INSECURITY: Ban CAN, JNI, ACF,Afenifere, others — Sanusi

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...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61797

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

Jonathan, Tukur divide PDP govs •Govs demand convocation of NEC meeting •No personal rift between Tukur, Oyinlola — PDP

•Pg.7

INSECURITY:

Obasanjo warns against another civil war

Ban CAN, JNI, ACF, Afenifere, others — Sanusi

...cautions nation's leaders •P.53

•His comments are irresponsible — CAN, Ohanaeze, Afenifere •How to tackle poverty, insecurity in the North— Joda, Ogbeh, others

BY EMEKA MAMAH, CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, OKEY NDIRIBE & DAPO AKINREFON

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AGOS—CENTRAL Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, yesterday, turned his attention to ethno-religious groups in the country and urged the Federal Government to ban them as a way of curbing insecurity in the country.

Sanusi made the suggestion at an inter-faith Continues on Page 5

•P.17

DEAR BUNMI •P.38

ROTIMI FASAN •P.19

Mr & Mrs

FOR FALLEN HEROES—President Goodluck Jonathan laying a wreath to mark the 2013 Nigerian Armed Forces Remembrance Day at the Cenotaph, Eagle Square, Abuja, yesterday. Inset: Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Aloma Muhktar (left) and Senate President, Senator David Mark (right) laying wreaths at the event. Photos: Abayomi Adeshida. More pix on Page 37

Power privatization: FG confirms bank•Pg.6 guarantees•P.49

2—Vanguard, WEDNEDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

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4—Vanguard, WEDNEDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013 — 5

POCKET CARTOON

SYMPOSIUM—From left: Mr. Okey Wali, President Nigeria Bar Association (NBA); Justice

Ayoola Philips, Chief Judge of Lagos State/Special Guest of Honour; Mr. Lawal Pedro, Solicitor-General of Lagos State, representing Governor Babatunde Fashola and Mrs. Ganiat Fawehinmi, wife of Late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, during the 9th Chief Gani Fawehinmi Annual Lecture and Symposium, at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

Ban CAN, JNI, ACF, Afenifere, others — Sanusi Continues from page 1 dinner organized by the Northern Reawakening Forum (NRF) in Abuja, yesterday.

He also asserted that all ethnic and religious groups in the country were actually political associations donning false cloak.

He said: “I almost didn’t want to attend this occasion because I

am opposed to regional, ethnic and religious groupings in this country. In fact, I would like the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Jamatul Nasril Islam (JNI) , Afenifere and all such other groups to be banned.”

The call elicited immediate condemnation from leaders of the affected groups, who described

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

W

HEN God answers your prayer straight away He is testing your FAITH. When God does not answer your prayer straight away, it is because He is testing your PATIENCE. When God does not answer your prayer at all, it is because He has something BETTER for you.

TAKE HEART

I

BY ELLA RANDLE

N one of recent writings, Steve Goodier wrote that in the end, it’s not about how much knowledge we may have. It’s about what we choose to do with what we know that means anything.

We can improve our lives significantly when we simply take what we already know and apply it. He says: “I know how to forgive, for example, I know how to love, when to be patient and why I should share generously. I also know that if I do these things as often as possible, it will make a huge difference in my life and to others I care about. But too often I’m slow to do them.

“Most of the time I even know how to be happy. I bet that you do, too. And I know that if I habitually do the kinds of things that promote a happier and more fulfilled life, I will be the better for it.”

A full and happy life does not come from knowing more than others.

And we don’t always need to find the latest book on happiness or a popular self help expert to guide us. Most of us already know the greater part of what we need to do to be our best and to get where we want to go.

But this is key to consistently apply what we know every day. In other words, just do it. You know enough. Apply what you know today and things can truly be different tomorrow.

Sanusi’s comments as irresponsible. This came as former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Audu Ogbeh and one-time Permanent Secretary, Ahmed Joda offered suggestions on how to tackle poverty and insecurity in the North.

Elite fan embers of insecurity with religion Sanusi, who attributed the state of insecurity in the country to a fall-out of the exclusiveness and marginalization which many Nigerians belonging to the younger generation had been subjected to, traced the current insecurity in northern parts of the country to power struggle among the elite who use religion to pursue their goals.

He lamented that despite the fact that the Northern region’s land mass constitutes about 60 per cent of the Nigerian landmass and agriculture contributes 42 per cent to the Nigerian economy, the region remained impoverished.

He blamed the northern insurgency on the selfishness of the nation’s elite which had failed to see the future.

Economic failure, cause of insecurity in the North – Ogbeh

In his remarks, Ogbeh recalled that past northern leaders laid the foundation for a peaceful region by accommodating people of all religious beliefs.

He said: “A former Sultan of Sokoto named Saddiq had a Christian Igbo cook and the late Ahmadu Bello had a Christian doctor.”

Going down memory lane, he revealed that Shehu Malami, a notable Northern Muslim offered him accommodation in Abuja after he escaped assassination in 1998.

He further posited that the on-going insurgency in the Northern region was a fall-out of economic failure in the region, adding he had predicted that the situation would degenerate to the present level over a decade ago.

Sound education remains solution to northern poverty – Joda Also speaking at the event, Ahmed Joda queried why disease and poverty were ravaging the northern region while industries and economic development was expanding in other parts of the country.

He lamented that all the old industries in the region which were located in Kaduna, Kano and Jos had collapsed.

He proposed that for

this trend to be reversed, the region needed to give its children sound education.

In his remarks at the occasion, the Chairman of the group Hon. Mohammed Kumalia said NRF had organized programmes in Plateau State to promote peaceful coexistence among people of different faiths.

Sanusi’s call a huge joke – Afenifere Leader of the Afenifere, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, described Sanusi’s call as a huge joke, countering that banning the ethno-religious groups would not in anyway help combat the wind of insecurity in the country.

Fasoranti, who roared into a laughter when asked his views on the apex bank boss’ comment, said: That is a big joke. We (Afenifere) are not given to violence.

We want unity and progress. He is shooting the wrong target. We want progress and improved welfare for our people. They know where the problem of insecurity is coming from. They should tackle Boko Haram. They should talk to their leaders to put their people in check. I n Afenifere, we generate ideas for the society to become vibrant. We don’t preach violence.”

Sanusi is living in the past – Ohanaeze Outgoing Ohanaeze Ndigbo National Secretary, Chief Nduka Eya, wondered why ethnoreligious organisations should be banned, saying Sanusi should not be

dignified with a response because his comments were frivolous.

His words: “What is wrong with Nigeria is that everybody has a solution to Nigeria’s problems. Too many cooks spoil the broth. Sanusi does not deserve our response because his comment is frivolous. How can they ban CAN, Ohanaeze, Afenifere, etc? Nobody is going to respond to the nonsense he is talking about."

Sanusi’s comments capable of breaching security – CAN On its part, CAN, which said it could not be banned, said Sanusi’s barrage of controversial comments portended more danger to security than any nonreligious group in the country.

Secretary-General of CAN, Rev Musa Asake, said: “CAN is not the cause of trouble or insecurity in this country.

CAN was formed to protect the interests of Christians, especially in fighting persecution.

CAN is not a government institution like NEMA, which any person can wake up and disband. The 1999 Constitution guarantees freedom of association and Sanusi cannot just wake up and call on anybody to proscribe it.

Sanusi has been making several controversial statements and as a CBN governor, he should not make controversial pronouncements like this one. It is this type of statement that causes problems, not CAN as an institution. It is unfortunate that at a time like this, when Christians are being killed and churches

Continues on page 14

6—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

Reps resume today, to give attention to PIB, constitution amendment A

BY OKEY NDIRIBE

BUJA — THE House of Representatives which resumes today after the yuletide holidays would give priority attention to the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, and review of the 1999 Constitution.

This was disclosed, yesterday, in Abuja by Hon. Albert Sam-Tsokwa, Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business.

Hon. Sam-Tsokwa (PDP Taraba) who gave this indication at a news conference, yesterday, in Abuja, said the House would give the constitution amendment exercise more attention to ensure that it is concluded this year.

He said: “We are going to continue to implement the things we are committed to with Nigerians based on the legislative agenda. We believe we have kept faith with the legislative agenda and hope to improve on its implementation.”

The lawmaker lamented that the Act which was aimed at fasttracking procurement and transparency had become a clog in the wheel of implementing the annual budget.

He said: ”The Act has to be amended to ensure that no one complains about the implementation of the budget

but ensure that transparency and probity is maintained.”

He assured that the House would step up its oversight function of Ministries Departments and Agencies, MDAs, in 2013.

Sam-Tsokwa said the House passed the budget early enough to enable various committees to

carry out their oversight functions, adding that the House would monitor the implementation of the budget on monthly basis.

On the delay in the passage of the 2013 budget, he said: ”We have finished our duty in passing the budget, the issue of assent is that of the executive.”

On PIB

From left: Country Director, Marie Francoise Marie-Nelly, World Bank; World Bank Vice President, Africa Region, Makhtar Diop; President Goodluck Jonathan; Minister of Finance, On the Petroleum Industry Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and Manager, African Region, Strategic Communication, Pillip Bill, PIB, Sam-Tsokwa said the Jeremy Hay, during the visit of the World Bank team to the President, in Abuja, yesterday. bill was before an ad hoc committee and would be passed as soon as possible. According to him, ”as we speak now, the bill has gone through second reading in the House of Representatives. It is before an Special Adviser to the to the Presidency had been

BY OKEY NDIRIBE ad hoc committee specially President on National delayed after it was passed by constituted by the Speaker to BUJA — AFTER weeks of Assembly Matters, Senator Joy the National Assembly last ensure that work on it is uncertainty over the Emodi, yesterday.

December. expedited.”

In response to an earlier text whereabouts of the 2013 The budget bill for N4.9 budget, the Presidency, message Vanguard sent to her trillion was passed by the Public Procurement Act yesterday, confirmed that demanding to know when the National Assembly based on a President Goodluck Jonathan budget would be signed into proposal presented by the He further said the House had commenced studying the law, she replied: “As soon as majority leaders of the House would also amend the Public fiscal document which was Mr. President finishes studying of Representatives and the Procurement Act, 2007 to ensure passed by the National the document.”

Senate.

It would be recalled that probity and transparency in Assembly last December. government businesses.

This was confirmed by the submission of the 2013 budget

Jonathan studying 2013 budget —Presidency

A

LCCI criticises FG over proposed importation of rice mills

BY PETER EGWUATU

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AGOS — THE Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, yesterday, criticized the Federal Government over its proposed plan to import rice mills into the country.

The chamber stated that the act was in contravention of the Federal Government’s promise to creating enabling environment for the private sector to strive.

The President of LCCI, Mr. Goodie Ibru, who disclosed this, said the recent report that the Federal Government would import 100 rice mills from China for distribution to states

was not in good taste.

According to him, “the current policy thrust in economic management, which has been severally canvassed by the members of the economic team, is that government would concentrate on the provision of enabling environment and institutions to support the growth of private enterprises.

"This fundamental principle is also clearly elaborated in the Vision 20 2020 document as an economic management philosophy that would guide the choice and direction of economic policy. The decision to import rice mills is a negation of this principle.

We believe such acquisition should be done by the private

sector with the support of government.”

The LCCI cited the story of the NNPC, the refineries, NITEL, steel complexes, fertilizer plants, petrochemical plants, Nigeria Airways, the railways, and paper mills where government involvement had not helped in moving the economy forward.

According to the LCCI, “these enterprises were managed (and some are still managed) by politicians and bureaucrats and the cost to the economy was horrendous. Similar scenarios played out in many states. This is not a model of government intervention that the economy deserves and this has been proven by empirical evidence. It has not

worked in most economies as it is typically marred by mismanagement and corruption.”

The President of LCCI declared that direct government intervention was desirable in infrastructures, security, environment, public schools and hospitals as well as other areas in which there are evident cases of market failure.

He said: “The proposed acquisition of rice mills raises a number of specific concerns: how will the rice mills be distributed?

How will they be managed? How will they operate alongside the existing rice processing mills owned by small scale operators without creating the challenge of unfair competition?”

Naira depreciates by 44kobo as CBN sells N110bn TBs

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE & CHINEDU IBEABUCHI

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AGOS — THE Naira, yesterday, depreciated by 44 kobo at the interbank foreign exchange market even as the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, sold N110 billion worth of Treasury Bills, TBs. Data from Financial Market Dealers Association, FMDA, showed that the interbank foreign exchange rate rose to 157.24 kobo per dollar from N156.8 on Monday, indicating 44 kobo depreciation.

This sharply contrasts with the five kobo appreciation of the Naira at the official market on Monday, where the official exchange rate dropped to N155.72 from N155.77 per dollar owing to sharp decline in demand.

On the other hand, the CBN continued its liquidity mop-up, yesterday, by selling N110 billion worth of treasury bills at interest rate of 13 per cent. Last week, the apex bank moppedup N384 billion from the interbank market through the sale of TBs.

Investors gain N120bn on NSE

Meanwhile, the value of equities listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange maintained upward trend, yesterday, as investors gained N120.65 billion.

The key market indices that gauge performance on the NSE, represented by the market capitalisation and the All Share Index both rose by 1.29 per cent.

The market capitalisation that opened at N9.37 trillion appreciated by N120.65 billion to close at N9.49 trillion while all share index appreciated by 377.25 points to close at 29,686.95 points from 29.309.70 points.

United Bank for Africa Plc led in the gainers chart, as 50 equities gained in share price value, compared to eight equities that dropped. UBA appreciated by 9.83 per cent to close at N6.59 per share from N6.00. This was followed by Sterling Bank Plc that gained 8.64 per cent to close at N2.39 per share and Red Star Express Plc rose by 8.33 per cent to close at N3.25 per share, among others.

On the contrary, Cutix Plc recorded the highest share price loss, depreciating by five per cent to close at N1.52 per share from N1.60 per share. This was followed by B.O.C Gases Plc that lost 4.88 per cent to close at N6.24 per share.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013—7

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR, HENRY UMORU & GBENGA OLARINOYE

A

BUJA — THE internal conflict within the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, showed no sign of abating, yesterday, as it emerged that the national chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, may have swayed one of the governors to his camp.

However, most of the governors, yesterday, demanded a convocation of a National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting of the party.

The agitation of the governors came as the party also, yesterday, denied news reports that the replacement of Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola as the National Secretary of the party, by his deputy was the personal agenda of Tukur, the national chairman.

An unsigned statement issued in the name of the party said the replacement of Oyinlola by his deputy, Mr Solomon Onwe, was in adherence to provisions of the party’s constitution.

The provisions of the PDP constitution which Tukur cited to appoint Onwe has provoked controversy as different sections were quoted in different press statements issued by the party on Monday and yesterday.

On Monday, Tukur, in the press statement announcing Onwe as the new national secretary had said: "Pursuant to the powers conferred on the National Chairman by Chapter V Section 35 (1), 35 (1)(b) as well as section 36(2) of the constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party (as amended), the Deputy National Secretary of the PDP, Barr.

Solomon Onwe, is hereby directed to assume duties as the Acting National Secretary of the PDP." Yesterday, the party in the unsigned statement had said: "The National Working Committee wants to make it very clear that what happened was nothing more than obedience of a court judgment, and the consequential application of the relevant sections of the party’s constitution under the circumstance."

Section 45 of the party constitution states: “45 (1) If a National Officer of the party is removed or resigns from office, he shall immediately hand over to the National Secretary all records, files and other property of the party in his or her possession. (2) In the case of the National Secretary, he shall hand over to the Deputy National Secretary."

Remarkably, the two provisions quoted by the party are not in the PDP constitution generally available to party members. Party officials were, however, insisting that the provisions were built in the latest amendments which are yet to be circulated.

Many party officials, nevertheless, expressed embarrassment over the discrepancies in the sections of

From left: Mr Gbenga Adefaye, President, Nigerian Guild of Editors; Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, Minister of Agriculture and Mr Bolaji Akinboro, CEO, Cellulant during a briefing of media executives by the minister on the activities of his ministry, in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: by Lamidi Bamidele.

Jonathan, Tukur divide PDP govs zGovs demand convocation of NEC meeting zNo personal rift between Tukur, Oyinlola —PDP the PDP constitution cited by Tukur and the unsigned statement, yesterday.

Tukur’s appointment of Onwe A couple of NWC members who spoke to Vanguard on condition of anonymity said that Tukur was wrong in the application of the constitution he used in appointing Onwe as acting national secretary.

Onwe who was operating from his office as Deputy National Secretary, also dismissed mutterings over the failure of any party official to sign the statement issued yesterday defending his appointment.

Genesis of the crisis The crisis in the party emerged last October after the NWC dissolved the Adamawa State executive of the party allegedly on the basis of what was claimed as the insubordination of the Alhaji Umar Kugama-led executive.

Following pressure from the party’s governors with a threat to dissolve the NWC, 10 of the 12 members of the NWC earlier this month disowned the dissolution of the Adamawa executive.

The action of 10 dubbed the gang of 10 in dissociating themselves from the dissolution immediately divided the body leading to frictions between Tukur and the majority of the NWC members.

No personal rift between Tukur, Oyinlola —PDP Meanwhile,

the

party,

yesterday, moved to disclaim reports that the action of Tukur in appointing Onwe as the acting national secretary of the party arose from his perceived differences with Oyinlola.

In the unsigned statement, the party said Oyinlola was replaced

by Onwe in deference to the judgment of a Federal High Court in Abuja which annulled the election of Oyinlola as national secretary.

According to the statement, “the reports create the impression that the change was occasioned by the personal desire of the National Chairman of the party to remove Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola from the position of the National Secretary of the party.

"The National Working Committee wants to make it very clear that what happened was nothing more than obedience of a court judgment, and the consequential application of the relevant sections of the Party’s Constitution under the circumstance.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we want to say unequivocally that there is no personal rift between Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, as the National Chairman of the party, and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola to warrant the sensational headlines that have been published in newspapers on the issue.

"In any event, reports have indicated that Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola has appealed against the Court judgment and the NWC wants to say that as soon as the appeal is decided, the party will, in the same way as it did in the case of the Federal High Court ruling, obey the appeal decision.”

Oyinlola absent at party secretariat Oyinlola who before now put up regular daily appearances at the Wadata Plaza, national secretariat of the party was for the second working day absent at party secretariat.

Some of his personal aides were, however, around.

The governors backing Tukur, Vanguard learnt, are doing so essentially out of loyalty to President Jonathan who was instrumental to the election of Tukur as national chairman.

Anti-Tukur govs to push for NEC meeting At today’s meeting with the NWC, the anti-Tukur governors, it was learnt, are expected to push the body to summon a meeting of the NEC of the party. Failure to hold regular meetings of the NEC is one of the issues being canvassed by the anti-Tukur governors to hit at the embattled national chairman.

Against constitutional provisions requiring the party to hold its NEC meetings quarterly, the Tukur leadership of the party has been able to hold one NEC meeting since its advent in March 2012.

A few governors supporting Tukur, led by a North-East governor, Vanguard learnt, would be moving to concretize the court judgment which ousted Oyinlola.

The anti-Bamanga forces on their part are also vowing to resist the removal of Oyinlola who was the candidate of the governors for the position of national secretary.

One of the notable backers of Bamanga, it was learnt, is one of

the governors from the South-East who a source said, yesterday, the governors have counted out that he is likely to back out.

“If Oyinlola goes, then Tukur must go,” an associate of one of the governors in the forefront to reinstate Oyinlola told Vanguard in the midst of mobilization against Tukur.

The source said that Adamawa had turned into a test case for the party as he claimed that allowing Tukur to get away with the dissolution of the executive in that state would open the way for anarchy in other chapters of the party in other states. The PDP executives in the states are normally subservient to the governors and it is feared that the action of the Tukur-led PDP could destabilise the power base of the governors in the party.

Group backs removal of Oyinlola Meanwhile, a political pressure group in Osun State, De-Raufus, yesterday threw its weight behind last Friday’s court removal of Oyinlola as the PDP national secretary.

The group also lauded the decision of the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur for appointing, Mr. Solomon Onwe as acting National Secretary of the party in replacement of the sacked Oyinlola so as not to allow vacuum that may cause doom for the party.

In a statement signed by the group’s chairman, Alhaji Musliudeen Oladimeji, the group commended the sack of Oyinlola and the immediate appointment of acting secretary for the party.

8—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

Armed Forces Remembrance: Jonathan, Mark, Tambuwal, others honour unknown soldiers

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

A

BUJA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday led others, including Vice President Namadi Sambo, Senate President and Service Chiefs in laying wreath to commemorate the 2013 Armed Forces Remembrance day.

The ceremony ended one month of activities lined up to mark the day which included fund raising for the v e t e r a n s .

The activities started December last year with President Jonathan, launching the emblem appeal fund for the 2013 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebrat i o n .

The wreath laying started with the arrival of the President who is also the Grand Patron of the Nigerian Legion, at about 10.00 am at the National Arcade

Three Arms Zone.

The President’s arrival was followed by the inspection of parade in four colours; the National and the three regimental colours of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force.

Prayers were offered for the repose of the souls of the departed fallen heroes and for peace, security and unity of the nation in both the Christian and Islamic w a y .

After the prayers, the President began with the laying of wreath, followed

by Vice President Namadi Sambo, Senate President, Sen. David Mark and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu T a m b u w a l .

Others who participated were, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukhtar, Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada and FCT Minister, Sen. Bala Mohammed.

CENTENNIAL PROJECT—From left: Mr Bisi Onasanya, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, First Bank of Nigeria Plc; Ms Arumah Oteh, Director General, Security and Exchange Commission; Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Mr. Edem Duke, Minister of Culture and Tourism and Mr John Momoh, Chairman, Channels Television during the private sector stakeholders forum on the centennial project by the Federal Government in Lagos on Monday. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

Bill on appointment of comptroller of Prisons faces setback

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH

A

BUJA—A controver

sial clause on the appointment of the Comptroller-General for the Nigeria Prisons Service may stall the passage of the ‘Prison Act 2012’ before the National Assembly, investigation

by Vanguard has shown.

Although the Prison Bill has passed second reading in the Senate, the House of Representatives is said to be upset by the clause restricting those to emerge as Prison comptroller to ‘serving general duty prison officers’.

General duty prison officers are those with low qualifications who rise through the ranks over the years while core professionals include medical doctors, engineers, computer scientists and other experts who handle critical assignments that keep the prisons running.

Vanguard gathered from reliable sources that if passed by the National Assembly, the bill is capable of destabilizing the Nigerian Prisons Service by edging out key professionals that actually run the prisons.

A reliable source told Vanguard that the bill, which was meant to smoothen operations of the Prisons Service and promote interest of staff and prison inmates, has however, been politicized by top prison officials and their backers to make it possible for only prison warders and other non-professionals in the system to emerge as comptroller-general of the service.

By implications, the pro-

moters of the bill want to stop medical doctors, engineers and ICT experts, who have risen to the top echelon of the prison service from being appointed CGs. Findings by Vanguard showed that there were many qualified core professionals in the NPS, who were being targeted by the bill so that they would not succeed the current CG and those to come after him.

Interestingly, when the bill was debated by the Senate, the senators did not take note of the dangerous clause which would curtail the promotion of excellence and professionalism in the prison service.

However, some lawyers and activists were said to have quickly draw the attention of the lawmakers to the clause, which states: “The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Prisons Service shall be appointed from amongst serving General Duty Prison Officers by the President acting on the advice of the Prison Board”.

The House of Representatives, which is yet to debate the merits and demerits of the bill, is said to be uncomfortable with the clause, which seeks to limit appointment of prison CGs to only non-professionals.

A member of the House of Representatives told Vanguard yesterday that the matter would be taken up as soon as the lawmakers resumed from their vacation.

“We, in the House of Representatives do not want any Nigerian who is qualified to hold the post of CG

of the NPS to be denied the position on account of being a well trained Nigerian professional.

“We should even encourage the real professionals like doctors and engineers, who have been in the system and understands the psychology of the prisoners to emerge as the CGs,” the female member who pleaded anonymity, said.

Already, the Network of Civil Society Organisation for Democracy, Good Governance and Development, NECSOGODD, has written to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, drawing his attention to the flaws in the proposed legislation and pleading with him to ensure that the dichotomy between professionals and non-professionals in the appointment of NPS CG, was removed.

The group’s National Coordinator, Ambassador Onoja and National Secretary, Tanko Tanko, said in a three-page letter to the Speaker and copied to principal officers and House Committee on Interior, that the clause was not deliberately aimed at denying qualified Nigerians from becoming NPS CGs. A copy of the letter, which Vanguard cited yesterday, said, “This development will not only breed animosity and disharmony among staff of the Prisons service but will also defeat the very cardinal aim of transforming our prisons system, which has remained a burning national and international issue in our country.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013—9

Tax evasion: 5m Lagos residents to face prosecution

BY OMOH GABRIEL, OLASUNKANMI AKONI &MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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AGOS —LAGOS State Government yesterday said it would commence the prosecution of tax defaulters in the state.

Disclosing this at a joint briefing by the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Mr. Ade Ipeye, Special Adviser to the Governor on Taxation, Mr. Abimbola Shodipo and the

state Executive Chairman Inland Revenue service, Mr. Tunde Fowler said that of the estimated eight million residents in Lagos, statistics shows that only three million pay their taxes. He said that about five million residents do not pay thus leaving the tax burden on the three million who pay.

According to the state Commissioner for Justice, machinery has been put in motion to ensure criminal prosecution of these tax

defaulters in the state.

He said that some 300, 000 were found in the last three years through the traffic offenders’ demand for tax clearance not to have paid any tax.

He said that some of these tax evaders are being investigated and that criminal charges will soon be instituted against them.

Some, he said, have been invited to answer for discussion on their outstanding tax liability.

He said that most of the defaulters are professionals who have the means to pay their taxes but failed to do so because they feel they have no need of government.

Officials of the state government said that a formal notice have been served on residents with tax liability with a caution for them to pay up what they are owing.

They said that the state was not enacting any new law but was going to enforce a federal law which empowers each

From left: Mr.Tunde Fowler, Chairman,Lagos Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Abimbola Shodipo, Special Adviser to the Governor on Internal Revenue and Mr. Ade Ipaye, Lagos State Commissioner for Justice/Attorney General, during a press briefing on tax defaulters in Lagos State, at Bagauda Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

arm of government in the country to collect stipulated taxes.

According to the state government, in 1999 only 252,000 Lagos residents were paying tax, but this figure of taxpaying residents rose to 728,000 in 2005.

From a figure of 728, 000 in 2005, the number of taxpaying residents grew to 2, 700,000 in 2010 and increased by 300, 000 in 2011.

They said that as at 2012 the figure of taxpaying residents stood at three million.

Officials of the state government said that as at 2010 about 254 companies were owing the state a tax liability of about five billion naira.

NMA raises alarm over increased attacks, killing of doctors

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

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AGOS —Medical doctors under the auspices of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Lagos State Chapter, yesterday raised alarm over the incessant attacks and killing of medical doctors by unknown gunmen in Lagos.

The alarm is coming on the heels of the killing of a young medical practitioner, Dr. Irawo Adamolekun by unknown assailants on Anthony - Ikorodu Road, Lagos last week.

In a press statement, the Chairman, NMA, Dr. Francis Faduyile. described the acts as wicked and barbaric.

Faduyile further called for enforcement of stricter control on motor bike operators as these assailants are fond of unleashing terror through the use of motor bikes.

According to him, “On Friday, January 11, the late Dr. Adamolekun was accosted in his car while in the traffic and the assailant shot him at close range. This young doctor however was not lucky as he died immediately from

complications of the gunshot.

“Precisely, on Tuesday, January, 8, a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon was shot at close range in his car at about 4:30 p.m. on his way from work at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH. “The doctor was in traffic jam and was accosted to submit his property even when he had his

car windows rolled up. His purported delay in responding got the robbers annoyed and he was shot at close range. The robber thereafter also crossed to the other side of the road and jumped on a waiting motorcycle and escaped.

The said doctor, seriously wounded, is still receiving treatment at an undisclosed

hospital.”

Similarly, on the early hours of Monday January 14, Kuppa Medical Centre at Ajao Estate, Lagos was also touched by these dare-devils between 2:00 and 5:00 a.m., They unleashed terror on them and carted away many valuables of the patients, staff and the hospital.”

Fawehimi’s Lecture: Governors, activists demand soco-economic, political justice

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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AGOS — TWO governors, activists including some Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SANs, and other Nigerians, yesterday, in Lagos, at the 9th annual Gani Fewehinmi lecture\symposium, demanded for the enthronement of socoeconomic and political justice in Nigeria.

The symposium entitled “Fawehinmiism”, practically re-awakened the spirit and

struggles of the late radical lawyer and human rights activist, as participants recalled Gani’s contributions to national development in economy, politics and human rights.

Participants included Governors of Lagos and Ogun, Lagos Chief Judge, Justice Ayotunde Phillips, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SANs, such as Ebun Sofunde, Femi Falana, Emeka Ngige, Augustine Alegeh, Niyi Akintola, Tayo Oyetibo and Dele Adesina.

Also in attendance were

Senate spokesman, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, the resident Electoral Commissioner for Cross Rivers State, Mike Igini, Dr. Muiz Banire and Mazi Okechukwu Unegbu among others.

The speakers who spoke on “Economy, Politics and Human Rights: Wither Nigeria,” described Gani as a selfless lawyer, and who gave his life for the poor, demanding for national rebirth to keep alive the struggle of the late crusader.

City Mall, Alausa gutted by fire

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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AGOS — PROPERTY worth billions of Naira was salvaged yesterday, when fire gutted parts of the ever busy Ikeja City Mall, Alausa, which left some customers and workers at the Mall scampering for safety.

The fire which occurred at Mr. Price retail store section of the mall, where all kinds of clothes are sold, broke out at about 11a.m.

When Vanguard visited the scene of the fire incident, all the entrances to the Mall were cordoned off by security personnel to ward off hoodlums from taking advantage of the commotion to loot.

Only fire fighters, mobile police officers and emergency managers were allowed in.

Normal business activities at the mall, housing Shoprite and about 100 retail and wholesale shops were disrupted, leaving customers stranded for hours.

Ajah killing: 'Amber light gave policeman away'

BY EVELYN USMAN

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AGOS — There were indications yesterday that the amber light on the patrol van used by a Police team on distress call in Ajah area of Lagos, weekend, aided the rampaging robbers in identifying the van, before releasing volleys of bullets which killed three of the Policemen.

It was gathered that a distress call was received

by Policemen at Elemoro that robbers were operating in a village around Lagbansa.

Policemen at Lagbansa were said to have called for reinforcement from the Area ‘J’ Command, Ajah.

However, on their way, some vehicles passed the patrol van, and all of a sudden, the last on the robbers’ entourage, reportedly opened fire on the police.

10—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

'Ekiti 553 'redundant' LG workers 'll not be sacked'

38 killed in 607 fire incidents — Oyo Govt

BY OLA AJAYI

BY GBENGAARIYIBI

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ADAN— THIRTYeight persons died in 607 fire incidents in Oyo State last year, the State Director of Fire Services, Mr. Kareem Oyekunle, said in Ibadan, yesterday.

According to him, property worth N828, 595,410,509 were retrieved while property worth over a billion naira was destroyed.

He noted that this 2013 alone, there had been 46 fire emergency calls where three lives were lost.

On the palace of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi that was gutted by fire last week, he denied a section of the media reports that said the fire fighters got there late.

To him, such reports were malicious and unfounded.

Contrary to the reports, he said the “distance between the fire station in Oyo and the palace is a very short one and that made it easy for personnel to get to the scene as prompt as possible, put out the fire and ensured it didn’t spread to other parts.”

Cleric’s New Year message for Jonathan, Nigerians

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AGOS —AS Nigerians begin to settle down for serious business and the challenges of the new year after the yuletide season, a plea has gone to President Goodluck Jonathan to confront any act or conduct that threatens the unity of the country with courage.

The General Overseer of The Light of God Ministries Worldwide, Ogba, Lagos, Prophet Joyce Osula made the remark while speaking to newsmen yesterday on the Christmas period attack on Christians in the northern part of the country by the Boko Haram sect.

He said: “I advise the President to invite religious leaders to come and pray with him for the country, and he should stop worshiping from church to church."

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Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Alaafin Of Oyo, his wife, Folasade (middle) arriving the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

Ajimobi presents N152bn budget

BY OLA AJAYI

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BADAN — GOVERNOR Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has presented a N152 billion budget for the 2013 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly for approval.

The budget, which was tagged “Budget of Transformation,” was presented to the 32-member legislative arm yesterday.

