. In their statement of claim, the plaintiff averred that the construction and operation of the petrol station by ASCON on the land would pose a threat to their lives, health and property in form of pollution.

Rain disrupts Funsho Williams’ murder trial BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

AGOS—THE trial of suspected killers of late Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Lagos State, Funsho Williams, an Engineer, was yesterday interrupted by flood, at the Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere. The flood was caused by leaking roof that enabled the rain direct access into the

courtroom and stalled the trial for almost an hour at 12:10 pm, forcing the judge to direct that Justice Olateru Olagbegi’s court, next to his, be used. While the defendants and other people changed seats as a result of the flooded courtroom, counsels also tiptoed across the flood to sit at the bar. Justice Olagbegi’s courtroom which was also partially affected by the flood, as it shares same wall with Justice

Adebajo’s courtroom, was used instead. However, at the resumed hearing, a prosecuting witness, Mr. Abasi Nseh Udoe, told the court that the late Funsho Williams’ phone was recovered from the first defendant. Udoe, a retired ASP, led in evidence by state counsel, Mr. E. I Alakija, said call records obtained from service providers showed that the first three defendants used their

SUMMIT: From left—Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources Development, Mr. Taofiq Tijani; Secretary to the State Government, Dr. (Mrs) Oluranti Edebule; Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire and Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Wale Ahmed at the opening ceremony of the second emergency preparedness summit for south-west states and cities of West African sub-region in Lagos, yesterday.

Fashola sacks contractor over non performance BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

AGOS—GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has revoked the contract awarded to private firm, Electro-Technics Company to install pedestrian guardrails, worth over N125 million, in Marina axis of the state. Similarly, no fewer than 672 vehicles were impounded in the Central Business Districts by the government for contravening the state road traffic law 2012, Special Adviser to the Governor on CBD, Mrs. Derin Disu, disclosed this yesterday, at a briefing. Disu said that the revoked contract was one of the four major projects embarked upon by CBD to improve the level of infrastructure in the district, saying “Two of the contracts have been completed while the last contract would be handed over before the end of June, 2014.” According to her, the governor approved the sacking of the contractor because he delayed in the construction work which should have reached an appreciable stage with other

contracts awarded last year. Disu, noted that the state government awarded the contract because it discovered the need for the work to be done. According to her, “If the contractor is not moving along and if he has been paid a sizeable amount to mobilize him to site and is still lagging behind, the general policy now, is to ensure that this

negative attitude does not become inimical to the progress of government. “The policy of the state government is that contractor must move along with the intense and purpose of the state government, this is to provide service and upgraded infrastructure.” She said the state government

SIM cards on Late Williams phone. “I got a letter in December 2006 and came down to Lagos with a team of six officers where I was authorised by the then Commissioner of Police to commence investigation. I also visited the crime scene and the Forensic Department of the police force to check exhibits found at the scene during initial investigation. “I discovered during my investigation that huge sum of money was withdrawn by the deceased for political rally but was stolen along with some jewelleries during the incident,” Udoe said. He informed the court that the fourth, fifth and sixth defendant were the security men in charge of protecting the life and property of the deceased, noting that a blood stained shirt belonging to the sixth defendant was recovered from the crime scene. According to him, he personally arrested the first defendant, saying statements were from him and other defendants thereafter. Alakija (prosecutor) then tendered the statements as evidence which the court admitted. He subsequently urged the court to issue a witness summon on one CSP Benneth Agbo from forensic department to tender some exhibits on the case. Justice Adebajo then ordered that Mr. Agbo be produced on May 16. The defence counsel, Mr. Agbara Okezie, however, during cross-examination, argued that the first defendant had told the police that he got the phone from computer village. Justice Adebajo thereafter adjourned the matter to May 16, 2014 for continuation of trial. The accused are, Bulama Kolo, Musa Maina, David Cassidy, Tunani Sonani, Mustapha Kayode and Okponwasa Imariabie, all male.

Fani-Kayode: Court declares EFCC’s witness hostile BY INNOCENTANABA

AGOS—THERE was drama at a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, as Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia declared an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, witness hostile. The witness, Ojo Agbor, was testifying in the trial of a former Aviation Minister, Mr. Femi FaniKayode for alleged money laundering when the prosecutor, Mr. Festus Keyamo, applied to the court to declare him a hostile witness, saying Agbor’s testimony was totally different from what is in his statement to the EFCC. The lawyer also alleged that the

defence had “coached” the witness on what to say in court, saying “He has been coached. That is why he has been running away despite different invitations to testify. We had to write his director to produce him this morning.” After the judge declared Agbor a hostile witness, prosecution accused the witness of deliberately lying to the court, alleging that the witness and Fani-Kayode had communicated through phone prior to yesterday’s proceedings. “Your phone record will show that you have called the accused person or the accused person has called you,” Keyamo said. The

witness replied: “He has not called me.” Keyamo said: “I want to put it to you that you are here today (yesterday) to tell deliberate lies,” to which Agbor said “No.” Keyamo also alleged that FaniKayode was giving the witness signals on what to say during proceedings. When Fani-Kayode turned to gaze at Keyamo in a look of denial, Keyamo said: “The accused person is looking menacingly at me. The way he is looking at me is like we are dragging one girlfriend.” The witness said the statement he made to EFCC was not voluntary.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014 — 11

Ogun seeks fresh N2bn loan BY SEGUN OLATUNJI

BEOKUTA—THE Ogun State government yesterday said it was set to secure N2 billion loan from the Federal Mortgage Bank for the construction of affordable housing units at Idi Aba, Abeokuta. Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Daniel Adejobi disclosed this at the governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan. Adejobi said securing such a loan had become imperative if the state government was to effectively address the problem of housing deficit confronting it. The commissioner also listed among the achievements so far recorded by his ministry to include the construction of 18 bungalows at the OPIC Estate, Agbara; the ongoing construction of 5-kilometer residential and industrial grade roads at the OPIC Estate, Agbara; the near completion of 30units of two-bedroom terrace bungalows; the construction and development of Orange Valley Estate. Adejobi, however, identified the problem of land speculators, popularly called “Omo Onile” as a major challenge confronting his ministry. At a separate forum,

BY DAUD OLATUNJI & SEGUN OLATUNJI

LANDSLIDE IN ONDO: From left—Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, Chairman, Ondo State Asphalt Company, Kehinde Osikoya and the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Eni Akinsola, during the governor’s visit to the site of a landslide in Okitipupa Local Government Area, on Tuesday. Commissioner for Urban and Physical Planning, Mr. Gbenga Otenuga disclosed that his ministry generated a total revenue of N2,846,762,109.87 billion from 2011 to date. Otenuga also said over 1,420 illegal structures and shanties across the state had been demolished. He explained that over 8000 illegal structures had been served

with enforcement notices while his ministry registered and approved 25,737 and 10,970 building plans, respectively. The commissioner added that about 135,721 applications had been received from property owners under the state government’s Homeowners’ Charter Programme. Otenuga said 99,025 of these applications were currently

undergoing processing. In yet another briefing, the Special Adviser/Director General of the Bureau of Lands and Survey, Mr. Adewale Oshinowo said with the deployment of the Geographical Information System (GIS) the operations of the bureau had been automated. Oshinowo assured that the GIS would eradicate touting and other unwholesome activities.

Ekiti seals Chinese firm over N71.761m tax default

DO-EKITI—EKITI State Internal Revenue Service, IRS, has sealed off the construction site of a Chinese firm located in Ado-Ekiti for an alleged N71.761 million tax default. The Chairman of the State IRS, Mr. Isola Akingbade, who led an enforcement team to the site, explained that the action was consequent upon the failure of Hongye Ampic Concept Ltd to comply with the personal income Tax Act (PITA) of 2006. Akingbade stressed that the agency followed due process and that the action was carried out after a court order was duly obtained from a court of competent jurisdiction. According to him, several

efforts had earlier been made to ensure payment of the tax after it was discovered through a tax audit that the company was heavily indebted to the state government. Flaying the nonchalant attitude of many foreign contractors to payment of tax, the IRS boss noted that such unwholesome position was not

IFE of the Governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun yesterday said this year’s Children’s Day on May 27, would be marked by a special prayer session involving children from across the state. The children would pray as a congregation for the speedy release of the Chibok girls, or a thanksgiving prayer session by

acceptable in their home countries and warned that government would no longer tolerate tax evasion. Akingbade wondered why a company, whose fleet of heavy duty trucks enormously contribute to the short lifespan and incessant damage of roads that were constructed with taxpayers’ money in the state

would evade tax. He warned that the site would not be reopened until the company paid the total outstanding tax debt. Efforts to speak with the contractors or their agents who were sighted around the construction site were unsuccessful as they declined to be interviewed by journalists.

Assault on Adeleke: Osun APC, PDP disagree over probe panel BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

SOGBO—THE ruling All Progressives Congress, APC and opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Osun State yesterday sang

Children’s Day: Amosun’s wife plans special prayers for Chibok girls

FG shuts 5 filling stations in Ogun over sharp practices

the children of the state in celebration of the safe return of the abducted Chibok girls. The prayer session, according to Mrs. Amosun, would hold at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta. The governor’s wife said the abduction of the girls had become a global issue, requiring all hands to be on deck in the bid to secure their release.

discordant tunes over the desirability of the four-man commission being planned by the state government to probe the recent attack on the first Executive Governor of the state and governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke While the main opposition party, the PDP called on Governor Rauf Aregbesola not to engage in frivolities, but purposeful governance for the benefit of the people, APC insisted that people who were afraid of their deeds would go on ranting on the human right abuse exhibited by them. Chairman of the party, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa, in a statement said ‘’At the rate at which the APC government is setting up panels of inquiries, it is becoming an exhibition for

cheap blackmail.” The PDP chairman was of the opinion that the said panel of inquiry ‘’is another opportunity for Aregbesola to compensate his people. Instead, Aregbesola should set up panels to look into the debt burden of Osun; various failed projects and the collapse of the educational system.” But the APC in its reaction by the party ’s Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, said “Talk about the panel, anyone who is afraid of his deeds will go on ranting on the human right abuse exhibited by the so called public officials. It can only happen in the PDP where a co-aspirant in the governorship race will be so dealt with, in the manner Omisore and Adesiyan did."

BEOKUTA—THE Ministry of Trade and Investment, yesterday, sealed up five filling stations in Ogun State, including an NNPC Mega station along the Lagos Abeokuta Expressway in Ifo Local Government Area of the state, for alleged sharp practices. The other filling stations shut at Sango area of the state are EMIMP Petroleum, Vitality Oil and Gas, NIPCO and Conoil. The stations were sealed up during a monitoring exercise by officials of the Department of Weights and Measures of the ministry. The Head of the monitoring team, Mohammed Sadasidi, told newsmen after the exercise that the filling stations were discovered to be under dispensing petroleum products to customers He said the dispensing pumps of the filling station had been reduced by between 2.75 litres and 2.95 litres from every 20 litres of petrol sold to customers, saying “Some of the filling stations we sealed, after checking the meter with our own Seraphin Test Measure, we found out that in every 20 litres they sold, they only dispensed between 17 litres and 18 litres.” Sadasidi stated that the defaulters whose dispensing pumps were not within the tolerable error had been invited to Abuja for explanation. According to him, they would be prosecuted if they were not able to give convincing reasons for their actions, noting that the inspection was meant to ensure that marketers exhibited integrity, fairness and accuracy while dispensing fuel to customers. “We also want to protect consumers by ensuring that they always get the right measure or quantity for their money. It is extremely disappointing that motorists are being short changed. We will not however relent in our official duty to ensure that proper things are done. We have won one of such cases last week as announced by the Federal High Court in Lokoja."

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014

Three Indians bag 15yrs jail for illegal bunkering in Bayelsa BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

ENAGOA—A FEDERAL High Court sitting in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State, has sentenced to 15 years imprisonment, three Indian nationals, over their involvement in illegal oil theft on the waterways of Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. The three convicts are Sahleh Kumar Singh, (Captain of the vessel), Chadrashekar Sharma and Ajay Bhatiya, owner of the vessel MT Akshay, still at large. The convicts were arrested by men of the Nigerian Navy aboard a ship MT Akshay formerly known as Wine Trader owned by Krishna Shipping Inc, Mainstream Charlestown Nevis and operated by Veesham Shipping Inc., a tanker crew of 10 Indians and two Nigerians and 157,822 litres of product suspected to be stolen crude oil. The tanker was also alleged not to have been listed in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Tanker Nomination Schedule and did not have Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Bunkering Permit nor the Joint Task Force, JFT, Operation Pulo Shield certificate of registration for vessels engaged in the movement of crude oil.

The convicted Indians, who were among 12 suspected oil thieves, including eight other Indians, one Ghanaian and a Nigerian arrested aboard MT Akshay were prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. According to EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mr.Wilson Uwajeren, the Indian nationals were arraigned on a two-count

charge on January 22, 2013 before Justice Lambo Akanbi. Justice Akanbi, in his judgment, found the first two accused persons alongside the owner of the vessel (who is still at large) guilty on count one which borders on conspiracy, and convicted them accordingly. The other accused persons

Dharmaraj Kumar, Ajay Kumar, Nimesh Kodi Parambil, Ashraf Ali, Sanjeev Kumar, Sarbjot Singh, Arvind Kumar Bhardwaj, Gagan Kumar, Dele Johnson Olayemi and Benneth Egbegi, were discharged and acquitted on the two counts preferred against them by the EFCC. However, the court was silent on the vessel, and it’s content.

MEETING ON NIGER DELTA MATTERS: From left: Comrade Joseph Evah, Coordinator of Ijaw Monitoring Group, IMG, with the American Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle and Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Conflict and Stabilisation, Mr. Rick Barton, during a recent meeting on Niger Delta matters at the Ambassador’s residence in Lagos.

Fresh tension in Edo communities over land dispute Elders petition IG over killing

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

ENIN—THERE is fresh tension in Iviukhua community, Eppa Wanno Kingdom, Agenebode and Ikphele community in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State over a disputed land, which led to the death of one Oseni Ekhamheye from Iviukhua community last month. Iviukhua community, in a petition to the Inspector General of Police by the head of the community and Ogierumuah of Egoriland, Chief Bello Eshiebor and the President General, Dr. Kenedy Izuagbe, noted that though the police were prosecuting a person allegedly involved in the killing of Ekhamheye, youths of the area had threatened to retaliate unless the police fished out those involved in the destruction of their property and injuring of some members of the community, allegedly by Ikphele youths over the disputed land. The community also called on the National Boundary Commission, NBC, to urgent-

ly settle the boundary dispute, insisting that those battling them over the land are settlers. The community noted that similar attacks in other parts of the country had snowballed into unmanageable proportions, adding: “The leadership of Iviukhua community was able to prevail on its citizens, especially the youths, to prevent any reprisal attacks because we believe in peaceful and constitutional resolution of such crises."

Stressing the need for the police to arrest and prosecute some major players in the crisis still at large, the petitioners said: "We also appeal to the relevant authorities to take urgent steps to resolve once and for all, this age-long boundary dispute between Ikphele farm settlement, claiming to be part of Okpekpe Clan and Iviukhua in Weppa Wanno Kingdom.

“We are constrained to make this appeal following the incessant attacks and destruction of our farm lands by Ikphele people over the years. Certainly, the April 13, 2014 dastardly act was a step taken too far. Historical and gazetted records clearly indicate that the locations called Ikphele and Usomhedokha are part of Iviukhua community in Weppa Wanno Kingdom."

Delta LG polls to hold October 25 —DSIEC Chair BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

SABA—THE longawaited local government elections in Delta State, have been fixed for October 25, 2014, to usher in democratically elected officials to manage the affairs of the third tier of government, which is presently run by caretaker committees. State Chairman of Delta State Independent Electoral Commission, DSIEC, Mr. Moses Ogbe, who announced this at a stakeholders meeting in Asaba, said that the proposed date was

chosen after consideration of some factors. He said: “Having regard to the desire of Deltans for the conduct of a smooth and hitch-free local government election in the state, the commission had resolved that the election will hold on October 25, 2014. For instance, it will be counterproductive for us to conduct the election at the peak of the rainy season.” The DSIEC boss had earlier proposed N4.3 billion to conduct the election when

he appeared before the state House of Assembly Committee on Establishment for budget defence, in January this year. He said that the money would be used to provide safety and security measures for the commission’s personnel, sensitive and non-sensitive materials for the election, and for logistics, publicity and payment of ad hoc staff of the commission for the election, to be conducted in 466 wards and 3,625 polling units across the state.

CNS assures on national security BY GODWIN OGHRE

APELE—THE Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, has assured Nigerians of speedy solutions to the security challenges facing the country, adding that the Navy has plans to boost the morale and efficiency of its men with a view to facilitating their jobs by putting adequate surveillance on Nigeria’s waterways, particularly at Nigeria's borders. He tasked Nigerians to be patient and commended the efforts of the Federal Government in finding lasting solutions to the security challenges facing the country. Vice Admiral Jibrin gave the assurance at the Nigerian Naval Engineering College, Ogorode, Sapele, Delta State, during an “unscheduled familiarization and assessment tour of the College, to ascertain its level of academic, professional and facility position in recent times.”

CDHR differs with Amaechi on Boko Haram BY EMMA AMAIZE

ARRI—THE Campaign for Defence of Human Rights, CDHR, Delta State, has differed with Rivers State governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, on his claim that security challenges facing the North and other parts of the country were caused by poverty. The group, in a statement by its state chairman, Mr. Benefit Orugbo, said: “We stand to reason that the Boko Haram insurgency has little or nothing do with poverty. If same was borne out of hunger, they would have enhanced the intention of Mr. President to grant them amnesty, wherein like the earlier one granted Niger Delta militants, they would be entitled to monthly stipends to ameliorate their sufferings, if any.”

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014 — 13

Boko Haram scare: Security tightened in A-Ibom BY TOM MOSES

YO—FOLLOWING threats of attack on major institutions, including the University of Uyo, in AkwaIbom State, by the dreaded Boko Haram sect, visitors to the state are now being subjected to stop and search by security agencies. Vanguard learnt, yesterday, that the new security measure is to ensure that suspected terrorists do not carry out their attacks in the state. Aside from the stop and search exercise, security had already been beefed up around major institutions and strategic roads in the state capital, Uyo. It was gathered that since the rumours of threat filtered into the town, security operatives have been placed on red alert, while residents and visitors have been living in fear of the unknown. Already, there has been an unusual military presence on some major roads, especially the IBB Way and some Hausa-Fulani locations, including the Nasarawa Livestock Market on Uyo Village Road, Itam and other settlements Security sources linked the unusual military surveillance in the state capital to the alleged recent seizure of a large

consignment of arms brought into the state in a truck loaded with cows. “The suspects were apprehended by the military suicide squad and taken to the Ibawa Military Barracks in Abak Local Government Area of the state,” a source said.

The development has evoked tension in the state, compelling security officials to take remedial steps to check insurgency in some institutions believed to be the targets of attack by the Islamists sect. The Chief Security Offic-

er, CSO, of the University of Uyo, Lt. Col. N. Efik, confirmed that the institution was one of the targets listed for attack by the Boko Haram insurgents and warned students to be more security conscious as they resumed for the new semester.

ICAN LONG SERVICE AWARD: From left: Mr. Onyekachi Anyagwa; Mrs. Linda Anyagwa, 30-year long service awardee; Alhaji Alkali Mohammed, President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and Mr. Rotimi Omotosho, Registrar/Chief Executive, at the 2014 ICAN Long Service Award ceremony, in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

Dickson assures on completion of inherited projects BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

ENAGOA—GOVERNOR Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has said that his administration will strive to complete all abandoned projects it inherited, despite the recent dwindling statutory allocations the state receives from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee, FAAC. Describing government as a continuum, he explained that apart from resuming work on some of the abandoned projects such as the five star Tower Hotel, the current administration had since embarked on repaying debts and other liabilities bequeathed to it. Dickson, in a statement in Yenagoa, noted that but for the drop in revenue accruing to the state, most of the projects would have been completed. He said: “I am not somebody who does things haphazardly or one who abandons projects. There will be no abandoned projects under my watch. We are not going to leave any project that we met without completing same for

the sake of our people. “I came to government as an angry Bayelsan, considering the level of abandonment, neglect and under-development of our place and people under the pretext that we have a difficult terrain and cannot build good bridges, roads and so on. “That is something that has angered me as a youth growing up and as a product of the

Ijaw movement. But, with the opportunity I have today and the support of our people, I am proving to the whole world that we can actually turn this so-called difficult terrain around.” He expressed optimism that with the resilience and prudence which form an integral part of his restoration agenda, his administration

will fulfill its electioneering campaign promises to the people. “When I was campaigning for office, I knew the profundity of the agenda I wanted to pursue if elected, and if you read my inaugural speech, it captured the depth of the revolution I knew I wanted to pursue," he added.

Oshiomhole commissions 300 cabs BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

ENIN—GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, yesterday, commissioned 300 Comrade Cabs purchased by the state government for use by former Okada riders, to cushion the effect of the ban, in June last year, of the operation of commercial motorcycles, popularly known as Okada, in the state capital. He drove one of the cabs, round Benin City, the state capital, picking passengers and dropping them at their destinations. Speaking at the commissioning, Oshiomhole said his most difficult decision as governor was

banning the use of commercial motorcycles in the state capital. He said: “I found myself taking a tough decision after repeatedly assuring the Okada riders that Okada would not be banned in this state and when I said that, I meant it. Indeed, after my second tenure election, I renewed that assurance and I know you were really shocked that after reassuring you repeatedly, you woke up one day to hear that the same governor had decided to prohibit Okada and to give you a very short notice that was less than one week.

“That was a tough moment for me because I believe that as we say, those of us who are Christians say that there are moments of temptation. There are things in government that you are never able to disclose even as you are committed to accountability and transparency. “When it became clear we had overwhelming majority of you honest, hardworking genuine Okada workers, labouring everyday to earn a living, we also found out that some criminals from some other states had infiltrated your ranks and in no time became even more in number."

Imoke, others win Zik Prize for leadership

OVERNOR Liyel Imoke of Cross River State and his Edo and Gombe counterparts, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole and Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo, have been announced as joint winners of the 2013 Zik Prize for Leadership. A statement by the Chairman, Advisory Board of the foundation, Prof. Jubril Aminu, said that the three governors were selected for the good governance category due to their outstanding contributions to the development of their respective states. “The Zik Prize in Leadership is meant to encourage the development of patriotism, honour and integrity among Africans and all black people of the world,” the statement added. Prof Aminu maintained that the Public Policy Research and Analysis Centre, PPRAC, is a private sector, non-political and nongovernmental organisation, adding that this year’s recipients were adjudged by the Advisory Board to have excelled in various fields of human endeavour and were therefore, selected for the prestigious award. The formal presentation of the award is slated for June 22.

Navy hands over 11 suspected oil thieves to EFCC

ORT HARCOURT—THE Nigerian Navy has handed over 11 suspected oil thieves to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in Rivers State for investigation and prosecution. A statement by Head, Media and Publicity of the commission, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said the Navy also handed over a metal barge recovered from the alleged oil thieves. According to the statement, the suspects were arrested on Bonny waterways. “The Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base, FOB, Bonny Naval Base, Port Harcourt, handed over 11 suspected oil thieves and a metal barge (Henry 2) loaded with about 230 metric tons of substance suspected to be crude oil to the EFCC, for further investigation and prosecution.”

14—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014

Anambra: APC youths flay Osita Okechukwu

GGRIEVED ALL Progressives Congress, APC, youths from Anambra State have flayed Mr. Osita Okechukwu, whom it described as selfacclaimed spokesperson of South East APC, for discrediting last week’s congresses of the party in the state. Reacting to reports attributed to Okechukwu that South-East APC was distancing itself from the rescheduled congresses in Awka, the youths stated that it was either Mr. Okechukwu was misquoted, uninformed or most likely, labouring from obscene mercantile hallucinations. The APC youths, who stated this when they paid a solidarity visit to the newly elected APC chairman in the state, Barr. Obiora Igwedibia, noted that it "amounts to a shameless act of impersonation for Okechukwu to appropriate a non-existent platform (dubbed as spokesperson of South East APC) to himself." Spokesperson of the group and leader of Anambra APC Restoration Vanguard, Mr. Jude Okenwa, revealed that "there is no position known to the party hierarchy or constitution designated as South East or zonal spokesperson, except, of course, in the disingenuous realm of an impostor."

Imo newspaper distributors, vendors threaten strike BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

WERRI — IMO State government may be heading for serious confrontation with the print media, following the administration’s plan to forcefully move all newspaper vendors and distributors to the Relief Market, Egbu Road, Owerri. Already, the aggrieved distributors and vendors have threatened to withdraw their services if the state government and its agents continued to harass and intimidate them. The state leadership of Newspaper Distributors and Vendors, who issued the threat in a press release made available to Vanguard in Owerri, yesterday, appealed to Governor Rochas Okorocha, to rescind the planned relocation.

500 lady knights protest kidnap of Chibok school girls, in Owerri BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

WERRI — LADIES of Saint Mulumba, Owerri Metropolitan Province, have joined their counterparts in other parts of the country to protest the abduction and continued detention of the over 200 female stu-

dents kidnapped from their school at Chibok, Borno State, by Islamic terrorists, Boko Haram. The lady knights, numbering over 500, marched from the Holy Ghost College, Owerri, through Assumpta Avenue to the Maria Assumpta Cathedral where they lodged their grievances with the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Ec-

clesiastical Province, Most Rev. Dr. Anthony J. V. Obinna. The ladies, drawn from the six dioceses of the Ecclesiastical Province, namely Owerri, Umuahia, Orlu, Okigwe, Ahiara and Aba diocese, prayed the Blessed Virgin Mary to intercede for the kidnapped girls and the country. They displayed placards depict-

INSPECTION: Chief Willie Obiano, Anambra State governor, being received by school children on arrival, during an inspection tour of a road construction project, in Nando, Anambra East Local Government Area,Wednesday.

ing their grievances as they marched, prayed and sang along the roads under the watchful eyes of security operatives. Some of the placards read: “Mothers are traumatised,” “Release our girls unconditionally,” “The girls are future leaders,” “Enough is enough,” “Bring back our girls” and “Respect sanctity of life.” Speaking before handing over their petition to the Archbishop, the LSM Metro President, Lady Chinedu Brown, called on God to scatter Boko Haram, expose their sponsors in Nigeria and overseas and let them not sleep until they surrendered the innocent girls. Some of the issues raised by the protesting women were: “Where were the security operatives when the convoy of vehicles stormed the girls’ college”? Where were the army and police when the Boko Haram convoy left the college with over 300 young girls”? Responding, Archbishop Obinna said the Church was also worried about the development and was praying to God to touch the hearts of those who also claimed to be religious, even as he reasoned that “by their fruits, we shall know them.” He described the abduction as a serious act against children, noting one could imagine the trauma the girls and relations were passing through now. He reminded governors that they were the chief security officers of their various states and should ensure that the people and property in their states were safe and secure.

Catholic Bishop to govt: Don’t succumb to Boko Haram demand BY VINCENT UJUMADU

WKA — THE Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, has urged the Federal Government not to succumb to the demand of the dreaded Boko Haram for its detained members to be swapped with the abducted Chibok school girls, arguing that doing so would amount to promotion of criminality, terrorism and rascality. Speaking in an interview in Awka, the cleric argued that agreeing to the ungodly desire would not only spell doom to the nation, but also influence other disgruntled and ill-informed groups to ask for what was not right before man and God. He said: “It is not proper to start negotiating with faceless people because we know that they have no right to do what they are doing. Therefore, there is no ground for any negotiation whatsoever. “They should allow the children to go because they have no business with them. Our stand is that

the Federal Government should ignore them and forge ahead with whatever moves they are making to ensure the release of the abducted Chibok school girls. “Negotiating with Boko Haram will amount to encouraging terrorism because it is obvious they

will come up with other antics.” Ezeokafor said that the church had insisted that as a nation and as people, nobody should have any reason whatsoever to start to dialogue with them, adding that their act was against God and humanity.

He described as barbaric, absurd and condemnable the report that the insurgents were compulsorily converting the abducted girls to Islam, adding that they had no reason to force people to accept the religion they did not want.

Senate Committee to conduct public hearing on operations of Federal Polytechnics BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

AGOS — AS part of its mandate of ensuring accountability and transparency by public servants, the Public Accounts Committee of the Senate has said it will conduct a public hearing on the operations of all federal polytechnics in the country. In a letter to all the rectors of polytechnics, the committee pointed out that the exercise was not only targeted at ensuring compliance with the provisions of the constitution, Senate Standing

Orders and extant Acts, but also to plug all leakages in the institutions. The committee directed the rectors to furnish it with information regarding the operations of their institutions from January 2012 to December 31, 2013 to enable them carry out the exercise. According to the letter, the information required from the rectors include details of fund received, information on their revenue profiles (sources of such revenue, mode of collection, including names and addresses of banks used), details of expenditure (recurrent budget, capital budget,

details of contracts awarded, relevant approvals, including names and addresses of contractors) Others are details of payments to each contractor and evidences of payments, names and addresses of banks used by the polytechnic, evidences of Accountant-General of the Federation’s approval of bank accounts, audited accounts and management reports from January 2012 to December 2013 as well as a comprehensive document showing clearly the delineation of duties and functions in the finance and account departments which will facilitate checks and balances.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014—15

Distortion in 2014 budget stalls presidential assent — Maku BY BEN AGANDE

BUJA — THE Federal Government, yesterday, explained that the 2014 budget has not been assented to by President Goodluck Jonathan because of serious ‘distortions’ included in it by the National Assembly. Addressing State House correspondents after yesterday’s Federal Executive Council, FEC meeting, the Minister of Information, LabaranMaku, said the areas of distortions were being looked into by the executive arm of government because of the

negative impact they might have on the implementation. Maku said it was sad that midway into the year, the 2014 budget was not yet ready for implementation, assuring that everything was being done to resolve the problems. He said: “The Minister of Finance briefed us today at the FEC relating to the progress on the budget. It is very sad that we have almost entered the middle of the year and we don’t have a budget. “This indeed is sad that the budget has taken so long in coming and practically we have less than

seven months to execute the budget. ”We will do everything possible to reconcile the few differences that emerged in what was transmitted to the government by the National Assembly." ”There are few areas of distor-

tions and there are those areas that are very serious and we think there is a need to look into them because of the negative impact those distortions may have on the implementation of the budget. ”There is a lot of conversation going on now between the Fed-

eral Ministry of Finance and the National Assembly on these issues. And very shortly we believe that we are going to reconcile those areas and then the final budget will be announced to the nation by the President.”

Nyanya bombing: Interpol arrests suspect, Aminu Sadiq in Sudan BY CALEB AYANSINA

BUJA — FEDERAL Govern ment, yesterday, revealed that the terror fugitive behind the Nyan-

ya bombing, Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche who was declared wanted by the Nigerian Police Force has been arrested. Ogwuche was arrested in Sudan following an international red alert issued for his search and arrest by the National Bureau of Interpol based at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, in Abuja. The Coordinator of the national briefing centre on security, Mr. Mike Omeri, confirmed his arrest during a briefing in Abuja. The suspect, Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche was declared wanted by the Department of State Security after linking him to the deadly blast in Nyanya which claimed over 74 lives. The discovery of the escape of the suspect, while five others were arrested prompted the DSS to declare him wanted alongside one other suspect. Omeri who is also the Director General of National Orientation Agency (NOA) noted that the security operatives are already working to ensure his extradition to Nigeria from where he was arrested. According to Omeri,

Sadiq “Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche who was earlier declared wanted has been arrested in Sudan with the efforts of the Army, DSS, the National Bureau of the Interpol based at the Nigerian Police Force Headquarters and security operatives of Sudan. “The efforts of the interpol, Nigerian Police and the Department of State Security Service has led to his arrest,” Omeri said. He promised that further information on him and the second suspect will be communicated to the public as they are coming in.

CONFAB: No Corps members for Adamawa, Borno, Yobe — NYSC DG BY HENRY UMORU

BUJA — THE Director- General, National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Brigadier- General Johnson Olawumi, disclosed, yesterday, that the agency had put a stop to sending graduates to Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states currently facing insecurity challenges from Boko Haram insurgents. The three states are also in a state of emergency at present. Speaking when he appeared before the National Conference Committee on Civil Society, Labour and Sports at Nicon Luxury Hotel, yesterday, in Abuja, the NYSC boss explained

that some Corps members do apply to be posted to such areas and were obliged by the agency. He added that with the security situation in these states and policy position of the scheme, no one was forced to go to those states. General Olawumi also told the delegates that plans had been concluded to send Corps members to banks and oil companies. He said: “We also want to expand our coast by posting Corps members to oil companies and banks. By government policy, we are to deploy members to four key areas, talking of health, education, agriculture and rural development.

16â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014

'BRING BACK OUR GIRLS' PROTESTS AROUND THE WORLD

Students and teachers of American University of Nigeria, AUN, Academy, Yola, led by AUN President Margee Ensign, demanding the return of the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls.

Women Arise group, leading a protest to the office of the Lagos State Governor

Women for Peace and Justice Coalition, inconjuction with Market Men and Women Association of Nigeria, protesting in Lagos.

Protesters in the United States

Members of the Civil Society Organisations in Niger Delta, in Port Harcourt.

'Bring Back Our Girls' protest in the UK

Women, students and human right groups, yesterday, on a peaceful protest at Ibadan.

'...in London, UK

HE past week must be one of the most difficult for President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. Never has it been under so much scrutiny, for its conduct. Not even a successful hosting of the World Economic Forum for Africa, allowed it a moment of triumphalism. A shocked world was scandalised by the administration’s response to the abduction of over 200 young girls from Chibok. The worldwide campaign to bring back the girls also focused world media attention on Jonathan’s refusal to respond to the abduction act for 19 days. Amnesty International(AI) reported that security forces received reports of an imminent attack on Chibok, four hours before, but did nothing to prevent the attack and the abductions. AI’s allegation has been particularly embarrassing for the government and was stridently denied. President Jonathan’s handling of the Chibok abductions has triggered some of the most scathing criticisms of the administration since it was elected in 2011. THE NEW YORK TIMES editorial of May 6, 2014, titled “Nigeria’s Stolen Girls” stated that “the country ’s president, Goodluck Jonathan, has been shockingly slow and inept in addressing this monstrous crime”.

