Farouk Lawan detained

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61645

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

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FG sacks SEC Board, CHILD TRAFFICKING: names Bello NAPTIP arrests woman •P 6 Acting DG with 35 children •P 16

$3M BRIBERY SCANDAL

Farouk Lawan detained •Won't be released until he returns bribe money •Ex-House leaders wade in, meet Tambuwal, Lawan •Subsidy committee collected N11.3bn bribe money — Police

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, OKEY NDIRIBE, KINGSLEY OMONOBI, EMMAN OVUAKPORIE & BEN AGANDE

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A G O S — CHAIRMAN of the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee on fuel subsidy management, Hon. Farouk Lawan who is at the centre of the $3million bribe to clear indicted oil companies, was detained last night by the police. Rep Lawan who voluntarily reported to the CP Ali Amodu-led police Special Task Force investigating the allegation at about Continues on Page 5

DONU KOGBARA: Lamentations of an aircraft •P.17

Mr & Mrs

NEW CHIEF JUDGE—

From Right: Oba Rilwan Akiolu, Oba of Lagos; in handshake with Hon. Justice Ayotunde Adeyoola Phillips, new Chief Judge of Lagos State; Gov. Babatunde Fashola; Hon Ajibayo Adeleye, Majority Leader, representing Speaker of the House, and Justice Inumidun Akande (Rtd), immediate past Chief Judge, during the swearing-in of Hon. Justice Phillips, as the Chief Judge of Lagos State, yesterday in Lagos. Photo: Bunmi Azeez..

Court orders coroner OPEC calls for stronger inquest into DANA financial regulation plane crash •P.8 •P.7 C M Y K

2 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

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POCKET CARTOON

$3m bribery scandal: Farouk Lawan detained Continues from Page 1 4.40pm yesterday was interrogated for several hours alongside the secretary of the ad-hoc committee, Boniface Emenalo. As at press time, his interrogators said the embattled lawmaker has failed to return the marked $620, 000 first installment he collected and he would not be allowed to go until he hands over the money.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives reconvenes in an extraordinary session this morning with the legislators weighing several options to diminish the damages accruing from the cash for clearance scam centred around Rep. Farouk Lawan.

The dimension of the crisis escalated, yesterday, with the Police claiming that as much as N11.3 billion might have been collected as bribe money

by Rep. Lawan and some unnamed members of the ad-hoc committee on the investigation of fuel subsidy management.

Interested parties

including former influential members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday night intervened during separate meetings with Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and Rep. Lawan over the brewing crisis at the Apo Legislative Quarters residence of Chief Halims Agoda.

Lawan visits Police task force Before reporting to the Police, Lawan visited Speaker Tambuwal yesterday morning during which, it was learnt, the Speaker urged him to go to the police.

The unfolding crisis emerged following the allegation that Lawan demanded a $3 million bribe from oil magnet, Femi Otedola to clear him (Otedola) and his companies from culpability in the subsidy scam investigated by the adhoc committee.

Lawan had admitted collecting $620,000 (N96.1 million) out of the $3 million (N465 million) bribe from

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

It is only those who dared that can win. Show me a courageous man and I will show you a winner.

Faith and courage have won battles and quench fights.

Fair and courage have put asunder the fiery darts of evil thrown at men of valour.

To win the battles of life you need to feed your faith and have an unflinching belief in your capabilities. By faith you always win in the end.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth, but if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely —Roald Dahl

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UY Finney, says the behavioural patterns displayed by some people indicate which company to keep away from; this way, we begin the process of liberation from everything inside of us that stand in the way of knowing the peace, happiness, success, and love that we long for.

Stay away from people who drag up old painful events and then revel in the anger, resentment, or bitterness that such unhappy memories hold. Stay clear from malicious persons who think they pull themselves up by pulling others down. They love to gossip, criticize, judge, and denigrate anyone who ever had the misfortune of spending time with them.

They love to feel their own pain, which they feed by involving everyone they can influence.

Otedola, saying that he intended to use it as evidence of the pressures from the oil companies and their associates to compromise his committee.

Among the options under consideration at today ’s session, Vanguard learnt yesterday, is the suspension of Lawan from the House and the reconstitution of the adhoc committee. Multiple sources in the House nevertheless pointed at the unanimity of opinion that the rule of law must be adhered to in resolving the crisis.

While many members who were last night seething that the integrity of the House had been compromised by the scandal and were rooting for the suspension of Lawan, others were also cautious, insisting that the House must not run foul of its own rule of law mantra.

“We will apply our rules and the rule of law in this matter to the extent that the integrity of the House and its resolutions would not be compromised,” a leading member told Vanguard yesterday.

Another member said: “We are increasingly worried that this bribery allegation is unjustifiably affecting the image of the House.

We can’t close our eyes to this unfortunate development”.

Order 10, Rule 71, sub 4 which may come into play today should those supportive of Lawan’s suspension prevail spells thus: When a member is named by the Speaker, if the offence is a minor one, the Speaker may order the member to withdraw for the remainder of the legislative day, but if the matter appears to the Speaker to be of a more serious nature, the Speaker shall put the question on a motion being made, no a m e n d m e n t , adjournment or debate being allowed, “that such member be suspended from the service of the House,” such suspension being for any time stated in the motion not

exceeding legislative days.

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To stave off a suspension there were s p e c u l a t i o n s yesterday that Lawan may consider the option of a softlanding through stepping down as Chairman of the Adhoc Committee. It was learnt that Lawan’s acceptance of this option would ensure he is not disgraced by his colleagues who have been furious over his alleged involvement in the scandal. Sources said if this option is adopted, the case would be referred to the Ethics and Privileges Committee of the House for further investigation.

With the adoption of this option, Lawan may enjoy a temporary relief pending when the security agencies conclude their investigation.

Several caucuses were believed to be working on different strategies that would be deployed during today ’s plenar y session. One of the caucuses which is said to be mobilizing members for Lawan is led by a prominent principal officer in the House.

The involvement of the prominent principal officer was last night leading to insinuation that the bribery scam may have involved more than Rep. Lawan.

In addition to mobilizing members, the pro-Lawan group is also said to have rented protesters that would storm the National Assembly to demonstrate their support for the embattled lawmaker.

In response to this plan it was also gathered that the antiLawan camp may have also mobilized protesters to storm the National Assembly today.

It was further gathered that some lawmakers may oppose any move to suspend Lawan. Apart from his associates from the Kano and Jigawa axis, there were indications that

the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) House caucus could be opposed to the suspension of the embattled lawmaker.

Although, some ACN members in the House were outraged by the allegation and believe Lawan should be left to face the music, the leadership of the party’s caucus is also fearful of allowing the House to fall into the snare of oil marketers whose aim is to discredit the report According to a member from Ekiti State who spoke on condition of anonymity: “Some of my colleagues unfortunately do not think we should abandon Lawan at this time. I will not go with them because I will not associate with anything that has to do with bribery or corruption”.

He added: “At the end he may not be suspended but it would have been established that we acted in line with our conscience”.

Signals from the All Nigeria Peoples Party(ANPP) caucus in the House also indicated that it will kick against the suspension of Lawan. Some of them said they will prefer that the House waits till the end of Police investigation on the matter before taking a stand on Lawan and the ad hoc committee members.

Alagbaoso disowns Lawan Rep. Jerry Alagbaoso who had been largely speculated to be one of the points men helping to douse the agitation against Lawan yesterday formally disowned him.

“I am neither a member of the Adhoc Committee on Oil Subsidy Investigation nor a front man to its Chairman… as written

or implied by the Lawyers League and that the said publication is malicious and the handiwork of political traducers and detractors aimed at tarnishing my hardearned reputation which was built over the years,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Police collates figures of Farouk committee bribe money Meanwhile, the CP Amodu Police team it was learnt yesterday may have collated a total figure of N11.

3billion as the bribe money collected by the committee.

The huge amount according to Police sources was arrived at following the influx of information and petitions from oil marketers to the Special Task Force detailing how much was given to the probe panel in both foreign and local currencies.

The anger and frustration of the oil marketers in the manner they were treated according to the source, had become so unbearable that some of them even deposed to signed Court Affidavits, promising to appear as prosecution witness in court against members of House panel.

The source added that the impunity with which the committee went about collecting bribe money from oil marketers was so amazing that the investigation committee could hardly believe that the same House members which Nigerians adored were behind the acts.

“As I am talking to you now, many marketers Continues on Page 49

6—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

BY INALEGWU SHAIBU

BUJA — THE Federal Government has spent N1.440 trillion on recurrent and capital expenditures in the last six months just as it has set up a committee made up of bankers and fuel importers to manage subsidy. These facts were disclosed, yesterday, by Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

Okonjo-Iweala, while addressing newsmen in Abuja, said a committee made up of bankers and petroleum product import-

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2012 budget: N1.440trn spent so far —Okonjo-Iweala FG sets up c'ttee on fuel subsidy management Allays fears on fuel scarcity ers had been set up to ensure accountability in the management of fuel subsidy funds, noting that payment would commence at the end of the investigation.

She said: “We need to verify 2011 arrears to make sure the arrears were paid to the people that imported fuel. It is to make sure that payments are made cor-

rectly. Of the N888 billion appropriated for subsidy in 2012, N451 billion of that were arrears for 2011. It was at this point that I directed that we slow down payment to make sure that payments are genuine.

“Once we verify that the payments are genuine, we move ahead. But if we verify that the payments are

not genuine, we would ask for our money back from the importers. N17 billion has been release against 2012 fuel delivery, but we are taking care until the report of our investigation is in our hands.

“This exercise was not designed to stop marketers.

Things are going on at the moment, but we want to

make sure that we are not stampeded into making payment, we are taking things serious, but it would not cause any hiccups.

There are many ships on the high sea and we will have the investigation concluded by next week.”

According to her, government has so far spent N1.036 trillion on recurrent expenditure while N404 billion has been released for capital expenditure.

But she lamented that only N94.1 billion of the N404 billion released for capital project had been utilised by government ministries, departments and agencies despite being cash backed to the tune of N239.8 billion. The amount spent represents a mere 39 per cent of the capital releases for first and second quarters of 2012.

FG generates N1.29trn

From left: General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd); Speaker, Niger State House of Assembly, Adamu Usman; Governor Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State and former President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), during the 70th birthday of Gen. Abubakar, at his uphill residence, Minna, Niger State.

The minister also said the Federal Government generated N1.29 trillion as revenue within the period.

She said: “N304 billion was released for first quarter of 2012 and it was cashed backed with N239.8 billion.

Only 39 per cent of it has

been spent or N94.1 billion, meaning that we have 61 per cent still available for spending.

“We have also released N100 billion for the second quarter of 2012. We have released N404.1 billion until today so that the agencies can have money to spend on capital projects.

We will work hard to release the third quarter within a month.”

Why slow implementation of capital projects On the slow pace of implementation of capital projects, she said it was because the 2011 budget was extended to March 2012.

She assured that government would soon begin yearly implementation of budgets between January and December, starting from 2013 to ensure proper implementation of budgets.

According to her, “the performance on the capital projects was not surprising given that last year ’s budget was extended to March. But we are doing away with that system.

Budget 2013, God willing, will start in January and end in December.”

FG sacks SEC Board; names Bello acting DG Ekineh, two others relieved of appointment SEC redeploys Oteh’s staff It is vindictive, say affected staff

By PETER EGWUATU & MICHAEL EBOH

AGOS — ACTING Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms Daisy Ekineh, two other Executive Commissioners of the commission and the entire SEC Board were, yesterday, relieved of their duty by the Federal Government, as their tenure expires June 15, 2012.

Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has ruled out any tenure elongation for the Acting Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Ms. Daisy Ekineh, stressing that SEC’s Director of Finance and Administration, Mr. Bolaji Ibrahim Bello, would assume office on Monday, June 18, 2012 as the Acting Director General.

Meanwhile, Van-

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guard, yesterday, gathered that staff attached to the office of the suspended Director-General, Ms Arunma Oteh have been redeployed.

This is even as Ekineh is due to retire as Acting Director General, today, with other Executive Commissioners on the Board.

The newly appointed Acting Director General of SEC, Bello, has been the Head of SEC’s office Lagos. He was a stockbroker before joining the commission.

Why only Oteh was suspended Also, the Board of SEC has revealed why other staff involved in ‘Project 50’ were not suspended alongside Oteh.

The Board disclosed that its director general took responsibility for the

financial issues and questions arising from Project 50 and refused to make formal report to the Audit and Finance Committee of the Board on the project.

A source close to the Board confided in Vanguard that Oteh’s suspension was linked to her inability to present formal report to the Audit and Finance Committee after the Board mandated her to do so.

The source further stated that the Board had m a n d a t e d PriceWaterHouse Coopers, PWC, to conduct an investigation into the allegations against Oteh and submit their report.

The source disclosed that PWC was given a minimum of four weeks to conclude their investigation and to submit their report.

Redeployment vindictive —Affected staff On the issue of staff redeployment, a source in SEC, who spoke to Vanguard on condition of anonymity, said the letter signed by the Head of Human Resources, SEC, Hussaini Dauda, redeployed the staff to areas outside their competencies.

“It is sad that this action can constitute the priority of the current leadership of the SEC at this time, when there is an urgent need to take actions to rebuild and sustain the transformation agenda of Oteh, and make the place more service-oriented and more committed to capital market governance at the commission, rather than those urgent concerns, acts of administrative vindictiveness, victimisation, which eventually contains a witch hunt against the person

of Oteh.

In a text message to Vanguard, another staff of the commission who chose not to be named, said: “The action furthers the witch hunt against the DG by the anti reform old guard who have nei-

ther the vision nor the capacity to raise SEC to the status of an efficient regulator that can oversight a credible and transparent market characterised by a high level of investor confidence.

N1.17bn NCC fine: Operators promise to pay next week

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU & EMEKA AGINAM

AGOS — THERE are indications that the four mobile operators that were fined N1.17 billion by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, over poor quality of service may have agreed to pay the fine next week.

Vanguard gathered that the development came after a crucial meeting between the regulator and the operators, Wednesday.

Confirming the story, Director, Public Affairs of the commission, Mr Tony Ojobo, told Vanguard that

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the operators had promised to pay by next week with a submission of how they would progressively improve the quality of their network over the next nine months.

According to Ojobo, it was also agreed that the improvement and advancement to the networkswere going to be monitored by the NCC. He added that the quality was expected to increase progressively over the period while NCC engineers and that of the operators would jointly fine tune QoS Key Performance Indicators.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012—7

OPEC calls for stronger financial regulation

BY CLARA NWACHUKWU, VIENNA, AUSTRIA

HE Organisation of Pe troleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, has called for better regulation of the international financial sector.

This, the organisation hopes, will contain current price volatility being experienced in the international oil market.

The call was made by the

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President of the conference, Mr. Abdul-Kareem Luaibi Bahedh, in an opening address presented at the 161st meeting of the OPEC Conference, yesterday, at the organisation’s Secretariat in Vienna, Austria.

Bahedh, who is also the Iraqi Minister of Oil, said oil price volatility had become a matter of great concern for OPEC, adding: “There is still a disturbing level of price volatility ...

This volatility is matter of much concern to us.”

The conference president observed that in the recent time, oil price had become “extremely volatile,” so much that the OPEC Basket price lost $9.65/barrel within just four days.

Before now, he recalled that the OPEC reference basket has been experiencing some price swings, moving from $109/b as at the time of its last meeting

to $124/b half way through to June and then falling again.

Consequently, OPEC has repeated the call “for better regulation of the international financial sector,” while it struggles to stabilise prices.

The OPEC conference president argued that it was the collective responsibility of all industry stakeholders to achieve price stability, particularly the industry

operators, associated partners as well as the financial institutions.

He opined: “We all stand to benefit from price stability, and so, we must all be prepared to contribute to it in a meaningful, solid and sustainable manner.”

Current production output Meanwhile, the leader of the Nigerian delegation to the conference, Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, told Vanguard before the start of the meeting that delegates might retain current production output at 30 million barrels per day.

She also said the conference might likely take a decision on who succeeds the outgoing Secretary General, Mr. Abdalla Salem El Badri, whose tenure ends at year end, adding: “We are going to look

at all the candidates for the job and decide on the most qualified.”

OPEC maintains output level Meanwhile, after almost six hours of deliberation on market and economic issues, OPEC, yesterday, maintained current output level at 30 million barrels per day.

The 14-member organisation attributed current oil price volatility to “geopolitical tensions and increased levels of speculation in the commodities markets, rather than solely a consequence of supply/demand fundamentals.”

Although OPEC envisioned a slight increase in global oil demand in the second half of the year, it is, however convinced that this would be “mostly offset by the projected increase in non-OPEC supply.”

Two Kwara Poly students killed during cult war From left: Prof. John Oladapo Obafunwa, Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, LASU; Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas, Chancellor; Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State; Mr. Akin Kekere-Ekun, ProChancellor and Chairman, Governing Council and Alhaji Lateef Jakande, former Governor of Lagos State, during the 17th convocation of the university, in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

N540m fraud: EFCC docks OSOPADEC boss, four others

BY OSCARLINE ONWUEMENYI

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BUJA— THE Eco nomic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, arraigned the Chairman, Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission, OSOPADEC, Adebowale Henry Ajimuda and four others before Justice Gloria Okeke of the Federal High Court, sitting in Akure, on a 13-count charge bordering on fraud, embezzlement of public funds and conspiracy to commit fraud to the tune of over N540 million.

The four others are Mann Omobayi Alli, Ikuomola Vincent Aghone, Mafolabomi Monday and Olayinka Olaitan Joseph.

According to the EFCC, the alleged embezzlement of the funds was executed in four installments. The first installment, involving N150 million was drawn with a FirstBank of Nigeria Plc cheque number HC8050863652; the second installment of N75 million was pulled out with a

FirstBank cheque number HC8050867481; the third tranche of N75 million was drawn with a FirstBank cheque number HC8050866673, while the fourth installment involved N240 million.

The alleged scam was deodorised through four forged vouchers of OSOPADEC, which were raised by the accused persons to cover the phony expenditure. The accused persons claimed that N300 million of the fund was committed into the training of 3,000 ex-militants.

Prosecution counsel, Aso Larry Peters, had sought leave of the court for the 13count charge to be read to the accused persons and their plea taken, which was granted. The five accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Bail application Lead defence counsel, Banjo Ayeniji told the court that he had filed a formal bail application for the accused persons and observed that the offences

which the accused were alleged to have committed were bailable and urged the court to grant them bail on liberal terms.

However, prosecution counsel, Peters, opposed the bail application and urged the court to take judicial notice of evidence before it, and the fact that if granted bail, the accused persons might intimidate the prosecution witnesses.

Peters also told the court

that the EFCC intended to file fresh charges against the accused person before an Ogun State High Court, adding that releasing them on bail could jeopardize investigations.

In her ruling, Justice Okeke granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N1million each and one surety each in like sum.

Each surety must not be less than a Director in the Federal Civil Service.

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

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LORIN — TWO per sons suspected to be students of Kwara State Polytechnic, were found dead yesterday afternoon after a violent clash by rival cult groups in Ilorin, the state capital.

One of the students was beheaded.

Their corpses were discovered at the Sango area of Ilorin, after two cult groups allegedly clashed Wednesday night.

Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Fabode Olufemi, confirmed the incident, saying the two cult groups were from Kwara State Polytechnic.

He said the groups had

engaged each other in a supremacy battle late Wednesday night, a development that resulted in the death of the two suspected students.

Olufemi, however, noted that the police on getting information about the clash, immeiadely swung into action and brought the situation under control, even as he expressed surprise that the deceased students were discovered in a nearby bush yesterday afternoon, saying investigations into the matter had begun.

The authorities of the polytechnic denied that students of the institution were involved in killing of the two men, pointing out that their corpses were not discovered near the institution as claimed.

Nigeria needs strong legislature —Ghanaian VP

BY EBUN SESSOU & OLUWATOSIN OLUWARINU

AGOS — GHANAIAN Vice President, Mr. John Dramani Mahama, has said Nigerian government needs strong institutions, especially a strong legislature, whose legislative functions will hold the government accountable.

The vice president stated this in a lecture delivered on his behalf by Ghana's Minister of Information,

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Haruna Idrisu, at the special parliamentary session to commemorate the first anniversary of the 7th Lagos Assembly, at the Chambers of Lagos State House of Assembly, yesterday. The lecture was entitled: "The imperatives of a virile legislature in the socio-economic development of a state."

Attributing the crisis of development in Africa to governance and accountability, Mahama said: "For elected governments to de-

liver on their promises of socio-economic development to their people there must exist a strong legislature with powers to check the Executive and to provide space for civil society to participate in governance”.

According to him, the state must create an enabling political and legal environment for economic growth and promote the equitable distribution of the national cake.

In his remarks, Speaker

Adeyemi Ikuforiji said if the Federal Government was sincere about immortalizing MKO Abiola, June 12 should be declared as national holiday and that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should declare the late Abiola as the winner of June 12, 1993 presidential election and ensure that his name is included among the past presidents of the federal republic of Nigeria.

8—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

LECTURE: From left: Professor Biakolo; Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State and Commisioner for Information, Mrs. Semenitari Ibim during the governor's lecture at School of Media & Communication, Pan-African University, Victoria Island Campus, Lagos, yesterday.

From left: Chief Chukwu Nwachukwu, President, Nigerian Assocation of Small Scale Industrialists, NASSI; Mr Olusegun Aganga, Minister of Trade and Industry and Mr Bisi Onasanya, GMD/ CEO, First Bank Nigeria Plc at the signing of MoU between the bank and NASSI in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Court orders coroner inquest into DANA plane crash

BY WAHAB ABDULAH

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AGOS—JUSTICE Lateefa Okunnu of the Ikeja High Court, Lagos, has directed the Coroner of Alimosho District, Magistrate O. Komolafe, to conduct an inquest into the Dana Plane crash, at IjuIshaga on June 3, killing no fewer than 150 people.

According to the hearing notice issued by the Coroner, yesterday, sitting will commence on June 18, at the Magistrate’s Court at Alimisho, Lagos State.

The inquest followed a request by Lagos lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, last week.

In his petition, Falana had requested the State Chief Coroner to make an inquest to determine the cause of the plane crash.

In the request filed pursuant to Section 15 of the Lagos State Coroner ’s Law 2007, Falana asked the court to conduct inquest into the circumstances leading to the air mishap and recommend who was at fault regarding the accident.

Section 15 of the law has provided that, “an inquest shall hold whenever a Coroner is informed that the death of a deceased person within the Coroner District was as a result of death in a violent, unnatural or suspicious situation.”

Falana in his application prayed the court to conduct its findings timely and make C M Y K

public its report. Stating the reasons behind the move to file the request, Falana said findings revealed that the aircraft was allowed to fly by the airliner when it knew that it was defective. He also said, rather than the authorities to come to the rescue of the victims on time, it was the members of the public that were on hand early to carry out rescue operations with bare hands.

“We have confirmed

that the aircraft was allowed to fly though it was defective. The distress call made by the pilot of the ill-fated aircraft several minutes before the crash was ignored by the airport authorities while the management of the disaster was crude as members of the public had to use bare hands in the rescue operations.”

He therefore urged the court to quickly step into its investigation and

make appropriate recommendations to the public considering the significance of the disaster.

“In view of the national significance of this request it will be appreciated if the inquest is conducted without delay and the report made public unlike reports of similar inquiries which were never published by the Federal Government,” he said.

Alleged graft: FRSC boss disbands 2 zones in Rivers State Command BUJA—THE Corps Marshal and Chief Executive, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Mr. Osita Chidoka, has approved the disbandment of the zone rs 6 Port Harcout and rs 6.1 commands of the corps with immediate effect.

All officers and men of the commands, except those just deployed to the commands were posted out of the commands to different parts of the country. The postings attract no financial benefits as they were done on disciplinary grounds.

The Rivers State Sector Commander of the Corps, Dr. Kayode Olagunju informed that the development was aimed at instilling sanity in the system. He informed that

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the corps marshal had directed that all officers and men investigated for violation of rules and regulations should be immediately tried in line with FRSC regulations on maintenance of discipline and other extant public service rules.

He disclosed that appropriate punishments which include termination of appointments and dismissal from service will be meted accordingly to those found guilty.

Issues bordering on number plates and driver ’s licence racketeering, extortion as well as other forms of indiscipline attracted the attention of the FRSC management and as a form of self cleansing, the corps adopted the disbandment option. New set of officers were

selected and posted to the commands to reposition the corps in the state.

The corps marshal has also directed that all the officers and men posted out of the commands should be properly monitored and anyone that exhibits any form of indiscipline should be dealt with accordingly.

Meanwhile, Olagunju has enjoined the motoring public to always report any illegal activities such as extortion, touting on drivers' licence or number plates to him through his direct number, 08077690601.

He informed that all officers and men have their name tags on their uniforms while the patrol vehicles also have bold body numbers in several locations of the vehicles for easy identification.

‘Less than 100,000 units of blood collected annually in Lagos'

BY CHIOMA OBINNA AGOS—AS Nigeria joined the rest of the world to mark this year’s World Blood Donor Day with the theme; Every Blood Donor is A Hero” out of 185,000 units of blood required in Lagos less than 100,000 units of blood is collected annually.

Speaking at an event to mark the 2012 World Blood Donor Day, Idris appealed for more voluntary donation to boost the state’s blood supply.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris,

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who disclosed this at an event to mark the 2012 World Blood Donor Day organised by the State Blood Transfusion Committee confirmed that less than 54 per cent of the blood required in Lagos is collected.

Idris, who lamented the place of Nigeria in voluntary blood donation, appealed for more voluntary donation to boost the state’s blood supply.

He noted that based on World Health Organisation, WHO estimate, a country needs at least, one per cent of its population donating once a year to meet its requirements.

Amosun's wife urges youths to donate blood

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BEOKUTA—WIFE of Governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, has said Nigerian youths should be encouraged to to voluntarily donate blood and save lives.

Speaking at at State General Hospital, Iberekodo in Abeokuta, to mark the World Blood

Donor Day with the theme: “Every blood donor is a hero” to raise awareness on the need for safe blood, blood products and to appreciate voluntary unpaid blood donors for their life saving gifts of blood, the governor’s wife said youths were at low risk of transmitting infection through their blood.

CORRECTION On June 8, in our lead story entitled “Who will wear her wedding gown now,” Vanguard quoted Mrs. Felicia Iwuchukwu as having granted an interview on a victim of Dana crash, Ms. Oluwakemi Ayoola

Somolu.

We have since discovered that the comments were wrongly attributed to her. What we published was lifted from the condolence register.

The error is regretted.

—Editor

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE I5, 2012—9

Immunisation: 5-in-1 vaccine out

Briefly

Advice for air force officers

BY ALBERT AKPOR

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

AGOS—CHIEF of Air Staff, Air Marshal M. Umar, yesterday, in Lagos, urged men and officers of the Nigerian Air Force to be more vigilant in their daily activities, noting that the current security challenge in the country needed to be tackled holistically.

The Air chief gave the advice at the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, NAFRC, Oshodi, Lagos, while commissioning some completed projects, including the new corporate headquarters of the centre.

He said: “Let me remind us of the security challenges confronting our dear nation today. We must continue to remain vigilant and be security- conscious of our environment and, of ourselves.'' ''May I reiterate at this point that one of our roles as enunciated in the constitution is the provision of aids to civil authorities; we must continue to subordinate ourselves to the civilian administration while assisting towards sustenance of internal peace.

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Gridlock: Lagos moves to sanitise Ikorodu road

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI KEJA—LAGOS State Government will today, commence enforcement its laws against commercial vehicle drivers in Ikorodu area of the state, fond of discharging and loading passengers in unauthorised spots.

The measure, it said, was aimed at ensuring safety of lives and free flow of traffic on the axis.

The operation will be carried out by Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA and Lagos State Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences.

General Manager of LASTMA, Babatunde Edu, warned commercial buses operating in Ikorodu and its environs, especially those loading and discharging passengers indiscriminately at the town’s roundabout to desist from such act and move to the designatedbus garage at Sabo or face the wrath of the law.

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KEJA—IN its effort to reduce child mortality in the state, Lagos State Government, yesterday, said it had introduced a new set of vaccines, which would immunise newborns and children against the five childhood killer-diseases.

Speaking at the flag off the first round of the Child of the 2012 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, MNCH, week in Lagos, Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adeshina, said the new vaccine, pentavalent vaccine, is a combination of five vaccines in one.

Adeshina, who said the MNCH week, Child Health Week, will take place from June 18 to 22, added that the new additional vaccine will protect children from Diphtheria, Pertussis, Hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae and tetanus.

She said the new vaccine would go a long way to prevent vaccine shortage in the state and improve child health in the country.

She said: “Before now, we had three to four different vaccines that were given to children and sometimes, there would be a shortage of one or more vaccines. With pentavalent vaccine, a child only needs to take one shot, which would help protect him or her from the five childhood killer-diseases.”

She said the shortage in vaccine at primary health care centres in the state in the past year was due to the transition from the old vaccines to the new one, adding that the pentavalent was a more productive one.

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From left, Mrs Titi Laoye, Deputy Governor of Osun State; Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary General of Commonwealth at the second Panafest Colloquium and Exhibition in Lagos, yesterday.

Fashola suspends honorary awards in LASU

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI, MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO & IKENNA ASOMBA

AGOS—GOVER NOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, announced the indefinite suspension of the conferment of honorary award on any person by authorities of Lagos State University, LASU, saying the award had been desecrated in recent times.

Fashola said he had ordered LASU Governing Council to suspend the conferment of honorary award as part of measure towards improving the standard of the institution and restoring the value of honorary award by ensuring that only deserving persons were bestowed same.

The governor, who announced this at the 17th convocation of the institution, said the award had been abused as many now wait for the award before contributing to the development of the society.

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Fashola, who did not hide his disdain over indiscriminate award of honours on undeserving people, noted that previous honorary degrees conferred by institutions across the country from different disciplines had not reflected in adding values to the society.

He added that in the country today, Nigerians

AGOS—TRADE Un ion Congress of Nigeria, TUC, yesterday, said those indicted in the fuel subsidy probe report and the recent bribery allegation involving Mr Farouk Lawan, Chairman, House of Representatives committee that investigated the subsidy scam and oil magnate, Mr Femi Otedola, must be treated separately and prosecuted accordingly. TUC expressed concern that the bribery allegation was dominating dis-

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ple with degrees.

“And, because we are determined to keep the honours of this great institution, we had decided to raise the bar. Our university (LASU) ceased to lead this society to a higher degree of excellence by challenging our people to do more for the improvement of the country,” he added.

...swears in new Chief Judge Justice Philips lists priorities

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH & MICHAEL OLADEPO

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KEJA—GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, swore in Justice Ayotunde Phillips as the new Chief Judge of the state, urging her to ensure fair and rapid administration of justice in the state.

Meanwhile, the Chief Judge, Justice Philips, has promised to end bickering between the Bar

TUC advises on subsidy probe report, bribery allegation

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

now desire to receive title and honour before impacting on the society.

He said: “What is the basis for honour? Do we have electricity, can we refine our own petroleum products?”

He added that if the country had not been able to achieve all these, why were the institutions in the country honouring peo-

cussions, rather than concentrate on implementing the findings of the fuel subsidy report as adopted by the House of Representatives.

In a statement, TUC said it believed that the timing of the bribery allegation was not a coincidence, but attempt by looters in collusion with those who found themselves in the corridors of power, to confuse and distract Nigerians from their collective and determined resolve to make a huge and transformative statement with the subsidy probe findings.

and the Bench to enhance the level of judiciary in the state.

Fashola noted that the appointment of the new CJ came at a time the government renewed its commitment to ensuring rule of law in the state.

He said: “This is a proud moment in the Lagos judiciary that leads the third and critical arm of the state. From 1999 till date, the story of the Lagos judiciary under a democratic dispensation has been a story of success after success, it’s been a story characterised by ground-breaking reforms and revolutionary initiatives that had redefined the judiciary, championed by visionary chief judges, who had defined the Nigerian landscape.

“I believe that I speak the minds of our citizens, when I say we expect prompt and fair dispensation of justice during your tenure, they will expect innovations and more reforms, as well as a competitive judiciary, I believe I also speak their minds, to say that during your tenure, the judiciary will not only be their last hope, it will be their real

hope.”

Justice Philips, in her response, commended her predecessor for the work she did to push the judiciary forward and promised, “to do my best to build on the achievements of the past, so that the High Court of Lagos State will once again be the revered institution that it was under the late Justice Idowu Taylor.”

Noting that she was not unmindful of the challenges litigants face in getting the judiciary to adjudicate on their cases, Justice Philips reiterated her determination to remove the challenges through the implementation of a total computerisation programme, the upgrading and equipping of libraries and improved welfare for staff.

She noted that some of the challenges facing the judiciary were behavioural and attitudinal, not only from staff of the judiciary, but also from the Bar and the public at large.

She promised to give priority to decongestion of prisons through the use of non-custodian sentences for certain offences.

Ogunsanwo for burial R. Titus Ogunsanwo, a former Chief Accountant of Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, is dead.

Ogunsanwo, aged 73, was chief accountant of the firm between 1992 and 2002, and also served as Chief Internal Auditor for three years.

He will be buried today in his home town, IjebuMushin, Ogun State.