According to him, the budget was aimed at restoring, transforming and repositioning the state to its former pace-setter status.

The breakdown of the budget showed that N82.97 billion was allocated for recurrent expenditure while the capital expenditure would gulp N69.15bn representing 45.1 per cent of the budget.

According to the governor, the larger portion was allocated to the economic and social services sectors.

Ajimobi said: “We consider this strategy as the best antidote to the problem of poverty among our people.”

He also said that the publicprivate-partnership framework would be intensified towards the provision of public goods and services.

The governor explained that the strategy for achieving these would depend greatly on aggressive

internal revenue generation, IGR, through more effective and efficient tax administration as well as extension of tax net to those hitherto outside the net.

He said: “We will come back to this House shortly to request for necessary legislative muscle, not only on taxation, but also on other sundry regulatory issues that are due for review or to be proposed.”

Governor Ajimobi recalled the enormous challenges which confronted his administration on assumption of office in May 2011, noting, however, that solid foundation had been successfully laid for the restoration of the state to its pace-setter status.

According to the governor, his administration had been able to make significant improvements in good governance and strategic alliances with both local and international development communities, peace and security, health services, wealth creation and economic empowerment, environment and habitat, as well as education, infrastructure, staff development and welfare.

He also said that extensive work had been done to clean up the state capital and beautify the cities, even as he expressed happiness at the cooperation of the people of the state with his government, saying “ as we move traders from the streets,

under the bridges and high tension wires, we have commenced construction of neighbourhood markets with modern facilities where our traders and their clients can buy and sell with relative comfort.”

In their remarks, some members of the House, cutting across all the political parties, commended the government for its positive impacts in the last 19 months in the lives of the people of the state.

Speaking, the Speaker of the Assembly, Mrs. Monsurat Sunmonu commended the governor for his visionary leadership and for the various developments he had so far executed since he came on board.

Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Olusegun Olaleye, compared the governor’s pro-poor policies to that of President Julius Nyerere.

Kolade Olagunju, an Accord Party legislator representing Akinyele I Constituency, praised the governor for his infrastructure and urban renewal efforts in the state, stating that when the governor began the renewal drive, it was painful to the people, but now, the state had begun to see the positive effects of the government’s massive renewal efforts.

DOEKITI—EKITI State Government, yesterday, stated categorically that none of the 553 workers at the local government level would be sacked despite the campaigns of calumny against the government by the opposition political parties.

Ekiti State Government had asked about 1,783 workers in the local government to come and defend their appointments, 553 of them were said to be redundant In his inaugural briefing in Ado Ekiti, the chairman of Ekiti State Local Government Commission, Mr. Ranti Adebisi, said those who were declared redundant would be deployed to other areas where they would be useful.

The commission, according to the chairman, was equally partnering the Chairmen of the 16 local government areas of the state towards resuscitating the moribund Mechanic section to check redundancy among workers to boost their internally generated revenue.

He said Governor Kayode Fayemi had directed that the salaries and entitlements of the affected workers should be paid pending the outcome of the review exercises by the commission.

Adebisi, however, assured that those with genuine cases, who and had been declared redundant, would have their appointments regularised in the interest of fair play, “except those living in Ilorin or America and were found collecting salaries in Ekiti.”

NSCDC beefs up security at Arepo ...as NUPENG calls for Pipelines Protection Agency

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG & DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA—THE Ni gerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, yesterday said it had beefed up security around the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, pipelines at Arepo in Obafemi Owode Local Government where pipeline explosion killed several people recently.

This came as Nigeria Union of Petroleum and natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, called for the establishment of Pipelines Protection Agency to protect and provide security for the over,

5,150 kilometres stretch of oil pipelines spanning through the nooks and crannies of the country Confirming the development, the state NSCDC, Public Relations Officer, Kareem Olanrewaju, told Vanguard that security had been beefed up.

Olanrewaju said: “We are not going to do it the way it was being done before; it is no longer business as usual,” and he said that NSCDC would need support from both NNPC and the state government to discharge its responsibility.

According to him, “there is no way we will not need support from the government

and NNPC. They need to provide enough logistics, like special flat bottom boat.

We also need NNPC to clear the place for us to see clearly the area from afar and secure the pipelines.”

Meantime, NUPENG, in a statement, yesterday, said the continuous pipelines vandalism was unpatriotic despite the danger of blow-out, saying, “the pipelines vandalism in Arepo area is one vandalism, too many.”

NUPENG in the statement through its Acting General Secretary, Comrade Isaac Aberare said: “The union calls for a 24-hour surveillance of the Arepo end, as the swampy area should be

cleared, so that there will be visibility, instead of the present bushy environment, where the pipelines traverse.

NUPENG calls on the special unit of the anti-pipelines vandalisation squad in the office of the Inspector – General of Police to be alive to its responsibility in monitoring, intelligence gathering of the System 2B area, which carries fuel from the Atlas Cove to Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo and Kwara states.

“The present arrangement of using the NSCDC has not yielded any positive result and the country continues to lose billions of crude and refined products to vandals and loss of its citizens' lives.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013—11

Lawmakers allegedly hijack DESOPADEC contracts

Whereabouts of kidnapped Bayelsa Speaker’s mum still unknown ...Bayelsa govt condemns abduction

BY SAMUEL

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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A R R I — A GROUP, Concerned Contractors of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, have faulted the recent claim by chairman of the commission, Mr. Oritsuwa Kpogho, that members of Delta State House of Assembly, did not hijack contracts in the commission.

Reacting to the defense

by Kpogho, few days ago, at the opening of bids for the commission’s 2012 contracts, that lawmakers did not hijack the contracts as speculated, the contractors insisted that the commission’s contracts had been hijacked by the state Assembly members.

The group hinged its petition on “the cavalier and brazen activities of some members of Delta State House of Assembly, who are bent on manipulating and/or ensuring the re-award of contracts already awarded, last year.”

Pa Egbikuadje passes on @ 96

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HE Okpakoroere of Onude Okurekpo Community in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, Pa Frederick Egbikuadje, is dead, aged 96.

Pa Egbikuadje, father of the Director of Monitoring, Delta State Local Government Service Commission, was a retired local government Works Superintendent.

He is a survived by a widow, sister, five children, 43 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.

Burial arrangement will be announced later.

Late Pa Egbikuadje

OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA—TWENTYFOUR hours after her abduction, the whereabouts of Madam Betinah Benson, mother of Speaker of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Mr. Kombowei Benson, remain unknown.

The 78-year-old woman was, on Monday, whisked away from her country home at Korokrosei in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area at 12.30am by gunmen.

A family source who spoke to Vanguard, yesterday, said the gunmen were yet to establish contact with them just as he expressed concern over her state of health.

Meanwhile, Bayelsa State Government, yesterday, condemned the abduction of the mother of the Speaker, warning all persons of criminal tendencies to stay clear of the state in their interest.

It was gathered from sources, that the septuagenarian went home for the yuletide hale and hearty but noted with concern that given her age, the trauma of being held incommunicado could impact negatively on her health.

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, in a statement, reiterated the government’s zero tolerance for crime and all forms of criminality, adding that machineries had been set in motion to arrest the per-

petrators of the crime.

He said: “We received the news of the kidnap of the mother of the Speaker with rude shock and have, therefore, taken prompt action to arrest the perpetrators of the criminal act.

“While condemning the action of the kidnappers, we sound a clear note of warning to all persons with criminal tendencies to keep a far distance from the state because the law will catch up with them sooner than later.”

Though it could not be ascertained if the kidnap of the Speak-

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ENIN—A FOUNDING member of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State, Elder Sunny Uyigue, has warned President Goodluck Jonathan not to allow the politics of his party, ahead of the 2015 presidential election, disintegrate Nigeria.

Uyigue, now a chieftain of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in Edo State, attributed the current crisis in PDP to what he described as the seeming desperation of the President to ensure that Chief Tony Anenih becomes Chairman, Board of Trustees of PDP. He reminded the President that he is president of the entire nation and not PDP alone, and therefore, should avoid action capable to destabilising the prevailing peace in the

lamenting what it described as deliberate attempt by the Speaker to negate the rotational arrangement on ground for yearly election of chairman of the CDC by the various compounds in the community.

But the community Youth President, Mr. Ebidimie Alafa; the community Woman Leader, Mrs. Florence Agama; CDC chairman, Mr. Inikpoemi Benson and elder of Chief Igaliwari compound, Chief J. Bazighe, dismissed the claim.

BRIEFING: From right: Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State; Robert Smith, Director, LUPP International; Rivers State Commissioner for Justice Worgu Boms and Greater Port Harcourt City Administrator, Mrs Aleruchi Cookey-Gam, during a press briefing on the Rivers State Greater Port Harcourt Housing Scheme, at Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke.

Don’t allow PDP politics destroy Nigeria, Uyigue tells Jonathan

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

er’s mother was for monetary reason, observers of the unfolding events in Korokorosei, the Speaker’s hometown have insisted, however, that the abduction might not be unconnected with the latter’s alleged involvement in the tenure elongation of the Community Development Committee executive headed by his younger brother.

A faction of the community had penultimate week petitioned the state chapter of Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO,

country.

He said: “It is sad that because of the 2015 presidential election, President Jonathan is allowing himself to be used by persons, who are no longer politically relevant in their respective states.

How can Chief Anenih help Jonathan emerge as President in 2015, when he could not help himself during the governorship election in Edo State, where Adams Oshiomhole embarrassed him even in his domain in Uromi?

“All Nigerians voted massively for Jonathan and not PDP or Anenih, so why will the President now want to heat up the system because he is desperate to make Anenih BOT Chairman through the back door. He should be careful because if the happenings in PDP cause any disaffection in the country, the President will be held responsible."

12—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY,, JANUARY 16, 2013

Four Delta DPP officials arraigned over alleged certificate forgery

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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SABA—FOUR top officials of Democratic Peoples Party, DPP, in Delta State were, yesterday, arraigned before a magistrate court in Asaba , on a 15-count charge of allegedly forging a West African Examination Council, WAEC, result purportedly belonging to the former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Dr. Olisa Imegwu, as a ploy to stop him from contesting the House of Representatives election in 2011.

Arraigned were Paul Chibogu 63, Ossai Abey 70, Mgbadike Goddey 52 and Raphael Opute 68.

When the charges were read to them, they all pleaded not guilty and were admitted to bail.

The charge preferred against the accused persons read: “That you (accused persons) and others now at large, on February 11, 2011, in Asaba, with intent to defraud and facilitate the removal and substitution of Dr. Imegwu as the candidate-elect under DPP for Ndokwa/Ukwuani federal constituency, knowing and

Delta House commends road project execution

BY FESTUS AHON

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G H E L L I — D E LTA State House of Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriations has commended the firm handling the Otor-UduEkakpramre-NEPA Road project over the pace of work.

Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Daniel Mayuku, who made the commendation during an inspection tour of select government projects, assured performing government contractors in the state of adequate funding of projects awarded to their companies.

Mayuku expressed satisfaction with the quality and speed of work on the OtorUdu-Ekakpramre-NEPA Road project, charging other contractors in the state to emulate Obakpo Engineering Limited in their handling of projects.

fraudulently altered a forged WAEC result credited to one Obi Olisa with candidate number 15803/332 and purported to have been issued by the above mentioned council, so that it would be acted upon as genuine and thereby committed an offence under section 468

of the Criminal Code Law Cap. C21 Vol. Laws of Delta State of Nigeria 2006.”

There was, however, a mild drama following an oral application made by the prosecution counsel, who told the court that it would be proper for the defence counsel to withdraw his legal representation in

view of the fact that he was Imegwu’s lawyer and had even represented Imegwu in a similar matter at Abuja.

The defence faulted the argument, while trial Magistrate, Mr. Sylvester Ehikwe, told parties to resolve the issue of representation raised, based on integrity and ethical standards.

VISIT: Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State (right) and Chairman, Akwa Ibom Traditional Council, HRM Edidem Ntuk Ubom, during the latter’s visit to Governor’s Office, Uyo.

SURE-P: FG rolls out community devt scheme in Rivers

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

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ORT HARCOURT— IMPLEMENTATION of the Community Service, Women and Youth Empowerment Scheme, CSWYE, under the Federal Government’s Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, has been flagged off in Rivers State.

Chairman of the state Implementation Committee, Chief Oris Onyiri, who unveiled the scheme at Omoku, headquarters of

Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, Onelga, yesterday, said: “The initiative is among schemes promised last year by President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure utilisation of savings from the partial removal of fuel subsidy to provide jobs and community development in the grassroots.”

Addressing Onelga community leaders and teeming applicants at the council secretariat, Onyiri, said: “The recruitment exercise is to engage 3,000 women and 130 youths per local government area in

the first phase and 200 in the second phase to carry out certain community services. Each beneficiary is to receive N10,000 monthly to cushion the impact of unemployment in the rural areas.”

At the flag-off interactions at Onelga, Onyiri queried the exclusion of some communities, including Ndoni, in the first phase clustering of applicants by field officers of the supervising National Directorate of Employment, NDE, insisting that necessary adjustments will be made to ensure that all communal zones were carried along before beneficiaries start work.

EDSIEC releases guidelines for LG polls

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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ENIN—EDO State In dependent Electoral Commission, EDSIEC, yesterday, released the time table for the conduct of the election into the 18 local government areas in the state, which had been fixed for April 20, 2013.

Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Solomon Ogoh, at a meeting with political parties and stakeholders in the state, read out the guidelines for the conduct of the elections.

Meanwhile, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was, however, absent at the meeting, but an official of the party, who spoke to Vanguard on condition of anonymity, claimed that they were unaware of the meeting.

At yesterday’s meeting, Mr. Ogoh called on the political parties to adhere to the positions of Sections 22 and 23 of the Electoral Law 2012, which provide that, “candidates must be nominated in writing by 10 registered persons whose names appear on the voters’ register in the Ward in the case of a councillor and 20 registered voters, in the case of Chairman and Vice- Chairman respectively.”

NLC tasks Delta govt on workers’ welfare

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

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SABA—NIGERIA Labour Congress, NLC, Delta State Council, yesterday, called on the state government to make the welfare of workers part of its priority this year.

Chairman of the state NLC, Mr. Williams Akporeha, made the call when the Special Adviser to the state governor on Labour and Industrial Relations, Mr. Mike Okeme, paid him a New Year visit at Labour House, Asaba.

Akporeha said there was need for the state government to enhance workers’ take home pay, considering the tough economic situation in the country, which, he said, had made life very difficult for workers.

Lamenting that the harsh economic condition had eroded workers’ purchasing power, he urged the state government to look into the issue of high income tax paid by workers with a view to bringing same down.

He said that the current tax regime paid by workers as well as the rising inflationary trend in the country had eroded significantly benefits of the current minimum wage.

On the high level of unemployment in the country, Akporeha said the only recipe was for both the federal and state governments to create more employment opportunities by creating conducive atmosphere for the private sector to thrive as well as strengthen skills acquisition to absorb unemployed youths.

Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013 —13

Man kidnapped, buried alive in Imo

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI—PALPABLE con fusion and apprehension reigned supreme as the remains of a community leader at Eziali, Mgbidi, who was reportedly kidnapped by hoodlums and later buried alive, was exhumed.

Vanguard investigations revealed that the gunmen, who eventually turned out to be assassins, abducted their victim on December 27, 2012, and nobody heard from him or knew where he was kept until his lifeless and decomposing body was exhumed after the arrest of the perpetrators of the beastly act.

It was also gathered that the deceased had a land dispute with one of his kinsmen (names withheld), who eventually hired about five assassins and charged them to execute the operation.

A villager, who was at the scene of the exhumation, told Vanguard that “the five-man gang abducted their victim from his home and buried him alive at Ozara, a neighbouring village in Oru West local council area of Imo State”.

The story changed when the hoodlums asked for N30 million ransom from their victim’s family, who quickly informed the police,

as well as played effectively along with the criminals and under the watchful eye of the security personnel.

“The money was dropped at an agreed spot and a policeman feigned madness and was patrolling the vicinity but when one of the suspects came out to pick the

money, he was shot on the leg and arrested by the supposed mad man. He confessed to the crime,” the villager recounted.

When contacted, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Baba Adisa Bolanta, confirmed that the confessional statements of the hoodlum led to the eventual arrest of

other members of the gang, including their alleged sponsor.

All the villagers that spoke to Vanguard on the crime, passionately appealed to the police to ensure that justice was done in the matter, adding that it was the only thing that restored confidence in the security agencies.

AWARD: From left: Olorogun Sunny Kuku, Chairman, College of Medicine, University of Lagos 50th Anniversary Committee; Professor Folashade Ogunsola, Provost, College of Medicine, UNILAG, and Mr. Babajide Sipe, Corporate Communication and External Affairs, GTBank, during the award of Excellence in Health and Education bestowed on the bank by the College of Medicine, UNILAG, yesterday. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

Judge raises alarm over release of suspects

by Police

BY PETER OKUTU

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BAKALIKI—THE presiding judge/ chairman of MbekeIshieke Customary Court in Ebonyi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Stephen Nwankwo, yesterday, raised alarm over alleged unlawful release of two bribery suspects (names withheld) by Ebonyi State police command.

The judge called on the state Commissioner of Police, Mamman Sule’ to order a re-arrest and diligent prosecution of the two suspects caught offering bribe to him to pervert justice.

In a two-page petition dated January 10, 2013, and signed by his attorney, Luke Nkwegu, a copy of which was made available to newsmen in Abakaliki, yesterday, Nwankwo alleged that two men (names withheld) came to his house on January 8, 2013, and offered him an envelope containing the sum of N10,000.

According to him, while the suspects were making the offer and explaining the object of their visit, he recorded their conversation in his

handset and then excused himself to get drinks for the visitors in his inner room; where he alerted the police.

The suspects were arrested with the exhibit and subsequently taken to Ishieke police station where they were detained for further investigation.

‘Dana ground crash victims can claim more than $100,000 compensation’

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ESIDENTS of IjuIshaga, a Lagos suburb, who were victims of Dana Airlines’ plane crash may be fully compensated according to aviation laws and regulations.

Indeed, a competent source in the industry said yesterday that residents and landlords who lost property and loved ones during the June 3, 2012, crash had the right to claim above the $100,000 peg for air travellers.

About 20 people on ground died while more than 10 buildings were destroyed when the Dana Airline plane crashed into residential buildings in IjuIshaga.

While Dana Airline has begun payment of compensation to families of some passengers on board the plane, nothing much had been done to property owners and those who lost their lives when the plane came down.

But a source in the aviation industry said those who lost their loved ones and property are entitled to claim beyond $100,000.

“They can claim more than $100,000. In fact, their claim is unlimited under the law. But they may have to go to court to claim those rights.

“A property owner may say it cost me N50 million to build my house and the airline may offer N5 million,” the source said.

CD tasks S-East Govs on conduct of LG elections

BY ANAYO OKOLI

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MUAHIA—CAM PAIGN for Democracy, CD, in the South East has called on governors in the zone to conduct local government elections in their respective states to bring governance closer to the grassroots.

CD in a statement signed by its zonal chairman and secretary, Uzor A. Uzor and Dr. Jerry Chukuuokolo, respectively in Umuahia, noted that lack of democracy at the grassroots was impacting negatively on the development of rural areas.

It said: “It is very sad that up till now some South East governors had not deemed it fit to democratize and conduct Local

Council elections to bring governance closer to the people.

“The worst of the states within the region is Anambra that had not conducted Local council polls for over nine years out of 14 years unabridged democratic rule in the country.

“In Abia State, it has been a hide and seek game with the conduct of local government election.

The excuse of not having sufficient funds to conduct the election is not only acceptable to us.

“In Ebonyi, Governor Martin Elechi had not shown commitment to see that the election is conducted. Ebonyi governor is playing politics of I-knowit-all.”

C M Y K

14—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

Importers train 600 to tackle illegal goods’ import

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BY TONY EDIKE

NUGU—OVER 600 men and women recruited to serve under the Importers Association of Nigeria, IMAN, National Taskforce in Enugu State are currently undergoing training ahead of their postings to the 17 local government areas of the state to combat illegal importation of goods, small arms, ammunition and light weapons.

The taskforce was inaugurated at the national level by the Federal Government in July 2010 to achieve the set targets as well as create employment opportunities for jobless Nigerians.

State Coordinator of the National Taskforce Mr. Obinna Onyekwelu, disclosed this while flagging off the training programme of the newly recruited field workers at the State NYSC Orientation camp at Awgu.

LG poll: ACN appeals to Oshiomhole against imposition of candidates

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN CITY— AHEAD the April 20 Local Government election in Edo State, members of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in Esan South East Local Government Area of of the state, has appealed to Governor Adams Oshiomhole to ensure that candidates are not imposed on the people in order not to cause crisis in the party.

In a statement signed by Elder Jolly Ukpon, it observed that Governor Oshiomhole emerged as governor of the state due to his antecedents as a labour leader and not through imposition “and that is why he is accountable to the people today.”

While urging the governor and party leaders in the state not to zone the chairmanship positions in order to allow credible persons emerge as chairmen at the grassroot, asserting that “it is only by allowing the people to decide who leads them that can make the party maintain and repeat the election result of July 14, 2012.”

C M Y K

Imo govt accuses Ohakim of N62bn fraud

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI—GOVERNOR Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has alleged that an interim review of the state account showed that the immediate past administration of Chief Ikedi Ohakim was involved in a staggering N62 billion fraud.

Okorocha, who disclosed this in a 23-page document he read while addressing a cross section of Imo people, also said this was the first part of the findings of the EXCO Committee on account reconciliation.

“The total amount of suspected transactions identified as such, in this first part, amount to about N62 billion.

“This report identifies financial transactions where we observed irregularities from government officials, private companies and even banks and which funds are considered recoverable by the state,” Okorocha said.

Okorocha said that cumulatively, N483.7 billion of the financial resources were available to the state during the period under review.

Reacting to these allega-

tions, Dr. Kelechi Okalaeke, who served as Commissioner for Information and Strategy during Ohakim’s tenure said: “If the Governor has come out with these findings, why did

REMEMBRANCE: Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State (2nd left); Brigade Commander, 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze (right), Deputy Governor, Jude Agbaso (3rd right) and others, during the 2013 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration in the state.

Ban CAN, JNI, ACF, Afenifere, others — Sanusi Continues from page 5 burnt he is making this type of insensitive comment. CAN and JNI have come to stay. We have no quarrels and nobody can curtail CAN’s freedom of association as guaranteed by the constitution.” .

Ethno-religious groups re-enfore national unity – ACF National Publicity Secretary, Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, Anthony Sani, picked holes in Sanusi’s call saying banning ethno-religious groups would do more harm than good to the country.

He said: “The existence of different regional and religious fora are not as divisive as posited by Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; precisely because they have overlapping interests whose countervailing forces reinforce the unity of the country. So, their

place in the order of things is to advance the cause of national solidarity through relative pluralism and not to promote insular particularism that cannot fit into their place in the order of things. This is because it is easier to bring the people together through such groups and help them unleash their synergy by living up their collective challenges for public good, rather than to allow ‘toyour tent O Israel’ to prevail which is capable of inspiring ethnic nationalism that is not helpful.”

Sanusi is pursuing a hidden agenda – OPC Founder of the South West militia group, Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, Dr Frederick Fasehun urged Nigerians to pray that somebody like Sanusi should not emerge as the president of the country.

“When democracy is failing,

autocracy comes in and we all know that the Governor of the CBN is an autocrat. So, let us all go on our knees and pray to God that he does not come as the leader of this nation,” he said.

Also, OPC National Coordinator, Otunba Gani Adams said the CBN Governor had a hidden agenda for making such calls.

“He is becoming too controversial nowadays because I don’t know what concerns Sanusi with religious bodies and pressure groups. As the CBN governor, his role is to discuss the economy and the financial state of the country.

To say CAN, JNI and other pressure groups should be banned shows he has a hidden agenda. Any reasonable person should be careful in delving into religious affairs because it can cause crisis that can consume any country,” he averred.

FG urged to stop payment of 13% derivation fund to Govs benefit their people against the

BY EMMANUELELEBEKE

W

ARRI—THE oil and gas communities in the Niger Delta region of the country have reiterated their demand that the 13 per cent Derivation Fund should no longer be paid to state governors.

The group made the position known in a communiqué issued

he set up the judicial panel?

“With this development, the governor has obviously preempted the outcome of the exercise or has told the panelists where to go.”

at the end of their emergency meeting held yesterday in Warri.

The meeting, which was attended by indigenes of the nation’s oil and gas producing communities, in concert with the grassroots of Ijawl nation (Izon Ikemi), said their position became necessary since the governors had to date, failed to effectively deploy the monies for the

original intention of the creation of the fund.

Following the tension which is already building up in the oil producing communities, the group said it might not be able to hold the people down for too long, saying the Federal Government and relevant agencies needed to act fast to prevent any untoward circumstance.

Women vow court action against rapists

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA—WORRIED by the increasing rate of rape in Nigeria, a group of Igbo women, under the aegis of Umuada Igbo Nigeria, vowed yesterday to prosecute men involved in the dastardly act in any part of the country.

National President and Coordinator of Umuada Igbo Nigeria and in Diaspora, Mrs. Kate Ezeofor, who spoke in Awka during the Umuada Igbo Nigeria project on grass roots mobilisation for community sensitiasation in women’s reproductive health and rights, said Nigerian women would no longer watch while their girls were being raped on a daily basis, the culprits getting away with the crime.

According to her, Ipas-Nigeria and Umuada Igbo Nigeria will jointly follow such cases to their logical conclusion.

She called on men with penchant to sexually abuse girls to be prepared for a showdown with Nigerian women, if they failed to desist from such condemnable act.

Ezeofor explained that women lawyers in the country had decided to handle such matters free of charge, adding that the idea was to drive home the concern of the women on the issue of female sexual abuse.

She also lamented the increasing rate of maternal mortality, especially in the South East.

Vanguard,WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013 — 15

THE LAUNCH OF "FOOTPRINTS IN TIME" BY MRS DERE AWOSIKA

From right: Secretary to Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator Pius Anyim; husband of the celebrant, Dr. Olubayode Awosika and celebrant, Dr. (Mrs.) Dere Awosika, during the public presentation of the book "Footprints in Time: Dere Awosika" to commemorate the retirement from public service of Mrs. Dere Awosika at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Conference Hall, CBD, Abuja, yesterday. Pix: Abayomi Adeshida.

The SGF, Senator Pius Anyim, exchanges greetings with Chief Brown Mene, while the representative of the Vice President, Alhaji Umaru Sani (left) and the Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Senator Philip Aduda (right), watch.

Dr. (Mrs.) Dere Awosika (right) and other dignitaries.

Wife of former Vice President, Mrs. Titi Abubakar (left), and other guests.

BY VICTORIA OJEME

Court extends seizure order on Sylva's houses A zAnother court to rule on ex-gov's motion Feb 20

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA—Justice A. Muhammed of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday, extended the order granted Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on the attached 48 property of embattled former governor of Bayelsa State, Mr Timipre Sylva. The initial order was granted on December 21, 2012, and to last for 14 days.

Meantime, another Federa High Court, Abuja, yesterday, adjourned till February 20, to rule on an application by Sylva, seeking to quash the fraud charge preferred against him by EFCC. The case is before Justice Adamu Bello.

Justice Muhammed while ruling on an application by EFCC, noted that aside from the fact that the commission had applied for the extension of the order before the expiration of the subsisting one, it (court) was granting the extension because the order was the

crux of the matter.

“If I do not do so, the question would be why and what are we coming here to deliberate on next time.

The order of December 21, is the thrust of this matter, the court must order for its existence to enable the respondent to be heard,” the court said.

Sylva is facing a six-count criminal charge of alleged pilfering of about N6.5billion from the Bayelsa State treasury while he was in power before Justice Bello. He is contending that EFCC failed to establish a prima-facie evidence linking him to the alleged offence.

Sylva’s counsel, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, had prayed the court to dismiss the charge in its entirety for being incompetent and amounting to an abuse of judicial process.

“Our position is that there is no nexus between the charge and the proof of evidence and the accused person.

“Section 33 of the Feder-

al High Court Act does not say that you cannot ask for proof of evidence in any event the position of the Federal High Court Act is that the Constitution is superior.

“Sections 35 and 36 of the Constitution provides for fair hearing. This application has merit because the charge is an abuse of court process which is tantamount to lack of jurisdiction,” he argued.

EFCC opposed the application, asking the court to disregard same and proceed with hearing of the case on its merit.

Urging the court to discountenance the application, EFCC counsel, Mr Festus Keyamo, told the court that Sylva had never asked the agency to furnish him with the proof of evidence against him.

“We submit that Section 33 of the FHC Act, which said this court has summary jurisdiction, does not support the argument that the court can strike out the charges because of proof of evidence."

BUJA—FOLLOWING allegations of skewed recruitment in favour of applicants from a certain section of the country and nonadvertisement of its recruitment process, the Federal Government has asked the Comptroller General of Immigration, Mrs. Rosemary Chinyere Uzoma, to proceed on compulsory leave.

A statement signed by the Director Secretary to the Minister in the Ministry of Interior, Dr. R.K Attahiru, said: “I am to further convey that you are to hand over the duties and responsibilities of your office on or before Wednesday, January 16, 2013, to the most senior Deputy Comptroller General of Immigration in the person of Rilwan Bala Musa, who will act as

FG sacks Uzoma, Immigration C-G Comptroller General of Immigration, pending the appointment of a substantive CG of Immigration.

“On behalf of the Minister of Interior and members of the board, I wish to thank you for your service to Nigeria. The board wishes you good luck in your future endeavour”.

In his response, the public Relation officer to Immigration. Mr Joachem Olumba, said, “that is what we are hearing but we are yet to receive any message.”

It would be recalled that the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Mrs Rosemary Chinyere Uzoma, who has just three months to the expiration of her tenure, while defending the secret recruitment into the service at the insistence of the House of Representatives Committee on Federal Character, said the decision was taken to stave-off recruiting terrorists into the highly sensitive organisation.

16—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

Again, gunmen kill 4 in Plateau

Money laundering: Kano cash courier forfeits 50% to FG

zKilling barbaric, unacceptable — lawmaker

BY TAYE OBATERU

J

OS—UNKNOWN gunmen struck again in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State on Monday gunning down four people and injuring two others.

Eyewitnesses said the gunmen sprayed the bus in which the victims were travelling with bullets near Fang village around 5.30 pm, killing four people in the process.

The two others who were seriously injured were rushed to Vom Christian Hospital where they are currently receiving treatment. The eyewitnesses alleged that the gunmen wore military uniforms but gave no further details.

Meanwhile, the killing has been condemned by the member representing Riyom Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Mr. Daniel Dem, who described it as barbaric and unacceptable.

He identified the deceased whom he said were travelling to Fang village as Markus Davou, the driver, Gyang Pius, Yohanna Bature and Monday Kentong. He added that Samuel Umaru and Keneng Pius were hospitalized for injuries sust a i n e d .

BY SONI DANIEL

A

BUJA—A Federal High Court sitting in Kano yesterday convicted one Umar Musa Kibiya, who was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for failing to declare the $80,000 on him to the Nigeria Customs Service at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.

Kibiya, who only declared $40,000 of the amount on him, was, however, arrested after a search had shown that he lied to the security agencies.

He was dragged by the EFCC before Justice Fatu Riman of the Federal High Court sitting in Kano on a one-count charge that bordered on currency underdeclaration.

The charge read: “That you Umar Musa Kibiya ‘male’ on or about October 17, 2012, at Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court while transporting the sum of US$80,000 from Nigeria to Cairo, Egypt and falsely declared to the Nigeria Customs the sum of US$40,000 instead of the actual sum of US$80,000 as required under Section 12 of the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act Cap F 34 Laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004 and Section 2(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 2(5) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2 0 1 1 ” .

The killing was also confirmed

by Media Officer of the Special Task Force in the state, Captain Salisu Mustapha, who appealed to the people to remain calm while investigation into the matter was carried out by security a g e n c i e s .

The incident again generated tension as youths in different parts of Riyom and Jos South local government areas gathered,

lamenting the repeated attacks on their people.

Just last week, two people were gunned down at Du in Jos South Local government Area also by unknown gunmen, sparking protests from women and youths, who condemned the arrest of nine members of the village’s local guards by soldiers as they came out in pursuit of the attackers.

From left: Publisher, Press Gallery Newspaper, Alhaji Isiaka Mustapha; Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, NTDC, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe; and FCT NUJ Chairman, Mr Chuks Ehirim, at the inauguration of press gallery house in Abuja, yesterday.