Monstrous crime The editorial stated that “the reaction of Mr. Jonathan’s wife, Patience, was stunningly callous” and most damagingly: “Mr. Jonathan, who leads a corrupt government that has little credibility, initially played down (Boko Haram’s) threat…it wasn’t until…more than two weeks after the kidnappings that he called a meeting of government officials…” In the meantime, Nigerians across the country were taking to the streets demanding that the children be brought home; the same demand touched the hearts of people all over the world. By May 7th, BBC World TV was reporting that the #BringBackOurGirls hashtag was already re-tweeted a million times and on the same day, if one Googled “Bring back our Girls, one saw 2.1Billion results! The #BringBackOurGirls hashtag, according to THE WALL STREET JOURNAL was created by a Nigerian lawyer, Ibrahim Musa Abdullahi; and by 11th of May 13, 2014, had been retweeted more than 2million

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014 — 17 and save those kids”. If Obama was very measured the same cannot be said of the very rightwing and gung-ho John S e n a t o r McCain; he went on an offensive: “ what we should have done, as soon as we know that these young girls were kidnapped…we should have utilized every asset we have, satellites, drones, any capabilities that we have to go right after them. We didn’t have to wait until a Nigerian government, the nonexistent practically government in Nigeria gave us the go-ahead”. That appeared very much like a blow below the belt for the Jonathan administration. And it was not the last during last week. Former US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton was unsparing in her response to the Chibok abductions too: “The seizure of the young women…is abominable…The government of Nigeria has been, in my view, somewhat derelict in its responsibility toward protecting boys and girls, men and women in northern Nigeria over the last years”. She punched further that “Nigeria has made bad choices,

President Goodluck Jonathan's fallouts from Chibok times. Social media has made it a cause celebre , just as the Nigerian government dithered and tried, cynically, to politically manipulate the abduction and throw a Christian-versus-Muslim spanner into the exemplary unity which Nigerians were displaying on the need to bring back home our girls; alive! Mrs. Michelle Obama addressed Americans and made the Chibok abductions the central plank of her address, just as Graca Machel, Nelson Mandela’s widow, stepped out of her period of mourning to send message of solidarity and hope with the abducted girls. She added that Madiba would have understood the gesture! By 9th May, some of the most eminent international personalities like Desmond Tutu, Bill and Melinda Gates, Mo Ibrahim, Salim Ahmed Salim and

musician Bono, joined the worldwide campaign calling for the return of the Chibok girls. They urged “all local, national and regional governments, with the full support of the international community, to dedicate their expertise and resources- from satellite imagery to intelligence services to multinational corporations’ supply chains-to #BringBackOurGirls”. It was equally significant to note that Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)’s Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission, condemned the kidnappings and described Boko Haram’s action as “a gross misrepresentation of Islam”. Similarly, on May 9th, American president, Barack Obama, revealed that he wakes everyday thinking about our girls and wished that he “could reach out

not hard choices…They have squandered their oil wealth; they have allowed corruption to fester, and now they are losing control of parts of their (own) territory because they would not make hard choices…The Nigerian government has failed to confront the threat, or to address the underlying challenges”. When these blows were being rained on the Jonathan administration, international media outlets like CNN with anchor Isha Sesay were exposing the dark crevices of the nation’s governance process and putting to a lie, the posturing by the government. It was an incredible tour de force, which underlined all that is wrong with the performances of the Nigerian government, under Goodluck Jonathan. But something good has eventually come out of all the fast paced event of the past week, or so. The international community finally arrived with assets that can help to unravel the Chibok abductions. The long-term potential consequence might even lead to the considerable weakening, if not total end of the insurgency. The regional and international danger of the insurgency has been under the limelight in recent days too and with the US, France, Britain, China, Israel and other countries offering Nigeria various forms of assistance, things will certainly turn a corner. But Goodluck Jonathan has to learn vital lessons into the future. Certainly, he cannot forget the past week in a hurry!

The mystifications of national security LAST Sunday, Nigerian newspapers quoted Agency Reports, that the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) of Nigeria, in November 2013, signed a $3Million a year contract with the American lobbying firm Patton Boggs to “provide comprehensive security device, including the donation of excess military and law enforcement equipment”. ABC News, which was the source of this report, said Nigeria had hired the “powerful Washington lobby firm to press its case for intelligence on violent terror group Boko Haram and to persuade the Obama administration to donate nonlethal equipment in the hunt for extremists”. ABC News went

“Statistics say Nigeria is the richest country in Africa, with an average annual per capita income of 1,200 pounds, great wealth in most of the continent. But this is the greatest kleptocracy on Earth, whose oil wealth is pillaged by an elite which claws not millions, but billions…We see in Nigeria the problems that beset the entire African continent…It is international publicity, not shame, that has forced President Goodluck Jonathan’s rotten regime belatedly to respond to the (Chibok) kidnapping…”- Max Hastings

information on Boko Haram activities derived from intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance overflights of northeastern Nigeria’s Borno state”. Up to this point, there was nothing untowards in what the lobbying company seemed to have done on behalf of Nigeria’s NSA. But as the story rolled on, we might just begin to raise eyebrows as I will show in this write up. Because ABC News went further to say that “Patton Boggs also asked for non-lethal protective hardware to be DONATED to Nigeria such as mine-resistant armored personnel vehicles, night goggles and communication equipment from Iraq and Afghanistan stockpiles

So, why and how did we arrive at the sorry pass of begging for TOKUNBO equipment? The NSA must tell us why the trillions spent so far could not purchase night vision goggles and mine-resistant armoured vehicles!

further, quoting documents filed with the US Justice Department, under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), it described Patton Boggs’ point man on the Nigerian NSA’s contract, as Col. John Garrett. This Garrett met officials at the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) in Stuttgart, Germany in December 2013, “on behalf of Nigerian National Security Adviser Muhammadu Sambo Dasuki”. Col. John Garrett requested

LEFT OVER (my emphasis) from US withdrawals from those war zones”. Stripped of niceties, our NSA is asking for the donation of TOKUNBO military equipment from the US and for that he employed the services of a Washington lobbying firm. But these requests do not seem to add up. Why must we be requesting for the donation of TOKUNBO military hardware, when we have been budgeting huge sums of

money for defence in the past few years? THE NATION newspaper’s Editorial of Tuesday, May 13, 2014, titled #BRINGBACKTHEGIRLS, raised pertinent issues about the nation’s defense budgeting: “One of the cries of the half year since the escalation of the violence of the Boko Haram insurgents is the call for accounting for the budget allocated for security since the Jonathan presidency started prosecuting its war against the militants. The budgets of 2012, 2013 and 2014 have been especially high. For 2012, the budget allocation was N921.91billion. In 2013, the sum budgeted was N950Billion. This year’s budget is N845 billion. For three years, the Federal Government has budgeted N2.7trillion for security, and this covers the armed forces, police, the office of the national security adviser, and other operational costs”.

Begging for left overs It is the security apparatus that has gulped over N2trillion in three years that has incredibly employed a lobbying firm to beg the US administration to donate to our country TOKUNBO left overs like night vision goggles that can be picked over the counter in China, US and Europe. What have they spent money on in the past three years? News filtering out of the operational zones talk

about restive troops that are badly provisioned and who do not have the requisite equipment to do their job. It is frightening to recall that President Jonathan told a bewildered country during his last media chat, that the military lags in training and equipment. But after spending so much money in the past two/three years, why haven’t we seen qualitative improvements in the state of our armed forces? Why did we get to the point where the NSA is begging for the donation of TOKUNBO leftover material from Iraq and Afghanistan? They certainly owe Nigeria explanations. Our valiant fighting men and women ought to be some of the best-equipped, provisioned and motivated forces in the world today, given the challenges we face as a country. These fine officers and men have a proud record of services around the world keeping the peace; but they have especially, displayed tremendous heroism and valour in ECOMOG operations in Liberia and Sierra Leone. So why and how did we arrive at the sorry pass of begging for TOKUNBO equipment? The NSA must tell us why the trillions spent so far could not purchase night vision goggles and mineresistant armoured vehicles! We have to tear through the mystifications woven around national security. There must be full disclosure to the Nigerian people!

18— Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014 THE World Economic Forum for Africa, WEFA, in Abuja, the 24th in the series, was a success, even in the gloom of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls, and the further security anxieties that surrounded the event. The same security concerns seemed to have brought more attention to the plight of the girls, generating promises of international assistance for Nigeria’s security challenges. Managing Director of WEF, Philip Rosler, threw up figures that supported possible benefits for Africa and Nigeria from the summit. He told the media that investors pooled $68 billion for Africa. China, with $30 billion, committed nearly half of the sum. Nigeria confirmed her commanding economic status as the summit generated 48,000 articles compared to 16,000, the highest recorded when South Africa hosted it. The summit attracted more than 1,000 participants from over

BY FESTUS OKUBOR

“ EARNED helplessness was first demonstrated by Martin Seligman and his colleagues. They identified conditions under which dogs would demonstrate apathetic behaviour when they were punished by means of electric shock. In the experiment, dogs were continually electrocuted to the point where they simply accepted electrocution and did not try to escape it. The dogs learned, correctly, that electrocution was unavoidable, and with this acquired knowledge, they simply lay down on the surface of their cages and took the shocks. By doing so, they demonstrated what is meant by learned helplessness.” Learned Helplessness as a Correlate of Psychosis: Examining evidence of learned helplessness in various types of schizophrenia. Published on January 4, 2014 by Dr. Ann Olson, Psy.D. in Theory and Psychopathology Every morning I wake up, say a prayer, head to the gym to do some running, get dressed, head to work, study, speak to friends and loved ones. pretty normal life, you might say. If someone were to follow me around they would imagine that I was happy and all was well. It isn’t. I, like many other Nigerians, am scared. I’m terrified and sad,

After WEFA Success 70 countries. It provided Africa with a strong platform to project itself to the world as a huge unexplored market that matters, no matter its challenges. President Goodluck Jonathan, President Macky Sall of Senegal, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, backed by a battery of African technocrats, stood together with delegates from other parts of the world to successfully accomplish the mission of selling Africa to a world that often focuses on the crises on the continent, often ignoring the prospects they bear. The obvious downside was the

shutdown of the nation’s capital to ensure the safety of the delegates. The opportunities of seeing Nigerians in their normal, daily elements and having fulfilling tourism diets from the huge menu Nigeria offers were lost. These could have had more positive impact on our economy. With the summit, at the height of the global Bring-Back-OurGirls campaign, it added an impetus to the search for the abducted girls and the efforts to end the menace of the insurgency in Nigeria and the sub-region. Major powers and our allies found a

mustering point against the evils of terrorism. Nigerians should build on the success of WEFA, by casting aside unhealthy politicking and building on drivers that can take Nigeria out of ignorance, poverty, violent crimes and more insurgencies that they could breed. The work starts now. The proposed investments are for countries with conducive settings for investments. Nigeria still has a lot of work to do in providing infrastructure that would support businesses and industries. It is gratifying to note that some of the proposed investments would be on infrastructure. An important lesson from WEFA is that outsiders would only help to build our continent. Africans must realise that they would play vital roles in pulling our people out of the limitations of ignorance and poverty. The world watches, and may just assist.

OPINION Nigeria of resilience, and a shared identity

helplessness

at the state of my beloved country. I never would have dreamed that I would be living in a place like this, where the reports of numerous people dying becomes so frequent that the mind is almost numbed to it. Numbers are thrown around: 500, 234, 70, 90, 50, 4, these are not just numbers, these are lives that have been cut short, people that have died senselessly. These are people who woke up in the morning trying to get to work, like I do everyday, and died burning, or cut down, or gunned down, over a grudge they had nothing to do with. Children, who for the sake of a better life, went to school in the morning, and found themselves being herded off into the forest, at gunpoint, to serve the whims of wicked monsters they did not offend. The tales of tragedy scare me. they make me angry, they make me sad. I, like many other Nigerians, am heartbroken. I weep for the orphaned children, the suddenly childless mothers, the number of people living in total fear, of an enemy they could not possibly imagine. An enemy with an indiscriminate bloodlust. For these people, death has become a part of their reality. Innocence has

There is a place and a time to ask why. Why are these things happening? Who is behind this? What do they want? I don’t believe that time is now. This is the time for leadership, this is the time for ownership. This is the time that we as Nigerians must come together to condemn and fight back at this common enemy, because that is what this is. This is not the time for name calling. This is not the time to insult the President or the armed forces, this is the time to act. When people are afraid to go to work, to go to the market, to go to school, then the enemy succeeds. When we are divided amongst ourselves, with half of us calling the president and government incompetent fools, and the other half of us taking up arms in defence of these institutions, then the enemy succeeds. When those who should know better, the religious leaders who have, by virtue of our Nigerian spirituality, ascribed so much power to themselves, when they speak untruths, hypocrisy and cowardice, to protect their positions or deliberately mislead, this demonic enemy succeeds. When those amongst

been lost forever. Their homes, their schools, their churches and mosques could become their tombs at any time. The mental torture that these people have been subjected to will manifest in more serious ways in the near future, in their anger and resentment at a country that does nothing but try to kill you. I weep for this generation of Nigerians. I, like many other Nigerians, am angry. I am angry because I feel helpless. I am angry because the institutions tasked with the protection of lives and property, the security and well being of citizens, that most basic tenet of what it means to be a human being, are failing. No matter your political allegiances or familial connections, it is a glaring fact that has to be accepted by all, for us to even move forward. Do I believe that there is high level complicity by the military, the government or any other conspiracy theories? I do not. I have family members in the military, men and women of unquestionable character and integrity, who have ben risking their lives for this country since even before I was born, but the fact is that this is a threat that seems to have overwhelmed even this patriotic class of Nigerians.

us, full of patriotic fervour, decide to take to the streets, or start campaigns to persuade the government to act, and we sit at home and criticise them and their motives, the enemy succeeds. When we complain about how Nigeria was set up to fail 100 years ago by the British, and how we need to break up to survive, the enemy succeeds. When we resort to ethnic and religious bigotry, blaming other tribes and faiths, or insensitivity to the suffering of others, when we refuse to give help, no matter how small, to those around us in such obvious need, this enemy succeeds. We as citizens of this great nation must strive to do as much as we can to protect our neighbours and ensure that we and our children have a safe place to live in. We as YOUTHS have an even greater imperative than our parents to do this. In a nation with over 70% of us under the age of 30, we have no other hope but a strong, safe Nigeria. The rest of the world, whether we like their interference or not, also has a responsibility to offer assistance to the government of Nigeria. There are 170 million of us, the world is not big enough for a Nigerian refugee crisis.

*Mr.Okubor, an Impact Investment Analyst, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014— 19

, Muslim zone of the North, knows where the shoe of Islamic terror and insurgency is pinching. That much is pretty obvious. If you live in Lagos you will notice an uncommonly large number of newly arrived youth of Arewa stock in town. It is like that in most cities in the South. They squeeze in with their kinsmen who are maigads or security watchmen at night. In the morning they disperse in search of menial work. Their presence is making a lot of people nervous because you never know who among them could be Boko Haram members. The economy of many parts of Northern Nigeria is in shambles. If not for the oil money from the bowels of Niger Delta being used to feed this nation through the monthly federal allocation, some of the state governments particularly those of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe – would have shut down. Ironically, it is these same states that appear to have

In their determination to heap the blame for the insurgency on the Federal Government, and particularly on President Goodluck Jonathan, and buoyed by the support of reactionary groups like the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, they are not proactive in the war on terror. They are simply not cooperating. The impression they create is that of protectiveness towards the terrorists. If you watch very carefully, you will find that it is actually in the South and Abuja that the #Bring Back Our Girls protests, which are sweeping the entire globe, are taking place. There was a tepid outing somewhere in Kaduna last week. Why should the South be more concerned than the North for the release of these girls? Why should the support for the speedy end of terrorism in the North be a primary concern in the South while governments and leaders

in the North where the terrorists are devastating appear unruffled, except to look for opportunities to make the Presidency seem a failure in the war against terror? The only convincing effort has been coming from the Civilian JTF in Borno State, but even that has been largely grounded as a result of Boko Haram’s sudden empowerment from heavenknows-where, such that it now has armoured personnel carriers. Why is it only Southerners that demonstrate love for Nigeria while many Northerners only talk about “the interests of the North”? Is it not true that some Northern leaders see Nigeria only as a meal ticket for the North?

t was not until the world out there started getting into the effort to free the abducted Chibok schoolgirls that some prominent leaders in the North started speaking out against Boko Haram as they ought to have done long ago. Muhammadu Buhari danced

As I remember Elder Isemede

S I remember Mac, I remember “Yahoo don come”. That was a pet name we shared as we were entering into the computer world. We threw up the name freely, even at the middle of church services, particularly on those rare occasions, at the Church of God Mission, when the preaching was getting pall and uninteresting. Mac tried everything. He thought his breakthrough could come from a business centre. Before we knew what was happening, he had assembled some old desk top computers which had apparently been discarded somewhere. These old sets soon became virused unto death. The business only served as a relief centre for church members. On a busy day, he could rake in about N500 from the old photo copiers. And that was not the type of petit breakthrough Mac had prayed for. He once told me that it would take a century for the blessings from such tickles to amount to anything. He packed up the business. When Governor Lucky Igbinedion appointed him Chairman of the Waste Management Board, I nicknamed him “Sanford and Son” – after the American TV comedy series of Lamar and his father, Sanford, who were in the junk collection business. He accepted the nickname but still kept calling me “Yahoo don come”. According to him, the Observer Newspapers whose Board I chaired until recently was still yahooing -- struggling to barely circulate beyond Oba Ovonramwan Square. A pity, Isemede didn’t live long enough to see what Observer will become in the next few months, Insha Allah! I had the rare privilege of writing and presenting a citation on this man, Elder Col. Godwin Macaulay Odia Isemede, in support of the reception in his honour, during the celebration of his 70th birthday anniversary. That was how I got to know

so much about this man from the heart of Afenmai Land. Elder Isemede was born on May 28, 1941 into the family of Mr. Benjamin Arenobe and Mrs. Dorcas Agbonhanhan Isemede in the little village of Ukhuse-Osi in the present Owan Local Government Area of Edo State. He had his early education in Army Children School, Eleyele, Ibadan and Ibadan District Council Primary School, Ibadan, 1949-1955. He then proceeded to Ibadan District Council Modern School, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. From the second year in the Modern School, he proceeded to the Nigerian Military School, Zaria. In his determination to build up the necessary intellectual robustness relevant to the machinery and process of service to humanity, he soon transcended the narrow confines of secondary-cummilitary education when he undertook extensive and intensive management courses both within and outside Nigeria. Among other things, he attended Royal Medical College, Crookham, Aldershot in England before proceeding to Woolish Hospital, London, where he graduated as a Radiographer. Before venturing into career politics, he held several positions of responsibility during which he distinguished himself as a prodigy, a man of excellence, a soldier extraordinaire and an extremely humane individual. During his working years, he found himself in positions requiring superior intelligence and judgement. He faithfully served a wide and varied constituency, always ensuring that justice was applied with universal equality. All these gave his experience a richness that further prepared him for greater responsibilities and service to humankind. In the military frontier, Isemede was virtually in all the formations and

ajasco around the issue until only last month. The joke was lost on many people when President Jonathan commended Buhari for his strongly worded condemnation of Boko Haram after appearing to derive some secret delight in the bloodshed the Islamists were perpetrating, perhaps on the foolish calculation that the terrorists will weaken the President and present power to him and the North on a platter of gold come 2015. The truth is that the abduction of those girls will turn out to be a game changer, both for Boko Haram and the political class using it as a tool in their power play. No matter what happens to those girls, Boko Haram leaders and their hireling fighters have bitten off more than they can chew. Their days are numbered because the world has come together against them. It is in the interest of the political class that the girls are recovered from these devils as soon as possible. The damage might already have been done, but concerted efforts at damage control can still be syndicated with specialists from around the world once they are freed, but only if done as soon as possible. Delay is dangerous. I do not see President Goodluck Jonathan coming forward to declare his intention to run for a second term in 2015 unless the standoff is resolved victoriously for Nigeria and mankind. He has told us of his sleepless nights since the girls were abducted. Why should he sleep when he knows that his political ambition could well be truncated by the inability of the state to rescue our girls from captivity? The same thing applies to the

battalions at various times and in various parts of the country. He was part of the gallant soldiers that fought to liberate the then MidW e s t e r n Region from the clutches of the Biafran Army. After that, he was moved to the

Chibok girls as game changer proved most difficult – even T is said he who wears the shoe intransigent – in the war on INorthern knows where it pinches. terror. Nigeria, especially the

No matter what happens to those girls, Boko Haram leaders and their hireling fighters have bitten off more than they can chew; their days are numbered because the world has come together against them

Isemede lived a good life; he ran a good race; he finished his course; and there is no doubt in my mind that the crown of righteousness already awaits him in the bosom of the Lord

Third Marine Commando, Port Harcourt, where he spearheaded vital links with Aba-Umuahia and Aba-Owerri Roads. These were the hotspots of the Nigerian Civil War.

ince retiring from the Nigerian Army, Isemede had a sojourn in the business world. During the period 1981-1991, he was in the service of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, where he occupied various managerial positions A major turn around in the life of Elder Isemede came in 1991, when he gave his life to Christ, accepting Him as his Lord and personal saviour. Isemede saw it all. He saw the ups and downs of life. His political life epitomises the strong belief that he who has never failed has never really succeeded. At a point, we saw him as the Moses of our time -- the man who saw the Promise Land but did not enter into it. He made several

main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress, APC. Until the girls are found, I do not see any of those jostling for presidency among its ranks coming forward to declare his candidacy. The same moral shackles that hold President Jonathan from moving forward in his aspiration is also holding them down. The two major political parties are in this political hellhole together. In particular, the governors of Borno and Yobe cannot declare for second term while the Chibok abductions have not been successfully resolved. Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State is on his way home, having completed his two terms. It is now in the interest of the PDP and APC to join hands and bring back our girls or no deal. The Northern Governors Forum, NGF, has, happily enough, told us that the Boko Haram chapter should be closed within 90 days. That is highly reassuring. I am firmly of the belief that if the NGF and Northern leaders bring out their patriotic minds Boko Haram will be defeated pronto. If they stop giving them money, either in unabashed support to make governance difficult for President Jonathan, or buy protection from being attacked, the insurgency will weaken. If they volunteer credible information that will help to solve the problem, it will be solved within record time. It will make the armed forces to ride smoothly, while the assistance from world powers will be an icing on the cake. The power of Boko Haram is in the complicity and support of Northern leaders and politicians.

attempts to be the Chairman of Owan West Local Government, only to be rigged out at the eleventh hour. In 1997, he contested, and won, election into the Edo State House of Assembly but he was not sworn in due to the death of Gen. Sani Abacha, which truncated Nigeria’s attempt to return to civil rule. This was, perhaps, another case of a successful operation in which the patient died! Between 2003 and 2007, Isemede was the Chairman, Board of Directors, Edo State Waste Management Board. Between October 2010 and February 2011, he was the Transition Chairman, Owan West Local Government. Isemede was focused. This was one man who refused to be intimidated by the aggressive media strategies of his political opponents. He was a most perfect manifestation of political craftsmanship and hope for our people. He could test positive for the Heavenly Race any time. He was a soldier extraordinaire, a political strategist, a tactician, an exponent of human kindness, he rendered service to humanity without counting the cost; and above all, he was a gentleman. He passed on to eternal glory on March 14, 2014, leaving behind three wives, 14 children and 33 grand children. Like the great Apostle Paul, Isemede lived a good life; he ran a good race; he finished his course; and there is no doubt in my mind that the crown of righteousness already awaits him in the bosom of the Lord. So shall it be, Amen! My entire family joins me in praying that the Almighty God would grant those he left behind.

20 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014

BY MIKE EBONUGWO, YOLA

T was a case of being refu gees in their own country at a time of relative peace. But it took an unexpected visit to bring their presence and plight to public attention. Indeed it was more like a journey of shocking discovery for a delegation from the Adamawa Peacemakers Initiative, API, a group of community and religious leaders devoted to peace building and coordinated by the American University of Nigeria, AUN, which paid a humanitarian visit to Mubi, on Saturday, March 29. Mubi has been emergency home to some internally displaced victims of recent insurgency attacks in Borno and Yobe states. The delegation led by AUN President, Margee Ensign; State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. Father Moses Taparki, and the Secretary General of the Adamawa Muslim Council, Imam Dauda Bello, not only commiserated with the displaced persons at the palace of the Emir of Mubi, Alhaji Abubakar Isa Ahmadu, but also donated food, clothing and relief materials which were received on behalf of the refugees by Hajia Turai Kadir, Project Coordinator of the Center for Women and Adolescent Empowerment, an NGO working in Mubi for distribution to them. Addressing the over 200 men, women, and children who gathered to receive the Peacemakers, President Ensign commiserated with them and urged them never to lose hope in life in spite of what they were going through. “We are here as your mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters. We feel your hunger and suffering; it

*Members of the AUN/API delegation addressing the internally displaced persons. INSET: AUN President, Margee Ensign, handing over relief materials to some refugees.

Refugees in their land: Story of internally-displaced persons in Mubi, Bole A spokesman for the displaced persons, Malam Ibrahim Saliu, expressed gratitude to members of the delegation. He thanked them for their encouragement, prayers and gifts, noting that they were comforted by the solidarity of the Adamawa Peacemakers as they try to come to terms with the tragic loss of their relatives, houses, livestock, and liveli-

He showed a man whose brother was allegedly slain by terrorists before he fled with his family to take refuge in Bole; it was a sombre outing as most of these displaced were nursing mothers

makes us want to do more to stop the violence. We have come to show our love and support and to tell you that you are not alone,” she said. Rev. Fr. Taparki, who prayed with them, asked them to remain peaceful and to love one another. Imam Bello who also prayed with the victims, addressed them thus: “We have come to sympathise with you and pray to God that this mayhem should not ever be repeated or religion used to cause more violence”. He prayed God to mend their broken hearts and grant them divine protection.

hood. When the delegation visited the Emir to commiserate with him over the plight of the displaced persons being sheltered in his domain, President Ensign explained their mission of peace and the intention of API to build a network of peacemakers by extending the work of peace building, which started in Yola, to Mubi and other parts of Adamawa State. President Ensign shared with the Emir the plans by AUN and the API to convene a national peace conference in Yola next month, and extended an invitation to the royal father. The

Emir welcomed the delegation’s compassionate visit and agreed that their peace initiative should be everybody’s concern. He promised to mobilise his subjects for the proposed conference, but wisely advised the organisers to first seek out the peculiar needs of each community since people’s needs differed from community to community. The traditional ruler advised the Adamawa Peacemakers to remain steadfast in preaching peace and reconciliation among the various Adamawa communities. There is, he said, no alternative to dialogue and peaceful coexistence. The visit to Mubi was the latest in a series of outreaches conducted by the API. Recently, members of API commiserated with the victims and families of violent attacks in Madagali and Toungo local government areas, also in Adamawa State. API had also in January, 2012, paid a similar compassionate visit to families and survivors of sectarian violence in Numan, Adamawa State, where relief materials were also distributed. Right on the heels of the visit to displaced persons of Mubi, an AUN-empowered API delegation had on April 26, 2014, also paid another visit to internally displaced persons from neighboring Borno and Yobe

states seeking refuge in two different locations in the Bole ward of Yola South LGA. The team which was led by AUN President Ensign distributed relief materials to the victims, including food, mosquito nets, and clothing, among other necessaries. The first location visited was Sabon Pegi in Bole ward which harboured mainly men and women who fled the terror unleashed on the two neighbouring states. The second haven was Lelewaji, also in Bole, literally crammed with hapless children and women. The Chief of Bole, Alhaji Abdulmumin Abubakar, a member of the API, welcomed the visit and addressed the audience.

People’s challenges He spoke about his people’s challenges in harbouring the refugees and assuaging the psychological effects of their sad experience. He showed a man whose brother was allegedly slain by terrorists before he fled with his family to take refuge in Bole. It was a sombre outing as most of these displaced were nursing mothers. Chief Abubakar said that some of the women have between three and seven children and are, in some cas-

es, widows. He also pointed out that it would be difficult for them to remarry because they will be considered heavy responsibilities by would-be husbands. President Ensign addressed the refugees saying: “We just brought supplies to make things a little better and get them back on a life with hope. We know this violence affects everyone but hits hard on the women and children.” She further stated that it is imperative that the University shows sympathy and love as it is situated in Bole. One of the victims, Mrs. Laminu Shuaib who is being sheltered at Sabon Pegi, expressed gratitude to AUN and API. She, however, craved for more facilities. “The camp is congested; we lack water, and our children are not going to school,” she said. Founded in 2003, the American University of Nigeria, Africa’s first development university, is located in Yola, Adamawa State. It is the only private, co-educational American-style institution in sub-Saharan Africa. Besides its peace-building efforts through the API, AUN is also spearheading the Grand Alliance for Adamawa, which is a forum for exchanging ideas and developing projects that will increase employment in the region, especially for vulnerable youths.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014 — 21

Nigeria spends N9bn annually on foreign artisans — NIOB President

From left: Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited, Mr. Ladi Balogun; Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde and the Chairman of the company, Chief Kola Jamodu, at the pre-AGM cocktail of Nigerian Breweries, in Lagos.

Paints sector capacity utilisation drops to 25% P

AINT manufacturers, under the aegis of Paint Manufacturers Association (PMA), on yesterday said that capacity utilisation in the sector had dropped to 25 per cent. The association’s President, Mr Suleiman Tella, disclosed this in Lagos. He said that the capacity utilisation dropped from 30 per cent in the last few years. Tella said that the drop in the performance of the sector was due to adulteration of products as well as the high cost of doing business. He said the situation had rendered almost 50 per cent of the paint manufacturing

182.4

1.6

2,875.00

+17.00

17.83

0.54

109.28 +0.87 101.79 +1.20 CURRENCY BUYING

CENTRAL SELLING

US DOLLAR 154.73 POUNDS 261.3235 EURO 213.0942 FRANC 174.4616 YEN 1.5177 CFA 0.3061 WAUA 239.0985 YUAN 24.8043 RIYAL 41.2547 KRONA 28.5411 SDR 239.5375

155.23 262.1679 213.7828 175.0254 1.5226 0.3161 239.8712 24.8849 41.388 28.6334 240.3116

155.73 263.0124 214.4714 175.5891 1.5275 0.3261 240.6438 24.9655 41.5214 28.7256 241.0856

CBN Exchange rate as at 14/05/2014

companies moribund. “The paint industry in Nigeria presently has an average annual turnover of N50 billion and this constitutes 25 per cent capacity utilisation. Our installed capacity, from about 100 active paint manufacturers in the country is 200 million litres of paints, if all things are in place to an extent. Adulteration of our paint products is one of our major challenges and this is because the fine levied on offenders is too low,”

Tella said. He said that paint manufacturers in the country had not been able to produce up to 50 per cent of the paint products consumed in the country due to insecurity and unstable power supply. According to him, this means that implementation of the local content policy has been problematic. The industrialist urged the Federal Government to create a more enabling environment for all manufacturers.

Customs denies implementing 35% duty on used vehicles

HE Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) yesterday denied the allegation by licenced customs agents that it had started the implementation of the 35 per cent duty on imported used vehicles. Mr Chris Osunkwo, spokesman for the Tin-Can Island Customs Command said that the customs was only collecting the 20 per cent duty on new vehicles. “At no time did the customs collect 35 per cent duty on second-hand vehicles. The July 1 directive by the Federal Government on the item still stands. We (NCS) are not collecting such tariff until July 1. The government says that we should collect 20 per cent duty on new vehicles and 35 per cent duty on used vehicles but the latter has not come into effect,” Osunkwo said. Osunkwo said the customs wondered why the agents had been

protesting that the directive had been implemented ahead of the July 1 implementation date. He said that it was wrong for clearing agents to protest what was not real. The customs spokesman advised the clearing agents to redirect their grievances to the government. But Mr Chuks Kanikwu, General Secretary, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) vowed to continue to protest the sudden implementation of the policy. “Because of the sudden implementation, most clearing agents had run into debt because there is usually a contractual agreement between an importer and the agent. “The clearing agents had already entered into this agreement with the hope that the implementation of the tariff will start on July 1.”

resident of Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Mr Tunde Lasabi, said the nation spent about N9 billion annually on hiring foreign artisans to work in the country. Lasabi said in Lagos that the artisans were paid to work on various construction sites. According to him, most contractors and building professionals preferred to use the services of artisans and craftsmen from neighbouring countries because of the good quality of their work. “The building industry is depleting the nation’s foreign reserve by hiring the services of foreign artisans and craftsmen. We know that this is not good enough but for now, there is nothing we can do. “However, to check this, the institute decided to train and retrain our indigenous artisans and craftsmen and we have just completed the first phase of the training. This is a remarkable achievement for the institute in the first quarter of 2014,’’ he said. Lisabi said that the training would help to put the work of Nigerian artisans and craftsmen at par with those of their colleagues outside the country. He added that the capacity building programme would also ensure employment for Nigerian artisans and craftsmen on construction sites.

Deregulation: IPMAN to build 2 refineries

he Independent Petroleum Mar keters Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has disclosed plans to construct two petroleum refineries in Bayelsa and Kogi States to support deregulation of downstream sector of the petroleum industry. IPMAN National President, Mr Chinedu Okoronkwo, made the disclosure when he led other executive members on a courtesy visit to the Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, in Abuja. He said the association remained committed to government policy on deregulation and had concluded arrangements to construct two petroleum refineries. “The new executive of this association is on board and we are ready to partner with the Federal Government to improve the petroleum industry in the country. As I speak, our technical team is expected in the country any moment. Refinery is not a big deal, but the way it is magnified makes it scary. We were the first to do these tank farms that people are now using all over the place and we are determined to repeat same in refining of petrol,” he said.Okoronkwo said the association has a track record of introducing measures to ameliorate the hardship experienced by consumers.