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10—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

Cop feared dead in Osogbo failed bank robbery

BY GBENGA OLARI-

NOYE

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SOGBO—THERE was pandemonium yesterday in Osogbo, Osun State, following a failed robbery attempt by armed robbers on a branch of new generation bank.

Though the bandits were repelled after an hour of gun battle, an unidentified policeman was seriously injured.

However, unconfirmed report claimed the policeman died at the hospital

VISIT: From right, Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko; Deputy Chairman, Labour Party, Ondo State, Chief Dele Akinyele and Ahaba of Ajagba, Oba Thomas Adesayo, during a solidarity visit by Ajagba Community of Irele Local Government Area to the governor in Akure.

2 cols, 12 others for court-martial in Oyo

BY OLA AJAYI

BADAN—THE 2 Divi sion, Nigerian Army, Adekunle Fajuyi Cantonment, Ibadan, has set up a seven-man court martial to look into allegations preferred against 14 soldiers.

The soldiers were alleged to have been involved in offences ranging from rape, murder, manslaughter, stealing, burglary, kidnapping and stealing.

Among the soldiers was one who allegedly beat his wife to death.

The names of the accused soldiers whose trial would start from June 26 were given as Colonel S.

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Idris, Colonel Francis Eyemese, Lance Corporal Bello Lawal, Lance Corporal Anthony Okpe, Lance Corporal Emelike Okoro, Private Sapper Aliyu Taffida, Private Sanni Mohammed, and Private Shuaibu Dauda.

Others are Private Oswel Friday, Private Abdulkarim Abba, Private Ukandu Ikachukwu, Pri-

DO-EKITI—AN AdoEkiti High Court has o r d e r e d the reinstatement of members of the dissolved State Independent Electoral Commission, SIEC, put in place by the sacked governor of the state, Segun Oni. Governor Kayode Fayemi had on assumption of office on October 22, 2010, dissolved the five-member SIEC on the premises that its constitution lacked legal backing.

Fayemi had contended that the ousted governor Oni, who swore them into office, had been removed by the court, arguing that the dissolution became imperative since the Appeal Court in Ilorin had declared Oni’s election null and void.

Commissioner for Infor-

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med who is the lead Judge Advocate.

The leader of the team is Brigadier-General Okon Ekanem.

Other members of the court martial are Colonel T.C. Eze, Colonel M.S. Subaru, Colonel F.O. Akanji, Colonel H.R. Momoh and Colonel M.A. Masanawa.

Corpers protest in Ekiti over non-payment of stipends

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

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DO-EKITI—SOME of the outgoing members of the National

Court orders reinstatement of sacked Ekiti SIEC members

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

vate Eyo Ukwu, Private Pinda Danjuma, and Private Henry Ahamefule.

The court martial was inaugurated by the General Officer Commanding, GOC, Major-General Mohammed Abubakar.

Names of the team that would try the alleged erring soldiers are Lieutenant Sunday Akinyemi and Colonel Musa Moham-

mation, Mr. Funminiyi Afuye, who reacted on behalf of the government said, the government would yesterday file a notice of appeal and stay of execution against the judgment.

It will be recalled that dissatisfied with the dissolution, the SIEC Chairman, Major-Gen Kayode Oni and four others approached the court to declare the action of the governor unlawful, unconstitutional, oppressive and ultra-vires.

In his judgment, Justice John Adeyeye declared that Gov. Fayemi acted ultra-vires by sacking the commission members via radio announcements. He said Fayemi had no powers whatsoever to sack the commission members, whose tenure was put at five years by the Constitution.

Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Batch B in Ekiti State, yesterday, protested alleged failure of Ekiti State Government to pay their three months allowance.

This came as no fewer than 1,871 Batch B corps members participated in the passing out parade at Christ School Playing Ground, Ado-Ekiti.

Vanguard gathered that the aggrieved corps members were those who served in public primary

and secondary schools in the 16 local government areas of the state.

In a show of solidarity, some of their counterparts who served in the local governments, ministries and corporate organisations, joined the peaceful protest.

However, the state Director of NYSC, Mr. Tunde Baba-Ahmed, appealed to the state government to redeem its pledge that the money would be paid into their accounts.

Mimiko yet to indicate interest for 2nd term — LP chairman

BY DAYO JOHNSON

KURE—CHAIR MAN of Labour Party, LP, in Ondo State, Chief Olu Ogidan, yesterday, said Governor Olusegun Mimiko was yet to officially signify his intension to contest for a second term.

Various interest groups within and outside the state had inundated the party secretariat with calls, especially from 18 council areas of the state for him to continue in of-

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fice.

This came as Ogidan said the party would provide a level playing ground for aspirants interested in contesting the governorship primaries with Mimiko.

INEC fixed the election for October 20 this year.

Only one of the chieftains of the party from Igbotako in Okitipupa council areas of the state, Chief Francis Ogunjumelo, signified interest to contest the primaries with the incumbent governor.

where he was rushed to.

The ensuing commotion paralysed commercial activities in the state capital for several hours as shop owners hurriedly closed down and residents scampered for safety.

It was gathered that the robbers stormed the bank located on the busy Gbongan/Ibadan road, between 12 noon and 1p.m. but failed to penetrate the bank due to efforts of the security agencies in the area and those attached to the bank.

SSS grill Ogun ACN members over attack on lawmaker

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

B E O K U TA — O P ERATIVES of State Security Service, SSS, yesterday, interrogated some members of Action Congress of Nigeria, A CN, believed to be loyalists of former governor of Ogun State a n d leader of the party, Chief Olusegun Osoba, over their role in the crisis rocking the party ahead of the July 21 local government election.

A chairmanship aspirant, Moshood Akinyele,

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popularly called “Americo” and other party chieftains were reportedly drilled over Tuesday ’s attack on a member of the state House of Assembly, Victor Fasanya, representing Abeokuta South 1, Constituency at the residence of Osoba during a protest.

Vanguard learnt that Akinyele, who is contesting for the chairmanship of Abeokuta South Local Government and believed to be a candidate of Osoba, was subjected to serious interrogation by SSS operatives over his role in the crisis.

LG poll: OGSIEC accepts 2 lists from PDP factions

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA—OGUN State Independent Electoral Commission, OGSIEC, yesterday, said it was confused over the lingering crisis rocking the Peoples' Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, saying it had accepted two lists of candidates from the factions for the July 21, local government election.

This came as a factional chairman of the party, Adebayo Dayo, faulted the decision by OGSIEC to accept two lists from factions and insisted that his was the authentic leadership of Ogun PDP. At a briefing, during the screening of councillorship candidates at its office in Abeokuta, one OGSIEC commissioner, Mutiu Agboke, said the commission had no choice but to accept the candidates lists from the two factions of PDP, pending the ruling of the court.

However, speaking

through its counsel, Edward Ayo-Odegbesan, the party argued that its constitution empowered the national organ to determine who represent the party in any election.

However, the state executive committee of the party, argued through its counsel, Ajibola Oluyede, that the case had been adjudicated upon at a Lagos High Court in a suit No. FHC/ 347/2012.

Meantime, factional Chairman of the party, Adebayo Dayo, faulted the decision by OGSIEC to accept two lists from factions and insisted that his was the authentic leadership of Ogun PDP. In a statement by Mr Segun Showunmi, Director of Organisation, it said “whereas, there are extant court judgments that have made clear and unambiguous pronouncements that the Adebayo Dayo Executive is the only PDP executive in Ogun State and as such reserve the sole responsibility to conduct the affairs of Ogun PDP.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012—11

Bayelsa releases N6bn for road projects

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA E N A G O A — BAYELSA State Government has promised to resuscitate the abandoned three senatorial roads with the release of N6 billion to three construction firms for the speedy completion of the projects, with a view to fast tracking development in the hinterland.

Presenting the cheques at Government House, Yanagoa, Governor Seriake Dickson urged the

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VISIT: His Royal Majesty,Omo N'oba N'edo, Erediauwa,Oba of Benin (left); Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, Etsu Nupe (2nd left); Professor Cordelia Agbebaku, Acting Vice Chancellor, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma during Etsu Nupe's visit to the Benin monarch, yesterday. Photo: Barnabas Uzosike.

Pastor, 2 others jailed 60 yrs in Delta for kidnapping

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA SABA—A pastor and two other persons, were, yesterday, sentenced to 20 years imprisonment each by a Delta State High Court for kidnapping and demanding N20 million ransom.

Jailed were one Ifeanyi Obiakpani, an uncle to the victim, who allegedly masterminded the kidnap, Peter Okafor, said to be a pastor and one Christian Eze. Prosecution told the court that the accused persons had on December 21, 2009 kidnapped Anthony Ogbolumani.

It added that Obiakpani, Okafor and Eze on or about December 21, 2009 at Umuagu in Asaba, within the Asaba Judicial Division with intent to steal, demanded N20 million from Osadebay Obianuju, threatening to

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kill Ogbolumani, if the said demand was not complied with.

Trial judge, Justice T. Diai, in her judgment, found the three accused

persons guilty and convicted them to seven years imprisonment each for conspiracy to kidnap, 10 years imprisonment each for kidnapping and three years imprisonment each for demanding N20 million as ransom .The sentences are to

Guber polls: N-Delta youths 'll resist rigging in Edo —Asari Dokubo

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN CITY— AHEAD the July 14, governorship election in Edo State, the Niger Delta Peoples Salvation Front, NDPSF, led by Alhaji Asari Dokubo, has warned that Niger Delta youths will resist any attempt to rig the election.

Dokubo reminded President Goodluck Jonathan that he is a son of the South-South, therefore he must stop members of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party,

PDP, from causing crisis capable of truncating peace in the region.

Thousands of NDPSF youths carried placards, most of them warning the Federal Government and PDP against rigging the forthcoming election.

Dokubo, who was represented by Rex Anikoro, noted that June 12 represented sovereignty of the people, particularly in Edo State, asserting that “ never again will rigging determine who rules Edo State."

He said: “We have

Commissioner seeks support for FG's pipeline to Ikot Abasi to feed the power agenda Power Plant with gas.

YO—AKWA Ibom State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, has called for support for the Federal Government programme aimed at attaining efficient power supply for the citizenry.

Umanah made the appeal at a one-day public enlightenment forum organised by the National Orientation Agency in collaboration with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission,

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run concurrently.

Before handing down the judgment, the court noted that prosecution had convinced the court that the ingredients of the offence in the three-count charge were proved beyond all reasonable doubt.

NERC, to sensitize the public to understand the Electricity Multi Year Tariff Order, MYTO, in Uyo. The commissioner who was represented by his Director of Technical Services, Mr. Inyang Jameson, said that Governor Godswill Akpabio’s administration has demonstrated its support for Federal Government power programme by completing the Ibom Independent Power Plant at Ikot Abasi.

Hesaidtheplantwascurrently generating power while a gas processing plant has been built at Esit Eket with a 69 kilometre

been monitoring the activities of PDP, they have been boasting that they will win by all means. But we want to sound a note of warning that we, Niger Delta youths, will resist any form of rigging. June 12 helped in sanitising our system, though some of those who were part of the annulment are today still rigging elections in different parts of the countr y. We are free people today and with what Oshiomhole has done so far in Edo state, we don’t see the PDP candidate scoring even ¼ of the votes and that is why they want to rig by all means.”

construction firms, to ensure they deliver quality job, taking into cognisance specification and concept of the road projects.

He said the presentation of the cheques marked the commencement of infrastructural development of the state and provision of critical facilities that would aid socio-economic growth and open up the far

Don faults 70 retirement age news letter, said pegging for lecturers

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT— A university don, Professor Sylvanus Udoidem, has faulted the recent law, which placed the retirement age of university lecturers at 70.

Prof Udoidem, of Philosophy Department, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, said lecturers should retire at 65, so that they can productively engage themselves in other areas on leaving the universities.

Udoidem, in the University of Port Harcourt

ENIN—EDO State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has called on Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to exercise its rights, independence and authority under the 1999 Constitution, by enlisting to be used as ad hoc staff, any demographic it believed

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can achieve the best result during the July 14 governorship election in the state.

State Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Matthew Urhoghide in a statement in Benin, yesterday, also chided the leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, over what he described as its impartiality in Edo state politics.

He said that INEC

the retirement age at 70 was not necessary.

He said: “I have reservations about the new law, looking at it from the stand point of the welfare of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU members. How many of the professors live up to 70? The other clause that says you have to be a professor for 20 years in order to retire with full benefit is alsoworrisome.Howmanyofour Professors make it at 50? At the end of the day, the 70 years age limitforretirementdoesnotmake sense. People should retire at 65, so that they can have some time to live a quality life of their own.”

COAS promises to transform Army

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU ALABAR—CHIEF of Army Staff, LtGeneral Onyeabo Ihejirika, has pledged to transform the Nigerian Army to make it battle-ready to tackle security challenges in the country.

Gen. Ihejirika at the commissioning of the renovated 13 Brigade Garrison Office building in Calabar, Cross River State, said one of the ways this could be achieved was by creating a conducive environment for their operations.

Represented by the General Officer Commanding, GOC, 82 Division, Enugu, MajorGeneral Oluwaseun

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Allow INEC work, Edo PDP tells ACN, NLC

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

flung communities in the state.

A breakdown of the funds releasedshowsthatN2billionwas for the construction of YenagoaOporoma Road by Julius Berger, representing the Central Senatorial road project; N2.5 billion for the construction of Sagbama-Ekeremor Road in the West Senatorial district road to SetracoandN1.5billiontoChina Construction Company for the execution of Etegwe –Tombia Road.

must muster enough resolve to ignore the selfish call from the state government and do what was needed to make the election process work, as it had sworn to perfect.

He also called on Edo State Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN and NLC to allow INEC conduct Edo election as it deems fit, as it had done elsewhere in the country.

Oshinowo, Ihejirika said the old structures that used as the garrison office built by the colonial masters should be refurbished as it was a heritage of the country’s history.

Philanthropist donates books to primary schools in Delta

BY FESTUS AHON GHELLI—A prominent indigene of Ekuigbo-Ughelli community, UghelliNorthLocalGovernment Area of Delta State, Mr Kosin Voke, has donated 100 dozens of notebookstoEkuigboandEnene primaryschools.

At the presentation, Voke said he was committed to the educational, industrial and economic transformation of the communities, adding that it was imperative to give the pupils sound education.

Noting that he was out to emulate Chief Fred Majemite, a political leader in the area, who he said had contributed immensely to the development of the community, insisting that education was the basic foundation of life.

Receiving the books on behalf of the schools, Head Teacher, Ekuigbo Primary School I, Mr. Isaac Okobe, thanked Voke for the donation noting that it would go a long a way in assisting the pupils in their educational pursuits.

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12—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

Delta State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Bernard Okumagba (left) and Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chike Ogeah, at a briefing in Asaba, Wednesday.

From left: Mrs Susan Riksson, Chairman of occasion; Mrs. Olufunke FowlerAmba, Director of the College; Mrs. Shade Taiwo and Mrs. Anthonia Maduekwe, at the Vivian Fowler Memorial College's sixth annual Mathematics, Art & Essay competition prize-giving day in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Biodun Ogunleye.

Kidnapping: Uduaghan, Delta lawmakers worry over release of CSP Dickson

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA S A B A — D E LTA State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, yesterday, expressed worry over the release of the former leader of the anti-kidnapping unit of the state police command, Mr. Dickson Adeyemi, and four others, who were allegedly fingered in the spate of kidnappings in the state.

The governor, who spoke when the Acting Inspector General of Police, IG, Mr Mohammed Abubakar visited the state and took delivery of some patrol vehicles donated by the state government for improved policing, expressed concern over the release of the suspects, saying that release of the suspects coincided with the resurgence of kidnapping in the state, a situation, he said was causing ripples in the state.

He said: “The people of Delta State want me to send a message to you on recent happenings in the state and even the

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state House of Assembly deliberated on it. Few days ago, some persons, your police officers, suspected to be involved in kidnapping, who were earlier apprehended, were released.

“What is bothering us is that their release coincided with the recent upsurge in kidnap cases in the state. We want you (IG) to have a second look at that issue.”

Mr Abubakar in his response to a question on the release of the said

police officers, during a stakeholders’s meeting at Government House press centre Asaba, said: “You are talking about the officer being investigated. I haven’t forgotten. You said investigation.

“You see what you should understand, Deltans didn’t complain to me. As Inspector General of Police, I have a responsibility to this country. When I realised what was happening in Delta, I was worried be-

cause I have a lot of brothers and sisters in this state.

“So it was I, who initiated that investigation, so if you tell me Deltans are worried, they didn’t complain to me. Because of what you said, you saw the action we took.

“The officers had been transferred out of the command because we want to do justice. But the proviso there is, I cannot sanction or prosecute anybody without preponderance of evidence.”

Clark lauds FG over plans to reverse DSC privatisation

BY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI—ELDER statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, yesterday, applauded moves by the Federal Government to reverse the privatization of Delta Steel Company, Ovwian-Aladja, Delta State, through the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, to save the company from

liquidation.

He also called for the trial of Mallam Farouk Lawan and others alleged to be involved in the $3 million bribery scam over the probe panel of the House of Representatives Committee on petroleum subsidy regime.

He said: “I admired him (Lawam) more than any legislator in the House of Representatives. He said there was pressure on him from some persons, who wanted to corrupt him and I felt he was one man, who could resist bribe, only for us to hear again that he was alleged to have demanded $3 million to remove the names of the companies of Chief Otedola.”

Clark who spoke in his country home in Kiagbodo, Delta State, on fresh development at the steel company, decried that the firm was heading for collapse, adding that the takeover of DSC from the Indians and their Nigerian counterparts was a patriotic

move on the part of the Federal Government to revamp the firm.

He said Deltans had helplessly watched how the steel company was “raped and bastardised under the guise of privatization,” lamenting “those well placed to speak against the glaring carnage turned the other way."

“We had spoken several times in the past, that this core investor could not be entrusted with such strategic asset and with his antecedent, DSC was bounded for imminent collapse.

“We were called names but now we have been proven right and it is on this note that I as an elder statesman, who had been involved in the progress of this company was filled with joy when AMCON saw the need to stop this carnage in DSC, which unfortunately was being perpetrated in the full glare of all of us,” he said.

Kidnappers of Uduaghan's cousin demand N50m ransom

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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S A B A — SUSPECTED kidnappers of a cousin to Delta State Governor, Pa Sam Uduaghan, have asked for N50 million ransom.

State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Charles Muka, told Vanguard, yesterday, “they (kidnappers) said they are demanding N50 million ransom. But we are on their trail. We are seriously on them. I can assure you, we are on top

of it.”

Pa Uduaghan, 70 years old was abducted from his Direct Labour Street, residence in Asaba on Wednesday, daring the heavy security presence of police in Asaba, as a result of visit of the Acting Inspector General of Police, IG, Mohammed Abubakar.

Governor Uduaghan had disagreed with the IG on the total ban of road blocks as kidnappers have easy passage in and out of the state.

Fuel scarcity bites harder in Port Harcourt

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT— FUEL scarcity continued, yesterday, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as several filling stations visited remained shut.

At press time, black marketers sold four litres of petrol for N700 while 20 litres went for N5, 000.

Commercial bus drivers and taxis also hiked their charges. From Mile One market to Abonnema Wharf, which was N50 rose to N100.

Motorists who spoke to

Vanguard, complained bitterly about the situation.

They pleaded with the state government to do everything posible to resolve the situation.

Meantime, petrol tanker drivers at Abonnema Wharf area blamed the state government for the ugly situation. They said an agent of the government came to burst tyres of no fewer than 15 tankers over traffic related issues.

Government officials contacted were not ready to comment on the issue.

Ewohimi residents back Oshiomhole's 2nd term bid

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN CITY—THE people of Ewohimi in Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State, where Clara, the late wife of Governor Adams Oshiomhole hails from, have expressed support for the second tenure bid of the governor.

The Onogie of Ewohimi, Lord Peter Ogienenefoh Usifoh II, and Secretary,

Ewohimi Community Development Association, ECDA, J. A. Ikekhide declared the support of the community, yesterday, during Oshiomhole’s campaign visit to Ewohimi.

The Ewohimi traditional ruler said Oshiomhole was bestriding the state like a colossus in terms ofdevelopment,pointingoutthat the governor had set precedence in the state that would be difficult for successive administration in the state to rival.

Vanguard , FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012—13

MEETING—From left: Minister of Education, Prof. Ruquyyatu Ahmed Rufa’I; Govs Peter Obi of Anambra; Martin Elechi of Ebonyi and Sullivan Chime of Enugu, during a meeting with the minister in Abuja.

VISIT—Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State addressing the people of Umuopara, when they paid him a solidarity visit at the Government House, Umuahia.

2015: Either Igbo presidency or nothing, says Izuogu

BY JOSEPH ERUNKE BUJA—A CHIEFT IAN of the People Democratic Party, PDP, Dr Ezekiel Izuogu, yesterday said Ndigbo were

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tired of supporting other parts of the country to occupy the presidency of Nigeria, saying 2015 would be the time for others to support a candidate of Igbo extraction.

Dr, Izuogu said the Ig-

bos could only be convinced to be part of Nigeria when they were fully integrated through negotiated presidency, arguing that anything short of that in 2015, would undermine the

“one Nigeria” project which the country had always made people to believe.

Speaking in Abuja, at the presentation of a book titled “Ndigbo, the presidency and Nigeria power game”, Dr Izuogu said people of the South Eastern zone of the country were no longer interested in “scratching other peoples back without having their own scratched”.

“We cannot continue to scratch other people’s back. We have always been there for other people to have their way into the presidency of the countr y. This time around, we want these people to show that warm solidarity to us, the Ndigbo in our quest to occupy the presidency”, he insisted.

But he regretted that there was a problem of unity in the South East, saying the dream of occupying the presidency could only be realised if the easterners unite, work together towards supporting a single candidate.

In his remark, the author of the book, Dr Ifeanyichukwu Udibe, said the philosophy behind the book was to “reinstate the dignity of the Igbo nation and the battered psychology of the Igbo people in the quest for the presidency of Nigeria”.

“It is an attempt to lay the foundation for Igbo to have the courage to ask boldly for his or her constitutional rights without fear of victimization in the Nigerian project or fear of total exclusion in the power circles controlled by the North, the South and now, the South South," Udibe said.

Mother abandons 6-monthold baby

BY CHINENYEH OZOR SUKKA—A SIX months’ old baby girl has been abandoned by one Miss Chinaza Nnaji, to a widow, Mrs Felicia Umeugochukwu at Opi community, Nsukka Local Government Area, Enugu State.

Umeugochukwu, is currently blaming herself for acting as a good Samaritan by accepting to assist the single mother, Miss Nnaji and her baby.

Speaking with Vanguard, Mrs Umeugochukwu, said Chinaza surprised her by abandoning her six months’ baby girl and absconded to an unknown destination.

She claimed the single mother was chased out of

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her home at Neke in Isi-uzo LGA by her biological father for having a baby out of wed luck Mrs Umeugochukwu alleged that besides abandoning her baby, the single mother also stole her N63, 000 and that she had reported the matter to Nsukka Urban police division who assisted her to trace Chinaza’s home at Neke, Isi-Uzo L.G.A. According to her, her ordeal started when she accepted her daughter’s plea to house Chinaza and her daughter. She said Amarachi Umeugochukwu, her daughter, “operates a prayer ministry, Mater Miscoudia at Onitsha, Anambra State. where she housed the single mother and her baby since she was chased out of their home.”

Okorocha condemns families' co-operation with kidnappers

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

WERRI—IMO State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, has expressed reservations over the way relations of kidnap victims play along with kidnappers instead of security agencies.

Okorocha made his feelings known while fielding questions from newsmen over a number of issues, including insecurity in the state.

“We are doing a lot to secure life and property in the state. The sad thing is that our people prefer to play along with the criminals instead of security agencies.

We can’t achieve our desired goals if this trend continues”, Okorocha reasoned.

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The governor lamented that even when these common criminals were arrested and taken to court; people would decline to testify for fear of their lives.

“The truth is that when witnesses fail to testify, the presiding judge would be left with no other option than to throw out the matter for lack of credible prosecution and the criminal returns to the street”, the governor lamented.

While saying that organisations like Amnesty International would be among the first to shout if due process was not followed in dealing with the crime, Okorocha however assured the citizenry that government and the security agencies had reshaped and reinvigorated their operational plans.

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14—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 20125

Obi appoints 4 journalists as LG caretaker members

Enugu House asks govt to probe community invasion, killings

BY TONY EDIKE NUGU—THE Enugu State House of Assembly, yesterday, passed a resolution urging the state government to set up a panel of inquiry to look into the recent attack on Iga community in Uzo-Uwani local government area by yet-tobe-identified soldiers where one Oyibo Obiora was k i l l e d .

The lawmakers also in another motion urged Governor Sullivan Chime to reconstitute and appoint personnel to handle the administration of the Local Government Development centres in line with the Enugu State law which created the centres.

In a unanimous resolution

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of the House following a motion sponsored by John Ukuta representing UzoUwani constituency, the assembly condemned the attack on the community and requested the General Officer Commanding, GOC, 82 Division of the Nigeria Army, Enugu, to fish out the soldiers alleged to have been involved in the attack for prosecution.

Ukuta who described the June 8 attack as a “brutal show of force”, narrated how a group of soldiers accompanied by some members of vigilante group from Umueje, a neighbouring community in Ayamelum Local Government Area of Anambra State, attacked the community without p r o v o c a t i o n .

BY ENYIM ENYIM

O BOOK LAUNCH—From right: Representative of Abia State Governor, Mao Nwabuwa, Prof. Jerry Gana, Senator Ben Obi, Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, Author of the Book, Emeka Nwosu and Sarkin Karshi, HRH Ismaila Mohammed during a book launch in Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan.

...urges Chime to reconstitute 57 LCDAs NUGU State House of Assembly has adopted a motion urging Governor Sullivan Chime to reconstitute the 57 development area committees in the state’s local government system.

The lawmakers also directed the commissioner for local government to follow up the motion to ensure its implementation.

The motion, sponsored by Dr Emeka Ogbuabor (PDPIsi-Uzo), and co-sponsored by 19 other legislators, noted that the law establishing development centers demanded that the tenure of local government chairmen run alongside that of the

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committees.

Ogbuabor said the committees had in the past executed the roles assigned to them effectively.

“They helped the state to identify priority projects and encouraged various interest groups to execute viable programmes that contributed to the transformation of their localities. It is a veritable platform for leadership training, a spring board for breeding new council chairmen, and for politically empowering 399 persons as development committee members,” he said.

Edo guber: Group accuses PDP of using public funds for campaign INI Truth Movement 2012, has accused the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, of deploring public funds into its political campaigns and nursing ulterior motives in the compilation of 48 members as national campaign team for the July 14 governorship election with the Vice-President Namadi Sambo as Chairman.

The group, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Edosa Efosa-Osazuwa said, “The PDP has failed Nigerians again. That the Federal Government would deplore tax payers money to campaign in Edo

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State is another jamboree that our collective patrimony would be deplored into.

This gross wastage of our common wealth is worrisome because, we do not understand what they would come and tell Edo people; possibly on how to divert public funds.

The composition is not only suspicious but distrustful. The question one should ask is that, how many of them are for other duties and assignment?

There is more to it than meet the eyes. So, all these people will leave their work to focus on Edo State campaign?

BRIEFING—From left: Michael Ekunke, Copyright Offcer 11, Enforcement; Uwem Udoh, Web Developer; Augustine Amodu, Deputy Director, Enforcement and Tony Ojini, Copyright Officer 11, Enforcement during a briefing on software audit carried out on Jide Taiwo & Co Estate Firm in Lagos.

NITSHA—GOVER NOR Peter Obi of Anambra State has appointed four journalists into the newly reconstituted t r a n s 2 i t i o n caretaker committee members for the 21 local government areas.

The journalists are the editor-in-chief of FIDES newspaper, Mr Jude Atupulazi, Emeka Odogwu, The Nation newspaper, Tony Okafor of the Compass newspaper and Chuks Ilozue of Daily Independent newspapers.

Among the appointed 21 transition chairmen, was an immediate past member of the state House of Assembly, Mr Egoyibo Okoye.

Announcing the names of the members of the committee , the Speaker, Anambra State House of Assembly, Princess Chinwe Nwaebili urged the chairmen to carry their members along, warning that the House would not hesitate to sack any of them who failed to comply with the directive.

Lecturer, 27 students to appear before Imo varsity disciplinary c'ttee Over conduct of exams on public holiday WERRI—A LEC TURER in the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, HTM, Imo State University, IMSU, Dr Eugene Ukabuilu and 27 students of the institution are to appear before the Senate Disciplinary Committee of the university for alleged misconduct.

Ukabuilu, a Senior Lecturer, allegedly conducted HTM 435 examination on Democracy Day, in violation of the examination timetable.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof.

Bright Nwoke, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, yesterday that the examination was conducted without school accredited supervisors.

He described the examination as illegal since it was conducted in violation of the school examination timetable.

The vice-chancellor said the management of the institution had earlier decided on massive examination supervision and wondered why any lecturer could de-

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cide to conduct an examination on a national public holiday.

He told NAN that school management had nullified the examination, adding that fresh date would be communicated to the affected students.

When NAN approached the lecturer for his com-

ments, he declined to speak.

In a related development, 27 students of IMSU will appear before the Senate Disciplinary Committee over examination malpractice.

The vice-chancellor said students found guilty by the committee would be rus-

ticated.

He said the school had warned against examination malpractices, stressing that such acts had destroyed the academic system in Nigeria.

He reassured of his commitment to sanitise the academic community in the university.

Chime hails establishment of flight training school in Enugu

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NUGU—GOVERNOR Sullivan Chime of Enugu State has expressed delight at the establishment of an international helicopter flight training school in Enugu by the Nigerian Air Force, saying it would cement the city’s growing reputation as a conducive base for many important institut i o n s .

Chime who spoke while receiving the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshall Mohammed Dikko Umar at the Government House, also commended the Force

for the role that its officers were playing in ensuring security in the state.

He said the establishment of the Helicopter school was timely, especially now that the state was in the processing of reasserting itself, saying that it would add to the immense benefits that the citizens had been enjoying from the partnership and cooperation of the Nigerian Air F o r c e .

Congratulating Umar on his appointment, Chime promised to offer full

support to the force on its projects in the state, especially in the area of acquisition of land for the establishment of a permanent base for its ope r a t i o n s .

Earlier, Air Marshal Umar, who came with other senior officials of the Force, commended the governor for the immense contributions his government continued to make towards a better living and working conditions for personnel of the Air Force in the state.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2012—15

EFCC prosecutes man over alleged N25m fraud

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI BUJA—ECONOMIC and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, docked an alleged fraudster, Ikenna Okoro, before an Abuja High Court sitting at Maitama on allegation that he duped one Dr. (Mrs) Adah Okwuosa to the tune of N25 million.

The anti-graft agency alleged that on or about April 2009 in Abuja, the

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accused person, being entrusted with the money as a broker/agent, did dishonestly misappropriate and converted it to his own use and thereby committed an offense punishable under section 315 of the Penal Code, Cap .532 Laws of the Federal republic of Nigeria (Abuja) 1990.

EFCC equally told the trial court that on or about September 4, 2009, the accused person issued an Oceanic Bank

Plc cheque number 26009465 in N25 million, to Dr (Mrs) Okwuosa, alleging that the said cheque was dishonoured upon presentation for reasons of insufficient fund.

The prosecution said the action amounted to an offence contrary to section 1(1)(b) of dishonoured cheques (offences) Act, CAP.D11 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under section 1(1)(i)

of the same Act. Meanwhile, the accused person, yesterday, pleaded not guilty to the allegation, even as he pleaded the trial court to grant him on bail.

Moving the bail application, yesterday, the defence counsel, Mr. Reuben Okoro, insisted that the allegation against his client was a bailable offence.

Though the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Adekunle Aderinto, op-

posed the bail application on the premise that the accused ought to have filed a formal motion rather than making oral request, trial Justice I. M Bukar, granted the accused person bail in the sum of N500,000, saying he should produce a civil servant who owns a landed property in Abuja to stand as his surety.

Hearing on the substantive case has been adjourned to July 23.

CONDOLENCE: Prof. Viola Onwuliri, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (left), and Mrs Ngozi Nwankwo, President, Council of Nigerian Women in the Diaspora, during a condolence visit to the Minister over the loss of her husband, Prof. Celestine Onwuliri, in the Dana plane crash.

FCT records 90% polio eradication, immunisation

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

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BUJA—FEDERAL Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, has said it achieved 90 percent coverage of polio eradication and routine immunisation exercise.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Sen. Bala

Mohammed said this, yesterday, at the inauguration of FCT Task force on polio eradication and routine immunisation exercise at Life Camp, Abuja.

Bala said the move was to re-enforce the measures aimed at eradicating poliomyelitis in the FCT. He said: “Indeed, it is gratifying to state that we

have achieved 90 percent coverage of polio eradication and routine immunisa-

tion in the FCT.” Members are chairmen of the six area councils, tradi-

tional and religious leaders, with the FCT Minister of State as Chairperson.

Ochei makes case for equitable distribution of resources ing a paper, entitled Mini- and find ways of harnessPEAKER of Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, has identified inequitable distribution of resources as a major obstacle to the effective implementation of the minimum wage structure in the country.

The Speaker, who made the assertion while deliver-

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mum Wage and the Enhancement of Productivity in the Public Service at the 2012 University of Ibadan alumni association annual distinguished public service lecture in Asaba, also called for the upward review of the present revenue sharing formula.

