Al-Mustapha still in the Army — HQTRS

...towards a better life for the people

**

VOL. 25: NO. 61926

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013

Tension as NJC meets Dame Patience calls for truce in Rivers 13 over 69 judges 8

Al-Mustapha still in the Army — HQTRS •Backlog of salaries to be paid

•May be promoted, retired •Lagos Government yet to decide on appeal •State Justice Ministry studies court ruling

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI, ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH & DAPO AKINREFON

A

BUJA— THE Ni gerian Army High command yesterday insisted that the discharged and acquitted former Chief Security Officer to late General Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, is still in service just as it is mulling whether or not to promote and retire him.

The Army spoke yester-

Continues on Page 5

COLUMNIST:

•P.19

Mr & Mrs

AU SUMMIT—From left: President Nguema of Equatorial Guinea; President Goodluck Jonathan; Earnest Bai Koroma of Sierraleone. From right: President Mohammed Abdulaziz of Saharawi Republic; King Mswati III of Swaziland; Chairperson, African Union Commission, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and others, shortly after the opening of the AU +12 AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Summit at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

UK, Sagay, others kick against Al-Bashir's presence in NIgeria

8

Fresh crisis in PDP as NWC cancels convention 10

2 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013 — 3

C M Y K

4 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013 — 5

POCKET CARTOON

SUMMIT —From right: President Goodluck Jonathan; Niger President, Mahamadou Issoufou and Benin Republic President, Boni Yayi Arriving for the opening of the AU +12 AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Summit at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida

Al-Mustapha still in the Army — HQTRS Continues from Page 1

day, as the L agos State Government that prosecuted Major AlMustapha has man-

dated its Justice Ministry to advise it on the way forward. The Lagos State Executive Council, met yesterday to review the

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; and what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal –Albert Pike. It lives after us and makes us live after ourselves.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; I will not refuse to do something I can do — Helen Keller

J

ONATHAN Safran, shares a beautiful and per sonal experience about our influence on the universe. Hisstory reflects our everyday reality and a new way of looking at things.

Safran, was very thoughtful about how relatively insignificant life on earth may seem, in a sense, compared to the universe and compared to time, it didn’t even matter if one’s present reality existed at all. He recalled a childhood experience of him asking his dad a question of how relatively insignificant it seemed we are compared to the universe.

His dad replied: “Well, what would happen if a plane dropped you in the middle of the Sahara Desert and you picked up a single grain of sand with tweezers and moved it one millimetre?” He said, “I just mean right then, when you moved that single grain of sand. What would that mean?” I said, “I don’t know?” “Think about it”. I thought about it. “I guess I would have moved a grain of sand.” “Which would mean you changed the Sahara.”

“Wow! The Sahara is a vast desert. And it has existed for millions of years. And you changed it!”

“That’s true!” I said, sitting up. “I changed the Sahara!” What a great moment of awakening! Mahatma Ghandi sums it beautifully: “It’s always the action you take to make a change that is important in making a difference.”

Court of Appeal judgment which on Friday quashed the conviction of Al-Mustapha and his co-accused, Alhaji Lateef Sofolahan over the murder of late Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.

The state Ministry of Justice, headed by Mr Ade Ipaye was mandated to study the judgment and decide if there was any need to appeal same.

However, sources in Lagos Ministry of Justice informed Vanguard that the Court of Appeal decision would certainly be appealed.

Lagos yet to decide on appeal

Special Assistant to Governor Babatunde Fashola on Legal Matters, Mr Lanre Akinsola said: “The position of the Lagos State Government is that we are reviewing the judgment to see whether there is a need for us to appeal same. If we feel there are grounds to appeal, we will certainly do so.

We have 90 days to study the judgment before appealing.”

According to him, government cannot jump into conclusions on what to do, except it examines in detail the decision of

the appellate court and weigh merit of the judgment delivered by the panel of Justices of the Appeal Court.

He said: “The Lagos State Government would look critically into the judgment, after which the right decision would be made.

“As a government, we are going to study the judgment and from there, we will take decision on what next to do.

We are convinced that he has a case to answer; that was why we prosecuted him. There is need for us to study the judgment to know what to do.” It will be recalled that the Lagos State Government prosecuted the case from the lower court, where it secured the convictions and defended the appeal it lost.

Lagos ACN, ORF fault judgment

Meanwhile, Lagos State Chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and Oodua Republic F ront, ORF, yesterday, faulted the Court of Appeal’s acquittal of Al Mustapha and called on the state government to appeal the judgment.

Reacting to AlMustapha’s status at the Joint Security Commit-

tee’s briefing in Abuja, Chief of Staff in the Department of Army Public Relations, Colonel John Agim, said: “Major AlMustapha is still in the Army. His case is going to be handled by the Army administratively in line with the harmonised terms and conditions of service.”