22 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014

E-Payment: Banks must resolve card disputes within three days Stories by BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

HE Central Bank of Ni geria (CBN) has said that banks must resolve disputes arising from use of e-payment cards within three working days. This is one of the highlights of the guidelines for card usage and issuance in Nigeria released by the apex bank this week. The guideline stated, “Where a customer has a dispute to resolve, the customer shall report it to the Issuer (bank). The Issuer, working with the respective Card Scheme shall ensure that disputes are resolved within internationally acceptable time frames for disputed international transactions. The timeline for the resolution of domestic transaction disputes shall be T+2 (three days), commencing from the date of the transaction. The Acquirer shall initiate the resolution, even without the prompting of the issuing bank. The timeline for dispute resolution for international transactions shall be as specified by the card scheme.” The guidelines however approved the practice of destruction of trapped cards, saying, “Any trapped card in the ATM shall be rendered unusable (by perforation) by the Acquirer and returned to the Issuer on the next working day.” The CBN also said it is the duty of banks to educate card holders on fees, usage of cards and their dispute resolution process. According to the guidelines, “Issuers are expected to continuously educate cardholders on the following, amongst other things: Security tips for safeguarding cardholder information; Costs and charges associated with owning and using a payment card; Contact numbers to the Issuer’s 24/7 contact centre in order to report cardholder issues

or problems; Dispute resolution process across the bank’s products and channels. “Card issuers shall continue to furnish customers or cardholders with details of the contractual terms and conditions, prior to activation. Such terms shall include at a minimum: Fees and charges; Withdrawal limits; Billing cycles; Termination procedures; and Consequences of Default/theft/misuse of cards.” The guidelines banned banks

from imposing any levy not adequately communicated to their customers and also from issuing unsolicited cards to their customers. It stated, “Issuers shall not levy any charge that was not explicitly indicated to the customer or cardholder. Unsolicited cards should not be issued. Where an unsolicited card is issued and activated without the written consent of the recipient and the latter is billed for the same, or fraudulent activity occurs, the card

issuer shall not only reverse the charges forthwith, but also pay a penalty, without objection to the recipient, amounting to twice the value of the charges reversed. The verifiable consent of a customer shall be required before issuing a payment card or other products offered along with the card. Information to the customer has to be explicit and not implied. The consent may be received physically or electronically.”

FROM RIGHT: Dr Uju Ogubunka, Registrar/CEO CIBN; Mr Fakunle Adeoye, Deputy Director Banking Supervision Dept. CBN; Otunba Debola Osibogun, First Vice President CIBN; President/ Chairman of Council CIBN, Dr. Segun Aina; Dr. Segun Ajibola, Second Vice President, CIBN display the new Code of Conduct in the Nigerian banking industry at the press conference in Lagos. Photo: Diran Oshe.

New code of conduct applies to contract, casual workers — CIBN President

HE new Code of Conduct for the Nigerian Banking industry applies to all cadres of bank workers, including contract and casual workers. President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Dr. Segun Aina said

this at the presentation of the new code in Lagos. Aina said, “The provisions in the Code govern the behaviours of both individual and corporate bodies in the banking industry. It also applies to all strata/cadre of employees in

Experts discuss competitiveness at performance intelligence conference E CONOMIC experts will gather next week to discuss competitiveness at the first International conference on Performance Intelligence in Nigeria holding in Lagos. The conference is designed to acquaint leaders in the Nigerian private and public sectors with tools and methodologies that would help their organizations achieve peak performance and efficiency. The guest speaker at the conference is Mr. Deiric McCann, a leading global authority on Performance Intelligence, while the discussants include notable leaders in the private and public sectors of Nigeria such as the Lagos State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Ben Akabueze, the Registrar/Chief Executive of the Chartered

Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Dr. Uju Ogubunka, and the President/ Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria. The Conference is organized by Profiles International, a world leader in Performance Intelligence tools and methodologies with headquarters in the United States and offices in 125 countries including Nigeria. According to the country Director of Profiles International in Nigeria, Mrs. Tilda Mmegwa, the Conference is part of the strategies the organization has outlined in its quest to help Nigerian companies attain true global competitiveness and adopt international best practice in their operations.

the industry including executive directors, managers, officers and supervisors whether full time, part time, and temporary, casual/contract and insourced workers”. He said, “The new Code of Conduct in the Nigerian Banking Industry, which emanated from the fusion of previous three Codes namely, Code of Ethics and Professionalism in the Banking and Finance Industry, Code of Banking Practice and Professional Code of Conduct as mentioned above, contains a list of acts, conducts, commissions and omissions classified as unethical and unprofessional as well as the framework for addressing these in the business of banking and finance in Nigeria. The Code also provides the procedure for dealing with complaints and the sanctions for infractions of any of its provisions. The Code also provides the procedure for dealing with complaints and the sanctions for infractions of any of its provisions.

Understanding business fundamentals critical to survival of SMEs— FirstBank BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

irstBank Nigeria Lim ited has said that operators of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) must understand the fundamentals of their businesses in order for them to succeed. The Bank noted that a lot of SMEs fail immediately after take-off because the owners did not take time to study the business to acquaint themselves with the fundamentals. Group Head, Retail banking, South South, FirstBank, Mrs. Rosemary Ashiegbu stated this at the banks’ SME Connect Open seminar for entrepreneurs in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. “People more often go into business because they just love it without taking into account the fundamentals of the business”, she said. Continuing, she said the seminar was organised to build capacity in areas that would strengthen businesses. “The essence of the seminar is to strenghten SMEs. We (First bank) are 120 years old in Nigeria. You know we are this long in the business because we pay attention to details. We observe that SMEs fail in this country. The whole idea of the seminar is to point out area for capacity building like your book keeping” she said. On her part, the Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Mrs Fokake Ani-Mumuney said SMEs were very essential to the growth of the nation’s economy, adding that they contribute greatly to the gross domestic product of the nation’s economy. She said the foregoing explained why the bank came up with the seminar, stressing that it would help strengthen the sector. “The seminar is designed to provide practical help on relevant challenges faced by small businesses and will focus on capacity building, business plan writing, marketing products as well as accessing bank loans and documentations”, she said.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014 — 23

DFIs boost Nigeria’s staple crop processing zones with N51.5bn By Franklin Alli with Agency Report

HE World Bank, the African Development Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development have committed N51.5 billion to the development of Nigeria’s Staple Crop Processing Zones. This was disclosed by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in a presentation during the World Economic Forum – Africa which took place in Abuja. UNIDO said the zones have already attracted investments totaling $350 million from different financial institutions. A breakdown of the figure showed that the World Bank has committed over $ 100 million to develop sustainable institutions and infrastructure in the zones, while the African Development Bank has committed over $152 million to make available low interest loans to the Nigerian Government, specifically for the development of infrastructure in the staple crop processing zones.

afarge Cement WAPCO Nigeria Plc said it is aggressively pursuing its pan-Nigeria expansion through the acquisitions of some local cement firms in the country. Country Organisation and Human Resources Director, Lafarge Nigeria, Mrs. Fidelia Osime, disclosed this during the launch of the “State of World Cities Report” (SWCR) at Caleb University, Imota, Ikorodu Lagos. Osime said, “We have been in Nigeria for over fifty years and currently enjoy a national presence with Lafarge WAPCO in the South–West, and we are now targeting pan-Nigeria markets through the spread of our subsidiaries such as: UNICEM in Calabar, Atlas in the East and Ashaka Cement Plc in the North. “We will expand panNigeria in no distant future. Lafarge has very strong commitment to Nigeria and this explains why we have grown from three million metric tonnes in 2008 to 8.5 million metric tonnes in 2012 with an investment of one billion euros during the

80 Nigerians benefit from Nutricima empowerment BY PROVIDENCE OBUH

Cross section of shareholders during the 45th Nestle Annual General Meeting, in Lagos. Also the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has also pledged $70 million to build capacity of small farmers to ensure inclusiveness and equitable wealth creation in the staple crop processing zones. In partnership with Federal Ministry of Agriculture and

Rural Development (FMARD), UNIDO developed master plans for establishing staple crop processing zones in six geo-political regions of the country that will simultaneously address all supply-side constraints and improve Nigeria’s competitiveness in selected

agro value chains. The staple crop processing zones are a flagship programme of Nigeria’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda, which has the objective of creating wealth and employment in the agribusiness sector.

Lafarge targets pan-Nigeria expansion through acquisitions BY PROVIDENCE OBUH

BRIEFS

period,” she stated. She also said that plans are underway to double their capacity in the next three to four years as indicated by the recent ground breaking ceremony of additional three million tonnes capacity new line in AshakaCem. On why the company sponsored the launch of ‘World cities report, she noted, “Ät Lafarge, we believe that the main 21st century

challenge is the acceleration of growing urbanisation and its human economic and political impact, and our objective is to bring solutions to build better cities, more beautiful, more compact, more connected, more durable. “Our sponsorship and participation in this event is well considered as it is quite central to our commitment of building better cities. With our large and growing

population, the needs arising from an 18 million housing deficit, there is no better place than Nigeria to demonstrate what we can bring to alleviate this global challenge. On his part, Prof. Banji Oyelaran Oyeyinka, Director, Monitoring and Research, UN-Habitat, Nairobi, Kenya, added that in the absence of effective urban planning, the consequences of rapid urbanisation will be dramatic.

Nigeria, 4th goods purchasing economy — Obayuwana

igeria has been ranked as the 4th world leading purchasing luxury goods economies, Executive Director, Polo Limited, Ms Jennifer Obayuwana, has disclosed. She stated this while discussing the growing trend of luxury goods in Africa’s retail market at the 2014 Women Inspiration and Enterprise, WIE held in Lagos. According to her, the recent report (2013) from the Global Tax Company has positioned Nigeria as the 4th leading purchasing economy of luxury goods in the world, a position higher than that of 2012. Obayuwana stressed that the spotlight which is now on Nigeria’s retail industry, presents a viable opportunity to rebrand the

industry into the biggest business economy of fashion in Africa. She explained that although there are crippling circumstances which hinder swift growth within the industry such as the high cost of retail infrastructure within the Nigerian environment, nonetheless, she stated that, Nigeria has a good story to tell about fashion. Speaking alongside female technocrats which included Founder WIE Network Dee Poku, Philanthropist Folorunsho Alakija, renowned designer Folake Folarin Coker, Media personality Julie Gichuru, and talk show host/CEO Ebony life Mo Abudu, Lola Ogunaike, Remi Folawiyo, Omoyemi Akerele, Mako Osakwe amongst other distinguished women, Obayuwana concluded.

ighty Nigerians have so far benefited the ongoing consumers’ empowerment promotion by Nutricima Limited, tagged, “Mega cash Promo.” Vanguard findings showed that since commencement of the promo in January till this month, the company has disbursed over N18 million on 80 Nigerians in the six geopolitical zones of the country who participated in the promotion. A breakdown of the figure showed that the promo produced 10 winners each of the sum of N1, 000, 000; N500, 000; N250, 000; N50, 000 and N5, 000 consolation price each for 40 winners. Head of Marketing, Nutricima, Mrs. Wande Oluwasegunfunmi, said that the promotion has fully accomplished its aim of empowering consumers financially to realise their dreams. “The Mega Cash promo has produced millionaires from all walks of life, from truck pusher in Kano, to the teacher at Ikorodu, to the FRSC Official in Abuja, to the poultry farmer in Kaduna, the undergraduate in Jos and many other winners who have shared their testimonies on how the money prize has brought them good fortunes and changed their stories.

Minister commends organisers of Agriexpo

he Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina has commended 151 Products Ltd, the organisers of the annual Agriexpo for sustaining the event since its inception three years ago. This year’s edition has also been endorsed by Nigerian – British Chamber of Commerce; Nigerian – American Chamber of Commerce; Cocoa Association of Nigeria; Cashew Association of Nigeria and Poultry Association of Nigeria. The Minister made the commendation when the management of the company visit and informed him about this year’s edition of the fair. It is slated for next month in Lagos.

24 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014

President blames cabotage failure on inadequate manpower BY GODFREY BIVBERE

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has blamed the failure of the Cabotage Law on inadequate manpower in the maritime sector, stressing that the establishment of the Maritime University in Okerenkoko will bridge the gap. Jonathan who disclosed this at the ground-breaking ceremony of the Nigerian Maritime University and the NIMASA Shipyard at Okerenkoko, Delta State, also lamented the state of affairs in the sector. According to him, “We have the Cabotage Law that should provide a lot of privileges to Nigerians but we are not maximizing the gains we are supposed to get in the maritime industry. This is because we don’t have the requisite manpower needed to drive the act. “From the beginning, this country started so well in the maritime sector but we laid back and so many countries that we were ahead of when we had shipping lines going all over the world, have overtook us. “They overtook us because we are not maximising the gains we are supposed to get in the maritime industry and this was due to the fact that we don’t have the manpower,” he said. President Jonathan assured indigenous operators in the maritime industry of adequate government attention and protection. He said the federal government plans to intro-

BY GODWIN ORITSE with agency reports

From left: Chairman, House Committee on Marine Transport, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Nigerian Ambassador to USA, Ade Adefuye; member, Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Danladi Sankaran and his counterpart in the committee, Oluremi Tinubu, when the delegation to under study the implementation of the International Ships and Ports Facility Security, ISPS Code paid a visit at the Nigerian Embassy in Washington DC.

duce a new economic concept that will also support the growth of the maritime industry. “There is a new terminology called the blue economy coming up. It will talk about how we will marry our maritime re-

sources for the gain of the society, from transportation to fisheries and others,” he added. The President also warned those involved in illegal oil bunkering to desist from the act or face the full weight of the law. Jonathan, who admitted

that elimination of illegal oil bunkering in the country might be difficult, accused some influential people of sponsoring the illegal business. He commended NIMASA for initiating the Maritime University and Shipyard and

HE Nigerian Ports Au thority, NPA is to commence monitoring of offshore operations to ensure compliance in all operations, Port Manager of Onne port, Munir Umar, has said. Umar who disclosed this in Houston, Texas at the just concluded Offshore Technology Conference, OTC, said that the Authority has commenced training of its personnel in preparedness of approval by the central management. According to him, “Currently the present management of NPA is look-

projects. The president said the new university will place the nation’s maritime industry at par with those of its leading counterparts in the world and also enhance the nation’s economic growth.

FG approves joint venture management for Calabar channel BY GODWIN ORITSE

HE Federal Government has approved a new joint venture (JV) partner for the Nigerian Ports Authourity (NPA) to enable the commencement of the dredging of Calabar port channel. Disclosing this to journalists in Lagos, the

Managing Director of NPA; Malam Habib Abdulahi, said that the JV would not start until issues surrounding the previous controversial dredging contract were resolved. Although the NPA boss did not disclose the name of the firm that was awarded the contract, he however explained that

once the deal with the new management company was sealed, it will put a stop to the controversies surrounding the Calabar channel dredging. Calabar channel dredging has been the most controversial in the history of NPA. The contract has been awarded and re-awarded,

NPA to commence offshore monitoring of oil, gas operations BY GODFREY BIVBERE & IFEYINWA OBI

Security measures at ports cannot allow arms infiltration — Customs

ing at investment in offshore because that is where the money is but we have to train our people and that is what we are doing now. “We train our officers on how to monitor offshore operations.” On why NPA is just looking at offshore operations after all these years, he pointed out that “you know we have a new management which is focused on this investment. I am not saying that previous management did not do anything but they did not do enough. The new management under Alhaji Habib, is focused on this issue and we are bent on it, we are investing on it and we are train-

ing people on it.” Although the Port Manager said he could not say the exact number of personnel so far trained but stressed that the management is working closely with the oil companies for in house training and others are sent aboard. “Coming here is part of the training (to OTC). We send some to Dubai, to the United Kingdom and others places,” he said. Responding to accusations by operators that NPA seem to be favouring Intels when it comes to where oil and gas equipment can be discharged and cleared, the Port Manager said the accusation is not true.

In his words, “No, it is not so. I believe we are fair. When we were going through the concession process, they (the other companies) did not even apply for it. It is now that they realised how lucrative returns on investment is that they are looking in that direction.” Umar said that the port handled 250,000 Twenty equivalent Unit, TEU last year. Averagely we handle about 300 containers daily but you see at the moment the Customs have a new system called Pre-Arrival Assessment Report, PAAR before they were using the Risk Assessment Report, RAR which is a little bit slow.

yet the channel remains non-navigable and shallow, hence unable to attract big draught ships. It will be recalled that in 2005, the contracts for the management of four channels in Nigeria namely: Lagos, Bonny, Calabar and Warri were advertised. The bid was conducted internationally by Mobotek, a Holland consulting firm where about 49 international companies applied. At the end of the prequalification exercise involving the technical and financial bid verification with series of bid clarification meetings between NPA, Federal Ministry of Transport, some companies emerged. These include DEPASSA, leading a consortium of companies for Lagos Channel, Dredging International Services leading a consortium of companies for Bonny Channel, Niger Global Engineering leading a consortium of companies for Calabar Channel and Forby Engineering leading a consortium of companies for Warri Channel.

HE Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has assured of system checks and balances that guards against importation of arms into the country through the port. It will be recalled that the Federal Government recently called on all security agencies to ensure increased security measures against movement of arms across the nation. The Controller of the Command, Eporwei Edike, told newsmen in Lagos that the command’s system of examination of containers does not allow for security lapses. He said that a ‘certificate of examination’ system was introduced to ensure that officers are identified with a particular responsibility when they undertake container examination. He also noted that besides the certificate of examination, the customs intelligence unit do a lot of intelligence surveillance, making it difficult for unlawful passage of anything. “Here, we do not joke with examination. Apart from the statutory documentations we do at the port, we have also introduced a ‘certificate of examination’ system to identify officers who have examined a consignment. “An officer will fill all his information on the certificate to show that he undertook an examination and he has to indicate if he saw any discrepancies during the exercise. “They get constant reminders on the need for 100 per cent checks and with our efforts and determination, no arms and ammunition will go through this port,” Edike said. Speaking on the progress of the Pre-arrival Assessment Report(PAAR), Edike said the command has recorded a success especially in the month of April when the command recorded an all time high revenue.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014 — 25

*From left: Mr Orje Isheghnor, registrar, FUT Owerri; Prof. Faruk Haruna Rashid, Provost, Niger State College of Education, Minna; Mrs Ajoke Ogunsan, CEO Executive Trainers Limited; Prof. Maccido Ibrahim Mouktar, Provost, Federal College of Education, Zaria; Hon Habib Abu, Consul-General, Nigeria High Commission in New York; Prof. Bandele Samuel Oye, former VC, University of Science and Technology Ekiti; Prof Amen Uhunmwangho, Provost, Edo State College of Education, Ekiadolor and Dr Ayo Ogunsan, Chairman, Executive Trainers during the Higher Education Training at Pace University and courtesy visit to the Nigeria High Commission in New York, USA.

60 million Nigerian youth uneducated — CONSUL - GENERAL •As ETL trains top tertiary executives When will ASUP/ COEASU strikes be called off? Pg. 26

Are Nigerian private varsities in trouble? (2) Pg. 27

Widening education opportunity using ICT Pg. 29 C M Y K

HE Consul-General of Ni geria in the United States of America,Ambassador Habib Baba Habu has stated that about 60 million Nigerian youth are uneducated.Even as he equally noted that Nigerians in Diaspora are among the most sought after by American universities because of their intelligence. He disclosed that if the enabling environment and infrastructure are in place in Nigeria, most Nigerian students will surpass their counterparts anywhere in the world. Welcoming Nigerian vicechancellors, provosts, rectors and other top executives of tertiary institutions to Nigeria Embassy, New York, Habib said: “Your use of Executive Trainers Limited as the avenue through which you can improve the quality of your teaching and the quality of your students ultimately, means a lot. (ETL had taken top executives of some Nige-

rian tertiary institutions to New York for academic strategy workshop to revolutionize its higher education.) “The universities in America are looking for Nigerian students because they have realised that Nigerians are among the most intelligent people on earth. President Clinton confirmed that the Nigerian diasporas in the US are the most educated diaspora of any group.” He said that Nigeria has over 27,000 medical doctors in the US and over 81,000 nurses. Lamenting the state of Nigeria's education sector, Habib noted that every sector of the Nigerian economy is deficit but education tops the list. According to him, 70 per

BY DAYO ADESULU

cent of Nigeria’s population is below 30 years which is the most productive years of men and women. He, however, explained that out of the 70 per cent, only 30 per cent are educated and can fit into organisations based on their educational background. The remaining 40 per cent which probably constitutes 60 million, are uneducated. Considering the caliber of Nigerian academia in the United States, the ConsulGeneral tasked Nigerians to seek for ways of bringing them home. He said: “We need to think of how we can lure back some of the hundreds of PhD holders here that are wasting away. Many of them want to go home but they don’t know how to go about it.

Revolution is not about killing the system or the executive but killing that particular thing that the vice chancellor, rector, provost will be interested in which will not help the institution’s progress

“We need to start talking with some of our nationals. Some are in their early 60s and about to retire, even if they go back to Nigeria and teach for three or four years, our children will have benefited from their knowledge. “Most of them do not want to go home to nothing. They have had comfortable lives and wouldn’t want to go back and start struggling. Even if it is four-five years contract, I am sure you would find a lot of PhD holders and professors who are willing to go back home to teach, so please do consider this.” The Consul-General who lauded the ETL for organising a top level training for tertiary executives said the initiative will churn out high quality students that will impact on the country. When they impact on the country, he added, it means we are beginning again, the process of developing Nigeria.

Continues on page 26

26 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014

When'll ASUP/COEASU strikes be called off? BY LAJU ARENYEKA

HE question on the lips of thousands of students of Polytechnics and Colleges of Education is very much like the one above. Due to the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, Poly students have been at home for 206 days, as the strike embarked upon by the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, COEASU, enters its 148th day. It would be recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan had in a recent media chat, said that the striking lecturers “are being handled.” But what exactly does this statement mean to a student whose academic career hangs in the balance? And exactly what is being done to bring an end to the strilkes? The Vice-President of COEASU, Mr.Smart Olugbeko gave Vanguard Learning an insight into the COEASU strike situation: ”There has not been any change since the protests two weeks ago,” he said in a telephone interview. “I am on my way to Abuja right now for a meeting with the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education, NCCE. It is at that meeting that we will schedule a meeting with the supervising minister of education. Through it all, the government has been insensitive. Government has been insensitive and has not met any demands apart from the NEEDS assessment. If Government meets our demands, we are more than ready to make some concessions, but so far, our leaders have failed to be faithful in their dealings with us. For example, concerning the payment of arrears, we demanded that the money be paid once and for all and not in installments. But Government insisted that it would pay in two installments, the first one in April and the second in September. This is May, and no monies have been paid.” Also commenting on the President’s reiteration of the ‘No work, no pay’ policy towards the striking unions during the presidential chat, Olugbeko said: “It is ridiculous that that is the only response the President could give when asked about the strikes. Regardless, the no work no pay policy is not a threat to us. We are ready to continue the struggle without pay. All the issues we are fighting for are very important, but we understand that they cannot be solved in one day. If

* Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike

* Dr Chibuzo Asomugha, ASUP president

Government had committed to even 50 per cent of the demands, we would have called off the strike by now. But our leaders do not seem to care because Colleges of Education are at the lowest rungs of the ladder and their children do not go there. At least some of their relatives go to the universities, that is why they would make some effort if the universities were on strike. But for Colleges of

Education, the students there are children of the downtrodden. Many leaders do not even see the need for or importance of Colleges of Education.” For Polytechnics, however, there just might be light at the end of this very dark tunnel. The ASUP Zone D coordinator told Vanguard Learning of a recent development: “A del-

egation met with the House of Representatives recently, and we are hoping to hear good news from them. A motion was raised at the floor of the House of Representatives during our last protest, so we finally got to meet with the House for the first time on the strike issue. Vanguard Learning, however, gathered that the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Mr. Mc John Nwaobiala, told ASUP delegates that there is no budgetary provision to settle the arrears owed lecturers of federal polytechnics. He said the ministry, however, plans to request for special funds from the President to be able to take care of the about two years arrears. Nwaobiala also explained that the white paper of the much agitated government visitation panel to federal polytechnics would be released "between this week and next week." Meanwhile, commenting on the 'No work, no pay' policy, , the ASUP Zone D Boss said:

"Government has no moral justification to enforce it. They have been owing some arrears since 2009, and we had been working prior to the strike. What about the no pay, no work policy?’ He said: “On a brighter side, the Federal Government has set a committee on dichotomy, and that of NEEDS assessment had been handled earlier. Of all the issues, we would like the white paper on the Visitation panels to Federal Polytechnics to be released, as well as the arrears of N20.4bn paid. Government promised to pay in two installments. They said the first one would be paid in March, but later shifted it to April. Later we were told that they don’t have money. There has been no contention as to whether or not they are owing us, the issue is that of payment.” When will these strikes be called off? No one can tell. But is is a question that thousands of students will keep asking until they can return to school.

60 million Nigerian youth uneducated Continues from page 25 Recalling what the nation's university system used to be in the 70s, Habib heaped the blame on the years of military dictatorship. He said: “The military did a lot of harm to Nigeria. “When we went to school in the 70s and early 80s, we knew what we had in the universities. We were eating three square meals with 50 kobo until Ahmadu Ali came and scattered it for us. That was the beginning of the deterioration in the sector." He urged the educators to rebuild the sector.

Meanwhile, Professor Bandele Samuel Oye, former, Vice-Chancellor, University of Education, Ikere-Ekiti and University of Science and Technology, Ifaki-Ekiti had earlier in his lecture charged the educators to employ academic strategy in tackling crisis on campus. Speaking on the theme: Academic Strategy; The Management of Revolution in Nigerian Higher Education, Bandele said that academic revolution which must involve academic strategy must be tailored towards a positive change in tertiary institutions. He quickly stated that revolution is not about killing the

system or the executive but killing that particular thing that the vice-chancellor, rector, provost will be interested in which will not help the institution’s progress. The Professor of Sociol-ogy explained that such revolution could be in restoration of examination integrity in the institution, early marking of scripts, release of students’ results after Senate’s approval and saying no to embezzlement and corruption. He, however, warned that such attempts should be carried out with the appropriate strategy. Bandele who enjoined top executives in tertiary institu-

Education Ministry presents progress report BY TARE YOUDEOWEI

HE Lagos State Ministry of Education has held its 2014 ministerial Press briefing on the performance of the ministry, delivered by the Commissioner of Education, Mrs Olayinka Olagunsoye. Backed by the Special Adviser on Education, Otunba Fatai Olukoga and Mrs Gbolahan Daodu, chairman, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, Olagunsoye gave a breakdown of the progress report of 25 sectors of the ministry which covered primary and secondary education; and the office of the Special Adviser on Education which handles tertiary education,

On unification of curriculum and calendar for public and private schools, Olagunsoye stated that “the American curriculum has been discontinued and its discontinuation would commence in full effect in 2014/ 2015 session for all schools to conform.” On government approved schools she stated that; “no fewer than 185 nursery and primary private schools were visited for on-site inspection out of which 79 were granted approval. In the same vein, 109 private secondary schools were visited with 43 granted approval. Ten vocational schools were also approved for operation. The commissioner added that in meeting the Millen-

nium Development Goal of education for all, the state has been forced to congest its classrooms with as many as 60 students in a class, however, “new schools are being constructed in addition to the newly constructed schools in Ikorodu, Tarkwa Bay, OkunAjah, Mushin, Surulere and Agege that would aid in reducing the number of students per class in the state.” She further restated government's commitment through the payment of N508 million as examination and administration fees for 47,000 SS3 students in the state who sat for the 2014 West African School Certificate Examination. This was accompanied by approximately N180 million worth of books on core subjects delivered to schools throughout the state.

tions to welcome ideas that will lead to positive change in their institutions, charged them not to suppress a revolution that can lead to progressive change in their schools, adding that such action can lead to the removal and replacement of the institution’s head. “Members of staff who are cultists should be dealt with using the appropriate strategy. If the head is balanced, it can reduce cultism in school,” he said. On issues raised by unions that needed urgent attention, Prof Bandele maintained that the issues should be strategically examined and treated based on merit, especially if it will lead to the advancement of the institutions. He, however, warned unionists to desist from agitations that are self-centred which will not promote the sector. He urged the government to address vital demands made by unions especially if it will lead to positive change in the sector. In the opening remarks made by the professors and doctors of philosophy in attendance, the academics unanimously agreed that they have never attended a unique workshop like this which has revolutionized their lives. Therefore, with one voice, they agreed that Professor Bandele Samuel Oye, the resource person for the workshop should be addressed as Professor Emeritus of Sociology.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014 — 27

Women education is under attack — Onwenu BY SUCCESS UZOKWE

ABUJA — THE DirectorGeneral,National Cen-tre for Women Development,NCWD, Onyeka Onwenu has said women’s education is under attack as over 200 schoolgirls were abducted from school by terrorists who are adamantly opposed to educating girls and women. Onwenu who said this at the closing ceremony of the computer and business skills training for the Nigerian woman tagged: No Woman Left Out, stressed the need to empower women to meet their goals and aspirations. According to the D-G, new challenges and threats to girls and women continue to arise as the world changes. ”This programme offers the less privileged girls and women the opportunity to acquire ICT and business skills,and also to learn the latest technology in digital media and virtual world,” she stated.

”We also show solidarity with the United Nations and the International Telecommunications Union’s, ITU’s, call for action to empower women and girls to meet their goals and aspirations by using and becoming an active part in delivering success in information and C o m m u n i c a t i o n s Technology,”she added. The D-G said NCWD has been in the forefront of inno-

vation in ICT training and also blending the latest in technology learning with entrepreneurial skills to create a wellrounded experience around the nation. One of the beneficiaries, Gloria Akpan, the class governor said; “It is not enough,we want the Federal Government to provide us with personal computers to fall back on when we leave here.”

J *Founder and Chairman, Board of Trustees, Nana Apori Comprehensive High School Adiyan, Ogun State, Dr Obeng Apori (2nd right) with the wife, Lady Evang. Vida Apori (left) and the principal during the nomination of prefects in the school.

C M Y K

NOTE: Last week, the PUNCH report of April 9, 2014, which induced this article was attributed to Charles Abah alone. It has been drawn to my notice that it was jointly contributed by Mr Niyi Odebode and Charles Abah. I sincerely apologise to Niyi Odebode for this mistake. The second part of the article starts where the first one ended. So forgive me if some of it is repeated. It would make no sense without this repetition. Dele Sobowale. ust in case you think that Obong and Southwestern are to be pitied because they are not well-known, or their proprietors are not rich and famous, then take a look at the table below. These are some of the heavyweights in the sector. Bell University Obasanjo 232 American University Atiku 280 Igbinedion University Igbinedion 658

Auchi Poly to celebrate 50th anniversary in grand style AVING churned out thousands of successful graduates who have made their marks in different sectors over the years, all is set for Auchi Polytechnics to celebrate its 50th anniversary in grand style. In preparation for the Dday, the rector, Dr Philipa Idogho has set up a committee to plan the activities to mark the institution’s golden jubilee. Recalling the foundationlaying of the school in 1963, Idogho noted that the institution which started out as a technical college pioneered by the British Government in 1963, has since graduated into a polytechnic in 1974 during the Midwest Regional Government. The Rector who was elated that the institution clocked 50 years during her tenure, also pointed out some of the school’s achievements. She said that Auchi Poly has been ranked second in Nigeria after Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, by the web-based Webometric ranking of Nigerian and world universities. Among other achievements, Idogho added that the school has gotten full accreditation of its 63 programmes; inauguration of the Campus II of the polytechnic; and the suc-

Are Nigerian private universities in trouble? (2)

*Dr Philipa Idogho cessful implementation of its international exchange programmes with the University of Wolverhampton. Others include: performances in competition including the poly expo on fabrication and industrial designs (1st position), NUXART competition for undergraduates of universities, polytechnics and colleges of education; UN recognition. She said: “These feats have only been possible because of the commitment of present and past leaders, as well as workers of the institution. She lauded her predecessors

for putting in the hard work that has brought glory to the institution. Her words: “An institution is not built in one day and as we set out to mark 50 years, we must recognise the contributions of Messrs E. Summers, S. Greenhalf, E. Buckley, S.O. Egube and F.I. Ekhaese, former principals of the school. “Also to be remembered for their remarkable contributions are Dr Pius Igharo, Eric Bazuaye, Prof Abdul Yesufu and Dr Ohimai Eboreime, all past rectors who worked hard to make this institution great. “Each of them in the course of their watch over the institution met peculiar challenges which they competently and effectively addressed. It is the cumulation of our efforts that has made this institution great and ahead of its peers.”