He called on state governments to look inward

ing the copious human and natural resources, which every state is endowed with.

Ochei also recommended cutting down basic running cost and checkmating corruption, factors that have continually imposed negatively on their finances.

The legislator equally counselled civil servants to embrace a more positive and proactive approach to service.

Women group calls for investigation into Dana crash non-governmental group, Council of Nigerian Women in the Diaspora, CNWD, has called on the Federal Government to prosecute all those found culpable in the recent Dana air crash that killed over 153 persons in Lagos.

CNWD also implored the Federal Government to make the report that led to crash public after investigation.

President of the group, Mrs. Ngozi Nwankwo, stated this when she led a delegation to sympathise with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Prof.

Viola Onwuliri, over the loss of her husband in the ill-fated aircraft.

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FERMA provides parking lots for trailers across 7 states

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU EDERAL Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, has provided parking lots for trailers and tanker drivers in seven states across the nation as the agency has paved the shoulders of Abuja-Kaduna Road for brief parking of trailers and tanker without obstructing traffic flow.

Mr. Gabriel Amuchi, Managing Director of FERMA, disclosed this to Vanguard during an inspection of the progress of work done on the Abuja-Kaduna road, particularly Tafa town axis of that highway, where the long vehicles used to park.

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16—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

Human trafficking: NAPTIP nabs woman with 35 children

Sheathe your swords, Borno elders appeal to Boko Haram

BY NADAHI MARAMA

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AIDUGURI—AN Elder statesman and former Minister of Petroleum, Dr. Shettima Monguno, has said the type of government being practised in the country was not democracy but “democorruption,” as according to him, the present administration was doing nothing to tackle the high level of corruption in the country.

Mungono spoke at his residence, yesterday, where he led a delegation of Borno elders in appealing to the Jamatul ahlis Sunnah lid Daawa wal Jihad, popularly known as Boko Haram, to lay down their arms and embrace dialogue for the sake of the people of the state.

He said: “On behalf of the Borno Elders Forum, BEF, we appeal to members of the Jamatul Ahlis Sunnah lid Daawa wal jihad to consider the hardship people are going through as a result of the ongoing insurgency and lay down their arms for peace to come back to Maiduguri and its environs.

“God has ordained us to stay together and those trying to divide the country are doing so to achieve their selfish interest. We should be more patriotic and work together towards achieving peace; government also should do justice to the people.

“We have to speak out on behalf of our people to call the warring parties to cease fire and give peace a chance in the interest of the generality of the people.”

BY ABDALLAH EL-KUREBE

S SERVICE: From left— Chief Emeka Wogu, Minister of Labour and Productivity; Prof. Amos Utuama, Delta State Deputy Governor, and his wife, Dr. Nelly, during the service of songs in honour of late Pa Wilson Enaregha, father in-law of the minister in Warri.

APGA ready for alliance with ACN, CPC— Scribe As North-West zone condemns South-East meeting

BY LUKA BINNIYAT ADUNA—All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, yesterday, said it was ready to team up with both Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, ahead of 2015 general elections, if such invitation was extended to it.

APGA also condemned last week’s South-East stakeholders’ meeting of the party in the house of late Chief Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu in Nnewi, Anambra State, saying the meeting had portrayed APGA as a sectional and tribal party.

APGA’s National Secretary, Alhaji Sani Shinkafi,

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made this known in Kaduna at the end of an emergency meeting of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the 19 Northern states.

He said: “We are ready to go into an alliance with any progressive party if only to defeat Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the election. APGA is a progressive party; by its mere name alone. So we are not afraid of joining alliance with other progressive, but not a merger.

“We have not been invited yet. We are all for any positive move that would remove the inept regime of PDP. We had adopted Goodluck Jonathan in the last presidential elections, but now we are very disappointed be-

cause he has not been able to improve on the living conditions of Nigerians.

“I want to assure you, as the National Secretary of APGA, that we are coming out with a presidential candidate for 2015, whether we have an alliance or not.

“We will join Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) and Chief Ahmed Tinubu to defeat PDP in a credible election come 2015 if we are invited into an alliance.”

In a communiqué read by the National Vice Chairman, North-West Zone of APGA, Mr. Mohammed Miadoya, the party “noted with satisfaction the great achievements recorded by the current national leader-

ship of APGA, led by Chief Victor Umeh as National Chairman and Alhaji Sani Shinkafi as National Secretary.

“The party expressed shock that a purported South-East stakeholders’ meeting of our party called outside the provisions of the constitution, purportedly issued directives to the National Executive Committee, NEC, of our party.

“The manner of that action tried to portray APGA as a South-East party rather than the national party that it is. We condemn that action and advise that decisions for the party should be made by the organs of the party recognised by the party constitution.”

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

OKOTO—OFFICERS and men from the Sokoto zonal office of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons, NAPTIP, have nabbed a 45year-old woman (names withheld) with 35 children in Zamfara State.

The woman, said to be operating between Kano, Kaduna, Zamfara, among other areas, was apprehended by Zamfara NAPTIP, along with the 35 children, all girls between the ages of six and 16.

Sokoto zonal Head of NAPTIP, Mr. Stephen Naduku, who spoke through his deputy, Mr. Emmanuel Oloja, disclosed that the woman was initially arrested with seven under-aged girls, adding that further investigations led to the discovery of additional 28 girls.

He further said that the suspect had made useful statement and would be charged to court as soon as investigations were completed.

Naduku said the victims had been reunited with their parents through the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero.

He called on the general public to give NAPTIP useful information that could lead to the arrest of persons involved in child trafficking and other related issues.

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

On Dana aircraft crash

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AY God grant the nation the fortitude to bear the loss. The wanton destruction of lives, bombing of public institutions, worship places and the continual killing of innocent citizens pose great threat to our desired national growth and development.—Bishop Lawrence Osagie.

heard the plane was faulty before it took off. I hope it does not turn out like other plane crashes that happened in the past and nobody heard anything about the cause of the crash. This one might just be forgotten after all these noises.—Mr. Leonard Eneh, Shoe Dealer.

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T is obvious that lack of maintenance and respect for the sanctity of human lives led to the crash. They knew the plane’s engine was faulty but still allowed it to fly, carrying human beings. God help us.— Mr. Yakubu Vicson, Businessman.

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have been to the site.

It is a horrible thing.

One thing I know in Nigeria is that when such does not happen, the authorities will not do what they were supposed to do in the first place.

Our government is not really protecting the citizens.—Mr. Edokobi Chinedu, Engineer.

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T is an accident like any other accident, no matter what the cause may be. Accidents can happen anywhere and at anytime. However, I sympathise with all the family of the victims and may the souls of the dead rest in peace.—Mr. Casmir Nwamba, Businessman.

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T was said that the pilot complained of not feeling fine before he was allowed to fly the plane. Well, nobody knows how true that is until they tell what their finding is from the black box. The Dana plane is a pathetic one.—Ms. Daniella Ogbonnaya, Student.

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012 — 17

Sweet & SOUR

Donu Kogbara

Lamentations of an aircraft

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FRIEND sent me this woeful, whimsical little piece in which it is imagined what the plane that recently crashed might have said if it could speak for itself: My name is MD 83. I was manufactured in 1990 and acquired by Alaskan Airlines.

For 12 years I served my masters with might and strength and made them smile all the way to their banks. Until November 4, 2002 when I

A Dana aircraft...suspended after the crash in Lagos

developed engine faults and had to make an emergency diversion due to smoke in my cabin.

Passengers

,

This is an extremely difficult and painful situation that needs to be handled intelligently and sensitively by the executives and officials who either ran the airline company or were responsible for ensuring that it fulfilled international safety requirements

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disembarked alive. On August 20, 2006, I was again evacuated after landing at the Long Beach, California. Again, due to smoke in my cabin.

Passengers disembarked alive.

Concerned about my air worthiness, Alaskan Airlines parked me until September 11, 2008, for repairs. And shifted my burdens to Dana Air, Nigeria in February, 2009.

On arrival on the tropical shores of Africa, I hid not my state of health. On May 3, 2012, a Lagos station manager said

I should be grounded for a check-up. That alarm was ignored. On May 11, 2012, I made an air return and emergency landing at MMA2.

Passengers disembarked alive.

On May 25, 2012, I again made an air return and emergency landing due to engine failure. Passengers disembarked alive. And finally on June 3, 2012, I crashed in Iju, five to six nautical miles from touch down, killing all 153 passengers on board and 30 people on ground.

and US, I have just returned to Nigeria. My entry point into this ailing country which could be great but is nowhere near great, thanks to lamentably lousy leadership was Port Harcourt; and I still can’t get over what a disgraceful joke Port Harcourt Airport is.

Port Harcourt is the capital of a Nigerian oil industry that generates considerable wealth; and its airport should be a sophisticated, sparkling state-of-the-art international transport hub; but it is distressingly filthy and looks like a disorganised local market or dreary provincial bus station that hasn’t had any contact with petrodollars or the modern delights of the 2lst century!

When I left Nigeria just after Easter, I was told that this airport was a mess because it was being renovated. When I came home several weeks later, nothing had changed. It still has an extremely unattractive appearance and ambiance.

Why does it take so long for relatively simple projects and

improvements to be implemented or concluded in Nigeria?

One can only hope that Princess Stella Oduah, the Minister of Aviation, will ginger up pronto, imagine what foreigners who land in Port Harcourt must think of us and get this long overdue job over and done with excellently and in the nearest future because I am tired of being embarrassed and inconvenienced by low standards and primitive chaos.

Foreigners come here and pretend to kow-tow to our VIPs because they want to make big bucks from juicy contracts. But quite a few have been honest enough to tell me privately what they REALLY feel.

And I think it is fair to say that the majority do not hold us in high esteem. They simply don’t understand why we insist on getting it wrong.

And I keep wondering when we will start to operate in manner that will enable us to command REAL respect across the globe.

Reader reaction

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AST week, I complained very bitterly about Nigeria’s multiple shortcomings and asked a series of questions such as: “Why can’t we get our acts together and pull together to build a nation in which life is truly valued and planes do not fall out of the sky with alarming regularity?” and “Why oh why am I sitting in London absolutely dreading my next trip to Nigeria?...”

A Vanguard reader called Remigius Emeka Maduakolam (dejudgerems21@yahoo.com ) responded as follows: Dear Donu, Regarding all those why, why, whys of yours, my answers are: Because our leaders in the three tiers of government have decided intentionally and unintentionally not to be true to themselves. They are only after the welfare of their immediate and extended families to the undoing of average Nigerians. I find this approach a sharp opposite to John Maxwell’s quotation: “You are not a leader when no one is following.”

Very shortly, this crop of selfish leaders have got to discover that some eighty percent of Nigerians, the worst hit, no longer follow their dictates, which as a result may bring about a peaceful or bloody revolution.

May God have mercy.

Now, to tell you how discouraging the attitude of our leaders is, I read in the papers that one of the eyewitnesses said that the aircraft didn’t go ablaze the moment it crashed into that building.

It waited till about 20 minutes before it went up in flames.

That had the appropriate rescue agencies responded rapidly, lives would have been saved. .

You see, it was the Nigerian factor on negligence that caused those careless deaths.

You will agree with me that we need leaders who value lives even if it is that of a mad man roaming the streets. I rest my pen.

Another aviation complaint Having spent the last couple of months in the UK

After 22 years of meritorious service, I wished my masters had listened and let me rest.

Now I have put tears in the eyes of a nation. But come to think of it, if Alaska Air considered me unfit to fly Americans, why should Dana Air consider me worthy to fly Nigerians? GOD HELP NIGERIA .

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nvestigations regarding the cause of the tragedy are ongoing and will take several months to produce reliable results. And it’s best not to jump to conclusions at this stage. But even if it turns out that the condition of the plane was not the problem, many Nigerians are absolutely convinced that it was.

Perception is often as important as reality where public opinion is concerned; and while we await the outcome of the investigation, senior Dana and Aviation Ministry personnel have one helluva public relations nightmare on their hands.

This is an extremely difficult and painful situation that needs to be handled intelligently and sensitively by the executives and officials who either ran the airline company or were responsible for ensuring that it fulfilled international safety requirements. And I for one am not impressed by their efforts to date.

Responses to: donzol2002@yahoo.co.uk or to 0802 747 6458 (texts only). PLEASE KINDLY NOTE THAT UNLESS YOU SPECIFICALLY REQUEST ANONYMITY, YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE PUBLISHED IN VANGUARD, WITH YOUR NAMES AND NUMBERS OR EMAIL ADDRESSES ATTACHED.

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012 THE 15-member Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, is clearly in a quandary over the complex situation in Mali.

On the one hand, the Captain Ahmadou Sanogo-led military junta, which seized power from President Toumani Tuore last March 22, is unwilling to comply with the one-year transitional agenda leading to a presidential election. He insists ECOWAS’ intention to send troops to Mali was unacceptable to his junta, as the new military authorities were not consulted before the decision.

On the other hand, the regional body is faced with the need to “prevent our sub-region from giving in to terrorism and trans-national criminality” as new ECOWAS Chairman, Mr Alassane Ouattara describes it. Since the army seized power in Mali the regional body refused to recognise its authority. Tuareg militants in the north capitalised on the stalemate to capture roughly two-thirds of Mali. It is planning its own country.

It is time ECOWAS chose which, between the Islamist insurrection and the military junta, is the greater evil. It will be a great regional

BY JONATHAN ASEMOTA DO State was recently in the forefront of national news as a result of several fatal incidents which occurred in the State. The first to hit the news was the death of three journalists in an accident involving the convoy of the Governor of the State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. The second was the unfortunate murder of his Principal Private Secretary, PPS, Mr. Olaitan Oyerinde, while the third was the death of one person in a protest march against the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, led by the Governor himself. These incidents have generated considerable acrimony and attracted national attention.

The two major political parties in Edo State, the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have engaged themselves in a vicious blame-game.

Without preliminary police investigation, the two sides have traded accusations of culpability in these deaths. Governor Oshiomhole and his supporters have virtually been unambiguous in their belief that elements of the PDP have a hand in these incidents.

Indeed, one of the functionaries of the Edo State Government went as far as suggesting that a national leader of the PDP might be the brain behind these deaths. The insinuation here is that the politics of the forthcoming governorship election of July 14, 2012, and the desperation of the opposition party are the underlying factors behind the blood-letting occurring in the State.

The PDP, on the other hand, has repeatedly denied involvement in any sinister plot to kill or cause mayhem in Edo State. The party has always attempted to persuade the general public to see that the Governor’s convoy accident involved a lorry owned and driven by accredited ACN members, while the death of one person in a protest march was the result of the violence unleashed by hoodlums led by

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Dangers Of A Divided Mali tragedy for Mali to be divided along religious lines, backed by force, something akin to the seizure of power by the Taliban in Afghanistan.

The security implications and the possibilities the success offers the religious bigots in Mali would be devastating for the region. It was in Taliban Afghanistan that the terror plot to hit the USA on September 11, 2001 was hatched. Afghanistan also offered training to the Al Qaeda terrorist gangs, especially the Al Shabbab of Somalia and the Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. They, in turn, trained Nigeria’s Jama’atu Ahl’is Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad.

If this Salafist group succeeds in forming a

OPINION Deaths and politics in Edo State the Governor to the INEC office in Benin City. In the same way, the party has vigorously affirmed its innocence in the murder of Oshiomhole’s PPS. There can be no doubt that the tragic incidents in the State are being used as a tool of electioneering, especially by the ACN which seems to have been taking undue advantage and rambunctiously using them to blackmail the PDP. On its own part, the PDP, apart from steadfastly denying any wrongdoing, has also advertised the view that in searching for the killers of the PPS, Oshiomhole and the ACN should look within their fold.

However, it is possible to see the incidents beyond the blinkered views of the two political parties. One other way to understand what has happened in Edo State is to see the incidents as being fortuitous and unrelated. It is plausible to argue that they are not the products of any conspiracy and, therefore, ought not to be elevated into one.

There is yet another way to look at the incidents, and that is to locate them in a larger historical context. To do so is to enter into a world of amazing possibilities. It is interesting to note that since the governorship election of April 2007, there have been several political deaths in Edo State:

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n a protest led by Gov. Oshiomhole against the results of the 2007 Governorship election, two people lost their lives.

Almost immediately after he became Governor in 2008, his Personal Assistant, Mr. Greg Aruma and his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Chris Nwachukwu, died in a motor accident.

state authority, it will offer training to more terrorists to bring the entire region under its control.

The religious insurrection, which drops no hints of allowing democratic determination of issues, in our view, is the greater evil and must be confronted with collective determination. ECOWAS should work with the military junta to clear Mali of the terrorists and organise an orderly transition to democracy.

ECOWAS cannot afford to fight the two sides at once. It stands no chance. Captain Sanogo seems determined not to be overlooked by the regional body. Continuing to confront him might lead to a situation where he would make a pact with the terrorists and hand over the country with its more than 90 per cent Muslim population to them.

The Sanogo junta should be treated like a bull in a china shop. It should be eased out with minimum damage. ECOWAS’ commitment to zero tolerance to military intervention should be applied with wisdom, especially when confronted with a problem worse than military intervention.

In the same year, a group of young girls allegedly returning from a party in Oshiomhole’s country home in Iyamho, reportedly died in an accident involving Honourable Phillip Shaibu’s official car. And more recently, in 2012, three journalists died in an accident involving Oshiomhole’s convoy. And his Principal Private Secretary was killed by unknown gunmen.

One person died in a protest march led by Governor Oshiomhole to the INEC office to protest alleged plan by the Commission and the PDP to manipulate the now suspended continuous voters registration.

It might not be totally out of place to also point out that the human rights activist, Chima Ubani, died in a fatal accident in 2005 while travelling in Oshiomhole’s official car on his way from Maiduguri. Oshiomhole’s opponents have also produced different perspectives on the murder of his PPS, speculating that it might not be unconnected to developments within the Governor’s inner caucus.

Many others have speculated that the aspiration of the PPS to be the next President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and the attendant internal acrimony might also provide a possible clue to his murder. Anyway, the PPS, not being from Edo State, was of little or no political relevance in the State.

What appears obvious is that there is a pattern to the deaths in Edo State which cannot be explained by reference to any conspiracy on the part of third parties. The fact is that they have all occurred around Oshiomhole, and most of the persons involved were his very loyal aides. The Governor must begin to look for explanation.

*Mr. Asemota, a political analyst, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012 — 19

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HE purchase of old, and possibly defective, Alaskan Airline stock is not the only Dana anomaly to surface in the wake of the crash. “The ownership structure of Dana Airlines Limited and its registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) are fraught with gross irregularities,” The Will reported. Among other things, the newsletter alleges that Dana holds its own shares, acts as its own director and that its allotment of stock is larger than the one billion shares provided for under its legal structure - all in contravention of CAC rules.

But while these irregularities ought to be looked into and stern measures taken, if the Government finds them appropriate, it should also be

stressed that the issue really is not Dana, as such. Dana is merely the symptom of a much deeper and more debilitating malady. Even as news of the Dana crash was breaking, for example, John Nnorom, who resigned as Deputy Director of Air Nigeria last April, was sending out a desperate political “mayday” - warning of what may well be another looming disaster.

Even these administrative issues though, represent just the tip of the iceberg. Yes. The anomalies need to be urgently addressed. But in doing so, the administration ought to be very conscious of the fact that, it is simply taking the first step in a long journey of transformation.

Our universities are turning out

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scores of systems and production engineers annually. Why then, are aircraft still plowing into populated areas, as flight 0992 did? What are we training these young minds for, at enormous expense, if not to tackle these types of problems?

Any corrective measures should, I believe, include a serious look at aircraft routing. A working committee that would be heavily weighted with production and systems engineers - both experienced and inexperienced should be constituted immediately to adjust our air corridors. The catastrophic conclusion of flight 0992 suggest that the shortest route from one domestic airport to another, may not be the most economical - if we place any value

Jonathan's book gift to the Nigerian child

BY SIMEON NWAKAUDU S a scholar, President Goodluck Jonathan understands the importance of books to the development of the Nigerian child. Since becoming the nation's leader, the President has never hidden his desire to ensure that the Nigerian child gets the right quality of wholistic education necessary to sustain the various development initiatives being promoted by his administration.

When the President launched the "Bring Back the Book" programme, many social commentators had dismissed it as a flash in the pan. Several people claimed that it was one of those government initiatives that would fizzle out in no distant time. What most of these critics did not consider was the fact that the President as an educationist is concerned about the declining reading culture and its attendant negative consequences on the overall development of the nation.

Since commencing this term of office after his victory at the polls, President Jonathan has taken critical steps to revive the nation's education sector, especially the foundational level, the basic education subsector. The President maintains and rightly so, that it is the right of every Nigerian child to have access to basic education, irrespective of the circumstances of his/her birth. To him, a sound basic education cannot be possible if the children do not have access to books and other instructional materials to enhance their knowledge and become worthy citizens, prepared to advance the cause of the nation.

It was on the premise of the President's love for the dissemination of quality knowledge and information to the Nigerian child that he directed the Minister of State for Education, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, to ensure that all primary school pupils and junior secondary school students have access to textbooks in core subjects of English Language, Mathematics, Social Studies and the Basic Introductory Sciences.

For the President, no Nigerian child should be denied the opportunity of building

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his/her knowledge base on the ground of his/ her poor social background. The President's position is premised on surveys from the Federal Ministry of Education and the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, which indicate that although the present administration's interventionist programmes in the basic education subsector has led to increased enrolment in schools across the country, there remains the gap of the scarcity of instructional materials and books available to the lessprivileged Nigerian child.

A higher percentage of the children who have been enrolled in public schools in the country are from homes where their parents cannot afford to buy books for them to deepen their knowledge base and enhance their learning skills when they leave their schools for their homes.

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n Thursday, June 7, President Jonathan flagged off one of the most courageous book distribution initiatives aimed at returning the country to the days of qualitative learning with a view to building a critical foundation for the general development of the nation. The flag off which was performed on behalf of the President by the Vice President, Namadi Sambo was witnessed by State Education Commissioners, Chairmen of State Universal Basic Education Boards, teachers and pupils from the 36 states of the Federation.

Vice President Sambo who represented President Jonathan at the event held at the Model Primary School, Maitama Abuja took time off to personally distribute the books to selected children from the six geopolitical zones from the primary and junior secondary school cadres. From the faces of these kids, one could see their joy and appreciation for the President's worthy priceless gift to them.

In the next few weeks, the Federal Government will conclude the direct distribution of 14 million copies of primary one and two textbooks in English Language, Mathematics, Social Studies, Basic Science and Technology. Also to be distributed are

at all on the lives of our people.

Other questions that came to mind, as I read details of the crash, involve the fuel. According to eyewitness accounts, the plane a McDonald-Douglass 83 - burst into flames 10, 20, maybe 30 minutes after impact. The question investigators ought to try and answer is why? Modern passenger aircraft use a type of modified kerosene that is supposed to be very stable. But maybe it’s time to think of designing a safer fuel; and maybe Nigerian chemical engineers should take the initiative. If we can’t build the plane, let us consider fueling it.

Also, neighbourhood observers reportedly saw the plane coming, knew it was in trouble and wondered where it would hit. This would seem to indicate that the American pilot had time to jettison his fuel tanks.

Assuming that the tanks on an MD-83 are detachable, why didn’t he dump the fuel? Did the mechanism fail? If the tanks are not detachable, should we allow such aircraft into Nigerian airspace? These are questions that need answers. But are they being asked by investigator?

I believe the “black box” may provide clues to at least some of the answers - and that the

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DANA - Counting the dead and conning the damned (2)

It takes thirty minutes to read the contents of a black box and so talk about getting a report in 2013 is ridiculous

What President Jonathan has done by distributing books free of charge to Nigerian children is simply to show that the time has come for every group to make practical contributions to set the nation's education sector on the path of growth

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assorted library resource materials for junior school pupils totalling 4,929,593 million copies. These books are to be distributed directly to benefitting Nigerian children.

Many stakeholders have raised the issue of the distribution network of the books. There are fears that like in the past, the books may not get to the intended end user, the Nigerian child. The President personally has instructed that every single book must get to the less-privileged Nigerian child at no cost to his/ her parents.

To this end, the Federal Ministry of Education and UBEC have put in place mechanisms to check the activities of fraudulent officials in the supply chain.

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ne of such measures is the setting up of all-encompassing books' distribution commitees from the Federal through to the states down to the the local government councils to ensure that the books get to the Nigerian child. Timelines have been given to the committees with the overall supervision by the Minister of State for Education to be assisted by the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Ahmed Modibbo Mohammed, for the direct distribution of the books to the children. At the different levels, independent monitoring schemes have been established to prevent criminal diversion of the books to markets.

Another measure introduced is the bold inscription on every school page of all the books that they are not to be sold, but to be

transcripts ought to be made public. It takes thirty minutes to read the contents of a black box and so talk about getting a report in 2013 is ridiculous. The issues I’ve raised so far are short term administrative and technological challenges.

But the lasting solutions to aviation safety are long term.

Small private companies are tempted to compromise on maintenance because imported servicing materials and spare parts are costly. Let us look at if the environment for operators is condusive and if inward investment can thrive. I recall Virgin Atlantic leaving here in distress and vowing never to return.

On my recent trip to New York I saw the same Virgin Atlantic having set up a US carrier only recently. Why there and not here?

Only this detailed discussion can prevent a repeat of the Dana arrangement. People are cutting corners. Besides the consequence of getting it wrong have no teeth.

We have no record of heads rolling for getting it wrong. In a civilised country people will go to jail for failed maintenance and the incidents of this litter the place.

To be continued.

distributed free of charge to the lessprivileged Nigerian child in public schools.

Beyond all these, is the involvement of security operatives to participate in the monitoring process. Security operatives at the states and local councils have been detailed to arrest and prosecute any official or trader found to be in possession of diverted copies of the books.

Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike believes that the structures put in place by the Federal Ministry of Education and UBEC are robust enough to protect the interest of the Nigerian child and ensure that the books are not diverted. Wike said that the mechanisms were jointly worked out with the State Universal Basic Education Boards and security agencies to avoid the mistakes of the past.

According to him: "The Ministry of Education will neither accept nor tolerate the malady of the past where such textbooks were either found in the open markets despite the branded inscriptions against such unwholesome practices or left unutilized in the storerooms of schools, unprotected from destruction by water, mold and pests. For us, education remains key to national development and the administration of President Jonathan is determined to ensure that primary school pupils and junior secondary students have access to relevant books for better learning to take place".

To the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Ahmed Modibbo Mohammed, the commission will collaborate with all the State Universal Basic Education Boards and other stakeholders to deliver the books to the children. The UBEC Executive Secretary noted that no effort will be spared in ensuring that criminal elements in the books supply system are deterred from denying the children their right to access these books.

What President Jonathan has done by distributing books free of charge to Nigerian children in public schools is simply to show an example to privileged Nigerians and corporate organisations that the time has come for every group to make practical contributions to set the nation's education sector on the path of growth.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Education, Senator Uche Chukwumerije was full of praises for the Presidential action, which he said that the Senate will continue to identify with and support. *Mr. Nwakaudu is SA(Media) to the Minister of State for Education.

20— V anguard, FRIDAY,

JUNE 15 2012

Amarachi, 16, seeks N5m for kidney transplantation surgery B Y EBELE ONUORAH

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ALKING into the dialysis centre at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), you could see a young girl lying on the bed as her dialysis session went through. She looked innocent, pale, weak but amidst all these, one could also see a strong and determined spirit in her.

But she can no longer partake in house chores, can’t run errands, play with my friends or go to school because of her predicament. She can no longer do those things she used to; all she does now is to wake, eat and sleep. She barely even makes it to Church on Sundays.”

These were the lamentations of 16- year old Amarachi Uwazie – Ogbata who has since her predicament been sentenced to an unusual and worrisome lifestyle. her mother, who was at her bedside took up the story.

“Amarachi fell seriously ill in March 2011 just a few weeks after she had managed to complete her examinations. She suddenly became restless, and then she fell and started vomiting blood. At this point, I told my husband the situation had gone beyond malaria and typhoid.

“Considering the fact that she was a teenager I had thought for a minute that she might have got pregnant so I insisted we took her to the hospital. After series of tests pregnancy was ruled out. The following month she was diagnosed of an ovarian cyst and a kidney dysfunction. The ovarian cyst started out as an infection and could have been saved if detected earlier.”

That was the beginning of the UwazieOgbata’s problems. For a mother into small scale business and civil servant father, Amarachi's dialysis bills which cost about N35,000.00 every other day was a serious challenge. There were also other expenses on drugs as well as three other children had s back at school and home. Hmm! Initially, Amarachi was not passing urine normally and it was like she was on an uncontrollable menstrual flow. She would be on her menstruation for up to a month non- stop; she lost a lot of blood. She was put on antibiotics and now it appears to have been cured of the infection as she no longer bleeds but still has not menstruated since February this year.

Doctors say it is as a result of the amount

of blood already lost so it would take some time for her body to return to normalcy.

The same doctors warn that it would be best if she was flown abroad for a kidney transplant as the dialysis sessions and drugs would only yield temporary relief,. but there is a hitch. The cost of the surgery, drugs and trip to and from abroad would

cost at least N5 million. Certainly they cannot afford that kind of money.

Lamenting on her escapades during the Lagos doctors’ strike she told Vanguard that her dialysis session used to be twice a week but as her condition got worse, she is now on dialysis every other day.

“During the doctors’ strike, it was hell

• Amarachi undergoing dialysis.

for us; most times we had to go to a private hospital against our will. Though very expensive, we had no other choice.

“Last month, we were at LUTH and unattended because there were no materials as a result of the nurses strike.

We then took her to EKO Hospital, Surulere to have her get some oxygen into her system because on this particular occasion she was too weak to breathe and was practically gasping for breath.

After two days of admission at the hospital, we were told her sudden loss of control of breath was as a result of accumulated water in her lungs because she was not passing urine regularly.

Amarachi called on government and well meaning citizens to come to her aid and help raise money for her to undergo a kidney transplant.

“I have always dreamt of becoming a doctor one day so that I can save lives; please I plead with my fellow Nigerians to rise towards my cause and donate money so that I would be strong again and continue with my education. I miss school, I miss being who I used to be before my predicament” Amarachi cried.

In a bid to pull all resources towards saving Amarachi’s life, the education and well being of her siblings have been at stake. She has been on admission since last year; the hospital is now her second home.

“She is still a little girl and has her life to live and we have tried everything we know just to help save her . I have sold all my valuables and I truly wish I had more, I would do absolutely anything within my reach to save my daughters life.” said the mother If you are motivated to assist Amarachi, kindly utilise the information below.

Ndubuisi Ogbata, Account No. 2011482639, UBA Plc OR Ndubuisi Ogbata, Account No. 1760047055, Skye Bank. Obtain more information thruogh 07031148560, 08028984814

Banned antibiotics found in animal feed

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ESEARCHERS at Johns Hopkins found something disturbing in their recent tests of feather meal. Feather meal, is a by-product made of ground-up poul-

try feathers that's commonly added to feed for chickens, pigs, cows, and fish.

The researchers found a wide variety of drug residues, including antibiotics that were banned in poultry production back in 2005. In the UK and European Union use of antibiotics like avoparcin, bacitracin, spiramycin, tylosin and virginiamycin, was banned in 1999.

Fluoroquinolones were banned because their use in poultry had been linked to increasing antibiotic resistance, apart from the fact that some patients treated with this drug had severe adverse reactions in-

cluding terrifying physical and mental health effects. Despite its ban, seven years later it looks like the poultry meat industry is still dosing animals with the drugs, completely disregarding the antibiotic ban and putting human health at risk (the drug was specifically linked to resistance among Campylobacter bacteria — a leading culprit in foodborne illness).

The research team was actually "shocked" at the variety of drugs they detected in the feather meal — 59 pharmaceuticals and personal care products, and up to 10 different antibiotics.

Ogun nurse emerges best overall STUDENT of the Ogun state School of Nursing, Ijebu-Ode, Miss.

Adenike Adenike has emerged the best in an essay competition among students of Nursing across the country.

The winner, who expressed delight and gratitude to God for emerging first among equals, was best in the essay competition tagged "Health of Women: A call for Paradigm Shift in Family and Reproduction health", organised by the Florence Nightingale Speech Contest Organisation was held at the School of Nursing, Eleyele, Ibadan.

A representative of the School of Nursing

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• From left: Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Ms. Nonny Ugboma; Director General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS, Prof. John Idoko; Director, MTN Foundation, Mr. Dennis Okoro; Deputy Vice Chancellor, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Professor Femi Oyewo and Director General, Ogun State Agency for The Control of AIDS, Dr Ranti Oladeinde at the commissioning of the MTNF Youth Friendly Centre for People Living With HIV/AIDS at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State.

Ijebu-Ode, at the award presentation to the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka, charged student nurses to always educate and enlighten their patients, adding that they should impact positively on the lives of the people now and in future.

He urged them to be involved more in health promotion activitiesn aspire to live an exemplary live and be role models to others coming after them.

Soyinka noted the State government's committment towards improving intellectual skills of its students in institutions of learning.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012 — 21

FG lost over N200bn to manual clearance procedure — ANLCA

BY GODFREY BIVBERE, DAVID SAGUA & VICTORIA EDEMA HAIRMAN of the Tin-can Island Chapter of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA, Kayode Farinto, has disclosed that the Federal Government lost over N200 billion in revenue to private companies and individuals in the past when cargo clearance documentation was done manually.