Options on Al-Mustapha

However, reliable military sources told Vanguard that one of the options open to the Army High Command was the promotion of the officer to the current rank of his course mates in the military and then retire him, while his entitlements would be calculated and to paid.

It will be recalled that before now, the ar my authorities had paid the immediate family of Major Al-Mustapha, half of his salary since his detention in prison for about 14 years because the case was still in court.

Judiciary takes flak on judgment

In separate statements, A CN and ORF , said the acquittal is a shame and follows a pattern that has never punished high net-worth offenders for crimes they committed either against the state or fellow Nigerians.

The added that if the judiciary continues to operate at the behest of the highest bidder , we see no hope for the country.

ACN in a statement by its state Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, said: “Given the weighty evidence against AlMustapha, including confessions of Sergeant Rogers, Major Muhammed Abdul, the men that allegedly pulled the trigger on

Mrs. Abiola, and Alhaji Lateef Shofolahan, dismissing the case for lack of evidence seems to be a way of ensuring that Al-Mustapha escaped justice for acts of crime he committed and not in any way a means of helping the soiled image of the Nigerian judiciary.

“We are still in shock over the acquittal of AlMustapha, given all the evidences that had so far been adduced against him and his co-accused.

Even when we had not seen any iron-cast defence put up by Mustapha, except throwing about raw tissues of illogical blackmail that refused to sink with Nigerians, who knew all that happened during the Abacha reign of fear, we are left to wonder how the Appeal Court arrived at its judgment.

“We are aware of the huge cache of evidence marshalled by the prosecution and we are aware that these are incontrovertible evidences against Mustapha, contrary to the ruling of the Appeal Court, which chose to hide under the well-abused lingo of Nigerian judges that ‘the prosecution had not proved its case beyond all reasonable doubts.’

"We see this as a convenient alibi for a pliable judiciary such as ours, without the healthy interface of a jury, to per vert justice and ensure that criminals are not punished for their crimes in Nigeria.”

On its part, ORF distanced itself from the judgment, saying “ we foresee foul play from the beginning of the hearings, but we assure all and sundry that believe in a sincere justice and people-oriented judgment that the blood of every slain hero of democracy will form a merger to hunt down those behind the murder.”

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013

We rejected N15m bribe from illegal oil bunkerers —Lt-Col Otu

Police arrest woman for roasting 7-yr-old step-son’s hand zHow hospital rejects victim

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN CITY — OFFICERS from the 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Edo State under the code name,Operation Pulo Shield, weekend revealed how 11 suspected illegal oil bunkerers, operating from Benett Island, Delta State attempted to induce them with N15 million bribe.

Speaking on the operation that led to the arrest of the suspects, while parading 11 of them at 4 Brigade Headquarters, Benin City , 3 Battalion Commander, Lt.Col. Ifeanyi Otu said his men were offered N15 million by the economic saboteurs to look the other way.

He said most of the suspects, however, claimed to be employees of an oil service firm, JACK MARINE, but engaged as third parties to convey sludge in chartered vessels.

While lamenting the incessant activities of bunkerers in the Niger Delta, Otu, however, said their activities had been curtailed since the launch of the Operation Pulo Shield, under Brigade Commander, Brig.-Gen. Pat Akem.

According to him, “What we are witnessing is a result of relentless efforts by the Brigade Commander, Brig.-Gen. Pat Akem, which has led to their arrest.

"Two individuals met me, claimed that they had papers to load sludge in the Niger Delta, but I knew that in the area they were talking of (Igbokoda), had no flow station there, there is no refinery there. Based on that, I made investigations.

“Barely two days after, another person came and offered me N15 million, N5 million per vessel and another N7 million for my operating officers. We later got information that some vessels were in the area and we moved in. They confessed that though they were told to come and load sludge, they were there for illegal oil bunkering.

“Let me use this opportunity to reiterate the determination of the Operation Pulo Shield on zero-tolerance for crime and appeal to others to desist.” He lamented that in spite of arrests made “others still indulge.”

Captain of one of the vessels, Steve Fregene, said he and his crew members might have been deceived into the adventure.

BY FUNMI AJUMOBI

The story

According to Ngozi, "On July 11, 2013, Awwal was rushed to AGOS — THE Lagos State the Randle General Hospital, Police Command has arrested Mother and Child Centre, Gbaja, a woman, Mrs Aminot Otun, for at about 6:30pm after a distress roasting the right hand of her call from neighbours. seven-year-old step-son, Awwal “He sustained serious injuries Otun, last Thursday. from fire burns inflicted on him Awwal’s hand was allegedly by the step-mother who is now roasted for adding drops of liqin police custody. uid disinfectant to his bath wa“At the hospital, we requested ter. to see the welfare officer who we According to Ngozi Ekwerike- were told had closed for the day Okoro, President, Child to Child but after narrating our mission to Network, a Non Governmental one of the staff she referred us to Organisation, NGO, a distressed the chief matron. The chief macall from one of Otun's neightron issued an emergency card bours at 59, Suenu Street, to the boy and directed him to Surulere, Lagos saved Awwal’s see the doctor. life.