Igbinedion University illustrates the long and difficult road to travel by proprietors of new private universities. It was one of the first three private universities to be approved in 1999. The other two being Babcock University, Ilishan which received 2,139 applications and Madonna University, Okija, to which 1,021 applied. Thus, almost 15 years after opening its doors, Igbinedion is still struggling to fill its classrooms. The only exception among private universities with sole proprietors to attract more than one thousand applicants is: Afe Babalola University Babalola 1,588 Faith-based universities versus others Private universities can be classified into two: faith-based and truly private. Even the faith-based institutions fall into two categories - Christian and Islamic. On the whole, faith-based universities perform better than sole proprietorships; mostly because they have the youth of their particular faith to draw on. But, with the exception of Covenant University, Babcock and Madonna, even the best faith-based universities are struggling to attract candidates. Redeemers University in Mowe, surprisingly got only 349 applications and Mcpherson University in Seriki Sotayo, Ogun State only 22. The Islamic universities did a lot worse than the others. However, while faith-based universities can survive for years, while running huge deficits, the universities owned by private individuals cannot rely on their deficits being covered long after the founders have gone. One private disaster foretelling others: Already, one private university in Ibadan, which ran a Law School for years, in September last year had to place an announcement in the newspapers which read as follows: "Due to circumstances beyond our control, the Senate and Management of the university have decided to close down the Law Program until further notice. The university is already discussing with the National Universities Commission on how to distribute past and current students who do not wish to transfer to other accredited programs of the university to Law Programs in other universities. We regret any inconvenience this decision might cause our numerous stakeholders." What the university called "inconvenience" would be regarded as monumental disaster to the most important stakeholders the students and their parents. Let me mention a few. First of all, that announcement means that students who had spent several years in the university, after admission to read law are not only unqualified to be admitted to Law School, to practice law or to do anything else for that matter. Meanwhile, the fees paid to the university during those years are now in danger of becoming money down the drain. Nor can the "transfer to other accredited courses" be made possible without considerable difficulties. Which other faculty will grant them certificates without meeting certain core requirements for that discipline? Is it economics, sociology, Mass Communications or what? So, while on the surface the offer appears genuine, it is in reality mostly a bogus offer. The unpleasant truth is that several students who might have sought admission to other institutions and who might have studied something else and graduated, are now in a limbo. The money, time and efforts spent are gone and, right now, there is nothing to show for it. Visit: www.delesobowale.com or Visit: www.facebook.com/biolasobowale

28 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014

LASU Senate elects Njokanma as Deputy VC

Space Science Club berths at MD School

BY IKENNAASOMBA By DAYO ADESULU

NCE again, Nigerian students will be privilege to participate in space science, as Africa Regional Centre for Space Science takes space club to pupils in primary school. The programme which started in MD School, New Oko Oba, Lagos on Tuesday with 23 registered schools in attendance, afforded the pupils opportunity into the practical core of science. Speaking with the media at the launch of the Space Club held at MD School Boardroom, the Head, Space Education Outreach Program, Dr. Wumi Alabi noted that the essence of the initiative was to catch the pupils young in the art of science education. “Space science is the bedrock to development, especially in the area of science and this programme will help to stimulate their interest,” she said. According to her, It will focus on the upper primary of 4 - 6 adding that if they have the foundation in primary school, it will build their interest in science and make them perform better in Mathematics and other science subjects. To achieve this, she disclosed that it will be introduce by reading a story book donated by the United Nations which will let them know that the environment of

*From left: Mrs Lara Adedugbe, Proprietress, MD Schools in Lagos; Mr Sammy Anih, Space Programmer; Dr Wumi Alabi, Head, Space Education Outreach Programme and Mr Olaniyan Aluko, Space Programmer during the official launch of Space Science Club held at MD Boardroom, Oko-Oba, Agege, Lagos. the earth is different from the space. Alabi, however explained that to pass the knowledge across to them, it will be carried out with a lot of fun. Explaining the choice of MD School, Alabi said a parent in the school who knows the importance and wanted his child to benefit from it brought them. Talking about the sustainability, Alabi stated that training will be organized for teachers to teach them more on space science. On her part, the proprietress of MD School, Mrs Lara Adedugbe said that her school decided to spare head the hosting of the Space Science as a way of given back to the society. According

to her, the 23 schools involved were given the privilege to bridge the gap between big and small schools. She said: “We chose the less privilege schools to benefit since most of the schools are not exposed to it. Adedugbe pointed out that in the quest to assist other schools in the society, MD School has adopted Agidingbi Primary School and New Oko Oba Primary School. She added, “If you do not develop the society where you belong, a time will come when you will not be able to dwell in that society.” Space Education Outreach Program is in partner with the Federal Government and affiliated with the United Nations with over 300 space clubs.

HE Lagos State Univer sity Senate, has elected Prof. Fidelis O. Njokanma as the new Deputy Vice-Chancellor, (Administration) for the university. The election was held at the university's hallowed chamber, Ojo. Prof. Njokanma, a Professor of Paediatrics, polled a total number of thirty-three (33) votes while his co-contestant, Prof. Olatunji T.F. Abanikannda of the Faculty of Science had thirty (30) votes. Njokanma, a former Head of Department of Pediatrics, Lagos State University Col-

lege of Medicine(LASUCOM), was a two-term Deputy Provost of LASUCOM, Ikeja between 2008-2010 and 20102012. He has also served as Dean, Faculty of Clinical Sciences from 2012 to February 2014. Out of the 139 members of the Senate, 83 signed the attendance register, while 77 members took part in the election. It would be recalled that the post of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) became vacant after the expiration of the tenure of the immediate past Deputy Vice- Chancellor, Administration, Prof. Omolara A. Bamgboye on Saturday December 7, 2013.

*From left: Mrs Gbolahan Daodu, Chairman, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board; Otunba Fatai Olukoga, Special Adviser on Education and Mrs Olayinka Olagunsoye, Commissioner for Education, Lagos State during a press briefing on the progress of education in the state.

the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.’ (Exodus 20.12 KJV)

EXERCISE 6

nstruction: Underline the British English word/ expression in each of the sentences. 1) The tailor gave me a fashion (catalogue/catalog) to choose the style in which I want my suit to be made. 2) Consult the library (catalogue/catalog) when you are searching for a book in any library. 3) We’ve finally (gotten/got) over the problem. 4) The President (arrived/arrived at) the airport (on Tuesday/Tuesday) morning. 5) He performed skilful (maneuvers/manoeuvres) during the driving test to the admiration of the officers.

CORRECTION 1) The tailor gave me a fashion catalogue to choose the style in which I want my suit to be made. 2) Consult the library catalogue when you are searching for a book in any library. 3) We’ve finally got over the problem. 4) The President arrived at the airport on Tuesday morning. 5) He performed skilful manoeuvres during the driving test to the admiration of the officers. 6) You have to pay N200.00 at the airport car park. 7) At the next intersection, turn left and ask for God’s Salvation Estate.

6) You have to pay N200.00 at the airport (car park/parking lot).

8) Come to the camp with your torch; you will need it when it is dark.

7) At the next (crossroads/intersection), turn left and ask for God’s Salvation Estate.

9) Practice what you preach!

8) Come to the camp with your (torch/flashlight); you will need it when it is dark.

10) A plough ‘is used for digging and turning over soil, especially before seeds are planted.

9) (Practise/Practice) what you preach! 10) A (plough/plow) ‘is used for digging and turning over soil, especially before seeds are planted. 11) ‘(Honor/Honour) thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon

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12) Did you attend the Matriculation Ceremony of (freshers/freshmen) in Lagos State University last month?

11) ‘Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.’ (Exodus 20.12 KJV) 12) Did you attend the Matriculation Ceremony of freshers in Lagos State University last month?

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014 — 29

Widening education opportunities using ICT By EBELE ORAKPO

“If you think education is expensive, try ignorance" - American lawyer, educator and former president of Harvard University, Derek Curtis Bok.

E-Learning: "In the last eight years, I have spent a lot of time to propopse, advocate, develop and expand e-learning. I have been talking about how beneficial and cost-effevtive elearning/e-resources are as against physical resources. However, many people have not taken advantage of this including many academics, so I concluded that one of the problems is that we all grew in our traditional physical environment, so when we think, we first think physical." AUN e-library example: "When we say library, we think of brick building, book shelves, desks etc., but we don't think of the e-version because it is not part of our growing up. "Before you put up a structure, think whether ICT will be more efficient and less costly. In most cases, ICT will be more cost-effective. The AUN library has received both national and international recognition for efficient and effective use of eresources. The new library was designed 100 per cent as a library of 4,500 square metres. But because we implemented e-thinking and rational application, the library now needs just 20 per cent of the entire building so 80 per cent can be used for all other services including classrooms and offices." C M Y K

3G internet access: "Nigeria has 3G internet access, so it could widen educational opportunities for millions of Nigerians from elementary to university level. In addition to widening educational opportunities, it will spur Nigeria’s technological advancement because ICT companies are going to benefit from this development as they will invest and create jobs which will impact the rest of the economy. So from whichever angle you look at it, e-learning is a key concept for development: from education to economy, to management, to administration." Recruiting faculty from abroad: "Nigeria is suffering from lack of academic faculty. A recent study of 28 countries to evaluate teachers' salaries by international standards showed that Nigeria ranked above the 28 countries from four continents. This is good. So if we start implementing serious ICT with video/audio media teaching in real-time, then Nigeria can recruit faculty from any country in the world especially those countries where the faculty salary is lower than Nigeria’s. So it could be real attraction of extra brain power to Nigeria in the academia. "It costs a lot to bring people from other countries but if you can hire people and they don’t have to come here, it will be much easier to find more qualified people and a larger pool for selection. "Moreover, the integrity of the system can be easily controlled because it’s not going to be the traditional method of learning. When we say online teaching, people usually think there is no face-to-face but in real time teaching (video conferencing), it’s face-toface, you cannot fake it. "It is very doable, easy and inexpensive. Here in the north, some universities could not even hire teachers from Nigeria, they had to seek permission from the President to bring in faculty from abroad and it cost them a fortune but if you apply multimedia technology to education, with half the cost or less, you can get quality faculty to teach in Nigeria. It’s not just for schools, you can attract global talent in any critical skill and be selective. You can use the global brain power to develop Nigeria. Nigeria is already a global power but in order to be better, it has to position itself in better competitive environ-

*Mr. Amed Demirhan

*AUN, Yola and AUC, Cairo students holding a video conference on conflict resolution in Africa.

Although the impor-tance of education in the development of a nation cannot be overemphasized, Nigeria seems to be missing it as far as education is concerned. Statistics show that between 10 and 11 million children are out-of-school in Nigeria. Various reasons, including lack of funds, dearth of qualified teachers and recently, Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East, have been adduced as to why such a high number of children are out of school. In this chat with Vanguard Learning in Yola, Mr. Amed Demirhan, Director of Library Services at the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola, says that by deploying information and communications technology, Nigeria can widen education opportunities, making it more affordable. Demirhan regarded as an apostle of elearning, speaks from experirence. Excerpts:

From whichever angle you look at it, e-learning is a key concept for development; from education to economy, to management, to administration

ment and this is one of the tools it could use.

the box, we don’t just see things in a religious light. I don’t think there is any religion that says you should kill other human beings so why can’t we practise the religions the way they should be practised rather than using them destructively? People should be creative, innovative and

Video conferencing: This reporter was privileged to take part in one of the video conferences between students of the Dept. of International and Comparative Politics, AUN and the American University in Cairo (AUC), Egypt. Speaking to BY IKENNA ASOMBA VL after the conference, Ndifreke Umoyo of fter 14 weeks of rigorous presAUN said: "I entations of ‘political manifeslearnt a lot from tos,’ young ministers and commisthe conference. sioners of the Federal Republic of Although it’s Nigeria, emerged last Friday, at the something we 2014 Kiddies Vision Magazine do everyday in Grand Finale Award of Young Minclass like we isters Competition, held at the Latalked about so- gos Television Hall 2, Ikeja, Lagos. The event which was established lutions to Boko Haram insur- to test the intelligence of primary gency. Most of and secondary school pupils on how our problems in well they know their country, the Africa are reli- organs, functions and activities of government, saw the pupils emerggious, ethnic ing as ministers and commissioners and tribal in na- to administer the affairs of the Minture and you istries of Health; Home Affairs and keep asking Culture; Youth, Sport & Social Deyourself, why is velopment; Finance and Education. it that people At the end of the four-phased don’t really competition, Nkechi Ononuju of have time to do Glory Land International College, something else Aguda, Lagos emerged Young Minother than ister of Health; Ifeanyi Orji of Pat fight? Every- Private Secondary School, Agboju, thing boils Lagos -Young Minister of Youth, down to corrup- Sport and Social Development; tion, illiteracy Faith Okechukwu of ABC Royal and poverty. So, College, Mazamaza, Lagos - Young I think the solu- Minister of Finance; Priscilla Achu tion lies in edu- of St. Margaret Comprehensive cating the peo- College, Agboju, Lagos - Young ple because we Minister of Home Affairs, Culture that are educat- and Tourism and Oluwatoba Akolade of Sunfab College, Orile, Laed think outside gos, emerged as Young Minister of

try to bring solutions rather than spend time thinking of how they are going to fight and cause conflicts everywhere." "This conference has been very helpful to me. With this, we can be able to find solutions to Nigeria’s problems. I still think the present government needs to do more. I have also learnt that we could be able to help Nigerians in many other ways. The basic problem in Nigeria is mainly illiteracy and unemployment so I think government should look into these," said Mr. Onyekachi Obioha.

Winners emerge at young ministers conference

Education. Also, Davies Cornelius of Speed Ladder Private School, Onipanu, Lagos emerged as Young Commissioner for Education; Churchill Okafor of Cavalry Wisdom Nursery and Primary, Satelite, Lagos -Young Commissioner of Youth, Sport and Social Development; Koyinsola Kazeem of Falez Nursery and Primary School, Ojo, Lagos - Young Commissioner of Finance; Amarachi Ogala of ABC Royal Primary School, Mazamaza, Lagos Young Commissioner of Home Affairs, Culture and Tourism and Hamidat Hamzat of Almulik Nursery and Primary School, Orile, Lagos, emerged as Young Commissioner of Health. The competition sponsored by Seven Stars Paper & Allied Production Limited, saw the Young Ministers and Commissioners winning N100,000 respectively, while the first and second runners-up went home with N50,000 and N20, 000 respectively. Expressing joy at the success of the competition, the Director, Kiddies Vision Magazine, Mrs. Nnenna Umeohia said her motivation in putting up the competition was triggered by a research conducted during the nationwide protests that trailed the fuel subsidy removal in 2012.

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BY EDIRI EJOH

Sad tale of GGMSS Kogi

NCE known for its high academic standard and infrastructural amenities, Government Girls Model Secondary School, GGMSS, Ogbonicha has now become a shadow of its former self. With inadequate number of teachers, classrooms and hostel congestion, as well as dwindling facilities, the school has become a clear depiction of the decaying state of Nigeria's education sector, Vanguard Learning investigation reveals. It is no surprise that the structure on ground is just enough to hold fewer number of students but the current population of over 350 students has now given birth to other challenges like congested classrooms, hostels and inadequate feeding A cross section of students who spoke to Vanguard Learning, compared the scenario to a refugee camp, appealing to the state government to intervene.

Tables without seats at GGMSS, Kogi. An SSS3 student who pleaded anonymity said: “Seriously, we don’t know why we are here anymore because what we get is never our bargain. I would prefer staying at home than putting up with government's hostility towards us.

“We are treated like prisoners or refugees because we are forced to sleep in a small room that is housing eight and some rooms above 10 students, making it a health challenge for us. The classrooms are worst because our population in-

creases at an alarming rate while the structures on ground cannot take such population.” Another student while lamenting said: “We lack teachers who ought to teach us what we need to know to prepare for the challenges ahead. The school mostly depend on Corps members posted to the school and if we had no complementary number of corp members, we seldom spend our time in classrooms because there are inadequate teachers to teach us." Another student who pleaded anonymity said: “The nature of food we eat here is nothing to write home about. We are forced to eat watery and tasteless soup, particularly egusi and draw repeatedly,” adding “we also lack toilets and bathrooms. We have what looks like a dinning room where we are supposed to eat our food but

the place is more or less a playing ground because we are left with broken tables and no chairs to sit on, the floors are messed up, notwithstanding the blackout when it is night because of the poor electricity supply. Pointing out that the current situation in the school was not obtainable initially, another student disclosed that “ what we are experiencing is not what was in practice before. Our school is well known here in Kogi State. Our parents will also not believe this because the authorities here compel us to fake our appearances whenever officials are around. Reacting on the inadequate teaching personnel, the Principal, Mrs. Juliana Atadoga said: “The school is going through total overhaul and teachers are being transferred from schools and some are also transferred to GGMSS but are yet to showup.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014 — 31

NGO petitions Presidency over plight of Kogi teachers

...as Wada sacks SUBEB Chairman By BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO

NON-GOVERN MENTAL Organisation, The Great Transformation Support Initiative (GTSI), has petitioned the Presidency, to intervene in the plight of primary school teachers in Kogi State. In a petition signed by Ambassador Ojie Mark Ojie, its National Chairman, said the closure of primary schools in the state is affecting the future of over 1.3 million

pupils and their teachers. The petition which followed a complain made by Zacch Jonathan, the State Coordinator of GTSI, on the plight of Kogi Primary school teachers over five months unpaid salaries, lamented the five months closure of primary schools in the state. The petition notes that primary schools were closed for six months in 2011, five months in 2012, almost the whole year in 2013 and now closed again with pri-

mary school teachers vowing not to resume this year until their demands are met. The GTSI petition to the presidency,which was also copied the National and State Chairmen of the PDP, as well as the Kogi State governor, recommended that aggrieved parties and SUBEB be reconciled as the incessant strike is affecting the standard of primary education in the state. The organisation also called for the immediate implementation of the

National Minimum wage for primary school teachers, also urged government and the NUT in the state to work in unison for the benefit of primary school students,teachers and the government. In a related development, the Governor of the State, Capt. Idris Wada has sacked the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB and a six-man Interim Management Committee headed by Mr. Stephen Aku has been appointed.

SUCCESS RECIPE WITH UDEME ARCHIBONG successrecipe2009@gmail.com 08035095243

Unravelling the causes of failure S

UCCESS leaves clues; fail-ure also leaves clues. Success is not an overnight myth neither is failure. Success is a process; failure is also a process. Success begins with a thought set in the right direction; failure begins with a thought set in the wrong direction. Success is a feedback mechanism informing you that you are on course headed in the right direction; failure is a warning signal informing you that you should change course because you are headed in the wrong direction. Success is an indicator that shows you what works; failure is an indicator showing you what does not work. Failure is an ally and not an enemy if we can learn from it and use its lessons to climb higher on the ladder of success. However, we can drastically reduce the chances of failure to its barest and save ourselves the agony of painful and frustrating experiences in our journey through life while succeeding faster and consistently thereby increasing the quality of our lives if we have the knowledge of the causes of failure. When we can tackle the failure problem from the roots then the fruits (results) will change. When we become aware of the causes of failure we will be able to avoid or avert the pit-falls or traps that are scattered along life pathways in which unfortunately the majority of people fall into. One of the major causes of failure is drifting through life aimlessly without having a definite purpose in life. Failure thrives on wishing, vagueness and scattered energy and effort and an indifference towards life which breeds failure consciousness. Success is the custodian of those who know exactly what they want of life; develop a burning desire for their aim; creating definite and sound plans to make their goals achievable backing it up with persistent effort that does not give-up or give-in. Idle gossip and busy-bodies in other people affairs triggers failure because they are time and energy wasters. If you are ever to meddle into other people’s affairs let it be that you genuinely want to help them to make their lives better. Untamed appetite in the area of food, drink and sex due to lack of self-discipline is one of the most common causes of failure. To achieve and sustain success necessitates self-imposed discipline in the area of appetites-food, drink and sex. Indifference toward opportunities for self-advancement. Success demands a never-ending self-improvement. Lack of persistence in carrying through to a finish that which one starts-half-doers and half-minders leads to failure. Success requires thorough-bred putting all your mind and effort to accomplish your goals. The habit of maintaining a negative mental attitude towards oneself; people and life generally. Lack of control over the emotions wrecks success and builds up failure. Ill-health due to wrong thinking, improper diet and exercise empowers failure to rule in a life. The “short-cut” mentality of something for nothing speeds up the failure catastrophe. Wrong choice of a mate in marriage. Indiscriminate spending of money without a budget control over income and expenditures. Failure to budget and invest time. People who fail spend time. People who succeed invest time; they treat time as life knowing that time is unrepeatable and irreplaceable. Egotism, vanity and selfishness are the surest route to failure. Failure to cooperate with others in a spirit of harmony. Successful people are excellent team players. Lack of vision and imagination leading to a limited quality of life which guarantees failure. The habit of talking too much; speaking before thinking.

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BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

HE history of the world they say is nothing but a compendium of the biographies of great men- and as the proverbial literary guru, Williams Shakespeare aptly noted, “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them”. Late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa certainly falls into the category of men that achieved greatness by means of their resolute strength of character—an attribute evident in the salvo of post-humous eulogies that has greeted this consummate jurist since his death on May 4. Whereas the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, SAN, described him as “Nigeria’s foremost legal icon”, the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, maintained that Justice Oputa not only bestrode the compared with other arms of group in the world, Boko legal firmament of the country governance in the country, the Haram. As 2015 approaches, like a colossus, “He also judiciary is appallingly they are getting more daring”, exhibited impeccable underfunded. Nevertheless, it warned. character, integrity,learning money seems not to be the only Remarkably, recent and professionalism.” problem confronting our developments have proved It is however very painful to justice administration system that our Judges are not note that this iconic master of and more money will certainly immune from this ‘bad-egg’ jurisprudence who was fondly not be the complete solution syndrome. The days are long called the ‘Socrates of the to the multifaceted bugs that gone when Judges, like the Nigerian legal profession’, are currently ravaging Biblical Pontius Pilate, overtly died an unhappy man, with the nucleus of justice wash their hands from most of the dreams he had for dispensation in Nigeria. injustice. the judiciary still unfulfilled. Little wonder the NBA In clear contrast to the Justice Oputa had earnestly recently raised the alarm over unforgettable golden era that dreamt of a corrupt-free cum the importunate invasion of had the likes of Justice Oputa, independent judicial system the judiciary by “very bad Justice Kayode Eso, Justice in the country- such that eggs”, who it said are “So bad Otutu Obaseki, Justice would have reinforced the that they have exhibited the Babatunde Craig and Justice age-long belief that the judiciary is the last hope of the common man. The staggering impunity and “It was my father ’s earnest lawlessness (particularly in the desire to see a corrupt free and area of fraud and corruption) that independent judiciary in his lifetime. He strongly fought have become the hallmarks of our for the independence of the daily life in this society are proofs judiciary and always told us that the judiciary would have that our justice delivery system in been better if it was separately this area at least is just not funded. “He usually buttressed this working point with an adage that ‘he who pays the piper will always dictate the tune’. He wanted the judiciary to be properly potentials of destroying the Nnaemeka Anyagolu, funded, and told us that if the judiciary and by extension this wielding the judicial scale present crop of judges, are nation.” with wholesome uprightness, well taken care of, they will In a paper it served on the some judges today, aside their perform better. Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, frequent hobnob with “He told us that if the Justice Mariam Aloma politicians, their judgments judiciary, like the Nigerian Mukhtar and the Attorney not only lack depth police, if properly funded General of the Federation and but analogous to a term paper would drastically reduce Minister of Justice, Mohamed by a lazy law school student. corruption in the country”, the Bello Adoke, SAN, on April This however is not to say second son of the late jurist, 30, 2014, the legal body, that all our judges are very bad Barrister George Oputa told insisted that there must be or corrupt—far from that Vanguard law AND Human consequences for any form of assumption—we still have the Rights. misconduct in the legal good ones, though they are in Our need for an profession. According to the the minority. independent and self NBA, “These bad eggs are In the words of Justice accounting judiciary cannot be worse than the mob, they are Christopher Chukwuma-Eneh overemphasised. doing more harm to this nation who recently retired from the The fact remains that when and they are worse terrorist Supreme Court Bench, “Time

CORRUPTION-FREE JUDICIARY:

The unfulfilled dreams of Justice Oputa

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STATUTORY TRANSFERS: SIN wants minister to comply with court order Page 38

has come for a critical appraisal of the efficiency or lack of it of the system of dispensation and administration of justice in this country.” According to him, “The situation calls for a holistic overhauling of the system. If what judges and lawyers are doing in the court rooms, are to resonate with the litigating public, for whom the courts are meant, there must of necessity be some thinking out of the box approach”. Justice Chukwuma-Eneh went ahead and suggested the “re-visitation and revision of the prevailing conventional wisdom in our system of administration of justice, a hard and critical look and stock-taking of the ways and means we have been doing things”, saying there was need for “Some deliberate and tenacious efforts to address the disconnect between what legally trained minds call justice and what the rest of the society know or perceive to be justice”. He said: “Time has come for us to take account of our local and peculiar environment in formulating rules and principles that are suited and tailored for our environment, stage of development, culture, mentality and tendencies. “The question is: Need we go the way of some foreign jurisdictions when their system and circumstances are a world apart from ours. We have adopted the common law system of accusatorial procedure in criminal trials in tackling the ills of this society to our chagrin. “The staggering impunity and lawlessness (particularly in the area of fraud and corruption) that have become

the hallmarks of our daily life in this society are proofs that our justice delivery system in this area at least is just not working. “No wonder why it should take so long as a matter of routine to get a legal dispute finally determined. In my view, the National Judicial Council, NJC, made up of eminent retired justices should be more proactive in dealing with the ills of the judiciary vis-a-vis the Judges/ Justices, and should not wait to be prompted by petitions only. “By acting proactively over matters affecting the integrity of the courts particularly, public perception in our justice delivery system is seen to be done on a proper pedestal and public confidence in the judiciary is thereby reinforced”, he postulated. On the other hand, the earlier the Federal and State governments appreciated that the judiciary is pivotal to the well being of the country, the better for the citizenry. This further goes to the issue of funding for the judiciary— a major concern to Justice Oputa before his death. For some time now, the poor funding of the judiciary has come to the front burner of national discourse, especially after the Federal Government presented the 2014 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly. From the 2014 Appropriation Bill, the sum of N68billion was allocated to the judiciary from the N159billion Budget Estimates submitted by the

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Government should encourage private investors on mortgage — Anyadubalu Page 38

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A titan is gone By AWA KALU, SAN

hen on December 5, 1986 Justice C.A Oputa joined his learned brethren of the Supreme Court – Bello, Aniagolu, Coker, K aribi-Whyte, Kawu and Belgore, JJ. SC., – to deliver judgment in the celebrated case, Aliu Bello & 13 others V. Attorney General, Oyo State (1986) 2 NSCC 1257 – it became clear within our local as well as the international legal community that the administration of justice would shed its toga of technicalities and assume a more progressive and liberal tone. The case arose from the un-contradicted fact that the appellant were the dependents of a person convicted of a capital offence – armed robbery. The convict appealed against his conviction and sentence and the notice of appeal was served on the Attorney General of Oyo State. Unfortunately, while his appeal was pending, the Governor of Oyo State acting upon the advice of the Attorney General authorized the execution of the convict. His execution was challenged by the dependents as being unlawful in that it was a violation of his right to life as guaranteed by the constitution. His right of appeal against his conviction and sentence being guaranteed by the constitution, it was confirmed, could not be taken away by his wrongful execution. The action was opposed on several grounds including grounds which were seen as impediments to the merit and justice of the case. In the lead judgment, Bello JSC, who later became the Chief Justice of Nigeria, borrowed a leaf from the dictum of Eso JSC in The State V. Gwonto & 4 Others (1983) 1 S.C.N.L.R 142 at 160 wherein he stated that

“the court has for some time now laid down as a guiding principle that it is more interested in substance, than in mere form. Justice can only be done if the substance of the matter is examined. Reliance on technicalities leads to injustice.” Justice Oputa’s contribution in his concurring judgment still resonates with authority. He noted that “it does not matter how inelegant the pleading of the appellant was, it paucity notwithstanding, this case will stand or fall on the admitted fact, and on the primary obligation of our court to do substantial justice.” In words that will surely outlive him, Oputa JSC., emphasized that “the picture of law and its technical rules triumphant and justice prostrate may no doubt have its admirers. But the spirit of justice does not reside in forms and formalities, nor in technicalities, nor is the triumph of the administration of justice to be found in successfully picking one’s way between pitfalls of technicality. Law and all its technical rules ought to be but a handmade of justice and legal inflexibility (which may be becoming of law) may, if strictly followed, only serve to render justice grotesque or even lead to outright

EDITORIAL TEAM Dayo Benson (Editor) Innocent Anaba ( Head) Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri

HON. JUSTICE CHUKWUDIFU AKUNNA OPUTA:

of persons or institutions, no matter how highly placed these are.” He further stated that “one aspect of our much vaunted equality before the law is that all litigants, be they private persons or government functionaries, approach the seat of justice openly and without any inhibitions or handicap. Each wins solely and wholly by, and because of, the strength of his case in its weight on the scale of justice. It is the duty of the court to safeguard the rights and liberties of the individual and to protect him from any abuse or misuse of power.” Alluding to the court as being the vanguard for the protection of all and sundry, Justice Oputa observed that “when the court is described as the last hope of the common man that implies that it is the duty of the judiciary (a duty which its owes to the course of justice) to ensure that any encroachment on the rights of the individual, any coercive action is justified by law. In the unequal combat between those who possess power and those on whom such powers bears, the court’s primary duty is protection from the abuse of power.” In Jonah Eze V. Federal injustice, the court will not Republic of Nigeria (1987) 1 endure that mere form or NSCC 249 at 260, a case fiction of law, introduced for concerning the extent of the the sake of justice, should work Jurisdiction of the Federal a wrong, contrary to the real High Court, Justice Oputa, truth and substance of the case even in his introduction of his concurring judgment before it”. The Law Report are littered demonstrated his well-known with Late Justice C.A Oputa’s distaste for delay in the illuminating dicta. In the administration of justice. He equally celebrated case of said: “For six long years this Federal Civil Service case has been bouncing Commission & ors V. J. O. forward and backward like a Laoye (1989) 4 SCNJ (Pt. 11) tennis ball, from the Federal 146 at 179, he noted that “… High Court to the Court of justice has never being a one- Appeal, then back to the way traffic. It has two scales and Federal High Court, then back weight. Justice is also depicted to the Court of Appeal, and as as blind. It neither sees nor if intent on completing the recognizes who is a circuit, It has now reached the government functionary and Supreme Court, the country’s who is not. It is not a respecter last and final Court. For all these six years the issue has been the same. For six long It does not matter years the Courts of the country how inelegant the have been trying to find out which of the two Courts – the pleading of the State High Court or the Federal appellant was, it High Court – has requisite jurisdiction to entertain the four paucity charge preferred against notwithstanding, this count the Appellant. The result of all case will stand or fall these six years of waiting may have at least some marginal on the admitted fact, advantage to the jurisprudence and on the primary of this country but one wonders obligation of our if that advantage can really justify the expenditure of court to do money, in time and effort, in substantial justice anxiety and worry by all concerned especially the Appellant.”

It may also be said that in some cases, he took time to offer words of advice to counsel. Thus, in Egbe V. Adefarasin (1987) 1 NWLR (Pt. 47) 1. His Lordship, on the fact, chided the learned appellant for appearing for himself in these words: “in this case the Appellant, a very eminent counsel, undertook to conduct his case himself. He who descends into the arena of conflict cannot avoid the dust of the encounter. With the best will in the world he will not have that detachment expected of an advocate who merely argues the case as distinct from vouching the case.”

The unfulfilled dreams of Justice Oputa Continues from page 36

judiciary. This was inspite of the fact that the stakeholders in the Justice sector have repeatedly cried out against the dwindling budgetary allocations to the judiciary in the last four years. Statistically, in 2010, the sum of N95billion was approved for the judiciary, a figure that was reduced to N85billion in 2011. Financial provision for the judiciary further nosedived to N75billion in 2012 and N67billion in 2013. The NBA, while decrying the situation, observed that the advocacy for funding of judiciary has so often been misunderstood for funding for the comfort and luxury of judicial officers. “Of course, they should be comfortable to do what they do, but it is a lot more than that, it is more about a functional judiciary, it is about digitalized and computerised judiciary, it is about capacity building for judiciary staff and support staff, it is about modern infrastructure to aid expeditious determination of cases. “After all, this is supposed to be the largest economy in Africa and the 6th largest economy in the world”, the legal body added.

38 — VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014

ulating the use of land, it gives value to the land. How will a piece of land be used for mortgage if the owner is unknown or open to conjecture in view of the conflicting stories of family history relat-

at Anyadubalu, is a le gal practitioner, activ ist, prolific writer and author of several books. In this interview, he spoke on his career as an author, banking and mortgage law as well as the land use act. Excerpts. P

Would you like to talk on some of the books you have written? Yes, I have written a novel, entitled “Behind the Campus” which is a satire of what happens in our tertiary institutions. The great novelist, Late Chief Cyprain Ekwensi wrote the introduction. The second book is “Topical Issues in Nigerian Politics (1996 to 2006)” which is a compendium of my selected articles published by the various print media during the period under reference. The third and the latest book is on Law (my primary constituency) is “Banking Law and Mortgages in Nigeria”. The above latest book is yet to be unveiled to the general public. So when do you intend to unveil the book to the public Well, the public presentation of the book will take place tomorrow at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Kofo Abayomi street Victoria Island. What prompted you to write this book on banking law and mortgages I have handled many cases on banking and read many books on banking law and mortgages, by some by our Nigerian authors, while others by foreign authors. I wish to point out that most of these books were written by academics and these books rely heavily on foreign judicial authorities. I felt there is need to write a book on this subject matter that will rely mainly on Nigerian Judicial authorities with little reliance on foreign authorities. Again, I felt the need for a practical approach on the subject matter. There is always a line of difference between theory and practical. In Nigeria, there is dearth of Nigerian judicial authorities; therefore, we got authorities from other foreign jurisdictions. Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) guidelines on electronic banking is provided for easy reference. How long did it take you to write this book Well, I started it in 2005 and completed it in 2013 though I was distracted by my participation in partisan politics. Banks should also be encouraged to grant long term loans to such private investors. Many companies have lately been selling lands to people in Lagos State in form of estate development, what advise do you have for such persons?. Well, I have also seen the fliers of such emerging estates. It is good and it will enable many people to own land however buyers should beware and avoid being carried away by beautiful houses

ing to ownership of land. I will rather call for the modification the Land Use Act, the process of obtaining the certificate of occupancy should be liberalized and be made cheaper and easier.