Farinto explained that the era encouraged corruption through the fact that there was increased personal contact between customs officers and licensed customs agents.

He noted that the present automated system, if properly implemented would not only improve the documentation process but also help boost the revenue accruable to government He was however, quick to add that the present era of automation, which is mandatory for all countries that are signatory to most of the treaties has helped Nigerian government. According to him, Nigeria Customs Service in contemporary years has grown rapidly from analogue to digitalization of operations .“ He stated that the suspended single window policy if re-introduced would help promote the one stop shop policy and interconnectivity of shipping companies, agents and terminal operators.

Farinto stressed that if the electronic declaration becomes a reality, it means Nigeria has achieved the one-stop shop policy on cargo clearance as there would be efficient and reliable interconnectivity between traders, shipping companies, terminal operators and the Nigeria Customs .

He called for autonomy for the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS as this would create a better working relationship between the NCS and agents.

He pointed out that the NCS would

C

154.45

-0.65

2,240.00

+62.00

20.31

-0.16

97.31

-0.69

83.41

+0.71

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING CFA KRONER EURO POUNDS RIYAL SDR FRANC DOLLAR WAUA YEN

0.2753 26.1377 194.3375 240.6372 41.3012 234.0229 161.7586 154.9 233.1885 1.9501

0.2853 26.2221 194.9648 241.414 41.4345 234.7783 162.2807 155.4 233.9412 1.9564

0.2953 26.3065 195.5921 242.1907 41.5678 235.5337 162.8028 155.9 234.6939 1.9627

CBN Exchange rate as at 14/06/2012 C M Y K

seek the input of agents before introducing such policies when it is autonomous.

Farinto stated further that the NCS is prepared to take over the functions of service providers by December this year, adding that over 6,000 officers of the Nigeria Customs Service have acquired skills both locally and internationally on how to handle the scanning machines.

He expressed the view that there should be no fear on the ability of offic-

ers of the NCS to manage the equipment that would be left behind by the service providers.

On the suspended controversial benchmark policy, he explained that it negated international best practices and stressed that autonomy would permanently put an end to agitation for its resuscitation in some quarters.

According to him the benchmark regime has sent wrong signals to im-

porters and agents, hence goods have in recent times been diverted to neighbouring countries leading to loss of revenue to government.

He decried the policy of setting revenue target for the service noting that the service has, therefore, concentrated effort in revenue generation as opposed to trade facilitation.

Managing Director, Promasidor, Keith Richards (middle) with Promasidor branch executives at the conferment of Senior Comrade Award in Asaba, Delta State.

NACCIMA raises concern over epileptic power supply

BY NAOMI UZOR HE Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), has counseled the Federal Government to immediately take deliberate measures to ensure a sustained improvement in the power supply situation in the country.

NACCIMA said this can be achieved through full privatisation of the transmission and distribution of power supply and removing the monopoly of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

It aslo stated the government should continue to support Independent Power Projects (IPPs) and all other initiatives for the exploration of alternative sources of power, as this will help encourage efficiency.

Speaking at the official opening ceremony of the 51st annual conference in Ogun state, the National President, NACCIMA, Dr. Herb Ademola Ajayi, said this is necessary because the guaranteeing of regular and stable supply of power is very critical to the development of an economy that is aspiring to become one of the 20 most

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developed Nations in the world by year 2020.

According to him, the unabated incessant epileptic power outage in most parts of the country, especially in industrial zones has not only created untold hardship on the citizenry, but has also led to low capacity utilization of manufacturers as well as continue to reduce productivity of the real sector.

He noted that operators now depend mainly on private provision of alternative sources of electricity through generators, adding that this contributing to the high cost of doing business in Nigeria.

“Finally, there is need to undertake detailed electricity study to facilitate appropriate investment response. “Also, Government should work in partnership with the private sector to commission and build Independent Power Generating Plants in each state of the country to supply power to the state alone while also facilitating a ‘communal scheme’ whereby stand-by generators are installed with change over facility for power distribution within residential and industrial clusters and estates with the residents as major stakeholders” he stated.

On the issue of security, Ajayi said the chamber is saddened by the continuous and unabated armed robberies, cases of kidnapping for ransom and the newest dimension of bomb blasts across the country.

He said, “This is a very worrisome and indeed, unfortunate development not only because it has continued to pose serious challenges inimical to the growth and survival of the business community, but also because it further discourages investments and misrepresents Nigeria as unsafe for doing business.

“While we commend the various Security Agencies for their work in combating crimes, we wish to further appeal to these agencies whose business it is to protect Nigerians to continue to press on and double their efforts in combating crime and criminality to ensure an improved security and peaceful environment for Nigeria. “Accordingly, we wish to counsel that Government should release the required and appropriated funds to the security agencies for the purchase of the required equipment and gears to effectively combat the new wave of crimes in the country” he said.

22—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

Expert hinges economic growth on viable capital market

By CHINEDU IBEABUCHI & RITA OBODOECHINA

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HE Nigerian capital market could play a significant role in spurring economic growth through efficient saving mobilisation, capital allocation, information

gathering, as well as exerting good corporate governance, says Dr. Kingsley Obiora, an economic expert, who is also Special Assistant to the Chief Economic Adviser to the President.

Speaking at the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Nigeria Economic

lecture, Obiora also said there are large costs associated with evaluating firms, managers, and market conditions before making investment decisions.

He noted that individual savers may not have the ability or wherewithal to evaluate

firms and may be reluctant to invest in an economy where there is little or no reliable information.

He said, “Such high information costs may keep capital from flowing to where it would be used profitably. Thus, the Nigerian capital market

From left: Ambassador Robin Renee Sanders; CEO Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Oscar Onyema;Vice Chair, US EXIM Bank, Ms. Wanda Felton; and Head of Corporate Division of the Exchange, Mr. Bola Adeeko on day one of the NSE US Investor Conference series in Washington DC.

Total records N868m unclaimed dividends …Absorbs N9m into company’s coffers

BY MICHAEL EBOH OTAL Nigeria Plc’s u n c l a i m e d dividend stands at N868.195 million as at December 31, 2011.

According to the company’s report to its shareholders, the value of the unclaimed dividends rose by N168.683 million from N699.512 million recorded at the end of 2010, representing an increase of 24.11 per cent.

The company said unclaimed dividends totaling N9.129 million; belonging to 3,115 shareholders has been reverted to its coffers following the failure of the shareholders to claim their dividends after 12 years.

The company had in 2010 received N10.381 million being the value of unclaimed dividends which has remained unclaimed for 12 years.

According to the

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company, its action stems from the company ’s Articles of Association, which states that dividends which remain unclaimed for 12 years stand forfeited and be reverted to the company.

The company declared a total dividend of N3.056 billion, representing a total dividend per share of N9 for its shareholders in the 2011 financial year.

The company had earlier paid an interim dividend of N679.04 million, representing N2 per share and a final dividend of N2.377 billion representing N7 per share.

The dividend was in spite of a decline in its profit after tax for the 2011 financial year. Its profit after tax and extraordinary items dipped by 30 per cent from N5.437 billion recorded in 2010 to N3.813 billion in 2011.

The company ’s turnover grew by eight

per cent to N160.604 billion, from N173.948 billion recorded in 2010 while it recorded profit before tax and extraordinary item of N5.859 billion, rising by one per cent from N5.783 billion recorded in 2010.

“We believe that this performance is and reflects the high level of commitment and dedication to duty of the company’s management and staff in the face of a very volatile and challenging business environment,” said Mr. Stanislas Mittelman, Chairman, Total Nigeria Plc. Mittelman stated further that the company is playing a huge role in the area of sustainable development in Nigeria.

According to him, the company is committed to the development of the Nigerian economy and is investing its resources to achieve that aim.

Key among its role in

economic development, according to Mittelman, is creating employment and support for infrastructural development.

He further stated that the company will focus on boosting its corporate governance and ethical practices, declaring that it will “continue to devote priority to the ‘Business Integrity Policy’ to sustain and strengthen the prevention of fraud and corruption to increase the protection of the company’s assets and its employees.”

On the future plans of the company, Mittelman said, “With a stable and conducive business environment and our belief that security issues will be resolved soonest, your company is poised to face the challenges of the business environment as she has the human capital and experience to do so.”

can spur growth by scaling up its efforts at providing potential investors with reliable information about firms and their management, as well as current market conditions, thereby increasing efficiency in resource allocation in the economy.

“Without such intermediation, each investor would face potentially large and certainly prohibitive fixed costs associated with evaluating firms, managers, and economic conditions.”

He argued that the degree to which the providers of capital to a firm can effectively monitor and influence how firms use that capital has ramifications on both savings and allocation decisions.

Obiora declared that although individual shareholders can effectively exert corporate governance through voting on crucial issues, such as mergers, and fundamental

changes in business strategies, different kinds of market frictions may make this impossible.

Continuing, he stated, ““More also, large information asymmetries usually exist between management and shareholders given that management may have significant discretion over the flow of information.

“Such scenarios may allow managers to pursue projects for their personal, rather than societal, benefits. These situations may decrease participation in capital markets, especially for middle-class and p r o s p e c t i v e shareholders.”

He added that the capital market can play a vital role in monitoring management and exerting transparency in corporate governance so as to provide comfort to p r o s p e c t i v e shareholders and increase participation in the market.

United Tech lowers equity sale to fund Goodrich deal

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N I T E D Technologies Corp on has sold $1 billion of convertible notes, less than the $1.5 billion it had told investors in March it would need to sell to fund its largest-ever takeover.

The diversified U.S. manufacturer said it had found additional sources of cash to fund the $16.5 billion purchase of aircraft components maker Goodrich Corp (GR.N).

“We’ve identified more cash available for the financing so we didn’t need as much from the equity units,” said spokesman John Moran.

When the world’s largest maker of elevators and air conditioners first disclosed the Goodrich deal in September, it said it planned to issue up to $4.6 billion in common shares to pay for it. That proposal drew shareholder protests and prompted Chief Executive Louis Chenevert to change the funding approach, instead putting three small businesses — the Rocketdyne space unit, the industrial pumps and

compressors operation and Clipper Windpower — up for sale to raise cash and avoid issuing so many new shares.

At the time, United Tech officials said they expected to raise $3 billion through selling those businesses. Moran declined to say if the company now believed it would be able to make more from the sales.

“We found other sources of cash but we’re not specifying what those are,” he said.

The Hartford, Connecticut-based company on Wednesday said it had priced about 20 million equity units at $50 each. Investors who buy the units will be required to buy United Tech’s by August 1, 2015.

The number of shares to be purchased will vary depending on the stock’s price when bought.

United Tech officials have said they have narrowed the Rocketdyne talks down to one buyer and Chenevert told investors last month that he expects to have a contract signed for the Rocketdyne sale by midJune.

V anguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 15 2012 — 23

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24—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

Airtel unveils 2GoodTime, flexible service plans •Offers 20 free SMS monthly

BY PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

IRTEL Nigeria has re-launched its flagship product, 2Good plan with extra and distinctive benefits that allows customers choose from amongst three time bands during which they can connect family, friends and business associates.

Speaking on the value offering, Deepak Srivastava, Chief Operating Officer, Airtel Nigeria said that the company will continue to offer innovative, flexible and affordable value offerings that will meet the growing demands and needs of all its customers.

Srivastava said, “The 2Good Time tariff plan with its three options of Traffic Time, Lunch Time and Party will come in handy for customers to select the most suitable time of the day to share love with family and

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friends, or close deals with business associates via voice and SMS. “This is in addition to the special attraction of 2Good such as low inter-

national call rate, free 20 monthly complementary SMS. With this, 2Good comes bigger, betterand even more pocket friendly,” he said.

Subscribers to the

2Good Time service will also enjoy midnight on net call rate as well as 20 free SMS on their first N100 recharge of the month.

LG’s day with Rivers children •Donates products G Electronics Nigeria took its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) drive a step further when it visited the Compassion Centre in Port Harcourt where various LG products were donated to the home.

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“This visit is part of LG Electronics’ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities aimed at putting smiles on the faces of the children of Compassion Centre ensuring that their dreams and aspirations are being achieved,” said Mr. Dave Shin, General Manager, Home Entertainment Division, LG Electronics, said in his message to the Organisation.

Speaking further, he said: “We maintain a longterm perspective in relation to our corporate identity by providing the “Good Life” to the Nigerian child as well as engaging the society on a significant level, with a view to empowering and developing the communities we operate in. Despite global economic recession, we have remained focused and shown leadership by tackling key issues that are of concern to our stakeholders and society at large.”

LG officials with some children of the Compassion Centre in Port Harcourt, Rivers State during the visit

P&G’s Oral-B partners NDA on 2012 confab

BY ITORO UDOFIA

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N fulfilling its purpose of promoting Oral health in Nigeria, Oral-B is partnering the Nigerian Dental Association (NDA) at a three day conference holding in Lagos.

The conference which holds between 13 th through15th June 2012 with theme; “Non communicable diseases and the dentist” and “Dentinal Hypersensitivity,” had the President of the Nigeria Dental Association, Dr. Femi Orebanjo; lauding the presence of Oral-B at the conference said that the NDA was pleased by the support and interest P&G had shown in the promotion of Oral health since 2011 when the Oral B regimen was fully launched in Nigeria.

Mrs. Temitope Iluyemi, Head of External Relations, P&G Nigeria, commenting on the partnership with the NDA, stated that P&G’s purpose is to touch and improve the lives of more consumers in more parts of the world more completely. ‘This partnership was a reflection of P&G’s commitment to

the Oral Health of Nigerians as a means of helping to touch and improve their lives’.

According to her P&G invests billions of dollars in Research and development annually in order to innovate to produce world class products that meet the

needs and budgets of her consumers worldwide. Commenting further, she shared that P&G is committed to bring world-class standards to Nigeria, to raise consumer satisfaction and market standards with high quality products.

Domino’s Pizza trains Nigerian managers in Miami, USA OMINO’S Pizza, USA through its Nigerian franchise partner Eat ‘n’ Go Limited has expressed its commitment to the Nigerian market, as it trains eight Nigerian Managers. The training was conducted in 2 Domino stores in Miami, USA. According to a statement, the aim of the training is to enable the Nigerian managers become experts in the concept of pizza making, pizza delivery, hygiene, cleanliness and customer service.

Speaking at the training, Domino’s Pizza International Director, Mr. Arnaud Gadaix disclosed that, the 6 weeks intensive training was hands-on, technically robust and de-

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signed to impact cutting edge professional knowledge to the participants. He said that the training was specifically aimed at exposing the Nigerian managers to industry best practices as found in other parts of the world. “We cannot shy away from the impact of globalization on the service industry, especially in the area of world class delivery of products and services to customers.

In his comments, the Managing Director of Eat‘n’Go, Mr. Eric Andre, stressed the company commitment to develop the best team with local talent and “we sent our employees to Miami in Florida for training not only to learn Domino’s Pizza.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012 — 25

FOU Zone ‘A’ seizes, destroys over 500 cartons of poultry products triggered this latest onslaught and vowed that the unit would stop at nothing in ensuring a sustained war on the importers of these and other products.

BY DANIEL GUMM HE Federal Operations Unit (FOU) ‘A’ Ikeja Lagos, in its renewed vigour to ensure zero tolerance for importation of poultry products has seized a total of over 530 cartons of poultry products.

The Controller, FOU ‘A’ Compt. Dan Ugo made this disclosure recently at the destruction site located inside the workshop area of the unit.

The destruction was witnessed by representatives of the relevant regulatory agencies, NAFDAC. The CAC explained that “the unit will not

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He pointed out that the service is not unmindful of both the economic and health hazards associated with this unwholesome act, hence the urgent need to put modalities in place to check this illicit trade.

“I am pleased to note that the strategies put in place by the unit in this regard DESTRUCTION TIME — Customs men of F. O. U. Zone ‘A’ Unit, Ikeja preparing seized poultry products for destruction at the command.

renege in its statutory functions of suppressing smuggling and

facilitating legitimate trade,” noting that the latest marching order on

zero tolerance to poultry products from the headquarters has

FG to sustain EEG scheme Federal the Export Expansion T HE Government has Grant (EEG) despite the

said it will continue with

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have started yielding results with these latest seizures,” the CAC retorted.

The CAC reiterated the determination of the service and the unit to always protect our indigenous farmers, whose contributions in terms of employment generation cannot be over-emphasized.

He showered encomiums on the CGC, Alhaji Abdullahi Inde Dikko (CFR) and his management team for their support and encouragement towards achieving the feat.

controversies trailing its desirability.

Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala gave the assurance in Kano at the sideline of a town hall meeting with members of the organised private sector after a working visit to Mamuda Group of Companies.

She said government has evaluated the implementation of the scheme in recent times, and noted it has impacted positively on the economy.

She said the incentive has assisted many of the benefiting local firms which were disadvantaged as a result of the prevailing difficult operational environment to remain competitive globally.

The minister also commended the Mamuda Group of Companies, one of the Kano-based tanneries that benefited from the grant for making good use of the incentive which has translated into creation of new lines of employment for many jobless Nigerians.

She said: "I am happy with the company because I saw how they are processing raw material (Hides and Skin), adding value to it from this stage of production to finished products, one of which is hand bag.

"I learnt that they have been doing this for about 20 years before they got to the level of manufacturing finished bags. We are happy to be carrying their bags. You can see that I show some of their products on the television, recently.

"The present administration is glad to support exporters, who are adding value to their products. This company's products are carrying Made in Nigeria label.

EEG was primarily conceived to encourage exportation of Nigerian goods."

26 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

NGO mobilises $31m for establishment of 6 grazing reserves in Nigeria ... Urges govt to re-visit grazing laws

By JIMOH BABATUNDE WITH AGENCY REPORTS

THE perennial clashes between pastoralists and farmers in the country have been attributed to the non-enforcement of grazing laws on the part of government.

A former retired Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Ahmed Joda, said the global climate change phenomenon, had exacerbated desert encroachment, thereby pushing pastoralists further southwards in search of grazing lands.

He spoke with journalists in Abuja recently on plans by a Non Governmental Organisation, Pastoral Resolve (PARE) to mobilise N5 billion (about US$31 million) for the establishment of six grazing reserves in six states in northern

Nigeria.

Joda said the continued clashes have their genesis in the fact that grazing laws are deliberately ignored, thereby encouraging encroachment of gazetted grazing reserves. ‘`Lack of political will and total neglect of the livestock sub-sector by the various governments has resulted in massive encroachment into both gazetted, proposed grazing reserves and blockage of stock routes in the country. ''The policy and legal vacuum serve to exacerbate the conflict between pastoralists and crop producers, a situation that continues to escalate over much of the northern and the middle-belt states of the country.

Smallholders key in feeding growing populations —Report

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OVERNMENTS need to play a more active role in support of smallholders if they are to become productive enough to help feed a growing world population.

The world needs to produce 60 percent more food to feed more than nine billion people by 2050 and there is broad agreement that smallholders will provide much of the extra food.

"Smallholders cannot continue to be seen as part of the hunger problem.

They are an important part of the solution and are crucial to promote sustainable agriculture and management of our natural resources," said FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva opening this week session's of the Committee on Commodity Problems (CCP).

According to a report discussed at the Committee recently, an improved understanding is imperative in identifying public sector policy interventions to enhance smallholder participation in markets.

Key elements determining whether and to what degree smallholders

entered the market as sellers were the ability to use assets productively, efficient infrastructure and accessible markets, the report noted.

For semi-subsistence producers, particularly those in remote locations, facilitating participation in local markets could be a first step.

In other cases, government actions could include offsetting risks to potential investors; temporary public subsidies for inputs such as seeds and fertilizer; facilitating provision of credit to farmers in remote areas; support to producers in meeting more rigorous commercial standards; and the promotion of public-private partnerships in the provision of market infrastructure.

FAO could help member countries determine the best policies open to them by improving understanding of their smallholders' market participation, sensitizing stakeholders to the various options before them and building their capacity to identify, formulate and implement the most appropriate interventions.

Joda, a retired Permanent Secretary, who is currently a farmer, expressed concern that the current tension between herdsmen and farmers constituted a threat to peace and national security, if not addressed. ``I can see no peace, if we don't solve this problem. As important as oil and the manufacturing sectors are, the livestock industry provides nutrition and jobs, among other economic benefits. ``At the rate we are going, there will be no grazing land; and this might result to a war along ethnic and religious lines. ``If we have peace, and stability, we do not need security checks which drains the national economy, if we can develop the livestock industry and eliminate tension associated with it,'' he said.

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oda explained that the NGO, Pastoral Resolve (PARE) which he is the President is set to mobilise N5 billion (about US$31 million) for the establishment of six grazing reserves in six states in northern Nigeria.

This initiative is aimed at solving the perennial conflicts between pastoralists and farmers occasioned by poor access to land and water, among other facilities.

The targeted pilot states are Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger.

Pastoral Resolve is working on the project in collaboration with Enhancing Nigerian Advocacy for a Better Environment (ENABLE), a development agency.

Earlier, Mr Umar Hassan, the Chief Executive Officer of PARE, noted that only 12 of the 433 grazing reserves in the country were functional while 36 were receiving attention.

The livestock industry, Hassan said, had the potential to generate about US$ 20 billion but currently accounts for six to seven percent of the nation's GDP, representing N250 billion (about US$1.5 billion) .

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012—27

GroFin grows SMEs fund to $323m

BY NAOMI UZOR ROFIN has an nounced a growth in funds under management from $260 million to $323 million.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of GroFin, Africa, Guido Boysen, these funds are invested in supporting entrepreneurs and business people to start or grow a business.

The company also announced the opening of several new GroFin offices in 2012 and 2013.

Since launching in 2004, GroFin has established a

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From left: Prof. Olusola Bandele Oyewole, Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta; Dr. Michael Olawale-Cole, President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered) and Dr. Nelson Uwaga, Deputy President, when the institute visited the university for collaboration on NIM students scheme. Photo: Oscar Ochiogu.

reputation of being a provider of finance and business support to entrepreneurs and business owners in Africa and the Middle East.

“We are thrilled to announce an increase in the funds we have available, as well as our entry into several new markets, rich with potential. We have a strong foundation in place, a proven and scalable model and a firm commitment to make a lasting impact in the growth of the SME sector” he said.

He said that GroFin’s choice to invest in entrepreneurs and businesses that

African countries at risk over trade with Europe — Report

BY RITA OBODOECHINA FRICAN countries that have significant trade with Europe will mostly be at risk over the

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exit of Greece from the EMU, says Standard Chartered.

Standard Chartered, According to its report, titled, “Asia, Africa and Middle East and North Africa,

MENA, – Impact of a Greek European Monetary Union, EMU, exit,” said countries like Cameroun, Côte d?Ivoire, Ghana, Mozambique and Sierra Leone, are very likely to

be at risk, due to their high trade volume with countries in the euro area.

“Countries that have significant trade with Europe are most at risk. In many countries (e.g., Cameroon,

Cote D'Ivoire, Ghana, Mozambique and Sierra Leone), the euro area represents more than 30% of exports, leaving them particularly exposed to a crisis via the trade channel."

are locally owned and managed in the markets in which it operates, is rooted in the vision that these businesses hold the potential to create sustainable economic and social impact. However while this sector of the market is theoretically best able to empower and mobilise societies, the majority of these businesses fail to survive past their early years of operation.

Chief Operating Officer for GroFin Middle East, North Africa, MENA, Mark Connor said “many socalled SMEs find themselves in the ‘missing middle’ where they do not have the collateral required for traditional secured lending and are too small for private equity but too large for micro-finance. Entrepreneurs and businesses in this sector are underserviced with few capable partners offering the combination of risk finance, experienced business support, and market linkages required to succeed.

28—Vanguard, FRI DAY, JUNE 15, 2012

completion of the present palace.

When Rumfa moved to the new palace, the Makama, one of the important title holders in Kano, occupied the Rumfa’s temporary residence which in later years became the permanent residence of Makaman Kano.

The museum contains an interesting display of photographs of Kano architecture, as well as collection of artefacts from stone age to present day within the colonial house of the governor from the 19002 s.

Gidan Dan Hausa, Kano This is an excellent example of Hausa traditional mud-walled architecture which was built in 1905 as the former and restored home of Hans Vischer, a Swiss – born teacher who contributed much to Nigeria’s education system during colonial times.

He was appointed Director of Education for Northern Nigeria by the colonial authorities and by 1914 had established over 1,000 primary schools in the north including one in the grounds of the house. He was known as “Dan Hausa” “son of Hausa” because he spoke the language so well. Today the house is an interesting museum with rooms dedicated to arts and crafts, Durbar costumes and gowns previously worn by Emirs.

Gidan Makama Museum

Kano attracts tourists with history, monuments A

mong a people famously superstitious about numbers, the number seven is the undisputed king in the spirit of numbers; JIMOH BABATUNDE visits seven of Kano’s best sights that highlight the great dichotomy of the city.

Modern Kano can trace its origin th back to the 19 century AD when some giant animist hunters (Maguzawa) settled around the foot hills of Dala, Gwauran, Dutse, Fanisau rocks, all located within the present metropolitan area.

The settlers centred their lives around the shrine of Tsumburbura and the chief priest Bareushe, before the shrine was attacked by Tsamiya, the 9 th Habe ruler under Bagauda dynasty.

Kano witnessed a new era of commerce and prosperity during the th reign of the 11 ruler of Kano Yagi (1359-1385), who allowed Wangarawa merchants and Islamic scholars of Mali to introduce Islam to his subjects and the building of the first mosque in the ancient city of Kano.

Kano state as it is known today covers an estimated area of 20, 760 square kilometres.

Tourism is about what is unique in a place and its people, Kano state-one of African’s ancient cities is blessed with abundant tourism attractions as well as special events like the Eid-elFitr and Eid-el-Kabir Durbar celebrations which are hosted annually by the Emir of Kano.

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Old City Walls And Gates The old city walls (Badala) and gates are among the tourists attractions of Kano and date back to some eight hundred years. Although much of the walls have long been destroyed due to encroachment and modern development, parts of the walls are still standing, especially on the western side of the city towards Bayero university campus.

At the completion of construction work, the width of the walls was about 2 meters and a height of 10meters with a total radius of 4 kilometres.

The walls were reportedly built

invaders. This was the year 1112 AD! The City Gates There are 18 of them and they were used to control the movement of people in and out of the city. Presently, the gates only serve as entry and exit points to the old city of Kano.

Visitors can view one of the metal gates preserved at the Gidan Makama Museum.

Tourists can also view the kofar Na’isa Dari’agundi and Gadon-Kaya which were all recently renovated.

The Gidan Makama Museum

Kofar Mata Dye Pit during the reign of Sarkin Kano Usman Giji Masu Dan Wasiri, the grandson of Bagauda, the third King in the Habe dynasty when he decided to surround the ancient city with a wall as protection against external

This museum located on the southern end of the emir’s palace was built some 520 years ago to serve as the temporary th residence of the 20 Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Rumfa, pending the

The Dala Hill The hill is historically important for it was where the early settlers of Kano lived until the coming of bagauda, son of Bawo. In those early periods of preIslamic times, the settlers used to assemble annually at the foot hills of dala to receive sermon from the chief priest, Barbushe.

Today, tourists could go to the top of the hill to get an aerial view of Kano city and could also have the rare opportunity of watching early sunrise between 6 and 6.30 am or sunset at about 5.30 – 6.30 pm.

Kofar Mata Dye Pit A visit to Kano is incomplete without a visit to the kofar mata dye pits which is reported to be the oldest in Africa.

The Kano indigo-vegetable dyeing pits are one of the most fascinating aspects of the old city. Various designs are folded into the material before dyeing and the fabric is often beaten to achieve the shiny, indescent appearance. The techniques employed to obtain this look are unmatched around the world. And, although the methods they use are ancient, these lush works of art on fabric always remain extremely popular and continue to be in great demand.

Kano Kurmi Market Today, The State Is Referred to “the state of commerce”. It is interesting to know that most of the commercial activities in the state take place at Kurmi market.

Kurmi market established in the 15th century is in the heart of Kano City, and about twenty minutes walking distance from Kano centre mosque. It is said to be one of the largest and oldest local markets in Africa, and to many visitors, a number one attraction.

The market is centre of Africa crafts and products. Tourists can go back with souvenirs ranging from metal, textile, leather works to pottery, and calabash.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 15 , 2012—29

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he grand duke of Ni gerian entertainment industry and the Koko master may have finally rested the ghost of his former partner and producer, Don Jazzy with the debut of his own label ,D’ Koko Master (DKM) records.

The new development also rests speculation that he may be heading the Africa arm of American record label, Def Jam (owned by the Universal Music group) as Vice- President.

D’Banj, it would be recalled was recently involved in a messy separation with his former partner and producer Don Jazzy. Both artistes jointly owned the now rested

D’Banj steps out with DKM records ...launches Davido Mo’hit records. s countdown to the unveiling ceremony of the new record company begins, WG has it on a good authority that the

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record company’s first signed on act, wave-making Davido will be launched in an elaborate and lavish party proposed for high profile Eko Hotels on Lagos Island.

Ruffcoin returns from America tour

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Actress Omoni Oboli signs N10m deal

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ollywood actress, Omo ni Oboli joined the growing lists of celebrity brand ambassadors when during the week she was offered a fat paycheck, courtesy of foremost manufacturers PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc. She is going to be the new face of popular body cream Venus. The deal already signed and delivered to the Nollywood A-list actress will fatten the purse of the actress

by N10million.

The deal according to an informed source, will span over 18 months and will see the actress getting free products from PZ for the period the contract lasts.

ig A Entertainment sign ee Ruffcoin returned to the country after a very successful tour of the United States of America recently.

During his three months sojourn in the U.S he shot videos for his current hit single Down Low and a couple of others to hit the big screen soon.

Big A entertainment CEO Mr. Anderson Obiagwu entertained the artiste with a lavish reception and sign on bash in a high octane club in Dallas.

Other big acts who were on ground to offer moral support to Ruffcoin were Timaya, Bracket and Tuface Idibia.

Since his return to Nigeria, the Abia state born Nwa Aba crooner has embarked on a nationwide media tour in a bid to enhance the promotion and publicity of his soon to be released album as well as to broaden his fan base.

Ruffcoin whose real name is Emelogu Muruako Fortune is currently on the verge

of unleashing his third album titled “Diamond in the Ruff ”.

Besides the down low single and video; work has also been concluded on a new single and video titled; the way you dance featuring multiple award winner Tuface. Other great singles on the album include; “Sweet Music” and “Onye Eze”.

His music is nothing short of brilliant several factors

•D’Banj

•Ruffcoin

INSIDE

Nnenna & Friends launch brainpower game C M Y K

My dad wanted me to excel in football but...

Three Nokia Asha ranges now in Touch

30—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

Synopsis

Movie of the week

gent J (Will Smith) and Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) are assigned the task of monitoring extraterrestrial activity on Earth.

Things get strange when J can’t find K, then finds out his friend has been dead for over 40 years. In an attempt to save young Agent K’s (Josh Brolin) life, Agent J travels back in time to 1969 to stop his murder.

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•D’banj and K Switch on stage

D’Banj celebrates birthday on Star trek stage

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enin City came alive last week end to the excitement of Star Trek, the Nigeria Breweries sponsored musical concert. The night featured D’Banj, one of Nigeria’s biggest music superstars who used the opportunity to celebrate his 32nd birthday. He did it on the Star Trek stage and connecting with his fans at the Sandfield, off Etete Road venue of the concert.

But he didn’t do it alone. He was joined on stage by hip hop artiste, Ikechukwu with whom he performed the rapper’s club bangers, Critical and Wind Am Well.

Unlike earlier performers who mimed to their songs, D’Banj played with a live band and wowed the crowd with songs from his past albums such as Suddenly, Mr. Endowed, Igwe, Oloun Maje, Scape Goat and his current smash hit Oliver Twist. He also performed former label mate, D’Prince’s song, Give It To Me Now. Prior to D’Banj’s electrifying performance, Mavin records talented songstress, Tiwa Savage who performed on Star Trek for the first time kicked off her performance with O Ma Ga O, from the Solar Plexus MixTape, released under Mavin Records.

She elated the crowd with Do As I Do, a P Square musical hit which featured her vocals. The songstress however remembered the victims of the

Dana Air crash by dedicating a classic, Great Is Thy Faithfulness, to the memories of the lost souls. She rounded off her performance with her hits Kele Kele Love and Without My Heart which featured ace producer and Mavin Records label head, Don Jazzy.

In the usual Star Trek tradition, local talents were given the opportunity of performing; and some of the local talents that wowed the crowd were BMG, T Wine, Great Doctor, Bolo Yeung and Breezy, among others.

In Sapele more than 7000 people thronged the Sapele Township Stadium to watch Nigeria’s best perform on stage.

Waje, who also played with a band incidentally was one of the judges on this year ’s edition of Star Quest.

Omawunmi, who hails from Delta, thrilled the crowd with her splendid musical performance. Sound Sultan, who a day earlier delighted the Star Trek Benin audience, thrilled an even more excited Sapele Audience.