Gwari, Fulani clash: FCT to compensate victims with N30m

BY LAIDE AKINBOADE

A

BUJA—THE Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, has concluded plans to compensate victims of the recent clash between Fulani cattle herdsmen and Gwari farmers in Abuja.

The Minister of FCT, Senator Bala Muhammed, who stated this yesterday, when he received the final report on the Gwari/Fulani clash, said his administration would ensure that the victims

were adequately compensated.

It would be recalled that on December 30, 2012, there was a clash between Fulani and Gwari communities at Gwako Village in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. The clash, which claimed two lives, affected 27 communities, while over 1,500 displaced people are currently squatting in a temporary camp on the permanent campus of the University of Abuja in Gwagwalada area.

The minister said: “Though it

will be very difficult to compensate the families of the two people that lost their lives in the clash but the administration will bring succour to the families.

“This administration is committed to resettling, reconstruction and compensation of the affected families. And we will ensure that the culprits are brought to book.

“We will ensure the affected communities are secured and compensation and resettlement are done within three months.”

BY BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO

L

OKOJA—NIGERIA will stop importation of rice by 2015, as the commitment to ensure rice sufficiency by the present administration of President Goodluck Jonathan is total.

Minister for State, Agricultural and Rural Development, Dr. Bukar Tijani, made this known while flagging off the distribution of Paddy Rice to farmers in Lokoja, Kogi State, yesterday.

Tijani said the feat would be achieved with the allyear-round production of rice in the country.

He, however, commended the Kogi State government for its commitment towards the rice value- chain in the transformation agenda of the Federal Government, saying Kogi State had comparative advantage in rice production.

The Minister explained that Kogi was among the 10 states listed for the programme aimed at increasing rice production in the country, pointing out that the state was also part of the states that would benefit from the flood recovery scheme and dry season farming programme of the Federal Government as well as receive rice mills to add to its value chain in rice production.

He also said that each farmer would get three bags of paddy rice and a bag of fertilizer free of charge from the Federal Government in a bid to boost production of the commodity.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

Nigeria 'll ban importation of rice by 2015 — Minister

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

AFCON 2013: THE CHANCES OF SUPER EAGLES (2)

L

IKE every other team, the Super Eagles of Nigeria has the chance to lift the 2013 Nations Cup. I think the most important thing now is for the boys to play as a team and in line with the coach’s instruction because they have a coach who knows African football very well. Mr. Kelechi Chidiobi—Businessman.

C M Y K

S

UPER Eagles will make us proud. Do not worry about their friendly match performance. I strongly believe they will do well. We do not prepare well for competitions. It is only at the near time that we will start running up and down. Mr. Peter Ekpo— Businessman.

I

F it is with what I saw in their last friendly match against Cape Verde, I think Super Eagles victory would be like one passing through a needle’s eye. But like we have seen in times past, victory sometimes is not by merit but luck. So I wish them good luck. Mr. Shuaibu Yakubu—Officer.

T

HE chance of Super Eagles winning is fiftyfifty. It is obvious that they tried in their preparation, but I think the issue is “whether the boys will be willing to play their all”.

That has always been the issue I hold against our boys. Mr. Martin Onuigbo— ICT analyst.

I

wish Nigeria victory at the 2013 Nations Cup. If there is any country that is fit for this competition, I think Nigeria is fit. We have players that play in big clubs, playing for Nigeria in the 2013 Nations Cup. Miss Nana Esupofo— Student.

W

ELL, I am not really a football follower but I think the Super Eagles of Nigeria is in a better position to win the 2013 Nations Cup. At least they have been there several times, so winning it should not be a problem to them.

Miss Precious Okoye— Student.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013 — 17 “A rattlesnake that doesn’t bite teaches you nothing."- J. West

clout and incumbency win, or it loses to opportunism and the capacity to exploit weaknesses of President Jonathan’s administration and ineffective control over the PDP. Northern governors in particular will be key in deciding the outcome of this epic battle, and both Presidents are likely to sap their energies and exploit their weaknesses as well.

A

President Olusegun Obasanjo

The OBJphenomenon

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Obasanjo here, Obasanjo there situation. Yoruba people sulked and turned their backs to him. The nation moved on, under the leadership of a man with a personality that could barely be accommodated by a fragile democratic system. With every one of his eight years as president, Obasanjo grew in confidence that the President should run the government and the party exactly in his own image. Huge powers and massive resources give the Nigerian president awesome opportunities to create wealthy people, wreck political careers, make bold policies even against resistance by the legislature, and abandon them at will. Obasanjo learnt quickly that a President needed to have the legislature in his pocket; the party at his beck and call, and a war chest to fight elections and the opposition.

But eight years is all the constitution allows the President, no matter how powerful. In those eight years, with such awesome powers, he must have stepped on many toes; initiated many policies; kick-started many political careers and built up many rich and powerful people, all of whom could suffer massive setbacks when he is no more in power.

Above all, he would have become hooked on the power to influence events, and the prospect of irrelevance in the face of legions of enemies who would want to rub his face in it would spur on even people with weaker personalities than Obasanjo’s.

And so a larger-than-life personality is unleashed on the political terrain who haunts it at every turn. Years out of power, Obasanjo’s uncanny capacity to re-invent himself is being played out even as we speak. One day after encomiums were poured on him in far away USA during the inauguration of the new Africa Institute at Valparaiso University, Indiana, the former vice-presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Pastor Tunde Bakare told his congregation

that President Obasanjo is responsible for just about everything bad in Nigeria today. He said Obasanjo imposed a weak and sickly Yar ’Adua, squandered the nation’s resources, promoted corruption and turned Nigeria into a makeshift nation without vision or goal.

Bakare's grouse

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astor Bakare’s swipe from the opposition merely repeats everything that has been said about

,

T the zenith of his power, President Olusegun Obasanjo was credited with the quip that you should check your watch every time President Ibrahim Babangida said good morning to you.

True or not, the point was to emphasise how wily or deceptive Babangida had become. Chances are that Babangida would have heard of the popularised caution, and it is quite possible that he took it in his stride. After all, the leaders who hold out all their cards for all and sundry to see are soon run out of the game. These days, a new caution is in the making. It may come out in any form, but it will basically suggest that the best political strategies are cleared only when you know where President Obasanjo’s camp is. If you do not build him into your calculations, you could suffer a damaging ambush. If you underrate his strength, your assault or defence could be shredded to smitherings. If you overate his power, you could end up misallocating resources and designing the wrong strategy for the right battles.

The politician in President Obasanjo must be relishing all this attention. And why not? Life has been kind to Obasanjo.

He was part of a military that shot itself into power in 1975. When another set of coup plotters shot dead his boss, Murtala Mohammed, he was the principal beneficiary, becoming the Head of State.

He resisted the pressure to submit to ethnic pressure by handing over the President Shehu Shagari in 1979, becoming a pariah among Yoruba, and a hero in the North.

When he fell foul of a more intolerant Sani Abacha, he was promptly slapped with a treason trial and sentenced to death. His international connections saved his neck from the noose, and God intervened and took away Abacha. The military released Obasanjo, dusted him up and presented him as its candidate for the Presidency in 1999. A North which had been placed on the defensive over the aborted 1992 elections saw in an Obasanjo presidency, a win-win

The continuing influence of President Obasanjo may be testimony to the resilience of a personal character, but it reflects very poorly on the PDP.

,

Obasanjo, and it is unlikely to even generate an acknowledgement or a response from a man neck-deep in other battles in his own party. The falling out with President Goodluck Jonathan is now out in the open, in spite of spirited efforts to paper them over. The manouvers to determine who has the final say over 2015 are very visible. The messy fights over the Adamawa State Executive of the PDP; the fight over the chairmanship of the Board of Trustees of the PDP and the visible efforts to build an anti-Jonathan northern front in the PDP by Obasanjo are only some of the more obvious signs that Obasanjo is determined to remain firmly at the heart of Nigerian politics.

This determination will not go unchallenged. President Jonathan’s political future hangs on it. Governors will lose or gain power depending on who ultimately loses out. These two will split the right party down the middle, before either huge resources, political

he Obasanjo phenomenon is a complex one. In a nation which desperately needs to build and strengthen its institutions and democratic values, the dominance of powerful individuals like Obasanjo is a major liability. President Jonathan needs to stamp his authority on his administration and the party, yet much of the space is taken up by relics from a past he himself had benefitted from. A relatively young President is surrounded by geriatrics who have made a life career of politics, all of whom will do much more damage to him in opposition, than benefit him if they are part of his team. He is being torn by the need to focus on governance threatened by insecurity, violent crimes and corruption on the one hand, and the temptations to play the 2015 game on the other. His opposition, both within the party and outside it, will exploit his weaknesses in both areas. His own party, the PDP will be the battlefield, and the opening skirmishes being witnessed are vital to his position both in governance and in the political field.

Jonathan's administration

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he continuing influence of President Obasanjo may be testimony to the resilience of a personal character, but it reflects very poorly on the PDP. Its two most outstanding features are that it has been in power at the centre and much of the states since 1999; and its character has been essentially defined by one man: Obasanjo. It has never outgrown its basic problems, and it does not appear on the threshold of a revolution that will transform it from a party of a powerful man or handful of men, to a party which retains power because it is genuinely elected by millions of loyal party men and women. If, in addition to exposing the weaknesses of the Jonathan administration, the opposition takes it upon itself to lampoon Obasanjo as well, its poor record of denting the PDP’s stranglehold on the nation will be that much more challenged. President Obasanjo is likely to be a constant factor in Nigerian politics in the near future.

Whether that turns out to be for better or worse depends largely on whether those who wield power today, and those who want to replace them, intend to change the way the game has been played, or submit to the old way of doing things.

OPINION

BY ELVIS EZEDINOBI

S

ILENCE as they say, is sometimes golden. Over the past few months, both the regular and social media had been inundated with stories rumours, conjectures, speculations and what has been proven to be false and morbid imaginings about the state of health of Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State.

In my meticulous followership of the media handling on this matter, I observed one glaring fact: The response from the Enugu State Government, particularly Governor Chime’s media team, has been mostly subdued. Initially, I was inclined to think that either the team was out of its depths in handling the matter or that it was hiding something. But on closer inspection, it began to dawn on me that the government was adopting the far more superior strategy of restraint in its approach to the matter than most people are willing to acknowledge.

To a discerning mind, the fact that the pattern of media representation of the matter has been so lopsided and often times speculative and incoherent, yet at the same time persistent, readily suggests the presence of a smudge campaign, a death wish or C M Y K

Between Chime and his death wishers something of that nature against the Governor and his government from hostile quarters.

The first time the story broke about the Governor’s alleged ill health, he was barely one week out of the country after transmitting a letter to the State House of Assembly informing it that he was proceeding on vacation and was thus handing over the reins of power to his Deputy, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi to act on his behalf until he returned. A story had then appeared on the front page of a national daily stating that the Governor had taken the trip out of health concerns. An attempt by the Enugu State Commissioner of Information Mr. Chuks Ugwoke to clarify the issue was greeted with a barrage of similar stories from other dailies with one of them- a highly respected one unfortunately- even venturing to declare that the Governor was undergoing treatment for a yet to be disclosed ailment in India. From there,

all hell had broken loose. As if previously primed, the full force of the Nigerian Press was unleashed against the Governor with all manner of writers, columnists getting involved.

Initially, it seemed that the reporters and writers were genuinely concerned about the Governor ’s health but when almost all the writings including newspaper editorials, were concluded with calls for a declaration of incapacity and subsequent impeachment of the Governor, suspicion as to the real motives of the writers began to surface. This, coupled with the fact that despite all the hullabaloo, no single media organ, with all the resources available to them and with all the vaunted dexterity of the Nigerian Press, could pin down the ailment with which Chime is allegedly afflicted nor the hospital where he was undergoing treatment (or undergone surgery as reported), was enough to strengthen this hint of conspiracy.

Continues on Viewpoints Page *Mr. Ezedinobi, a political analyst, wrote from Abuja

18 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013 RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan must have forgotten that construction of a second Niger Bridge was one of his 91 campaign promises. It took the visit of a delegation from the South-East to nudge to momentary wakefulness on the bridge.

He is simply acting to type. A committee is reviewing government contracts; we can only imagine the scandals that the commitPresident Olusegun Obasanjo promised tee would unearth. Jonathan said, after the in 2001 to build a new Niger Bridge. When important assignment, the committee he left office six years after, not a dime had would look at the Niger Bridge. been voted for the bridge. Preliminary The President intends to build the bridge works like the design of the bridge had not before his tenure ends in 2015. If we fol- been awarded. low the logic he espoused about how govJonathan’s government last May named ernment works, the Niger Bridge would not the bridge among projects it would concesget attention in the next two years, which sion. The flurry of protests that followed would be devoted to political jostling - the elicited no reaction from government elections are in 2015, with many issues which maintained its silence until the delundecided. egation from South-East visited. Former Everyone knows that the political life of Minister of Works, Senator Mohammed the administration is more important than Sanusi Daggash, had said two years ago, a bridge, no matter how often anyone that concessionary financing was not vipromises to build it. Jonathan does not ex- able for the project then valued at N30 bilpect to be judged over a bridge. Is his the lion. He suggested issuing a bond. Few first failed promise on the bridge? months after, he was out of office.

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A bridge of promise

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BY IFEANYI UBABUKOH

HE senseless, brutal killings of four students of the University of Port Harcourt by mobsters, last October, sadly warns the practice of “Jungle Justice” is so flourished in Nigeria that an evasive shout of “thief, thief ” has become a combustible alarm sounded by insolvent debtors to consume their creditors. This being so, the four students who reportedly went to their debtor to recover their money were beaten to pulp, laced with motor tyres and burnt to death, in Omuokiri, Aluu, Rivers State, following a mischievous alarm by their debtor.

Over the years, similar incidents of judging and putting to death without a lawful trial are recorded daily nationwide.

On a single day in July, 1999, a suspected robber was laced with a motor tyre and set ablaze and four hotels suspected to be the robbers’ hide-outs burnt by mobsters in Onitsha. On November 10, in Lagos, where robberies are counted in minutes, four suspected robbers were similarly burnt to death. In addition, variants of lynching, otherwise called jungle justice, abound.

Barely a week ago, the police in Delta State rescued from a lynch mob a woman alleged to have transformed into a cat. Even so, the police have their own brand of jungle justice – extra - judicial killing. The APO killings are ever-green, the killings of motor drivers for N20 bribe and the killings of suspects in police custody.

“We intend to explore the alternative funding mechanism by way of bonds through the Debt Management Office, to raise the approximate amount of money to ensure the project is done within three years. It is very difficult for the budget today to have a project that can consistently command N10 billion a year for three years running,” he told Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu then.

With elections two years away, it is not surprising that the bridge would become another hot issue. Still not surprising is that governments do not appreciate the importance of projects like the Niger Bridge, which links states in the South-East and most of the South-South with Lagos, the nation’s commercial hub.

Commercial and manufacturing activities in Aba, Onitsha and Nnewi are doomed without the bridge. If the East-West Road that runs through the South-South’s oil producing belt enjoys much abandonment; it will take extraordinary will to build the Niger Bridge.

OPINION Why resort to jungle justice?

If Nigeria still claims to be a decent society, which places a high premium on human life and abides by the rule of law, why do her citizens resort to jungle justice?

Several factors are responsible for this. In the country’s cities and commercial centres where residents are being terrorised, wantonly killed and robbed without let or hindrance, as if policemen never existed, the people are compelled to fight with their backs to the wall and to dispense jungle justice. In their desperate attempts to check the ever-rapidly rising rate of crimes, particularly violent crimes, in the areas, mobsters and vigilance groups are daily taking it upon themselves to arrest and kill suspected robbers, thieves and burglars, and destroy property of their suspected collaborators.

With the crime so pervasive, Nigerians have lost confidence in the country’s security and criminal justice system. Illequipped in materials, manpower and logistics, the police cannot successfully discharge its cardinal functions of detecting, preventing crimes and arresting offenders. Sometimes, even when it is not hamstrung in this way, the police has often failed to perform its constitutional functions due to its lack of devotion to its job. Often when members of the public raise distress calls or report crimes at the police stations, the police claim these handicaps

as excuse for failing to respond. Sometimes, even when it is not hamstrung in this way, the police has often failed to perform its constitutional functions due to its lack of devotion to their job.

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esides, the police’s corrupt and mean tendencies do not inspire confidence in the public. The police is known, in some cases, to have collected bribes and released suspects who returned to the society to take revenge on those who reported them to the police. The police is also known, in some instances, too, to have betrayed its informers or turned round to treat as suspects or offenders patriotic citizens who reported crimes, including murder, and burglary, and even motor accidents. For these reasons, many Nigerians, even when they are victims of crimes, feel reluctant to report to the police.

The slow dispensation of justice in this country is the other major reason why Nigerians have decided to take laws into their hands. Annual statistics of cases pending in law courts nationwide show that only a neglible number of cases are disposed of each year. Several factors are responsible for this. Judicial officers, particularly judges in state high courts, are in short supply. Moreover, most of the country’s law courts are not adequately equipped with modern recording gadgets,

law books and law reports and even stationery. Again, justice is often delayed by the sluggish procedure of law application, accentuated by abuse of bail requirements and frequent adjournments of cases, sometimes sine die on frivolous excuses and lack of motor vehicles to convey the accused to court. When dispensation of justice is delayed or postponed by these factors, witnesses, including those who have interest in the pending cases may stop coming to the courts, and may resort to jungle justice to settle similar matters in future.

If people are allowed to take laws into their hands, the consequences are incalculable. innocent people may be killed in the process, and mobsters may even use the occasion to settle personal scores. The sight of streets littered with charred bodies of suspects draws a chill and portrays the society as indecent and brutal. It is wrong notion of a demilitarised society that any offence merits death, even without trial.

This is why the whole mechanism for protection of lives and property and dispensation of criminal justice should be overhauled urgently. When this is done, with the result that criminals are speedly apprehended and tried, people’s confidence in the system’s capacity to protect them will be restored.

*Mr. Ubabukoh, a social critic, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013— —19

,

At the rate public officials keep secret what shouldn’t be kept secret one would not be surprised if one of them suddenly absent is found somewhere out there serving time for some crime only to go back to the same office

When do our politicians keep their oaths of office? (2) E’VE had cases in this country of deputy governors who suffered impeachment or fell out of favour with their bosses for real or perceived acts of disloyalty when the governors were away from duty. The various rumours as to whether Suntai is healthy or mentally well enough to return to his office or be replaced with another wouldn’t have arisen if the governor had not imposed on himself the high risk task of flying planes he was probably not well trained to fly to airports or equipped to aid such late evening flights. He was utterly thoughtless and heedless of his position by his habit of flying private jets when it was not as if there are no people paid for such job. How do you imagine President Obama flying himself around in Airforce One or any other light plane for that matter? Yet, that is something a Nigerian leader can do against expert or security advice. In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, President Bush was flown away from Washington for security reasons against his personal wish. He had to do as he was told though he was the Commander-in-Chief.

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Nigerian leader would have been known for his dangerously wilful conduct that no subordinate would have been bold enough to give him such advice. Even when we do wish the ailing/ recuperating governor quick recovery of his health, we should not forget his complicity in the tragedy that befell him.

In the last several months, at least for over three months, the whereabouts of Sullivan Chime, Governor of Enugu State, has been shrouded in mystery. The Governor has not been seen in public and the only thing the people of that State know about the governor is that they know nothing of what has become of him. There have been rumours and counter rumours of health issues but nothing has been or can be verified. Aides of the governor who have taken it upon themselves to comment on his absence have done so in manner that suggests that the matter is nobody’s business and that neither they nor the governor owe the people any explanation. Apparently, the President knows something of the governor’s whereabouts or he would have spoken out. But

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would he? How long ago was the national rumour mill revved up by the unexplained absence of the president’s wife for several months? This was a president who was a victim of the ugly cover of secrecy thrown around President Umar Yar’Adua at a time he was Vice President. Not only was he kept in the dark of what was happening to the president, a successor was going to be chosen for the then ailing president by a clique led by his wife that had held the entire country hostage.

I

s it not incredible that after such experience, President Jonathan would allow the same thing with regards to his own wife? Of course, nobody could have been asking to know the medical history of another for the sheer sake of it but admitting that the president’s wife was ill and out of the country became an impossible task for the president or the presidency. But whatever may be happening to Sullivan Chime the fact remains that the wheel of governance in that state has been grounded to a

Between Chime and his death wishers (2) Continued from pg 17

BY ELVIS EZEDINOBI

T

HEN came the death rumour. A simple, anonymous, uncredited, unconfirmed posting on the social media was taken up by the Nigerian press and trumpeted across the world with such panache as would have shamed even Count Dracula, the famed king of vampires. At the end of the day, it turned out to be an embarrassing hoax. But this did not stop the campaign. Attacks were directed at the Enugu House of Assembly and Enugu people for not taking steps to remove Chime and stories which turned out to be bogus were told in press about how a cabal had taken over the leadership of the state and restricting the Acting Governor to a figurehead to the extent that his approval limit has been restricted to a mere N500,000. Yet, the writers could not however explain how if this was true, it came to be that contractors handling the various projects in the state were receiving their due payments running into millions and that civil servant have continued to receive their salaries that gulp over N800 million a month.

Many writers with real or, I believe pen names, operating on the same C M Y K

suspect thoroughfare, tried albeit in vain to whip up anti-Chime sentiments among Enugu citizenry urging them to take up arms against the government until they were informed of his whereabouts. Others went to the great length of painting a false picture of tension and disquiet in Enugu over Chime’s condition. One of the papers falsely but boldly reported that Chime’s wife and children had flown abroad to be with him on his sickbed. The consistency and spread of these stories and articles across the Nigerian media certainly lent much credence to the conspiracy theory and smacked somewhat of desperation among in the rank of their sponsors.

Some writers could barely hide their prejudice and all but gave away the fact of having been suborned to do a job. One writer, an Editor of a popular daily in his exasperation, even went to the extent of advising Chime’s media managers to“accept defeat”. Defeat in or over what? One might ask.

Indeed, it was when the press lavishly published a letter purportedly written by a group claiming to go by the name “Save Enugu Group” to the Acting Governor, giving him two weeks to address it on the whereabouts of Governor Chime or face consequences, that I began to appreciate the tactics

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halt and the governor ’s hangers-on must be having the time of their life at the expense of those who elected him into office.

Idris Wada, Governor of Kogi State, is recuperating at home after an accident that took the life of his police aide. Only days after the accident, Speaker of Kogi House of Assembly, Lawal Jimoh, was equally involved in another accident that killed one of his police escort, Lamidi Akeem.

There have been similar accidents involving state officials and someone might ask the reason for the frequent accidents. But such a person must be a visitor to Nigeria for no Nigerian is ignorant of the lawless display that convoys of public officers put up in traffic.

Like the reckless drivers of bullion vans, Nigerian public officers see it as a mark of authority and importance to scare other road users off the road.

On both wide expressways full of potholes and narrow roads they don’t bother to maintain, they go at breakneck speed like armed bandits looking for quick way out of a crime scene. The only difference is that they put on such recklessness with the protection of armed military or police escort, vehicular lights turned on in full and siren blaring. Their escorts beat other road users with belts and horsewhips and kick at their vehicles where guns are not shot into the air to clear the way. After all said and done, after they have succeeded in disorienting other Nigerians in traffic, some of the VIPs end up with broken body parts and the death of aides whose names are increasingly hardly given as they become mere figures on the casualty list. Yet, we are all supposed to be sympathetic to such

The writers could not however explain how if this was true, it came to be that contractors handling the various projects in the state were receiving their due payments running into millions

,

and dexterity of the Governor ’s media managers.

C

hime’s men it turned out had perhaps on sensing that this was a campaign, simply used silence as a powerful weapon to goad those behind the campaign into exposing themselves. The latter as confirmed in the postulation of the Editor mentioned above, had expected and prepared for war. Seeing none, they were then forced to reveal their identities in the so called letter to the Acting Governor.

It turned out that they were none else than the aides and associates of Chime’s old and well known political enemy with vast connections in the media. Thus, the true identities of Chime’s death wishers and impeachment campaigners were

irresponsible public officers when they get themselves into avoidable and irresponsible accidents? Certainly, it’s in recognition of this kind of unseemly behaviour by public officers who should act by example that the FRSC has vowed to arrest governors’ convoy that violate speed limit, an admission of the recklessness of these state officials and failure on the part of the FRSC. Yet, in no time at all, these absentee governors would be asking for more years.

I have spoken of three governors so far. What do we say of Rochas Okorocha of Imo that decided on a state-wide two weeks Christmas and New Year holiday? Or Liyel Imoke, said to be seriously ill but whose aides deny such tales of ill health? Ill or not, the fact is that the governor has not been seen in public for several weeks by the people who purportedly elected him into office. Don’t the people of the State deserve explanation?

And when it sounds like people make callous statements about leaders supposed to be ill, how can they show concern for people whose situation they know nothing about even if by right they deserve to know? Oh yes, we are told now that Mr. Imoke is on two months leave.

What’s difficult about saying that before the governor suddenly disappeared from the public ‘ radar ’? At the rate public officials keep secret what shouldn’t be kept secret one would not be surprised one day if one of them suddenly absent in public is found somewhere out there serving time for some crime only to go back to the same office after a spell in a foreign jail. Yet, in no time at all some people would be out campaigning for more years in office for them.

revealed by their own very hand. What a war there was!

On seeing those names, I couldn’t agree more with Chime’s media aides who had promptly dubbed them “attention seekers” because if they are not, what possibly could they be saving Enugu from? Could it be from the remarkable and widely acclaimed transformation that Chime brought to Enugu State? Or perhaps, they wish to save Enugu from themselves ( i.e the so called savers)?

In launching this campaign, these people actually acted like the man who upon consulting a native doctor to kill someone, went to town with the news that the man was already dead or dying even before any such thing happened, consequently and unwittingly alerting that person that someone is after him.

Whatever the case may be, one should ask the people to drop it. It is now obvious that Chime is neither dead nor dying and we should have our peace and await his return. The advice proffered by Enugu traditional rulers that peace should be allowed to reign should be germane here. As they pointed out, Governor Chime has done so well that any genuine Enugu man should support him and that it “will be bad to give any impression that there is trouble in our state because there is none, more so as we know that the governor will soon return to his desk.”

Concluded

*Mr. Ezedinobi, a political analyst, wrote from Abuja.

20—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY,, JANUARY 16 , 2013

Raging controversy over Obi of Igbodo’s marriage to non-indigene •Clash of tradition and modernity tears community apart

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HAT played out in England in 1936 when King Edward VIII abdicated his throne to marry the woman he dearly loved, seems to be playing out in Igbodo kingdom in Delta State. The Obi of the community is in a tangle with his subjects over whether to abide by the age-long tradition and custom of the people and marry a native or insist om marrying his Abakaliki-born heartthrob.

Before the Abakaliki-born wife of the Obi was forcibly ejected from the palace recently, a cold war had brewed between the young Obi who is in his 30s and majority of his subjects especially the womenfolk and some palace chiefs, who are insisting that marrying a non indigene was a desecration of their land.

Obi shows traits of modernising culture The Obi who is a law graduate, upon mounting the throne, had subtly given the sign that changes were in the offing although many of his subjects could not read his lips well. He became the Obi immediately after the death of his father, His Royal Majesty Albert Sunday Iyeke III, and was crowned on January 12, 2007.

Asked then by newsmen about why his surname was changed from Iyeke to Osedume, the Obi said that the surname was changed by his late father before he died.

According to him, he did not know the reason behind the change. He further stated that his father was the end to the Iyeke dynasty while Osedume I is the first and beginning of his generation.

What led to the cold war: Along the line, he was said to have married the Abakaliki woman from Ebonyi State who presently has a baby girl for him. But that marriage not withstanding, the community leaders led by the palace chiefs insistC M Y K

Incessant hold-ups on our roads

BY EBELE ORAKPO

na here this “SOhold-up start to-

•The embattled Obi

ed that he must marry an Igbodo woman. And there came the face off which culminated in series of correspondences to the Delta State Government. The letters were authored by the Iyase of Igbodo Kingdom (Prime Minister), Chief Joseph Unomah.

One of such letters by the Iyase was dated November 20, 2012 and addressed to the State Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama (SAN).

Titled ‘The boycott of the palace of HRM, Obi of Igbodo by all his subjects’ read in part: “I do not intend to bore your Excellency with details of the case in this memo, but the root of the problem is that the Obi of Igbodo wants to marry an Ebonyi State woman, contrary to the custom and tradition of our people. In other words, the custom is that the first legitimate wife, who will bear the heir to the throne, must

,

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA, ASABA

Debate of the masses

ed. They succeeded when armed soldiers and policemen found out that there would be chaos and shielded away the woman from the palace. That was the deportation.

The outrage that followed: The first salvo was fired by the national co-ordinator of the Forum for Justice and Human Rights Defence, FJHD, Mr. Oghenejabor Ikimi.

His group is even contemplating instituting a law suit to challenge the deportation of the Obi’s spouse.

He said: “We volcanically condemn same as stone aged and an insult to womanhood. We submit that the Igbodo custom which still forbade a 21st century Obi from marrying a non indigene as wife is one of the numerous harmful cultural and traditional practices inhibiting women’s rights nationwide and we call on all women

We submit that the Igbodo custom which still forbade a 21st century Obi from marrying a non indigene as wife is one of the numerous harmful cultural and traditional practices inhibiting women’s rights

be a native of Igbodo kingdom.”

While the conflict was still on, the mother of the King, popularly called the Queen Mother passed on and the Igbodo people insisted that there would be no burial until the Obi gets married to an Igbodo woman. This, according to them, must be done as prescribed by the tradition before the interment.

The Obi did not bulge. The last straw that broke the camel’s back took place on December 28, 2012.

The embattled Obi went and mobilised people from Ebonyi State, an officiating minister from Asaba and arrived the palace with the “controversial” wife for the commencement of the burial.rites.

In a jiffy, the villagers stormed the palace in a commando style, insisted that the burial must stop and the Ebonyi-born wife eject-

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groups outside the kingdom to condemn same. To address the above challenges, we call on the Federal Government to ensure the immediate passage into law of the bill on the abolition of all forms of discrimination against women in Nigeria and other related matters and the domestication of the African Union Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Women in Africa”.

Another activist disagrees, insists that tradition should be respected no matter what: Delta State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Prof.

Patrick Muoboghare, stated that tradition is sacred and such activists should not meddle into.in it. He said: “I can go to Maiduguri and marry a Muslim woman; nothing stops me but there are those who dare not.”

day?” commented a passenger by name, Sam, in the Lagos-bound commercial vehicle as the driver veered off the tarred portion of the road for the untarred portion just to beat the hold-up, whipping up dust clouds in the process and attracting curses from other road users.

Continued Sam, “Yesterday, it was at Ogbemudia Farm area, the other day, it was at Ore and now, just after Benin? Ha! There’s so much suffering in this country o!”

“But tell me, what is really causing this holdup?” asked Iyke.

“Absolutely nothing!

Don’t be surprised that when you get to the end of the road, you will see nothing,” replied Kenny.

“How can you say nothing is causing the holdup? Something must be causing it. There is no smoke without fire,” said Iyke.

Born again student “I totally disagree with you sir. There can be smoke without fire,” said Japh.

“Please, expatiate,” requested Ify. Replied Japh; “During the cold season, especially early in the morning, if you yawn, you will see smoke coming from your mouth. So there can be smoke without fire.”

Narrated Mercy; “Reminds me of something that happened some years ago. A born again student saw smoke coming from his friend’s mouth and without verifying, he ran straight to the Fellowship president and reported that Brother A was smoking. The president was shocked and sent for Brother. A. When he came, he asked him point blank when he started smoking, you can imag-

ine the confusion on A’s face. Where was this story coming from? Of course he denied it and the president told him that his friend caught him redhanded and came to report him so they could caution him and save his soul.

“At this point, the friend was asked if he actually saw him with a cigarette and he said no, but he saw smoke coming from his mouth.”

This caused ripples of laughter in the bus.

“Well, back to what we were saying, I learnt that these people who hawk their wares in traffic actually pay truck drivers to partially block the road, pretending that the vehicle broke down and undergoing repairs. Before you know what is happening, traffic builds up and they start selling their wares. At this point, the truck driver, having fulfilled his part of the contract, drives off and as you know, it takes time for the hold-up to clear,” stated Ify. “That’s callous!” commented Kenny.