NBA PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION:

Azike, Agbakoba differ on zoning BY DAYO BENSON

•Pat Anyadubalu

Government should encourage private investors on mortgage — Anyadubalu downloaded from the net. The title documents of such estate should be thoroughly investigated. Do not invest if the company does have global certificate of occupancy because that puts a question mark on the title documents. Again what title is the selling company giving to the buyer and who has the reversionary interest at the expiration of the 99 years of

certificate of occupancy. Above all consult a legal practitioner. Some people are clamouring for the scrapping of Land Use Act 1978, what is your take on that? I will not subscribe to the total scrapping of Land Use Act 1978. Land is an important factor and source of revenue to the government. Again, by having an Act reg-

As controversy rages over the zoning of the 2014 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Presidential election, a member of Body of Benchers, Chief Ziggy Azike, has expressed dissatisfaction with the position of Dr. Olisa Agbakoba SAN on the issue, even as the latter said resolving the Midwest question is the most important thing. In a letter written to the NBA President, Chief Okey Wali SAN, Azike described Agbakoba’s letter as unwarranted and totally uncalled for, saying “his public declaration of support and canvassing is in breach of NBA Electoral regulations and also in breach of the NBA Constitution.” According to him, “I was riled by Olisa’s letter because he was clearly orchestrating what he was pretending to avoid. The entire bar is totally cognizant of the ground rules of the game, this is a closed contest, only the constituents drawn from Egbe Amofin and the Mid-west Bar Forum which together constitute the Western Bar can contest. “We are compelled by our position as co-leaders of the Bar to ensure that this train does not derail under our watch, manipulation of the truth does not bode well for NBA politics. As a longstanding member of the National Executive Committee of the NBA since 1987, I will be derelict in my commitment to a unified, sensitive, inclusive and all encompassing NBA if I allow this orchestrated propaganda by Olisa

to garner grounds.” However, the former NBA President (Agbakoba) while clarifying his position said he is aware that the Midwest is part of the West, adding “it is true that discussions on how to incorporate the Midwest into the West reached advanced stage. But I know that the discussions have not concluded.” Adding: “I agree that the Midwest is entitled to present a candidate for President. But I also feel bound to preserve our zoning arrangements. My credentials will show that I have always supported our zoning arrangements. “In 2008, when the Presidency was zoned to the west, I supported the candidate of the west. In 2010 when it was zoned to the North, I supported the candidate of the North. In 2012 when it was zoned to the East I supported the candidate of the East. I have given this support without prejudice to my preferred candidates which indeed I had. “You recall that in 2006, when I ran for President and was endorsed by the Eastern Bar, the Western Bar failed to endorse me. The Western Bar even failed to dissuade a candidate from their zone from running. Now that it is turn of the Western Bar, It would have been easy not to support. But my commitment to our zoning arrangements has not changed. The real issue for me is how we can resolve the Midwest issue so they are adequately accommodated in the NBA zoning arrangements.”

STATUTORY TRANSFERS:

SIN wants minister to comply with court order BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE A group known as Stop Impunity Nigeria (SIN) has said the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, risk contempt of court for refusing to comply with the order of mandamus, by a Federal High Court (FHC) sitting in Abuja, compelling her to grant them access to the details of the statutory transfers in the 2013 Appropriation Act. Speaking during an advocacy visit to media houses in Lagos and Ogun State, the Lead Director, Centre for Social Justice, Mr. Eze Onyekpere, pointed out that although the Federal Ministry of Finance did well by letting the public know that about 45,000 names of ghost workers had been taken off the payroll and about N118 billion saved, but it is also important to

identify their allies. According to him, since February 25, 2014 that Justice A. Abdu-Kafarati of FHC, in his judgement, granted to the applicant (Centre for Social Justice) the said order, the Minister neglected to comply with it. “The judge granted an order of mandamus compelling the Respondent (Minister of Finance) to grant to us access to the details of the transfers to the National Judicial Council, Niger-Delta Development Commission, Universal Basic Education, National Assembly, Independent National Electoral Commission and National Human Rights Commission, and till now that order is yet to be complied with” Onyekpere stated. He noted that the court on April 29, 2014 served the Minister of Finance Form 48 being Notice of consequences of

disobedience to order of court for disobeying the order of the federal High Court in respect of Suit No: FHC/ABJ/ CS/301/2013. He added: “Counsel to the Applicant, Kingsley Nnajiaka Esq even wrote a letter to the Hon. Minister on the need to comply with the order of the court. Series of meetings were held in the Minister’s Office without success. With this notice, the Hon. Minister has to comply with the order of the Honourable Court or risk being committed for contempt of court.” Explaining SIN’s collaboration with the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and other groups, Onyekpere said it was borne out of the recognition that impunity retards not only development of a nation.

V anguard anguard,, THURSDAY, MAY 15 , 2014 —39

Toward a more productive Nigerian federation

BY KIMSE OKOKO

UR colleague, Alhaji Tan ko Yakasai, OFR; had earlier circulated his contribution to the debate on Mr, President’s Inaugural Address to this august assembly. I wish to seize this opportunity to thank him for his contribution but would also take the liberty to address some issues raised in his paper. These issues are: •The National Population Figures; •Revenue Allocation; and •Good Governance. I shall respond to them in the same order. The national population census figures: Our compatriot, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, expressed worry that the continuous controversy over census figures which he thinks were at different times scientifically determined and ought to have been laid to rest is inimical to the pursuit of unity and peaceful co-existence amongst Nigerians. He tried to justify the numerical superiority of the North over the South and its utilisation for political representation and revenue allocation. His words: Although, this issue ought to have been scientifically put to rest by virtue of the results of various

PR OF OK O PROF OF.. KIMSE OK OKOK OKO head counts conducted at different times and under different administrations in the country – with active participation of United Nations’s experts on demography and statistics – all of which have lend (sic) credence that northern Nigeria has the majority in terms of population of the country, however, the controversy has refused to abate. Citing I.I.Ikanem, whose book 1963 Population Census. Critical Appraisal as his sole authority to justify his position, Alhaji Yaka-

sai purported that even before the 1914 amalgamation of Nigeria, the first population census held in 1911 showed that the Northern protectorate outnumbered the South and Lagos. The estimate as it was gave a total population of the two protectorates and the colony of Lagos at 16,054,000 and out of that number the north had 81,120,000 (51 per cent). The East had 4,500,000 (28 per cent) while the West and Lagos had 3,360,000 (20.9 per cent) and 74,000 (0.5 per cent), respectively. This meant the South had 49 percent while the north had 51 per cent.

National census The 1921 census... recorded the population of the country at 18,720,000 out of which the north had 10,560,000, representing 54.4 percent of the country while the south had 43.6 percent. The breakdown of the south was given thus: East, 5,110,000 (27.3 percent); West, 2,950,000 (15.8 percent) and Lagos 100,000 (0.5 percent). The 1931 census recorded the total population of the country at 20,056,000 and the north had 57percent of that representing 11,440,000. The figure for the East was 4,550,000 (27.7) while that of the West was 3,940,000 (19.6 per cent) and Lagos had 126,000 (0.7 percent). In addressing the issues surrounding the National Population Census, I have relied strictly on the figures quote in his paper, because I believe that he is an honourable man. According to Alhaji Yakasi, the north had a population of 8,120,000 in 1911, which increased to 11,440,000 in 1931. This is an increase of 40.9 per cent in twenty years. Comparatively, the South had a population of 7,934,000 in 1911, and by 1931, it increased to 8,566,000. An increase of 7.9 per cent in twenty years. In fact, in the case of the East the population dropped by 560,000 between 1921 an 1931. I will not question the reproductive capacity of the men in the north, as compared to their southern counterparts, but it is obvious that the percentage increase recorded for the north against the south look clearly ridiculous and absurd. Alhaji Yakasai made an implausible case attempting to rest

Map of Northern Nigeria

his arguments on fact - population census figures - over which the authorities have publicly expressed doubts. •A few months ago, the immediate past national chairman of the National Population Commission, Eze Festus Odimegwu, told the nation: ‘No census has been credible in Nigeria since 1863. Even the one conducted in 2006 is not credible. I have the records and evidence produced by scholars and professors or repute. This is not my report’

British census officer •Mr. R.K. Foyer, the British census officer for the Eastern Provinces between 1952 and 1953, reported that only Calabar, Bonny, Opobo, Degema and Brass were covered in the census of 1911 in the Southern flank of the East. •In respect of the 1921 census, which Alhaji Yakasai presented as scientific ‘not an estimate’ the colonial officer who conducted the exercise in the North, Mr. Meek, said: ‘Whilst is not pretended that the counts made for the natives in the provinces was anything more than approximately accurate, the statistics nevertheless furnish a great amount of valuable information.’ (Everybody’s Guide, 1990). Alhaji Yakasai’s statement that the 1921 census was based on an actual count is factually misleading, as the National Population Commission, (NPC 1998), stated that the 1921 figures were estimated. The questionable nature of all census figures is evidenced by the fact that they have been repeatedly rejected by successive governments. Indeed, if the census figures were scientifically derived, Alhaji Yakasai should explain why the Supreme Court nullified the results of the

1963 census. Still on the issue of “scientifically established population figures” which Alhaji Yakasai claimed, I would like to point out that, if you look at the map of West Africa, starting from Mauritania to Cameroun, and take the population of each country as you move from the Coast to the Savannah, the population decreases. Or conversely, as you come from the desert to the coast, right from Mauritania to the Cameroun, the population increases. The only exception throughout that zone is Nigeria. Nigeria is the only zone whereby you go

Being a written response by Prof. Kimse Okolo, former Ijaw National Congress President to Alhaji Tanko Yakassai’s submission to ongoing debates at the National Conference

ees of Arewa Consultative Forum, Alhaji Adamu M. Fika, Alhaji Yakasai gave a year by year account of the financial contributions of the two territories that made up Nigeria.” Alhaji Yakasai, whom we discovered had made his publication in support of Alhaji Aminu Dantata on North’s contribution to Nigeria’s d e v e l o p m e n t (www.pointblanknews.com, 2/5/ 2010), claimed that “except for just two years, the North virtually bankrolled every year of the first 40 years of Nigeria’s existence.” He also conceptualised the application of derivation as enunciated in the 1963 constitution as well as the funding of the Niger Delta Development Authority to suit his purpose of buttressing

For the purpose of head count, technology has been able to capture nature’s bio-metric attributes of humans with precision. The finger print, iris and DNA technologies can be used by Nigeria to secure accurate population census

from the coast to the North that one finds the population increasing while from the North to the coast, the population decreases (Richard Akinjide, 2000). Alhaji Yakasai should tell us the geographers, antagonists and population experts who provided him the basis for the counter argument. Finally, for the purpose of head count, technology has been able to capture nature’s bio-metric attributes of humans with precision. The finger print, iris and DNA technologies can be used by Nigeria to secure accurate population census. In making this point, the intention is not and should not be to acquire the figures for use in resources allocation, but for productivety and development. Revenue allocation: Citing an article by the former head of service of the Federation and present chairman, board of trust-

Southern dependence on the North for the former’s development. To start with, I have observed: •That the set of facts provided by Yakasai in the three schedules of revenue contribution and expenditure were poorly scrutinised, wrongly interpreted and therefore misleading. •That over the 25 years period of collected data, facts from annual colonial reports indicate that the south not only made surplus revenue at the level of centrally collected revenue, but this development informed the amalgamation and since then the north had depended on the South for its fiscal survival. •That up to this day, the South continues to support the north financially in a proportion that shows that the North takes even greater amount of revenue, but contributes less. To be continued

40—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014

NATIONAL CONFAB:

Key issues before northern delegates (4) This is the concluding part of this presentation. The third part was published in yesterday's edition of Vanguard

OCAL Government Ad ministration Local Government Administration constitutes the third tier of governance in the context of Nigeria’s political structure. Local Governments are regarded as agencies for grass roots political participation as well as apparatus for rural development and transformation. To effectively perform and make the desired impact, both as a tier of government and agency for political and socioeconomic transformation of the rural areas, Local Governments must be given specific constitutional and fiscal responsibilities commensurate to the resources at their disposal.

Existing procedure Responsibilities such as primary education/basic education, primary health care provision, basic skills acquisition programmes, construction and maintenance of rural roads, construction and maintenance of basic rural infrastructures such as rural markets and abattoirs, and community security co-ordination in conjunction with traditional institutions should be primarily handled by the local governments. Consequently, therefore, local governments should be both politically and financially independent from the States direct control. Funds from the Federation Account be disbursed directly to the local government councils and the existing procedure of Joint

least half of its membership to comprise members across all social groups within the jurisdiction of the Local Government Administration. Social welfare Introduction: Nigeria should be in a state of emergency going by its social welfare indicators. It is terminally sick. (We restrict our conversation to the northern part of the country because of the audience). This is not because of the immediate threat of insurgency but because of the underlying factors that have contributed to insurgency: poor socio-economic (demography, education, health; gender inequality; poverty) status. The Human Development Index is 153 out of 187 countries. Nigerians do not live very long by international standards, with the country ranking 167th out of 176 countries in life expectancy. The Millennium Development Goals will not be met. By socio-economic indicators; Nigeria is de facto two countries of northern and southern Nigeria. The draft National Social Security Protection Policy; if adopted and implemented; provides the basis for respond-

Nigeria should be in a state of emergency going by its social welfare indicators. It is terminally sick

Account with the States been abolished. The political structure of Local Government Administration should be small, cost effective, and result-oriented. The structure should consist of Executive Council comprising the chairman and the supervisory councillors; and a Legislative Advisory Council to be headed by the most senior traditional ruler in the Local Government Area or a representative and comprising the Elected Councillors and at

ing to some of the challenges. Similarly there are several other policies in the pipeline or adopted and not implemented. Recommendations Universal access to health: Expand the National Health Insurance Scheme to include formal and informal workers; communities and the unemployed. The right to health should be enshrined in the constitution. Primary Health Care: Reemphasise primary health

care as the closest health facility to most Nigerians. The primary health care system should be the base of the pyramid of the system instead of what looks like an inverted pyramid. Implement the Abuja Declaration of 15 per cent budgetary commitment to the health sector. Investment should be on the health system instead of current focus on buildings. Investment in health: We recommend passing of the National Health Bill which will provide significant resources to the health sector. We recommend the National Assembly to pass the Violence Against Persons Bill and for the President to sign it immediately. Also, state governments pass similar bill.

Concentration of resources Reprioritize health expenditure to be more efficient. There is concentration of resources at non-health and medical expenses and at tertiary level of health care. This needs to be reversed to optimize whatever resources made available. Prioritize public health (nutrition, water, sanitation, vaccination etc) rather than the current medicalization of the health sector. Education Restructuring of Curriculum: Establish closer relationship between industry and the educational system to inform curriculum development, •emphasise teaching of history, civics and skills in schools, •emphasise vocational education so that graduates have skills that can be used as em-

ployee of other organizations or self-employed. Investment in Education: Governments should endeavour to reach the goal of 26 percent annual budget dedicated to education as recommended by UNESCO, • Efficient use of existing resources should be emphasized because corruption is a major problem in the education system. : National Education Policy: Faithfully implement the current national education policy, •emphasise skills instead of certificates. Return of missionary and private schools to original owners: Given the large problem of access to education and the high number of out of school children, governments should return schools to the origin owners under certain conditions including introducing non-discriminatory policies. Nomadic Education: We recommend free and compulsory education for nomads up to secondary level. Their education curriculum should be tilted to reflect their special circumstances as nomads. Institutionalising Almaajiri Education: Integrate secular curriculum in the existing system of Tsangaya and Almajiri schools including vocational training. Almajiri and Tsangaya schools should be given special subventions, •include religious studies into secular schools to encourage parents to patronize them and lessen the patronage of Almajiri and Tsangaya schools. Housing: Affordable housing. Federal Government to adopt the draft National Social Protection Policy which provides among other things (a)

provision of land by government for development, (b) encourage the private sector to partner with the government in form of corporate social responsibility, (c) access to cheap and affordable mortgage financing, and (d) establish a framework that will address housing need of different economic groups. Social security: Rights of Senior Citizens: We recommend cost effective, age appropriate and gender sensitive means of delivering unconditional social transfers to the aged.

Compulsory insurance Unemployed Nigerians: We recommend unconditional cash transfer of a minimum of N5,000 per month to all unemployed persons. Insurance: We recommend compulsory insurance for formal and informal sector employees and self employed persons. Sccondly, Government to create enabling environment for private sector involvement in pensions and insurance provision schemes for the informal sector that is able to afford them. Thirdly, expand conditional and unconditional social transfer scheme for the children, women and aged. Pension and Gratuity: We recommend that the scope of workers covered through the contributory pension scheme is expanded by including workers at all levels of governments. Secondly the old pension scheme should be integrated with the contributory pension scheme. Thirdly, seContinues on page 41

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014—41 as both the executive, legislative and judicial powers in their respective societies. During the colonial era these institutions were progressively stripped of these powers through the introduction of western political structures of governance while preserving their ‘moral’ authority and integrating them into the new mode of political administration. In addition, the Councils of Chiefs that were established during the colonial period and survived down to the First Republic enabled these institutions to be systematically integrated into the new political system by providing counsel to the new leadership and also as socio-political link between governments and the grassroots. However, over the last twenty years or so, the traditional institutions: have been systematically destroyed in their essence and ironically boosted in their form.

Key issues before northern delegates (4) Continues from page 40

vere punishment should be prescribed for those involved in fraudulent pension activities. Poverty and Wealth Creation: We recommend aggressive inclusive economic growth to reduce poverty and implementation of pro-poor policies such as social security, free education and health services and public works. Status of married women: State of Origin and State of Marriage: In order to remove such blatant discrimination against married women and encourage national diversity and unity through marriage, women who marry outside their states of origin should enjoy special privileges when appointments are made to reflect federal character.

Traditional authorities One of the major reasons for this unfortunate state of affairs has been the creation of ‘artificial’ traditional institutions/structures, which had undermined the organic historical basis of the moral authority that these institutions wielded from their citizens. To argue in favour of traditional institutions is an understatement. Traditional Institutions - perhaps not in the multiplicity to which they exist in Nigeria today - are part and parcel of the social fabric of many Nigerian communities. As such, they are a factor in

Same rights and privileges Any person who resides in a state for a period of five years should be given the same rights, privileges and obligations of someone who is originally from that state. Affirmative action: We recommend affirmative action up to the next 20 years. This is in line with the spirit of the National Gender Policy of 35 per cent position for women in appointive and elective positions. This policy should be extended to other areas where women and girls find it difficult to compete on equal basis with men and boys. Political participation: In line with the spirit of the National Gender Policy, we recommend a legislation to make

Nigeria Labour Law which prohibits women from working night shift in public or private industries and agricultural undertakings. Child Rights Law: We recommend that those states

We recommend a legislation to make it compulsory for political parties to ensure minimum of 35 percent of elective, appointive and contestable positions are preserved for women

it compulsory for political parties to ensure minimum of 35 percent of elective, appointive and contestable positions are preserved for women. All appointments by governments at all levels preserve minimum of 35 percent position for women. The private sector is encouraged to preserve minimum of 35 percent of positions for women. Discrimination: We recommend the National Assembly to pass the Violence Against Persons Bill and for the President to sign it immediately. Also, state governments pass similar bill. All discriminatory policies, laws and practices should be abrogated immediately. These will include the

which haven’t passed the lawto do so. Child’s Rights law Implementation Bodies: We recommend the setting up of a National Commission for Children to oversee the implementation of policies on children. Its equivalent should be set up at state levels. Disability Rights/Welfare: We recommend the passing by the National Assembly of the Disability Bill which :provides for the protection of persons with disabilities, promotion of their welfare and provision of institutional framework for implementation of the bill. Conclusion: We recommend the immediate adoption of the

National Social Security Protection Policy which out outlines basic principles of State’s obligations including to: •Secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every citizen; •Provide suitable and adequate shelter, suitable and adequate food, reasonable national minimum living wage, old age care and pensions, and unemployment, sick benefits and welfare of the disabled; •Ensuring that all citizens have the opportunity for securing adequate means of livelihood as well as adequate opportunity to secure suitable employment; • Ensuring that provision is made for public assistance in deserviing cases or other conditions of need. Role of traditional rulers and (traditional) institutions in governance: Over the last one hundred years of Nigeria’s existence, traditional institutions have undergone tremendous changes, both in content and form.

Political transformations In parts of Nigeria where these institutions have essen-

the political, economic and social structure of Nigerian State. But, to make them responsible and effective, both as historical edifice and relevant to contemporary challenges, they have to be reformed first. As no one is likely to dispute the fact that the traditional institutions in Nigeria today have been basSir Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto tardized largetially been the vehicle of poly through artificial and unlitical transformations of their productive multiplication. The most appropriate role of respective societies since prehistoric times, the difference traditional institutions is in in the political and socio-eco- the area/jurisdiction of advinomic substance of these in- sory councils that can be esstitutions at the eve of colo- tablished at the national, state nial conquest and now is like and local government levels. the difference between life Traditional Institutions can be and death. During the pre- given specific duties particucolonial period the tradition- larly in the areas of religion, al institutions wielded what - security, and immigration matin the jargon of modern polit- ters. Concluded ical vocabulary can be termetl

42—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014

Edo APC: A party of Dictators, disdain and deceit — West-Idahosa HON Ehiogie West-Idahosa was a three-time member of the House of Representatives under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Last year, West-Idahosa defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC citing what he alleged to be the overbearing tendency of the godfathers in PDP. Barely a year in the APC, the former legislator is retracing his steps with a salacious story of servitude and snobbishness. Excerpts BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

HAT is your reaction to the on-going crisis within the Edo State chapter of the APC? The problem started with the recently conducted membership registration exercise, the congresses that were also conducted and the signs of dictatorship of the Comrade Governor, Adams Oshiomhole. Now, let me give examples: at the close of the membership exercise, a few appointees of the governor, whether partly on their own or under direction went back and inflated the registers. In Ovia South-West Local Government Area for example, in a few wards, the register was inflated with by about 800 names; so, these names were clearly faked and they do not exist. The plan was that in the event that the registers would be used to conduct congresses, strangers would be brought in to answer these fake names,

Benin-City, if you are from Oredo Ward 2, people that have been living there for a long time will know you either from one end or the other. So, ultimately, people were dissatisfied with the state of things with everyone converging in Government House. Government House has no business with the organization of political activities but political activities are organized by political leaders.

Dishonest decision Don’t forget that some of us were attracted to the APC by the fact that this is a progressive party but only to discover that the choice of the name was a dishonest decision in Nigerian polity. There is just nothing progressive in this political party judging from the way its activities are run in Edo State, I don’t know of other states. One had thought that when the ultimatum was given to the

Don’t forget that some of us were attracted to the APC by the fact that this is a progressive party but only to discover that the choice of the name was a dishonest decision in Nigerian polity

but unfortunately, the congresses took place at the same time throughout the country and that meant that there were no persons to be hired, so, the registers which were bloated could not be used. The second problem was that overnight they printed fake registration slips which were circulated during the congress. You know, wards are the smallest registration units for political organization and if you say you are in my ward, it is most likely that I will know you or you will know me, it is not like in Benin-City which is a metropolitan city. Even, in

Comrade Governor who is the leader of the party in the state, that he would tow the path of honour. If you cannot redress all, redress some; he was just busy running about making promises without doing anything, people read through him that he was simply playing on the intelligence of more experienced politicians. We saw through the lies and decided to convey the first Wesley Conference where we formalised the first ultimatum and then, of course, you know what happened when he did not meet the ultimatum. We conveyed the second

W e s l e y Conference and r e s i g n e d e n m a s s e including political office holders who did so gladly. It was the first time in my political career that I saw such a number not just resigning, but resigning with joy, they were happy to be freed and I am glad to

•Idahosa:There is nothing Progressive about APC

note that. But you have been accused of not allowing the ultimatum to expire before rushing to meet Mr. President? My dear brother, don’t forget that when the ultimatum was given, we had a prior appointment to see President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to discuss matters of general interest. They tried to impress on us that we should not pay that visit and we said, no.

Appointment with Mr. President We had made an appointment with Mr. President and not going there would be unfair, so, we chose to go there and remember, while we were away, we were in touch with the Comrade Governor and he kept saying that he was going to do this, he was going to do that; our representatives held meetings with him before we came back from Abuja and the ultimatum we gave ended last Friday and we deliberately waited for four calendar days more after the ultimatum, nothing was forth coming. In fact, in their last meeting with the governor, the man was telling them that he had the power to commute death sentences to life sentences and vice versa; in fact, he was just

emphasizing the almighty powers that he had and thoroughly lectured them that they were not the only group that know the way to Abuja, that other groups can equally go to Abuja; that he was not going to make any sacrifice for any reason. We were left with no option. The APC leadership has said that it is the inordinate ambition of Pastor Osagie IzeIyamu to be the next governor of the state that is responsible for the crisis? If Governor Oshiomhole was not ambitious, he would never have been a state governor.

Staying on the queue In fact, let me recall and I would want you to record this that in his ambition, he went to the ANPP and he could not get the ticket; he went to the PDP and he was told that he should stay on the queue and he went to Labour Party and it was in Labour that he almost settled down. But when Ize-Iyamu and others were deregistered from the PDP, and moved to form the ACN, they now went to offer him their platform with which he became the governor. What is your next destination?

My next destination is to run for the Senate seat. I am passionate about representing Edo South in the Senate and I think that I have the confidence that I have the credentials. And I think that we are moving into an era driven by pedigree and reputation. I have it and I don’t see why I should be sitting at home when less qualified people are seeking the office. Definitely I will not fold my arms. Would you say that you regretted leaving the PDP for the APC at the time you did as you are now heading to the same party? To be honest with you, if I had not been a member of the APC, I would not have known the value of the PDP. You remember that in my resignation letter from the PDP, I stated that I have problems with some leaders of the party. But do you know what? I owe those leaders an apology and I have come to see that they are the faces of angels. Having experienced what I saw in the APC, you cannot breathe in this party without bringing information from the governor and you cannot aspire without seeking permission from the governor. There is no use calling yourself a member of a political party where people are treated like slaves.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014—43

This will not be our last National Conference — Barr. Olatubora BARRISTER Remi Olatubora is one of the three delegates representing Ondo State at the ongoing National Conference in Abuja. He is the Commissioner for Adult, Technical and Vocational Education in his home state. In this interview, he spoke on some controversial national issues. Excerpts: BY JOSEPH ERUNKE

HAT is the Yoruba Agenda at this conference? When we talk about the Yoruba agenda, we are not talking about something that is secret, we are talking of the position paper distilled out of the Yoruba states, because every region, before coming to the National Conference must have held meetings and you also must have seen from the representation that much of the representation in this particular confab is based on ethnic nationality and geopolitical consideration. And so it is normal that every region or geo-political zone would have met and then did some sort of assessment or evaluation of some national question and then come up with their own position paper. That is the perspective in which I want the Yoruba agenda to be seen, I don’t want it to be seen as a form of a secret document hidden somewhere. Having said that, the Yoruba agenda basically addresses issues such as federalism, devolution of power,

resource control, desirability of state police and then of course, other sundry matters. So, we came with it, it is a document that is endorsed by the leadership of the South-west. Are you hopeful that you are going to achieve all these at the end of the day? Yes, when you bring a memorandum to a panel, which is going to be composed of other individuals, you don’t insist on your own position ultimately because we are here for bargaining. We have our own position, the South East has its own position, the North Central has its own position, the North West has its own position, the South South has its own position and the North East has its own position. When all of us meet together, we will be able to also see whether there are issues that form common ground across board or that will enjoy the support of the majority of the people. So, you don’t come with a fixed position. All the positions of the Yorubas are flexible, they are not cast in iron but we came

•Olatubora with the consideration of what we felt are in the best interest of our people. We are here to make suggestions on how to run the Federal Republic of Nigeria, we are here to make suggestion on how to strengthen the Federal Republic of Nigeria, we are here to make suggestions on how Nigeria could become the biggest and the most successful black African country in the world. So, nobody came here with any selfish interest. The Yorubas are not here to secede from the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Yorubas are here to make the Federal Republic of Nigeria more functional and successful in the comity of African and nations of

the world. How flexible do you think the conference would be on devolution of power? To understand what we mean by devolution of power, one would need to go back to the Independence Constitution and do comparative study of constitutions of other federations all over the world. Nigeria is not the only country practicing federalism, we are of the view that we are not in the position we were at Independence. At Independence, several powers and functions were vested in the constituent units, regions and later states. As a result of the military coup of 1966, conceptually, the military abrogated the federalism and promulgated a law that united the entire country and we now began to run a unitary system that was consistent with the command of the military. We owe the coming generation of Nigerians and the young ones that are here with us the principle of what I would call intergenerational equity. We must not

From Katsina, Jonathan’s message for state governors BY LAWAN AHMED MATTAZZU

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan’s visit to Katsina State has come and gone, but the echoes of the visit will be with us for some time to come. This is because the visit came with some lesson for state governors across the country. The lesson is simple that we still have some leaders who are selfless and will do anything to move the society forward. So impressed was the President by the developmental strides of Governor Ibrahim Shema that he asked other state governors and political office holders in Nigeria to borrow a leaf from him.. Consequently, the Federal Government intends to replicate the Songhai Katsina initiative in the six geo-political zones of the country; as disclosed by the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Ayo Adesina, on a Channels Television programme. The SONGHAI Katsina initiative will also be established in three other centres in Katsina State namely: Zobe in Dutsinma, Sabke in Daura and Mairua in Funtua. The project will run for

three years and cost the state government and the 34 local government councils in the state N3, 440,205,013. The sum of N576, 798,916 has been released as the first instalment to get the project off the ground. Recently, the state government signed a multi-million naira agricultural partnership agreement with the Benin Republic-based Songhai farm as part of measures to boost food production in Katsina and ultimately stimulate food security and self-sufficiency. The Songhai initiative will provide training on modern techniques of both production and processing of cash crops.

Utilisation of waste materials The scheme is basically an advanced farming technique which covers all areas of farming with the full utilization of waste materials from the products for further agricultural purposes. It would translate to enabling over 50,000 farming youths to earn a living and to engage themselves in agriculture related activities all year round.

•Shema The initiative will also serve as a veritable source of employment for the teeming youths and would run for four years. The agreement involves training youths on modern farming techniques for a six month period. Such has been the spate of work in Katsina that any first time visitor to the state is left purring. President Jonathan said: “From the little I have seen from the brochure which I know will not be different by the time I get inside proper, I am really impressed. I wish other governors would emulate this kind of thing. Politics should be about service. Politics should not

be about abusing each other on the pages of newspapers. If you are somewhere, try to make it better by the time you are leaving just as Governor Shema has done.” The President’s remarks were made shortly before he saw things for himself in a visit that spanned all of two days. Jonathan commissioned the Ring Road in Katsina metropolis and the N8bn ultra-modern Government House which will stand as a Shema legacy after he has left Katsina Government House. The significance of the Ring Road lies in the fact that it decongests traffic in the metropolis. For several years now, the metropolis has been growing in a manner that traffic snarl is becoming commonplace. The Ring Road project was conceived to take traffic through the back of the metropolis so that you can bypass the major roads and get to your destination in record time. In the case of the new Government House, besides the transformational strides of the Shema government in the area of infrastructure, welfare and empowerment programmes, it remains one of the

exhaust all the resources that we have in our own life time, we should not eat the fowl and the egg, let us eat maybe the fowl, preserve the egg, let the egg hatch for our children to eat. The situation is that we are behaving like crocodile which eats its own egg, in this country. We are eating our own eggs and that is not good for us. So fundamentally, this conference, I must tell you may not be the end of all conferences; we are going to cover some mileage in this conference and I want to assure you that at the end of this conference, Nigeria will not be the same again but I would assure you also that this is not going to be end of conferences, there will be further conferences. Why do you say this would not be the last conference? You would also have agreed with me historically that we have been having conferences in Nigeria. In the period before Independence, there was the Lancaster House conference of 1957, there was London conference of 1958 that followed it and then over these years during the military intervention period, we have had several conferences and Constituent Assembly, and Constitutional Conferences and so I do not see this one as the last of them because we are not going to address all the problems of this country in three months. But we will cover some mileage. The making of a nation is not a thing you do overnight, the making of a nation is not even a thing you do within 60 years.

administration’s most important projects. A single dime of the state government was not spent on the project. The new Government house project came into being out of the governor ’s prudent management of government resources. What Shema simply did was to put government funds in interests yielding accounts of banks. The governor was smart in negotiating high interests for Katsina. In any case, huge government funds were involved……so the banks had no choice but to play along. This was a win-win scenario for the state government. It did not only have its funds intact, the interests were substantial – more than N8.4billion. The accruing interests were expended on building the new Government House. President Jonathan did mention this novelty adopted by Governor Shema in funding the new Government House and the Katsina Governor’s Lodge built in Abuja, the federal capital territory, the import of which is that it is a great lesson for other governors who mean well for their states. *Mattazzu is Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema of Katsina State.

44—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014

DELTA 2015: Uwaka urged to run

2014 OTC: Mauritanian vice PM tasks Africans on growth

BY FESTUS AHON

ROUPS in Kwale Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State, comprising young men and women, Delta Fresh Vision, Great Transformation Support Initiative and Nigerian Unity Cup have called on Chief Mike Uwaka, a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain, to run for 2015 governorship election in the state. The groups made the call during a recent courtesy visit to Chief Uwaka, saying “ we appeal to you to run in the governorship race as a symbol of continuity, so that the solid foundation built by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan will not be swept under.” The groups noted that Uwaka “as a visionary p o l i t i c i a n , philanthropist and security expert of international standard,” he was capable and qualified to lead the state to the next level, so that “Deltans can feel the impact of your leadership qualities.” The groups, led by Chugaby Onwuka and Mr. Fred Akpewe, described Chief Uwaka as the best and most qualified candidate for the job in the state. They said the rancour associated with governorship race in Delta State will reduced with Uwaka’s entry as he “represents a new generation of Delta political elite.”

HE Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the Republic of Mauritius, Mr. Xavier LucDuval, has called on Africans to lend their support for reauthorisation of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, AGOA. Making the call at the dinner session of the justconcluded 2014 Offshore Technology Conference, OTC, on US-Africa Investment Forum Dinner, Luc-Duval said: “Mauritius is a strong supporter and believer in the effectiveness of joint regional integration. “It will lead to integration into the global supply chains, including capital and financial flows, trading, information technology, telecommunication, tourism and marine exploration.” He said Mauritius has developed a robust Africa strategy to support entrepreneurs seeking to expand business operations

into the African region. He said: “With a view to boosting trade in Africa, the Mauritian Government is working on providing a subsidy of 25 percent of the freight cost on containers exported to all countries in Africa except South Africa and Madagascar. This will be up to a maximum of $300 per container.

“The Export Credit Guarantee Insurance scheme for exports to Africa is being renewed. It offers a 50 percent subsidy on the cost of credit guarantee insurance by the government to enhance the role of Mauritius as a gateway to Africa. “Six high level conferences will also be held by the board of investment across the continent to showcase investment opportunities in

Oshiomhole committed to devt projects, says Ihonvbere BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

ENIN— AHEAD of next Tuesday’s state congress of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State, Secretary to the State Government, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, has said that Governor Adams Oshiomhole is committed to sustaining developmental projects in the state and urged party members not to be distracted by the resignation of some

members from the party. Ihonvbere, who urged party members to distance themselves from rumours of alleged plot by some party members, including himself, to defect to Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said the forthcoming congress would put to an end to the prevailing tension in the party. The SSG, who spoke when he played host to AkokoEdo Local Government Area APC executive led by Mr.