Next on stage was Chocolate City artiste, Ice Prince, who thrilled the crowd with his hits: Oleku, Juju, Superstar, among other hits. He was soon followed by Flavour, with MI, as the headlining act for Sapele. The highlight of the Star Trek Sapele leg was the joint performance by MI and Flavour of Africa Rapper No. 1, MI’s hit track from his MI2 album.

Nnenna & Friends launch brainpower game nenna & Friends the ace children’s brand in Nigeria has introduced a new s segment on Nnena & Friend w sho e gam TV show. The TV ” tagged; “Brainpower Game is targeted at encouraging children to develop their intellectual ability.

The game show is open for children in primary and sec d ste ere Int s. ool sch ary ond sch ool s are enc our age d to participate free-of-charge sim ninte ir ply by registering the tion.

While speaking at the Nnena & Friends office located at No 5 Joy Avenue, Ajao Estate

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Lagos, Nnena affirms that “the human brain needs to stay active, so you use it or los e it.

Th ere for e, the Nnena & Friends Brainpower Game is to en cou rag e to ch ild ren ir the n the eng str •Nnena me nta l abi liti es. e Participants are tested in cor expected to ho me subjects and general knowlgo edge”. h lots of wit The Brainpower Game also mo uth -w arewards excellence as win tering prizes ll ners in every category as we every week. as the winning schools are

s Top 5 Mlaockvie 3

•Men in B ip •Battlesh ind B a •Ties th t w o V •The s ger Game •The Hun

Movie Schedule Silverbird Cinema, The Galleria, Lagos.

Ties that Bind: 1:30pm, 5:50pm.

Men in Black 3 3D: 6:20pm.

Men in Black: 11:00am, 4:00pm, 8:25pm, 10:30pm.

Battleship: 11:00am, 1:00pm, 5:50pm, 8:30pm.

Silverbird Cinema, SEC, Abuja Ties that Bind:11:20am, 1:35pm, 3:50pm, 6:00pm, 8:20pm.

Men in Black 3: 1:20pm, 2:30pm, 4:40pm, 7:10pm, 9:25pm.

Battleship:11:00am, 1:30pm, 4:00pm, 6:30pm, 9:10pm.

The Vow: 12:30pm, 4:30pm, 8:30pm.

Silverbird Cinema Ceddi Plaza Abuja Men in Black 3: 4:50pm, 6:50pm, 9:00pm.

The Hunger Games: 3:40pm, 8:50pm.

Ghost Rider:12:50pm.

Silverbird Cinema, Port Harcourt Ties that Bind: 2:20pm, 7:00pm.

Men in Black 3: 1:20pm, 3:35pm, 5:50pm, 8:20pm.

Battleship: 12:40pm, 3:20pm, 6:00pm, 8:40pm.

Silverbird Cinema Ibom Tropicana, Uyo 21 Jump Street: 5:00pm, 6:55pm.

The Hunger Games: 12:45pm, 3:40pm, 6:25pm.

Osas: 12:00pm, 2:00pm.

Ozone Cinema, Yaba Ties that Bind:12:25pm.

Men in Black 3 2:15pm, 7:00pm, 9:10pm.

Battleship: 11:15am, 4:25pm.

Dr Seuss: The Lorax: 10:40am.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012—31

CELEBRITY You can see that I’m still writing new songs today, I’m playing them today, they are being played in our radio and TV stations today as I speak to you.

I’m living in today’s world, I may have come from yesterday’s world but you see I live in today’s world, I don’t believe in yesterday. Tomorrow will never come, today is a bad place of tomorrow

BY PETER DURU, MAKURDI

B o n g o s Ikwue,music icon and a living legend turned 70 recently.He gathered broadcasters at Double K Resort in Otukpo, Benue State as a prelude to his birthday anniversary and to announce his yet to be released new musical works.At the conference, he spoke on his music, the Nigerian situation, challenges of the music and film industry and many more.

Excerpt:

Looking at the trend in Nigeria music now, would you say Nigerian artists are playing less of life bands compared to what we had years back?

The motive behind the gathering?

T

he Motive behind

this gathering is to let the world know that I have done some new works that I’m very passionate about. It is a unity project which has six songs.One of the tracks in the album is titled “Nigeria Has Come To Stay”, other tracks include “Mustapher Christopher ”, “Your God Is My God”, Hold On Africa, One United Nigeria and Cock Crow At Dawn. Each of these songs point to the fact that we need to stay united, we need to be tolerant because no country survives without unity. So, I’m not only singing it, I believe in it.

T

he message Iam pro pagating is

that we must learn to live together as one people. The time is now, you see, we have allowed ourselves to be fooled. When the white man first came here, they took the black man as slaves.

But what did the black man do?

They built for the white man, paradise here on earth, not in heaven. White man told black man,’’ hey you! when you die you’ll go to heaven.

But in the mean time, build my paradise for me here on earth.

That’s why I’m not used to playing gospel C M Y K

,

You talk about your peace project, what do you really have in mind?

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songs. I believe people live by what they do and religion tells them what they shouldn’t do.

All Nigerians better know that it is not a mistake that you are made to come from whichever part of the country. We must first come to terms with who we are.This understanding implies that you are a Nigerian and you are going to die as a Nigerian.

We must wake up to this reality. We are big and large with forests and large expense of land,endowed with natural resources.

When are we going to open our eyes and see that the time is now.

I’m living in today’s world,I may have come from yesterday’s world but you see I don’t believe in yesterday

Going down memory lane, how would your compare the music of yesteryears to what we have now?

W

hat we have now is what we have now.

What we had then was

what we had then.

And like I said earlier, we need to be careful concerning what expose to our children to.

hat

is

what I’ve b e e n saying, it’s a matter of time before we start playing again.

Because you cannot carry your CDs all over the places.

I got up just now and I sang with my daughter and you saw the band playing.

You cannot carry your CDs to everywhere in the world, you go on stage and start miming to it. What do you guys watch, have you ever seen a band playing in the US or Russia and the people are miming?

Don’t you think you are failing in your duty? You are the ones who must tell the people of this country how it is done elsewhere, and how for them to do what they are supposed to do. Do a little research and find out where in the world somebody wo u l d s t a n d b e fore his Queen and is miming to CD. It doesn’t happen anywhere.

Where would you want to see Nigerian music in the near future? is a minor as pect, not t h e e n t i r e e n t e rt a i n m e n t . We s i t down here and receive bombardment from t h e w e s t e r n world. Our children cannot do their local dances a n y m o r e . They are watching foreign programmes on our screens.

These programmes are thrown at us by the foreign television stations and our children are watching them with great impunity.

M

usic

At 70, do you intend to retire from music soon?

Retire from anything, no.

It’s music all the way?

I’ve been playi n g m u s i c a n d at the same time, involved in o t h e r things. So, am just carrying on and carrying on.

You have been a musician all through your life.

What would you want to be remembered for? do not want to be rememb e r e d for anything.

When I’m dead, I like to be gone and forgotten comp l e t e l y.

Pe o p l e who want to leave legacies end up stepping on other people’s toes.

When I’ve spent my time on earth, it will be the final thank you to the A l m i g h t y.

The only question I’ll like to ask myself will be, did I put all of my time to maximum use while alive? Once I’ve done that I don’t want to be r e m e m b e r e d for any reason.

I

What of for your music?

Nothing is up to me w h e n l’m g o n e b r o t h e r, I t h i n k that, I will be gone.

32—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

Hi GROOVE

G

rowing Up I came from a humble background, my father was a police officer and a member of the police football team in the early 50s. He began his police career in Lagos before he was later transferred to the then eastern region in 1960 where he worked all through until the outbreak of the civil war and retired in 1970, immediately after the war ended.

Though I was born and brought up in Lagos State, my parents hailed from Ogidi, in Anambra State. I attended my Primary and Secondary schools in Lagos.

Later, I proceeded to Obafemi Awolowo University, where I studied Physical Education.

In 1981, I got enlisted in the Nigerian army and served in various capacities while in service. Before retiring in 2009, I put in 19 years, most of which I spent in the northern part of the country. I retired as the Commandant of the Nigerian Army Sports Camp, Lagos.

Childhood memory While growing up, I was a bit rascally because I was fond of playing football.

Then, my father was the station officer in Adekunle Police station,Lagos. As a child, I would go to the Evans Square with my pals to play football. Most times I did not go unpunished as my father would either flog me or detain me in the police cell.

Surprisingly, when I entered Secondary School, my father purchased my first UK made boot called ‘Gola.’ And each time, I wore the boot to the school, all my classmates would want to borrow it from me.

Really, it was fun and my father ’s gesture encouraged my interest in football. My father did everything to see that I excelled in the game.

Unfortunately, I didn’t go far in football.

R

omance with football Like I said earlier,

— Okaro RENOWNED Military Sports Administrator General Brigadier Emmanuel Chukwudi Okaro (rtd) in this interview with Hi Groove, relives memories of how he fell in love with football. He traced his love for the game to his late father ’s acknowledged skill in football. Excerpts: my late father inspired my interest in football.

He was a fantastic footballer.

In fact, it was as a result of his talent in football that he was recruited into the Police Force. While he was playing for government school in Awka in those days, the colonial police spotted him and brought him to Lagos where he played for the Police machine team.

I remember vividly as he used to talk about Manchester United.During my Secondary School days, I played with footballers like Tunde Martins, and other great names from St. Finbarr’s College. I got more involved in football while I was in the university. I hap-

was leading the football supporters group each time the Police Machine team was playing at the Onikan stadium.

I would mobilise my pals in all the barracks to support the team. My growing up was eventful and my life was centered around football and sports irrespective of the fact that I was a military officer.

C M Y K

*Gen. Brigadier Emmanuel Chukwudi Okaro (Rtd)

My Kind of dress I like wearing suits to social functions. Sometimes, I go for corporate wears like long sleeve shirts, ties and good

When I met my wife, it was nothing much of a stress. She liked me because of the way I dress as a soldier and when I made advances to her, she quickly accepted me

pened to be among the team that played the final match of the Africa University Games.

Also my dad’s position in the Police Force gave me an edge over my peers. Then I

trousers. At cultural events, you could see me in native attires. My mood also dictates what I wear. If I want to attend a party, I go for simple and comfortable outfits like jeans and T-shirt.

Actually, I dress to look nice and perhaps, not to impress anybody e

and

Women I have always loved women right from my Secondary School and University days because of my interest in football. Then in the University, campus girls would always want to mingle with me because of my comportment and performance in the game.

While I was in service, I had male

Smoking and drinking While in the military, I was a heavy smoker but I dumped the habit 10 years ago.

Actually, I stopped smoking while I was playing Golf at the Ikoyi Club. Sometimes, when we teeoff from hole one before we get to hole 18, I would have finished a packet of cigarette. It was as a result of the tension involved in the game especially when money was involved. I continued my smoking habit until one day after the game, I coughed and some black substances came out of my system. I looked at it and felt that I could be suffering from cancer. That was how I stopped smoking.

R

,

M

Gen. Okaro & Family

know what is the cause but I know that most women love to be in the company of military officers.

When I met my wife, it was nothing much of a stress. She liked me because of the way I dressed as a soldier and when I made advances to her, she quickly accepted me. Our marriage has produced two girls and three boys. Most of them have graduated from different Universities in the country.

My third child is following my footsteps because he is now in the Army.

My dad wanted me to excel in football but...

,

By KATE OBODO

and female students who admired me so much because of the way I dressed. In the military, if you don’t dress appropriately, you can’t attract attention. For me, dressing very well was one of my hobbies.

Meeting my Wife Contrary to what people think about military men, I believe they are the most loved people in the whole world. Some women may not like soldiers and I don’t

elaxation I relax more by playing golf. It is a game of life and can be played even at one’s old age. I played tennis and football but I came to realise that at a stage in one’s life, the urge of playing both games won’t be there anymore.

To stay active in sports, I chose the game of golf.

Right now, I play off 17 handicaps as an amateur golfer at the Ikoyi Club 1938 where I became a member since 1992.

For me, by playing golf I have learned to be humble. I can associate with anybody but most times I associate with people that are older than me. Golf is a game where you see different attitudes and if you are not a humble person, you won’t be able to play the game. In golf, you find very erratic people and your ability to cope with them shows the man in you.

My best meal/fruit My best food is rice and beans with plantain. My best fruit is banana and groundnuts. I like banana because of the Iron it contains which is good for the bone.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012—33

C M Y K

34—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012 With PRINCE OSUAGWU princeosuagwu@gmail.com

Three Nokia Asha ranges now in Touch

LG unleashes the gaming potentials in 3D TV

By EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

T

ELEVISION took a new dimension to entertainment on WLAN, enabling users to stay Tuesday, when LG electronics debuted with its first ever OKIA has just added innovations specifically fit for connected while on the move.

Cinema 3D game festival in Nigeria. The LG 3D game festiIt also supports video streamthe touch experience to the purpose. val was staged to demonstrate to the Nigerian public, the its new three Asha models, 305, The beautifully crafted Nokia ing through both GPRS and potential of the 3D television in the gaming environment.

306 and 311. The reason may Asha 311 is a fast and fluid 3.5G WLAN, meaning this handset About 200 youths recruited by LG were on hand to test their not be unconnected to its desire capacitive touchscreen device, truly is a fun way to stay in gaming prowess in the trilling and relaxed atmosphere of touch. to have the next billion con- powered by a 1GHz processor DEEHALL, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

The Nokia Asha 311 is a colsumers connected SMARTly. to provide a great internet exThe 200 gamers for the LG 3D Wars contest,were drawn The company said that the perience. The bright and edgy ourful, compact touch screen from across the 36 states of the federation and FCT. The conthree new phone models have Nokia Asha 305 is a fun and device that comes with all the test is expected to recognise the LG 3D War Champion at the features you’d expect for a fun further expanded the success- affordable phone, featuring the end of the competition, in a grand finale, expected to hold at ful Asha family that was first exclusive Easy Swap dual and easy mobile experience. It Silver Birds Galleria. introduced in October 2011.

SIM. The phone features a boasts of a bright and colourThe winner will coast home with LG’s new 55”inch CineToday, there are 10 Asha de- bright and colorful 3” WQVGA ful, scratch resistant capacitive ma Screen 3D TV to be launched in Nigeria next month. glass screen with polarization vices available in more than 130 resistive touch screen along markets, providing young, so- with Bluetooth and Dual Band filters ensuring users get the cial consumers with a choice of connectivity. Forty EA games best experience from the phones to match their own life- are available for download with unique and visually entertainstyle. every phone as well as a 2MP ing user interface. The Nokia These latest phones, Nokia camera, Nokia Maps and the Asha 311 also features a 3.2MP said, have been designed to revolutionary Nokia Browser camera and pre-installed Noprovide an incredibly rich, which helps significantly low- kia Maps, in addition to the 15 smartphone_like experience to er data costs. Its sister, the No- level pre-bundled version of consumers who want to be set kia Asha 306, is a single SIM Angry Birds.

The pre-loaded social client free from excessive data con- model, and becomes Nokia’s sumption costs and short bat- most affordable Wi_Fi handset makes accessing Facebook, tery life. The Nokia Asha 305, to date. Along with all the great Twitter and many other global Asha 306 and Asha 311 offer a features that come with it, such social networks simple while new, fully re_designed touch as bright and colorful, 3” WQV- Nokia Browser makes using user interface, combining the GA resistive touch screen and mobile internet fast and afford•Contestants showcasing their creativity on LG 3D TV in Lagos. proven ease of use from Nokia’s 40 EA games for download, the able. It also includes the most popular messaging services. heritage with digital design Nokia Asha 306 also provides The estimated retail price for Nokia Asha 305 is EUR 63 and it’s expected to start shipping in the second quarter of 2012. The s technology changes the face of the world, LG appears estimated retail price undaunted in innovation as it has introduced a new smartfor Nokia Asha 306 is phone display that’s expected to come to new handsets in the EUR 68. The Nokia second half of 2012.

Asha 311 has an estiThe smartphone comes with a panel of five inches across, and mated retail price of features a pixel density of 440ppi with an aspect ratio of 16:9, EUR 92. Both devices capable of displaying 1080p HD content. The new display also are expected to start comes with trumps Apple’s retina display, as well as the larger shipping in screens on phones the third like the Galaxy Note •LG’s five-inch LCD disquarter of in terms of size verplay can handle full 1080p 2012. sus pixel density.

HD video The new five-inch display uses LG’s Advanced High Per•New Nokia Asha touch ranges formance In-Plane Switching, APIS technology, which the company claims delivers improved color accuracy, inOR career photographers and mixed, so the user could for instance creased resolution and PPI, other real tech geeks, a new arrange for the camera to start takand greater light transmission technology just debuted to make pho- ing shots in time lapse mode, but for lower power consumption. tography more fun. It is the ioShut- only once the app is triggered by a Though, the company has not ter , a remote-control app/device that sound. The system currently works announced which phones will allows the user to control how his with Canon cameras, along with be featuring the screen, it is DSLR takes photos, via the iPhone, some models of Samsung, Hasseblad rumored that Google’s next iPad or iPod touch. The app allows a and Pentax, while a version for Nexus device will launch in camera which is hard-wired to the Nikon is said to be on the way. the next several months, and phone to be triggered in a number The app works with iPhone modcould very well feature a fiveof ways. els 3 and up, 4th generation iPod inch screen. Others speculate In its single shot mode, ioShutter touch, and all iPads. Prospective usthat Apple is eyeing the Galcan be used to take photos simply by ers can download it for free from the axy Note, and plans to launch touching a control on the iDevice’s App Store, to check out its features a five-inch device of its own. screen. However, it also incorporates in more detail. If you want to actualWith Google’s Android cona motor drive function, timer, time ly use it to take pictures, however, ference a few weeks away, and lapse, sound trigger, movement trig- you will require the dedicated camApple’s iPhone press event, it ger, and bulb mode where the shut- era cord. Although prices currently is expected that the first to reter remains open as long as the user aren’t available on the product webceive LG’s new display will dictates. Those modes can even be site. soon be known.

•Remote camera shutter.......

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... and 5” full HD smartphone display debuts

A

Shutter that allows camera control via iPhone

F

C M Y K

V anguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 15 2012 — 35

C M Y K

HE Police in Kogi State, in collaboration with their counterparts in Edo State, recently recorded a breakthrough by rounding up a gang of vicious criminals that surreptitiously succeeded in penetrating the anti-crime vigilante group in the area called Peace Committee Services. At the end of what they tagged ‘a robust intelligence surveillance that yielded positive dividends,’a popular member of the committee in the Central Senatorial axis of Okene identified as Ahmed Ojapa, a.k.a. Ojo all over, and four other suspects who were allegedly involved in the brutal murder of a popular musician in the area, Momoh Diyo Yusuf, were arrested. Police sources said the gang was also responsibly for other heinous crimes committed in the state in the recent past.

Giving details of how they ended up in police net,Police sources said, “On Tuesday, May 9, Ahmed Ojapa and his colleagues waylaid one Momoh Jimoh Diyo Yusuf who was a popular Musician in the area, killing him. They also made away with his Honda Odyssey car along with two other vehicles from other unfortunate victims and proceeded to attack Bank PHB and Igara Police Station, a border town between Edo and Kogi States.

Crime Alert learnt that the musician, MomohJimoh Yusuf, who was returning from a social rally in the day,met his untimely end in the hands of members of the Peacevigilante groups turned robbers. He reportedly ran into the gang as they were carrying out an operation and, apparently because he has seen their faces and could

JUNE 15, 2012

,

36 — Vanguard, FRIDAY,

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However, their evil deed was exposed as people of the area did not view the victim as not only a musician but a political commentator that speaks on behalf of the poor masses

,

•The suspects

Shocker for the Police in Kogi

By BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO, Lokoja identify them, the gang pumped hot leads of bullet into his body after which they dragged him out of his vehicle amidst their victim’s passionate plea for mercy which went unheeded. They reportedly dumped the body beside a bush and fled from the scene.

H

owever, their evil deed was exposed as people of the area did not view the victim as not only a musician but a political commentator that speaks on behalf of the

...as robbery gang penetrates vigilante group poor masses. Piqued by his gory death, they must have apparently embarked on fasting and prayers to expose his killer. Luckily, their prayer was answered few weeks later as the Police in Kogi State swung into action. In what Kogi State Commissioner of Police,Mohamed Kastina described as ‘a robust intelligence surveillance that yielded good result’,

suspected perpetrators of the crime were arrested.

Investigation by the state police force revealed patently that, Ahmed Ojape has allegedly been taking advantage of his being a member of peace-vigilante group in Otutuwa ward, Okene to commit crime as he and his members were said to have confessed to other crimes; notably the attack on UBA

branch of Ajaokuta and the razing of Ajaokuta Area Commander ’s Office in January. Though some of the gang members are still at large, the police command however arrested four other suspects along with Ahmed.

They are, Hassan Anikwale, Yaya Mohammed a.k.a. Egg, Abdulrahab Dada Ogehe and Mallam Aliyu Raji Ayo; all are members of the peace Committee.

Confirming the arrest of the notorious criminals, the State Police boss,Mohammed Katsina assured of the command’s efforts at nipping the incessant crime in the area in the bud stating that the police force are now battle ready to combat crime and criminal tendencies in the state. He also said the command will work with the INTERPOL in the arrest of some of the fleeing robbers linked with the Ankpa bank robbery of February.

Police in Apapa declare war against criminals ….. avoid crime or relocate, DPO warns

By IFEANYI OKOLIE

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HE Police at Apapa, Lagos Sate have declared fresh onslaught against crime and criminality in the area with a stern warning to perpetrators to either desist from their nefarious activities or re-locate somewhere else.

The newly posted Divisional Police Officer in the area, Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP, Usman Ndababor said in order to achieve this goal, he has already mapped out some notorious points for serious raids with a view to driving away all criminal elC M Y K

ements.

According to him, “Some notorious roundabouts like; Kingsway, Kalakuta, Nigeria Airways, Maybin road, Liverpool etc which are criminally infested, especially late at nights like 12 midnight till dawn, have been brought into focus.

These criminals usually use motorcycles to waylay unsuspecting passersby and even motorists coming from various homes and forcefully dispossess them of their valuable personal belongings. Some are even killed or wounded.

That is why we are coming out

to send a signal that it is no longer business as usual.

“We are ready to sustain the raid to ensure that all criminal activities are reduced to the barest minimum. We have also strategized over the menace of those that hijack trucks and this time around, it is no longer going to be the same story.

We will go all out for them and those caught will be severly dealt with. We will also ensure that this time around, residents of the area will comfortably sleep with both eyes closed. To this end, we have already mapped out the area into three criminal zones.

They are the violent, moderate and social zones and we have different strategies in bringing down criminality in these areas. I urge residents of the area to join hands in fighting crime because it is not just the responsibility of the police alone but that of all of us. Truck drivers who use to entertain fears as a result of attacks by these hoodlums should no longer entertain fears,”he sated.

•Mrs. Ngozi Braide, the new PPRO, Lagos State Police Command.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012—37

Molue: The ‘dinosaur' fights back Continues from yesterday

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ITH their numbers de creasing every day and the BRT and LAGbuses taking over their routes, it would seem as if the days of the molue are numbered. Have the molues become an endangered species that might soon become extinct?

Vanguard decided to go find out whether these ‘dinosaurs’ still plied the road.

The journey began at 5:00 a.m. when I arrived at the Iyana-Ipaja end of Lagos. I was not expecting the surprise that awaited me. To begin with, the molue buses were parked in a very unusual neat and orderly manner, with no conductor screaming his lungs out to attract commuters.

Commuters had to inquire first about the destination of any of the buses before they joined the particular bus of their choice.

Interior of the buses It would seem that commuters entered the molue buses out of the choice for an alternative. In the guise of finding out the right bus that might take me to my destination, I took the opportunity to look into each of the buses.

My first shock was the state of the interior of the buses. The entire interior of nearly all the buses had been repainted and were looking new. It was a far-cry from the interior of the ‘old’ molue, which was careless about its interior.

The present molue had sliding windows and could be operated depending on the amount of air one wanted to come into the bus.

The seats had new upholstery with soft cushions and were neat.

There were no wooden seats again. Next was the total cleanliness of the bus. The floor looked

I had dressed up in faded jeans ignated bus/stops along its was a new look molue on the and a T-shirt in anticipation of a routes towards Oshodi and at roads. However, I still had one hectic and very rough ride, but it each bus-stop gaily dressed Ni- nagging doubt in mind. I could turned out that I was the only gerians took their time to enter bet that the molue buses that person not ‘properly dressed’ the bus. There was less discus- plied the Obalende-Mushin and and I looked out of place. I looked sion these days, the only one that Obalende-Bariga routes still bearound to assure myself that I was occurred, were between two or longed to the old era - dirty and in a molue bus. I saw Nigerians three commuters who had en- poorly managed. I took the first dressed up in very decent attires tered the bus the same time. bus to Mushin and was taken and were not looking harassed These days most commuters aback to hear the news of the as commuters of the days of yore. seem to keep to themselves until hour coming out of one of the speakers. After the news, a Sitting beside me was a very they got to their destination.

When we finally got to Bolade young man dressed in white lace young lady and I asked her why she took the molue instead of the bus-stop, I went in search of some material climbed into the driver’s other ‘modern’ buses. She re- of the operators of the molue bus- compartment and tuned the raplied that for her the molue was es. Alhaji Morufu Ajibade, said dio to one of the frequency modfar more efficient than these so- in the height of the glory of the ulated (FM) stations and the called modern buses. The driv- molue bus, he owned nine of “bumper to bumper” hit sound ers of these modern buses most such buses. He is from Kwara of Wande Coal blared out of the of the time were nowhere to be State, but came to Lagos to search speakers.

My journalistic instinct forced found when the bus was filled for better living condition. He up. She said she had just come down from one of such buses before she decided to join the molue bus.

When I asked her whether she was not hesitant in joining the molue after the numerous stories told about it, her reply shocked me.

She said the molue of today is still the best form of transport, as it was punctual, neat and very airy. As a closing remark she said she would only prefer the BRT and LAG buses over the new •Molue buses waiting for their passengers at Bolade, Oshodi molue buses if they installed air-conditioners in them. bought his first Mercedes Benz me to ask him whether he was As the bus got gradually filled 911 engine from the CFAO and the driver and why this form of up, I watched with anticipation then built up the metal body. music. He replied that he earlier when a basket of fish, foodstuffs From this single bus, he made on noticed that most of his comor poultry birds would be pushed enough money to increase his muters always had on ear phones under one of the seats. None of fleet. He ascribed the landed and were always listening either these ever happened until the property that he now owns to the to good music or news, so he felt bus was filled up with commut- wealth brought to him in the if he could provide such services molue business. it would attract commuters to his He said he can modestly say bus. that he is a contented man with This has turned out to be the over ten houses dotted over La- gimmick. The bus that I took to gos. He, however, said that his Mushin was filled mostly with fleet has been reduced to four, very young Nigerians, who enas he had sold the remaining five. joyed the music being reeled out Asked if he had joined the new in the bus. The music was an era of owning a BRT bus, Alhaji admixture of old school tunes Ajibade said like every profes- down to the modern indigenous sion, there was bound to be in- rap music by 9ice, Dagrin and ers. The entire process of getting novations that would bring chal- Ruggeman. the bus filled took nothing more lenges.

To be part of the new world, Quest for than 25 minutes. Our driver was a middle-aged man whom I there must be re-training and dedicated lanes guessed would be in his mid-thir- change of tactics. This is what is ties. He was dressed in native happening to the molue buses.

At Mushin I had a chat with attire made from our local fabrics. "Government has not banned us Bayo Ogunmola, Secretary of the After putting on the engine, the entirely from the road but given local NURTW unit in the area. next thing I heard was the us a choice to match what they He was of the opinion that if the whooshing sound of the fan are providing the commuter. Any government could give the molabove his head. However, there molue operator who wants to at- ue buses the same dedicated were still some features common tract commuters must change his lane preferences as it gave the to the molue that still occurred. orientation. You must have no- BRT buses, they would take back Some commuters still stood along ticed the changes in the molue all their ‘lost’ passengers. “As if the aisles of the bus, but they buses. They are now neat, cheap- getting dedicated lanes is not went not cramped up like in the er and more acceptable” Alhaji enough, members of LASTMA olden days. The itinerant mer- Ajibade concluded. are conniving with the BRT opThe second part of my journey erators to harass us. Where do chants were still on the bus, all trying to make a sale for the day. took me from Oshodi to Obal- they want us to go to” Mr. Bayo The new molue stopped at des- ende. The story was the same. It

,

The present molue had sliding windows and could be operated depending on the amount of air one wanted to come into the bus. The seats had new upholstery with soft cushions and were neat

like it had just been swept. There were small loud-speakers located at the four corners of the bus and blaring from them was the latest Fuji music.

I also noticed that pasted inside the bus were posters of new generation Fuji musicians and some hip-hop acts. After deciding to board the bus going to Oshodi, I found my way to the front seat that was directly behind the driver to give me a vantage view of the entire operations of the bus. As I looked up, I noticed that the driver’s compartment though still demarcated from the commuter section by a wire mesh now had a fan directly above where the driver sat.

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intoned. From Mushin I took the molue going to Bariga. The journey from Bariga to Obalende was no different, only that the music blaring out in the bus was totally of the Fuji gender. At Obalende, I sought of the views of one Obina Okoye, a fast-food retailer, who said he was a regular molue bus commuter, though he had a car. Since he came to Lagos in 1987, he had been patronizing the molue buses.

They had always been efficient and punctual, despite the few short-comings being dirty and stuffy, people complained about.

The journey was for a few minutes and you would be off the bus.

At least it is expected that one should be able to bear a few minutes of inconvenience to reach his desired destination. He said he wakes up very early every day except on Sundays to board the molue from Okokomaiko to Obalende to open his shop because he has customers who want his services as early as 6:00 a.m. He said the new-look molue was the

response to the changing lifestyle of peoples. Gone were the days that traders or business men moved back and forth with the goods. Modernity has brought with it better ways to have goods secured in one place and so it was the retailer who shuttled back and forth.

The market women that used to carry their goods into the molue of the old, have either been replaced by a modern generation of traders or they must have found a new way to stock the goods in the market. “So to meet the demands of the modern age and competitions, operators of the molue had to join in the race of providing quality service or be phased out completely. But I think they are now wiser and a fighting back,” Obina concluded.

As I took my last bus from Obalende back to Oshodi, I knew that this dinosaur called molue was going to give the other buses a good run for their money.

This dinosaur is fighting back, let no one be deceived, just take a ride in one of them. If not for anything but for the fun of it and let it be on record that you boarded one before they eventually go off the road, who knows. It might turn out to be a story you would tell to your grand children.

38—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

BY ISHOLA BALOGUN

SLAM is submission to the will of Allah. For one who submits, a mere declaration or display of belief is not enough, his or her heart and soul will certainly be put to test.

Allah (swt) will test him to see whether the faith he displays is firmly rooted in his heart or is it merely on the surface and thus is knocked off by a slight wind; whether he will continue to have faith in Allah when in calamity as he does when in comfort; whether he will continue to follow His commandments or his own desires; whether he lives a righteous life or lives according to the dictates of his soul; whether he will continue to remember and worship Him if given bounties and comforts of life. Allah (SWT) will test him to see if his faith, trust, and love of Him is unconditional or is conditioned with good health, accident free and comfortable life free from stress and anxiety.

Trials prepare the believers for spiritual development on earth, calamities provide an opportunity to think about one’s error and sins.

Tribulation is a lesson in Tawheed, faith and trust in Allah. It is crucial sometimes in the attainment of spiritual status. Calamities drive out self-admiration from our hearts and make us more humble before Allah, calamities strengthen people and remind them of their sins and bring them back to repentance.

Calamities make people come to terms with the true nature of this world- its transience, and show us that true life is beyond the

I

Tel: 08098097290 email: isholaism@yahoo.co.uk

DANA CRASH: Sober reflection •Dealing with grief and trials scenes and characters of this world. Above all, it prepares us for paradise; Man will not yearn for Paradise unless he sees the bitterness of this world. As Muslims, we should understand that Allah (swt) may test us with various calamities. We sometimes feel depress and sad in these situations and wonder why Allah (SWT) allowed them to happen. How can one explain a whole family whose kids were visiting the country for the first time and all wiped out in a crash, or how another parents sent their kids out moment before the plane crashed on them killing the parents and saving the kids. How do you juxtapose the death of a guest when the host was out to get a drink for his guest. It shows we are weak slaves of Allah who have no control over situations that affect us.

There is no power except with Allah. At that point, put your trust in Him, turn to Him with humility of a weak slave and one in need of His assistance, the Most Strong, the Almighty, may He be glorified.

The June 3 calamity calls for sober reflection. 153 people in one fell swoop!

Dozens of residents and passers-by killed at the comfort of their homes.

Earlier that day, not less than 10 innocent lives were blown off by the terrorist group in Bauchi. That same day, an auto crash also occurred along Ibadan Expressway killing scores of people. More deaths were also recorded on the same road the previous day caused by a tanker fire. Few days ago, several people were also killed in Jos

with scores receiving treatment in hospitals.

It is a huge loss for a nation.

It is indeed one of worst periods in the life of this nation. If you put all these together, not less than 200 died on that ill-fated day.

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“Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: “We believe,” and will not be tested. And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allah will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars, (although Allah knows all that before putting them to test).”