“People are always looking for ways to make money. Any means, whether foul or fair, does not bother them. All they want is money,” said Japh.

“I heard that sometimes these unscrupulous elements contribute money to buy raw acid which they pour on roads and once a heavy vehicle runs on it, it creates a deep hole, causing hold-up,” said Nkechi.

“Yes, I’ve heard that before and sometimes they use hammer and chisel to do the job,” said Ify, “but the acid version is easier.

That hammer and chisel version na serious work.”

“I think the authorities should set up monitoring teams to be monitoring activities on our roads,” advised Sam. “I like what Gov. Peter Obi is doing in Anambra State. After construction a road, he hands it over to the community so they can look after it as their property.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013 — 21

Nigeria spends N3.5trn annually on power generators …N17.9bn on importation of generators stated this, pointed out that 70 percent of the problems facing the country could be effectively solved through effective power supply.

He noted that epileptic power supply has posed incalculable hardship to Nigerians, adding that Nigeria has become a dumping ground for all manner of sub-standard generating sets, apart from be-

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

N

IGERIAN manufacturers, small scale businesses and families spend an average of N3.5 trillion yearly to power their generating sets with diesel and petrol due to unstable supply of electricity.

Mr. Festus Mbisiogu, President of Good Governance Initiative, GGI, a Non-Governmental Organisation, who

ing one of the highest importers of generating sets in the world to the tune of N17.9 billion annually.

According to him, due to lack of electricity, most businesses have to rely on generators, which are very expensive to run, adding that the unfortunate development has forced many companies to close down because they could no longer remain com-

petitive.

Mbisiogu, a Nigerian businessman based in China, however, commended President Goodluck Jonathan for the slight improvement witnessed in the sector in the last one year as it has gradually moved from 3000 megawatt in 2011 to 4500 megawatt in 2012.

The GGI president disclosed that statistics from

FROM LEFT: Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga; French Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Jacques Champagne Labriolle; Secretary General, Franco-Nigeria Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Mrs. Edodo Emore and President of the Chamber and Country President, Schneider Electric Nigeria Limited, Mr. Marcel Hochel, during a fund raising dinner for FNCCI.

153.15

-0.2

2,258.00

+2.00

18.87

-0.3

111.22 93.64

+0.58 +0.08

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL DOLLAR 154.72 POUNDS 248.8052 EURO 206.7678 FRANC 168.7057 YEN 1.731 CFA 0.2904 WAUA 236.016 RENMINBI 24.8761 RIYA 41.2543 KRONA 27.7023 SDR 237.6035

155.22 249.6093 207.436 169.2509 1.7366 0.3004 236.7787 24.9569 41.3876 27.7918 238.3714

SELLING 155.72 250.4133 208.1042 169.7961 1.7422 0.3104 237.5414 25.0378 41.5209 27.8813 239.1392

CBN Exchange rate as at 15/01/2013

the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) showed that it spends about N800 billion to power its industrial generating sets to remain afloat, while other small scale private businesses, banks and traders in various markets across the country spend over N2 trillion fuelling their generators to have power.

“In the banking sector, each branch spends over N4 million on diesels in a month, multiply it by the number of branches in Nigeria. An average family man spends over 60,000 in a month on fuel, apart from the maintenance. Statistics show that every week, 5 to 10 people die as result of smoke from generator. Life expectancy in china is 75 years while in Nigeria it is 45 years because our leaving standard is very poor,” he said.

Narrating his personal experience in Nigeria as an industrialist which according to him was at variance with his experience in China, Mbisiogu said: “To keep my Shanghai Engineering Construction Works and Industry Limited working effectively in Nigeria, I have to spend N30 million on generators alone which consume over N2 million worth of diesel every month, apart from its maintenance cost. I have never experienced such in many years I have been operating same business and other businesses in China because China recognizes that power remains the key driver of the economy. How could China have had over 30,000 robust manufacturers, and how could every family have had a business in its compound if their experience were like that of Nigerians?”

Dangote sugar refinery crashes sugar price by 25%

By UDO IBUOT

D

ANGOTE Sugar Refinery Plc (DSR) has announced a 25 per cent reduction in the price of its product in response to the price of sugar at the International Commodity market.

With the new price regime, Dangote crashed the price of its 50kg bag from N8, 900 to N6, 660. Managing Director of the company, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, attributed the development to the recent reduction in the price of raw sugar at the international market.

The reduction, according to Sule, reflects the trends in the international market where the prices of raw sugar have dropped from about $0.26 cents to the current $0.19 cents. He said the company has a policy of passing the benefits of price reductions to the customers.

Already, with the price reduction rocking the market and some other sugar refineries alleging that DSR reduced the Sugar prices to a level where it makes it difficult for competition to survive, Sule explained that Nigeria is not a sugar producing nation, hence all Raw Sugar that are refined locally are imported from Brazil by all industry players and that there was nothing to hide.

The DSR Chief Executive explained that raw sugar is traded openly on the International Commodities Market with the prices available for all and sundry to see and/or verify.

“DSR only reacted to a reduction in the international price of sugar in the last one year for the benefit of its customers. As a responsible corporate citizen, we are committed to the socio – economic growth of the nation’s economy and there is no need for this horrendous accusation” he said

According to him, Raw Sugar is traded openly on the International Commodities Market with the prices available for all to verify. All existing sugar refineries in Nigeria import their Raw Sugar from the same country in South America.

“When prices of sugar shot up internationally, we increased our prices and charged consumers as much as N9,600 per bag. In the last one year the International Prices of Raw Sugar have dropped from about $0.26 cents to the current price of about $0.19 cents per pound. Therefore, in line with DSR’s strategy of passing the benefits of price reduction to our customers, we reduced the prices of our 50kg sugar bags from N8,900.00 to N6,600.00 (VAT inclusive) with effect from December 16, 2012. All other sugar refineries in Nigeria are enjoying five years tax holiday at the moment.

22 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

Analyst lists factors that ’ll boost market performance in 2013

BY CHINEDU IBEABUCHI

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IVEN the level of perfor mance in 2012, the capital market is expected to witness another impressive performance this year, Mr. Wusu, Head of Research at Sterling Capital Markets Limited has projected.

He said the performance would be driven more by strong macroeconomic environment, good corporate performance and companies’ fundamentals.

He noted that the expected monetary policy easing in 2013 would likely induce investment switch to favour stock market.

Presenting a paper at the 2nd Financial Correspondents Association of Nigeria, FICAN roundtable on the Economy, in Lagos, he projected: “The market is expected to benefit immensely from increased government spending from budgetary allocations for the year. Government expenditure earmarked in 2103 is expected to sustain market liquidity, improve the level of growth and income as well as savings and investment from which the market will benefit immensely in the economy and we expect continuous bond issuance by sub nationals.

“We also expect regulators to continue to create an environment for sound and efficient markets. All said, market is expected to record stronger growth in 2013, and this time the growth will be more driven by sound

macroeconomic environment, strong fundamentals and good corporate performance,” he said.

He said there would be renewed interest in Nigerian bond market as Barclays includes FGN bond into its index by March 2013 which would stimulate portfolio rebalancing.

It would be recalled that as against the pessimism that sufficed in the early part of the year, the Nigerian market closed 2012 with a return of 35.45 per cent.

Market capitalisation rose from N6.532trn at the beginning of the year to

N8.974trn. This performance was an improvement over the lull experienced in 2011 when market witnessed a negative return of 17.42 per cent.

Meanwhile, impressive performances on the share prices of United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA), Forte Oil Plc and fifty other equities drove-up the total market capitalisation of equities listed on the Nigeria Stock Exchange, NSE by N128.22 billion last week.

The market capitalisation which opened at N9,12 trillion rose by 2.39 per cent to close at N9.34 trillion. Another market indicator, the All-Share Index in the week under re-

view appreciated by 2.33 per cent to close at 29,202.01 points from 28,538.06 points.

The numbers of gainers in the week closed at fifty-two (52) compared with fifty-one (51) appreciations recorded penultimate week. United Bank for Africa Plc, UBA, topped the gainers chart for the week with 29.82 per cent share price appreciation to close N5.52 per share from N4.56 per share. This was followed by Forte Oil Plc that rose by 21.21 per cent to close at N9.83 per share, and Airline Services and Logistic Plc gained 19.32 per cent to close at N5.25 per share, among others.

F

TN Cocoa Processors Plc has promised improved return on investment to shareholders in the nearest future and consequently advised them to exercise patience as the company is making every effort to weather the storm.

Speaking during the 5th Annual General Meeting of the company for the financial year ended December 31, 2011 in Lagos, the Chairman, Mr. Simeon Oguntimehin, said business operation for the year was faced with series of challenges such as fluctuation of the naira value which negatively affected the cost of goods and machinery.

Oguntimehin said that the

S

HOPRITE Holdings Ltd. (SHP) , South Africa’s largest retailer by market value, fell the most in more than six years after reporting Christmas sales growth below that of last year.

The stock retreated 5.9 percent to 188 rand in Johannesburg, the biggest drop since November 2006. The shares are on a five-day falling streak, the longest since Sept.

5, according to data compiled

by Bloomberg. Shoprite is the second- worst performing stock on the FTSE/JSE Africa All Share index this year, having declined 8.1 percent.

December sales grew 11 percent compared with last year, the Cape Town-based company said in a statement today, against a 16 percent gain in the corresponding month a year earlier and a 14 percent increase over the second half of 2012.

“It is the disappointing sales growth in the festive season and that’s probably the main reason driving the share price down today,” said Michael McLeod, an analyst at Avior Research, in a phone interview from Johannesburg today.

European Stocks Decline for third Day From left: Wife of the Divisional Manager (West and North), Fidson Healthcare Plc, Mrs Bolanle Afolaogun; winner of the Leadership Excellence Award, Mr Rotimi Afolaogun and a director, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Mrs Olufunmilola Ayebae, during the presentation of the 2012 ACE event in Lagos.

FTN assures on improved return on investment

By ONOZURE DANIA

Johannesburg: Shoprite shares fall on weaker December sales

year in view was not a cheering one for the company, stating that the company’s share value fared no better in the year when compared with 2010.

Giving further details that resulted to the losses incurred, he said, “The Company had to shut down its factory for about eight months during the year as a result of the ongoing expansion/installation of some machines for increased capacity which contributed to loss of sales in the year under review.” He explained that the company’s financial performance showed the stress the company went through during the year.

To this end, the company’s turnover dropped by N359.8 million, from 1.2 billion in 2010

to N837.9 million in the year under review. Also, a loss before tax of N221.03 million was recorded against N63.65 million profit in the penultimate year.

According to him, “in 2011, economic growth prospects dimmed on a global scale resulting in worsened financial conditions in the world economy. The much needed global economic recovery was threatened by intensifying strains in the euro-zone and fragililities in some parts of the global economy notably, the United States of America and Europe.”

Meanwhile, the Chairman gave the shareholders his words, assuring them that 2012 would be better, given the increased level of expan-

sion in the company’s cocoa processing capacity to 20,000 metric tons per annum which had been completed and acquisition of vegetable oil refinery of 50 metric tons per day capacity which has cost the company a whooping sum of N1.5 billion.

“Esteemed shareholders, I have no doubt in the ability of your company to continue to deliver superior value to all stakeholders, the future looks bright and promising for all stakeholders,” he said.

E

UROPEAN stocks declined for a third day as investors watched the U.S. financial-reporting season amid concern that recent gains in share prices have overshot the earnings potential.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index fell 0.4 percent to 286.01 at the close in London, for the longest stretch of losses in four weeks. The equity benchmark dropped last week amid the highest valuation in 11 quarters and concern that quickening inflation in China will limit the scope for economic stimulus.

“Markets have made a lot of progress so far and right at the moment, valuations are possibly just looking a little bit stretched and waiting for a touch of guidance from the U.S. earnings season,” said Guy Foster, a fund analyst at Brewin Dolphin Securities Ltd. in London.

The number of shares traded on the Stoxx 600 companies was 22 percent higher than the average of the last 30 days, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013—23

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New inventions shaping life and living

WheeMe Robot delivers massage

VISIT: Minister of Science and Tech, Prof. Ita Bassey Okon-Ewa at the Chemistry Advanced Laboratory of the SHEDA Science and Technology complex during a working visit to the agency, Monday. Photo:Emmanuel Elebeke.

We'll create wealth through indigenous technology

BY EMMA ELEBEKE

The WheeMe robot from Dreambots may not make the bed or vacuum the floor, but it will give you a nice massage after you’ve handled your chores yourself.

Seen at CES (Consumer Electronics Show), the WheeBot’s sensors and arms help it to navigate the contours of the body, keeping it steady as it rolls about. The massage is delivered via the textured, grippy wheels and a rotor finger beneath the device.

I N S I D E C M Y K

M

INISTER of Science & Technology, Prof. Ita Okon Bassey says the ministry is aiming at generating millions of jobs and creating wealth through indigenous technology.

The minister sated this at the occasion of NOTAP –SMEDAN national exhibition and Techmart on Agric, Agro-Allied and Bio-Technology sub-sector held in Abuja.

He said millions of jobs and wealth could be generated through indigenous technology but requires patronage from Nigerians for this to materialize, saying that the ministry had set up some machineries in motion to achieve this by creating

— Bassey, Science & Tech Minister a large pool of technology based SMEs and commercialization of research and development.

According to him, the effort was in response to the calls by President Jonathan to use technology to transform Nigerian economy.

He said that the event was one of his ministry’s

efforts to achieve both the commercialization of matured research and development, R&D results and also the creation of large pools of technology based SMEs, adding that the event was aimed at showcasing proven technologies and innovations in the sub-sector and in particular available agro-

processing machineries and equipment that can add value to agricultural products.

Equipments assembled at the event were produced by indigenous technologists, researchers, designers and fabricators, drawn from different part of the country.

Participants include: All Farmers Association

,

,

Preview

Today, the CDMA market is struggling to find its feet with less than three players in the competitive market already overtaken by the GSM operators

Rethinking financial Amazing possibilities assault of 3-D printing on telcos

Etisalat, Alcatel sign deal to boost quality of service

of Nigeria, AFAN, farmers, entrepreneurs as well as beneficiaries of the ‘’Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria”, YOUWIN programme. ‘‘Our collective effort is to respond to the calls of Mr. President, to generate jobs and create wealth through our indigenous technology outputs. I note the opportunities awaited by this event and encourage you all to patronize these technologies as our contribution to the socio-economic development of this nation,’’ he said.

The event among other things was organized

Continues on page 31

Best practices to secure the mobile enterprise

24—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY,JANUARY 16, 2013

Rethinking financial assault on telcos

T

ELECOMS firms, es ture Regulatory Unit pecially mobile phone (UFRU), which made its operators (both CDMA own demands on the and GSM) had, in my firms. By November, opinion, a hard time last UFRU was demanding a year. I particularly pity whopping N3 million the CDMA operators who per base station in the lost market share the way state, up from N40,000 a dead fowl being dressed earlier. What is baffling for consumption loses it is the permutations befeathers in hot water. hind a hike from Somehow, telecoms serv- N40,000 to N3 million. It ices consumers here seems as if cashmade up their minds to go strapped governments, the GSM way, and com- of which I am sure Lapletely ignored the eco- gos State is not one, are nomics of their decision. hell bent on funding This is despite the fact their budgets from taxes that in other climes the and levies on telcos only!

CDMA subW h a t sector of the makes the mobile in- Last year also Lagos initidustry seem ative danto be more witnessed acgerous to robust than the telcos is tions from GSM. Well, that as the that is Ni- state and local touted cengeria for governments tre of excelyou; underlence in Nithat, put tostanding the geria, such p e c u l i a r gether, a picinitiatives economics will be copof this great ture of deliber- ied by othnation will er states in ate threat take more no time. It against the than a dozwill only en pack of telcos is ineshave the efWorld Bank fect of passcapable economists ing on costs to unravel. to the conThe year sumer — witnessed some serious the average Nigerian — quality of service issues who is already overburwhich resulted in the in- dened by paying dustry regulator slam- through the nostrils for ming fines on the major electricity that is not supGSM operators. We’ll plied, roads that remain have to wait and see what unmotorable, petrol that this year will yield in remains scarce, schools terms of QoS. that are ill-equipped It is worth reminding with underpaid teachers, ourselves that many of the and poor governance by issues that aggregated to elected officials with the give the negative tone to fattest pay packages in QoS have remained un- the world. As a result, solved. As last year raced there already is talk of to a close, less than 72 price segmentation in hours to Christmas, a the telecoms market. If dawn raid saw attacks on the telcos are to pay N3 facilities of two major tel- million per base station, cos — Airtel and MTN in will the government be Kano. Given the spate of able to secure them? Will insecurity in the country, “area boys”stop deespecially in the northern manding money each part, there are no signs time a tanker goes to fuel that we have seen the last a base station? Will there of such attacks on telcos. be cheaper power to Be that as it may, last power the base stations? year also witnessed ac- If we know the answers tions from state and local to these questions, won’t governments that, put to- the telcos be obliged to gether, a picture of delib- slam a differential tariff erate threat against the on calls originating from telcos is inescapable. Lo- Lagos? Will this then be cal and state government fair to all? I am sure agencies filed several de- there are a lot of Rotary mand notices under one Club members who will law or the other against be affected by these the telcos. While the tel- questions. Put simply, cos battled that under a can the actions of the united front, the Lagos Lagos State Government State Government came towards telcos pass the up with the Urban Furni- Four-Way Test?

,

C M Y K

What is 3-D printing?

— It's a revolutionary manufacturing process in which the design for physical objects can be digitally transmitted to a device that makes them out of plastic, metal, or ceramic materials. 3-D printers have rapidly evolved in recent years, becoming smaller, faster, and cheaper. A basic, microwave-size 3-D printer costs less than $1,000.

How do 3-D printers work? — Just as a traditional ink-jet printer sprays ink onto a page line by line, modern 3-D devices deposit material onto a surface layer by layer, slowly building up a shape. The process begins with a designer using computer software to create a virtual 3-D model of an object, such as a skull (see photo here). Another program slices that model into thin horizontal sections and instructs the printer to lay down an exact replica of each slice.

Some printers use a computer-controlled heated nozzle that moves back and forth across a print platform, setting down a layer of melted material. Others use a laser or electron beam to fuse powdered plastic or metal into the required shape. After each layer is completed,

Amazing possibilities of 3-D printing the printing platform is lowered by a fraction of a millimeter and the next layer is added, until the object is completed.

What's the advantage of this technology? — It makes it easier and cheaper for ordinary people to get into the business of making things. Inventors can print a model of their latest creation in a few hours, instead of waiting weeks for a prototype to emerge from a factory.

Advantages — Aerospace firms like Boeing and EADS are starting to print complex aircraft parts in single pieces rather than multiple sections. By doing away with bolts and screws that previously held components together, 3D printing has reduced the weight of certain parts by up to 30 percent, saving fuel costs, said Boeing design engineer Michael Hayes. Eventually, Boeing thinks it might be able to print an entire

zA skull delivered by a 3-D printer just hit print and get it aircraft wing. in minutes."

What more could 3-D How might people use printing do? — A 3-D printers in the possible next step is for future? — Once introvirtually every home to duced on an industrial have its own printer. scale, 3-D printing could "Once that happens, it will change everything," have a profound economic impact. Compasaid Carl Bass, CEO of nies would no longer Autodesk, which makes need to keep huge imaging software used warehouses filled with by designers, architects, goods, as products could and engineers. "See be printed locally on something on Amazon demand. you like? Instead of — THE WEEK, via placing an order and Yahoo! News. waiting 24 hours for your FedEx package,

HCL Infosystems brings tablets to Nigeria

BY EMEKA AGINAM

A

top Indian premier services and ICT systems integration, distribution and hardware company, HCL Infosystems has announced the launch of a new range of ME tablets in Nigeria and across Africa and the Middle East.

HCL has launched three new ME tablets, namely U2, V1 and Y3 and emerged the leaders in value tablets in the Middle East. In the African countries, Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, the new ME Tablets will be available in leading stores by the beginning of February 2013.

Mr. Srinath Nagarajan, Business Head-MEA, Mobility Business Unit, HCL Infosystems MEA, while commenting on the launch said that, “We are very excited to launch our new range of ME tablets.

The launch comes as part of our commitment to offer the best in technology and continue our innovation and leadership in the value category of tablets.

“Africa has a highly competitive tablet market with the demand for innovative technologies growing at a rapid pace.

“We have made huge investments in research to develop innovations that would enable us to deliv-

er devices to a larger customer base, making technology more accessible.

Understanding the need to cater to individual preferences of our customers and resonating the brand message - Change Begins with ME, we wish to meet and exceed their expectations in technology by delivering an amazing user experience.”

“The ME tablets have been innovated to offer various unique and specialized features. The U2 Tab offers a fast processor and Google Play, the V1 Tab has a facility for 2G calling and the Y3 Tab has 3G calling facility and a

Dual Sim. “The U2 has an integrated HDMI connectivity Port, which connects the tablet to external display devices for gaming, video playback or emails. It has a powerful CPU, being powered by a 1 GHz Cortex A9 CPU which enables U2 to deliver high performance with low power consumption. The Tab has an integrated front camera for video chat.

“The tablet also carries a powerful GPU and 1GB DDR3 RAM which enables one to enjoy smooth 2D/3D graphics gaming. “ The tablet has an 8GB

internal memory where one can store all their favourite movies, photos, games and also which is externally expandable through a 32GB micro SD card. It also comes pre loaded with Thinkfree Office which enables users to create and edit office documents on the go” Nagarajan explained.

According to Nagarajan, the HCL ME V1 tablet has a sleek and slim Metal ID, combining fashion

and sturdiness in an elegant form, adding that it has a built-in voice calling, having the integrated phone functions of voice calling and integrated SIM slots.

zAjai Chowdhry, Chairman and CEO, HCL Infosystems, unveiling ME range of laptops in New Delhi last week. Photo: The Hindu.

Vanguard, WEDNEDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013— 25

C M Y K

26—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

LMLG primary school gets 28 laptops, 14 tablets for e-learning

BY EMEKA AGINAM

T

O fully prepare for the challenges of the 21st century based learning, Laptops4Learning in partnership with Leventis Foundation have empowered Lagos Mainland Local Government primary School Ijero, with 28 laptops, 14 tablets for technology based learning The initiative was aimed at empowering every child in the primary

school with access to screen based technology so as to survive the 21st century learning method.

Like the one Laptop per child, the programme is targeted at the underprivileged children in society, especially those from poor homes who may not normally have access to screen-based technologies such as laptops.

Sponsored by Leventis Foundation, the L4L project involves the cre-

ation of a e-learning facilities in one of the LMLG primary school classrooms, technical and skills trainin for teachers and provision of Laptops for the teachers and pupil in primary four, five and six.

With this development, LMLG has made available a dedicated classroom within the school compound for the exclusive use of Leventis L4L Club House for a minimum pe-

riod of five years which allows the project to be more sustainable.

The Classroom, which will be designed as the Leventis L4L Club House will be accessible to LMLG primary school teachers, students and authorized members and representatives during school hours, after school and on weekends.

Speaking during the event, co-founders of Laptops4Learning Tomi

Davies told the gathering that the objective of the project was to develop a replicable programe for primary schools that will enable teachers use screen based technology to teach students based on the Nigerian educational curriculum.

“What we are doing here to today is set up what will prepare these children for the challenges ahead. We are to give them the tools and the skills early enough. We have to prepare them from here so as to adapt to 21st century learning environment.

“We work with our corporate sponsors, the local government education secretariat and the States Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to select each school that will benefit the most from our

after-school L4L Clubhouses.

“We then engage with the school administration, teachers and parents association to ensure community ownership of the project” he explained.

In each participating school, he explained that a classroom is dedicated for exclusive use as the L4L Clubhouse.

It would be recalled that L4L has been sponsored

by Flour Mills, the Kuramo Primary School, Victoria as the the pilot school for the L4L Clubhouse initiative.

L4L is a Non-For-Profit organisation with the aim of providing laptops to Nigeria teachers and children as a learning tool.

L4L’s goal is to provide primary school teachers and children in Nigeria with laptop computers, software, training and a conducive environment that will empower them to learn, explore, experiment and express themselves in creative and productive ways that will ultimately bring about transformative change in Nigeria.

The programme, the initiators said has been designed using that experience to accommodate the specific challenges Nigeria faces which include funding, power, teacher literacy, school infrastructure and parental poverty.

Youth internet newspaper, YNaija.com floats first ad campaign

BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

O

NE of the online p l a t f o r m s , YNaija.com, has unveiled its first ever advertising campaign, aimed to emphasise its identity as “The Internet Newspaper for Young Nigerians”.

Editor-at-large for the website, Aziza UkoDouglas, said “We are very excited to crystallise the character, message and focus of the brand with this new campaign.”

He said YNaija.com was designed to present both young Nigerians and the broader population a news nexus that presents more than just news, opinion, entertainment and lifestyle, which informed the reason the sustenance and phenomenal growth of the company over the past year.

C M Y K

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013—27

‘Poor internet, telephone networks, bane of online data collection in Nigeria’ …as American survey council admits Nigeria research firm STORIES BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

C

HIEF Executive Officer, fast-growing indigenous market research company Random Dynamic Resources, Mr. Paul Nnanwobu, last week revealed that online data collection has not gained footing in Nigeria due to unreliable internet and telephone connectivity in the country.

Nnanwobu said that

this was why the most effective method of data collection in most African markets remained Pen and Paper, Face to Face Interviews,( PAPI-F2F) which accounts for approximately 80% of any research process.

He made the clarification at the heels of his company’s recent feat of getting enlisted as a member of the prestigious Council of American Survey Research Organization (CASRO).

The council said the Nigerian research firm, merited the membership after profiles done on its activities proved that it operated in high standards.

CASRO also used the platform to underscore various contributions the foremost fieldwork company has made in delivering quality market research data to its international partners like Millward Brown, Nielsen, GFK, TNS, Ask

When women talk technology…

Martha Alade, Chairperson, Women in Technology in Nigeria; Anita Gurumurthy, executive director, IT for Change; Ann Mei Chang, Senior Advisor for Women and Technology, US Department of State; Susan Schorr, Head of Special Initiatives Division, ITU; Salma Abbasi, Chairperson, The e-Worldwide Group; at the first International Working Forum on Women, ICT and Development (WICTAD), in Washington DC. Afrika and other local companies in Nigeria.

The council in its newsletter, revealed that

among the many countries and industries yearning for the opinions of African consumers, the South East Asia and Europe regions still lead the pack. With a rising interest coming from UK companies in sectors like the mobile telephony, Info tech, and fast moving consumer goods, FMCGs. .

Nnanwobu noted that in some countries like Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya, data collected via PAPI can be entered using an online data entry link but the use of social network sites like Facebook, Linkedin, among others to collect data is just beginning to bud and has

not gained much momentum.

Other methods, like video streaming for focus group research, according to him, are still in the experimental stage. He said that the inability to use technology to achieve quicker results is part of the several challenges faced in the reduction of project turnaround time.

Other factors he discovered to have militated against field work in Research, included infrastructural decay and insecurity as communal clashes, ethnic tensions and acts of terrorism are being perpetrated in every nook and cranny of Africa.

Globacom introduces 0811 number series

S

ECOND National Operator, Globacom last week introduced a new number series, 0811 to the market to contain its rapidly increasing subscriber base in Nigeria. This is as the company begins preparations for its epochal 10th anniversary later this year.

The new number series, totalling ten million lines, according to Glo, is for existing and new subscribers to the network following approval by the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC).

Announcing the new development, Globacom’s Acting Head of Marketing, Mr Niyi Olukoya, said “ we are pleased to inform our

teeming, existing and prospective subscribers of the new number series which has been rolled into the market. We have endeared our self to the people and we are glad to be the network of choice among telephone users”, he added Olukoya explained that the new number series became necessary because the company had exhausted the earlier series allocated to it.

The Glo 0811 SIM brings to five the number series on the Glo network which included 0805, 0807, 0705 as well as 0815. Olukoya said the new number series would give rich and exciting telephony experience.

Lumia sales push Nokia Q4 reports above expectation

N

okia said its fourthquarter results were better than expected, owing to strong sales of its Lumia smartphones and lower costs.

The company said its main Devices and Services division is expected to report an adjusted operating margin of breakeven to 2 percent, better than its earlier forecast of minus 6 perC M Y K

cent, plus or minus four percentage points. The result was helped by EUR 50 million in onetime income for intellectual property licensing as well as reduced costs thanks to accelerated restructuring.

Revenues at the division are estimated at EUR 3.9 billion for the fourth quarter, with 86.3 million phones sold.

28— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

AFCON 2013: Mikel’ll be Eagles' playmaker in S/Africa - Babangida

F

ormer Nigeria star Tijani Babangida has tipped Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi to be the key in Nigeria’s quest for a third AFCON title.

The ex-Ajax Amsterdam winger told MTNFootball.com that Mikel’s displays for Chelsea as well as his performances in the Eagles have shown that he will play a pivotal role in the Eagles in South Africa.

He also spoke generally about Stephen Keshi’s team at the 2013 AFCON. The interview: MTNFootball.com: What can you say about the exclusion of Martins, Osaze and Taiwo from the AFCON? Babangida: Keshi knows

C M Y K

better because he gave these players a chance to prove themselves, so if he makes any decision now as regards them, it could only be best for the team. But all the same I still believe Obafemi Martins

ought to be in the team because he has scored almost every weekend in Spain. I am also surprised that Keshi never gave Michael Enaramo a chance because he has also been scoring often for his Turkish club. Nigeria have not been fair to Eneramo.

Who do you think should be in the team among the three major omissions?

Martins. His experience would be missed in South Africa. Even though we are looking for younger players, his current form shows he needs to be there. Don’t forget at the France 1998 World Cup the late.Rashidi Yekini was included due to his experience so that if things didn’t go well with Victor (Ikpeba) and co in the strike

force, we could easily call up his experience.

Who are the other players who ought to be in South Africa, but are not?

Sani Kaita. His presence is needed in the team’s midfield.

H

e is born to fight and win battles in the midfield. Will the homebased players not struggle at the AFCON as the league has ended since September?

Not really. I am sure Keshi knows those ones who are capable of playing for him and playing those friendlies will make them ready for the big one in South Africa.

Which is Mikel’s best position in the Eagles?

The position he has been

playing

in

Chelsea.

Who among the players do you think will lift Eagles when the chips are down in South Africa?

Mikel of course! With his current form and what he achieved last season as well as his recent performances for Eagles, it is very clear he is our class act.

What was in the 1994 and 1996 team that you think the current Eagles need to have to be world beaters?

The 1994 Eagles were a generation of stars with high level of dedication. That was what the 1996 Olympic team followed. If the current set of players could also manage this, the Eagles will fly again.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013 — 29

AFCON 2013 COUNT DOWN... AFCON 2013 COUNT DOWN...

Zambia happy for Sunzu

Z

ambia say they are happy with the opportunity for their key defender Stopilla Sunzu to go to Reading this week, even though he is a key component of their squad for the African Nations Cup finals.

The centre back travelled to London at the weekend for a trial with the Premier League strugglers with the blessing of his football association, a week before his side begin their defence of the African title at the tournament in South Africa.

“The Zambia national team will always be there but opportunities like this do not come around often in a player’s career so we were happy to let him go,” said Football Association of Zambia president Kalusha Bwalya, himself a former professional in Belgium, the Netherlands and Mexico.

•Sunzu

•Drogba

Winning Afcon 2013 is Drogba’s last goal — Gervinho T

he Arsenal striker says his team-mate only has one last aim to complete before he hangs up his boots, and says it will be “the perfect present” to claim the tournament The former Chelsea forward won the Champions League with his final kick of the ball for the west London club, before moving to China to join Shanghai Shenhua.

However, one trophy that still evades him is the African showpiece, and Gervinho says that winning the tournament is the only thing left that Drogba wants to accomplish before retiring. ”[Afcon is] the only thing left he wants to get for the Ivory Coast because he has brought us so much already,” Gervinho told Goal.com.

“That’s the one last objective. ”I hope he will be successful. We will be with him. We will support him at the best of our abilities for him to be able to

Angola have no goalkeeper coach F

orm er An go la co ac h Lu is Oliveira Goncalves has cri tici sed the Palancas Negra’s de cision to he ad to the 20 13 Af ric a Cu p of Nations without a goalkeep er coach.

Angola have no specialist trainer for goalkeepers Lama, Landu and Neblu within their techn ica which is led by Uruguayan l team, Gustavo Ferrin.