Politicians milking LGAs— DELTA NULGE CHAIR BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

SABA—PRESIDENT of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Delta State chapter, Mr. David Ofoeyeno, lamented, yesterday that some ‘powerful’ politicians in the state were allegedly milking the councils dry by engaging agents to collect revenues due the councils and diverting same to their private pockets.

Ofeoyeno said presently, no fewer than 13 out of the 25 existing local government areas in the state owed four months workers' salary arrears, despite the bail out from the state government that pays N750 million monthly towards the payment of teachers’ salaries. He said: “We are calling on the state governor to put up a structure where the councils will have the mandate to collect the

revenue because revenue is being collected without due regard and are not remitted to the local governments. “As supposedly rich as Warri South Local Government Area is, the revenue that is collected from the council does not go into the coffers of council. Same applies to almost all the councils. “They will ask their agents to pay N20,000 on a revenue yield of N20 million. The rest becomes their own.”

Jeffery Obasanmi at Government House, said: “Remain focused and believe in our party. The party is strong, focused and committed. “It is now left for you, party leaders, to mobilise our people, educate them and do not let them be mislead or confused by people who are decamping to PDP, thereby eating their vomit.” On his rumoured resignation, Ihonvbere said: “Am sure you heard the rumour that I resigned. But I am here kampe. What am I resigning for? It is all part of the politics we play in this part of the world. “What am I going to do in PDP, a party that is yet to demonstrate that it is better than APC on any ground? “We are working on some investors. We have been discussing with them and I am sure in the next couple of months, we may conclude some of them. “There are some we are targeting and we had asked them to go to rural areas, so that they can create jobs for the local people.”

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

Africa.” Earlier, Group Editor of the African Leadership Magazine, Mr. Sam Hart, said the event was organised on the sidelines of the OTC. He said: “It is also a forum to recognise and honour individuals and organisations that have excelled in corporate social responsibility best practices, which has touched the lives of the people in their communities of operation.”

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

On the Chibok schoolgirls

oko Haram is just feeding off the publicity. They don’t have the schoolgirls. I do not care what anyone else believes, I am entitled to my opinion and I say I do not believe that the Chibok schoolgirls were kidnapped.— Ms. Oluchi John, Graduate.

HE longer it takes to rescue our girls, the greater the dangers they are exposed to. Nigerians must work together to rescue these girls. Our Muslim brothers should do more to re-write the true image of their religion.— Mr. Banjo Babatunde, Worker.

HERE is hope for Nigeria as far as there is God and his elects are calling upon him day and night to intervene. Boko Haram will be a thing of the past. Let us be sincere and careful in our utterances.— Mr. Moses I h e a n a c h o , Businessman.

AKING two weeks to know the number of the schoolgirls that were kidnapped and to even get their pictures, is appalling. If Boko Haram is selling nonbelievers into slavery, it shows how primitive those fanatics and their sponsors are.— Mr. Francis Olaho, Worker.

T is high time we forgot our political differences and jointly tackle this ugly trend. Boko Haram has given Islam a very bad image. We must work together to stop this son of devil called Boko Haram or known by whatever name.— Mr. Oluduro Patrick, Worker.

HE reign of terror is for a time and a moment. Boko Haram and their sponsors are the agents of terror and cannot withstand the might and wrath of God. The salvation of Nigeria comes only from God and not man.— Ms. Ebereke Kelechi, Student.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014 — 45

CLO faults FRSC’s probe panel on killing of two siblings in Bayelsa road accident

Varsity, shipyard'll transform maritime industry —Tunde Smooth

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

ENAGOA—THE Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO, in Bayelsa State, yesterday, described as “self-serving,” the setting up of an investigative panel by the state command of Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, to probe last Friday's accident, which claimed the lives of two siblings on Swali Road, Yenagoa, the state capital. A patrol team of the FRSC was pursuing a Keke NAPEP when the tragic accident occurred. The CLO said that though a detailed investigation into the incident was necessary and prosecution of the officers involved needed, the FRSC should have detained the accused officials and make the hearing during the probe panel sitting public in order to remove doubts about the intention of the investigative panel set up into the incident. In a statement in Yenagoa by the state Chairman, Chief Nengi James, CLO said that the decision by FRSC to set up a probe panel has called to question, the known credibility associated with the official conduct of the personnel of the corps. He said: “Given the fact that FRSC has been screaming to the roof top about the need for safety on our roads, it is sad that they left the federal roads to engage in the chase of tricycles, known as Keke NAPEP, and taxis in Yenagoa. “It is also an eye opener to the reckless and irresponsible driving of officials of federal agencies and parastatals on the roads of the state capital. These officials of federal agencies drive with reckless abandon and beat up commuters if not allowed to engage in their deadly and murderous acts. “FRSC should not sweep the incident under the carpet and should arrest and prosecute the FRSC driver. The family of the bereaved should be visited by top officials of the corps and paid compensated.”

COMRADE CABS: Governor Adams Oshiomhole hands the key of a brand new "Comrade Cab" to Mr Peter Adoror, Chairman, ex-Okada Riders' Association, during the commissioning of 300 Comrade Cabs which were distributed to ex-Okada riders in Benin City, yesterday.

Delta communities protest NPDC's alleged neglect …we're in the process of employing them—NPDC BY FESTUS AHON

GHELLI—HUNDREDS of women of Eruemukohwarien and Effurun-Otor communities, Ughelli North and South Local Government Areas, Delta State, yesterday, stormed the premises of the Ughelli Pumping Station, UPS, protesting the alleged neglect and non-employment of the communities’ youths by the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company, NPDC. Displaying placards, some of which read, “Employ our children, NPDC,” “FG, our lands are infertile, our crops are dying,” “We are being enslaved in our land,” “Pay us our expired leases and rents,” “NPDC, give us what is due to us,” amongst others, the women lamented that the communities had nothing to show for the over 56 years of oil explo-

ration in their areas. Speaking with newsmen before the arrival of soldiers, spokespersons of the women, Mrs. Oti Idogun and Mrs. Grace Shalomi insisted that indigenes of the communities were being deprived of what was due to them by the company. Also speaking, the Pubic Relations Officer of Eruemukohwarien community, Mr. Naira Idogun, said that the women decided to embark on the protest because NPDC had not deemed it fit to have one on one contact with the community before going ahead with its operations. Idogun said: “Aside that, the communities have taken several steps to ensure that we have a roundtable with NPDC, all to no avail. That is the major reason why the women are out, so that they can pour out

their hearts and tell the world the gross marginalisation that is being meted out to the communities. “Apart from that, before the exit of Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, it was owing these communities expired leases and rents which are due to them. From that time, they refused to even negotiate on this issue let alone pay anything. We had tried everything within our power to ensure that we get what is due to us, but to no avail.” Contacted, a senior official of the company said four youths of the communities were currently being interviewed by the company in Benin City, Edo State, for employment. The official who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “The youths have to go through the process.”

Parents urged not to hide children with disorder BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

ORT HARCOURT—PARENTS of children with development and communication disorders have been advised not to lock them up in the house as solutions have been evolved to address their challenges. Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Professor Joseph Ajienka, who made the appeal in Port Harcourt, said the university was set to com-

mence a post graduate programme in Disability Studies with a view to curbing stigmatization of the children. Professor Ajienka, who also inaugurated the board of Directors of the Centre for Developmental and Communication Disorders, CDCD, during the 5th congress on Childhood Developmental and Communication Disorders, said there was hope for children with development and communication disorders to be productive.

The board has a former Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Nimi Briggs as Chairman. Former Minister, Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas, Princess Fifi Ejindu, Professor Shirley Yule-Ifode and Dr. John Okon are members of the board. Professor YulIfode who also spoke at the event, said that the CDCD was formed to address challenges faced by children with development and communication disorder.

HE Nigerian Maritime University and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA’s shipyard and dockyard, will revolutionise the maritime industry and boost the nation’s economy, said a maritime industrialist, Chief Tunde Smooth. It will be recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan, recently performed the ground breaking ceremonies of the two projects in Okerenkoko in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State. Chief Smooth noted that the projects will make Delta State a maritime hub and complement Delta State Government's initiative of Delta beyond oil. Smooth said the human capacity needed in the maritime sector would be provided by the project and Nigerians, who will gain the requisite qualification from the institution will open up the maritime sector and the reduce cost of doing business in the country.

Delta PDP chieftain faults Ogbetuo's comments on Orubebe

ORMER Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Delta State, Mr. Kingsley Okirikpo, has advised the Chairman of Delta State Elders and Stakeholders Forum, Chief Godwin Ogbetuo, to be cautious in his comments about the former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, saying that if it was the will of God, Orubebe will be governor of the state in 2015. Okririkpo, was reacting to comments allegedly credited to Chief Ogbetuo who lambasted Orubebe for daring to vie for the office of Delta State governor when Elder statesmen, Chief Edwin Clarke had not approved of it.

46—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014

Police nab personnel for extorting money from motorists BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

WERRI—IMO State Police Command has arrested its personnel for extorting money from motorists on the highway. The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, came on the heels of raging complaints from motorists over the level of extortion being experienced in the state since the command reintroduced stop and search operation. “The command has received a number of complaints from motorists that the stop and search operation had turned to extortion centres. I must also confirm that the special team set up by the Commissioner of Police to monitor what our men do on the road, arrested some policemen for varying offences,” Enwerem said. While noting that those picked up by the CP’s special team were currently explaining their acts to the Command, the PPRO also appealed to motorists to report all acts of extortion to his office for commensurate action.

Group urges joint effort to rescue Chibok girls BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

group, De Norsemen Club International, has called on the Federal Government to intensify efforts in rescuing the Chibok girls kidnapped by the Boko Haram insurgents. The group, in a statement yesterday by the President, Mr Tony Eteng, said it was ready to partake in efforts to rescue the Chibok girls. It stated that upon the safe return of the girls, the West African Examination Council, WAEC, and other related examination bodies should conduct a fresh examination for them either in Abuja or any safe state. The group contended that every human being, irrespective of gender, should have access to quality education, as it's the only way the society could free itself from mediocrity.

Enugu residents raise security concerns over influx of illegal immigrants BY TONY EDIKE

NUGU—THE current influx of illegal immigrants into the Enugu State capital is causing panic among the residents, who have called on security agencies to monitor the development in order to avert any insurgency in the area. The two major settlements for northerners in the state capital, known as the New Artisan Market located along Enugu-PortHarcourt Expressway off Independence layout and the Garriki cattle market in Awkunanaw, have been besieged lately by hundreds of young men, identified as citizens of Niger, Sudan and Chad. Among them were some Northerners displaced from their homes in Borno, Yobe, Taraba and Adamawa states by Boko Haram. Sources at the New Artisan market told Vanguard that the market, popularly known for the sale of livestock as cow and goats brought down to the East from the north, had been turned to a settlement for the illegal immigrants, many of whom had no sources of livelihood. According to a source, who craved anonymity, the young men, most of who could neither speak nor understand English language, have continued to

arrive the market from the northern states since Boko Haram intensified its violence in some northern states early this year. Said the source, who claims to be a cattle dealer: “What we are seeing here on daily basis calls for serious concern because if any crisis erupts here those of us from the north who had been living in

Enugu and doing our legitimate businesses will be liable. Since January this year several trailers conveying livestock and crops from the north had been bringing several young men especially from the North Eastern states. “Most of the young men are from Niger and Chad and they

VISIT: From left—Minority Whip, House of Representatives, Mr. Samson Osagie; Deputy Speaker, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha; a Swiss expert in federalism, Mr. Pierre Leu and Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Mr. Albert Sam-Tsokwa, when Leu paid the Deputy Speaker a courtesy visit at the National Assembly complex yesterday.

Muslim women task FG on Chibok schoolgirls

AGOS—MUSLIM Women in Business and the Professions have called on the Federal Government to find and bring back to their parents unhurt students abducted from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, a month ago by Boko Haram insurgents. The women, under the aegis of The Criterion, also implored the government to put a stop to the wanton waste of innocent lives and property in the country. Rising from a meeting in Lagos, the group, in a statement by Hajia Rahmat Egbeyemi a n d Hajia Idiat Salami, urged government to make concerted efforts to address the problems of corruption, youth unemployment and social injustices observed. The group argued that while Boko Haram was preaching violence, killing and kidnapping, Islam, which the sect members claimed to be projecting, was a religion of peace, which abhorred violence, murder or misconduct. Quoting a verse from the Holy Quran, the group said: “If anyone slays a human being, unless it be (in punishment) for murder or for spreading corruption on earth, it shall be as though he had slain all humankind; whereas, if anyone saves a life, it shall be as though he had saved the lives of all humankind” (Holy Qur’an Chapter 5 verse 32.)”

don’t speak English or Hausa and their mission here is not clear but we have been habouring them because they are Muslims and they join us to worship in the mosque here. But that notwithstanding we are worried because if anything funny happens here our families will be affected.”

It also dismissed Boko Haram’s forced conversion of the kidnapped girls to Islam, stressing that the religion was against imposing the faith on anyone. “At no time had Islam agreed to or legislated the enslavement or

ill-treatment of women. It is important that every individual and government show respect to the rights of others, particularly human life, without discrimination based on religion, race or sex.

“Allah created all human beings equal and institution of justice and preservation of basic human rights is binding on all. “As mothers passionate about children and women and humanity in general, we call on government to intensify efforts to rescue these girls and reunite them with their parents.

Delegate to Jonathan: Beware, north is after your seat BY SONI DANIEL

South-West delegate at the National Conference, Salvador Adegoke Moshood, has accused the north of trying to use insurgent attacks to derail President Goodluck Jonathan’s Presidency so as to pave way for the region to grab the post. Moshood, in an exclusive interview with Vanguard, pointed out that the declaration by certain northern leaders to make the country ungovernable for Jonathan's Presidency was almost being realised, with the incessant attacks being unleashed by the north’s Boko Haram insurgents. Moshood, however, regretted that the Presidency was treating the rising wave of insurgency from the North with kid gloves, thereby emboldening the perpetrators and sponsors of the terrorist organisation. To get out of the woods, the former House of Representatives

member from Lagos State, advised President Jonathan to take concrete and decisive steps to punish the financiers and collaborators in the administration, as well as members of the malevolent group to serve as a deterrent.

The delegate, who represents Ethnic Nationalities at the confab, warned Jonathan not to bank on the core north for his re-election in 2015 but work harder for the votes in the South and NorthCentral Nigeria as well as those of some Northern

Chibok: Group condemns Boko Haram BY ANAYO OKOLI

M UA H I A — I G B O World Union International, IWUI, has joined the world in condemning the abduction of the over 200 Chibok school girls by the Boko Haram sect and called for quick action to safely rescue the girls and save the nation from one month of agony. It also welcomed the assistance being rendered by some foreign nations towards rescuing the abducted girls and urged them

to do everything possible to free them to rejoin their traumatised parents. Rising from its zonal inaugural meeting in Enugu, the group’s grand patron, Elder Samuel Nwankwo, described the abduction of the school girls as an inhuman and barbaric act deserving global condemnation and urged that the abductors be brought to book in no distant time. While pledging the group’s support for President Goodluck Jonathan, Nwankwo urged him to take necessary measures to bring back the abducted girls.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014â&#x20AC;&#x201D;47

PRESENTATION: From left, Manager, Sponsorships, Etisalat Nigeria, Orah Egwu; Winner of Etisalat branded laptop, Odunmbaku Gideon; Analyst, Youth Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Michael Nwoseh; Winner of Etisalat branded laptop, Balogun Rilwan; and Manager, Youth Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Idiareno Atimomo, during presentation of gifts, at the 43rd edition of Etisalat Cliqfest, at the Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.

MEETING: From left, former Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole; former lawmaker, Hon. Dave Salako; former Minister of State for Agriculture, Alhaji Najeem Awodele, and a member of Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Abiodun Akovoyon, at a stakeholders' meeting, organised by the Ogun East People' Democratic Party, PDP.

BIRTHDAY: From left, wife of the former Chief of General Staff, Otunba Josephine Diya; the celebrant, Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya (rtd), Otunba Folashade Diya (another Diya's wife), and former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, at FORUM: From left, Frank Aniemeke, MultiChoice Field Engineer; Efe Obiomah, Public the celebration of Gen. Diya's 70th birthday, in Odogbolu, Ogun State Relations Manager, GOtv; Edoh Yunusa Jonah, a GOtv customer, and Lanre Oluwole, Operations Manager, MultiChoice, during Port Harcourt GOtv Customer Forum, in Port Harcourt.

CONFERENCE: From left, Samson Folarin of Punch Newspapers; Emmanuel Asuquo of Vangaurd; Emmanuel Madu, CEO Ensia Group; Mrs. Morenike Ohenhen, Managing Partner, Flints Associate; Johson Abbaly, Executive Director, The Motivational Centre, and Moses Umoru, Convener, at the Speakprenuer Empowerment Conference, in Lagos.

PARTY: From left, Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Ajegunle, Mr. Abayomi David; former Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, Dr. Leke Pitan; Hon. Kalejaiye Adeboye, Dr. & Mrs. Sunday Oluseye, during the 60th birthday/retirement party for Dr. Sunday Oluseye, in Lagos.

CONCERT: From left, Rev. Fr. Michael Etekpo, supervising priest for CPC 2014, Rev. Fr. Jude-Mary Fidelis Owoh, Peter Egbumokei, project Director of CPC; Rev. Fr. Joseph-Mary Clarence Okotie, and Rev. Fr. Vincent Udoye, at the Catholic Praise Concert, CPC, at the Freedom Park, Lagos.

AWARDS: Accountant-General of Lagos State, Mr. David Sunmoni (left), receiving the 2014 ICAN Merit Award from the 49th President, Alhaji. Kabir Alkali Mohammed, during ICAN's Annual Dinner and Awards night, in Lagos.

WORKSHOP: Chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, NESG, Foluso Philips; Company Secretary, MTN Nigeria, Uto Ukpanah, and Team Leader, DFID, Christopher Shyers, at a workshop on Supply Chain Transparency, organised by NESG and sponsored by MTN Nigeria, in Lagos.

48—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014

6 women arraigned over kidnap of Kogi Speaker’s children

MACE: Kaduna Assembly suspends ex-speaker for 3 months

ADUNA— THE Kaduna State House of Assembly, yesterday, suspended its former speaker, Alhaji Usman Gangara for three months after finding him guilty of hiding its mace. The decision followed the report submitted by the House Committee on Education, Ethics and Privileges that investigated the whereabouts of the mace, which disappeared from the House on September 24, 2013. The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, recalls that the mace was removed from the floor of the Assembly during the leadership crises that rocked the Assembly and which led to the removal of Gangara and other principal officers. Since then, the Assembly had to dust the mace used by the previous legislature to conduct its business. While presenting the report, Chairman of the committee, Mr Philemon Gidan-Mana, said their investigations revealed that the former speaker was responsible for the disappearance of the mace. Gidan-Mana said the committee recommended that Gangara be directed to return the mace to the Clerk of the house and proceed on a three months suspension. The sitting, which was presided by the Deputy Speaker, Mr Peter Adamu, put the motion to vote, and those in support of Gangara’s suspension won.

By BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO

L Director General, Directorate of Technical Aid Corps, Dr. Olakunle Osunyikanmi Pius (left) addressing 10 volunteers to Islamic University of Uganda during their departure, in Abuja, yesterday.

Fulani herdsmen attack refugee camp, kill 7 in Taraba J

BY JOHN MKOM

ALINGO — SEVEN people were reportedly killed in a refugee camp at NKST Church, Kugwana village in Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State while several others were injured and property worth millions of Naira destroyed. The attackers, who were suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, also burnt down the church and carted away property belonging to the church members and the refugees. It was gathered that the church was accommodating over 600 refugees who escaped from their ancentral homes during the recent crisis amongTiv, Fulani herdsmen and Jukun in Taraba State. The attackers had earlier destroyed the Dinya Parish of the Catholic Church at Dan-Anacha in Gasol Local Government, leaving four persons, including one of the church leaders, dead. The Dinya Parish Priest, Rev Father Pius Aloysius, who is currently taking refuge in a friend’s house, told Vanguard that the Fulani herdsmen overpowered the vigilante group drafted to secure the area before attacking the

parish. Pius said one of his church leaders and three other members were killed and property belonging to the parish vandalized by the attackers. He further said 42 other churches under his parish were burnt down before the attack on the main parish. He said: "All the church property were either completely destroyed or vandalised by the attackers. Meanwhile, some of the churches destroyed in the area

include NKST Nyicha, NKST Cholough, Ogaa parish NKST Biija, NKST Nyoruke and the subordinate churches under them. The Police Public Relations Officer, Taraba State Command, ASP Joseph Kwaji, confirmed the incident, saying the attackers burnt four persons to death in a hut at the refugees camp and macheted four others. He, however, stated that enough security personnel had been drafted to the area to forestall breakdown of law and order.

Nasarawa farmers demand timely distribution of fertiliser

AFIA — SOME farmers in Nasarawa State have appealed to Governor Umaru AlMakura to ensure timely distribution of fertiliser and other farm inputs to boost food production. The farmers made the appeal in a separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Keffi Local Government Area of the state. According to them, timely distribution of fertilisers to farmers will boost food production,

thereby ensuring hunger reduction and increase in farmers’ revenue. Mr Anzaku Angbasa, a farmer in Keffi, told NAN that the importance of early distribution of fertilisers to farmers in the state could be over-emphasised. “Agriculture does not only provide food, fight poverty, hunger and unemployment but it also improves on the revenue base of farmers and the country.

Boko Haram, product of some mischief makers in North —Group BY ETOP EKANEM

AGOS — A Lagos-based group, United Non-Indigenes Development Association, has said that Boko Haram is a product of some mischief makers in the Northern part of the country who are bent on frustrating President Goodluck Jonathan out of office. The group, therefore called on Nigerians to prevail on the President to muster enough strength and political will to face the problem headlong no matter whose ox is gored. Addressing newsmen at the end of its second monthly meeting in Lagos, its Board of Trus-

tees, BOT, chairman and Vice President S-South, Chief Williams Ayameh and Elder David Emeneh respectively lamented that Boko Haram had infiltrated the government of President Jonathan, because according to them, “the timing and bombings by the insurgency suggest that there are insiders in the government who are working with them. They described the activities of the insurgency as frightening and constitute a great threat on the existence of the country, warning that if the trend remained unabated, President Jonathan may be last President of Nigeria. On the abduction of Chibok

schoolgirls in Borno State, the group urged the Federal Government to seal-off the borders and hold the governors, police commissioners, GOC, Emirs and community leaders of any state responsible and accountable where there are killings and attacks by the Boko Haram sect. According to them, “Nigeria does not have the history of suicide bombing, it is by imported aliens who came through our porous borders. Therefore, Nigeria should look inward to cure the cancer called Boko Haram so that the prediction of the United States of America that Nigeria will disintegrate in 2015 does not

become a reality, otherwise, Jonathan may be the last president of this country.” On the United Non-Indigenes Development Association, they opined that the “group is not for politics, but for the unity of Nigeria. We want to make sure that Nigerians are united to speak with one voice. This is the goal of the association” They enjoined all non-indigenes in the state to join the association because it is already registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and it is duly recognised by the Federal Government.

OKOJA —Six women were, yesterday, arraigned before a Lokoja Chief Magistrate Court over their alleged involvement in the kidnap of two children of Kogi State House of Assembly Speaker, Alhaji MomohJimoh Lawal. The accused persons include Bilikis Lawal, Raliat Musa, Rabiyat Mohammed, Zainab Ismaila, Aminat Ibrahim and Nafisat Abdullahi. They were charged with criminal conspiracy and kidnapping contrary to Section 97 of the Penal Code Law and Sections 3(a) and 7(a) of the Kogi State Kidnapping, Thuggery and other Related Offences (Prohibition) Law 2010. The prosecution led by Mohammed Abaji told the court that a gang of four persons armed with sophisticated weapons invaded the residence of the Speaker on April 15, 2014, and kidnapped two of his sons, Hafiz Lawal, 3, and Ogirima Lawal, 6. The two children are yet to be recovered. He said the abductors forcefully took the children away in their mother’s car, a darkblue Toyota Yaris with number plate, Lagos AKD 224 AY, and latter demanded N200 million ransom for the release of the children using the hand set and telephone number of the first accused, Mrs Bilikisu Wahab. He further said investigation carried out by security agencies led to the arrest of five other suspects, even as some other suspects were still at large. Lead counsel to the accused persons, Miss Safiya Abdullahi, orally applied for bail of her clients but Abaji opposed the application, asking the court to take cognizance of the severity of the offence. In her ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Alhassan Hussain refused to grant the accused persons bail, saying: “These offences are by no means weighty, pandemic and on a steady rise of late. I refuse this application and it is hereby refused.” Hussain, therefore, ordered that the accused be remanded in the Department of State Services, DSS, detention facility in Lokoja and adjourned the case to June 4.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014 — 49

Contracts: Fayemi, Fayose trade words BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

ORMER Ekiti State governor and Peoples Democratic, PDP, gubernatorial candidate in the June 21 governorship election, Mr. Ayo Fayose, yesterday traded word with Governor Kayode Fayemi over plans by the state government to spend an additional N1.4 billion for the repair of Ero Dam. While Fayose claimed that the fund would be diverted to fund the June 21 gubernatorial election campaign, Fayemi dismissed the allegation insisting that his administration had been impeccable in its execution of projects unlike what happened when Fayose was governor. Speaking through the Director General of his Campaign Organisation, AFCO, Chief Dipo Anisulowo, Fayose said it was curious that contracts worth several billions of naira were now being awarded by the Fayemiled government when election was less than five weeks. The government had last week

•Fayemi

•Fayose

approved a N1.375 billion contract for the Turn-Around Maintenance, TAM, of the Ero Dam, Phase 1. The contract was awarded to Messrs Bi-water Nigeria Ltd at the State Executive Council Meeting. But the PDP candidate alleged that; “The N1.4 billion was definitely to fund the June 21 election. It is on record that the State Government said in January that major dams in the

state like Ureje, Ero, Egbe and Itapaji were undergoing major repairs and would be connected to the various pipes as soon as possible. In July 2012, the government said a heavy duty generator worth N200 million was procured and installed at Ero dam as back up for electricity. “And where are the results of the billions of naira purportedly spent on Ero Dam because Ekiti people are not getting portable

to use? It is therefore our conviction that this new N1.4 billion Ero Dam contract is a fraud meant to cover-up public funds already spent on Fayemi’s re-election bid.” Reacting to the allegation, through the Spokesman of his Campaign Organisation, Mr. Dimeji Daniels, Fayemi challenged the Fayose to substantiate the allegation with evidence. Governor Fayemi noted his administration had been impeccable in its execution of projects, saying “this is why the administration has not been messing up or being a constant visitor to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. According to Fayemi, it was for lack of what to say that the PDP and Fayose had fabricated unsubstantiated claims and advised the PDP candidate to re-focus his energy on how to rejig his campaign which he claimed seemed to have nose-dived from all indications.

I am not a copy cat, Bamidele tells Fayemi BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

HE Labour candidate, Opeyemi Bamidele has dismissed allegations that he copied the manifesto of the APC saying that it was unfounded given the fact that he has not unveiled his manifesto. The APC candidate, Governor Kayode Fayemi had recently accused Bamidele of copying his manifesto. Fayemi made the allegation through the APC’s Director of Media, Mr Segun Dina alleging that Bamidele copied verbatim some of the manifestos of Fayemi. Reacting to the claim, Bamidele, also speaking through his media aide, Ahmed Salami, said he could not have copied the APC’s manifesto given his intellectual and financial resources in establishing the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN which merged into the APC. “Our attention has been drawn to a recent media comment made by the Ekiti State chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, amounting to an unfounded allegation that my party (Labour Party) and I copied the manifestos of the party in the course of our campaign rallies. “While we describe such an allegation as laughable, watery and baseless; we equally see it as one of the last efforts of a drowning party (APC) and its government in Ekiti to remain afloat. “It is also another of its several attempts at evading politics of issues and embracing

C M Y K

politics of character assassination which APC is known for. “It is also ridiculous for a party that prides itself as “the indomitable” ahead of the June 21st poll to embark on such pettiness and political desperation, while

governance under its care currently cries of total neglect in the last three years. “To further educate APC and its deluded cotravellers, LP and MOB have not unveiled their manifestos. We admonish APC to exercise

patience and wait for our invitation to this event scheduled for a later date at Ado-Ekiti before making further claims. Then APC can conveniently compare note with us and see who is the copy-cat,” he said.

Fayemi gets support from non-indigenes

ON-indigenes resident in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State have pledged their support for the candidacy of Governor Kayode Fayemi in the forthcoming governorship election. The ethnic nationalities including the Tivs, Idomas, Igedes and Ebiras who trooped out in their large numbers at the All Progressives Congress (APC) rallies held in Oke-Ako, Irele and Ipao communities on Wednesday said they have benefited immensely from the Fayemi administration. A statement by the Fayemi Campaign yesterday quoted the non-indigenes as saying that Fayemi’s construction of roads in rural communities have contributed immensely to the conveyance of farm produce to the urban areas. The campaign tour took Fayemi to Ayebode, Odo-Ayedun, Oke-Ayedun, Iyemero, Itapaji and Odo-Oro. A prominent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Oke Ayedun, Mr. Adebisi Ogunsakin, defected to the APC along with his supporters at the rally held in the town. Fayemi said his administration

has not neglected any community saying the APC government has given all communities what is due to them. These, according to him, include road construction, payment of monthly stipends to the aged, employment of youths, grants to finance projects in rural communities, renovation of schools, payment of special

allowances to teachers in rural areas and empowerment of farmers with loans and equipment . The governor assured that Ikole council area is one of the local governments that will be divided into smaller administrative units when the panel on creation of new councils concludes its assignment.

I'll tackle unemployment— Kole Ajayi BY DAPO AKINREFON

HE Accord Party governorship candidate in Ekiti State, Mr Kole Ajayi has promised to tackle unemployment through a holistic policy. Addressing members of the Nigerian Youth Movement, Ekiti State chapter over the weekend, the gubernatorial candidate stated that the educational curriculum will focus on technical vocation and skill acquisition to complement the employment policy of his administration. He explained that Vocational Technical Education will be given a boost while the already existing technical colleges will be

upgraded with modern equipment. He said that “technical education shall be free in Ekiti.” In addition, he said his government will establish skill acquisition centres in each local government for the benefit of people including graduates that are interested in skills. According to him, youths interested in skill acquisition and vocation will be sponsored to sophisticated companies outside the state for better exposure while a legislation will be made to ensure that all labour and skilled works within Ekiti State both in public and private sector shall be indigenised.

Our plans for Ekiti poll — INEC BY DAPO AKINREFON

HE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Ekiti State has assured that the June 21 governorship elections in the state, will be devoid of irregularities like what obtained in previous elections. INEC’s head of public relations in Ekiti State, Mr Gbadegeshin Taiwo, in a chat with Vanguard, said “the commission is fully prepared and we have put up measures in place to ensure we have free, fair and credible elections. We have been holding series of stakeholders’ fora at the state and local levels to ensure that we have a peaceful atmosphere.” On plans to overcome security challenges during the elections, he said: “We have the Inter-Agency Committee on election security which is saddled with the responsibility that we do not have any security challenge on the day of the elections. In the same vein, we have been holding series of meetings with the political parties and candidates because we do not want any chaotic situation.” He further assured that “we are not going to take sides with anybody because we have made it clear enough that we are going to create an enabling environment for all political parties and candidates.” Responding to allegations of rigging leveled against the commission by the All Progressives Congress, APC, he said “these are the abnormalities in the process. They are free to make any enquiries, when they come, we clear issues with them but when they do not come, they say all sorts of things, they are free to say whatever they like. On our part, we made it clear that we are going to create a level playing ground for all political parties and candidates. We do not have any profound sympathy for anybody because they are all equal before us. We do not give any political party priority over others. So, for any political party to accuse the compromising at this stage, it is funny.” Promising that the elections in Ekiti state will not end like the previously conducted polls in Anambra and Ondo States, the commission’s image maker said “let me arrest that perception, we need to change our mindset.”