(Quran, 29:2-3)

see where we have faltered, to help us see subjectively the very essence of our living, (not to amass wealth, but to live for one another and look forward to inherit the hereafter) to mold our attitudes; refine our actions

O’ Allah, this calamity is too great for us to bear, we humble ourselves before thee, if this is caused by our iniquities, forgive us, cleanse us and give us tranquility...

Peoples’ lives have been shattered, the airspace is not regulated for safety, the roads are death traps, even when people choose not to go out, they are not even safe at their own homes.

Many children and youths have been orphaned, many have had their dreams shattered.

May almighty Allah blessed the souls of the departed and give their families the strength to bear the loss.

Allah, the supreme power knows why it happened.

We certainly cannot question Him but to still submit to His will.

Trials and tribulations are part of life. According to the Quran, we are forewarned of trials. We should rather see what happened as a test of faith in Allah. Testing by Allah is not in order that it may add to His power or knowledge, it is not to make Him do what he would not want to do, He has the absolute power and knows all and capable of doing all things. But it is in order to help us retrace our steps to

,

and purge us of bad acts and to put the question before us – Will you obey Him? As human beings, it is difficult to exercise calmness at a time like this.

Man was created very impatient and this manifests especially in the face of adversity, but we have to trust in God and continue to pray for the deceased. The Quran says: Truly man was created very impatient: fretful when evil touches him, and niggardly when good reaches him. (70:19-21) This verses explain the two categories of people when faced with challenges. It is meant to guide us in doing the right thing even in the face of challenges.

The first kind of people are those who desperately seek Allah’s help and forgiveness when in calamity. Then when Allah (SWT) delivers them from their calamities, they forget Allah and go back to their usual life of disobedience to Allah. Allah (SWT) says: When We make mankind

Misconception about 27th day of Rajab

By Harun Razaq FOLLOWING the controversy over the date of Lailatul Miraj which was th believed to have occured on 27 day of Rajab, I therefore present below some of the views of scholars concerning the day and the correct position on it.

The believe that the great event of Mi’raj (ascension of the Holy Prophet (SAW) to the heavens) took place in the night of 27th of Rajab; a renounced Islamic Scholar Shaykh Safur –Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri in his book entitled: Ar-Raheeq AlMakhtum (the Sealed Nectar) award winning book that was awarded first prize by the Muslim World League in Worldwide competition on the biography of the prophet held at Makkah Mukaram in 1399 (1979), page 178, presented 6 different views of scholars concerning the

Miraj date. Also, a professors of Islamic History in his boosk entitled Surat Al-Nabi. Muhammad Mohar Ali (1997) and the orientalists, Madinah, P. 826. Writes that opinions differ among scholars concerning the actual date of Miraj etc.

Attaching special merit to ibadah such as fasting, tilawah, tahjud etc, on the 27th of Rajab. According to Hadith scholars, there is no proof in the Shari‘ah to support these practices. Although, all the recognized modes of ‘ibadah are commendable any time, and obviously the 27th night of Rajab is not an exception. Therefore, if someone performs any recognized ‘ibadah in this night from this point of view, nothing can stop him from doing so, and he will be entitled to the reward allocated for that recognized ‘ibadah insha-Allah. But it is not permissible to believe that

performing ‘ibadah on this day is more meritorious or carries more thawab like ‘Lailatul-qadr’ etc.

The great scholar of Islam Shykh Ibn Bazz has this to say “It is an act of bid‘ah to single out the month of Rajab for offering Salat-ul-Ragha’ib or for celebrating the 27th night, which people believe to have been the night when Isra’ and Mi‘raj took place. These are invented practices that have no basis in Shari‘ah.

Analytical scholars have warned against them and we have wrote and stressed that Salat-ul-Ragha’ib, which is offered on the first Friday night of Rajab, is a bid‘ah. It is also a bid‘ah to celebrate the 27th night of Rajab believing it was the Night of Isra’ and Mi‘raj. There is no proof in the Shari‘ah to support these practices. There is no report specifying the exact night when Isra’ and Mi‘raj took place.

taste of some mercy after adversity hath touched them, behold! they take to plotting against Our Signs!

Say: “Swifter to plan is Allah!”

Verily, Our messengers record all the plots that ye make! (Quran 10:12) The second kind are those who worship Allah and follow his commandments so long as they enjoy a comfortable or trouble-free life. When calamities strike them, they break down out of frustration and become disobedient to Allah and his ordinances. These are people who only want a comfortable life in return for their worship of Allah (SWT).

About them, Allah says: Among men is he who worships Allah, while remaining on the borderline; if any good befalls him, he is satisfied; but if a trial afflicts him, he utterly turns away. He will incur loss both of this world and the Hereafter. That

Reaction on existence’

indeed is a clear loss.

Yet, when they felt Our Punishment (coming), behold, they (tried to) flee from it. Flee not, but return to the good things of this life which were given you, and to your homes in order that ye may be called to account. (Quran 21:12-13) This is a warning from Allah that we should not fall into any of these categories.

A true believer is one who worships Allah (SWT) come rain come shine. When in calamity, he remains patient and pleased with Allah, and when something good happens to him, he thanks Allah. Thus he always earns rewards and Allah’s pleasure while he lives.

Prayer O’ Allah this calamity is too great for us to bear, we humble ourselves before thee, if this is caused by our iniquities, forgive us, cleanse us and give us tranquility, let your blessings descend on us and remove from our land all the machinations of evil, grant the families of the deceased the serenity and fortitude to bear the loss and soften the hearts of the evil doers and bring them to repentance. Make our leaders do what is right, let your light of guidance shine upon our leaders to lead us aright and make the followers accept your judgment. May Allah's blessings continue to abide with our leader Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) his household and all his followers. Amin.

‘Towards

Peaceful

Co-

Dear Sir, I read your column in the Vanguard newspaper of Friday, May 4, 2012. Though a Christian, I must say that your article was among the best I’ve read so far on the issue of co-existence among the faiths.

You said something rather poignant - “In a contemporary multi-religious society like ours, it is imperative that we are friendly and kind in calling nonMuslims to Islam. Our character and manners as Muslims will affect people’s attitude towards Islam more than what we say. If we behave nicely, as we ought to do, the nonMuslims will see the impact of Islam on us and that will be easy for them to embrace”.

This, I believe, should apply to all faiths. If adherents were to just practice their faith as stipulated by the sacred books, we would not have as much problems in the world.

It’s not about people ‘knowing’ that Islam preaches peace, but that Islam’s and other adherents PRACTICE PEACE. But I also remember that I lived in Kaduna for 11 years and I’ve never seen man’s cruelty to man as in the behavior of Muslim fundamentalists. They preach in open places in abusive and provocative manner. At little or no prompting, they take the cudgel and murder fellow citizens, just because they are of a different faith. Today, Kaduna metropolis has been sharply divided along religious lines - Barnawa for the Christians and Rigasa for the Muslims (just to mention a few). The 2002 crisis was the worst. My parents who had planned on living like forever in Kaduna, left to start all over in Abuja, with broken hearts. They had witnessed the killings and maiming of human beings from their bedroom window.

I can also add the number of lives lost due to change of religious faith or difference of opinion or rumour mongering ( a.k.a Akaluka in Kano) or the discrimination.

Why are you asking us to ‘correctly understand the ideology of Islam’ when what we see is violence, hatred, murder, cruelty, etc. My Muslim friends are so unhappy at the turn of events and have taken pains to educate us and their children especially, that Islam is peaceful because they live what they preach. From what I see, only Muslims in the South are giving us hope that Islam is different from what we see and I am encouraged.

Please enjoin your fellow clerics that now is the time to speak, teach, preach, the ideology of Islam and encourage fellow Muslims to distance themselves publicly from the violence that we see and hear. Your article reaches out to journalists to help propagate the voices of peace, kindness, good conduct, friendship, etc.

I pray that they respond positively. May God bless you.

Edobong Akpabio

Vanguard,

LIBRA; Tension within the domestic scene will start to ease off. Yet you will need to watch what you do within your base till after 10.15pm tonight.

SCORPIO; Both yourself and other important personalities to you are beginning to see things from same point of view making it easy for you to eliminate unnecessary rift SAGITTARIUS; Venus moves into a positive angle to your Star and encourages peaceful settlement.

Exhibition of maturity on your part will favour you better.

—39

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

VIRGO; This is not the right time to rely on promises made by others. Continue to take matters-of-theheart seriously. Reason with your reliable associates

FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

LEISURE

YOUR LUCK TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

The best education

N

OW you will like to ask me, are there no committed, dedicated and disciplined men and women in the university? My answer to that is in form of ques-

tion: What is the news if a dog bites a man?

One of the greatest problems besetting our country today is the nature and quality of graduates churned

TERROR MUDA

out of our universities.

Many of such graduates are simply not qualified to man the commanding sectors of the nation. Let us agree the facilities are

in “Never say goodbye”

not there, but the greatest problem is un-seriousness on the part of students. Now tell me, of what use is knowledge that cannot be applied?

Think about it!

By Kola Fayemi

CAPRICORN; Gradually you are dropping aggressive approach you have adopted in the last few days to the betterment of your cause. Remain practical till after 10.15pm AQUARIUS; Better than yesterday; however that is not to say you should throw caution to the wind.

Improvement on your love life indicated. Try to comport yourself.

PISCES; After a few days of fun you may need to settle down to serious business. Those of you working till very late evening will need to be more careful till after 10.15pm. Reason with your tried and trusted old hands(friends) ARIES; Venus at positive angle boosts your sparkling personality to the betterment of your cause.

Could be a nice day for the-young-at-heart TAURUS; It is important you don’t allow your mind to wander unnecessarily so that minor but costly mistakes would be averted. Avoid late evening confusion.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

GEMINI; Recent tension generated by controversy over money will start to ease off. Be more vigilant if you are working late in the evening.

CANCER;. Other people will continue to have their says and if you try to indoctrinate them tensed atmosphere will be aggravated. Be patient LEO; Entrance of romantic Venus into your Star Sign will enhance your prospects. Both financial and love related success are possible.

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

Would my life be stable?

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Dear Joshua, I want to know about my future, especially what I should expect from my love life both in the immediate and far future. However that is not to say I am not interested in good financial standing.

Ajayi, Epe. Dear Ajayi, Although there will be a particular time you will need to be more careful so that you will not gamble with love as predicted under your love life.

The love of luxury comes from your stelliu-Taurus which must not be totally discouraged but should not be allowed to go beyond your control. Yes envy and jealousy can creep in as indicated by the oppositions between your natal Venus/Saturn in Taurus and Jupiter in Scorpio, but that is not enough excuse for either failure or manipulation of occult powers against you.

The most influential planet during your birth hour is Venus-the planet of MONEY and LOVE. You are the romantic type whose magnetic personality and open handedness are sources of big trap to his members of opposite sex. As handsome as you are you truly crave stability in your love life/home and the happiness you desired will be yours. You will need to watch carefully around and during your 44th year on earth as you may be tempted to gamble with matters-ofthe-heart.

Commen3

by Lawrence Akapa

40—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

N/E elders parley on poverty, insecurity, unemployment

BY SUZAN EDEH AUCHI—THE Con cerned North-East Elders Forum, CNEEF, has expressed worry over the high rate of poverty, unemployment and educational backwardness in in the region, adding that the problems had been compounded by the current state of insecurity in the region.

Waziri of Bauchi, Alhaji Mohammed Bello, said this, yesterday, at the inaugural meeting of CNEEF, in Bauchi, pointing out that the zone was now a shadow of itself.

Bello spoke against the backdrop of consistent bomb attacks in the region in the last two years.

“In the past, the NorthEast region was a model in robust political estab-

B

SEMINAR: From left,Chief Sylva Emoekpere (Area Director), HRH Yibo Buowari Brown (Guest Speaker) and Dr. Ayodele Fagbemi, at an Eckankarorganised seminar, recently.

From left, Bro. Mike Nwojei, Maryland Sub-Council Deputy Grand Knight, Alhaja R. Olaniyan, Principal, Agboju Junior Secondary School, Lady Modupe Aruya, President, Maryland Sub-Council, Ladies of St. Mulumba, Dr. Paramole Olawale, Senior Lecturer, Lagos State University, Ojo, Bro. Bernard Nkwo, Maryland Sub-Council Grand Knight and Mrs. Harriet Ogbobire of Bessie-Joy, Lead Discussants/Motivational Speaker, during an anti-abortion/pre-marital sex lecture organised by the Order of the Knights of St. Mulumba Maryland Sub-Council for the pupils and students in Lagos.

Okoye charges FG on oil subsidy probe report

BY EMEKA MAMAH ADUNA—THE Hu man Rights Monitor, HRM, has warned the Federal Government against using the current

K

charges of bribery or inducement between Mr Femi Otedola and the Chairman of House of Representatives' Committee on oil subsidy, Mr. Farouk Lawan, to hood-

Mimiko hikes leprosarium inmates' stipends KURE—AS part of activities marking the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election believed to have produced Chief M.K.O. Abiola as its winner, Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, has increased the monthly package of inmates of Ago Ireti Leprosarium in Akure.

The governor also offered employment for 12 of the graduate children

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Exhibition HE Lagos New Prod uct Expo 2012, an exhibition for business networking and organisations holds between August 24 and 26, at Catholic Church of the Presentation, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.

It is organised by Reli Communications, a strategic Marketing/PR Intelligence consultancy firm in conjunction with the church.

C M Y K

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of the inmates.

Speaking during a visit to the leprosarium, Mimiko accompanied by his wife, Olukemi, who donated cash and foodstuff to the inmates, announced an increase in their monthly stipend from N8,000 to N10,000.

He said: “If the people in this situation could sacrifice themselves and succeeded in training their children, they deserve to be assisted.

If we have the evidence because we don’t want to recruit from outside, they will be employed by the state government.

“That was what the late MKO Abiola stood for in his life. We knew him as a cheerful giver. That was what democracy represents; it is about service to the people and government has a responsibility in a democratic setting to enunciate policies that would empower people like these.

wink Nigerians on the trial of those involved in the oil subsidy scandal.

In a statement, entitled, ‘’The fuel subsidy probe report, allegations of bribery and the issue of due process,’’ its Executive Director, Mr Festus Okoye, HRM condemned what it described as, ‘’an orchestrated, choreographed and wellresourced campaign aimed at linking the House leadership to every civil or criminal infraction of the law by any member of the House of Representatives or members of standing or ad-hoc Committees of the House.’’

Okoye said: ‘’This linkage campaign rather than abate with the above average performance of the leadership of the House of Representatives has intensified as some powerful forces that have over the years held the commonwealth of the Nigerian people hostage are peeved at the audacity, sense of purpose and focussed leadership of the House leadership and have deployed their vicious attack arsenal with the sole purpose of either pulling down the House leadership or discrediting.’’

lishment and administration; first class scholarship, well-rooted in economic independence and social cohesion. ’’Today, the region has not only become a shadow of itself, but it is in a selfinflicted destruction, pervasive insecurity, the

2015: Ezeife urges Ndigbo to woo others to clinch presidency

BY BASHIR ADEFAKA WKA—F O R M E R governor of old Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, has asked Igbo people to start a campaign by negotiating with all the ethnic groups in the country to attract their sympathy if they hoped to produce the

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Uduaghan empowers 25 physically-challenged persons

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—THE Delta State Government has empowered 25 physically-challenged persons in the state with grinding machines, shoe making equipment, phone call business equipment, digital cameras, colour photo printing machines, hairdressing equipment and mobility aids, among others.

At the presentation of the items, Executive Assistant to the Governor on Physically-Challenged, Ms. Omasan Buwa, said the government was committed to their welfare and commended them for their understanding.

Urging them not to

economy is in a shambles with agriculture and animal husbandry destroyed. ''Education is in a state of decay, moral degeneration on the ascendency, collapse of industrial activities and stagnation becoming the order of the day.”

waiver in their support for the Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan-led administration, Buwa said the government had good things in store for them.

Buwa, who commended Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan for his love, passion and care for the physically-challenged, enjoined the beneficiaries to put the items into good use to enhance their living standards.

In his remarks, coordinator of the physicallychallenged in the state, Mr Isaac Obuche, urged his colleagues to be supportive of the present administration, adding that the era of protest and blocking of streets was over.

president of the country in 2015.

Ezeife said in a message to Vanguard that he had always been an architect of Igbo corporate campaign for the topmost position in the country, adding that individual Igbo aspirants must not engage in any campaign until other Nigerians had bought the idea that it was their turn to produce the president of the country after over 50 years of independence.

The former governor was reacting to publications by a section of the media that he had nominated Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, for the position.

He said: “It appears that some people are desirous of preventing me from playing the active role I want to play in the making of an Igbo president of Nigerian extraction.I want to be a neutral promoter. I want the Igbo to engage in corporate campaign for about one year, that is, South-East Zone meets and negotiates with the other five zones for their support; Nd’igbo soliciting support from Ijaw, Eket, Bini, Hausa, Zuru, Idoma, Igala, Yoruba and other ethnic groups.''

Warri refinery boss denies poluting host communities

BY EMMA AMAIZE & AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE

W

ARRI—MANAG ING Director of Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited, Ekpan, Delta State, Mr. Simon Ehiemua, yesterday, denied the allegation that the company was polluting its host communities with hazardous emissions of carbon black soot from its production plant.

He also said the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) did not order that the company be shut for al-

legedly polluting environment of its host communities.

Ehiemua told Vanguard that: “First of all, there is no allegation by any of our host communities, that we are polluting their environment. Nobody from the host community has ever come to us. We have five host communities and none of them had told us that they had any issue.

“Again, it is not even correct that the House of Representatives committee visited WRPC; they never visited WRPC. The committee that visited us was the Senate Committee and at no

time during the visit of the committee was the issue of pollution discussed. They did not order WRPC to be shut.

Meeting HE monthly meeting of Ijebu-Ode Grammar School Old Boy Association, JOGS, 74/79 set, holds on June 17, at Ayotola Ogunnaike Avenue, Isasi Road, Akute, Ogun State, by 3pm.

In a statement by the association's President and Secretary, Tola Bankole and Tola Omodeyi, the host is Dr. Dolapo Ajanlekoko.

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012—41

FAROUK LAWAN:

The unmaking of a tragic hero FAROUK Lawan, a man who donned the toga of integrity is brought to public spectacle in a sting operation centered around alleged $3 million bribe!

W

HEN former President Olusegun Obasanjo on May 22, 2012, said, ‘’today, rogues, armed robbers are in the state Houses of Assembly and the National Assembly,’’ both the ‘honourable and distinguished’ lawmakers, were perhaps the only Nigerians that reacted to the contrary.

In unison the legislators rose to defend their integrity, which they claimed was being shredded by the ex-President. ‘’We actually feel that the former President would help the legislature and indeed also help Nigeria in the new spirit of transparency and openness by assisting the NASS by naming those that he knows in the NASS as either rogues or criminals. That would help us to be able to sanitise” senate spokesman Senator Enyinniya Abaribe said in his reaction.

Donning the cap of integrity Hardly had the dust raised by the insinuation settled than the Farouk Lawan affair begin to unravel.

Unlike, Obasanjo’s alarm which allegedly indicted the majority of the legislators, the present scandal revolves around one man – Lawan, who ironically has all this while donned the cap of integrity.

Lawan it would be remembered was the chairman of the Integrity Group, a group of legislators that famously claimed to be purists during the Patricia Etteh affair.

The alleged crime: Lawan, it is alleged, had in his capacity as the Chairman of the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee on fuel subsidy, demanded and received $620, 000, as part payment of a $3million bribe to exonerate Femi Otedola and his companies from indictment in the investigations into the subsidy scam perpetrated by oil importers.

Otedola, claimed that Lawan, and the Secretary of the

committee, Mr. Boniface Emenalo, collected $620,000 from him in a sting operation masterminded by the security agencies.

“When he (Lawan) demanded the bribe, I called the agencies. That is because I had nothing to hide. When the bribe was paid, why did he not call and report it to the agencies if he had nothing to,” the Zenon boss claimed.

The surprise/confusion However, for a people, who before now believed in Lawan’s integrity exaltations having same man at the centre of this controversy, has remained a shocking development.

Besides the public mood, this development has reportedly upset the leadership of the House, given that the man in the eye of the storm, had always been relied upon each time the integrity of the House is being questioned at the court

,

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

power, he quickly t u r n e d against her for some yet undisclosed reasons and marshaled the Integrity Group that forced her out of office in October 2007.

“I was elected to protect the interest of the Nigerian people and that is what I have been *Farouk Lawan: Denies bribery allegation doing and will continue to do. I have nothing against the Speaker, but I was elected What is happening is a reality proper investigation should be to protect the interest of people of what Obasanjo said few done to clear contentious of Nigeria and that is what the weeks back. I can tell you that issues. issue bothers on,” he said on Obsanjo had background of ‘’I wept from the bottom of my his reasons for fighting Etteh. what was on that was why he heart concerning Farouk made that statement.”

Lawan, because he is one Still regretting that Lawan is person among the legislators at the centre of the controversy, that the people respect so Igbokwe, who is a leading much. He is one of the people voice of the opposition, said, that Nigerians regard as "what is going on would have different from the fold. We have grave implications for the been looking at him as among report on the fuel subsidy probe the few people, whose voices because, it is now a distraction are respected among for calls for the implementation Nigerians,’’ he noted. of the report.’’

As far as he is concerned, Not done, he suggested thus: ‘’having confessed that he And the general anger: "whatever that is happening accepted the money, he should Regardless of whatever now, the allegations against be investigated and the truth credential he has claimed, the Farouk’s committee is a call for unearthed. there should not be ensuing development has the EFCC and other relevant any hiding place for agencies to get serious and lawbreakers. I am highly stirred general anger.

Expressing his disgust, bring, whoever that is culpable disappointed that somebody Publicity Secretary of Lagos to book, because whether that we are holding in high State Chapter of the Action Farouk had integrity before esteem is being accused of Congress of Nigeria,ACN, Mr. now does not matter, what we financial irresponsibility.”

Continuing, Akpocha said, “a Joe Igbokwe, described the need is a proper investigation.

Farouk is just one person, we thorough investigation should development as unfortunate, should be looking at the big be carried out. We should use adding that Lawan had been picture on the matter.’’ somebody as a scapegoat in this the hope of the generality of country, for how long should we Nigerians. keep regarding some people as Don’t refer matter to He said, “the situation sacred cows??

The integrity of ethics committee portends a grave danger for the house is now at stake democracy, because Farouk : Similarly, the Director because of this shocking Lawan has been around for General of Centre for revelation. And the House some time and we all looked Democratic Governance in should not for any reason refer up to him. The development has opened up a lot of can Africa, Dr. Dafe Akpocha, this matter to its committee on worms about the things going described the development as ethics. We want to know the on in the National Assembly. a sad one for the nation and bottom root of this matter.’’ the House, adding that a

Otedola, claimed that Lawan, and the Secretary of the committee, Mr. Boniface Emenalo, collected $620,000 from him in a sting operation masterminded by the security agencies

of public opinion.

Thirteen years of rise and rise: Lawan it would be recalled won elections into the House of Representatives first in 1999. Whereas many have since fallen aside, Lawan has repeatedly won re-election and was before now, setting his sights on the Kano governorship.

He first came into the consciousness of Nigerians during the 1999 leadership election in the House and subsequently as Chairman of the House Committee on Information in 2002 when he gave the House voice during the Obasanjo impeachment saga.

Though he was one of the advocates that brought Etteh to

,

42—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

PDP: Tukur's man bows out AFTER a whirlwind three month tenure as Chief of Staff to the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Habu Fari, himself a former national chairman of another political party is forced out of office.

BY HENRY UMORU

I

How it all started Not comfortable with these activities, the National Secretar y, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, a retired soldier knowing the importance of self defense before your enemy crushes you, had to write a five-page letter titled, “Illegal Acts Prejudicial to the Interest of the Peoples Democratic Party” with reference number PDP NS 03/ 12 to Fari.

Oyinlola in his letter to Fari, copied President Goodluck Jonathan, PDP National Chairman; Vice President Namadi Sambo; Senate President David Mark; Speaker Aminu Tambuwal; Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi; and all members of the National Working Committee.

The National Secretary in the letter said, ‘’I am constrained to once again react to your continued disregard for the laws and constitution guiding activities of our great party which you

*Fari claim to be serving at the national headquarters of the PDP. First and foremost, I wish to invite your attention to the fact that you currently have no letter appointing you to any office as a political appointee or an employee of the PDP. Your actions so far since the inception of the current National Working Committee are illegal, null, void and of no effect whatsoever.

"Be that as it may, I consider it important and proper to educate you, as I have repeatedly done in the interest of harmony between the office of our revered National Chairman on one part, and offices of the other NWC members. I note with consternation that your misdemeanor since the inception of the current NWC and failure to yield to repeated counseling has left no one in doubt that you are apparently incapable of projecting the office of the Chairman where you have consistently illegally acted in various capacities including a non-existent office of the Chief of Staff to the National Chairman.

It would be beneficial for you to realize that the fact that you once served as the Director of Administration of the PDP in its headquarters in the formative years of our party does not empower you to act illegally and in a manner that would be injurious to the overall interests of our great party;

most especially since you do not hold any position at the moment. ‘’I must also alert you that the mode of the operations of your former party, the NDP where recourse to law and institution of the party may not be the usual practice cannot be the practice in a law

,

N the last couple of days, attention was at the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP following the cold war between the National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and the National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

At the centre of the crisis are the Chief of staff to Tukur, Alhaji Habu Fari, former National Chairman of the National Democratic Party, NDP and the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the NDP. Fari had engaged Oyinlola in a war of words just few days after he was engaged. In fact it became a case of who was more knowledgeable in English language and whose language was more verbose and vilifying.

Habu Fari’s actions were regarded by the National Secretary and other members of the NWC as confrontational. He was also accused of rendering the office of the National Secretary redundant because he replied to memos from outside the party without recourse to the National Secretary’s office.

Fari who also doubled as the Principal Secretary to Tukur claimed he was doing the script of his boss, Tukur and that he had the authority, mandate and directives of the National Chairman in all he did in the course of his duties.

regulations are amended by the competent organs of the PDP, it is illegal to parade yourself by any other name whatsoever that is alien to the regulations of the PDP. It is also in your own interest to take the necessary steps to complete the formalities that would result in the issuance of a letter of appointment to you if you must continue to have official transactions within the PDP National Secretariat as a political appointee in the Office of the National Chairman.

Replying, Habu-Fari in a letter dated 8 June, 2012 to Oyinolola said he was acting the script of the national chairman saying that there was no letter he wrote that did not have the endorsement of Tukur.

“I want to visit your persistent emphasis on establishment manual and your attempt to recognize it far and above the constitution of the party. In order to educate you substantially the constitution came first above the establishment manual and any regulations governing the party.

“The establishment manual which we produced in the year 2000, before you joined the party, was with a singular intention to run the National Secretariat smoothly. The said establishment manual is currently under review. It was reviewed by the immediate past NWC without its

At the centre of the crisis are the Chief of staff to Tukur, Alhaji Habu Fari, former National Chairman of the National Democratic Party, NDP and the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the NDP

abiding party like the PDP which follows the Due Process in application of guidelines and regulations (see “annex D-F”).

"I advise you to desist henceforth with your illegal activities that are prejudicial to harmony and smooth conduct of official activities at the National Secretariat of the PDP. You could, in your own interest confine yourself to the duties of the Principal Secretary to the National Chairman, if our respected leader, the National Chairman decides to forward your name to the Office of the National Secretary for appointment and issuance of your letter of appointment.

"I state most unequivocally that until all the necessary

,

adoption and approval by the National Executive Committee (NEC) hence its present review status. For the fact that the document is to be reviewed has given room for consistent inputs to accommodate new ideas for the best interest of our great party.”

On allegations that the office of the national chairman was prepared to cause a division within the NWC as well as settle some differences, Tukur’s Chief of Staff in the letter said, “It is most regrettable that in your capacity as the National Secretary, you listen and believe in speculations without substantiating and recourse to facts. I cannot imagine how we can set the

NWC on collision course with the PDP Governors and how I intended to settle scores with staff of the National Secretariat over disagreement in the past. All these are unfounded allegations and were figments of your mere imaginations.

“I will like to remind you that my appointment as the Chief of Staff to the National Chairman was strictly at his pleasure. I do not think there is any guiding regulations or law that prohibits the National Chairman in doing so. I am certain that this is applicable to other appointments made by his excellency, the National Chairman. I also wondered why you erroneously declared my Office as nonexistent. For what reasons and on whose authority”.

President's intervention As the PDP chieftains fought in public the President intervened with a meeting with the NWC members.

The party ’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh in a spin told newsmen that there was no serious issue describing the face off as administrative errors.

But barely twenty-four hours after the press briefing, Tukur moved to axe Fari.

In a letter date June 12, 2012, he wrote: "I write to refer to the spate of exchange of correspondences which is now in the public domain, between your good self and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, National Secretary of our great Party, the PDP. "With due consideration for the measures required to reposition our Party, and the need for a cohesive NWC to drive our programmes of reconciliation, reform and rebuilding, it is now quite obvious to me that you and the National Secretary of the Party cannot work together harmoniously. It has therefore become an urgent imperative to request that you step aside and disengage forthwith from discharging and function(s) on my behalf or for the party.

"By this letter, you are requested to kindly return all Party ’s records, files and other properties in your possession to me. ‘’I wish however, to express my profound appreciation to you for the services you rendered to me before and after my election as the National Chairman of PDP.” It was the second time that Fari would be sacked from the administrative hierarchy of the PDP. The second national chairman of the party, Chief Barnabas Gemade had sacked him from office as the pioneer Administrative Secretary of the party.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012—43

POL SNIPES

Reps, please no more probes!

A

FTER three sensational investigations that gave much hope of cleaning the Augean stable of corruption, Nigerians obviously should now be seeing through the hypocrisy that is called probe by the House of Representatives.

The unfolding bribery story revolving around Rep. Farouk Lawan and the House ad-hoc committee on the investigation of the utilization of subsidies is bound to shake whatever confidence Nigerians have in the House.

After the merry go round that saw Rep. Lawan and his committee members hound the alleged subsidy thieves, Nigerians are now asking, ‘so who is the real thief?’ or perhaps, ‘who is the bigger thief?’

The investigation of the trillion naira fraud in the implementation of the subsidy regime was almost universally welcomed by most Nigerians.

The exception was obviously the beneficiaries of the subsidy regime.

The investigation was in line with the constitutional duty of the legislature to unearth corruption and make laws for the good governance of the country.

When Nigerians were last January pushed to the wall over the seemingly rapacious inclinations of the administration and the subsidy beneficiaries to inflict them with unrealistic fuel prices, it was the House of Representatives that came to their rescue. The House intervention despite the outward hostility of the administration was especially commended by Nigerians.

The fallout of the House intervention was the constitution of an ad-hoc committee to investigate the implementation of the subsidy regime by the administration.

Mr. Lawan who was appointed the chairman of the investigative committee is a veteran who has been in the House since 1999. Remarkably,

,

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

The irony of it is that the latest scandal broke just as Nigerians were about pitching tent with Tambuwal’s House in the battle against the subsidy beneficiaries

Lawan has been within the corridors of power in the House since the 1999 leadership contest when he made a failed attempt to be the speaker of the House. Even more remarkably, Mr. Lawan had adorned the toga of Mr. Integrity with his frontal role in hounding Mrs. Patricia Etteh out of office in 2007. When the Lawan led Integrity Group began the drive to edge Mrs. Etteh out of office upon mutterings in the House, not a few held nose at the thought of ‘kettle calling pot black.’

The irony of it is that the latest scandal broke just as Nigerians were about pitching tent with Tambuwal’s House in the battle against the subsidy

,

beneficiaries. It is a serious let down.

This is not the first time that the House of Representatives would be taking the populace on a wild goose chase.

J

ust few weeks back, the House had treated the nation to a theatrical display framed as the Capital Market probe. Rep. Herman Hembe, chairman of the House Capital Markets was subsequently forced out in the wake of multiple allegations of corruption. Today he is being prosecuted for allegedly collecting estacode for a foreign trip he did not go for.

Before then, the Ndudi Elumelu led committee on

power in the immediate past House, equally held the nation spellbound with its dramatic glut of zealousness on behalf of the people. At the end, the committee’s report turned into another scandal and the helmsman of the committee, is undergoing trial on charges of corruption.

Remarkably, all three cases Lawan on subsidy, Hembe on the capital market that impoverished countless Nigerians and Elumelu on electric power- are grave issues touching on the life and wellbeing of Nigerians.

It is nevertheless commendable that the Tambuwal leadership has at all times moved to isolate errant members of its flock. It is as such reassuring that the leadership has quickly moved to summon today’s session over the issue.

How the House responds would give currency to the growing feeling of distrust of the probes of the House of Representatives. Until it restores confidence and deals with the ‘Lawan problem’, the judgment from outside the House is no more probes please! Don’t take us for a ride any longer!

44—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

I

N the past week marked by grievous losses arising out of the DANA plane crash and the gruesome slaughter of christian worshippers in Bauchi and a former Deputy Inspector General of Police in Kano, the time calls for a moment of sober reflection while expressing condolences to the families of the departed innocent souls.

The problems of Jonathan‘s Nigeria are not new but complex and complicated by internal and extraneous factors. The review of the Federal Government and States‘ activities during the past twelve months has thrown wide open opportunities for critical assessments of political leaders. Not many people are convinced that Nigeria is on the thresholds of political unity and economic stability. Most of the strictures have been based and overshadowed by the problems of national insecurity.