Goncalves, who took Ango la to the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany an d is no w a vic e pre sid en t at Santos FC, says Angola run the risk of ha vin g the ir go alk ee pe rs underprepared.

Angola start their Natio ns Cup C M Y K

Group A campaign again st Morocco at Soccer City in Johan nesburg on Saturday before taking on hosts South Africa in Durban and the Cape Verde Islands in Port Elizabeth .

“This is a position tha t requires individual training. The goalkeeper has to spend 80 percent of his training time working on his own and needs a co ac h to do thi s wo rk wi th him ,” Goncalves told reporters .

“This is a complicated an d specialist area. Angola has enough expertise in this department and the re are good trainers at the various clu bs so it is strange why none have be en taken to the tournament.”

give this to the nation and then...maybe he will keep going but we could not ask for more from h i m . ” The Arsenal striker also insisted that the former Chelsea man is a role model for a lot of young players in Africa, and part of footballing history on the continent. ”Yes, for me and a lot of young

players in Africa, he is part of football history and of Ivory Coast history,” he added. “I’m very lucky being able to be next to the likes of Thierry Henry or Didier Drogba. ”I’m trying to enjoy it as much as I can. Before my first Cup of Nations in Ghana, I always wanted to play with him. I’m happy I’m able to do so... play with him, being close to him, laugh with him. Now I hope I’ll win a trophy with him. It would be the best present ever for him, for me, and for Ivory C o a s t . ” Gervinho admits that the Ivory Coast are in a tough group alongside Algeria, Togo and Tunisia, and says that he is aiming to reach the quarter-finals. ”It’s a group where there are good teams and good players,” he continued.

“All the fans want to see good games. I personally don’t see a team that we must absolutely avoid playing against. ”When you want to win a competition you have to play all the best teams.

Whether it’s Algeria, Tunisia or Togo. For me, the most important thing is to win my games and qualify for the next round. ”We need to start well against Togo and if we get the three points out of it

Tunisia switch focus to Algeria clash T

friendlies, including a 2-1 win over Iraq and consecutive 1-1 draws against Ethiopia and Gabon.

The Carthage Eagles went into the break in the driving seat as Jemaa struck twice in the first half to hand them a 2-0 lead, however, second-half goals from John Boye, Mubarak Wakaso, Asamoah Gyan and Albert Adomah left Sami Trabelsi’s side stunned after the final whistle.

“We played well in the first half, we played at a very high level,” Abdennour told Gnet. “After the break we were less organised and our defensive line was non-existent.

“The result is very bad but we hope to be ready for A l g e r i a . ” Meanwhile, Jemaa also expressed his dissatisfaction after ending up on the losing side despite scoring a brace, while he also believes the team will be stronger after this defeat.

“It was a disappointing loss but we have to take a lot of lessons from this •Jemaa game,” he said.

unisia defender Aymen Abdennour and striker Issam Jemaa are hopeful that their side will fix their costly errors in time for their 2013 Africa Cup of Nations opening match against Algeria.

The two neighbours are set to lock horns at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in what should be a crucial encounter in a tight Group D which also includes Ivory Coast and Togo.

The two players were speaking after Sunday’s 4-2 loss to Ghana which was the last of their series of

•Abdennour

30 —Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

Swans out to sink Arsenal challenge FA Cup 3rd rnd replay

Wayne set to Roo against half-fit West Ham

W

est Ham have defensive trouble in today’s FA Cup thirdround replay at Manchester United after James Collins suffered a hamstring injury in the defeat at Sunderland.

Manager Sam Allardyce has only three fit defenders to choose from, so may opt to change his system at Old Trafford as Joey O’Brien (hamstring) and George McCartney (knee) are definitely out, but midfielder Mohamed Diame is available again.

Swansea are well on their way to the Capital One Cup final thanks to a win in London, and they ’re worth backing to repeat the trick at Arsenal today.

The Gunners suffered a torrid Sunday with an early sending-off leaving them chasing Manchester City shadows for a good hour, and although they rallied admirably at full-time defeat was tough to swallow.

“It’s frustrating because the team afterwards showed great heart, gave everything and showed great desire, but we’re a bit too nervous to play in a serene way at home and that shows in the way we start the games,” Arsene Wenger told the club’s official website, and it’s close to impossible to justify backing Arsenal at 1/2 against anyone.

Certainly, they can’t be strongly fancied to take care of a side as strong as Swansea.

Michael Laudrup has done a fine job since arriving in the summer and his side’s 0-0

•Vermaelen

draw at Everton on Saturday represented yet another step in the right direction, in a fixture that’s seen them struggle recently.

That hasn’t been the case against Arsenal.

Last term, only a Michel Vorm error cost the Swans a result at the Emirates Stadium

but they got revenge earlier this season when Michu fired them to a comfortable 2-0 win in the league.

Throw in a Premier League victory at the Liberty Stadium and the 2-2 draw that set up this FA Cup replay, and that’s three wins and a draw in four games with Arsenal.

Vermaelen backs Gunners in cup replay T

homas Vermaelen is confident Arsenal can bounce back from their defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup third round replay against Swansea.

The Gunners lost 2-0 at home to Roberto Mancini’s men on Sunday after Laurent Koscielny ’s dismissal left them with 10 men for 80 minutes in an uphill task with goals from James Milner and

Edin Dzeko sealing the result before half-time.

Vermaelen and his depleted side managed to prevent any further goals and even managed to carve out a couple of chances for themselves in the second half, and though the club captain admits it was disappointing, he says that he is confident the team will respond well.

“There are a lot of big, big fixtures coming up against good teams - big games,” he told the club’s official website.

“This [Sunday’s game] was the first one, we wanted to have a good start and that is why it is more disappointing we could not get a good result.

“But against Swansea, I am confident the group will respond on this defeat, and I’m confident we can get a result on Wednesday.”

Ver maelen says he was pleased with the organisation shown from his side after they went down to 10 men, and also praised the supporters for staying behind their team in the demoralising loss.

•Rooney Striker Marouane Chamakh is ineligible for the cup competition due to the terms of his loan from Arsenal, while Allardyce is still deciding how best to integrate new signing Wellington Paulista, with Andy Carroll (knee) and Modibo Maiga (African Nations Cup) also absent.

Wenger gunner ‘spend big’ •Wenger

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rsene Wenger maintains Arsenal are ready to “spend big” again - but will continue to look to build the core of the team from within.

The Gunners slumped to a 2-0 home defeat by Manchester City on Sunday which saw them lose further ground on the top four of the Barclays Premier League.

Wenger insists Arsenal are in the market to bolster their squad during the January transfer window, but will only do so if they

can find the right quality of player.

The Gunners have been linked with a string of players across Europe, with Lyon playmaker Yoann Gourcuff and West Ham midfielder Mohamed Diame the latest rumoured to be on Wenger ’s radar, while a new contract for Theo Walcott is expected to be pushed through shortly.

With the club set to see new commercial deals kick in following their £390million move to Emirates Stadium and with plenty of cash in reserve, resources which were further boosted by last summer ’s sale of captain Robin van Persie to Manchester United, Wenger insists Arsenal will be able to invest heavily in the playing staff.

after the 2010 World Cup, has given his approval of the style of play Benitez is trying Ramires to incorporate at •Benitez Stamford Bridge.

The Blues star said: “It’s a new style but Ramires backs adapting well. He’s an Chelsea boss Benitez we’re excellent manager who knows a lot about football razilian midfielder and watches every Premier Ramires has come out League match and knows in support for beleaguered everything about all the other interim boss Rafael teams.

Benitez at Chelsea, “He’s great tactically and reports the Daily Mail. always thinks every game The 25-year-old, who has through which is important for scored 10 times in 78 us if we’re going to do well league appearances for and win titles.”

Chelsea since arriving

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013 —31

We'll create wealth through indigenous technology

Etisalat, Alcatel sign deal to boost quality of service

BY EMEKA AGINAM

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OMMITTED to in vesting in its network for the highest possible quality of service to its subscribers, one of the mobile phone providers in the country Etisalat Nigeria has signed another agreement with Alcatel-Lucent.

This is the sixth phase of the agreement between the two companies, a working relationship that dates back to 2008 when Etisalat Nigeria entered into an agreement with Alcatel Lucent for the provision of Establish Operate and Transfer Services for the establishment of a Public Mobile Cellular Service in Nigeria for Region 2 of its network which comprises Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Kwara, Ondo, Ekiti, Edo, Kogi and Delta states.

Speaking on the new development, the Chief Executive Officer of Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Steven Evans described the contract signing as a mile-

zMr Steve Evans, CEO, Etisalat Nigeria stone towards the company’s drive to continually upgrade its network to provide better services to its customers around the country.

“This is a significant milestone as we move into the next phase of our network roll-out. We plan to increase our cell sites by an additional 1,000 in 2013 and this agreement is towards achieving that target. We are happy to be partnering with Alcatel-Lucent, in fulfilment of our prom-

ise to continuously deliver quality and innovative services to our customers every step of the way," he said.

He explained that the agreement with AlcatelLucent is for the provision of equipment and services for the expansion of its network in the above states. “This agreement being executed is for phase 6 of the project and it is for the further expansion and strengthening of the net-

work in the region. Under this phase 6, Alcatel is to build additional sites and provide the necessary equipment and services for the integration of the sites into the Etisalat Nigeria network,” he further revealed.

Similarly, Amr ElLeithy, President of Alcatel-Lucent's activities in the Middle East & Africa, Turkey and Azerbaijan said: “This new agreement further strengthens our longstanding relationship with Etisalat covering numerous projects, and demonstrates their confidence in our ability to build, deliver and deploy end-to-end complex networks with strong local expertise and support capabilities.

'We are committed to supporting Etisalat’s growth in Nigeria and ensure world class services for its customers, and we look forward to continuing our successful working relationship into the future.”

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BY EMMA ELEBEKE

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Best practices to secure the mobile enterprise ness amongst employees is often the leading factor impacting the security of mobile data.

Many employees simply aren’t aware of the mobile security risks and corporate policies associated with mobile devices, such as storing corporate data, customer information or access to business applications.

Personal mobile devices – The consumerization of IT brings forth another layer of complexity as more employees want to leverage their personal mobile device for business

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to provide a platform for farmers, YOUWIN beneficiaries, researchers, manufacturers of agro-processing machineries and equipment and other stakeholders to interact for their mutual benefits and overall economic development of the nation, to evolve a strategy to reduce the high incidence of postharvest losses in the agricultural sector and to stimulate the establishment of a linkage between industry and research institutions.

Speaking on the importance of the programme, the DIRECTOR General of National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion, NOTAP, Dr.Umar Bindir said over 200 research organizations is enough knowledge infrastructure to move Nigeria to the next level. He said most of what they are doing are either on the shelf or in the backyard., which cannot translate to growth if the are not showcased.

‘‘This function is attempting to connect this knowledge components with industry. To do this is a valley of debt and in this valley of death you need a bridge to cross it.

You need people to know what had happened, we need to produce quality things, do them at the right price and package them well. ‘‘This event is bringing stakeholders together, demonstrating to the world that Nigeria is ready to fly and we will fly. We the technology promoters will not stop until we see that other countries of the world come here to learn,’’ he added.

Dr. Bindir also disclosed that the Federal Executive Council, FEC had approved a national research and development fund as part of efforts to encourage indigenous technology and development. In addition, he said Nigeria had began to see the emergence of venture capital, risk funding and people who are interest to look at technology that is available in Nigeria.

Teasy bids for space in mobile money market kind without the need to

BY SCOTT EMO

OBILE devices have infiltrated nearly every aspect of people’s lives. The amount of personal and corporate data stored on these devices makes securing the information on the device a priority.

A survey conducted in January 2012 by Dimensional Research explored the impact of mobile devices on information security in corporate environments, noting that 94 percent of companies have seen an increased number of personal mobile devices, such as smartphones or tablets, connecting to corporate networks.

Increased employee productivity and mobility are the main benefits for organizations that allow these devices in the workplace, but those benefits come with their own set of risks.

The threats associated with mobile devices can come in many forms, including: Mobile operating system – Every OS, including Android, iOS, BlackBerry and Windows, comes with their own set of security challenges. Threats can originate from mobile apps, the mobile browser, as well as insecure Bluetooth and Wi-Fi hotspot usage.

Employees – that the lack of security aware-

Continues from Page 23

purposes. While companies begin to accept the “BYOD” (Bring Your Own Device) trend, there are significant concerns about the privacy of sensitive data stored on the devices that IT must handle.

The first step businesses should consider when safeguarding against these security challenges is developing and enforcing best practices and corporate policies for the mobile enterprise.

This should include a list of approved devices that can access corporate

Many employees simply aren’t aware of the mobile security risks and corporate policies associated with mobile devices, such as storing corporate data, customer information or access to business applications

data, the types of data that can be stored on mobile devices and taken out of a corporate environment, which types of mobile apps can be downloaded onto devices, procedure for theft or loss of a device, a routine for updating operating systems patches, requiring mobile passwords, as well as having the capability to wipe a lost or stolen device.

Mobile device usage in the workplace is a trend that has staying power because it untethers employees from their offices, allowing them to work more efficiently while on the go. As with any emerging trend, organizations will need to be careful about striking the right balance between mobility that empowers employees and the new security concerns that arise from it. zScott Emo is the Head of Endpoint Product Marketing at Check Point Software Technologies.

EWLY licensed mobile financial services provider in Nigeria, TeasyMobile Money has expressed readiness to provide mobilemoney services according the regulatory mandates and help improve access to basic financial services through the use of the ubiquitous mobile phone.

The firm said it is currently positioning to enter the exciting mobile money space in Nigeria and deliver value to the ecosystem.

According to the Managing Director, Musa Ali Baba “We are delighted to have finally obtained the necessary licensing from the regulator and are set to launch commercial activities on the Teasy mobile money platform which is powered by an industry leading mobile financial services platform provider, Roamware. The platform will enable Merchants, Agents, Agent Banking providers, financial institutions, subscribers and other players in the ecosystem use a simple, secure and proven platform to conveniently conduct basic financial services, wherever they are ontheir mobile phones of any

visit a Bank.”

‘We have strong compelling reasons to believe that we can add significant value to the Nigerian market which is still significantly unbanked.

According to theEFInA Access to Financial Services in Nigeria 2012 Survey, “62.6 per cent of adult males are unbanked while 72.8 per cent of adult females are unbanked. In Nigeria while 76.2 per cent of the rural population had no bank accounts. With the partnerships that we are building, we are set to tackle these issues head on’ “We note seriously the financial inclusion strategy of the CBN and believe that Teasywill be known as a trusted driver for financial inclusion,” said Ali Baba.

Director Finance and Corporate Planning, Shehu Yahaya Shantali, added that “Our aim here in Teasy is not just to provide a mobile money product to our customers but a solution that would effectively change their lives. We aim to provide low cost financial services in Nigeria, especially to the unbanked. The growth in mobile money use is expected to benefit many sectors of the Nigerian economy, thus contributing to national economic growth."

32—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

Cadbury Bournvita promo produces another set of winners

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Sam Ohue, Manager, Sweet Sensation Opebi; Kemi Adewole-Ojo, AGM Front Operations; Managing Director, Sweet Sensation, Mrs, Kehinde Kamson; Hadza Baba (winner, Sweet Sensation 365 Days Free Meal Promo); Mr. Olatunji Kamson, Executive Director and Yemi Yusuf, Head, Marketing, Sweet Sensation during the official presentation of the 365 days Free Meal Voucher at Sweet Sensation Head Office, Opebi.

BY PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

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IGERIAN Bottling Company Limited (NBC), bottlers of the Coca-Cola brand of soft drink in Nigeria, has partnered with Ogun State Government, through ‘Uplift Development Foundation’ - the pet project of the Wife of the Governor, Ms. Funsho Amosun, to empower low income women in the state.

This gesture tallies with The CocaCola System’s global ‘5by20’ programme meant to empower five million disadvantaged women entrepreneurs, empowering them through the Coca-Cola value chain by 2020. NBC kick-started the 5by20 programme empowerment of over 100 low income women across Nigeria in Ogun State by providing 50 beneficiaries with product capital, coolers and basic sales training

NBC, Ogun partner to empower women skills. The initiative will help create sustainable livelihood for the beneficiaries and this is expected to have a ripple effect in enhancing the quality of life of their families.

Mrs. Adeyanju Olomola, Head, Public Affairs and Communications, NBC, at the commissioning of the initiative in Abeokuta, said: “NBC is in partnership with Ogun State for the ‘Uplift the Needy Initiative’ because it has long recognized that the wellbeing of its

Diamond Bank plans capacity building for Nigerians

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IAMOND Bank Plc has reiterated its resolve to encourage productivity amongst Nigerian youths through sponsorship of capacity building, learning and extra-curricular activities.

Speaking at a Diamond Bank sponsored youth development seminar, which was part of the 2012 Calabar Festival, Mrs. Ayona Trimnell, Head of Corporate Communications, said that the Bank’s decision to sponsor the programme was informed by the bank’s commitment to capacity development especially amongst the young Nigerians.

Said Mrs. Trimnell,”Diamond Bank will continue to support initiatives that promote productivity among styouths in Nigeria through educational and extra-curricular activities.Our underlying objective is the need to engage youths positively

to reduce delinquency and involvement in societal ills. This has seen us make huge investments in various youth-empowerment programmes.”

The Diamond Bank sponsored Youth Development Programme was designed for youth between the ages of 16 and 25 years and with the aimofincreasing their capacity towards personal and career development.The event commenced on December 3 and closedwith a graduation ceremony on December 22, 2012 at Old Residency Muson, Calabar.

About 100 youths participated in the programme and were awarded certificates of participation.

Diamond Bank’s sponsorship of the programme comes to join a number of similar sponsorships aimed at helping Nigerian youths develop adequate capacity for leading successful lives.

communities and stakeholders is integral to the company’s wellbeing.

NBC strives to be a partner for the social and economic development of its communities through various empowerment programmes that are jointly developed and implemented by the communities.”

She commended the enterprising nature of the indigenes of Ogun State and thanked the First Lady of the State for the opportunity granted NBC to implement the company ’s 5by20 programme. “The goal of 5by20 is to cultivate the spirit of enterprise such as that of Ogun State indigenes by empowering them through our value chain. Basic sales training for the beneficiaries was facilitated by NBC’s Sales Academy in December 2012,” she further added. By20 is an ambitious program of the Coca-Cola Company that seeks to enable the economic empowerment of 5 million women entrepreneurs across the Coca-Cola value chain by 2020. The program leverages opportunities that exist in our value chain and assists these women overcome the barriers they normally face in enterprise.

By providing access to business skills, financial services, assets and support networks of peers and mentors, 5by20 is helping women succeed as entrepreneurs, while also creating thriving, sustainable communities.

Mrs. Funsho Amosun, wife of the governor of Ogun State, thanked NBC for the partnership with her Uplift Development Foundation to empower indigenes of the state and promised that the initiative will be sustained to ensure more people from the state are empowered in the future.

ITH three more draws to end the Cadbury Bournvita Yummy Life promo, two mores millionaires in a separate draw bringing to eight the number of millionaires so far produced in the ongoing promo.

The produced four N100,000, N250,000 and two one million winners who were contacted on phone about their which was watched by promo regulators; Lagos State Lottery Board and the Consumer Protection Council (CPC).

Speaking, Marketing Manager, Food Drinks, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Chioma Afe expressed satisfaction with the excitement that the Cadbury Bournvita Yummy Life Promotion is generating among the consumers by making life yummier, more exciting and providing a superior life with the different cash prizes, free recharge cards for their phones and 10% extra free products on the 450g and 900g Cadbury Bournvita jar purchased.

Heineken unveils new bottle

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EINEKEN larger marketed by Nigerian Breweries (NB) Plc has unveiled its new bottle to consumers in Warri, Delta State. The beer noted for it’s quality packaging and content and for opening the world to its consumers could be recalled that NB held a World Premiere of the bottle in Lagos.

Speaking at the event in Warri, Mr. Hubert Eze, Sales Director, Nigeria Breweries Plc, said Heineken, has been an outstanding brand in Nigeria and the fastest growing beer brands in the country because of its unique packaging and retinue of distributors that ensure that the brand gets to the hands of its consumers wherever they are. He also revealed that the new world class and innovative bottle comes in 60 and 33cl content which is specially designed to match the premium quality that Heineken always delivers.

Assistant Brand Manager, Heineken, Mrs. Kehinde Kadiri, who spoke on the distinctive features of the new Heineken bottle, said “The new bottle has been uniquely designed to global standard.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013—33

Affected families lobby passengers to boycott Dana Air over safety STORIES BY RITA OBODOECHINA

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ORTY families of dead victims in the Dana plane that crashed in June 3rd, 2012 have called for a boycott of the airline by air travellers, following irregularities recorded in the compensation of the victims’ families.

Speaking through M.O. Awoyemi & Co. the law firm representing their interests, the families said, “If you love your life, boycott Dana Airline.

You owe it to yourself and your family. We want to call on all well meaning Nigerians to condemn the resumption of Dana Airlines and we call on the House of Representatives to summon the Aviation Minister, Mrs. stella Oduah on this issue and ensure that Dana Airline operating license is withdrawn in line with the resolution of the House of Representatives.”

Mr. Bunmi Awoyemi, Managing Partner of the law firm fingered Prestige

Assurance Plc and its reinsurer of 70 per cent of the risk, Pritchard Insurance Limited/Lloyd’s of London in the irregularities associated with the compensation, blaming them for instructing their solicitors to pay only $30,000 per family, irrespective of whether the families lost more than one person in the crash.

According to him, only 13 of the 40 victims have been paid $30,000 per victim, while only 80 victims’ family members

From left: Mr. Taofik Ajisebutu, Regional Sales Manager, Lagos , Fidson; Mr. Fidelis Ayebae, Chief Executive Officer, Fidson Healthcare recieving award from Mr. Lekan Balogun, Divisional Manager Lagos,Fidson Healthcare, during the award ceremony. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

have been paid any form of compensation.

“Many of the 80 include families which lost multiple members of their families to the crash. For such families most of them were paid $30,000 per family instead of the mandatory $30,000 per victim in order to discourage them from suing in the United States.

“They deliberately want to postpone the remainder to be included with the balance of $70,000 they are offering in order to make victims family members sign off their rights to a law suit. They are doing this despite the fact that the Civil Aviation Act makes the payment of $30,000 per victim mandatory and payable within 30 days of any fatal air crash.

“This action is being perpetrated by Prestige Assurance Plc and its Reinsurer of 70 per cent of the risk, Pritchard Insurance Limited/Lloyd’s of London, who have instructed their solicitors to pay only $30,000 per family which explains why the Oyosoro’s and Ibe’s were each paid $30,000 each instead of $60,000 despite the fact that they each lost two family members each. As of today only one more of our remaining clients have been paid.”

STI upgrades IT infrastructure to drive profitability

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OVEREIGN Trust Insurance Plc, STI, has upgraded its core information technology infrastructure to enable it drive its new business model, deliver cutting edge services to its customers and ensure a sustained improvement in its top and bottom line financial figures.

According to a statement by the company, in order to meet all the functional specifications and technical capabilities as required by its teeming customers, all necessary enhancements have been made on its Eskadenia Software to accommodate the recent changes and ensure the successful execution of the new business model.

Mr. Lekan Oguntunde, Head, Information Technology and Strategy, said the company is positioned to tap and optimally utilise for the

benefit of stakeholders, up-todate technology, which is expected to yield plethora of opportunities in areas of increased dividends as well as create cost effective measures.

According to him, the company has identified 21stcentury technology as the hallmark and arrow-head of any successful business, which was what informed the company ’s adoption of second-to-none business application software in the insurance industry known as Eskadenia in 2009 with several upgrades over the years to ensure seamless world class service delivery to the teeming customers of the underwriting firm.

He said, “Any forwardlooking organisation must have real time, cutting-edge technology at the fulcrum of its business

operations and that, is what Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc has adopted in pushing the frontiers of its operations beyond the shores of the country.

“STI is indeed committed to creating a world-class organisation in every sense of the word. More than ever before, the company is set to drive the implementation of its new business model by employing cutting-edge technology to shore up its operational efficiency.”

Commenting further, Oguntunde said that the Eskadenia Software was developed using an objectoriented programming language which was designed to automate the general insurance policy life cycles of the company ’s customers, reduce operational gridlock, enhance job quality, maintain up to-date historical data on

all businesses generated while ensuring high level of customer confidentiality and security.

Also speaking, Mr. Wale Onaolapo, Managing Director/Executive Officer, said that the newly adopted business model will latch on greatly on the benefits of the 21stcentury technology in enhancing the performance and the profitability of the organisation in creating wealth for the various shareholders.

He maintained that STI will continue to provide insurance and financial risk- based management solutions that will strategically position the company as a market leader in the insurance industry and consequently impact on the fortunes of its teeming customers.

BRIEF

Health insurer earnings may dodge flu impact

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EALTH insurer balance sheets for the fourth quarter will largely remain immune from the strong flu season sweeping the country, according to analysts Incidents of flu in the final quarter of 2012 reached their highest level since 2009 and were 51 percent higher than the last quarter of 2011, Susquehanna Financial Group analyst Chris Rigg said in a Friday morning research note.

That can stir investor worry about lower profitability because insurers haven’t set aside enough money to cover an influx of medical claims, especially from expensive hospitalization cases.

But Rigg also noted that the flu has a limited impact if any on long-term results.

He said, “We see no reason to hit the panic button if a given concern posts (earnings per share) below expectations due to the flu,” .

The analyst said insurers like Aetna Inc., Cigna Corp., UnitedHealth Group Inc. and WellPoint Inc. should meet fourth quarter expectations or slightly exceed them.

UnitedHealth becomes the first insurer to report fourth-quarter and full-year results on Jan. 17.

New York Gov introduces workers’ compensation reforms

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ORKERS’ compensation reforms introduced by New York Governor,Andrew Cuomo, include plans to help the state’s employers by selling bonds to finance claims costs left by about 30 failed group selfinsured trusts.

This is as part of the governor ’s 2013 State of the State report, which says the Governor ’s plan to reform workers compensation and unemployment insurance through legislation will produce $1.3 billion in savings for employers.

The Governor’s call for new reforms drew applause from the Des Plaines, Ill.-based Property Casualty Insurers Association of America for making workers compensation reform a continuing priority.

“Governor Cuomo has shown, both through ensuring the full implementation of the 2007 workers compensation reforms and through his continuing efforts to ensure that workers compensation works both for the employer and the worker.

34—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY,, JANUARY 16, 2013

MERGER OF OPPOSITION:

The prospects, crisis and confusion ahead

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HE venue was Pro National Conference Organisation, PRONACO, Secretariat Lagos, while the event was the hosting of members of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, who were visiting the leadership of PRONACO. On hand to welcome the visitors, who were led by a former Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Balarebe Musa, along with other members of PRONACO, was late Chief Anthony Enahoro.

Given that the 2007 general elections was less than one year away, it was not a surprise that the thrust of the visit centred on the polls. At the meeting, Enahoro told his guests, that their approach to national issues was not good enough, noting that nothing could be achieved

without unity of purpose.

For a Musa, who is known for his progressive stance, Enahoro’s admonition, was not something to be dismissed with a wave of hand, hence he went back to Kaduna and wrote a letter to the octogenarian to that effect. In the letter, Musa, who at the time was the of chairman of the CNPP urged Enahoro to convene a meeting of all parties and associations, that were opposed to the ruling PDP. Subsequently, the Mega Summit Movement, MSM, or better still Mega Party Movement, MPM, was born.

Failed alliance ahead 2011: It was easy for the MSM to attract a lot of political heavyweights, since it was a period when notable politicians were fighting various political battles with then

President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The movement under the leadership of Chief Olu Falae was born and several opposition politicians across the country that included Alhaji Atahiru Bafarawa, General Muhammadu Buhari, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Alhaji Lawan Kaita, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Alhaji Sule Hamma, Senator Suleiman Salawudeen, Professor Pat Utomi, Femi Falana, Maxi Okwu and Chief Rasheed Shitta-Bey met at different times in this respect.

There were also subsequent parleys by other politicians, with the primary aim of realigning under a one political party that could contest elections on a mega political party platform. Despite the history of failure such initiative, had before this period in Nigeria, not a few gave it a benefit of doubt. For instance, the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, perhaps, saw little light in it when it reported a story on it with the title: Nigeria’s opposition ‘to unite’.

The BBC report which was reported on Tuesday, March 24,

2009, read thus: “Opposition parties in Nigeria have agreed to unite to compete against the governing People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in elections due in 2011. The 19 parties are forming what they describe as one megaparty to challenge President

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WITH a history replete of prospects, but devoid of selfless drive to achieve set objectives, Nigeria’s opposition are once again forging an alliance to confront the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, at the 2015 general elections. CHARLES KUMOLU examines the workability of the move against the background of the historical failure of the opposition in this regard.

Opposition at it again ahead 2015: While this failure, which was generally seen to be driven by the individual interests of the proponents, is still fresh in the minds of many, the opposition are at it again. “The progressives led

by ACN were already meeting with others such as the Labour Party, LP, Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA and Democratic Peoples Party, DPP for the purpose of forming the mega party. By a kind of metamorphosis, the political parties involved which have radical politicians in their rank and file, would do everything

When good people start mixing up in such unholy alliance they end up digging their own grave and burying themselves

Umaru Yar’Adua.

Heavyweights are involved including former presidential contenders Atiku Abubakar and Muhammadu Buhari, who also led Nigeria after a coup in the 1980s.’’ However, like a pack of cards, this alliance which featured All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, the Alliance for Democracy, AD; Action Congress, AC, among others, did not achieve any remarkable result as the three arrowheads, Buhari, Tinubu and Atiku, failed to agree on various aspects of the proposed party.

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possible to ensure the growth of democracy in the country,” said former Anambra State Governor, Chris Ngige.

Parties that have shown commitment to the merger include the Action Congress of Nigeria of Nigeria, ACN; the Congress for Progressive Change,CPC; and the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP. Other parties being courted to join the merger or alliance train are All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA; and Labour Party, LP. Already, parties have Continues on page 35

Vanguard , WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY,, JANUARY 16, 2013— 35

The prospects, crisis and confusion ahead Continues from page 34 begun to constitute committees to ensure hitch-free merger talks aimed at forming a new formidable party to face the PDP in 2015. The ACN, the ANPP and the CPC have gone ahead in this regard.

At the moment, VanguardFeatures,VF, checks revealed that though the opposition failed to meet in Abuja last week as scheduled, the parties met separately to discuss proposals for a unified constitution, logo and a new name for the proposed coalition.

Legal grounds for merger: It was further gathered that the momentum, the moves had gained recently, might not be unconnected with the Independent National Electoral Commission,INEC, deadline, which specified that parties are allowed to merge less than 90 days to the general elections.

Accordingly, Section 84 (6) of the 2010 Electoral Act said: “Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2) of this section, no merger of political parties received by the commission less than 90 days before any general election in the country shall be considered by the commission.”

Section 84 (2) of the Act also stated thus:“Political parties intending to merge shall each give to the commission 90 days notice of their intention to do so before a general election.” Also, Sections 222 to 225 of the 1999 Constitution, said political parties cannot approach the commission for re-registration or registration

counterproductive. Saidi told VF: “History has shown that it never worked in Nigeria in the past.

And as a civilised people, we are bound to learn from history, because George Santayana, an American philosopher postulated that those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it. But we should also realise that despite the historical reasons for us to dismiss it, it should be given a chance. So, I refuse to join those, who feel that it might tread the old patterns of the past.”

ATM transactions stressful as banking over the counter in PH Tinubu

Buhari polls not arise, would the individual interests of the leaders of CPC and ACN as claimed, not frustrate the plans among others, have continued to agitate the minds of political observers.

Evil alliance: On the strength of these puzzles, a former governorship candidate in Anambra State, Mr. Emeka Etiaba, told VF that, “unfortunately it will not not work because in Nigeria people tend to kick against the person in power and not the system. It is the right step in the right direction if you want to have a credible opposition but in Nigeria people kick against the person in power instead of the status quo because they want to be in power.

A situation were the people who are in opposition see themselves as the only solution to the nation’s problem, they will always have difficulties coming

All the the groupings that are coming together against our people will fail.

Have they not done the grouping in the past? What is dangerous is when good people start mixing up in such unholy alliance

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as another party. Specifically, Section 222 stipulated that, “No association by whatever name called shall function as a party, unless the names and addresses of its national officers are registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The membership of the association is open to every citizen of Nigeria irrespective of his place of origin, circumstance of birth, sex, religion or ethnic grouping.”