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50 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014

States creation: C’ttee receives 31 demands •Adamawa State wants name reversed to Gongola BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

EMAND for creation of more states out of the existing 36 by some groups heightened yesterday with the Committee on Political Restructuring and Forms of Government receiving 31 demands across the six geopolitical zones. Proposed states A document submitted to the committed and obtained by Vanguard listed the proposed states as follows: •Oduduwa state from the present Osun State •Aba State from Abia State •Orimili State from Anambra •Ijebu State from Ogun •Adada State from Enugu •Yemen State from Gombe •Amana State from former Sarduana Province •Apa state from Benue State •New Delta State from present Delta State •Okun State from Kogi •Anioma State also from present Delta State •Savannah state from Borno State. •Edu state from present Niger/ Kwara states •Lagoon State from Lagos •South Plateau State from present Plateau State •Confluence State from present

•Cross-section of participants at the ongoing National Conference

Kogi, Edo and Nassarawa states •Etiti State from South-East geopolitical zone •Anim State from Anambra and Imo states •Njaba State from Anambra and Imo states •Savannah State from Borno and Adamawa states •Oke-Ogun State from Oyo State •Toru-Ebe State from Delta, Edo and Ondo states •New Oyo State from Oyo State •Hadejia State from Jigawa •Ose State from Ondo •Ogoja State from Cross River

State •Okura State from Kogi State •Ugwuaku State from Imo, Abia, Anambra and Enugu states •Ghari State from Kano State •Sombreiro State from Rivers State •Old Calabar State from the present Akwa Ibom and Cross River states On the same note, the present Adamawa State applied for a reversal of its name to Gongola State. It will be recalled that Adamawa and Taraba states were

carved out of the old Gongola State. Earlier when the issue of state creation was introduced as part of the mandate of the committee by the co-chairman and delegate from the North-East zone, Hon. Mohammed Kumalia, a delegate representing Delta State and former deputy governor of the state, Chief Benjamin Elue proposed the creation of 12 additional states to bring the number of states in Nigeria to 48. Predicating his proposal on equity, Elue also asked that the

Restricted area: Police dare DSS, others BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

AMARADERIE and decorum were openly thrown to the winds at the National Judicial Institute (NJI) on Tuesday when some police aides to some delegates threatened to shoot any operative of the Department of State Services (DSS) who stopped their bosses’ vehicles from crossing a restricted area to the committees’ halls. Also threatened were officers of the National Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC), who

alongside some DSS operatives were stationed to provide security at the conference. For security reasons, the conference authorities had marked off areas vehicles would not exceed, requiring delegates to alight from their vehicles and walk to the committee rooms. But most delegates had consistently flouted the orders thereby constituting security breaches. However, Tuesday’s scuffle saw a policemen attached to a former Inspector General of Police, daring DSS operatives to stop their boss’ vehicle from

Delegates divided over Accountant General of the Federation's office BY HENRY UMORU

HERE was a sharp division yesterday at the Senator Adamu Aliero led Committee on Public Finance and Revenue at the ongoing National Conference as delegates failed to agree on the proposal to split the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation by creating a separate Office as

Accountant General of the Federal Government. At yesterday’s session which took place at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja, delegates took different positions, just as the Accountant General of the Federation, Jonah Otunla who appeared before the committee defended strongly on the need Continues on page 51

crossing the restricted point. Calculatedly, the police aide pulled over the beacon to drop off his boss to the surprise of the DSS operatives. A similar situation was said to have played out yesterday when a horde of policemen attached to a traditional ruler from the North crossed the restricted arena to drop their boss. It was gathered that were it not for self restraint on the part of the DSS operatives, a shoot-out would have ensued between the police orderlies and the operatives. Some DSS officials said that the police aides would not have ordinarily threatened them with guns if not that the conference would be disrupted. The matter has been reported to the authorities of the conference with Secretary of the Conference, Dr. Valerie Azinge, issuing a warning via a letter to the delegates against breaching any security protocol. In the letter titled ‘Security Notification’, Dr. Azinge informed delegates of the rising attempt to breach security by their aides and the need to call them to order. “This is to bring to the notice of all delegates of the

National Conference that some delegates have adopted the habit of breaching security arrangements put in place to ensure safety and orderliness of the conference participants. To this end therefore, it is necessary to remind delegates and other participants of the existing security procedures during the period of the national conference at NJI”, she said. She further reminded them that vehicles were restricted to certain areas. “Conference delegates are strictly advised to use the designated parking lots assigned to each category of delegates and desist from parking indiscriminately on the lawns, roads and areas cordoned off for security reasons. “Personal aides of delegates are barred from the hall especially during plenary except on grounds of disability ” and delegates are “strictly advised to use the proper access door for security checks before entering the conference room for plenary. Delegates are advised to always put on their access tags and cooperate with security operatives to ensure their safety during the period of the confab.”

states should be created with each zone having eight states. He further submitted that the zones should have equal number of states with the South -East having additional three while the South-South, SouthWest, North-Central and NorthEast should also have additional two states each. For the North-West zone, Elue suggested an extra state to make it eight thereby bringing all the states to 48. “My motion was predicated on the need for equity, fair play and justice in Nigeria. The 36 states are being developed which means that it will help in the development of the nation. It will remove the issue of some people getting more than others which will address the problem of marginalization. It will also address the current issue of our people. State creation has paid off to everybody and every section of the country has something to sustain itself,” he said. Seconding the motion, Senator Nimi Barigha Amange said that consideration for state creation should not be premised on the many demands received but factoring measures to cater for the yearnings of the people.

Yardstick to create states “My position is based on the need of Nigerians. Although we can’t meet every need of our people but it is important we satisfy some of it,” he said. But the motion for creation of more states had a sour taste in the belly of former governor of Niger State, Engineer Abdulkadir Kure, who posited that the issue of geopolitical zones was not constitutional and should not be used as a yardstick to create states. Similarly, a delegate representing Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and Publisher of ThisDay Newspaper, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena faulted the inclusion of his people in the proposed Anioma State, saying that they were better off in the present Delta State. Continuing with the debate, the members came to a conclusion that there was need for more states to be created but disagreed on the number. While some reasoned that some of the requests were not to be given attention others believed that adopting some yardsticks to determine those that merited attention was germane. Consequently, a subcommittee was set up to draw the criteria for the number of states to be created.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014— 51

INEC data machine on sale in markets, Niger Republic — Delegate BY HENRY UMORU

MEMBER of the Committee on Political Parties and Electoral Matters, Mallam Dani Zoro, said yesterday that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC Direct Data Capture Machines, DDCM, are currently on sale in the open market in the country and neighbouring Niger Republic. Zoro, former National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, raised the alarm when the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega appeared before the committee. The delegate, who shocked the INEC chairman when he brought out a battery of the DDCM with INEC logo on it, told committee members which has former Senate Presidents Iyorchia Ayu and Ken Nnamani as co- chairmen that he bought the battery in the open market and that the seller assured him that he will get him as many quantities as he wants if he was ready to pay for them. According to Zoro, besides Nigerian markets, the INEC machines were also sold in the open market in the neighbouring Niger republic.

Responding, a surprised Jega said he was going to investigate and expose how the batteries got into the open market, adding that some states bought off some DDCM from INEC and he was not in a position to know if the ones being sold in the open market were obtained from the state governments. Meanwhile, Jega said the electoral body was over burdened, stressing the need to have some of its statutory duties assigned to other agencies as recommended by the report of the Justice Lawan Uwais’ committee on electoral reforms. Commending the Uwais panel for producing a very good report, he said, “Uwais committee did an excellent job and produced a very good report. I fully subscribe to all the recommendations in the Uwais report.” INEC is fully independent He also disclosed that the commission has attained financial autonomy through first line charge. According him, the commission receives its funds as appropriated by the National Assembly, adding that the key challenge the commission has is “what is asked is not what is appropriated

C’ttee recommends compensation for Bakassi refugees BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

ESPITE may come the way of the people of Bakassi Peninsula in Cross River state, who were displaced following the ceding of the area to the Republic of Cameroon by the Nigerian government recently. They may be compensated for the loss of their natural resources if the recommendation of the Committee on Environment is adopted. The committee also recommended the establishment of environmental courts to handle issues of defaults. Chairperson of the committee, Senator Ita-Giwa, who gave some highlights of the recommendations while addressing Journalists at the end of the committee’s sitting said: “I am going to give you some highlights of what the committee agreed on. We agreed on the need for Nigeria to protect its territorial environment. We agreed on the need for the Federal Government to establish environmental courts. Hitherto, Nigeria had been very careless with this issue. We need to have a law on gas flaring and also an institution that deals with issues like that. Even the issue of waste was agreed. “ We also emphasised the rights of Nigerians to own and manage their

resources. We know that some people might want to make an issue out of it. Once you talk about natural resources, Nigerians think it is all about oil. Nigerians should have the rights to manage their resources; for instance, forestry. These are the areas the committee tried to highlight on. You will hear about the issue of oil spillage when we present the report during plenary. “We have addressed the need to compensate the people of Bakassi adequately for loss of their natural resources. Those displaced from Bakassi should be well resettled and fully compensated for the loss of their natural resources and other artifacts. The compensation includes money too. That is a vital component of the compensation. We are asking that individuals should be compensated and not the government. Even if it goes to the state government, they must ensure that it gets to the people of Bakassi.” The committee also recommended that the current ecological fund be reviewed upward from its current 3per cent to 5per cent. “For now, the ecological fund is more or less a political fund. We have recommended that it should be raised from the current 3percent to 5percent,” Ita-Giwa stated.

Split of the Office of Accountant General of the Federation Continues from page 50 for the status quo to be maintained. While most of the committee members threw their weights behind the creation of another accounting office solely for the Federal Government which will not interfere with funds from States and Local Government Councils, others, kicked against it, stressing that such measures would rob President Goodluck Jonathan and subsequent presidents, powers to effectively manage the economy.

In his presentation before the Committee, the Accountant General of the Federation, Jonah Otunla said: “It will create inefficiency in the system, I have made a very strong case, the agitation for the split of the office of the Accountant General has been on for a very long time, its more of an emotional issue against the Federal Government as if the federal government is rascally in the running and management of the federation account which is not so.

52 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15 , 2014

Turkey mine blast claims 245 lives T

HE death toll in a coal mine disaster in western Turkey yesterday has risen to 238, the country’s Prime Minister said, adding that the accident would be “investigated thoroughly”. At least 80 others have been injured while 120 remain trapped inside the mine in the town of Soma, Recep Teyyip Erdogan said on Wednesday. “The accident is being investigated thoroughly. We will not allow any negligence,” Erdogan said after visiting the site of the mine explosion in the town, about 250km south of Istanbul Authorities said that most of the deaths in Tuesday’s explosion were the result of carbon monoxide poisoning. The energy minister said about 400 workers were

to them. They [rescuers] were pumping clean air 12 hours ago and overnight to try and get rid of carbon monoxide, but the rescue effort had to be temporarily halted overnight because of the rising levels of carbon monoxide,” she said. Erdogan, who postponed a one-day visit to Albania scheduled for Wednesday, declared three days of national mourning, ordering

NEWS ON BRIEFS

Oscar Pistorius ordered to undergo mental evaluation

Relatives of Turkey mine blast victim involved in the rescue operation. Television footage showed people cheering and applauding as some trapped workers emerged out of the mine, helped by

rescuers, their faces and hard-hats covered in soot. Al Jazeera’s Caroline Malone, reporting from Soma, said hundreds of people - along with ambulances and fire engines -

had gathered around the scene of the accident to try to help with the rescue effort. “One of the largest concerns for the miners trapped is getting clean air

ICC revisits claims of British abuses in Iraq

HE International Criminal Court (ICC) says it has received new information enabling it to reopen a preliminary examination of allegations that British troops conducted “systematic detainee abuse” in Iraq between 2003 and 2008. A previous examination by the Hague-based court of similar accusations was concluded in 2006 without the launch a full investigation, because the information did not meet the “ required gravity threshold”. “I received earlier this year substantial information, much more than what we had in 2006, on

alleged crimes that were committed by the UK forces,” ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda told reporters at the United Nations. In January, a Berlinbased human rights group and a British law firm submitted what they describe as 250 pages of analysis to Bensouda’s office, the Reuters news agency reported. They said more than 400 Iraqi former detainees had made allegations of grave mistreatment, of which 85 had been chosen as “representative cases”. Bensouda’s office said in a statement earlier on Tuesday: “The communication alleges a higher

number of cases of ill-treatment of detainees and provides further details on the factual circumstances and the geographical and temporal scope of the alleged

C M Y K

an opposition leader Ahmad Jarba in a show of support for the embattled foes of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The meeting on Tuesday came as the US again voiced concerns that any deadly weapons provided at the request of rebels in Syria could end up in the hands of armed groups it considers extremists. Jarba, president of the

crimes.” The UK government has rejected the allegations that its troops had carried out systematic abuse in Iraq.

HE judge in the trial of South African Paralym pic athlete Oscar Pistorius has ordered that he should undergo a month-long mental evaluation. She ruled that psychiatric evidence before the court could not replace “a proper inquiry” into his mental health. Correspondents say the trial, which began in March, will almost certainly now face a lengthy delay. The prosecution argued on Tuesday that psychiatric tests were essential and that he should be referred. Mr Pistorius denies intentionally killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day last year. He says he accidentally shot her through the toilet door in a state of panic, mistaking the 29year-old model and law graduate for an intruder.

Syrian deputy FM denies chemical attacks

Bensouda said the preliminary examination did not mean that an investigation had been suspended

Obama meets Syria opposition leader President Barack Jarba USObama has met Syri- Syrian National Coalition

•Obama

flags to be lowered to halfstaff. The rescue effort was being hampered by the fact that the mine was made up of tunnels that were kilometres long, said Cengiz Ergun, the leader of Manisa province, where the town is located. Hundreds of people gathered outside the mine and the hospital in Soma seeking news of their loved ones.

(SNC), also met Obama’s national security adviser Susan Rice. The White House said it condemned the Assad government’s “deliberate targeting of Syrian civilians” with barrel bombs and the denial of humanitarian help in areas under siege by the Syrian army. A statement by the White House said that Jarba thanked the US for its aid

to opposition rebels and its humanitarian help to Syrian refugees, which totals $1.7bn. There was no mention in the statement of Jarba’s previous request to the US for anti-aircraft weapons to combat bombing raids by Assad’s forces, the AFP news agency reported. Officials privately acknowledged that he made the request in talks with Secretary of State John Kerry last week, but they refused to tell reporters Kerry’s response.

HEMICAL attacks with chlorine gas. Barrel bombs dropped from regime helicopters. Syrians starved into submission in opposition-controlled areas. The alleged assaults by the Syrian government against its own people are atrocious. But in an exclusive interview with CNN’s Frederik Pleitgen, the country’s deputy foreign minister says such claims are rubbish.“I assure you 100% that chlorine gas has never been used by the government,” Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al Mekdad said. His assertion came shortly after Human Rights Watch said it had strong evidence that showed regime forces carried out a chlorine gas attack in the rebel-held village of Kfar Zeita. According to the rights group, 11 people were killed and 500 were injured in three towns following the gas attack.

Ukraine agrees to ‘decentralisation’ talks

HE Ukrainian government has launched talks on decentralising power as part of a Europeanbacked peace plan, Reuters news agency reported. Interim President Oleksander Turchynov opened the talks yesterday by saying Kiev was ready to listen to pro-Russian rebels in the east but would not bow to blackmail.The meeting of political leaders government figures and regional officials did not include the pro-Russian separatists who have declared independence in two eastern regions. Without this inclusion, it was unclear what the negotiations might hope to accomplish.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014 — 53

C M Y K

54—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014

Cleansing cancerous attitude of waste in a nation BY JAPHET ALAKAM

HEN it comes to exhibitions, Raqib Bashorun can be described as a big masquerade, he does not exhibit often, but each time he exhibits there are always lots of messages from it. For the Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech) trained sculptor, painter who has exhibited widely and whose works will be situated anywhere in the world because of the quality, his greatest regrets has always been the fact that Africans especially Nigerians do not take the messages home rather they look at the aesthetic and throw away the contents. But that notwithstanding, the Yabatech design lecturer, painter and sculptor who is influenced

thinking positively and creatively.” A look at the works shows that though he used a lot of waste materials but they are not looking waste as the creation of something positive from the inherent negativity of waste, and the reaction of surprise, the materials inevitably draw from the observer, are the key factors in his art. Bashorn said that the exhibition will feature about 20 works that address some of the topical issues in Nigeria and is his own way of contributing to the crusade about a healthy environment . Some of the materials used are soda can tabs, this he used by applying the technique of stapling them one after the other to the supporting forms. This according to him, he

The exhibition aims to raise awareness to forms of waste whilst highlighting the relevance in recyling

by the terrible things that are happening every day in Nigeria after his successful solo exhibition last year at Terra Kulture titled Evolving Through Discovery, is back again with another solo exhibition titled Evolving Through Waste, an exhibition of recent work by wellknown Nigerian artist, Raqib Bashorun. The exhibition which aims to raise awareness to forms of waste whilst highlighting the relevance in recycling is scheduled to open on May, 17, 2014 at Omenka Gallery, Ikoyi, Lagos and run till May 30th.

Scenario of traffic lights As most of his contemporaries, Bashorun is still worried that Nigerians are wasting a lot, “We are a nation that wastes everything; human, live, time, mind, words, energy, resources, food, money, population, land, knowledge, culture, tradition, spiritual and more. How does one seethe scenario at traffic lights point where you find three police officers, four traffic wardens, two LASMA, four neighborhoods watch officers, all waiting for traffic light offenders” hence he reconstructs pre-existing materials, reinterprets and ultimately repurposes them as recycled art. According to him, “the works highlight social commentaries and is designed to metaphorically beam intense light on our environment as a ‘waste station’ which could be reversed,

hoped that the dazzling visual sensation created by the nature of aluminum will draw viewers into the pieces and create a web of connection for them. Some of the works to be displayed include; Black Gold, Cat walk, Charm, Contemporary Charm, Frozen Blessing, Greed;

* Riples, Bubbles and Rythms, one of the works to be exhibited by Raqib

Peace meal 1&2; Reconstruction; Ripples, Bubbles and Rythms; Hide and Seek; Stars in my City 1&2; Waste Gift; What is your story and others. A critical look at some of the works reveals that the works in one way or the other are related to Nigeria and her problems, an issue Raqib says is because “I am a Nigerian and have to be relevant to my environment.” Speaking about some of the works, he says Black Gold,a piece he says is meant to change the perception of people as they see every thing black as bad, gold can as well be black. Frozen blessing. Nigeria could be a

great nation, all of a sudden it got down but we are still hoping for a better day,Stars in my City, despite the woes, we still have our own stars so we have to rally round them and support them; What is your story, asking the great question when I am gone what will I be remembered for, what story am I leaving behind, which is a reminder to all to do good . In his artistic statement, Raqib said, “Since 1997, when my attention was first enveloped by the degree of waste polluting my visual fields, my quest has always been on ‘power of number’. This led me then to

create a piece titled, ‘Full Moon on Waste Station’; which, was how I saw our society at that time. Maybe it was then just a mere child play in comparison with multiplicity of what constitute waste around us today. Touched by our indifference to our wasteful life styles, I embarked on this ‘Evolving through Waste’ journey to advance through works produced, the gospel of cleansing all aspects of our life of this cancerous attitude. Believe it or not, we waste just about everything in this country; spiritual, material, labor, manpower, lives, energy, time, mind, money, words; the list is inexhaustible.”

Onobrakpeya: Masks of the Flaming Arrows for launch

HE official launch of a book, Onobrakpeya: Masks of the Flaming Arrows, an exceptional body of work which demonstrates the versatility of Professor Onobrakpeya’s works and showcases a broad range of masterpieces from his glittering career spanning over 50 years is scheduled to hold on Friday, May 16th, 2014 by 2.00 pm The organisers of the event, The Ford Foundation Office for West Africa disclosed that the event which will be graced by the crem de la creme of art community will take place at The Ford Foundation, Ten 105 Close, Banana Island, Ikoyi. It is compendium of essays by noted authors, interspersed with an astonishing array of sumptuous colour and black and white reproductions of drawings, paintings, prints, and installations by the artist, Bruce Onobrakpeya. Acknowledged as Africa’s master printmaker, Bruce Onobrakpeya belonged to the vanguard of the first generation of contemporary artists who were educated in colonial Nigeria, but who set the pace and standards for innovation and professionalism in a new, post-colonial space. Edited by Dele Jegede, noted art history professor and Onobrakpeya

tripti-linen. In addition to a body of work in mixed media and installation, the book also features notes by the artist on his work, as well as some of the poems that he has authored over the years on sundry topics, among which is the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa, leader * Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People scholar, Onobrakpeya features insightful (MOSOP) in the Niger Delta region of and critical contributions from scholars who Nigeria. There is a comprehensive timeinclude John Agberia, Osa Egonwa, line on the creative and professional Olakunle Filani, and Basil Nnamdi. Among activities of Onobrakpeya since his first solo the list of contributors also are Gani exhibition at Ughelli in 1959, to his current Odutokun, David Okpako, Pat Oyelola, and annual Harmattan workshops at AgbarhaFrank Ugiomoh. Otor, his home town. Onobrakpeya gives a The book features an inordinate amount comprehensive overview of the work of the of works by the artist, in an assortment of artist over time, with interviews and incisive media, which include pen and ink, etching, essays that provide analysis of the context serigraphy, plastocast, additive of production.” plastograph, and oil or acrylic on dipti- or

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014—55

Bon voyage in Molue mobile museum BY PRISCA SAM-DURU

MOLUE with unusual ac cessories which parked outside the Lagos City Hall on Catholic Mission Street, Lagos, penultimate week, attracted a lot of passersby who at first could not understand what it was there for. This molue is in town! Do not marvel when you see it with a flat screen television, standing fan, light refreshments, art works and a book stand as well as Caucasians, eminent Nigerians , healthy children who ordinarily, have no business boarding a Molue. The mystery molue kick-started Witness, a touring exhibition which is part of the Molue Mobile Museum of Contemporary Art (MMMoCA) that opened 3rd of May and will run till July 26. The MMMoCA presents a potpourri of interesting art forms comprising the visual, the multi-media and the literary.

Touring exhibition The touring exhibition which will be taken to different parts of the country and other African countries was a concept by Freiburg German based Nigerian artist, Emeka Udemba. With this mobile museum, Emeka unveils a new vista on art aimed at harnessing the opportunities of social mobility within the urban space. The initiative also aims at making contemporary art more accessible to the public, as a means of addressing the many travails of the masses. Udemba’s amazing creativity was supported by Goethe In-

stitut and Mercedes Benz, the makers of the remodelled buses made of iron sheets called Molue. Through the exhinition, Emeka relives memories of days when molue was the major means of transportation for the people. The opening of Witness brought back memories of the Molue transit which offered cheaper fares than most other mass transit buses, and was often overloaded with more passengers standing than sitting. All kinds of people including beggars, drug peddlers, preachers and passengerswho

usually engage in fights and arguments while in transit, are its major customers. There is always an interesting tale to tell after each ride. The mobile museum also sets genda by creating a space for debates and conversations. An instance is seen in one of the stunnig pieces on display“Where Are the girls?” This work elicited heated debates on the state of insecurity in the country. On the faceless images on some of the works, Udemba explained that they represent the ‘’faceless” citizens who are at the receiving

* Molue Mobile Museum by Emeka Udemba

end of bad policies, poor governance and corruption. According to the aritist, “During the rush hours, there are usually more people squeezed standing than sitting, a situation often exploited by pickpockets and petty thieves. In one of his numerous songs attacking the social and economic inequality in Nigeria, the Afro beat icon Fela Anikulapo Kuti immortalised the ambivalence of the situation in the Molue in the lyric ‘44 sitting 99 standing…suffering and smiling’.” Beyond these peripheral observations, Emeka explains the symbolic nature of Molue which he uses as a metaphor on the Nigerian state. “The questionable technical condition of most of these Molue buses and the recklessness of Molue drivers are constant threat to other road users. When Molues breakdown, as they often do, the drivers and

they stop to pick or drop off passengers outside designated bus stops." “While the overall transformation of the Lagos city public transportation system makes the gradual proscription of the Molue buses inevitable and desirable, the Molue bus as a form and phenomenon within the Lagos urban landscape captures the spirit of optimism, resilience and adaptation to the daily challenge of survival of the ordinary citizen in Nigeria most of whom live on the fringes,” he said

Capacity to reach target The Director, Goethe Institut, Marc-Andre Schmachtel, scored the project high on its capacity to reach target audience and interact with them directly. According to Schmachtel, “After witnessing the fact that art exhibitions in traditional art spaces had its very own logic of interaction with their respective audiences and that the majority of the people of a given place would not interact at all with this specific art space, the artist started to work on an idea that could be summarised under the slogan: if the audi-

The opening of Witness brought back memories of the Molue transit which offered cheaper fares than most other mass transit buses and was often overloaded with passengers

conductors often abscond, leaving the passengers to their own devices. Like bullies on the road, Molue drivers epitomise the broad culture of impunity in the wider Nigerian society. They are always impatient, they frequently flout traffic rules and

ence doesn’t go to the art space, the art space will go to the audience.” “The MMMoCA stands for an approach to art that goes well beyond the elitist character that some of the traditional art spaces have developed,” he noted.

Ima-Mariam Agunbiade rolls out two new books BY JAPHET ALAKAM

NOWLEDGE they say is power and that is reason why Barr. Ima-Mariam Nike Agunbiade after acquiring that knowledge is bent on transfering it to the younger generation. This she have been doing through research, books and establishment of schools in Nigeria. The seasoned lawyer, author and educationists recently released two new books to the general public.The two new works – Career Guide to Success and; Survival and the Rule of Detachment – which according to her were conceived to serve mentoring purposes, especially for youths within and outside school situations. Ima-Mariam Agunbiade who confessed that “My profession is Law. My occupation is education, while my passion is writing.” said that the presentation came three years after she

presented a set of books on language development in children and marketingrelated issues. Mariam Nike Agunbiade, presenting the books to the public One of the books, Career Guide to Success is Teachers; Learning About Special specifically directed at SS3 and A Level Education Needs in Children; andRunning students, undergraduates, graduates, a Profitable School. A widely-read expert career seekers and employers. While in Montessori education, Agunbiade has Survival and the Rule of Detachment a first degree in Creative Writing from the centres on ‘How to be happy and get what University of Port Harcourt and a degree you want at work, in love, relationships in Law from the University of Lagos. and life’. Coming in seven chapters, the The author, who also runs a Montessori 112-page book describes ‘detachment’ as teacher training school, notes that Career developing one’s inner strength and Guide to Success focuses on how one can knowing what one wants and going after plan to make a first class degree or its it. equivalent in a tertiary institution and Agunbiade’s earlier works include develop an unshakable confidence Reading and Public Speaking in Children, through identifying one’s passion, Dyslexia/Reading Difficulty Manual, developing it and being positively Montessori Special Educational Needs for challenged to achieve one’s heart desire.

56 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014

LEISURE

YOUR LUCK TODAY

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 LIBRA: Whatever anybody says or does, you will have both your say and way. Venus and Jupiter may tempt some of you to embrace illicit (or secret) romance within your base of operation. SCORPIO: Venus and Jupiter at positive angles may tempt you to join some of your friends who are already onboard of merry making train. Watch your health. SAGITTARIUS: Minor financial success you record today can lead to something bigger and good in the near future; as good luck will smile at many and induce love of luxury, merry, making and romantic association. Genuine lovers will need to be on guard against deceit from new admirers. CAPRICORN: Both financial success and emotional satisfaction are closed to you than before. Those of you travelling because of maters-of-the-heart are in for an exciting romantic day Those ambitious career-wise will succeed after few struggles.

By Richard Eromosele

UR country Ni geria is today going through one of its greatest challenges. From every direction, it is being pulled. So many ‘movies’, so many battles. And if we are

Be tolerant not careful, there are more than enough reasons and excuses to tear it apart. In spite of this, we still have to be tolerant. Even when we do not love what our brothers

TERROR MUDA

are doing, let us learn to tolerate them. Don’t forget, there are people who also don’t like what you are doing, yet, they tolerate you. If you still think this

in “Never say goodbye”

is impossible, consider this prayer by St. Frances of Assisi: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. Amen. Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

AQUARIUS: Many members of your opposite sex will go out of their ways to attract your romantic interest. This is the wrong time to engage on unnecessary argument. Been your lucky day you are expected to take good advantage today. PISCES: If you priority is love, much of it would come your way as desired. But here is a better day for more ambitious in the business world. Don’t allow anybody to deceive you over money. ARIES: Those of you with secret admirers within your working area will have the needed opportunities to make the needed moves. Resist the temptation to deceive others. TAURUS: Although matters-of-the-heart may give you cause to smile broadly, if care is not taken, you would cause friction that can’t help you r case at work. This is the wrong time for unnecessary scheming within your working arena. GEMINI: Those of your who are red-blooded for romance may have an exciting and satisfying day. Happenings within your social circles must be taken more seriously. CANCER: Confrontation may come your way in the circle but the heavens are working favourably for you. Some doses of romance is not too much for you on a day like this.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

LEO: Provided you don’t allow your innate ability to be as diplomatic as necessary desert you, things work favourably for you to the betterment of your finances. VIRGO: Many of you will be in sentimental mood and exhibit strong romantic desire openly. But then, if care is not taken, you may be carried away to the detriment of your finances. Serious minded lovers are in for happy day.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send your date and place of birth to the Astrological Counselling, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos

What’s my horoscope? Dear Joshua, I want you to give me my comprehensive horoscope, especially what my special gift is. Which day of the week was I born? Where were my natal planets and their meanings? Who am I? Godfrey, Lagos.

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Dear Godfrey, There is no space for comprehensive horoscope but what you’ll have here -under is answer to your questions/ You were born on a Thursday and your special gift is LEADERSHIP quality. YOUR HOROSCOPE DATA Day Of Birth: Thursday Sun Sign: Virgo: Sun in 20th Degree of Virgo Moon Sign: PISCES: Moon on 10th Degree of Pisces Mercury in 16th Degree of Libra Venues in 5th Degree of Scorpio Mars in 13th Degree of Cancer Jupiter in 6th Degree of Pisces Saturn in 5th Degree of Aquarius Uranus in 2nd Degree of Virgo Neptune in 11th Degree of Scorpio Pluto in 10th Degree of Virgo North Node in 6th Degree of Leo South Node in 6th Degree of Aquarius Quality and Element Cardinal and air star signs hosted two planets each fixed and earth three each, no planet in fire while mutable and water star signs hosted five planets each. Push-full influence = 20% Non- push-full element = 80% Final dispositor = Lucky Jupiter General Analysis Just 20 per cent of push-full influence in your chart can deceptively present you to others as a soft (or even timid) person but practical Virgo that hosted nothing less than three heavenly bodies when you were born and Astrological aspects between Mercury (mental focus) and aggressive Mars in you r chart are pointers to the contrary. Yes! You are highly intelligent and your mind works the same way detective’s minds do. It is true, there are little contradictions between your inner self and your emotional being as indicated quality, water element and Virgo characteristics.

HOME & ABROAD

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014

One year of new vegetarian life in Nigeria M Hakeem Jimo’s

AY 4th marked the first anniversary of Veggie Victory, Nigeria's first Vegan & Vegetarian restaurant. You can probably imagine people's reaction when I mentioned the idea of a strict Vegetarian restaurant in Nigeria. Most of them did not take me seriously. They could not even imagine what we are going to prepare, food wise. Some joked we would not cook, but just mow some grass. We proved them wrong! Of course would not even have thought of starting a restaurant if we had not already had some delicious and at the same time healthy African dishes.

Veggie Victory

veggienaija@gmail.com One achievement I am already proud of is that VeggieVictory veganized the popular Nigerian dishes. Meaning: we replaced animal meat, we phased out spice cubes, artificial flavouring and other chemicals and completely cut out diary products. ...And guess what?! From dayone our customers loved and

appreciated it. They come for different reason. There is Yousuf. “I consider animals. I do not think it is right eating them“, says the mid-20s Nigerian. In other parts of the world this is a main driver for people turning vegetarian. They no longer want to be part of the cruel and unnatural meat

industry. In Nigeria, the main reason for people going meat-less is usually health based. Like Bola who now often opts for a vegetarian meal because she noticed her skin clears up, her hair gets healthier and it helps with weight management. All these reasons are very relevant. However, I am especially delighted when people like Ada, a journalist, comes to the restaurant in Freedom Park, on Lagos Island. In the past year I had uncountable similar conversations. First, the scepticism could not be bigger. Like with Ada. We had to

— 57

persuade her to try the 'Vegan Suya'. Like so many others she was reluctant and saying that for no reason she will enjoy a meat substitute. It is only the real deal as she proclaimed. This was actually one of the main reasons why we opened the restaurant. I came to realize that it is impossible to convince people with words trying to tell them that it does not need to be animal based, to be delicious. The trick only works if they bite in it. So with the restaurant we have the set-up to have people try it. She confessed after her first bite: It tastes like real suya, a real kebab. It is so nice. I cannot tell the difference. I was waiting to say 'I told you it cannot be the same'. But it is really nice. You are winning me over.'

Pamper your skin, says Unilever

• VeggieVictory restaurant, Freedom Park, Lagos Island.

ARKETING Director, Personal Care, Unilever Nigeria Plc, David Okeme has urged Nigerians, to improve their state of health by pampering their skin. Okeme, who noted that healthy skin begins with deep healing, argued that it is not something you get by masking problems or through quick fixes. Speaking during the media launch of Vaseline Total Moisture and Vaseline Cocoa Glow, he said: “Our aim is to get Nigerian women to fall in love with Vaseline lotions because Vaseline lotions and creams have Stratys-3, which ensures all three layers of the skin are moistured to give soft, smooth skin all day long.” “This is great news for everyone who desires beautiful skin,” noted. the

company’s Category Manager, Deodorant and skin care, James Inglesby. He described the products as a combination of vitamins, minerals and conditioning moisturisers. “Vaseline Total Moisture works like a moisture multivitamin to replenish your skin with 100 percent of the daily hydration and nutrient your skin needs, Vaseline Cocoa Glow on the other hand penetrates deeply to ignite the skin’s natural glow from the inside out. Made with a combination of moisturisers and pure Vitamin E, the former smoothens away all roughness and dark spots to help the skin maintain an even tone and healthy glow.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

ELLO everybody. We have a whole new set of new products to tell you about. Although Zee Virtual Media has researched and introduced a wide range of novelties to the adult public over the years, new novelties continue to be manufactured. So the list of what is available out there continues to grow with adults bound to benefit from the increasing variety and improved quality of these products. So first on our list is a product designed to stop premature ejaculation. You all read our column every other week and you will agree that premature ejaculation is a major area of complaint for men. This is why we cannot ignore such a big issue as premature ejaculation. So today, we are introducing yet another solution to quick ejaculation called the Genie Magic Delay Spray. It is a fast acting numbing gel that is applied on the penis minutes before intercourse to enable men last long enough to have meaningful and satisfying intercourse. Genie Magic is reusable, suitable for all adult men and has no side effects. Thanks to the Genie Magic Delay Spray, many men will not have to suffer the embarrassment of premature ejaculation any longer. Even the best lovers tend to release quickly once in a while so men everywhere can really benefit from this wonderful novelty. Next on the list is a product that makes dating easier for men. It is called Adam’s Cologne. Approaching a woman that you like can be uncomfortable for a lot of men. This makes dating a nightmare. Well, how will you like to have women attracted to you even before you approach them or say anything to them? That is the beauty of the Adam’s Cologne pheromone delay spray. The pheromone content of this Adam’s Cologne is a sexual attractant for the opposite sex and makes a man’s job easier when he is interested in a woman. This is powerful and revolutionary. And while on the subject of pheromones, we also have the Pheromone Firming Bust Gel for women. Simply put, the Pheromone Firming Bust Gel firms up the breasts, smoothens out wrinkles and attracts men to

the woman who applies it. It is not magic. It is down to the science of pheromones, a powerful sexual attractant. This is one novelty that will interest a lot of women for different reasons. Last but not the least are three brand new performance enhancers for men and women. Sexual performance is a big deal, especially for men. Erectile dysfunction is a common ailment that wrecks a man’s ability to satisfy and keep his woman. Make no mistakes about it; a faithful but unsatisfied wife will eventually get sex elsewhere, if she has the opportunity. Men think their women don’t cheat because they don’t get caught or because they don’t brag about it openly, but women cheat too especially if they are unhappy or sexually dissatisfied. We don’t want this happening and that is why today, we are introducing Dragon 2000 performance enhancer for men. Dragon 2000 belongs to an elite category of male performance enhancers that does it all. It enlarges the penis, stops premature ejaculation, strengthens weak erections, gives performance energy and the ability to perform again minutes after ejaculation. One pill of Dragon 2000 also works for five days. It is that powerful, infact, if Dragon 2000 were a car, it would be a Rolls Royce. Another performance supplement for men is the Extenze Cherry Shooter. It is a male sexual energy drink and is ideal for men who feel too tired to have a second or third round of intercourse. And for women, we have a new libido boosting supplement called Pure Desire supplement and it is designed for the woman who has little or no sexual desire especially after child birth. It is of top quality and comes highly recommended. And that’s it for today. We will discuss more new novelties in the coming weeks. There is something new for everybody. Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call 08171912551 or 08027901621 for help or visit www.zeevirtualmedia.com. Zee Virtual Media delivers all over Nigeria. For enquiries email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com- Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

58—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014

BITS Bits TUC insists on workers’ right to unionisation, collective bargaining

SSANU condemns use of force against ASUP, COEASU

ENIOR Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, has condemned alleged brutal treatment and the forceful dispersal of members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, and the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, COEASU, on peaceful demonstration with tear gas and water canon recently in Abuja. In a statement, the President of SSANU, Comrade Samson, Ugwoke, said: "The academic staff were armless, civil, peaceful, nonconfrontational and non-violent and did not in any way deserve the brutal treatment metted to them by uncultured men of the Nigeria Police Force. "The Federal Government of Nigeria should know that we are in a democratic dispensation and people's right to peaceful expression of opinion or views should be respected. "SSANU demands an immediate resolution of the over-stretched crisis and return of full academic activities in the two levels of Nigeria's tertiary education. Government should learn how to respect agreements freely and willingly entered into in order not to further destroy the already collapsing tertiary education system in Nigeria."