It is a pity that the Boko Haram sect could choose its target at any time it wants to, and deliver its bombs with deadly accuracy in the northern part of the country.

Writing in this column in October 2010, I asked: 'WHO WILL SAVE OUR COUNTRY AND WHAT COULD SAVE NIGERIA?'. Readers should permit me to quote from my observations then. The two questions appear identical if the readers set their minds on expectation of immediate revival of a failing state. Some have accused me of being a coward for not declaring outright Nigeria as a failed state. I am not an unduly optimistic analyst by nature since I believe that pessimism could be self defeating in examining the various problems of the country”.

“It is axiomatic to assert that all is not well with our country since independence in 1960.

Who 'll save Nigeria and how?

After eleven years (now thirteen years) of democratic experience, there has been partial eclipse (erratic electricity supply; major roads remain dangerous (numerous pot holes and gullies) and unsafe; water to drink has remained a perpetual problem, especially in all our urban cities; filth and disease grip our towns as a result of congestion; mass rural drift to towns because of under development; life becomes unsafe everywhere because of inadequacy and lapses of security provisions; medical care is utterly inadequate in all states and food production has become so inadequate as to provoke hunger and anger”.

“The image of deep poverty is so sharp and unmistakably provocative. Nigerian citizens are aware of their problems.

It is not that various governments – federal, state and local governments are not familiar with their various disgraceful environments.

They are aware but unfortunately, many are insensitive to the damaging environmental degradation and plaintive cries of the people”.

As Edo Governor (Oshiomole) recently (but) casually remarked caustically, “Our leaders do not sleep, not because they want to improve the lot of the people, but because of the problem of sharing (booties) within the political class”. Thus, as usual, politics is money and money in politics is to be shared. Let us forget at the moment the idea of politics as an agent of political and economic development. The question is who is going to save the country from monetary politics and economic penury?

There is always at any moment of time, the ominous presence of the ‘Third Party`.

In the past, Nigeria‘s romance with military intervention in politics was not very pleasant. General Gowon after preventing the country from breaking was after the Civil War overthrown by Gen Muritala Mohammed who was overthrown and murdered.

Gen. Obasanjo handed over to Shagari, a civilian who was toppled by Gen. Buhari, who was himself dethroned by Gen Babangida, who ‘stepped aside‘ in 1993 after conducting

a presidential election adjudged to be free and fair.

But the dictator annulled that election.

“General Babangida handed over power in a curious manner to a civilian, Chief Ernest Shonekan, whom Gen Abacha found little difficulty in removing his makeshift government. Before he could turn himself into a civilian elected President, death dealt the cruel blow under what was described as `divine intervention` Gen Abdulsalam came in and handed the nation a 1999 Constitution. Under the 1999 Constitution, General Obasanjo appeared as a civilian President (with all his military traits intact).

A

fter a stint of eight years and a failed attempt to prolong his stay in power, he `midwifed` the regime of Alhaji Musa Yar`Adua and Dr Goodluck Jonathan. The first two years of Yar`Adua`s government was characterized by an economic policy of `Go Slow` and political uncertainty”.

“After the death of President Yar`Adua, leaving the faint hope of what he might have achieved, the mantle fell on Dr. Jonathan who was then the Vice President, who completed the term of his boss. Dr Jonathan as the third elected civilian President won the presidential election by overcoming challenges from principal opponents like Gen Buhari of the CPC and Nuhu Ribadu of the ACN in year 2011. It is a pity that the leadership of the CPC is still talking of rigged election in 2012 after the Supreme Court has upheld the election of President Jonathan. The nicest aspect of democracy is the willingness to concede defeats and uphold victory”.

President Jonathan noted in victory that “I have taken the challenge of an adequate power supply peace and rapid development of the Niger Delta, food security as well as the overall security of Nigerians and promoting credible elections.” Nigerians of many shades of political opinion were happy and hoped for the dawn of a new era of peace and prosperity. However, after twelve months at the helms of affairs, the question of insecurity is looming larger than expected with terrible and treasonable acts of the Boko Haram sect in the North, daring armed robberies of banks in the South and terrible kidnappings all over the country.

Electricity supply still remains epileptic while industrial stagnation still persists. The unemployed citizens (including thousands of graduates) have joined the migrants from the rural areas to form the angry mob ready for any violent disturbances.

What action should be taken to forestall the emerging doom of a glorious country before the year 2014 (hundred years anniversary of the amalgamation) and year 2015 with its fear of bloody revolution. The short answer is for President Jonathan to realize the limitation of his present government in tackling the various problems and ask for wider participation and contribution from other capable Nigerians. This is not an act of political weakness but an act of sensible politics. All Nigerians should view Boko Haram insurgence as a national security problem and to be tackled as such and not left to President Jonathan and his party alone.

IMMORTALISING ABIOLA:

It's best to declare May 29 MKO Day — Uranta MR Tony Uranta is General Secretary of the Nigeria Summit Group, NSG. In this interview, Uranta suggests the declaration of May 29 as a national holiday to be known as MKO Abiola Day as the best way to immortalise the winner of the June 12, 1993 presdiential election. He also gave reasons why Nigerians should bear with President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. Excerpts:

BY DAPO AKINREFON

W

HAT is your assessment of democracy in Nigeria since 1999?

I am one of those that have insisted that we have really not achieved full democracy in Nigeria. The same problem, like corruption, that has persisted and created a mockery out of our system is the same phenomenon that is pervading the system of democracy.

We still have rigging at the polls, though, we all must agree that the last elections were much fairer than any previous election we have had, except may be, the June 12, 1993 general elections.

That election threw up late MKO Abiola as the winner, even though not announced as the President of Nigeria. In Ghana, corruption is random but in Nigeria, it is endemic and threatening the very fabric of society. Until corruption is fully tackled from the bottom up, corruption will continue to distort all the realities of the nation.

Some Nigerians are dissatisfied with the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. What is your take on it?

I think that President Jonathan has done well considering the circumstances under which he came to be president and which he’s been combating with. The

*Uranta: Jonathan trying challenges he is faced with, have never been faced by any previous leader of this nation before.

Those challenges were not born during his time, they were

conceived before his time, but they grew up to become monsters during his time. The Boko Haram issue, the power issue, the issue of bad roads, bad healthcare issue among other issues have been with us for long.

If by 1982, we had power outage problems, we should not be surprised that if they were not corrected between the 1980s and 2010, we cannot expect Goodluck Jonathan to correct them in one year. We, however, can see the will, good intentions and the will to correct these issues.

He has strengthened the Ministry of Power by bringing on board an expert though there is for now no improvement in power.

The issue of Boko Haram especially has really taken the front burner at the moment. In fact, they have constituted such a nuisance that the president has not been able to focus much on any other thing or even do much.

Do you think renaming Unilag after late MKO Abiola was the best way to immortalise

him?

If the president had consulted the Senate and had gone through due process of going through the National Assembly to create a law repelling the act that brought the name and the University to be, I would think he did a marvelous job. But what he was aiming for, we can see, even his worst enemies can see that he had good intentions.

His intention mainly was to immortalise Abiola and he was looking for what kind of structure or project that would stand out and of course, Unilag would have been a perfect example.

Even the Senate has so agreed and if he had gone through due process. The students of the university have taken the president to court over it, but I would have preferred that he renamed May 29 as Moshood Abiola Day and created a national holiday for him or a stadium in Abuja. The best way would have been declaring the day itself a public holiday.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012—45

GOMBE: Dankwambo’s

miraculous revival IT was mysterious for many how Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State won back the applause after spending his first six or seven months mostly in the black book.

BY JOHN BULUS

F

OR over six months, the new administration didn’t form a cabinet to push through its plans for the economic development of the state.

To worsen the situation, Dankwambo’s deputy, Mr. David Albashi who was expected to chart the new road for him consequent upon his wealth of experience gotten from almost eight straight years in the cabinet of the preceding administration of Senator Danjuma Goje died unfortunately within eight months in office. Dankwambo was to all extent and purposes left handicapped.

It was also not good for the new governor that he turned a deaf ear to the floods of criticisms that trailed his failure to form a cabinet.

Some of his worse critics described the governor as

incompetent as at that time, activities in the state were almost brought to a standstill.

Governance was left in the hands of the triumvirate of the governor, the Secretary to the state Government, SSG and Dankwambo’s Chief of Staff.

The Beginning: Indeed, Dankwmabo’s inauguration as the new Gombe State Governor on May 29, 2011 heralded hopes of a new dawn. Dankwambo’s first step was the inauguration of eleven different Committees that were mandated to critically examine the various sectors/ ministries in the state with a view to pinpointing the urgent need of the people.

The Committee, indeed, made waves when some weeks later, they submitted their findings and recommendations. One lofty thing about the development

was that the recommendations of the committees obviously formed the roadmap and agenda for the new government which seems to be what the governor has been following.

Infrastructure: Like his predecessor,

Dankwambo’s first year in office has been focused on the construction and rehabilitation of roads.

The first 12 roads he awarded for construction in the state capital have been completed and commissioned. Of particular interest was the one named after the Vice President, Alhaji Mohammed Namadi Sambo who also commissioned the road on his recent visit to the state.

Many are still under construction just as he has also awarded the construction of many rural roads in the 11 local Government areas.

Youth Rehabilitation and Empowerment Programmes: About 1000 youths are currently undergoing training on various schemes at the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC orientation camp at Mallam Sidi, Kwami Local Government Area of the State. After graduation, they will be engaged in areas like Health, Road Traffic amongst others.

Also, about N500 million was recently expended by the state government in conjunction with the Bank of

Industry on loans to a number of Indigenes of the state that were to start off Small Scale Enterprises, SMEs. His efforts nonetheless, the governor’s style of leadership is a bitter pill to some persons. For instance, he is rumoured to be tight-fisted and selective in some of his appointments. The sore part is the continuing speculation of a love-hate relationship between him and his political ‘godfather’ and predecessor, Senator Mohammad Danjuma Goje.

Dankwambo is, however, lucky that unlike in many states, opposition is almost invisible in the state. The only known voice of the opposition, Senator Saidu Umar Kumo who contested the governorship with the governor on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP soon after the inauguration ditched the party for Dakwambo’s Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Indeed, while the government basks in the euphoria of its one year anniversary, it is left to be seen whether such will be the case in subsequent years.

Our challenges, our plans — Gov Dankwambo GOVERNOR Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe recently spoke to a select group of newsmen on issues ranging from his first year in office to the issues of insecurity in his state and the country. Excerpts:

BY UMAR YUSUF

,

W

HAT are the challenges of your first year in office?

All is fine and excellent in Gombe state. We have enjoyed the co-operation of the people and have shown love, concern and collaboration.

We have been able to achieve a long milestone in the process of developing the state and the second year will mark the beginning of the continuation of the good things that are happening in Gombe State.

The good things are in terms of infrastructure, creating opportunities for the youths, businessmen, investment in education and other sectors which tremendously have being happening in Gombe state.

How did you deal with the Kalare boys who before you held the state hostage?

Like we usually say, in Gombe state that no man or person is completely a useless

So what we have done is to identify their potentials, invest in their potentials and they are doing well in the society, there was no magic

person, unless a leader or the leadership does not find the right thing for that person or persons.

So what we have done is to identify their potentials, invest in their potentials and they are doing well in the society.

There was no magic.

The only magic was to identify what was good in them. They are good and kind people and are working hard now towards moving the state forward.

Gombe is one of the safest states today in the country.

There is no more Kalare in the state anymore.

What can the country do to

,

ensure a lasting peace?

Like I always say, wherever there is conflict, the only solution is dialogue, because you must talk, no matter how long you fight, no matter how long you create problems, at the end of the day you must sit and talk.

So we are encouraging and advising any aggrieved person or persons to do so.

North East is just having a share of what is happening.

There are so many of such problems in other places. But, what we are saying is that which ever group is aggrieved should show-up.

*Dankwambo It is through this showing up that a process could be initiated so that there will be dialogue, there will be understanding, so that the

grievances will be addressed.

But, if I do not know what your grievances are, I will not be able to address your problems.

46—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 15,

2012

L-r: Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, presenting a sovenir to European Union Ambassador,David Mcrare, during a courtesy call on the gov by the ambassador in uyo.

L-r: Mrs Agboola Thomas; Mr. Yinka Junaid, GMD, Washline; Mr Jimi Agbaje; Mrs. Adebisi Junaid, MD, Washline; and Chief Solomon Ayo Jinadu at the commissioning of Washline Dry Cleaners in Ikeja, Lagos. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye

Double digit interest rate not good for businesses—FG

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

T

HE Federal Govern ment said, yesterday, that the double digit interest rate regime in the country was not good for businesses.

Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga said at the MoU signing ceremony between First Bank PlC and National

Association of Small and Medium Industries, NASSI, on a framework for credit support to members of the Association that “the government recognizes that at double digit interest rates businesses are bound to suffer. Particularly suffer from production and consumption inefficiencies.

However our aim is to reduce the financial con-

straints militating against growth and expansion of viable SMIs in Nigeria.” .

Aganga in a keynote address added: “This MoU is designed to enhance the performance of two critical sectors of our economy, small and medium industries and the agricultural sector. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) all over the world are the highest

employers of labour, which makes them the main drivers of economic growth and job creation. The likes of Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Richard Branson and our own Aliko Dangote all started as SMIs. That is why this sector is so critical in the economy, and in my opinion the most critical sector. That is why a collaboration of this nature, which promises to

give SMIs access to finance and also to the agricultural sector is that that should be encouraged if we must enhance our production and economic efficiencies.”

Group Managing Director/Chief Executive, First Bank, Mr Bisi Onasanya said, “This MOU is in furtherance of the Bank’s support for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises and it is meant to promote the growth and development of SME industries and industrialists in Nigeria. This MOU also supports the

Bank’s strategic focus on financial inclusion as it would mitigate the challenges of credit delivery to the un-banked market segment through mobilized funds which will avail credit facilities to registered NASSI members at concessionary rate.

“In addition to warehousing and disbursing mobilized deposits, FirstBank is also committed to support NASSI through business advisory services, capacity building and development of relevant IT infrastructure as well as the issuance of our bio-metric identity card to all NASSI members."

NCC arrests five for selling preregistered SIM card

By EMEKA AGINAM

T

HE enforcement team of the telecoms regulatory authority, the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, yesterday, arrested five persons in connection with sales and distribution of pre-registered SIM cards, an act which the commission desccribed as illegal and punishable under the laws guiding SIM card registration in Nigeria.

The team, in conjunction with law enforcement agencies, had stormed Wurukun Market and Modern Market both in Makurdi, where the arrests of the suspects took place. They were in possession of sacks of preregistered SIM Cards, while selling to unsuspecting users.

Reacting to this development, the Head of Enforcement of NCC, Mr. Efosa Idehen, who led the team, said that the issue of the sale, distribution or use of pre-registered SIM Cards was illegal and that the Commission has given ample warning to the public about the dangers of using preregistered SIM Card.

He said that a number of arrests have been made in different parts of the country by the enforcement team of the Commission while the Commission has also mounted enlightenment campaigns in various languages across the country to ensure that the illegality was nipped to the bud.

Pre-registered SIM cards are those in which the biometric identity of a different person is used to register a number of SIM cards, and then sold to different people such that identity of the user is not same with the one who registered the SIM. The Commission said any new SIM Card purchased must be detached from its pack and registered by the user, as nobody is allowed to register new SIM on behalf of another. In addition, all new SIM Cards are expected to be able to receive only after it has been registered by the user after purchase but in the case of preregistered SIM Cards, they begin to make and receive calls instantly, which is contrary to the rules guiding SIM registration in the country.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012 — 47

Americans blame Bush on economy as Obama tackles Romney RESIDENT Barack Obama yesterday dispelled growing doubts about his economic leadership as over two-thirds of Americans, including half of Republicans, blamed former President George W. Bush for the country’s economic ills.

According to Galluop polls result.In an address that sets the tone for the coming months of his re-election campaign, Obama linked tie Romney to the policies of former Republican President George W. Bush, who voters say is largely responsible for plunging the United States into the deepest recession since the 1930s.The current numbers show 68 percent of the public

P

blames the former president while 52 percent say Obama deserves the blame., 80 percent laid a great deal or a moderate amount of blame on Bush, and only 32 percent blamed Obama. The Democratic president has crisscrossed the country in recent months pleading for patience from voters still struggling in the anemic recovery and grappling with stubbornly high unemployment above 8 percent. In his speeches, Obama makes a point of blaming Bush and Republicans in general for the 2007-2008 meltdown and warns that Mitt Romney ’s economic program resembles the Bush approach “on

in the same state at nearly the same time, laying out his vision for the presidency and attacking Obama’s economic stewardship.

Obama faces a delicate balancing act. While he

Egypt’s supreme court dissolves parliament

•US President Barack Obama steroids.”in a highstakes speech on Thursday and charge that his Republican rival Mitt Romney would

towns and villages across Syria and concluded that government forces and militias were guilty of “grave human rights

S

resurrect policies that plunged the United States into crisis.

Romney was due to fight back with a speech

S

violations of international humanitarian law amounting to crimes against humanity and war crimes”.

not let it pass.

Outside the constitutional court, protesters chanted “Down, down with military rule” and hurled stones at troops lined up in a security cordon.

The parliamentary vote earlier this year had swept long repressed Islamists into a commanding position in the legislature, a feat the Muslim Brotherhood had aimed to repeat with their candidate in Saturday and Sunday’s presidential vote.

Those parliamentary gains will now be put back up for grabs in a new election.

Cameron appears before House media probe RITISH Prime Minister David Cameron, under fire for courting an exclusive media clique led by Rupert Murdoch, has appeared before a judicial inquiry to try and neuter claims that his ministers tailored policy to further Murdoch’s i n t e r e s t s .

Cameron’s once cosy ties with Murdoch’s inner circle mean he is under

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•Bashar-al Assad of grave abuses highlights the pressing need for decisive international action,” said Amnesty ’s Donatella Rovera on release of the 70-page report entitled “Deadly Reprisals”. The group

Merkel denies pressure on Spain, Italy PAIN and Italy, un der increasing fire in Europe’s debt crisis, promised new measures to repair their public finances as their soaring borrowing costs raised new alarm ahead of a cliffhanger Greek election.

But German Chancellor Angela Merkel rebuffed pressure from EU partners and the United States for Europe’s most powerful economy to underwrite debt or guarantee bank deposits in the single currency area.

Spain’s 10-year bond yield hit a euro lifetime high above 7 percent on Thursday - a danger level above which Greece,

GYPT’s supreme court ruled yesterday to dissolve the Islamist-led parliament, plunging a troubled transition to democracy into turmoil just two days before an election to replace ousted leader Hosni Mubarak.

Islamist politicians who had gained most from Mubarak’s overthrow decried what they called a “coup” by an army-led establishment still stuffed with Mubarakera officials. They said the street movement that spurred last year ’s popular uprising would

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Amnesty accuses Assad of crimes against humanity interviewed people in 23 violations and serious YRIA is committing crimes against humanityas part of state policy to exact revenge against communities suspected of supporting rebels, Amnesty International has said in a report. The Londonbased rights group called for an international response on Wednesday after claiming it had fresh evidence that victims, including children, had been dragged from their homes and shot dead by soldiers, who in some cases then set the remains on fire. “This disturbing new evidence of an organised pattern

must convince voters that the economy is headed in the right direction, he cannot minimize the struggles that many continue to face.

Ireland and Portugal were driven to seek international rescues - despite last weekend’s euro zone

agreement to lend Madrid up to 100 billion euros ($125 billion) to recapitalize ailing banks.

pressure to pull off a virtuoso performance yesterday at the inquiry, which has sharpened the perception that Britain has been run for years by an elite that fawned on the News Corp chairman.

The coalition government has divided along party lines over Cameron’s backing for a minister accused of doing Murdoch’s bidding when responsible for impartial oversight, as he struggles with an economy in recession and growing unease about his leadership within his own party.

Cameron, 45, who

Extradition inches closer to Wikileaks’ founder IKILEAKS’ founder Julian Assange could be extradited to Sweden in two weeks’ time to face questioning over alleged sex crimes after Britain’s top court said yesterday it had rejected a legal bid to reconsider his case.

The decision ended the self-styled anti-secrecy campaigner’s 18-month legal battle against extradition in the British

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•Julian Assange courts, and now only a possible appeal to a European Court stands in the way of his transfer.

Two weeks ago, Britain’s

Supreme Court rejected his argument that a European arrest warrant issued by Swedish prosecutors for his extradition was invalid.

However, his lawyers argued some of the judges had reached their decision based on a legal point that they had not had a chance to counter and asked for the appeal to be reopened.

• David Cameron

himself set up the

Leveson inquiry into media ethics last year after a newspaper phone-hacking scandal erupted, is due to be questioned for at least five hours, streamed live on television. “Part of my evidence ... is to say that I think this relationship has been going wrong for, you know, it’s never been perfect.

Graft charges trail E. Guinea’s deputy PM new US Department of Justice court filing has made substantial allegations of corruption against Teodorin Obiang, the son of the president of Equatorial Guinea. The document is part of a wider US effort to recover assets – including a $30 million mansion in Malibu and a collection of Michael Jackson memorabilia – that it alleges are the proceeds of corruption.

The court has not yet ruled on these allegations, which Teodorin denies.

“This filing provides significantly more detail

A

on allegations of corruption against Teodorin Obiang. It further validates concerns that Global Witness has raised over the years about Teodorin’s source of funds that sustain his luxury lifestyle,” said Robert Palmer, a campaigner with Global Witness. The amended complaint was filed on Monday in response to a request from the judge hearing the case to provide more evidence of Teodorin’s corruption, who was minister of forestry and agriculture at the time of the allegations.

48—Vanguard , FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

Panic, drama as tanker collapses, spills kerosene

BY IFEANYI OKOLIE HAT could have turned to a major tragedy at Kirikiri area of Lagos State was averted, weekend, as a tanker transporting 33 thousand litres of petroleum product suspect to be kerosene, collapsed and spilled it contents on a major street linking other parts of the area.

Residents who watched the collapse of the truck, said to have loaded its content from an oil depot in the area, took to their heels fearing that it might explode and wreak havoc in the community.

Vanguard Metro, VM, gathered that the scene swiftly turned into a Mecca of sorts as some other residents, on realising that the content of the collapsed tranker was kerosene, invaded the scene with jerry-cans and buckets which they used in scooping the kerosene from the tanker.

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A resident who simply identified himself as Anayo Osuala told VM that it took the timely intervention of the police from Kirikiri Police Station and some fire servicemen attached to some oil depots, who raced to the scene and chased the residents away.

He said: “The people weren’t aware of the danger associated with what they did. They were lucky no one brought fire close to the scene as that would have led to a major disaster. No one knows how many lives would have been lost. But the police quickly responded to the situation. They chased the residents away, paving way for some fire servicemen to douse the tanker with water and prevent the outbreak of fire.”

Meanwhile, Kirirkiri town, a suburb of Apapa area of Lagos, is currently playing host to five major oil companies in the country.

This situation has left several res-

*Fire men dousing the collapsed tanker with water to prevent the outbreak of fire idents of the area and its environs in fear of a possible explosion that could destroy the entire community. The town which is also housing the nation’s number one prison and a high-grade military facility has suffered several years of neglects and dilapidated infrastructure as roads linking to several parts of the town are in bad

shape.

A resident ofCadoso Street,Olakpe Idown, said: “In spite of these huge government facilities situated here, the area lacks government presence. Government has completely forgotten this town; there are no good roads, hospitals, drinkable water and the electricity supply is very poor.

Tears as five victims of Bauchi bomb blast are buried

BY SUZAN EDEH

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MOTIONS ran very high at the Yelwa cemetery in Bauchi State as five members of the Living Faith Church who were victims of Last Sunday’s bomb blast were finally laid to rest. It was a time for sober reflection, weeping and wailing by families and friends of the victims of the blast. For all present, it was another opportunity to reflect on this sad reality of life: Death is an inevitable end every mortal must experience one day. As the caskets of the five victims were brought down from the ambulances to the cemetery, many people, particular the women, could not control their emotions. They cried, shouted and rained curses on those who had caused them pain.

It would be recalled that at least 20 people were killed, while 45 others sustained injuries when a suicide bomber stormed the Living Faith and Harvest of Field Church in Yelwa Tundun area of the state.

The burial attracted hundreds of relatives of the deceased persons, Christians, school children and journalists. They came to pay their last respects to the victims of the bomb blast. It was really a pitiable sight to behold as most of those present wept uncontrollably while the burial lasted, especially the mother of one of the victims who went into a pro-

*Sympathisers at the burial of the victims longed paroxysm of wailing that provoked profuse tears from many around. All efforts to console her were to no avail. She said: “My son, you did not tell me that you were going to leave me so soon. So it is really true that you are dead. You were my only hope and now you are gone. Where do I start from? Oh God, when will I wake up from this nightmare?”

Among those buried was Honourable Irmiya Hassan Dodo, 67, a Second Republic House of Representatives member. Others were Joseph Kehinde Aiyedipe, 30, a student of Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi; Samuel Olusegun, 16, an SS II student of Divine International School, Bauchi; Augustine Effion Ita, 32, an Adolescent Health Specialist and Suru Gbamgboshe, a final year student of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.

When the five caskets were laid beside their respective graves for burial, the Presiding

pastor of the church, Gaius Biyal, in his brief sermon, admonished Christians not to seek revenge against anyone because of what had happened to their family members or friends.

“Vengeance belongs to the Lord; vengeance belongs to Jesus Christ who was persecuted for our sake. It is He who can fight on our behalf. He knows what to do and if we try to do it ourselves, we will die in the process.

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hese people died for what they believed in and sacrificed their lives so that others may live. They died doing the work of God and if I may ask all of us here, when death comes knocking at our doors, where will we be and what will be said that we were doing at that moment?

This is a lesson for every living being to remember, that one day we will give account of our lives before our Maker. Dust to dust and ashes to ashes, shall all re-

turn,” the pastor said.

The Chairman of the Chris tian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Reverend Pokti Lewi, also stressed the need for Christians not to take the law into their hands because of what happened , warning that CAN as a body will not support such action. He condemned the killings by soldiers who were drafted to the bomb site, assuring that God will avenge the lives of the innocent people being killed without a cause.

In his own remarks, the President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, Reverend Emeka Emefesi, said the community was in sorrow over the unfortunate incident.

“Christ died and resurrected and asked us to prepare for the resurrection. What has happened is to tell us to prepare for the resurrection because death can meet us anytime,” he said.

Students of Divine International, Bauchi were seen crying profusely as the remains of Samuel, their friend was interred. “He was one of my duty perfects and a boy with promising future; very focused, very obedient and respectful,” the Proprietor of the school, Dr Ogbuka Chimeze, told Vanguard Metro at the burial ground.

“I believe in the injunction of Scripture(Bible) that we should give glory to God no matter the situation. Our Hope is in the name of God. May his soul rest in peace,” she prayed.

“In fact, this town lacks all the basic amenities to function as a town. People in this town are suffering; government needs to come to their aid. And the oil companies are not helping matters.”

However, a leader of the Kirikiri Community Elders Forum, Chief Babalola Shabi, told VM that the community elders had advised the oil companies on how to prevent a situation like this by creating an alternative route.

He said: “In our meetings with owners of this tank farms, we have advised them to get an alternative route that would link the oil tank farms from the bridge, preventing them from having any contacts with the residential areas. If they buy into this plan, it would stop them from transporting highly inflammable petroleum products through residential areas.

Siphoning of petroleum products “But while we were waiting on the oil companies to buy into this plan, we discovered that some NUPENG officials are constantly conniving with some tanker drivers to discharge or siphon petroleum products from their tanker trucks after they’ve been loaded at the tank farms.

“This can easily cause a fire outbreak that could be highly dangerous, so, we asked oil companies to get us a towing van that would be used in towing these errant trucks whenever they are seeing doing such but the oil companies are yet to do such.”

Chief Shabbi also said that the community had offered to provide security for oil tanker vessels operating within the Kirikiri water ways and lamented that the oil companies are yet to provide a speed boat that was requested to patrol the water ways. “If you look at the situation, it looks quite dangerous but we can make it safe if only the oil companies would honor our requests and provide the materials we need to keep the area safe.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012—49

$3M BRIBERY SCANDAL:

Farouk Lawan detained Continues from Page 5 are still afraid to come out and spill the beans because they fear the consequences of giving bribe but we will get around that”, the source said.

Regarding the fear that the $620, 000 bribe money may have been tampered with or destroyed, the source said the Police already had overwhelming evidence against the Lawan committee.

For instance, the source noted that “if the Lawan Committee thinks they are smart and they tamper with the evidence, the Police will get the serial numbers of the money and trace the money. Aside that, the call logs of the discussions, negotiation and appreciation after collection and confirmation of the amount of money collected are unbeatable evidence.”

Ex-lawmakers wade in Former prominent members of the House on Wednesday night waded into the crisis.

The members who met at the residence of a former prominent member of the House, Chief Halims Agoda who served in the House between 1999 and 2011, met separately with Speaker Tambuwal and Lawan.

One time chief whip of the House, Alhaji Bawa Bwari disclosed that the meeting was to bring the wealth of experience of the former members in crisis management to bear on the issue.

Tambuwal according to multiple sources at the meeting narrated how he first got wind of the scam when he visited the Director General of the State Security Services, SSS. He narrated that the DG SSS requested his assistance in retrieving the bribe money from Lawan, a suggestion he, Tambuwal stoutly rebuffed. The former members were said to have congratulated Tambuwal for refusing

C M Y K

the entreaty of the SSS saying that it was easily a plot to link him to the affair.

He was nevertheless admonished to keep the integrity of the House.

At the end of the meeting with Tambuwal, he was urged not to protect anyone involved because the integrity of the House and the country should be of primary consideration.

He was also urged to move the House to come out to tell the country that the scandal would not affect the integrity of the report.

It was also suggested that areas of the Lawan report affected by the Lawan affair should be re-investigated.

The members also met with Lawan during which he recounted his claims as published in the media.

Among those present at the meeting were former ministers from the House of Representatives including Musa Elayo, Nduesse Essien, Abdullahi Musa and Isa Bio. Also present were Emeka Nwajuba, Lumumba Adeh, Acho Obioma, Mao O h a b u n w a , Muhammed Kumaila, Major Stanley Ngada, Mercy Almona-Isei, Abdullahi Musa, Shehu Kagara, Babangida Banki, Bolori Boni and Ehigie West-Idahosa among others.

NANS wants Otedola, Lawan tried The National Association of Nigerian Students NANS on its part yesterday, expressed shock that Nigerian youths have been dealt a blow in their quest for role models.

The students’ body particularly expressed shock that Lawan whom they had looked up to as House Committee member on Education could be involved in the scandal.

In the statement issued by the NANS national president,

Comrade Dauda Mohammed, the students body called for the quick trial of both Otedola and Lawan.

“We were shocked not only because of the conduct of Hon Lawan as an adhoc committee chairman but rather because of the regard we have in the past had for Hon. Lawan as the Chairman of the House committe on Education.

There is no doubt that Nigerians were excited by the decision of the House of Reps to entrust such responsibility in the hands of a man who had always worn the toga of Integrity in the National Assembly.”

“With the revelations of the last few days concerning the alleged bribery of Hon Farouk Lawan by Business man Femi Otedola, we wish to state the Nigeria has been taken miles back in our quest for role modeling for the younger generation of Nigerians.”

L-R: Head of Sales, Bolanle Ogundogba; Chief Financial Officer, Babatunde Dada; Chief Executive Officer, Funke Opeke; and General Counsel/Company Secretary, Kazeem Oladepo at Main One Cable Company's interaction with the media in Lagos

L-r: Dr. Bolaji Akinrimisi Executive Secretary, HEFAMAA, Dr. Yewande Adesina, special adviser on public health and Dr Folasayo Oludara, acting director of family health and nutrition, Lagos State ministry of health, at a news briefing in Lagos state. Photo Shola Oyelese

Presidency denies role in bribery scandal A

BUJA—THE presidency yesterday formally denied any role in the evolving scandal saying that media reports that it was a plot to undermine the leadership of the House of Representatives were false.

The statement issued

by Special Adviser to the President on Media, Dr. Reuben Abati said that the president was standing on his directive to the the Attorney-General of the Federation on the report of the Ad-Hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy, as adopted by the House of Representatives, subsists and he fully expects that all those indicted in the report will be duly investigated and prosecuted if a prima facie case is established against them”.

The statement reads:

“The Presidency denounces the lame and diversionary attempt by some newspapers to drag the person and office of the President into the very unsavoury bribery scandal involving the Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Fuel Subsidy Probe Ad-Hoc Committee and a wellknown petroleum products marketer.

“The mischievous insinuation in today ’s (yesterday’s) editions of the newspapers that the entire affair, in which the two key players have publicly confessed their roles, is part of a plot by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the executive arm of government to unseat the leadership of the House of Representatives, is totally false and baseless.

“For the benefit of

unwary members of the public who may be deceived by the political innuendoes now being woven into the subsidy probe bribe affair, President Jonathan wishes to affirm that he has absolutely no reason or desire to meddle in the affairs of the House of Representatives and its leadership.

“Neither the President nor anyone acting on his request or order has anything to do with the scandal that has sadly engulfed the House adhoc committee on fuel subsidy. The attempt to drag the Presidency into the matter is entirely speculative and without factual foundation.