“Even in the face of this constitutional backing, there is a lot of apprehension across the land on the matter, particularly among those who strongly believe that the individual interest of the proponents of merger, would kill the moves.

Hence questions such as: Has the opposition critically evaluated the problems of mega party and why the need to merge these political parties now, would controversy over who flies the party’s flag at the presidential

Rain Assembly was evasive, as he noted that he only contested alongside Buhari in the elections.

However, that this is coming from a supposed member of the opposition, VF findings indicated, has added more doubts on the workability of the proposed merger.

But the Director General of Centre for Governance and Democracy in West Africa,|CGDWA, Professor Abdullahi Saidi, dismissed fears that the current realignment of the opposition, would be

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together.

“If you look at the major parties, you have mentioned in this merger talks, their leaders are not those, who will take the back seat while others selflessly wrestle power from the ruling party. They will always want to remain at the centre at the expense of what they ought to have achieved as a strong and virile opposition. So, I know that they will make efforts as they are making currently, but I doubt if it would yield results.”

Supporting the argument with the last attempt at merger, Etiaba said: “In 2011, it happened between ACN, CPC, ANPP and others. Because the vision is not to solve the problem of one party state in the country, it failed. It happened like that because they all want to be the one to call the shots. So in any endeavour in life, vision determines the success. So there are two things, it is either they are driven by the vision to take over power from the PDP and offer credible

leadership or the vision to just grab power for individual or sectional interests. Nigerians behave like warlords and the opposition act like that also.

Every political party has a war lord, the question now to ask is if the various warlords in these parties are willing to give way for the emergence of the best among all the parties?

“It is very difficult because some people would insist that they would produce or produce the candidate for the party at the presidential elections and it will not not. The much I know is that, there is need for a virile opposition the prospects of the merger producing good result is difficult because of the type of politics we play.”

Opposition, a problem to itself: Etiaba’s position also found support in a 2010 report by the Committee For the Defence of Good Governance and Accountability,CDGA, which observed that, “the opposition in Nigeria constitutes a problem to itself, given that its goals and aspirations are sectionally and individually guided. This is one aspect of Nigeria’s democracy that is helping the ruling Peoples Democratic Party to reign unchallenged since the restoration of democracy in 1999.”

The vice presidential candidate of the CPC at the 2011 general election, Pastor Tunde Bakare, also believes that the merger is ill-conceived. Bakare, who made the comment last Sunday while briefing newsmen, described the proposed merger as an unholy alliance, noting that it would fail.

He said: “All attempts to corner the resources of the people of this country and not because they want to do anything for this country, is such that will fail. All the the groupings that are coming together against our people will fail. Have they not done the grouping in the past?

What is dangerous is when good people start mixing up in such unholy alliance. They will dig their own grave and bury themselves.”

Efforts were made to ask Bakare, if he was still a CPC member at the press breifing. But the Presiding Pastor of the Latter

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

P

ORT HARCOURT - CHAR ITY Emeriwen, a Port Harcourt resident, in her early forties, had her mind made up to spend last Christmas week in Warri, Delta State, her place of birth. All set to leave town Wednesday of the week before, she had only some cash draw in one of the second generation banks where she does more of saving and no withdraws.

From her predominantly residential Marine Base neighbourhood where there is no bank close by, she had rushed to the popular Lagos Road in Port Harcourt City where her account is domiciled. A pole to the bank, she was greeted by long, snaking queue of customers extending rapidly. “God of mercy” she had exclaimed as the last man on the queue explained, “This is ATM (Automated Teller Machine) line and don’t even consider going in over the counter. It’s jammed and stuffy in there.”

Frustrating queue Not really disposed to regular use of the ATM, she had moved on to the next of many bank branches that lined the road, hoping the frustrating queue at her bank was just one bad isolated case. Her next stop staged a longer queue on the ATM. Uncertain about what the next trial might present; she took a turn on the queue. Five customers before her in the enervating wait for her turn, the man at the cash dispenser was taking an abnormally too longtime to finish his transaction.

“Wetin again-o” the next man in line had asked the man on the machine. “I really don’t un-

derstand”, came the response frontline. “Machine said please wait while your transaction is processing, suddenly it became “machine temporarily unable to dispense cash. The worse is my card won’t come out”, the frustrated customer grumbled. In frustration, Charity like many others on the queue left home angrily. She returned a little after dawn next day to get her cash over the counter before making her Warri bound journey a day later than planned.

Machines fast losing the “quick service” relevance Charity’s experience tells the pains and frustrations ATMs constitute for Port Harcourt residents lately. Over the past Yuletide, it expectedly got worse with the increased bank withdrawals. Mr. Joachim Akore, a chartered accountant told Vanguard Features, VF, that “What is happening is a case of increasing number of persons doing ATM against non proportionate provision of more machines.”

According to the financial expert, “When the ATMs were introduced in the Nigerian Banking system, it was greeted by profound apathy by the predominantly ignorant customers coupled with the frustration with delay in procuring a transaction card. The few who embraced it enjoyed the quick self service. Today, with an ATM card issued within minutes of request, everyone is joining the bandwagon. The frustrations with the long queues tell us we do not have enough ATMs machines.” He noted that in Lagos, improved security has encouraged proliferation of ATMs in almost everywhere outside the banks making the convenience of using the machines less worrisome.

36 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013 —37

2013 Armed Forces Remembrance Day

President Goodluck Jonathan laying wreath at the 2013 Armed Forces Remembrance Day, in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: State House

Gov. Akpabio of AKwa Ibom State marching toward the Cenotaph in Uyo.

Col. Micah Gayya (rtd), Chairman, Nigerian Legion, laying wreath, in Abuja.

From left: Mrs. Gloria Oladoke, Acting Chief Judge of Osun State, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori, Osun State Deputy Governor, Colonel Alimi SalamOtu (rtd), Osun State Chairman, Nigerian Legion and Colonel Gbenga Adeyemi, Commander, Engineering Regiment, Ede, Osun State.

Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State, with the wreath, inspects the parade, at the Murtala Muhammed Square, Kaduna. Photo: Olu Ajayi.

Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, who represented the Governor, about to lay a wreath in Lagos.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun inspecting the Legion, during the guard of honour. Photo: Wumi Akinola

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State inspecting guard of honour mounted by by the detachment of the Nigeria Army, Air Force and Navy, in Asaba. Photo: Henry Unini

Mr. Ignatius Langjan, representative of Plateau Governor, releasing pigeons, in Jos. C M Y K

Air Commodore O.A. Idowu, Commander, Nigeria Air Force Detachment, Ibadan, laying wreath on Gov. Oshiomhole ready to lay the wreath, in Benin. Agodi Cenotaph, Ibadan. Photo: Shola Oyelese Photo: Brnabas Uzosike

38—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

His mistress threatens to dump her child with us!

Will I find sex too painful?

Dear Bunmi, I HAVE recently left the religious organisation I worked with for close to eight years and I now attend an orthodox church. I have never had a sexual relationship and my fear now is that my vagina is so narrow it would be painful to have a sexual experience.

Could you please let me know

if there is any treatment generally available for this kind of condition?

Martha, By e-mail

Dear Martha, It is very sensible of you to seek advice at this time to help ensure that your first sexual experience has every

My fiance wants us to wait for sex!

Dear Bunmi, I’M in my mid-20s and my boy-friend of two years and I will be getting married soon.

Now that we’ve set a date, I told him we should start having sex. But he wants us to wait until we’re man and wife before we make love properly. My worry is that, if the sex is bad after we’ve married, it will eventually drive us apart.

Nikki, By e-mail

Dear Nikki, In the past, few people had sex before marriage. And

though I don’t think you’re wrong to want sex now, I don’t think he’s wrong to want to wait either. It’s a bit worrying, however, that you both disagreed on an issue as delicate as sex. Being incompatible in your sexual values can be a sign that perhaps you’re not suitable long term.

I suggest you go for counselling with a set-up that has a religious backing but is suitable for couples with no serious religious beliefs, so you and your partner can talk through your very different ideas with the right support.

’

Your first step must be a check-up with your doctor or with any gynaecologist at a health centre near you

chance of being comfortable and successful. Your first step must be a check-up with your doctor or with any gynaecologist at a health centre near you. The doctor will assure you it’s very normal and sensible to ask for a routine check which is a simple and painless examination. This will establish if the vagina is narrower, as you seem to think.

Unless you’re already in or approaching the menopause, there’s really no reason why this should be the case despite your not having had any sexual experience.

If the doctor finds the vagina has hardened, narrowed or lost elasticity, which happens to many women once the ovaries begin to fail, the condition can be rectified with either hormone cream or tablets, or both. Many women at the menopause go onto an HRT course, not only to relieve flushes and sweats, but also to keep the vagina youthful and intercourse comfortable and rewarding.

Don’t be alarmed by the scare connected with HRT as research has shown that prescribed correctly, using both hormones (oestrogen and progesterone) which stimulate the natural female hormone pattern, there’s no increased risk if used for a reasonably short period.

So see your doctor. If your hymen is still intact and you fear the pain of penetration, your doctor can break it to avoid any possible embarrassment on your first intercourse.

’ of control!

She’s out Dear Bunmi, MY youngest child is just over 20 and is in the university. All of a sudden, she’s wearing so much make-up, it makes her look like a tramp.

She has really nice eye-balls but you can hardly see them because of the heavy mascara she wears. She wears a lot of weird lipsticks and her hairstyle has so much colouring and heavens-know-what-else to it that I feel she might go bald.

I’ve tried talking to her but she told me that’s the way her friends behave. We are a decent Christian family and I don’t want her to be out of control.

My husband tells me to ignore her as she would change only if she wants to.

I’ve seen people stare at her and make nasty remarks, especially about the skimpy clothes she wears. It is sad to see a decent daughter turn into a rebel.

Fadekemi, By e-mail

Dear Fadekemi, Your husband is right though. Once a girl starts down the road of cosmetic alteration, she may find it hard to turn back. Without her armour of make-up and skimpy gears, your daughter might be tagged an out-cast by the

peers she’s emulating. She sees herself as a glamour puss and finds comfort in the attention she’s getting.

If you want her to change, why not talk her into both of you having a make-over?

There are loads of girls her age doing this and if it is a professional showing her what to wear and how to wear them, she just might listen to her instead of you.

You’re worried because her looking like a tart seems a reflection on how badly you’ve brought her up. But this is not so. Believe me, she is doing her thing and this phase will definitely pass.

Dear Bunmi, SOME few weeks back, the telephone in the house rang and I picked it up, expecting a call from a business associate. You can imagine how shocked I was when a sobbing woman came on, demanding to speak to my husband.

He was right beside me so I gave him the phone and watched him splutter into it, trying to pacify the caller. He then confessed that it was a woman he’d been seeing, who had a child by him and who was now threatening to come and dump the child on our doorsteps.

Apparently, he’d fallen back on his child support money and the woman was at the end of her tether. He said he was sorry, that the affair was over but that the child was definitely his. I don’t know what to make of my marriage now. We have been married for over 15 years and have two children.

Ebele, By e-mail.

Dear Ebele, As terrible as this blow obviously is, if you want your marriage to recover, then it can. A lot depends on how much you still love your husband. It sounds as though he is a weak man, unwilling to face reality and tempted to take the easy way out.

If you have always suspected this of him, then you may be able to see how this affair resulted in a child.

But if you’ve never viewed him this way, and the affair has come as a total shock, you’ll have to ask yourself how well you really knew him.

Now that you’ve found out the type of man he could be, you may find you don’t much like him. With time, your heart would subside, but you need to talk about what remains of your relationship.

Remember an innocent child is involved here and this is facts-facing time.

I don’t find sex exciting Dear Bunmi, I’VE been with my fiance for over three years and we have an adorable little boy. My problem is, I’ve never got turned on by my fiance, or any man, ever. Now, he’s upset because we haven’t had sex for months and I’m afraid of telling him why I’m off sex.

Bimbo, By e-mail

Dear Bimbo, This really isn’t your fault.

By the sound of it, you have

what therapists call primary sexual dysfunction, so it’s very difficult for you to enjoy sex. Your best bet is to confide in your partner. He’ll find it much easier to sympathise and be supportive if he knows you have a problem, rather than thinking you’re rejecting him.

But you need to get help.

See your doctor to rule out any medical problem. He will then put you on to a therapist who will help you to get to the bottom of any emotional issues.

Will he leave his married lover?

Dear Bunmi, I’VE been going out with this man for eight months now, but he’s also dating a married woman. He insists they’re not having sex, but he admits he loves her, and that if he didn’t, he would be free to love me. Should I stick with him and hope it’ll just fizzle out with the other woman?

Ini, By e-mail

Dear Ini, Even if things do fizzle out between your man and his married lover, you’d still always be second best. If a man is not prepared to give up another woman for you, then he doesn’t love you and never will. Love is when you’re the most important person in your partner’s life. Dump this love rat now and find a man who is focused only on you.

Share your problems and release your burden. Write now to Dear Bunmi, Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos. or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

Vanguard Vanguard,,

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 TAURUS: THE Moon fluctuates as it moves out of your star .

That is why you will need to guard against confusion likely to be caused by others.

GEMINI: THE Moon position INFLUECES YOU TO BE COME AGGRESSIVE which is capable of bringing unnecessary argument and avoidable confusion. To before warned is to be fore armed.

CANCER: EARLY morning blues will affect many people today (yourself inclusive) but luckily for you, things will go according to your plans. And you will need to be more careful with money.

LEO: THE Moon fluctuates early in the morning. And if care is not taken you would promise more than you can actually deliver to the resentment of others. Yet, you’ll win.

VIRGO: BEHIND-the-scene-activities are sources of avoidable trouble especially before mid-morning period when influence of the moon’s fluctuation will last. Avoid inordinate ambition.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

LEISURE

YOUR LUCK TODAY

— 39

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

A

GREAT thinker once wrote that words are the forerunner of our action.

People first hear us talk before they see us act our talk. It is what we say that first captures their attention and ensure that they give us audience.

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

TERROR MUDA

chances are that you will have a very low followership. This is where ability to speak and communicate appropriately comes in.

It is not enough to know it, the question

in “Never say goodbye”

is can you convince people that you know it?

Talking to people is a skill everyone of us should develop. The leader, the marketer, the politician, the manager etc we all need the skill.

Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

LIBRA: IT’S important you don’t allow your thought for and/ or about the future derail your plans for the present so that success will not elude you. Romantic attractions along your career/business lines may become stronger sooner than you think.

SCORPIO: EARLY morning blues will affect many people around you meaning that not everybody-morning period especially along your career/business lines.

SAGITTARIUS: MAKE sure you perfectly understand what you are doing within your working arena before mid-morning period or else costly mistakes would be made. Be tolerant.

CAPRICORN: TOMORROW is your day. Therefore you are advised to leave some important decisions and/or action till tomorrow when the heaven will smile at you. Your love life is favoured.

AQUARIUS: TOMORROW will prove more challenging.

Thus, if there are things you should do now, you better don’t contemplate procrastination as you are likely to be stretched full lenght tomorrow. Watch with you tell others early in the morning.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

PISCES: AS the moon fluctuates early in the morning some people may promise more than they can actually deliver. And if you take them for granted, you would be disappointed.

ARIES: CERTAINLY some people will get on your nerves yet you must not over-react at least because of the immediate future. Truly thus is the wrong time to gamble with love.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

What are my chances?

Dear Joshua,

KINDLY analyse my star and tell me about myself especially my luck.

I want to know about my love life, social life and how to become successful in life. I have seen people who are close to me became big success without much struggle from them. Would my own be like them too?

Francis, Ibadan.

Dear Francis, You are different to those you said came by success: in your own case you will need to work hard and earn success.

It is important you watch and take practical precaution about inability to hold on to your gains for long. Some times unexpected assistance use to come your way at 11th hour.

Your being friendly with the influential personalities especially WOMEN will help your finance greatly speculative (and) venture is not the best for you.

Your magnetic personality makes it difficult for members of your opposite sex to the betterment of your love life.

Luckily for you, you know how not to allow your rugged/rigid personality to harm your love life; you are a sweet lover, although can be argumentative some times. Love happiness indicated for you.

If you can analyse both your environment and social situation, you will have more to gain from social activities more than it’s attendant pressure.

You will need to drop unnecessary rebellious approach when dealing with your social life; although what looks like radical approach can earn you a few number of friends who may not be in position to assist you.

Many people love your gentle approach and will be willing to assist you especially the more influential personalities. Once again women can be helpful here If you expect easy success, you would be frustrated because Saturn-the planet of delay, frustration but greater reward after much struggles, was with the sun (basic-self-hood) when you were born. Thus it will not allow easy success. And at the same time will not deny you whatever you deserve.

The same Saturn will reward you with RECOGNITION WOMEN, children and younger people can enhance your prospects. Colours RED, WHITE and pink are good for you. Sleeping North/South axes with your head to the North is good for you.

VIRGINIA

Commen3

dadadekola@yahoo.com

by Lawrence Akapa

40—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY,, JANUARY 16, 2013

JAMB: We admitted 18.45% of candidates — UNILORIN VC

I

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

L ORIN—VICEChancellor of the University of Ilorin, UNILORIN, Professor AbdulGaniyu Ambali, yesterday, said that only 18.45% of the candidates who applied for admission in the last JAMB examination were offered.

Speaking at the matriculation ceremony of the university, Ambali then urged the lucky students to be dedicated to their studies which was their primary assignment in the university.

He also asked the new students to shun acts capable of jeopardising their stay in the university.

The Vice Chancellor said: “Dear matriculating students, when you want to pluck the flowers, please mind the thorns.

When you want to enjoy the fruits of hard work, you should know how to avoid trouble. Trouble begins from violating the university rules and regulations and climaxes in you forgetting what brought you here.

“I urge you to familiarize yourselves with the university handbook on rules and regulations and digest it’s contents. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse. The university has zero tolerance for indiscipline.”

Pope Benedict XVI, (middle) with Chief and Mrs. Tony Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Chukwu, carrying the Oblata for the year 2013, at St. Peters NIMASA (left), congratulating Deputy Director, Public Affairs, NIMASA, Hajia Lami Tumaka, during the birthday organised Cathedral, Vatican City, Rome. by her departmental staff in Lagos.

Sen Owie faults Obasanjo on corruption

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

B

ENIN—A FORMER Sen ate Chief Whip, Senator Roland Owie, yesterday, said that former President Olusegun Obasanjo had no moral right to speak on corruption in Nigeria. He said that Obasanjo institutional-

ised the corruption crisis confronting the nation.

Owie, who was apparently reacting to a statement credited to Obasanjo, where the former president reportedly said that the level of corruption in the country was rising, while President Goodluck Jonathan’s government was

not doing enough to stem the tide.

Owie, who said this in a statement, called on Obasanjo to stop playing to the gallery.

He said: ‘’My attention has been drawn to Obasanjo’s sermon on corruption in USA. It is shocking that OBJ can still talk about corruption in Ni-

Ex-militants pledge support for Uduaghan, JTF

BY EMMAAMAIZE

W

ARRI—FRESHLY dis armed militants in Delta State, under the aegis of the defunct Niger-Delta Liberation Force, NDLF, have promised to work with the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Joint Task Force on the Niger-Delta and the Federal Government to ensure that peace and security are maintained on the waterways of the state.

The ex-militants in a state-

ment, jointly signed by “General “ Peter Dolouediowei, secondin-command to NDLF founder, the late “General” John Togo, and secretary, Wayas Ebi, extolled Governor Uduaghan and Special Adviser to the President on Niger-Delta, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, for promoting peace and stability in the Niger-Delta region.

They acknowledged the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Comrade Ovuouzorie Macaulay, and Special Adviser to the governor on security mat-

ters, Admiral John Kpokpogri (rtd) for the role they played in the peace process that led to voluntary submission of arms by them in Warri, last month.

They also applauded the Commissioner of Police, Delta state, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba and member of the defunct Delta Waterways Security Committee, Chief Boro Pudu for their efforts, but called on Uduaghan and Kuku to expedite action on the promises, especially rehabilitation and security of jobs that catalyzed the voluntary disbandment and demobilization by the group.

Obi decries prolonged war against Boko Haram Conference

T

HE United African Methodist Church, UAMC, will hold its 72nd annual conference at Iyafin, Badagry from Friday, January 25 to Tuesday January 29, 2013 with the theme “Abiding in Integrity.”

Over 500 delegates are expected to attend the conference from the church branches both in Nigeria and the Republic of Benin just as series of events have been lined up for the conference.

They include dedication of a new church building by His Royal Majesty, De Wheno Aholu Meno Toyi 1, Akran of Badagry and Prince Segun Olusegun, Lagos State Head of Service.

C M Y K

L

BY DOTUN IBIWOYE

AGOS—SPECIAL Ad viser to President Goodluck Jonathan on InterParty Affairs, Senator Ben Obi, has lamented what he described as the prolonged war against Boko Haram insurgents in the country, pointing out that the war would have been over if the anti-terrorism bill,had been signed into law to curb terrorism in the country.

Obi who spoke in an interview with Vanguard yesterday, also reiterated President Goodluck Jonathan’s statement that the Federal Government was winning the war on terrorism.

He further said, ‘’Nobody ever imagined that we would get to a stage in Nigeria, when people would tie explosives around themselves and blow themselves up. When I was in the Senate,

which I had to battle in court for two years after my mates were sworn-in June 2003, I introduced two bills - The establishment of the anti- terrorism emergency and eradication of terrorism. And I gave my own reasons why these bills should be passed. ‘’There is a tremendous improvement in the fight against terrorism and the bar will be continuously raised.”

Bomadi PDP crisis: 3 exco members fault alleged suspension of party boss

B

OMADI—THREE ex ecutive members of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bomadi Local Government Area chapter, Delta State have disassociated themselves from recent media reports of the botched suspension of the council party chairman, Mr. Pius Labo.

Mr Fun-akpo Narebor, Exofficio; Mrs Kano-Ere Kios,

Woman Leader and Mr. James Ogori, Ex-officio in a statement, alleged that their signatories were fraudulently used in the purported suspension order without their consent.

They said: “We want to say publicly that we were not privy and not party to any meeting were such a decision was taken,” adding the deci-

sion would be unconstitutional as the executive had not been inaugurated.

Thy denied the report, urging aggrieved members to employ dialogue rather than ‘pull him down syndrome’ noting that there was no crisis in Bomadi PDP to warrant the suspension of the council party chairman.

geria when his government was responsible for corruption in Nigeria. Nigerians should remember that the foundation for corruption was laid in Nigeria when the Military Regime of Murtala/Obasanjo regime removed, with immediate effect, public servants, majority of whom were dedicated to their fatherland. As a result that act, public officers realised that their tenures were no longer permanent and corruption entered the public service.”

HOSTCOM suspends PRO

W

BY EMMAARUBI

ARRI—HOST Communi ties of Nigeria producing Oil and Gas, HOSTCOM, Delta State chapter has suspended the National Public Relations Officer, Dr. Mike Emuh, for six months for allegedly meddling in the administration of the Isoko chapter.

It also endorsed the continuation of the Evangelist Gabriel Isibeluo-led executive as representing the Isoko ethnic nationality as its tenure was yet to expire.

Endorsing the suspension of Bishop Emuh, Isoko leader and statesman, Senator Francis Okpozo, a patron of HOSTCOM, Isoko chapter in a report submitted to the national body said the actions of Dr. Emuh in the internal crisis leading to the setting up of a parallel executive with Mr. Lucky Odiri Akpode as new chairman of HOSTCOM Isoko chapter were “misconceived and mob in nature without regards to the constitution of Hostcom, hence promoting anarchy for personal gain.”

National Chairman of Hostcom, Chief Alfred Bubor; Delta State Chairman, Mr. Benjamin Iwetan and Secretary, Mr. Simon Asite in announcing the suspension, said that Emuh is barred from all activities of the organization, warning that any acts of violation would lead to his summary dismissal.

Vanguard, WEDNEDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013—41

C M Y K

42—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

Are Nigerians bac k tto o dar k da ys back dark days of visa processing?

PRIOR to the advent of outsourcing visa applications to agencies such as VFS Global, Nigerians were made to go through hell just to procure their travel documents. It was almost normal for applicants to be treated like nobody, left under the sun and most often, return home unattended to.

Many, however, heaved a sigh of relieve as soon as VFS Global came on board.

At least the very large crowd around most embassies has since reduced, but one cannot comfortably say at the moment that it is uhuru because a large number of Nigerians who have attempted to obtain travel documents to travel to countries that have outsourced their visa application processing to VFS Global have disclosed harrowing experiences at the visa application centers across the country.

A close observation of what visa applicants are made to go through, a few metres away from one of the VFS application centres at the Lekki end of La-

C M Y K

gos, was more than enough to describe how frustrated and tortured they feel.

On daily basis, applicants are made to queue and wait outside the VFS building, until such a time when the officers are set to admit and attend to them, not considering how harsh the weather was. I was not long gone where I stood when I saw a young man, who later introduced himself as Matthias, arrive the gate of VFS global.

Brimming with hope, as I noticed from his countenance, with a broad smile, Matthias

,

BY VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU

gerians are facing in the hands of those managing visa application processes on behalf of some of the Foreign embassies in the country, Mathias who was at the centre to process a visa to South Africa, let out a rage, saying it is improper for Nigerians to become secondclass citizens in their own country.

In the past, applicants usually had to travel from their locations to major cities in the country to be able to submit visa applications and attend visa interviews. In a case whereby an applicant has no relative or

To have scaled through such experiences to obtain a visa was worthy of giving a testimony in church with attendant songs of praise

alighted from the car that brought him, but in a quick turn of events, he became unsettled having to behold the ugly scene that embraced him.

Fuming with anger over the diverse unkind treatments Ni-

,

friend to put up with, he or she has to lodge in a hotel, thereby, incurring more expenses.

Applicants were expected also to show up on the day of visa interview as early as 7am at the embassy, standing either under

the sun or in the abundance of torrential rainfall, without seats or shelter to provide rest or shield, and were kept under this unkind condition for as long as they had queued for admission into the embassies.

The unkind treatment did not end there as applicants would have to repeat the same proceedings to pick up visas, which is the case sometimes. Some of them are denied visa to compound their woes. In view of the foregoing therefore, to have scaled through such experiences to obtain a visa was worthy of giving a testimony in church with attendant songs of praise and sometimes a dramatic dance to underscore the prestige that comes with obtaining visa to travel abroad to an unknown destination.

Unknown destination But thanks to Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who during her tenure as Minister of Foreign Affairs, made efforts to ensure that all foreign embassies and high commissions in the country treat Nigerian visa applicants with dignity over visa applications, as they would expect their nationals treated.

Underlying threats deciphered: Hitherto, visa applications processes were made easier and more dignifying to Nigeria applicants, as almost all foreign embassies provided receptions or sitting areas for applicants, in order to cut down

on waiting time.

The United States embassy for instance, sectioned their interview schedule by giving applicants different times for interviews and also provided online booking for visa procedure and or securing interview dates, which to an extent, was able to reduce applicants’ stress.

Hence, many other foreign missions joined suit and applicants were provided with options to choose from, which range from the choice of coming to the embassy in person, collecting of passport by proxy or returning of processed documents to applicants by mail.

These embassies’ compliance with the Nigeria government directives saved applicants the stress of having to travel back to cities they had applied for collection of their processed documents and or having to sleep at embassies to obtain visa application.

Refusing of Nigerians visa: Keeping tab on the foreign missions compliance, Nigeria Minister for foreign affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, also cautioned the foreign missions on the disrespectful manner in which they often refuse Nigerians visa, even with full evidence to show that they have provided the embassies’ stipulated relevant requirements to qualify for visa issuance.

He had also declared that if refusal of visa must take place, it should be done with dignity.

To be continued consularadvisory@vanguardngr.com

Vanguard, WEDNEDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013—43

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44—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

quarters as having refused to wake up from their slumber. eParliament was one of the major ingredients of Tambuwal’s Legislative Agenda when he assumed office in June 2011.

I n f o r m a t i o n reaching Vanguard clearly indicates that work is at an advanced stage on the project within the NASS Complex. The e-parliament when installed would ease work for legislators particularly those among them that hardly enter the chamber.

Petroleum Industry Bill

•House of Representatives in session

Tambuwal’s headaches as Reps resume today

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

S

PEAKER Aminu Tambuwal of the House of Representatives may not always sleep with his two eyes closed this year given that there are more than enough challenging issues to engage him and the House this year.

E

VEN in this era when many public office holders have profaned public office, a recent development in Katsina State would have shocked many.

The wife of the governor of the state, Hajiya Fatima Shema was reported to have issued a letter sacking Hajiya Hadiza Ibrahim, a female councillor in Matazu Local government area of the state from office.

The action provoked immediate controversy on cyberspace with the theme “Power drunk first lady sacks councillor.”

The letter terminating the election of the councillor reportedly issued on the instruction of the Katsina Iron Lady entitled “Termination of Appointment” and dated December 27, 2012, read thus: “I am directed by the Office of Her Excellency, Hajiya Dr. Fatima Ibrahim Shehu Shema, to issue you this letter of termination in view of your unkindly like misconduct and behavior.”

Remarkably, no constitutional provision was given for the

THE House of Representatives resumes from the yuletide break today with the scars and scandals of the last year still on the agenda.

One major issue he must handle is the repositioning of the 89 standing committee chairmen who have largely performed below expectation.

Of the 89 committees only 14

could score above average as some were glaringly invisible in the last 18 months. A source close to the leadership of the House who pleaded anonymity said that some of the chairmen

POLITICAL METABOLISM with

EMMANUEL AZIKEN detritetradetoxifiedpolitics@gmail.com SMS 08052201189

An Iron and Fisty Lady directive from Mrs. Shema.

However, further reports claim that the sack of the female councillor followed an altercation between her and the wife of the chairman of Mutazu Local government area.

It is not difficult to decipher that the first lady of Mutazu local government area would have reported the incident to Mrs. Shema who reportedly turned against the councillor.

Whether the two Matazu women, the local government first lady and the councillor, exchanged blows has not been disclosed. But the local first lady, was, nevertheless embarrassed by the challenge

from the elected councillor leading to the annulment of her election by the unelected Katsina First Lady.

The development in the state is only an escalation of the rascality that the First Lady syndrome has been stretched into in these shores.

It is even remarkable that the woman who has caused this is married to Dr. Ibrahim Shema, a lawyer and urbane gentleman who in his days before his election was known for his humility. Whether power has entered into the governor is something this correspondent cannot confirm, but it would not be too difficult

rode on the back of their godfathers to get appointed into juicy committees but today the leadership knows better and may be amenable to adjusting the composition of the committees.

The remaining 75 committees as at the close of business last year are viewed in some given the toxicity of power in this country.

It is, however, reassuring that Governor Shema was quick to dissociate his administration from the predacious inclinations of his spouse.

Government officials were quick to restore the councillor to her office within days. Their response nonetheless, the action of the first lady inevitably casts a shadow on her democratic inclinations.

That an unelected individual, man or woman, beast or beauty, living at public expense could strip a democratically elected councillor of her powers is confounding and denigrates the very tenets of democracy.

This nauseating pollution of our democracy is, however, not totally surprising. Wives of elected public officials have taken the country hostage, appropriating in the bedroom, powers that they were never so given in the constitution.

Now, a First Lady would make donations of money and other tangibles without a disclosure of how and where they are sourcing the funds

The Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB is another proposed legislation that may tear the House apart if not properly managed. The drums of war have started to echo and there are indications that the House may dance to the tunes of regional beats. If the north throws its weight against it, then the bill may have to wait for the eighth Assembly for passage. It would be recalled that during the dying days of the sixth Assembly, the bill was dumped.

The current leadership has so far steered it’s wheel against such an ugly development.

Maintenance of financial transparency has been one major area that has given the House leadership a lot of headache. When a group of legislators raised their voices

Continues on page 45 from.

The pretentious poise of the First Ladies at all levels must be addressed and it behoves their husbands to in the first place call them to order. But the husbands have remarkably, failed in directing their spouses unto good behaviour. Across all tiers of government, the first ladies have transformed into monstrous deities who have carved out their separate shrines for personal glory and worship.

Like their spouses, they monopolise government aircraft, vehicles and resources for personal runs that make scorn of government accountability. Many have gone forward with the establishment of the Office of the First Lady, and that, backed with public funds.

Many of these women forget the injunction that a good name is better than riches.