NLC President, Abdulwahed Omar

Gov Babatunde Fashola

2015 election: Expectations of organised labour One of the issues which featured prominently during the last May Day, is the national election of 2015. The trade unions used the opportunity to state its expectations while some Governors especially, the Governor of Lagos State also set an agenda for organized labour. This edition of Labour Vanguard features salient issues on the national election. BY FUNMI KOMOLAFE THE President of the Nigeria La bour Congress (NLC), Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar did not fail to mention the 2015 election in his address. For him, it is not just about casting our votes but about the process and choosing credible candidates. Omar whose NLC is also due to have an election the same year reminded all that organized labour indeed, the NLC has consistently called for credible elections. He put it this way: “It is of utmost importance that the elections and electioneering processes are transparent and credible. We insist that votes must count. We have no business running a democracy if the votes do not count. It will not be acceptable to Organised Labour, if huge national resources are expended without justifying the end”. The NLC president insisted “ the problem does not lie with the electorate but with those who seek political powers. We note with pain that the motivation for seeking, and the zeal for office is not service but vainglory and self-aggrandizement”. Omar emphasized, “The biggest business in town is political business. The reward is awesome and bears no relation to the work done”. As Comrade Omar spoke in Abuja, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos state also took labour to task on its role at election times. He said, labour and citizens generally must focus on “ very serious developmental issues. About when we will have electricity, when there will be food on the table and about when healthcare will work”. This done, the Governor is optimistic that “we will have one of the best elections this continent ever has ever produced”. The governor who is a legal practitioner by profession said, “So, as the election comes,

if anybody comes to tell you to vote or not to vote for any candidate of any party because the party of the candididate favours one ethnic or religion ask that person how ethnicity and religion will create job for your children? Ask that person how religion will bring you electricity, ask that person how ethnicity will build your roads and how ethnicity will bring food to your table.” He told members of the trade union movement to “tell that person also, that you want to hear more about the developments and not about things that will add no value to your life”. Making a veiled reference to controversial steps taken by some union leaders in the past, especially their support for some candidates, Governor Fashola What the disturbing degree of unemsaid he has kept his promise not to lay-off workers under ployment requires today is direct investany disguise. ment by the state and preparedness to He wondered if workers fight corruption, head-on were better off in states where their leaders consistently staged strikes to make a sitting governor building classrooms, employing teachers, unpopular in a bid to support the candi- nurses and other classes of employees and date of another party. If they had forgotten, professionals. A policy that all members of he reminded them that they were not better the armed forces source their shoes and unioff, as the one they supported eventually forms from Nigerian companies would turned round to deal decisively with translate into millions of jobs in the textile workers. The Governor was believed to be and rubber industries, just to mention a few. referring to Oyo State where, the state NLC Direct government investments in the welchairman, emerged special advised to then fare of the people is the panacea for solving governor, Bayo Alao-Akala. However, the unemployment problem.” The Lagos state Council of NLC through Governor Fashola didn’t have the last say. its chairman did not hide its interest in who succeeds Governor Fashola. Free and Fair election Comrade Adelakun who described GovFor the nation to have a free and fair ernor Babatunde Fashola as “ amiable” said election that will reflect the wishes of the leaders must have that sense of trusteeship, people, NLC president, Comrade Abdulthat they are only temporarily in charge of waheed Omar said: “We call for the full implementation of the Justice Uwais Report the destinies of their people and that their on Electoral Reform. Similarly, we demand duty is not only to discharge that trust but that votes count in 2015. We advise politi- to pass it to equally trustworthy and compecians to play by the rules or there will be tent hands.”.

RADE Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, has reaffirmed the right of workers to unionisation and collective bargaining. In a communique at its National Executive Council, NEC, meeting in Abuja, the TUC stated, "NEC-in-session deliberated on the flagrant breach and disrespect of national and labour laws and the ratified international treaties on workers’ unionisation and collective bargaining rights. The meeting agreed to have in place tactical committees to contend with any employer over workers’ inalienable fundamental right of freedom of assembly and association through trade unions. "It resolved that any organisation or establishment so found or reported to be denying workplace rights shall, in addition to labour actions, be denied patronage by the trade unions. All organisations (including hotels, banks, insurance houses, airlines, etc.) that would not allow workers to be organised shall be blacklisted from enjoying the patronage and support of our members and the unions as a whole."

costs,” warning that “days are gone when workers folded their hands while fraudulent politicians violated and desecrated elections and electoral processes. We will no longer be by-standers. Nigerian workers will no longer be indifferent while some people toy with the destiny of this country.”. Election issues: The Lagos state chairman of the Trade Union Congress ( TUC), Comrade Akeem Kazeem said politicians should tackle the issue of unemployment. He said: “We demand urgent initiatives by government at all tiers and public office holders to create productive employment for our people before the devil finds jobs for idle hands”. His NLC counterpart, Comrade Idowu Adelakun is more concerned about protecting jobs. Adelakun advised the state government “to take a critical look at this policy (taxation) by making provisions for a low tax regime for companies operating already under harsh economic conditions and save jobs that are always the first casualty through redundancy as companies close down or are forced to relocate”. NLC president, Comrade Omar said “unemployment continues to be a major challenge of the economy. All levels of government must rethink their policy measures in tackling the problem of unemployment. What the economy requires is not short-term or temporary job creation. Sustainable and/or enduring jobs cannot be created by re-charge card selling, job creation by gambling in the name of “You Win’, graduate street cleaners, graduate road traffic officers, vocational training of a few hands, and so on. What the disturbing degree of unemployment requires today is direct investment by the state and preparedness to fight corruption head-on.” The NLC president insisted that “job creation is a function of providing the basic goods and services which the masses need.”.He suggested “For example, a programme of bridging housing deficit of about 17million units would lead to massive job creation. A programme to ensure that 23 million young persons who are out of school (including about 11million who are out of primary schools) are brought to school would involve

Vanguard,THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014—59

PenCom verifies prospective retirees of MDAs •Frequently asked questions now in three major Nigerian languages BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

ATIONAL Pension Commission, PenCom, has begun the verification and enrolment of Federal Government employees of treasury funded Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, ahead of their retirement in 2015. The exercise which began Monday, May 12 and will end on June 18, 2014, is taking place in 14 centres nationwide. The centres are Lagos, Ibadan, Sokoto, Zaria, Ilorin, Makurdi, Gombe, Bauchi, Calabar, Port Harcourt, Benin City, Owerri, Enugu and Abuja. A statement by PenCom said “This is to inform all employees of Treasury Funded MDAs of the Federal Government that the Commission is organizing a nationwide verification and enrolment exercise commencing from 12 May, 2014 to 18 June, 2014 for employees in the service of the Federal Government who are due to retire between January and

Cross section of pensioners at the National Pension Commission, PenCom awareness campaign in Lagos ing Personal Identification Number, PIN; and One Passport Photograph.” According to the statement “We

Frequently Asked Questions’ on the pension reform has been compiled and printed in English, Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo and Pidgin English December, 2015 by virtue of attaining 60 years of age or 35 years in service whichever is earlier or 65 years and or 70 years of age for employees of tertiary institutions for the purpose of payment of retirement benefits. “Affected employees are to personally come along with the original of the under-listed documents for sighting while photocopies of same would be submitted for verification and enrolment: Original and photocopy of Letter of Appointment; Original and photocopy of Transfer and Acceptance of Service (where applicable); Original and photocopy of Birth Certificate or Declaration of Age; Original and photocopy of Promotion Letter and Pay Slip indicating grade level and step as at 30th June 2004; Original and photocopy of Promotion Letter and Pay Slip indicating grade level and step as at July, 2007; Current Pay Slip indicating grade level and Step, Letter from the Ministry, Department and Agency signifying retirement and first appointment dates, grade level and step as at 30th June 2004,grade level and step as at July,2007 as well as the current grade level and step; Authenticated past records of service; Evidence of registration with a Pension Fund Administrator indicat-

also require that Pension Desk Officers, PDOs, of each MDA should be available at the designated centres to authenticate the documents and endorse the retirement registration forms of each

potential retiree from his/her MDA. Please note that medically unfit employees are exempted from the physical enrolment. However, Pension Desk Officers of the medically unfit employees are advised to come along with a letter from a suitably qualified physician or medical board certifying that the employee is no longer physically or mentally capable of carrying out the functions of his/her office in addition to documents listed above.” Meanwhile, the commission said “unlike what is obtainable in the Defined Benefits, DB, pen-

sion scheme, where pensioners are subjected to endless verification exercises, potential retirees under the CP Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS, are enrolled on yearly basis by the Commission. To ensure full participation by all prospective employees, letters are sent to all MDAs requesting them to ensure that all those retiring in the coming year are duly informed to attend the exercise. In addition, the exercise is widely publicized in both the electronic and the print media so as to ensure all participants get the information. The enrolment

exercise is done at designated centers across the country.” Similarly, PenCom said as part of the strategies for implementing the pension reform, the Commission embarked on intensive public education, sensitization and enlightenment programmes involving newspaper advertisements, radio and television programmes, workshops, seminars and roundtable discussions. It added “These campaigns also include interactive sessions targeted at the Public Service, Private Sector and the general public. Furthermore, copies of ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ on the pension reform has been compiled and printed in English, Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo and Pidgin English. These are being circulated all over the country and serialized in local newspapers." The Commission also developed, distributed and published fliers on rights of employees, registration of contributors and procedure for the opening of RSAs. These fliers are also available on the website of the Commission, www.pencom.gov.ng, which contains other very important materials on the pension reforms. It added that to ensure effective service delivery, “PenCom embarked on a number of initiatives to enhance the quality of service delivery to its stakeholders. Prominent among these initiatives is the completion of automation of its basic internal processes. This has not only enhanced the effectiveness of these processes, but also improved its response time to customers’ complaints and enquiries. Furthermore, a Call Centre was established during the last quarter of 2013 for prompt resolution of all complaints and enquiries on various pension issues.

Labour seeks easy access to pension fund

RGANISED labour has called for easy access to pension contribution by workers especially those who lost their jobs prematurely under the contribution pension scheme, CPS. Speaking through the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, General Secretary, Bayo Olowoshile, in Lagos, organised labour contended that “The law as it stands today, a worker can only access his pension contribution when he is 60 years old.” Olowoshile who spoke at the 2014 Punuka Annual Lecture, organised by the law firm of Punuka Attorneys and Solicitors, Olowoshile noted that amending the Pension Law would enable people who had lost their jobs to access their pension contributions, even when not up to 60 years old, to

cushion the effect of job loss. Speakers at the lecture included retired Supreme Court justice, Justice George Oguntade, who chaired the event; Delta State governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan and acting DirectorGeneral National Pension Commission, PeNcom, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu. Others experts, who spoke included Professor Chioma Agomo of the University of Lagos; Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, South Africa, Professor Andre Boraine and chairman of the Lagos Branch of PENGASSAN, Rev. Folorunso Oginni, among others. Prof Agomo said if possible, the laws should make provision for insurance of workers’ entitlements to provide for when a company was wound up or became insolvent.

Oginni said there was need to look into the Act that governed PenCom, saying there were a lot of discrepancies in the settlement of pension claims that needed to be harmonised. Governor Uduaghan, represented by Chairman, Delta State Bureau for State Pension, Mrs Christy Siakpere, said the laws must also address the issue of the solvency of pension fund administrators (PFAs). Meanwhile, a delegate at the National Conference, Ambassador Adamu Aliyu, has assured workers that the CPS will be modified to favour retirees. Aliyu, a member of Committee on Civil Service at the conference, spoke in Bauchi in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN. He said that the modification had become necessary because of fears expressed by contribu-

tors that the new scheme could be marred by the inadequacies of the former arrangement that made retirees to wait for years before been paid their entitlements. Aliyu, one-time Nigeria Ambassador to Japan, said that: “It is not the contributory pension that people are worried about but more of the old system. It is the new system that people are clamouring for to ensure that all the retirees collect their pensions as and when due, and whatever arrears are available, should be paid to them. “Secondly, if there are periodic reviews and changes to be done every five years, it should take care of the inflationary trends in the economy of the country. We believe this is going to be done and is going to form part and parcel of our report.”

60—Vanguard, THURSDAY, May 15, 2014

Release of abducted students: Need for measured strategy Dear Sir,

On that Glo product for locating people Dear Sir, PLEASE permit me to express my pleasant surprise at a new service introduced recently by Globacom, called Family and Friends Finder. I first heard about it in the media last month and decided to try it out last week on the prompting of a friend. I was amazed when I found out it actually works. I activated it on my son’s line and discovered how easy it is to track the movement of the young man around Lagos by punching a few buttons on my phone. I have since activated it for other members of my household, my driver and the house keeper. As a flourishing transporter, the service has been very useful too in the management of my fleet. I have vehicle tracker installed on all my trucks, but then I got regular complaints from customers that drivers sometimes loi-

tered away from their assigned vehicles while waiting to load goods. With this service, I have been able to check the movement of the drivers and called them to order. This has enabled us to satisfy our customers better. Again, this is one service from the telcos that I think is very thoughtful and particularly timely. At a time that the security situation is becoming increasingly volatile, this service from Globacom has provided a level of comfort and peace of mind for me to know where my loved ones are at any given time. The telecom industry may have many products and services, but this one shows that some of the telcoms are responding to the needs of the society they serve. Folashade Oguntimehin (Mrs), Unity Estate, Alimosho, Lagos

SSS and Abuja’s bomb blast

OKO Haram, the weapon of destruction in Nigeria has reached a scenario where Nigerians must surrender to allow somebody from the Fulani ethnic group to rule or continue to die of gun shots and bomb blasting. The Nigerian security are not thinking smart to know that these terrorists will always use small means such as bus and railway stations, schools, churches, public properties and targeting of high value targets, to achieve maximum casualty. Focus should also be extended to the masses who are hardly protected. How were soldiers able to curb the Maitasine, Zongo Kartaf and Niger Delta crisis? It was the people’s zeal. Aloba 07052624455

president of Nigeria. The UN building and Police headquarter were among buildings bombed but uptil date, no convictions have been made. Boko Haram bombing should not only call for worry and sympathy but require urgent remedial actions. What happens to the CCTV cameras in Abuja? Someone needs to wake up from slumber. Elvis 08079018001

Kidnapped school girls Boko Haram members are not ghosts but men and women living in particular places. Why can’t government use its intelligence network to track their activities and sponsors? Otherwise, the sect will continue to attack communities. Prince Monday Okorodudu

UCH have been written and said pissed off by the suggestion from some about the abduction of over 200 quarters that the military should storm Secondary School girls in Chibok by the forest. I am apprehensive of the conBoko Haram. It would have no doubt sequences of such an action. To me, this been traumatic and depressing for the course of action would have been apparents of the girls. A common parlance propriate if Boko Haram is not in custoin Yoruba language ‘omo mi ku san ju dy of the girls. Any attempt to storm the omo mi sonu lo’ (a situation of my child forest might lead to the terrorists using is dead is better than that of my child is the very objects of such military cammissing) is apt. One cannot but sympa- paign as human shield, thus exposing thise with these parents who are so un- the girls to greater harm. Some people fortunate. might be making allusion to the preciReactions to the abduction have been sion with which US took out Osama Bin coming in different shades. For the Fed- Ladin. But the scenario is different. As eral Government, repeated Each time I reflect on the challenge of seassurance of securing the re- curing the release of the girls, which I know lease of the girls is possible but with measured carefulness is the sing and strategy, I am always pissed off by the song, while concerned groups suggestion from some quarters that the milihave been sing- tary should storm the forest ing the duet of condemnation and demonstration. For at the time of the surprise attack at his the parents, they embarked on rescue hide out in Pakistan, Bin Ladin had no mission to the dreaded Sambisa forest. captive that could have been used as a Though a risky venture but I don’t blame human shield. This calls for careful sitthem since official rescue mission seems uation analysis and adoption of the right not forthcoming. strategy. We want the girls secured The international community has not alive. Nobody including their parents left the nation to her fate. While the will rejoice at any other news different United Nations has risen with a strong from this. condemnation, United States of AmeriThough it is not the right time to beca, USA has promised to assist in se- gin to trade blame but truth be told. The curing the release of the abducted girls. reaction or inaction of the Federal GovMany other nations have been offering ernment is late. Also worrisome is the words of encouragement and solidarity way the first lady is carrying out her inwith Nigeria. On Monday, the President tervention. What NTA Network news is of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, who is on a feeding the nation with is embarrassthree-day state visit to Nigeria, advised ing. I don’t think the first lady should African leaders never to succumb to the constitute herself into another investiantics of terrorist organisations but in- gation bureau drilling her invitees. It is stead forge ahead with their transfor- good to express concern as the mother mation agenda. All of these points to of the nation, but to carry on as if she the fact that Nigeria is not alone in her has any legal backing to conduct her quest to overcome forces bent on court as being done now, is insulting spreading terror and shedding blood. the sensibility of Nigerians. Each time I reflect on the challenge of ‘Femi Akinwande securing the release of the girls, which Aguda- Surulere, Lagos. I know is possible but with measured Folafemi6970@gmail.com carefulness and strategy, I am always

Boko Haram members are not ghosts but men and women living in particular places. Why can’t government use its intelligence network to track their activities and sponsors?

.08077273741

Call to ECOWAS countries We talk of ECOWAS always but we can’t see the effect. It costs so much to call most ECOWAS countries. It costs as much as 65 kobo per second as against 20 – 25 kobo to Europe and North America. This is unfair and does not encourage trade between the countries; something has not been done about it. Minny 08078921191

Abuja’s bomb blast PDP is blaming APC while APC is blaming PDP. We can see how selfish and self centered our politicians are. Instead of being sober and praying for God’s intervention in this country, we are taking advantage of the situation. God help Nigeria. Uduebor Osaro 08059826021

Still on Abuja bomb blast It is annoying hearing politicians saying that terrorism is a global phenomenon and that what is happening in Nigeria is not unusual. Bombing has become a regular occurrence in this country since President Jonathan became the

Immigration tragedy The ill- luck that trailed the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS recruitment has clearly shown the extent of unemployment in Nigeria. About 3,000 vacancies were advertised and over 80,000 applicantrs showed up. What a national disgrace! The onus lies on the Federal government to provide employment for the teeming unemployed if it so much talked about transformation agenda will become anything to write home about. Anonymous writes in from FCT, Abuja

Immigration job tragedy Abba Moro has clearly shown he is bereft of qualities expected of a honourable minister of this country. I was perplexed when I learnt he regretted the action. Will that bring back those whose lives have been lost? He has turned the affairs of the ministry to one man show! Mr . President should show him the way out before he put him in another mess. Francis 08026986452

SAYINGS OF OUR ELDERS The game of life is the game of boomerangs. Our thoughts, deed and words return back to us sooner or later. Be kind to get kindness back in return.

Simon Adewale08056180103, Send us your Sayings of Our Elders. They must be African sayings or proverbs. Biblical or English proverbs are unacceptable. Address your sayings to: The Co-ordinator, Sayings of Our Elders,Vanguard Media Ltd., PMB 1007, Apapa,

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY MAY 15, 2014 — 61

Brazil World Cup: Eagles 'll frustrate Messi — Omeruo S

UPER Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo is confident they have what it takes to stop Argentina star Lionel Messi at this summer’s World Cup so long as they defend as a team. Stephen Keshi’s men take on the South American favourites in their final Group F game and Omeruo is eagerly anticipating the chance to lock horns with the Barcelona star. “I’m really looking forward to the game against Argentina,” the defender told FIFA.com “I watch Messi a lot on TV. It’s going to be a team effort to try and stop him. Everyone will have to be positive and 100 per cent focused on the game. “We will try as much as possible to keep a clean sheet. It will be difficult but we have to do that. They are the best play-

ers in the world and we have to show our quality by standing up to them.” Omeruo then went on to voice his side’s ambition to reach at least the semi-finals in Brazil. “We will first of all have to make sure we get maximum points from the first two games. “I’m hoping we’ll get to the final, but I think at least the semi-finals.” Aside from Argentina, Nigeria also meet Iran and Bosnia-Herzegovina at this summer ’s showpiece.

HE champions Manchester City earned £96.5m last season, according to figures published by the Premier League, a sharp rise from the £60.8m Manchester United earned from winning the league a year ago.

ORLD Cup tourist spending in Brazil is ex pected to exceed $3 billion, according to the Brazilian Government’s latest forecasts. The Ministry of Tourism revealed research suggesting that foreign tourists are expected to spend $2,500 each, excluding airfares, during their stay in Brazil in June and July. According to Inside World Football, the government is hoping to convince ordinary Brazilians that staging sport mega-events is a good investment for the country.

Sports Minister Brazil in June. The Minister who said he is convinced that Keshi and his technical crew are capable of delivering the expectations of Nigerians for the World Cup, charged the team handler’s to commence serious preparation for the assignment at hand to ensure that the players give their best at the World Cup. “ It is good that he has named a provisional squad and I plead with Nigerians to give him the maximum co-operation in the discharge of his duties”, the Minister said adding that “ what remains now is for the

HEN the World Cup bound Super Eagles take on Scotland at Craven Cottage, home ground of Premier League side, Fulham on May 28, the encounter will not be limited to the 22 players doing battle on the football pitch. It could be more on the stands as a 9,000 strong Tartan Army has already snapped up tickets for the game and are poised once again to create a fantastic atmosphere in an iconic London ground. Similarly, a large Ni-

City earn N25b for winning title

Tourists to spend £3bn in Brazil

Continues from BP

•Omeruo

9000-strong Tartan army to descend on Eagles

technical crew to begin serious preparation so that the players put in their best when the competition kicks off next month.” He however, charged Keshi to ensure that the final selection of 23 players is done without bias or sentiments as only the best players at all times should don the colours of the country at competitions. “After the training sessions, I will advise Keshi and his team to ensure that the final 23 players to represent the country are picked without bias or sentiments. They must ensure that only the best players at all times are

In fact, Cardiff earned more from finishing bottom of the Premier League than United earned as champions, the Welsh club receiving £62.08m for finishing 20th this term. The league’s new £5.5bn broadcast deal was behind the increase in payments, with second-placed Liverpool the top earners on £97.5m, a consequence of more of their games being screened live by broadcasters. Each club’s payment is made up of 50% of UK broadcast revenue which is split equally between the 20 clubs; 25% of it depends on where the club finishes in the final league table; and the final 25% comes from fees each time a club’s matches are broadcast in the UK. selected to represent the country,” he stressed. Reiterating his earlier stance that the team should not limit their ambition to the Semi final but aim to get to the final and possibly lift the cup, he assured the team of the support of the government from the preparation to the participation proper. “ I want to assure the Eagles that they will get the full support of Mr. President for their preparation and the campaign proper so that our target of going beyond the semi final and even winning the cup is achieved”, Dr. Danagogo said.

gerian following based in London is likely to prove stiff opposition noise-wise to the travelling Scots. In August 2013 an estimated 25,000 Scots made the pilgrimage to Wembley to see the 3-2 defeat against England but since then Gordon Strachan’s men have gone on an excellent run of results and confidence in the squad, announced Monday, is high. Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi have announced a 30 man provisional squad for the World Cup and ever since some of the players have been looking forward to the Scotland game as a dress rehearsal to the Mundial in Brazil

FA Cup Final: Sterling Bank delights Arsenal fans City captain, Vincent Kompany with the EPL trophy

Payments to clubs Continues from BP 11) Swansea £74,173,056 12) West Ham £73,671,003 13) Crystal Palace £73,207,049 14) Aston Villa £72,666,897

15) Sunderland £71,700,890 16) Hull £67,026,634 17) West Brom £65,790,551 18) Norwich £64,554,468 19) Fulham £63,318,385 20) Cardiff £62,082,302 Total £1,563,117,350

Balogun Continues from BP sponses of some of the players that were not picked for the World Cup party, especially German based, Leon Balogun, John Ogu, Brown Ideye and others. Keshi who spoke from his Abuja base said picking the 30-man list for the World Cup was a difficult task .“I wanted the best for the initial camping list but sadly we cannot take everybody along, we have to drop some of our best and committed players,.I am happy that the players understand that fact”. I heard what Leon Balogun said and I must say I

am thrilled that he understands the very difficult task we have been given by Nigerians. I trust that sooner than later Leon will be back in the team. We are targeting to bring him back during the qualifiers for the Nations Cup in Morocco and I trust we will still be in charge. Balogun is one of our stars for the future of the national team”, Keshi said. The Eagles boss while declaring his unalloyed loyalty to the NFF, called on the media to support him and the NFF in the task of making Nigeria great through football come Brazil 2014 World Cup.

HEAD of the crunch FA Cup Final tie between Arsenal Football Club of London and Hull City FC on Saturday, May 17, 2014 at the Emirates Stadium, Sterling Bank is set to delight football lovers especially Arsenal fans in the country by offering them 500 free tickets to experience Cinema-style thrilling soccer to watch the game at Silverbird Cinemas in Victoria and Ikeja, Lagos under the bank’s “Fanatic Experience” initiative. Sports enthusiasts including journalists, entrepreneurs, professionals, administrators, academicians and students will be part of this experience organized by the Bank as part of activities aimed at bringing the benefit of its partnership with Arsenal FC to life. The choice of this match may have been influenced by the fact that this remains the only avenue for Arsenal to redeem its pride of place in English football this season by winning a trophy.

62 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY MAY 15, 2014 — 63

08053068728

Bosnia, Iran ‘re dangerous warns Ahmed Musa C

SKA Moscow for ward Ahmed Musa has told AfricanFootball.com that it would be dangerous for Nigeria to underrate World Cup group rivals Iran and Bosnia. He said all the teams in the same group with the African champions deserve respect and need to be taken seriously. “I know why many Nigerians are talking about Argentina, it is because they are a big team and always favourites to win the World Cup. But it will be dangerous to be thinking of only how to beat Argentina who will be the last team we will face in the group,” said Ahmed Musa. “We have to take it a game at a time. My mind will be on how to beat Iran first when we get to Brazil, then Bosnia.

“No team is a minnow in football again. Every team for the World Cup merits to be there, so they need to be respected. Looking down on Iran and Bosnia is dangerous. We have to beat them first.” Meanwhile, Ahmed Musa will know on Thursday if he will be crowned Russian league champion for a second straight year. Champions CSKA Moscow host Locomotiv Moscow in a final day title decider. Musa’s CSKA Moscow lead the table with 61 points from 29 games, while Zenit St.Petersburg are second with 60 points, with a match not conclusive following fans trouble when Zenit was down 42 at home to Dynamo Moscow.

•Musa

Pillar of Sports calls for support for Keshi

VEN as the Super Eagles provisional team list to the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup has continued to generates ripples in football circles, the Nigeria Pillar of Sports, Chief Donatus Agu Ejidike has called for caution. In a statement made available in his Lagos office, he warned that criticism of any kind about the Super Eagles list could cause disaffection and confusion among the players. The scriticisms could cause distraction and the technical crew may not remain focused. The Coach knows what he want from the players to achieve the desired result, hence the need to allow him concentrate instead of subjecting the list to debate,sound Nigeria Pillar of Sports. Chief Donatus Agu Ejidike commended the Nigeria Football Federation,NFF for standing by Coach Stephen Keshi. The Nigeria Pillar of Sports added that the task ahead concerning the Mundial is herculean and Nigeria should rally support for

the national team to enable them eceed the country’s past records in the World Cup. Ejidike sounded that other countries are map-

ping out strategies, playing international friendly matches to turn-up and blend their squads Nigeria Super Eagles should not lack behind.

Star hooks Kanu, Okocha for World Cup

IGERIANS worried about how to get live telecast of matches of the forthcoming World Cup need not worry anymore as Star lager beer has partnered DSTV to beam all the football matches of the tournament live to TV audiences in the country. This is to ensure that Nigerians can view the competition from the comfort of their homes. This was revealed at a media parley convened to formally announce Star Football, another trailblazing innovation through which the beer brand will connect with football. Walter Drenth, Marketing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc. said: “We decided to partner DSTV so as to give Star beer consumers and football lovers the

opportunity of watching live football matches as well as in-depth analysis of games. We do not want them to miss a moment of the exciting and exhilarating games.” The brand has also unveiled ex - internationals, Austin Jay Jay Okocha and Kanu ‘Papillo’ Nwankwo as ambassadors for its football activation. Star has also chosen to align with the millions of fans who are passionate about the game of football and fervently cheer their teams to victory. The brand has adopted Shine OnNigeria as the official tag line to propel Nigeria to victory in competitive football games. Both Okocha and Kanu, joined by Nigeria’s football loving fans, will amplify the ShineOnNigeria call to attain the status of the Mexican wave and other global celebratory recitations.

Imoh Ezekiel shattered by World Cup snub

TANDARD Liege striker Imoh Ezekiel is disappointed he was excluded from Nigeria provisional 30-man World Cup squad. His mentor, Gafar Liamed, told AfricanFootball.com Imoh Ezekiel was confident he would be named on the squad, but he will now have to wait for another chance with the Eagles. “Imoh was shocked and disappointed he was not named in the World Cup squad, he is getting over it and look forward to better days with the Eagles,” said the football club owner. “He (Imoh) doesn’t want to talk about it anymore. I was disappointed he wasn’t called, but not surprised. “I know the coach was under pressure to name a team that will be acceptable in all quarters. Every coach has a different belief in different players."

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014

City earn N25b for winning title — Pg 61 Spor ts Minister commends Keshi

Payments to clubs for 2013-14 1) Liverpool £97,544,336 2) Man City £96,578,329 3) Chelsea £94,106,163 4) Arsenal £92,870,080

•Danagogo

SURROUNDED: Argentina star, Lionel Messi (m) surrounded by Super Eagles Dickson Etuhu (l) and Joseph Yobo (r) in a 2010 W/Cup match in S.Africa. Argentina won 1-0.

HE Honourable Minister of Sports and Chairman National Sports Commission, Dr. Tammy W. Danagogo has commended Super Eagles Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi for formally naming a 30-man provisional squad preparatory to the FIFA World Cup holding in Continues on Page 61

Brazil World Cup: Eagles ‘ll frustrate Messi — Omeruo — Pg. 61

5) Tottenham £89,663,884 6) Manchester United £89,161,831 7) Everton £85,027,727 8) Newcastle £77,379,252 9) Southampton £76,915,298 10) Stoke £75,679,215 Continues on Page 61

Balogun is Star for future — Keshi

UPER Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, has said that he is thrilled by the re Continues on Page 61

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Comfort (6) 5 Danger (4) 8 Trusted (5) 9 Tank (3) 10 Cripple (4) 11 Prod (4) 12 Tiny (5) 13 Attic (6) 16 Departed (4) 18 Wicked (4) 20 Consumed (3) 22 Decay (3) 23 Noise (3) 24 Food (4) 25 Encounter (4) 28 Invent (6) 30 Tendency (5) 32 Scheme (4) 33 Atmosphere (4) 34 Wrath (3) 35 Adhesive (5) 36 Stagger (4) 37 Put on (6)

DOWN 1 Brutal (6) 2 Educated (8) 3 Force (6) 4 Consigned (9) 5 Answered (7) 6 Hero (4) 7 Retain (4) 8 Man’s (3) 14 End (9) 15 Can (3) 17 Enemy (3) 19 Calling on (8) 20 Point (3) 21 Everlasting (7) 26 Occupier (6) 27 Guard (6) 29 Box (4) 30 Ribbon (4) 31 Owing (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS

ACROSS: 3, Spear 9, Leader 10, Punish 11, Token 12, Owed 15, Cede 17, Damaged 20, Tar 21, Duvet 23, Tier 25, Arch 26, Dived 28, End 30, Disband 33, Aged 35, Edge 36, Saint 38, Exempt 39, Eaglet 40, Yearn.

DOWN: 1, Flood 2, Harem 3, Set 4, Proved 5, Apex 6, Run 7, Civet 8, Sheer 13, Wasting 14, Dated 16, Dashing 18, Duped 19, Tea 22, Tribe 24, Rib 27, Dinner 28, Eager 29, Defer 31, Addle 32, Deity 34, Late 36, Spy 37, Tan.

How to Play Sudoku

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number). Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row. No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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