“Against the background of its avowed commitment to the effective prosecution of the war against corruption in Nigeria, the Presidency notes with satisfaction, that given the seriousness of

the scandal, the House of Representatives has already recalled its members from recess for a special session to deliberate on it tomorrow.

“The Presidency therefore urges the media to allow members of the House and law enforcement agencies to conduct and conclude investigations without further unhelpful distractions.

“Recent developments notwithstanding, President Jonathan’s directive to the Attorney-General of the Federation on the report of the Ad-Hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy, as adopted by the House of Representatives, subsists and he fully expects that all those indicted in the report will be duly investigated and prosecuted if a prima facie case is established against them”.

50 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

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JOUNGHAN -I, formerly known and addressed as Vincent Ebi Jounghan, now wish to be known and addressed as Vincent Ebi Bekewei Jounghan. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OSANEBI - I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nneka Rebecca Osanebi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nneka Beckyfrank .T. Iwezu. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OGHOGHORIE –I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oghoghorie Oke Ruby, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okundaye Oke Ruby. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public please take note.

AMUTA- I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Martina Chinyere Amuta, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Iheomameje Martina Chinyere. All former documents remain valid. St. Martins Hospital, Ugwuagba Obosi, Onitsha and general public please take note.

ANAFULU- I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ifeatu Valentina Anafulu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ifeatu Valentina Adebowale. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EGHREFUVWOMA - I, formally known and addressed as Miss Eghrefuvwoma Uruemu Charity, now wish to be known and addresses as Mrs. Uruemu Charity Oduaran. All former documents remain valid. The Nigeria police Force and general public please take note.

UMEH - I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Rita Nzubechukwu Umeh, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Rita Nzubechukwu Oraba. All former documents remain valid.

ACPN National and general public please take note.

EDEM EKANEM – I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Bessie Edem Ekanem, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Bessie Kokomma Ogbodo. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

BADMUS – I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Badmus Iyabo Kafilat, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oluokun Iyabo Kafilat. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

INATIMI - I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Gladys Walanyo Inatimi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Gladys Walanyo Joseph. All former documents remain valid.

Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria and general public please take note.

OBERENU - I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oberenu O. Beatrice, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Oghara O. Beatrice.

All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

Confirmation of Name This is to confirm that the name Micheal Blessing, refers to one and the same person as Ibadidi Kelvin, now wish to be known and addressed as Ibadidi Kelvin. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

BADMUS – I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Mercy Oluwaseun Badmus, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Mercy Oluwaseun Awodogan. All former documents remain valid. FED CAM and the general public please take note.

OCHEI – I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ochei Shirley Onyinye, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Odih Shirley Onyinye. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

IGBINOBA -I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Gift Obehi Igbinoba, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Gift Obehi Erukayenumuemu. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Confirmation of Name This is to confirm that the name Ebikeme Gospel, refers to one and the same person as Raymond Oniyan, now wish to be known and addressed as Raymond Oniyan. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

MADUBUKO – I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Madubuko Maureen, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Anyanike Maureen Ujunwa. All former documents remain valid.

Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba and general public please take note.

ORISAREMI – I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Mary-Cholette Oremeyi Orisaremi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Tsibor Mary-Cholette Oremeyi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OPUWEI -I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Patience Ekiye Opuwei, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Patience Ekiye Isaac. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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

Forum flays attacks on construction firm

BY TONY NYONG

T

HE Uyo Youth and Elders Consultative Forum has frowned at what it describes as unprovoked and senseless attack on major construction firms in Akwa Ibom State.

The forum said in a statement by its Mr. Itoro Okon, and the Secretary, Mr. Cletus Ekong that the media attack directed at one of the construction firms, the Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Company, CCECC, was malicious, and cheap handiwork of some greedy politicians.

The statement said: "We have found out that the publications are sponsored by some fraudsters who have chosen to embark on actions that will negatively affect the process of transformation being engineered by the Governor of Akwa Ibom State.

"In the past couple of weeks, we have been reading these outright falsehood and campaigns of calumny by some people of questionable character.

Several of these allegations are frivolous and childish, while others are exaggerated or blown out of proportion. The intention and direction of sponsors of the publications are clear: they are bent on maligning and destroying the integrity of the Company, after they failed in their bid to intimidate its management to cough out some money to them."

The statement added that the uncommon feat and friendly disposition of the Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Company was responsible for patronage by the State Government which awarded another road contract to it.

It said the firm has patronized indigenes of the State and the core communities in the supply of raw materials, and sponsorship of football competitions and other major events in the State.

The forum said that welfare of the staff the firm was evident as it operated the most workers-friendly policies, while it was committed to the welfare of its host communities. The statement said: "The spate of blackmails and lies against companies operating in the State are like the bombings which have been experienced in the recent past across the nation, and they are completely alien to our religion and culture. One is constrained to ask from where the terrible and ungodly philosophy came from."

52—Vanguard, FRIDAY,

JUNE 15, 2012

Rehabilitation of roads in Sapele Dear Sir,

I

basis subjected motorists and other road users to excruciating hours of traffic congestion. The situation was usually far worse when schools were in session as most residents of Ghana/ Ugberikoko Road, were often forced out of their homes as

commend the Base Manager of SEPL AT, Sapele, Mr. Prince Chujkwuma Igheleyan, for these initiatives.

I urge him to keep it up. The truth is there are no better ways companies can show

,

WISH to use this medium to commend SEPL AT Petroleum Development Company for the rehabilitation of some strategic roads in Sapele metropolis. These efforts, I would say couldn’t have come at a better time especially as the rains which usually compound the already deplorable state of these road are here again. For a long time the Ghana/Ugberikoko and Shell Roads, have been in a state of utter disrepair and as a result posed serious challenge to residents of the town who either live, work or have their businesses or the schools of their wards situated on these roads. To say the least, the condition of these roads was most pathetic.

They were almost impassable until the intervention of SEPLAT. The condition of the Ghana/ Ugberikoko Road, was considered more severe and pathetic as the deplorable state of the road, on daily

The fact remains that these roads are of intrinsic value and importance to residents of Sapele. They host huge volume of the town’s population and academic institutions.

early as 5.30 p.m to avoid been caught up in the usual morning traffic-jams on the road.

The fact remains that these roads are of intrinsic value and importance to the residents of Sapele. They host huge volume of the town’s population and academic institutions. It is against this background that I want to specifically thank and

,

commitment to their corporate social responsibility to their host communities by practically demonstrating it. I want to round up by enjoining other companies operating in Sapele to borrow a leaf from SEPLAT’s commitment to its social responsibility to the people of Sapele.

Ohwevwo Ufuoma Eugene, ufuomaohwevwo@gmail.com

provement? What are Nigerian leaders doing with our resources? The Federal Government should explain because the hardship on Nigerians is on the high side.

Fidelis 08037235403

T

HERE will continue to be avoidable and needless loss of lives through plane crashes based on human errors and technical defects, unless there is attitudinal reorientation and total decimation of the tentacles of corruption, lethargy, negligence and inefficiency in Nigeria. May the soul of the crash victims rest in perfect peace.

Chief Bobson Gbinijie 08058231669

Change of UNILAG to MAULAG The name UNILAG came about by an Act of Parliament and cannot be changed by Presidential fiat. We insist on due democratic process. But why UNILAG? Why not another Federal university in the country?

Chief Bobson Gbinijie 08058231669

Buhari’s comment on 2015 Why did General Buhari decide to be a regional leader?

From what is happening now, it shows that he is not a na-

tional leader or elder statesman. I was his strong supporter during the 2003, 2007 and 2011 general elections, but I am not happy and disagree with him on his comment about 2015 general elections.

We are not going to support

,

DANA Air crash and reports

IBB’s son's governorship ambition We need excellent people to rule us here in Niger State not IBB’s son (Mohammed).

We have credible people that can do the job. President Jonathan should fight election malpractice and corruption to

There will continue to be avoidable and needless loss of lives through plane crashes based on human error and technical defects, unless there is attitudinal reorientation and total dereliction of the tentacles of corruption, lethargy , negligence and inefficiency in Nigeria

,

terrorism in anyway.

Mrs. Farida Shu’aibu 08175782081

Nigerian politicians and our economy Nigeria is a country endowned with human and natural resources yet nothing seems to be working well.

Since the removal of fuel subsidy have we recorded any im-

its logical conclusion. We don’t need the son of the alleged evil genus to govern us here in Niger State.

Mrs. Farida Shu’aibu 08175782081

Reinstatement of Ayo - Salami The legal problem created by the judicial hectoring and

Kudos to Gov Peter Obi

I

ATTENDED a meeting of some high ranking Anambra people in Abuja recently. After reviewing the political situation in Anambra State, we collectively scored the Governor Obi very high based on the good work he has done in Anambra State.

The gathering, however, urged him to conduct the local government elections in the State at the earliest possible time.

We later came to the issue of an Anambra indigene - Mr. Madubuko Christian Chukwuma - who was awarded a scholarship by the Australian Government to study Peace and Conflict Resolution. The Australian

hounding of the former President of the Court of Appeal, Ayo Isa Salami has been remedied by the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC) for him to be reinstated.

Chief Bobson Gbinijie 08058231669

Boko Haram and terrorism For some time now, the issue of Boko Haram has dominated the national discourse.

How can this worrisome phenomenon be put behind us?

The northern Moslem religious leaders can do a lot in this regard by calling the Boko Haram leadership to a dialogue on behalf of the Federal government.

Now that it seems that they don’t trust the Federal government, members of the sect should be ab le to trust their religious leaders and reveal to

Government would take care of his school fees and upkeep in Australia but he was required to pay for his flight ticket.

I was ashamed that rather than one person taking up the payment, we started were asked to make contributions.

Some individuals donated N5,000 and N2,000 respectively until Senator Ben Obi, the messenger of the Igbos (Ojeligbo) stopped the donations.

Ben Obi said he would bring the matter to the attention of Gov. Obi. “Once the issue is worthwhile, capable of advancing the interest of an Anambra citizen, he would do it. If he does not, I will,” Obi said.

At our last meeting, he informed us that the Governor has done it and that the man has since travelled. He went further to explain that Gov. Peter Obi does everything that will positively advance the State and her people, that those saying he is aradite ( frugal) are those that want free money from him.

Benjamin Okeke, Abuja

Nigerians in clear terms, the essence of the killings. To the Boko Haram members, it needs be said that killing innocent lives is not the best option in expressing one’s displeasure over any issue no matter how serious it is but meaningful dialogue is the best option. Nigeria is for Nigerians and we must do everything possible to keep it one.

Clem Eruke 08153089490

On Al-Mustapha’s case President Jonathan should not intervene in AlMustapha’s case, the President should allow justice to take its due course. President Jonathan's intervention will amount to denial of justice to other parties. Why must we encourage injustice at all costs?.

Mrs. Farida Shu’aibu writes in from Abuja

SAYINGS OF OUR ELDERS 1.The tortoise said it is to avoid problem with landlords that he moves about in his own house.

2. No matter the quarrel between the tongue and teeth, they still stay together in the mouth.

Prince Freedom Ajuju (08057402933), No. 9, Oghenebrorhie St., Akpodiete Layout, Ugheli, Delta Send us your Sayings of Our Elders. They must be African sayings or proverbs. Biblical or English proverbs are unacceptable. You will be paid N100.00 for every saying published. Address your sayings to: The Co-ordinator, Sayings of Our Elders,Vanguard Media Ltd., PMB 1007, Apapa,

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012—53

TREBLE CHANCE LA Trobe Eastern L Yarraville Nunawading Canning Rockingham Fremantle U Melville Adelaide R

v Preston v Doncaster v Sunbury v Doveton v Morley v Shamrock R v Joondalup C v Subiaco v Enfield

SOCCER TIPS Unfair' Champions League elimination still angers Messi THE Argentine is still annoyed by the manner of the Blaugrana's semi-final defeat and the penalty which he missed at a crucial stage of their second-leg clash with the Blues Lionel Messi has admitted that he is still tormented by Barcelona's "unfair" elimination at the hands of Chelsea in the semifinals of the Champions League.

The Blaugrana dominated possession and territory in both legs but the defending champions ultimately bowed out 3-2 on aggregate, with their talismanic No.10 failing to score in either game and missing a crucial spot-kick at Camp Nou. Barca also lost their Spanish title to Real Madrid last season, but Messi has revealed that the defeat by Chelsea continues to bother him.

"I missed out winning La Liga and the .

Champions League, but I was more angry about the Champions League because it was unfair; because I missed a penalty," the Argentine told reporters on Tuesday.

FOUR HOMES LATE

Tottenham line up Roberto Martinez talks

TIPS

THE Wigan manager is the lead1X 3 X 7X 10 ing candidate to be the new Spurs FOUR AWAYS PAIR boss but the club are set to inter17 4 X 11 X 16 view more than one candidate, X with Moyes, Villas-Boas and X 28 19 Benitez in the running PERMUTATION 6 X 8 X 17 X AVOID Wolves reject West Ham 19 X 26 X 29 27 Jarvis bid - report TIPS RISKY 31 X 33 X 34 35 THE Premier League newcomers are keen

CREDIT Somerset 2 Launceston C 2 Northern D 2 AD Cobras 3 Olympic 3 Cumberland 3 Western S 3 Adelaide R 3

X-RAY OF THE DRAWS Week 48 Victoria Division one 1 Dandenong C 2 Werribee C 3 Whittlesea R

v Pt.Melbourne 1 v Bulleen 2 v Altona M 1

Victoria Division Two 4 Clifton Hill 5 E. Altona 6 LA Trobe 7 Moreland C

v Banyule v Westgate v Preston v Ballarat

2 2X XX 1

Victoria Division Three 8 Eastern L 9 Langwarrin 10 Mornington 11 Noble Pk 12 S.Springvale

v Doncaster XX v Morewell X2 v Box Hill 1 v Malvern C. 2 v Casey C 2

Victoria Division Four 13 Cairnlea 14 N.Sunshine 15 Sp Whittlesea 16 Whittlesea U 17 Yarraville

v Sydenham 2X v Geelong 1 v Melbourne U1 v Avondale 2 v Sunbury XX

Victoria Division Five 18 Heatherton 19 Nunawading 20 Waverly

v Peninsula X1 v Doveton XX v Old Scotch X2

West Australia Premier 21 Armadale 22 Balcatta 23 Joondalup 24 Stirling L

v Knights X1 v Bunbury X1 v Inglewood 1 v Sorrento 1

West Australia Division One 25 Ashfield 26 Canning 27 Cockburn 28 Fremantle 29 Rockingham 30 Wanneroo

v Mandurah X1 v Morley XX v Dianella.

1 v Swan Utd 2 v Shamrock RXX v Gosnells 1

West Australia Division Two 31Fremantle U 32 Kingsway 33 Melville

v Joondalup C XX v Uwa Nedlands2 v Subiaco XX

South Australia Super 34 Adelaide R 35 Blue Eagles 36 Metro Stars 37 Western S 38 Wt. Birkalla

v Enfield XX v Comets 1 v Adelaide X1 v Campb'ltown XX v Croydon X2

South Australia Premier 39 AD Cobras 40 Cumberland 41Olympic

6 8 17 40

v S. Adelaide 1 v Pirates XX v Para Hills X2

South Australia State to bring the former England man to Upton Park but have reportedly seen a ÂŁ4m bid 42 AD Hills v Gawler 1 EXCELLENT rejected by the Championship side 43 NAB v Cove.

X2

LA Trobe 7 Eastern L 7 Yarraville 7 Nunawading 5 Canning 5 Rockingham 5 Fremantle U 5 Melville 5

Harry Redknapp sacked as Tottenham boss

44 Northern D 45 W. Adelaide 46 W. Toros

v Noarlunga X1 v Sturt 1 v Seaford 1

DESPITE dismissing speculation Tasmania North Premier surrounding his future on Tuesday, the manager's exit has been con- 47 Launceston U v Riverside XX firmed by the club after irreconcil- 48Prospect v Burnie 1 able differences with Daniel Levy 49 Somerset v Launceston C XX

Revised Pairs 6 x 8, 17 x 19 26 x 29, 47 x 49

54 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

IE, Eagles die for Keshi was the title of Ade Ojeikere’s column on the eve of Nigeria’s match with Namibia in Calabar.

Ade is among the thousands of Nigerians who thumb up for the programme Stephen Keshi is executing. He is building a new team for Nigeria with a special attention on the domestic league. It simply had to be so after the disappointment of many of the foreign-based professionals. And going by the level our football had fallen there was no other way out. Ade knew that and told the players to get to the field and die for Keshi who had given them much as it is said that to whom much is given much is expected. Keshi and his crew, from my close observations, are teaching the players a lot.

They are doing a good job. What the players need to add to the techniques and tactics that they are acquiring is the fighting spirit that Ade was writing about. I want to add voice to Ade’s charge. There are times determination wins a match for a team. Zambia proved to us in the last Nations Cup final that fighting spirit can win a match against a tactically superior side. Ivory Coast were more organized tactically. But the Zambians fought so hard, marking every ball and space.

to high heavens if you played a superb game and would even buy a drink for you. But if in the next game you didn’t do well, he would embarrass you openly saying “after taking my drink you fumbled.”

D

he result was that Ivory Coast could not score and in the resultant penalty shoot-out they won their first Nations Cup title. They did so fighting. Who will fight for Nigeria? The ball is in the court of Keshi and his crew to continue the search for creative and hard players who must be fighters. We need fighters to qualify for the World Cup in Brazil and go there to do well. It is doable.

But we need fighters. We need players who will fight in spirit and on the field. When you fight in spirit you give your all, you play the match in spirit even before kick off.

Footballers will understand my point. Before the 1989 FA Cup final between BCC Lions of Gboko and Iwuanyanwu Nationale I was with Benedict Ugwu, fondly called Surugede. In his Verander Hotel room on the eve of the match, Surugede was playing the match in spirit. He imagined how hard he would tackle and how his head would not spare anybody in the air. I was stunned by his spirit and demonstrations in the room.

What shocked me most was when he hit his forehead severally on the wall to test how hard it was and how hard he would clear the ball with his head, legs and body.

Surugede was charged before and during the match. He was in another world. The spirit was high and ready to

Keshi’s dream tackle fight. He was known for his diving headers. He had ability to dive to head out long rang crosses. Surugede was the Gede (pillar) in Rangers and BCC who beat Iwuanyanwu 1-0 with an Arthur Nwankwo goal to win that FA Cup and take the diadem to the North for the first time in over 40 years. Gede was a fighter, a great defender who had the honour of playing for Nigeria in the twilight of his

,

T

L

,

We need players who will fight in spirit and on the field

career. These days we lack fighters.

K

eshi must find fighters for Eagles. He was a fighter himself. I almost fell laughing the other time I was with Keshi, Daniel Amokachi, Sylvanus Okpala, Ike Shorunmu and Valere Houandinou. We were recalling interesting stories of the past. Sylvanus Okpala, fondly called quick silver told his but when Keshi and Valere took the floor our ribs cracked with laughter. They spoke of their ACB days.

Valere, just like Okpala was known for his free kicks.

Okpala was superb in set-pieces. Valere did well in this area too and was called Revelino. The ACB days of Keshi and Valere were interesting. They had Gideon Njoku as their coach. Keshi recalled how Njoku would praise you

ate Njoku, Keshi and Valere recalled, would tell the whole club about your private life including your romance with any girl if you were not playing well but would even encourage you if were good on the field.

Njoku was both a socialite and also a disciplinarian. Keshi admitted planning to quit ACB because of his style but later confessed that he later reaped from Njoku’s hard postures. And now the story from Valere. ACB had gone to Benin to play Insurance of Benin at the time Insurance had the likes of Peter Iyaghrebva, Felix Agbonifo, Francis Monidafe, Chris Ogu, David Adiele, Kadiri Ikhana, Boateng and Henry Ogboe. Ogboe was about the topmost striker in the country then. He averaged a goal a match and Keshi’s task was to mark him out of the match.

ACB had their own crack players and they were younger although they were the underdogs. They were known as giant killers. They were young but could destroy any big team. Keshi was very young then and the fact that he was playing against some big names in Nigerian football excited him. He shared the double bunker bed with Valere when they got to Benin. At night while they were asleep on the eve of the match Valere was woken up by some vibration that shook the bed. Keshi who lay in the upper layer had fallen to the ground. He felt for him and asked what the problem was. Keshi retorted: “Na Henry Ogboe I dey pursue in a dream. I saw him attacking our goal and had to tackle him so hard that I fell. Na wao. We go die for this match.”

We laughed and laughed and laughed. Up till now, any time I try to picture that scene I can’t help laughing. You can imagine the kind of a tackle Keshi must have made in the dream that sent him crashing to the floor in their camp. He was certainly playing that match in spirit before the game proper. We need players like that in the current Eagles, players with fighting spirit, with determination and who will be ready to sacrifice for our country and for themselves. Keshi must find them from our league and in Europe. It is not enough to teach skills. Character matters in football. I wish him luck in tomorrow’s game against Rwanda in Calabar. Reactions to anibeze@yahoo.com are welcome.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012 — 55

Osayomi jets in today for Calabar C Athletics Championships

RISTIANO Ronaldo took a petulant dig at his World Player of the Year rival Lionel Messi, after being mocked by fans for his woeful finishing during Portugal’s 3-2 win over Denmark.

The Real Madrid forward missed two giltedged chances in his country’s narrow victory over the Danes, and was taunted by opposition supporters, who chanted ‘Messi’ every time he touched the ball.

The 27-year-old fin-

R

EIGNING All Afri ca Games fastest woman,Oludamola Osayomi will jet in today from her base in the United States of America for next week’s 66th Cross River state/All Nigeria Open Athletics Championships at the U.J Esuene stadium in Calabar.

Osayomi who will be flaunting her credential as the only Nigerian female sprinter to have legally ducked under 11 seconds since Mary Onyali ran 1099 seconds in La Chaux-deFonds,France in 2000 will be hoping to reclaim the national 100m crown she first lost to Okagbare in 2009.

The Ilesa-born sprinter holds a personal season’s best time of 11.31 seconds against the 11.01 her main rival for the title,Blessing Okagbare has done so far this season but if recent history is anything to go by,she may spring a surprise and emerge champions in Calabar come next week.

mentioned.

Dr Qua, spoke in Calabar Wednesday evening when an NFF delegation led by Technical Director, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, paid him a curtesy visit to again inform the royal father that the national team was within his dormain and was desperate for his royal blessings.

Also in the team was Eagles Coordinator, Emmanuel Atta, Psychologist, Dr Robinson Okosun and Media Officer, Ben Alaiya. The royal father said the need to have a permanent base has become pertinent because smaller teams that Nigeria usually dismiss in the past have become a pain in the neck for the national team due to lack of support and a venue that the players are used to.

The former Lagos Marine goalkeeper in the 60s, said he would again raise the issue with the leadership of the NFF, even as he got assurances from Dr Ikpeme, that his observations will be convened to the Aminu Maigari led board of the federation.

Meanwhile, the national team will on Friday round off preparations for the game against Rwanda, with a light work out at the UJ Esuene Stadi-

ished second behind Messi in Fifa’s 2011 Ballon d’Or, which is presented to the world’s best player.

When asked about the Messi chants after the game, Ronaldo replied: ‘You know where he was at this time [last year]?

Do you know? He was being eliminated in the Copa America, in his own country. I think that’s worse, no?’

Messi, in fact, reached the quarter-finals of the competition with Argentina, before being eliminated by eventual winners Uruguay.

Paulo Bento, the Portugal coach, was quick to defend his captain after the Denmark win.

‘That’s not my impression [that Ronaldo is struggling to handle the pressure],’ Bento said.

Keshi praises Enyeama’s decade of service

C

COASTING HOME — Osayomi

OACH Stephen Keshi has praised goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama for his decade of service to the Nigerian cause.

Enyeama, stand-in captain of the national team, was in celebration mood this week as he officially marked a decade of be-

ing a player in the national team.

Enyeama was called up for the 2002 Fifa World Cup in Japan and South Korea by Adegboye Onigbinde to be third choice but by the time the tournament ended, he had become number one.

Keshi, while commend-

Hodgson calls for ruthless England against Sweden

R

OY Hodgson urged England to show a ruthless attacking streak here Thursday as they

Eagles permanent base Continued from BP

Ronaldo hits Messi

um in Calabar. Head Coach Stephen Keshi has been sweating it out with his players and said he was satisfied with the level of fitness of the team ahead of the duel against Rwanda.

Team doctor, Ibrahim Gyaran, while reviewing the fitness of the team said the Eagles have a 100 per cent fitness level. “It’s quite instructive, because we are just coming from an away game and usually away games are fraught with injuries but I’m happy to reveal that none of our players is in any health condition that will prevent him from featuring for the team on Saturday.

prepared for their Group D meeting with perennial bogey team Sweden.

England have never beaten Sweden in a competitive fixture but head into Friday’s Euro 2012 game at the Olympic Stadium as favourites to take all three points following a 1-1 draw with France.

faro Stadium had about 20,000 fans and it was an amazing atmosphere.

Even though their team lost by 2-0, they still had the support of their fans and we pray to receive the same in Lagos.”

The Falcons defeated Zimbabwe in the first-leg of the African Women’s Championship qualifying match by 2-0, and now looks set to seal the tie in the second leg to be played in Teslim Balogun Stadium on Saturday June 16.

a set-piece, and clear-cut goalscoring chances from open play were few — something Hodgson feels England must improve on Friday. “I was happy with the start. We played quite well, certain aspects of our game were good,” Hodgson told a press conference."

Uduaghan motivates athletes Continued from BP electric.

With former African queen of the tracks, Mary Onyali getting things off with a sweet rendition of the national anthem, the stage was set for colourful occasion, filled with pomp and pageantry.

With the Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, leading other top dignitaries, comprising athletics

Zimbabwe will fall Continued from BP

But while England’s defensive display against the French on Monday earned plaudits, Hodgson admitted his side will have to present more of an attacking dimension if they want to defeat the Swedes.

England’s solitary goal against France came from

”Nigerians should expect a victory from us. The players are very fit and strong and they have been working hard in the past couple of months, and I have confidence in them.” ”Zimbabwe is not a weak opponent but I believe we have the players that can complete the job on Saturday. All we need from Nigerians is their support.”

A victory for the Super Falcons will ensure they defend their title in Equatorial Guinea in November 2012.

greats to witness the collection of world teams competing for laurels, the Nigerian 4x100m relay team anchored by Ogho Egwerro, returned a time of 39.35 secs to claim the gold and to that, Governor Uduaghan, urged them to lower it to 38secs, in order for them to finish among the world’s top 20 and qualify for the looming summer Olympic Games in London.

Impressed with their smooth baton exchange, the Governor tasked the coaches of the relay team to work on their skills, in view of the stiff competition that they would face in future athletics meets.

For the way they ran, Uduaghan, in a spur of the moment, was so impressed that he gave the winners of the 4x100m and 4x4000m teams $10, 000 each but noted that he was urging Nigeria to run a lower race.

Responding, the President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Solomon Ogba, promised that they would do their best to better their time to qualify for the Olympics,

noting that what they presented in Warri was Nigeria’s Team B. He said that the Team A will be presented at the Africa Athletics Championships, holding a fortnight in Benin Republic.

In the day ’s other events, Ajoke Odumosu won the 400m hurdles with a time of 56.07secs while Obinna Metu won a round of the men’s 100m in 10.38secs. Ogho Egwerro won the other in 10.27secs.

There were so many other relay events like the school relay winners, who were presented their medals by the Governor himself and their captain a shield from Dr. Awoture Eleyae.

All the big names in Nigerian track and field were present to add flair to the event, which was filled with fanfare. The likes of Moses Ugbesien, Sunday Uti and Innocent Egbunike, who were all part of the 4x400m relay team that won bronze at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984, Porbeni and Brown Ebewele were all present at the event.

ing Enyeama’s stay in the team, used the avenue to challenge the players that are new to the national team set-up to try and emulate the goalkeeper.

“Enyeama has just done ten years but we have John Utaka who is over eleven years in the national team and they have been consistent in their national and club careers,” Keshi said.

“That is what I want from players who are just starting. In ten years’ time I want to see most of us here showing the younger ones how to be national icons like we did in our days,” Keshi added.

Enyeama was the third goalkeeper but Coach Onigbinde gave him the goalkeeper’s slot in Nigeria’s last group match against England. The match ended 0-0 but the former Enyimba shot stopper has not looked back since. He has been to four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and two World Cups.

Croatia Continued from BP subdued after Andrea Pirlo put Italy ahead in the 39th minute, curling in a sublime free-kick that dipped over the Croatia wall and gave goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa no chance.

The goal followed a build-up of pressure from Cesare Prandelli’s side, with Mario Balotelli going close on two occasions and Claudio Marchisio forcing Pletikosa into a fine double save.

Italy, who drew 1-1 with Spain in their opening game, had been looking for victory to ensure they face Ireland in the final group game on June 18 with their destiny in their own hands, rather than having to rely on the Spain-Croatia result.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

Warri relays shine, Uduaghan motivates athletes

BY ONOCHIE ANIBEZE HE Warri Grand Prix, yesterday, took off on a blistering note with an impressive crowd

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thronging the Warri Stadium to catch the excitement of track and field events, on a day that sports fused freely with entertainment to create an enchanting spectacle that captivated the world audience.

With thousands of fans

in the stands and music stars doing their thing to keep the fans entertained, what came down yesterday was simply magnificient. It was a great show.

The atmosphere in the stadium was Continues on Page 55

Monarch wants Calabar as Eagles permanent base •Team rounds off training •No injury worries — Doctor HE paramount rul er of Qua people in Calabar Municipality, Ndidem (Dr) Ika Ika Qua, has suggested to the Nigeria Football Federation and the Sports Ministry to make Calabar, the Cross River state capital the permanent home of the national team.

This, according to him will help the team’s concentration and also make

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Pacquiao cries for revenge

REWARD.....Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State presents the gold medal to Ajoke Odumosu of Nigeria shortly after wining the women 400m hurdles final at the Warri Grand Prix yesterday. Photo: Henry Unini

Croatia hold Italy Today’s Fixtures Ukraine v France 5pm Sweden v England 7:45pm

Result Italy 1 Croatia TODAY'S

1

ROATIA yesterday delighted their army of travelling fans by staying top of Group C after coming from behind to draw 1-1 with Italy in Euro 2012.

Mario Mandzukic — who scored two in their 3-1 opening win over the

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PUZZLES

Republic of Ireland — was once again the hero, when he fired past Gianluigi Buffon from close range on 72 minutes after slipping his marker at the back post.

Croatia have received an increasing amount of support at the competiYESTERDAY'S

Continues on Page 55

Zimbabwe will fall — Ikhana UPER Falcons coach, Kadiri Ikhana has urged Lagos fans to come out in their numbers to support the team when they take on Zimbabwe tomorrow. He assured that the visitors will be defeated.

The Falcons played in front of a huge crowd at the Rufaro Stadium in Harare, and Ikhana believes that Lagos can also

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tion and an estimated 15,000 Croats flocked to Poznan, in western Poland, to see if the group leaders could overcome the Azzurri.

But until Mandzukic’s goal, the fans in chequerboard red and white were Continues on Page 55

victory easy to come by for the team, because according to him, Calabar, is a lucky place for the national team. In the alternative, he said Lagos and Enugu, should be considered because of the positive auras of the cities and the huge followership that the national team enjoys in the cities

command a large crowd in support of the team. ”I will like to urge all football fans in Lagos to come out and support the team on Saturday. The game against Zimbabwe is a very crucial one and the fans can be the 12thman in our team if they give us the support we need to defeat them.” ”In Zimbabwe, the Ru Continues on Page 55

QUICK CROSSWORD

ANSWERS

Across 1 Bucket (4) 4 Irritate (3) 6 Remain (4) 9 Tune (3) 10 Bragging (8) 11 Ale (4) 14 Owns (3) 16 Tree (5) 19 Plague (8) 21 Alloy (5) 23 Left (8) 24 Flashlight (5) 27 Age (3) 31 Cease (4) 33 Start (8) 34 Sheep (3) 35 Generated (4) 36 Attempt (3) 37 Wad (4)

Down 2 Soon (4) 3 Final (4) 4 Aggravated (8) 5 Murder (4) 6 Sword (5) 7 Fasten (3) 8 Stadium (5) 12 Brute (5) 13 Collier (5) 14 Border (3) 15 Located (5) 17 Demise (5) 18 Prompt (5) 20 Volume (8) 22 Ballad (3) 25 Exterior (5) 26 Managed (5) 28 Droop (4) 29 Invoice (4) 30 Staunch (4) 32 Be indebted (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Latin 9, Abused 10, Roving 11, Avoid 12, Rota 15, Vice 17, Erasing 20, Doe 21, Talon 23, Even 25, Deaf 26, Dived 28, Wed 30, Disease 33, Idol 35, Rued 36, Gloat 38, Tablet 39, Troupe 40, Money

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 1, Sabre 2, Quota 3, Lea 4, Advent 5, Iris 6, Nod 7, Rigid 8, Agree 13, Ordered 14, Asked 16, Confuse 18, Gazed 19, God 22, Never 24, Nip 27, Dilate 28, Witty 29, Doubt 31, Augur 32, Edged 34, Alto 36, Gem 37, Try

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

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

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

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

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