Remarkably, they would also not have heard of the original Iron Lady, Baroness Thatcher who did not ride on her husband’s back to become an Iron Lady. It is a shame.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013 —45

SENATE:

Clouded future

PUBLIC expectations should have been high as the Senate resumes from the yuletide break today, but issues of yesterday continue to scar the prospects of the David Mark Senate.

BY JOSEPH ERUNKE

J

UST before proceeding on the seasonal vacation, the lawmakers had passed the 2013 budget of the Federal Government, an unprecedented act in the annals of the fourth republic.

However, what little triumph or goodwill from the legislature, is today fouled by the foot dragging on the part of the executive in giving assent to the budget bill.

Nigerians had in the past watched the two arms of government trade blames over the delayed passage and implementation of the budget. So it is an irony that the singular milestone in passing the budget before the commencement of the fiscal year has now become tainted as it seems that the aim of fast-tracking the budget may not be realisable.

The feat helped by the efficacious lobbying of the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Joy Emodi, is now about to be scared given the dithering procrastination of the president to sign the bill.

Besides the budget, many other issues of national interest await the lawmakers as they reconvene.

Out of the 163 bills the Senate

•Mark: Challenging year ahead received between September and December, 2012, only five were passed, leaving others either untreated or at various stages just as only 15 resolutions were passed within the period under review.

The bills duly passed into law included the 2013 Appropriation Bill, National Automotive Council Act (Repeal) and Re-enactment Bill 2012; Terrorism Act (Amendment) Bill 2012 as well as Prisons Act (Repeal and Re-

•Emodi: Helped to steer the budget

enactment) Bill, 2012.

Among the issues eyes are fixing on the senate to anxiously handle include the report on the Dana Air crash, fuel subsidy probe and the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB. Eyes are especially focused on the Petroleum Industry Bill given the raucous debate on resource allocation in the polity.

While the Northern governors, through Northern senators are set to strongly oppose the PIB

as presented, the Southern states and in particular, oil producing areas as well as the Minister of Petroleum Resources are set to back the comprehensive industry bill.

There are also prospects for the passage of a spending bill for the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC. While the debate on the PIB will further polarize the Nigerian society, given its nature, the reopening of debate on the SEC

Commission, SEC, Ms Arunma Oteh. The issues arising from the Hembe affair led to the indictment of Ms Oteh and the House resolution on her ineligibility to hold the top position in the apex capital market regulatory body.

The House is now locked in a face-off with the administration over Ms Oteh leading to the nonappropriation of funds for the commission in the 2013 budget. It is an issue that will inevitably shadow affairs between the two chambers this year.

The gas sector of the Nigerian economy is one area the House has vowed to x- ray this year. It is said that since operations started in that sector no kobo has been remitted into the federation account.

Vanguard reliably gathered that the House is not happy as a lot of underhand dealings are going on in the sector.

The fragile relationship between the House and the executive arm of government is also a challenge to Tambuwal. Legislators who spoke to Vanguard had

•Tambuwal: Still contending with last year's issues

Tambuwal’s headaches Continues from page 44 last year to know the state of the House’s coffers, they looked stupid as Tambuwal was found to have lived above board.

During the executive session, a principal officer painstakingly and exhaustively explained the state of the House finances. The rumor then was that there was an impeachment plot against Tambuwal. It is believed in some quarters that lack of financial probity dented the image of the sixth Assembly irrespective of whatever good works that were achieved.

It was learnt that some of the legislators who raised their eyebrows in this direction were those who collected huge loans of up to N200 million but forgot about repayment. Some bought cars worth N25 million and even refused to invest the money.

Farouk Lawan/Femi Otedola saga This is one report that is dangling like the Sword of Damocles over the whole House. The allegation of

bribery raised against Alhaji Farouk Lawan by Femi Otedola was one of the lowest points of the House last year as it considerably denigrated the image of the House in the eyes of many Nigerians.

The decision of the House to investigate the allegation that Lawan and a committee clerk collected $620,000 from Otedola to compromise the report of the House investigations into the subsidy scam was seen as a way of redeeming the image of the House. However, more than two months after the report of the House ethics committee on the issue is yet to receive consideration.

Oteh/Hembe face-off

Similarly, the House is also faced with the challenge of resolving the crisis brought on by the allegation of extortion made against the former chairman of the House committee on Capital Matters, Herman Hembe. The allegation of extortion was made by the director-general of the Securities and Exchange

repeatedly said there is no rancor between both arms.

Another explosive issue awaiting the lawmakers upon resumption is the investigation into the petition written

by Capital Oil and Gas management that was not concluded last year. All these notwithstanding, Tambuwal’s panache and patience may help him. After all, the speaker is reputed to know all members by their first names.

by the Senate with a view to approving funding for the commission may pitch the senate against the House of Representatives which had earlier insisted that unless President Goodluck Jonathan sacked Ms Arunma Oteh as the SEC Director-General, it would not approve any budget for the organization in the 2013 fiscal year.

“The president submitted to all of us and to the National Assembly along with the National budget, the budget of the statutory corporations. And this is one of the things we will give priority to as we resume,” Senator Ita Enang, one of the leading senators told newsmen recently.

Another critical issue the Senate would look into is the constitution review. Senator Enang had recently confirmed this when he said, “it is expected that the on-going Constitution Review process having progressed from senatorial districts and state levels hearings to the zonal public hearings, we will receive the reports, then analyze them and progress to findings and conclusions on sections for amendment, for submission to the floor for consideration”, adding, “we bear in mind the time-table set by the Constitution review Committee”.

Pension task team One issue again, which the Senate would have to confront as it gets back to business from today is that involving the Chairman, Pension Task Team, Alhaji Abdulrasheed Maina.

Maina had consistently failed to appear before the Senator Aloysius Etok’s led Committee on Establishments to explain his role in the controversial depletion of the pension funds. The Senate President, David Mark, had waded into the issue with a warrant of arrest on Maina, through the Inspector General of Police but to no avail.

Whether the Senate which had seen the development as a slap on its face will allow the matter to permanently die down or prove nobody is above its order, is what people wait to see as the senators reconvene.

Others issues that will not be delayed in considering are the Public Procurement Act, the 2013 budget of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, as well as the Nigeria Police Reform Trust Fund Bill.

Others are the bills he listed were Federal Universities of Technology Act (Amendment) Bill, 2012; Public Procurement Act No. 14 2004 Amendment Bill, 2012; Crimes Against Humanity, War Crimes, Genocide and Related Offences Bill, 2012; Nigeria Police Reform Trust Fund Bill, 2012; National Economic Intelligence Committee Act (Repeal) Bill 2012, FCT Appropriation Bill and NDDC 2013 Appropriation.

46— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

in our family,” lamented 26year-old Ezra Chikere.

Decrying the woes that has befallen his family, Ezra continued; “Since the council of elders’ verdict over the land, peace has ceased to exist in our family. It is either we are burying a member or we are battling to save someone’s life in the hospital, all because we refused to surrender our inheritance.

“My uncle has confronted us several times to evacuate our father ’s property if we valued our lives. When my mother was alive, he confronted her and threatened that if she did not vacate the Okpula land in the next one week, that she would not live to see the week after.

“He made do his threat, as my mother woke up one morning and started sweeping the compound.

Reptile-like animal •The land and house (inset) under dispute.

CRY OF A BEREAVED MAN:

Help! I have lost four members of my family to land dispute T

REPIDATION has gripped members of Chikere family of Ngwa community in Abia State over what they described as mysterious happenings which has claimed four members of the family.

First was in 2011 when the breadwinner, Mr. Chikere Isih was snatched by death. Just as the family was recovering from the grief and vacuum created by his demise, death came again uninvited in April last year. This time around, it took away Mrs Chikere.

Again, in September 2012, it claimed the lives of two members of the family;the eldest son, Ejiofor who was in his thirties and Chukwudi who was in his twenties, with the cause of their death still shrouded in mystery.

There is, however, a twist in the whole saga as the family has attributed the calamity that has befallen them to the hand-

iwork of some mischief makers who are bent on taking their father ’s land from them.

Crime Guard’s investigation revealed that there had been a lingering dispute between the Chikeres and a member of their extended family over a land in Okpula. The land, said to be originally owned by one Nwaogaraya Isih, Chikere’s father, was inherited by the latter after the former’s demise.

Lasting solution to lingering war In order to find a lasting solution to the lingering war, it was gathered that a council of elders from Nchara and Ngwa communities met on March 14, 1983 and at the end, resolved that the land in question was rightly owned by the Chikeres.

But the dispute reportedly arose following claim by a female member of the Isih family that she contributed to the

purchase of the land and thus had claim over it.

According to a member of the council of elders in Ngwa who spoke under condition of anonymity, “ during the meeting, the Chikeres were directed to refund the amount the female member of the family contributed to the purchase of the land. A copy of the decision reached during the elders council meeting reads; “This day, March 14, 1983, the decision made by the council of elders chaired by Mr Kanu Isih,states that the Okpula land is owned by Nwaogaraya, father of Chikere and as culture demands that the sons will inherit their father’s property, since Chikere is the surviving son of Nwaogaraya, the land therefore belongs to him and that every member of the opposition party should stay away from the land. But since they claimed that their mother contributed 10 shillings to Chikere’s mother when the land was redeemed from Ng-

wuba Ubani by Arocha. But since they are not the biologi-

,

BY DONALD ARJI

“But the next thing we heard was a shout and when we rushed out to see what was happening, we found her on the ground, screaming that a reptile-like animal crept into her legs. Immediately, her legs were swollen and she died later. Five months later, I lost two of my brothers.

As if that was not enough, just last month, we were served a notice to quit the land, that it had been sold. We were made to understand that another uncle of ours sold the property, including the land to a different buyer. Now they want us to leave our ancestral home, a house built by my father,without considering whether we have an alterna-

Since the council of elders’ verdict over the land, peace has ceased to exist in our family; it is either we are burying a member or we are battling to save someone’s life in the hospital

cal children of Nwagowugwu Nwaogaraya, they are therefore to collect the 10 shillings from Chikere and quit the land for ever.”

Despite the council of elders’ verdict, a member of the opposition family has allegedly continued to threaten the Chikeres over the land.

“Since the elders declared the land a no-go area for the opposition family, death has become a recurrent decimal

,

tive.

“I am therefore using this medium to appeal to the Abia State Government and the entire Nigerians to come to our aid because my uncle is bragging with charms and his financial might to take what rightfully belongs to us,” he said amidst tears.

Efforts to speak with the uncle in question through phone was to no avail as he refused to reply the text messages sent.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013—47

Stories by EVELYN USMAN

T

RAGEDY struck recently in Ibeshe area of Ikorodu, Lagos, after two children were found dead inside a car. One of the children, Olamipo Oluwaferanmi Kadiri, who was two years and three months old, was the last child of a management staff of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority, LAWMA while the other child, whose identity could not be ascertained, was a niece who only came visiting during the yuletide season.

Crime Alert gathered that the family resides at Oworo, Bariga area of Lagos. But they usually visited Ibeshe, where they just completed a building of their own, during weekends and festive periods.

Collection of car keys During one of those visits, the older child who was barely four years old reportedly collected the car key from where it was kept in the sitting room and accompanied by little Olamipo, made straight for the garage where the car was parked.

She reportedly opened the car, went inside with Olamipo and shut the doors with all windows wound up.

Meanwhile, back in the sitting room, Mrs Kadiri reportedly called out on both children when she did not hear their voices for about an hour.

A search as gathered, was con-

•Olamipo during her 1yr birthday

•Olamipo

Two children found dead inside a car ducted round the bedrooms apparently thinking they might have slept off in one of the rooms.

But apprehension set in when the children were not found.

Crime Alert gathered that as the search was extended out-

side the sitting room, a member of the search team screamed on sighting the children inside the car, motionless.

They were reportedly rushed to Lagoon Hospital where unfortunately, they were confirmed dead.

A resident of the area who spoke on condition of anonymity said; “We were attracted by the shout. But no one could go into the compound because they are new people. Besides, they are not permanent here.

It was later we heard that two children died of suffocation in-

NSCDC arrest 560 suspects over employment racketeering • arrest another syndicate for masquerading as Commandant-General’s aides

R

ECENTLY, job seekers patronized cyber cafes in their numbers to fill online application for recruitment into the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC. In the process, some of them reportedly paid an unspecified amount into designated bank accounts while others made physical payments to some persons acclaimed to be consultants to the Corps.

But indications are that the online registration done on the following websites; w w w. n s c d c . w a p ka . m o b i; www.federaljob.com; www. ministryofinteriorrecruitment.com and www.nairaland.com, was a mere device to extort money from prospective job seekers.

So far, the Corps said it had arrested a total of 560 suspects in connection with the nefarious act. Among the arrested

persons was a separate syndicate of three members who masqueraded themselves as the Commandant-General’s aides.

Spokesman for the Corps, Okeh Emmanuel explained that the arrest was made following disturbing reports on employment racketeering. “ Worried by this report, the Anti-graft section of the Corps intensified efforts in unveiling those behind the shady business.

It is on this basis that the Corps decided to work hand-inhand with the EFCC and ICPC to clamp down on fraudsters who are internet scammers and impersonators defrauding applicants of their hard earned money.

The Corps’ dragnet in tracking down fraudsters using her name to defraud applicants yielded positive result as luck ran out on a three-man syndicate who impersonated the

Commandant-General’s aides claiming to be staff of the Corps.

The gang comprises one Mr. Wilfred Ahatuamen who is the principal suspect and claimed to be an aide to the Commandant-General with one Miss Grace Benedict, his girlfriend who also claimed to be the Commandant-General’s Secretary alongside Ikechukwu John who is one of the accomplices.

The said group collected the sum of N280,000.00 from one Mr. Bojor Bobori under false pretense that they were going to offer him job in the Corps and he is to pay the balance of N20,000.00 when the appointment letter is issued to him.

The corps said that the said persons have been interrogated and will be handed over to the EFCC for further interrogation and prosecution in order to demonstrate transparency and

sincerity to those with contrary views, misconceptions and misguided opinions, who have at one time or the other written against the Corps’ credibility with a view to denting her image, that the Corps’ integrity is intact and thus it cannot be traded for any paltry sum in the name of employment.

Also, the Corps had earlier arrested over 560 suspects out of which 135 suspects have been successfully prosecuted.

It is worthy of note that the handing over of the suspects to sister agencies such as EFCC and ICPC is to assure Nigerians of the Corps’ incorruptible stance and to prove that if other agencies can assist in prosecuting them, it will prove the Corps’ sincerity in handling the issue of employment scam within the system.”

side their car. We were also made to understand that the children could not open the door to come out because they apparently touched the car remote. Nobody could tell whether they screamed or not, or whether they tried to open the door. But you know as children, they might not know the implication of being shut inside the car. It is an unfortunate incident that is difficult to imagine.”

Another close family friend who also spoke on condition of anonymity described the late Olamipo as an exceptional child.

“That child was an intelligent child. She was always fun to be with. She was extraordinarily intelligent.

Had she been alive, she would have been a star to be reckoned with. That is why her parents are really devastated by the tragic incident. Her mother especially, is yet to come to terms with the rude shock of her daughter ’s demise.

She is really in a bad shape right now. Although Olamipo was the third child but she was indeed the family’s favourite because she always brought smiles to everyone’s face.”

Effort to reach the LAWMA manager failed as Crime Alert learnt she was yet to resume as at Monday.

48—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

MIDWEEK SERMON

with SAM EYOBOKA sameyoboka@yahoo.com

Why the Church must emphasize discipleship, integrity —Pastor Ose Imiemohon Pastor Ose Imiemohon, the presiding pastor of the Brook Church, Calabar, says the Church needs to place more emphasis on discipleship and integrity for the country to move forward.

Excerpts from an interview with WALE AKINOLA:

P

ASTORS have their differ ent philosophies and guiding principles. Some are prosper-ity preachers while others preach holiness. What is yours?

The philosophy of this ministry simply is, ’live your message’, and the message is; the ways of God expressing itself through recreated human spirit of a believer.

How did your call to ministry come about?

There was no extraordinary thing, or esoteric happening; it was first by getting God’s voice straight in your heart in a particular direction which happens to most Christ-ians. Mine was just like that; getting a clear voice in a particular direction for ministering. After that particular experience, there was the need for

me to confirm it, in the sense that I had a pastor with me then back in Port Harcourt. I was sent down to Calabar for a pastoral work in 1997, and within the period of time for confirmation.

I served for five years under Christ Chapel International Ministry. Thereafter there was the need for me to move on and that was how Brook Church began in 2002. The call is to minister the life of God which, in the Bible, is called Zoë and specifically to raise up people that will work in God-given purpose; to put it in simple terms, give meaning to life. We are not created to just try to sort out ourselves, God has a specific plan for each and every one of us.

What is your definition of integrity?

I choose to define integrity as un-broken loyalty to God’s Word. It means, be the example of what exactly you are preaching.

Can you tell us the importance of integrity to the Church and the nation?

Without in*Pastor tegrity, there will be no influence in the message. The best way to be a strong influence is to be an example and without integrity you cannot be an example and the more we have integrity problem, the less the influence of the message becomes.

Despite the proliferat-ion of churches in the country, the rate of corruption and fin-ancial crimes that do extensive dam-

Wale Oke urges govs to emulate Fashola

By OLAYINKA LATONA

N

of the faithful had been keeping the nation for the past years.

According to him, “criticism will not solve the nation’s problems, rather masses should continue to pray for our leaders. Let us stop critic-ising the government and one another and focus on rebuilding our nation through earnest prayers and I believe there will be total transformation in the country.”

Earlier, Bishop Abiodun Adeniji, the Sword of the Spirit Ministries bishop in charge of Lagos, explained that signs and wonders are products of God's favour which, he said, can only be acquired through the mercy and grace of God.

ATIONAL vice president of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, in charge of South West, Bishop Francis Wale Oke has urged other state governors in the country to emulate the sterling qualities of Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State.

Speaking during the church praise and wors-hip programme entitled: “Lagos Night of Signs and Wonders” at the National Stadium Suru-lere Lagos, Bishop Oke commended the efforts of the Lagos State governor, Mr. Fashola for trans-forming the state and the residents.

According to him, the country will experience a rapid transformation if other state governors take a

By SAM EYOBOKA cue from Gov. Fashola towards transforming and RACE Springs Vocational Centre was set up developing the nation. in January 2009 as an outreach of the The cleric also urged Nigerians to pray earn-est- Fountain of Life Church, Ilupeju in Lagos with inspiraly for the nation and the tion from Pastor Taiwo Odukoya to transform people's leaders, noting that critic- lives and create new opportunities for self development ism will not do the nation through high quality skill training designed to meet any good but instead com- their specific needs.

Such training is geared towards empowering econompound her challeng-es. ically challenged individuals, retirees, housewives, widOke explained that prayows and other adult learners to acquire knowledge, skills ing for constituted authorities was one of the great- and values for career enhancement and to increase est responsibilities of the employability where necessary.

The centre has since its inception trained about 734 masses and religious leadpersons in different skills in two separate programmes ers, lamenting that religious leaders were in the (February-June and August-December) in a year in cahabit of criticizing those in tering, beadcraft, jewellery, soap making, cream, textile design, hat making, tailoring and styling among other government.

He noted that the prayer skills. The seventh batch of students graduated from

T

Ose Imiemohon

age to the image of the country have not reduced. What would you say is respon-sible for this?

The Bible makes it very clear that our charge, first of all, is to go to the world and make disciples, with very clear emphasis on teaching them. I am very pained to say that we don’t have much of discipleship going on.

Disciple-ship is not just coming to church, it is a process. But we

HE Apapa District Superintendent of Assembles of God, Rev. Michael Ogunbola has charged Nigerians not to turn away from God, as the Lord had promised to make 2013 a great year, reports GABRIEL OLAWALE. He made the charge in Lagos, saying that God had promised to make this year a greater year only if we don’t turn away from Him. Ogunbola opined that the times are delicate and terrible when one needs to seek God like never before.

“We are in a terrible time,

don’t find that happening today.

If you bring that back, we will be getting somewhere in addressing some of these societal challenges. Most of the things happening have al-ready been proph-esized. But it is important that we begin to differentiate the right from the wrong. The key thing is live what you preach.

Paul said, "follow me as I follow Christ". We are not ordained to follow the ‘Word’ alone, the person should be an example of all he talks about.

What should we do to stem this ugly trend?

We should first go back to the basics of the scripture which is disci-pleship and then emphasize integrity. If you bring back these two things; influence will come back. You can’t reach people without influence and there can be no influence without integrity. It is just like selling a product that you know is defective. The first person who buys will complain to the other person. So when the man who is reputed to do business with God who should not lie begins to lie with impunity, some-thing is wrong.

How did your church celebrate the last Yuletide season?

We are not a program-oriented church. We are very clear and systematic in terms of training.

Our end of the year meeting was actually a very strategic one in terms of repositioning people to know why Jesus Christ was born.

He was not born just for merry making but also to redeem mankind from hopeless-ness and to put mankind back to that path of glory.

Turn to God, Nigerians charged the era of unmatch-ed wickedness and only those whose hearts are secured by the Word of God can escape the on-slaughts of the enemy,“ he stated.

Ogunbola posited that to enjoy peace and experience pleasure, we must be men and women who are rooted in God, adding "no preparation no great destiny." He noted that the only way to be secure in God is to let the crucifixion of Jesus redefine our commitment to Him. On his own part, the district trea-

Grace Springs Vocational Centre graduates 734

G

the centre last December with a charge from Pastor Odokoya to take advantage of the changing times to be relevant in the affairs of the nation.

According to the cleric, a time was when all one needed to succeed in life was to acquire a university degree and based on that thinking several persons all over the world "had to go back to school to get another degree and then another degree. Unfortunately, more degrees no longer guarantee one a job in the marketplace, because the jobs are not readily there."

What this points to, he reasons, "is the need for people to explore other sources of income, and one good way is to acquire some vocational skills."

He noted that that way, one will not only be employed, the one will also become an employer of labour and bring succour to others seeking employment, stressing that such was the reason the centre was set up; to provide training for those who, like the children of Issachar had understanding of the times and know what they ought to do in times like this.

surer, Rev. John Uuijiatalor disclosed that this year is going to be a new era as the Lord will do wonders in the lives of those that believe and put their trust in Him.

GKM predicts tribulation ARCHMINISTER of God's Kingdom Mission, Mr. Roland Ogene has said this present time would herald an impending tribulation and conflict that the world has ever known.

Ogene, in his homily during the 2012 Christian Feast of Tabernacles, charged Christians to understand the present times, adding that the close of this age that would bring an end to all evil in the world.

"No human war, no matter how sophisticated or destructive the weap-ons used can be compared to it. It will be worst than Noah's flood which destroyed only natural or earthly creatures. The destruction of Armagedd-on will be total and final both of evil in the earthly realm as well as in the spirit, visible and invisi-ble," he said.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013—49

Fashola denies receiving $15.7m loan for firefighting trucks

By MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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OVERNOR Baba tunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, denied that the state received $15.7 million loan from Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank), to purchase 32 firefighting vehicles for the state.

This came barely four days after the bank said that it had authorized a $15.7 million direct loan to the state government to underwrite the purchase of 32 American fire-fighting vehicles manufactured by W.S. Darley & Co. (Darley) of Itasca, Ill. Fashola who spoke while reacting to a recent publication (not Vanguard) after inspecting the Ikorodu road expansion project, Ikorodu, said “Lagos State government did not apply for any loan but what the State Executive Council approved was the purchase of 32 fire engines and other fire fighting accessories from W.S. Darley & Co. to aid the fire service officers in the state to respond effectively to fire disasters in Lagos.”

Etisalat Nigeria hits 15m subscriber base

By PRINCE OSUAGWU

E

TISALAT Nigeria, yesterday, announced that it has hit 15 million subscribers base at the start of business this year. This achievement, according to Etisalat, represents a market share of over 15 percent in just over four years of operations.

By that standard, the telecom company considers itself one of the most successful late entrant telecom companies globally.

Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr Steven Evans said: “at the beginning of 2012, we were moving towards 11 million subscribers. Now, 12 months later we have added four million active subscribers to our base, this is a phenomenal achievement. We have shown an innate ability to turn challenges into opportunities. With this mindset and our focus on quality, innovation and the customer, we have been able to listen, attract, reward, retain and expand our customer base over the last 12 months.”

Power privatization: FG confirms bank guarantees

BY CLARA NWACHUKWU

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HE Federal Government yesterday, Tuesday, confirmed the verification of all the bank guarantees provided by the preferred bidders for the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, successor generation and distribution companies.

The verification of the guarantees thus prepares the bidders for the final stage of government’s power privatisation exercise, which began since 1999.

The deadline for the receipt of the bank guarantees was Friday, November 23, 2012, at the end of which the National Council on Privatisation, NCP, confirmed that more than $33.58million worth of guarantees, representing 15 percent of the transaction value were received from the bidders for the distribution companies, DISCOs and the Generation companies, GENCOs. .

The sum was spread as follows: Discos submitted bank guarantees worth $188,476,306.00 Gencos submitted bank guarantees worth $147,378,680.15.

Confirming the verification of the guarantees in a statement made available to Vanguard, the Bureau of Public Entreprises, BPE, disclosed that by the bidders were now qualified to enter this last stage of the privatisation process, which had earlier been dogged with all sorts of controversies. Accordingly, the statement signed by Acting Director General of BPE, Mr Benjamin Dikki, indicated that the bidders were now free to enter into “the finalisation of negotiations with the Federal Government.” The breakdown of the bidders is as follows: DISCOs 1) Abuja Disco: Kann Consortium Utility Company Ltd $24,600,000.00; 2) Benin Disco: Vigeo Power Consortium - $19,350,000.00; 3) Eko Disco: West Power and Gas - $20,250,000.00; 4) Enugu Disco: Interstate Electrics Ltd - $18,900,000.00; 5) Ibadan Disco: Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing Ltd - $25,350,000.00; 6) Ikeja Disco: NEDC/KEPCO Consortium - $19,650,000.00; 7) Jos Disco: Aura Energy Ltd - $12,300,000.00; 8) Kano Disco: Sahelian Power Ltd - $20,550,000.00; 9) Port Harcourt Disco: 4Power Consortium - $18,636,306.00; and, 10) Yola Disco: Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing Ltd - $8,890,000.00.

GENCOs 1) Shiroro Hydro Power Plc: North-South Power Ltd $16,748,180.00;

2) Kainji Hydro Power Plc: Mainstream Energy Solutions $35,680,500; 3) Sapele Power Plc: CMEC/ EURAFRIC Energy Ltd $30,150,000.00; 4) Geregu Power Plc: Amperion Power Distribution Limited $19,800,000.15; 5) Ughelli Power Plc: Transcorp/ Woodrock/Sumbion/Medea/PSL/ Thomassen - $45,000,000.00 Meeting with bidders At a meeting with the bidders in Abuja earlier on Tuesday, Dikki, who assumed powers suddenly in November last year on the impromptu sacking of his predecessor, Bolanle Onagoruwa, told the bidders that the event was “a prelude to the commencement of finalisation of negotiations of transaction documents between the Federal Government and the preferred bidders. The end result of what we are starting today will be the execution of the transaction documents in a few days that will commence the process of eventual hand over of the successor companies to the core investors.”

While insisting on government’s determination to see the exercise through in “a few day”, he also used the opportunity to remind the bidders that it was imperative for them to make a down payment of 25 percent of the share sales purchase price within “15 business days after signing of the Sale and Purchase Agreement or the Shareholders’ Agreement, or at a mutually agreed earlier date.”

He said that it was after this down payment that the bidders will be issued with transaction documents.

“The fact that we shall be executing the transaction documents for all the

GENCOS and DISCOS, except Kaduna and Afam, attests to the success of this voyage and the commitment of the Jonathan/ Sambo administration to continue implementing reforms in the power sector and other sectors like the oil and gas, transport and the postal sectors in the dogged pursuit of its transformation agenda,” Dikki maintained.

He recalled that sequel to this stage of negotiations, the federal government had put in place many other measures to ensure the eventual success of the electricfity sector reforms, including; •An agreement has been executed by Government and Labour that guarantees the cooperation of labour in the handover process; •Government is working to raise the finance to effect payment of staff entitlements. Just last Saturday, Vice President Sambo presided over a meeting of Ministers and top ranking government officials to address the funding implications of the agreement; •Title documents to landed properties are being vigorously pursued. The BPE is collaborating with the Ministry of Lands and Housing to ensure resolution of land and property titles; •High level government organs are discussing the funding of NELMCO and the Bulk Trader in order to ensure financial stability of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI); •Bills falling due to the management contractor of Transmission Company of Nigeria(TCN) have either been paid or are at an advanced stage of processing for payment;

UBA Capital, Africa Prudential, Afriland announce key board appointments

By PETER EGWUATU

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OLLOWING the United Bank for Africa (UBA)’s recent restructuring that spun off investment banking, insurance, registrar and real estate businesses, a new board members have been announced for Africa Prudential Registrars Plc, UBA Capital Plc and Afriland Properties.

The Board of Directors of UBA Capital Plc, the investment banking, insurance, trustees, stockbroking and wealth management entity which is composed of highly experienced bankers and business leaders, include : Ms. Angela Aneke, (Chairperson) Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa (Managing Director/ CEO), Ambassador J.K. Shinkaiye, Mr. Chika Mordi, Mr. Yoro Diallo (Senegalese), Mrs. Stella Kilonzo (Kenyan) and Mr. Adim Jibunoh.

The Board appointments for Africa Prudential Registrars include: Mrs. Eniola Fadayomi (Chairperson), Peter Ashade (Managing Director/CEO), Mrs. Ammuna Lawan Ali, Mrs. Yinka Abiodun, Mr. Sam Nwanze.

The Board of Afriland Properties Plc is composed of Erelu Angela Adebayo (Chairperson), Mr. Ike Ogbue, Ms. Yinka Ogunsilire, Mr. Sam Nwanze and Mrs. Uzoamaka Oshogwe.

Afriland Properties Plc (formerly UBA Properties) is a real estate company that develops commercial and residential properties for sale and rental purposes. Mrs. Uzoamaka Oshogwe has been appointed the Managing Director/CEO Afriland Properties Plc.

New Lekki-Ikoyi proposed toll collection: Court fixes Feb 5 for hearing

By BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

D

ISAGREEMENT between a Lagos lawyer, Mr. EbunOlu Adegboruwa, and the Lagos State Government over alleged proposed toll collection on the New Lekki-Ikoyi bridge, before a Federal High Court in Lagos has been fixed for hearing on February 5.

Joined as respondents in the suit is the Attorney General of the Federation and the National Inland Water Ways Authority, NIWA. The case which was to come up before Justice Saliu Saidu, yesterday, could not go on due to absence of some respondents in the suit, which made the judge order that hearing notices be served

on the LASG, and NIWA, in the interest of justice.

Counsel representing the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Frank Okolie, was the only respondent present in court, yesterday, when the case was to be heard.

Adegboruwa, through his counsel, Mrs Oreka Adegboruwa, wants the court to determine whether the LASG has the power to erect any structure such as a bridge on the Lagos Lagoon and the Lekki Lagoon. He also wants the court to determine whether the state government is competent to impose any toll or tax on such a bridge.

The applicant (Adegboruwa), who noted that collection of such a toll or tax from Nigeri-

ans contravenes their fundamental right to free movement, seeks a declaration that the imposition of a toll, fee or tariff on road users is illegal and inconsistent with Nigeria’s Constitution, arguing that the bridge was built on a federal navigable waterway belonging to the Federal Government and were categorised by law as federal navigable waterways.

According to him “the imposition of such a levy on road users will prevent them from using the bridge and constitute discrimination and violation of the rights of the road users. The toll of N500 per vehicle is uncalled for in view of the hardship, hunger and unemployment in Nigeria”.

50— Vanguard, WEDNESD AY, JANUARY 16, 2013 WEDNESDA

routine.

Epsom salts are made up of the compound magnesium sulfate.

Magnesium is important in that it helps keep enzyme activity regular in your body, and it helps bodily functions to run smoothly.

Sulfate also plays an important role in the way in which your body works: It has a role in the formation of brain tissue and joint proteins, and it can strengthen the walls of the digestive tract.

Taking Epsom salt regularly may help keep the skin soft,but the key is tio remember to rinse away any salt that is left on your skin after your bath. To keep your skin moisturised, use warm water.it can also help if you need to hide winkles on your skin.

Taking an Epsom salt bath helps restore magnesium and sulfate in your system because they can be absorbed through your skin. Some doctors recommend soaking three times per week for about 12 to 15 minutes. If you're wondering where to find Epsom salt, just check out your local store, health food store or pharmacy.

Epsom salt bath restores skin health

BY BUSOLA LIKOLO

T

HE wonders of Epsom salt have been well known for hundreds of years moreso as its beneficial properties can soothe the body, mind and soul.

One of the simplest ways to ease stress and stress-related problems is to soak in a tub full of hot water with a few cups of Epsom Salt.

A bath in Epsom salt offers health benefits that have led many people for years to make soaking in the tub a regular

‘Doctors on Air’ to Nigerians:

Know your health numbers and live longer

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

“K

NOW your health numbers and live longer." This is the catch phrase of the on-going campaign series created by "Doctors on Air" - a unique, interactive health awareness radio programme initiated by PathCare Nigeria designed to enable Nigerians improve their health and live longer and healthier lives.

"It's about optimizing your health and making the right choices. Don't get ill.

Be healthy. Be well. Be alive," explained the Managing Director PathCare Nigeria, Dr. Pamela Ajayi, in Lagos last week, during the media presentation of

Hole-in-heart baby seeks N2m for surgery

BY GABRIEL OLAWALE & his daughter ‘s life explained that her BUSOLA LIKOLO condition is beyond the doctors at LUTH AVING a child is undeniably one and LASUTH. We have been referred to of the greatest joys of life, but this the Naranayana Hrudayalaya Hospital, is not the expectation for 4-month-old India. The total hospital bill for the Oluwaferanmi, as she is a constant procedure is put at N2 million. source of unrest and discomfort for her “We don't have such money. We have parents. spent over N200, 000 already. Ige, who Right now, an urgent surgery estimated hails from Badagry is appealing to the at N2 million stands between her pain and Lagos State Governor and well meaning her succour. In a narration by her father, Nigerians to save his baby's life.

Mr. Ige Adeogun, a diagnosis of a hole• If you are touched by Oluwaferanmi's in-the-heart is the genesis of the ordeal plight, kindly obtain further details from brought upon the infant since birth.

Looking emaciated, weak and pale, 07064932293 and 08179555453, or send Ouwaferanmi is constantly restless, hardly your donations to Ige Adeogun, UBA feeds, does not sleep and cries all day long. Account Number 2015815019.

Narrating his pain and anguish, Ige said all was well initially at birth until about a month later she developed a persistent cough and catarrh that defied treatment.

"We took her to our family hospital but were told nothing was amiss. So we took her back home. However, the nagging cough and catarrh persisted."

Some time later, the baby’s worried mother insisted the baby should be taken back to the hospital, from where they were referred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH. After further series of tests, a diagnosis was made. The baby had a large hole in her heart. A medical report from Lagoon Hospital, Ikeja described the condition as Unrestrictive Ventricular Septal Defect.

Surgery was recommended.

Yet another report from Tejuosho Diagnostic and Clinical Services, Yaba, testifies to the "presence of a large area of pneumonic consolidation in her right lung field." Ige who pleaded for assistance for • Oluwaferanmi

H

the free "Know Your Numbers" health cards.

The special handy cards which showcase essential health numbers and baselines for conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, etc., and for keeping records of vital health parameters such as weight, Body Mass Index, BMI, cholesterol and glucose levels among others. It also includes a unique blood pressure chart that enables individuals take charge of their blood pressure.

"Our health indices are getting worse in Nigeria and everyone needs to take ownership of their health. This campaign is a call to action. We are urging Nigerians to take charge by choosing 'wellness' and em-

power themselves with a greater understanding of their bodies," Ajayi stated.

Urging Nigerians to take ownership of their health, Ajayi said by getting to know their essential health numbers, the average individuals would become adequately knowledgeable and empowered to make informed choices aimed at attaining wellness and vitality.

"Whether you have high blood pressure, or normal blood pressure, high cholesterol or normal lipids, it's important you know your essential health numbers.

Establishing a baseline, monitoring any troubled areas, understanding your risks and making right choices to improve the quality of your life and live longer."

One in 4 Nigerians may be unaware they have high blood pressure which is symptomless and unrelated to age or occupation. "This ignorance means they are oblivious to the risks to their health, as uncontrolled blood pressure is associated with heart enlargement, unexpected strokes, heart attacks and sudden death," Ajayi remarked.

The Doctors on Air series which holds 8 am every Wednesday on Classic FM 97.3 provides opportunity for listeners to obtain credible health information on wellness to weight management, blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol and thyroid screening from consultants of different specialties in a clear, simple and culturally acceptable way.

PathCare is the first internation-

ally accredited laboratory in West Africa (ISO 15189).

Coping with the harmattan

BY CHARLYNE IKPE

H

ARMATTAN is one of the seasons in Nigeria. The Harmattan is a dry and dusty West African trade wind. It blows south from the Sahara into the Gulf of Guinea between the end of November and the middle of March. There are so many challenges one could face during this period like cracking of lips or breaking of lips, cold, dry skin, catarrh, cough and a lot more but among all, cold is the major problem.

The cold weather and the heavy amount of foggy dust in the air can limit visibility and block the sun for several days, comparable to

a heavy fog shows that the harmattan is here again.

Some patients suffering from asthma, pneumonia and people who are prone to respiratory diseases often suffer much because of excess cold and dust. It is advisable to cover yourself well and wear thick cloth during this period so as to keep your body warm and protect yourself from cold.

The dry, cold and dusty wind associated with Harmattan also triggers sickle cell crises in affected individuals.

Vanguard, WEDNEDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013—51

C M Y K

52 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

Court orders arrest of Pakistan Prime Minister P

A K I S TA N ’ S Supreme Court ordered the arrest of the prime minister yesterday on corruption allegations, ratcheting up pressure on a government that is also facing street protests led by a cleric who has a history of ties to the army.

Analysts say that the move is unlikely to lead to his immediate removal, even as it comes as a populist cleric led thousands of protesters in Islamabad, demanding the government resign.

Television images showed demonstrators, led by Tahirul Qadri, celebrating and triumphantly applauding as news broke of the court’s order.

The BBC’s M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says it may just be a coincidence - but to many observers the timing of the move bolsters allegations that the cleric is backed by elements of the judiciary and military.

In recent years Karachi,

according to state broadcaster PTV. Mr Ashraf is set to lead the party into general elections due in May. Most observers say they expect the balance of power in the forthcoming parliamentary polls to broadly stay the same unless turnout is high, which could allow minor parties to translate popular support into seats.

He has long been a senior figure in the PPP, and has twice been a minister in the government which has been in power since 2008.

But it was his tenure as minister for water and power which is dogged by controversy.

The government

By KINGSLEY OMONOBI, Abuja

F

•Supporters of Sufi cleric and leader of the Minhaj-ul-Quran religious organisation Muhammad Tahirul Qadri gathered around Qadri ‘s vehicle (R) as he addresses them on the second day of protests in Islamabad needed to generate more power to deal with electricity shortages, but

yesterday that it hoped to gain access to the

Israel blocks Palestinians from reoccupying protest camp

I

SRAELI police, using stun grenades, blocked about 50 Palestinian activists who tried yesterday to reoccupy tents they pitched last week on a patch of West Bank land which Israel wants for Jewish settlements.

Israel has drawn strong international criticism over plans to build settler homes in the area, known as “E1”, which connects the two parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank outside Arab suburbs of East Jerusalem.

On Sunday, hundreds of police officers evicted the protesters, who had claimed the area in the name of a future Palestinian state. The large, steel-framed tents remained standing at the site pending the outcome of Israeli Supreme Court hearings on Israel’s intention to remove them.

there were accusations of corruption from the opposition about the so-

called “Rental Power Projects” devised to solve the crisis.

UN nuclear watchdog eyes Iran deal T HE U.N. nuclear watchdog said

Herman Nackaerts, head of a delegation of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

Parchin military site during a visit to Iran this week aimed at unblocking an investigation into suspected atom bomb research in the Islamic state.

The International Atomic Energy Agency will seek to finalize a framework deal with Iran in tomorrow’s talks in Tehran that would enable it to relaunch its inquiry, IAEA Deputy Director General Herman Nackaerts said.

“We are approaching these talks in a

constructive spirit ... and we trust that Iran will work with us in the same spirit,” he said at Vienna airport before his team departed for Tehran for a new round of what have been long-fruitless negotiations.

World powers striving to resolve a decade-old dispute over Iran’s atomic work and avert the threat of a new Middle East war will scrutinize the IAEA-Iran talks for any indication of an Iranian readiness to finally start addressing their concerns.

Mali conflict: West African troops to arrive in few days

N

IGERIA and other West African countries contributing troops to the Mali operations are expected to arrive in Bamako within 24 hours as France intensifies its assaults on the Islamists.

Troops from a regional West African force will be in Mali within days to help a French intervention against Islamist rebels, Nigeria says.

The force’s commander, Gen Shehu Abdulkadir, confirmed the move to the BBC as West African military commanders met in Mali’s capital, Bamako.

France has almost 800 troops in Mali, and

Jonathan decries insecurity in Mali

another 1,700 involved elsewhere.

It began its intervention last Friday with the aim of halting the Islamists’ advance south.

Nigeria now plans to provide 900 troops for the West African force, 300 more than previously announced.

The force is expected to be 3,300 strong. It will be deployed under UN Security Council resolution 2085, which was passed in December.

Nigerian Col Mohammed Yerima said: “The president approved the deployment of a battalion, and in the next 24 hours a company of the battalion will be deployed.”

Nigeria has the biggest military in Ecowas, the regional grouping that is overseeing the military response.

Ivory Coast army chief Gen Soumaila Bakayoko said: “We are here today to speak essentially about the engagement alongside our Malian brothers in arms, to liberate the north of Mali.”

Benin, Ghana, Niger, Senegal, Guinea, Burkina Faso and Togo have also pledged troops.

Meanwhile, France hit Islamist rebels in Mali with fresh air strikes even as it deployed armored cars yesterday, stepping up its intervention in the West African state as

regional allies struggled to accelerate their plans to send in troops.

Paris has poured hundreds of soldiers into Mali and carried out air raids since Friday in the northern half of the country, which was seized last year by an Islamist alliance combining al Qaeda’s north African wing AQIM with Mali’s home-grown MUJWA and Ansar Dine rebel groups.

Western and regional states fear the insurgents will use Mali’s north, a vast and inhospitable area of desert and rugged mountains the size of Texas, as a base for attacks on the African continent and also in Europe.

OLLOWING the escalation of the Malian crisis, the running battles between foreign troops and Malian rebels and its likely effect on the country, President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered the immediate deployment of Nigerian soldiers to Mali.

Towards this end, the deployment of One Battalion is to commence within 24 hours with the initial airlifting of a Company of 190 soldiers while the remainder would be deployed later.

Also, a technical team of Nigerian Army and Airforce officers are already in Mali to facilitate the eventual full deployment of fighter aircraft and support element.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika has said that the insecurity in Mali is a threat to Nigeria since the country is notorious for being a training ground for the terrorists rampaging some states of the Federation.

Speaking with newsmen at the Wreath Laying Ceremony to commemorate the 2013 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration, the COAS said the military is ready to carry out the order of President Jonathan to ensure peace and stability is restored.

On logistics, he said, “Before deployment of this nature, logistics is paramount to us. If you must know, the security of Mali affects security of Nigeria , because of the proximity of Mali to Nigeria ; it is an operation that is very dear to Nigeria ”.

“Furthermore as you are aware, Mali has been one of the training bases where the terrorists operating in Nigeria have been trained, so it is important that Mali is kept safe including Niger which is the immediate neighbor.”

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013—53

OBJ warns against another civil war •Dickson wants greater support for armed forces •Uduaghan promises job opportunities to ex-servicemen

By AUSTIN OGWUDA, SAMUEL OYADONGHA, DAUD OLATUNJI, DAYO JOHNSON, GBENGA OLARINOYE & GBENGA ARIYIBI

F

ORMER President, Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, cautioned Nigerian leaders against acts that could lead to another civil war, even as he shunned the request by Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, to lay a wreath at the Armed Forces Remembrance Day in Abeokuta.

Obasanjo who spoke on the occasion for fallen heroes at Arcade ground in OkeMosan, Abeokuta, Ogun State, said Nigerians should learn from history. He urged government at all levels to remember the families of the slain soldiers.

Lamenting the loss of many security personnel during civil and international wars, he said Nigerian leaders should ensure that what led to the previous wars did not recur.

According to Obasanjo, “ war is not a picnic. When you engage in wars, lives are bound to be lost. That is why, as much as possible, wars should be avoided. For us in Nigeria, even when we were fighting against the colonial power, we lost Nigerians in Burma, in East Africa. But since the days of the constabulary, because that is where the Nigerian Army started from, Nigerian security forces have been losing lives either in support of civil authority or in fighting local wars.

Constant reminders ”The aim of this celebration is to constantly remember the sacrifice that the fallen heroes have made. It is also to constantly remind us that they left families behind who need to be catered for ” Meanwhile, there was a mild drama at the armed forces Remembrance Day ceremony when former President Obasanjo shunned the request by governor Amosun to lay a wreath.

When Obasanjo’s name was mentioned as part of the dignitaries to lay the wreath,the former President declined despite pleas by the governor.

The programme was put on hold as many dignitaries including the Deputy governor, Segun Adesegun, the Iyalode of Egbaland, Alaba Lawson, pleaded with him to recon-

sider his stance.

Vanguard gathered that Obasanjo’s anger was because his name was not in the brochure as part of those that would lay the wreath.

However, governor Amosun, the Brigade Commander, 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta, E E John, the commandant, Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Abeokuta M A Adetunji, and the state Chairman, Nigerian Legion, Samuel Olaosebikan among others, laid wreaths.

Nation’s fallen heroes In Bayelsa State, the government called on Nigerians to spare a moment of thought for families of the nation’s fallen heroes.

Governor Seriake Dickson, who made the appeal, yesterday, in Yenagoa on the occasion of this year ’s armed forces remembrance day celebration, relived the trauma brought about by the death of loved ones, saying, “Imagine what happens to the family of a soldier when he dies in active service.”

He was represented by his Deputy, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (rtd).

Similarly, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, has restated his administration’s resolve to rehabilitate the ex-service men and their families, especially those who lost their dear ones while serving the nation.

Speaking at this year ’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day Ceremony in Asaba, Uduaghan said the care of exservice men should be seen as a responsibility while calling on Nigerians to take to the welfare of ex-service men in the country as a national challenge.

He said, “It is my belief that ex-service men, who served this great nation should be taken care of adequately. My administration will ensure that ex-service men in the state are exposed to some job opportunities and all promises made for their welfare will be fulfilled.”

In Ondo State, no fewer than 241 widows and wives of men of the armed forces have benefitted from the Armed Forces Resettlement and Empowerment Loan Scheme instituted by the Ondo State Government.

The N20 million revolving loan scheme was instituted by government to alleviate poverty among the wives and widows of the fallen heroes.

Over 200 women benefited from the scheme last year, while cheques of N100, 000 were distributed to new set of beneficiaries at this year ’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration held in Akure.

Speaking during the celebration, Governor Olusegun Mimiko, said his government would continue to show concern for the welfare of the widows and wives of the men of the forces.

Mimiko who spoke through his deputy, Alhaji Ali Olanusi said “the event was very significant as it afforded the country the opportunity of paying respect to the fallen heroes. Mimiko said the empowerment programme put in place by government was meant to enable the families of the fallen heroes take care of themselves.

Rivers State governor, Chibuike Amaechi laying wreath during the 2013 armed forces and remembrance day in Port Harcourt , yesterday.

Defence of the nation In Osun State, Governor Rauf Aregbesola, decried the neglect of some discharged soldiers, who fought in the defence of the nation by the concern authorities.

Governor Aregbesola spoke in Osogbo, yesterday during the Wreath Laying ceremony and commissioning of the newly renovated Military Cenotaph as part of the activities marking the 2013 Arm Forces Remembrance Day. The governor, represented by his deputy, Otunba Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, lamented reports that the families of some soldiers that died in defence of the nation were yet to get their entitlements.

According to the governor, “Given the nature of the soldering profession as an organised armed service called upon to defend society to the death, how does the society respond to this ‘special calling’ through its treatment of the military and its members?

Does the society cater to its needs as an institution to be able to fulfil the essence of its special calling? And as individuals, what does the society offer them for their ultimate loyalty and patriotism in answering the call to lay down their lives on society’s behalf?

In Ekiti State, A House of Representatives member, Mr Opeyemi Bamidele, called on Federal Government to make special fund available to cater for the families of the fallen military officers Bamidele, who represents Ado Ekiti-Irepodun-Ifelodun Federal, noted that many of

Niger State governor, Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu laying a wreath, at the armed forces remembrance day ground, Minna.

R-l: The Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Ibrahim, other Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police, taking the salute during the Wreath Laying Ceremony to mark the 2013 Nigerian Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration at the Cenotaph, Eagle Square, Photo:Abayomi Adeshida Abuja, yesterday.

the families of the fallen heroes who fought to preserve the territorial integrity of the nation were povertys t r i c k e n In a statement by his Media Aide, Ahmed Salami, in commemoration of the Day, Bamidele argued that staging annual parades in honour of these officers was not enough.

He said that government should take a step further, by directly dealing with their families, saying “I am not against annual honours for these men, but the Federal Government should do more.

They should provide for their families who are suffering.

We should remember that some of these fallen heroes fought many wars. They strived hard to keep the unity of this nation during the trying period and they deserve being taken care of, even after death.

“In light of this, a Special Fund can be set up by Federal Government to reach out to families of the fallen heroes, but before granting their requests, there should be evidence that they are qualified to make such requests .”

54 —

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

Eagles will not disappoint, says Olajire Enyeama N

IGERIA Football Federation (NFF) Chief Media Officer Ademola Olajire says the Super Eagles will not disappoint Nigerians during the Africa Cup of Nation (AFCON) tournament in South Africa.

Olajire told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on phone from Abuja on Tuesday, that the team had done enough preparations for the tournament.

He said Nigerians should not have fears about the team’s ability to produce good results during the event.

“The message is that, this championship, we have won it twice before, we are going for a third win.

“The team has prepared very well. They have been re-building over the past 15 months, which has been done well by the coach, which every Nigerian supported.

“They should just

Australian Open:

42-year-old becomes oldest woman ever to advance

T

HERE are few things in sports that really make you sit back and just smile. One of those happened on Tuesday in Melbourne, as Kimiko Date-Krumm became the oldest woman to ever win a match at the Australian Open. How old is DateKrumm? A spry 42-yearsold. Date-Krumm took down the 12th seeded Nadia Petrova 6-2, 6-0, not only advancing to the second round as the oldest female ever to do so in this event, but winning her first Australian Open match since 1996 (!).

The Japanese veteran took 12 years off of tennis before returning to the game in 2008, and joked after her Tuesday match that she’s old enough to be a lot of her fellow player’s moms.

Date-Krumm will take on Shahar Peer in the second round.

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support and pray for the team and we will believe that the team will go all the way.”

Olajire said goalkeeper Austin Ejide, injured in the friendly game against Cape

Verde, would be fit for the tournament.

He said team doctors were working on him and hopefully, he would be fully fit for the competition.

Afcon trophy

BY MMACHI ILECHUKWU

•Olajire

Ezeibe mourns Ositelu’s passage

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

A

PATRON of the Nigeria Tennis Federation, Chief Ben Ezeibe has said that the death of renowned tennis journalist, Deacon Ayo

Ositelu was a huge setback to Nigerian tennis. Speaking to Sunday Sports Vanguard on phone, Chief Ezeibe, who is reputed for his vast knowledge of tennis,said that Ositelu’s demise came to him as a big

surprise, noting that he was yet to come to terms with the grim reality that the former columnist, who would have clocked 70 years in April, has gone to the great beyond to be with his ancestors.

S

UPER Eagles goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama has disclosed that he will be very excited if he could help Nigeria win the AFCON trophy in South Africa.

His words “ if we win the trophy, it will be like a dream to me and immediately after the referee signals the end of the encounter, I will celebrate with the fans in a manner they have

Australian Open: More ankle woe for Serena S

ERENA Williams’ decision to chase an innocuous forehand in her first round clash with Edina Gallovits-Hall on Tuesday may have done her Australian Open rivals a massive favor.

Leading 4-0 in the first set and looking every inch the short-priced favorite to go on and claim her sixth title at Melbourne Park, Williams slid, rolled over the top of her right ankle, then lay motionless on the bright blue court.

Television cameras immediately flashed to her mother, Oracene Price, who let her normally stoic countenance slip for an instant with a flicker of concern.

If Williams’ spill gave Gallovits-Hall hope of an upset, the American quickly snuffed it out.

After gingerly walking off court to have her ankle re-taped, Williams proceeded to pummel

dreams

•Enyeama never seen before.”

Enyeama, 31 in August, said he will continue playing till he reaches 40. According to him; “I will like to keep till I reach 40 or even 42.

I work very hard and I always look to the top.”

Speaking on the status of the Super Eagles since they have not won the Nations Cup since 1994, he replied; “as for me, I don’t think we should talk about the cup now because we want to begin with a win in our first match and then, subsequent ones.

It is one match at a time.”

He also called for the support of Nigerians saying “all Nigerians should have confidence in us and pray for us to succeed”

ACCROBATIC PLAY . . . Serena Williams of the US falls on the court while playing against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia in the final at the Brisbane International tennis tournament. Photo: AFP the Romanian, recording a 6-0 6-0 ‘double bagel’ win in 54 minutes, eight of which were taken up by the injury break.

The incident brought back bad memories for Williams, who rolled her left ankle at the Brisbane

tournament last year and was then upset by world number 56 Ekaterina Makarova in the fourth round at the Australian Open.

Williams told reporters her first thought as she lay on Hisense Arena on

Tuesday was: “Oh, not again”.

“I just think that I was definitely a little bit in shock and I was thinking, ‘I hope it’s not as serious’, because it was really serious last year.”

•Keshi

Armstrong ‘admits’ to drug abuse to win Tour de France

L

ANCE Armstrong Monday night reportedly admitted using performanceenhancing drugs to win the Tour de France.

The disgraced cyclist is said to have confessed in an interview with American TV chat show queen Oprah Winfrey which is scheduled to be broadcast on Thursday.

Lance Armstrong “did

not come clean in the way I expected,” Reuters quoted celebrated talk show host Oprah Winfrey on Tuesday, a day after recording a lengthy interview with the disgraced cyclist.

Armstrong, 41, addressed accusations that he used performance-enhancing drugs in his racing career in the interview

with Winfrey, which will air on Thursday on Winfrey ’s OWN network.

In an appearance on CBS on Tuesday, Winfrey said she would leave to others to decide if Armstrong was contrite, but added that he was serious and thoughtful in the interview.

•Armstrong

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013 — 55

Babangida: Keshi will miss Martins in S/Africa Former Nigeria star Tijani Babangida has tipped Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi to be the key in Nigeria’s quest for a third AFCON title.

The ex-Ajax Amsterdam winger told MTNFootball.com that Mikel’s displays for Chelsea as well as his performances in the Eagles have shown that he will play a pivotal role for the Eagles in South Africa.

“With his current form and what he achieved last season as well as his recent performances for Eagles, it is very clear he is our class act,” Babangida said.

Speaking generally about Stephen Keshi’s team at the 2013 AFCON and the

AFCON: Okala calls for calm over Ejide’s injury

F

ORMER Green Eagles goalkeeper, Emmanuel Okala, on Tuesday said that there was no cause for alarm over the injury sustained by the Super Eagles goalkeeper Austin Ejide.

Ejide sustained a hamstring injury during the team’s international friendly match against Cape Verde Islands in Faro, Portugal on Jan. 9.

Okala, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka cautioned sports analysts to be mindful of how they discussed the issue, to avoid distracting the team’s coaches.

The 1980 Nations Cupwinning goalkeeper with the Green Eagles said that it was only the coaches, led by Stephen Keshi, that could tell the real situation of the player.

Okala said the three goalkeepers in the team were the best in the country for now, adding that Ejide’s unfortunate injury had not impacted negatively on the team.

•Keshi

•Babangida exclusion of some established names like Obafemi Martins, Taye Taiwo and Osaze Odemwinge the former Eagles winger said, “Keshi knows better because he gave these players a chance to prove themselves, so if

he makes any decision now as regards them, it could only be best for the team. But all the same I still believe Obafemi Martins ought to be in the team because he has scored almost every weekend in Spain. We are going to miss his

Amaechi Continues from B/P confirmed that the governor politely turned the request down.

He was said to have told the NFF officials that he is too busy at the moment to take on such an assignment that will remove him from his desk for the duration of the Eagles stay at the

tournament.

He only promised to be at the first game of the Eagles, and the final, if they make it that far.

The reasons for trying to appoint the Governor as Head of Delegation is not clear, given his past scathing condemnation of the way the NFF handles its finances

Rufai Continues from B/P manned the posts when the Eagles campaigned at both the 1994 Cup of Nations and the FIFA World Cup said, “our ’94 squad was poles apart.”

He said although the present Eagles could boast of some talented footballers, “they still cannot be compared with the team of our time.”

Said he, “ remember, 1994 was not our first Nations Cup as some of us had been in the national team since Libya ’82. We were in Cote d’Ivoire ’84, Egypt ’86, Maroc ’88, Algiers ’90 and Senegal ’92 before Tunisia ’94. You can see the difference.

The present crop of players have to be there for some time to be compared to our team.”

Apart from experience, which Rufai said comes with time, the former goalkeeper said, “during our time, we played a lot of matches, our league was good and the competition for shirts in the national team was stiffer. We went through a lot to get to the national team.”

He noted that the Eagles preparing for the Nations Cup in South Africa were an upcoming team that need encouragement.

“They need our prayers to succeed in South Africa and I wish them goodluck.”

experience.

“Even though we are looking for younger players, his current form shows he needs to be there. Don’t forget at the France 1998 World Cup the late.Rashidi Yekini was included due to his experience

Keshi not owed a kobo — NFF The Nigeria Football Federation has denied reports that head coach of the national team, Stephen Keshi is owed salaries and other financial entitlements.

Executive committee member of the NFF, Barrister Chris Green also revealed that the Federation had never owed Keshi or any of its coaches salaries.

“The NFF is not owing Keshi salaries and we have never owed him in the past. We have seen reports in some sections of the media claiming we owe the coach salaries but these stories lack facts and substance,” Green told supersport.com.

The NFF chief also revealed that issues of discontent between players and the NFF

which have severally threatened to rock the Super Eagles in the past will not be experienced in South Africa.

“As I speak to you, we have paid all camp allowances and other financial entitlements to all the players in Faro, Portugal. Morale has never been higher among the players and we are confident they will recompense our efforts with a good showing at the Afcon,” he said.

•Maigari

Eagles Continues from B/P the Portuguese was met with a vicious hacking.

Centre referee Luis Costa wasted no time in pointing to the spot.

Chelsea star, John Mikel Obi, stepped in to coolly slot home the opener. But Farense made things difficult for the Eagles as Senegalese born striker, Sone Diop, Falardo and dangerman Fabio Texeira attacked sporadically in search of an equalizer that never came till the end of the first half. The Eagles on the other hand had plenty of chances to have buried the game in the first but Nosa Igiebor hit the cross bar thrice, Mikel followed suit with a fiery shot that also hit the bar and Emmanuel Emenike also missed a sitter.

In the second half Head Coach Stephen Keshi made sweeping changes.

Kenneth Omeruo was in for Joseph Yobo, Juwon Oshaniwa for Elderson Echejile, Ogenyi Onazi for Mikel Obi, Sunday Mba for Igiebor, Obiorah Nwankwo for Fegor Ogude, Ikechukwu Uche for Brown Ideye, Gabriel Reuben for Efe

Ambrose mid-way into the half, same as Vincent Enyeama was replaced by Chigozie Agbim.

There was no immediate impact with the changes until in the 75 th minute when an Emenike’s furious onslaught down the left wing of the pitch was clinically finished off by Ikechukwu Uche for one of his three goals of the evening. Goalkeeper Agbim must be credited for his quick counterattack throw to Emenike.

Uche was to score another in the 80 th minute after nice footwork by Ejike Uzoenyi left him face to face with goalie Sergio Serrar. He blasted into the roof of the net. He completed his hattrick of the evening after a fine interchange of passes between him, Onazi and Ejike.

Just as the referee was about blasting home the final whistle Ejike was to set up Emenike for the final goal on the dot of 90minutes for a comprehensive whitewash of the Farense side. The referee did not even allow for a restart after

the fifth goal.

Farense Coach Antero Afonso said at the end of the encounter that his side has learnt useful lessons from the Nigerian national team and predicted that the Super Eagles will do well at the championship going by the quality of players he saw in the friendly. “You have what it takes to win the championship, but you must take each game as it comes and adopt different styles for different opposition. You have very quick players so don’t allow yourself to be under pressure at any time in the tournament.

I may not know the teams that will be at the tournament but the team I saw today should be among the favourites to win the African Cup”, he said.

The Nigerian side will depart Faro by 12:30 Portuguese time for Lisbon from where the team will connect a flight to Paris, France and from there to Johannesburg, South Africa. The team is expected in Nelspruit, venue of two of its first two group games on Thursday morning.

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

Gov Amaechi to head Afcon delegation

T

HE Nigerian Football Federation has appealed to the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, to head the delegation to the African Nations Cup kicking off

in South Africa at the weekend.

Sources in Port Harcourt told futaa.com that the pair of NFF chairman Aminu Maigari, and the former head of technical

committee, Chris Green, were at the Rivers State House in Port Harcourt on Monday, to put the request to the governor.

The sources further Continues on page 55

Eagles feast on lowly Portuguese side 5-0 •Team depart for S/Africa in high spirits •Farense coach tips Nigeria for trophy

T

HE Super Eagles ended their training camp in Faro, Portugal in style on Tuesday when they trounce, Portuguese second division side, Farense 50, in a game described

by Head Coach Stephen Keshi as dress rehearsal for the team’s opening game against Burkina Faso on January 21.

The match, which was again played at the Browns Sports and Leisure Club in Faro, where the Nigerian side stayed throughout its sojourn in Portugal, was barely five minutes old when right back, Efe Ambrose surging run into the danger area of Continues on page 55

’94 Squad Vs present Eagles:

Rufai rebukes Keshi

BY JACOB AJOM

F

ORMER Super Eagles first choice goalkeeper, Peter Rufai has disagreed with his former captain and present coach of the team, Stephen Keshi who has equated the present squad with the 1994 African champions.

In an interview with Supersport.com in Faro, Portugal, where the Eagles are preparing for the Africa Cup of Nations, Coach Keshi compared his present team to the 1994 Eagles.

In a sharp reaction to this assertion, Rufai who

Continues on page 55

Winning Afcon 2013 is Drogba's last goal — P.29

•Rufai

eshi will miss Mar tins in S/ Africa — P .55 Babangida: K Keshi Martins P.55

•Martins

TODAY'S

Gov Amaechi

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Fashionable (4) 4 Cushion (3) 6 Torture (4) 8 Swell (6) 9 Regret (6) 10 Expert (3) 12 Begin (5) 14 Viper (5) 15 Sea-duck (5) 18 Edge (6) 20 Annually (6) 24 Cede (5) 26 Trench (5) 28 Concentrate (5) 30 Encountered (3) 32 Godlike (6) 33 Beast (6) 34 Present (4) 35 Equipment (3) 36 Enlarged (4)

DOWN 2 Lift (5) 3 Scorched (7) 4 Excuse (4) 5 Dreadful (4) 6 Quick (5) 7 Hide (7) 11 Hint (3) 12 Weep (3) 13 Fasten (3) 16 Arid (3) 17 Cereal (3) 19 Aperture (7) 21 Sprite (3) 22 Worshipping (7) 23 Aye (3) 25 Freeze (3) 27 Felony (5) 29 Custom (5) 30 Modest (4) 31 Acid (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Gaudy 7, Genus 8, Bonus 10, Elite 12, Men 13, Close 15, Element 17, Loiter 19, Awe 20, Portent 23, Seed 25, Trap 26, Develop 30, Cat 31, Nibble 34, Gazette 37, Creed 38, Don 39, Evoke 40, Clock 41, Laden 42, Creek.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 1, Cello 2, Guest 3, Asleep 4, Date 5, Comment 6, Funny 9, Nee 11, Elation 13, Clasp 14, Oiled 16, Ewe 18, Rosette 21, Tribe 22, Speed 24, Decency 27, Vat 28, Pickle 29, Ladle 32, Break 33, Level 35, Zoo 36, Ever.

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.

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-8944295. Advert Dept: 01-7924470; Hotline: 01-8737028; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

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