“The doctor, however, refused Awwal was r ushed to the to attend to the boy, because acMother and Child Hospital at cording to her, the hospital did Gbaja where another drama en- not have enough space to accomsued as the doctor on duty remodate the boy , as he would fused to treat or admit the boy need admission for intensive despite pleas that the hospital care. was built purposely for mothers “We pleaded with the doctor to and children in the state. at least administer some first aid According to his teachers, on the boy but she refused. W e Awwal, who is in primar y one, went back to the chief matron should not be allowed to go back who told us after consulting with to his step-mother because he is the doctor that Surulere General always coming to school with Hospital (Mother and Child Cenbruises as the neighbours who tre) does not have the facility to pleaded anonymity said that deal with such cases. They said had been the normal punishment our best chance would be to go for the boy’s mistakes. to Ikeja General Hospital.

Awwal was later tak en to a “We eventually left in disapnearby private hospital for treat- pointment and went to a private ment and he is currently at Juhospital in Mushin, close to the venile Welfare Centre of Alakara juvenile centre, where he got Police Station.

L

Awwal and the burnt hand. immediate attention and was treated free of charge.

Awwal recounts ordeal The boy said he added small quantity of Izal disinfectant to his bath water and his step mother

got angry and put his hand on a burning stove since Sunday and he was not taken to hospital till Thursday when neighbours called the Lagos State Child Protection Network who mobilised the JWC Alakara to rescue him.

Onitsha bizman petitions IGP over threat to life in N37.9m deal

BY ENYIM ENYIM

O

NITSHA – A BUSINESS MAN in Onitsha, Prince Chuma Ojukwu, has petitioned the Inspector General of P olice over alleged threat to his life by a business mogul, Chief Cletus Ibeto.

Ojukwu in the petition dated June 6, 2013 stated that the alleged threat to life by Ibeto followed his demand that the Ibeto Cement Company Limited paid N37.9 million owed him.

According to him, instead of paying the money accruing from a business transaction he had with the company, Ibeto preferred allegations of forgery, alteration, manipulation and inflation of prices of his (Ojukwu) cement transaction with the company over the years.

The petition which was first sent to the Inspector-General of Police and the Anambra State Police Commissioner on September 20, 2012 was copied the Presidency, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke; Minis-

ter of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga and the Chairman, National Honours Award Committee, Justice Alfa Belgore (SAN).

Part of the petition, a copy of which was made available to Vanguard reads: “I humbly urge

you to cause an investigation to be carried thoroughly into the allegations of forger y, alteration, manipulation and inflation of prices of my cement transaction with Ibeto Cement Company Limited over the years.

“Also please investigate false

information to the police and trumped up three-count charge against me, holden in P ort Harcourt.”

He appealed to the IGP to cause a thorough investigation into the matter so that his money would be paid to him immediately.

Lagos police nab 10 suspected

zI kidnapped my ex-boss over sack of a colleague — Mastermind

BY EVELYN USMAN & UJU MBANUSI

ered to be working with the kidnapped Chinese identified as AGOS — THE Lagos State Kuang Vingjun.

Alleged mastermind of the abPolice Command has arrested a 10-man suspected kidnap gang duction, Aduloju Taiwo, 32, who said to be responsible for series worked as a driver in the firm, of abductions in Ajah and Ibeju- told Vanguard that he planned the kidnap of the Chinese followLekki areas of Lagos. ing what he described as cruel The suspects who were paway one of his colleagues was raded before newsmen, yesterday, by the command’s boss, Mr sacked. he said: “The elderly man was Umar Manko, confessed to have been responsible for the kidnap sacked without benefits, after of a Chinese staff of ZTE Nigeria putting in so many years. Shortly Limited recently which led to the before he was sacked, I resigned collection of N8.5 million ransom. because they were not treating us well.

Surprisingly, two of the sus“When I heard that baba was pected kidnappers were discov-

L

sacked without benefit, I arranged for the kidnap of my former boss. Because I was no longer working for the company, I decided to contact Ufot Akaninyene, his driver who lives in his house to give us information on his movements.

The abduction

“On the day he was returning from work, Ufot called to inform us and we drove straight to the office where we saw him outside the company. We abducted him and bundled him into our vehicle and drove off.

“We kept him in one of our

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013—7

100 prospective tenants battle over 13 flats ...storm Fashola’s office for intervention

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

BY ONOZURE DANIA

L

AGOS — NO fewer than 100 prospective tenants, yesterday, stormed Office of the Lagos State Gover nor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, demanding the governor’s intervention as they claimed that they were duped by the landlord of the building at 59 Oriola Street, Alapere, Ketu, AgboyiKetu Local Council Development Area, LCDA. The protesters who stormed the Alausa Secretariat at about 10:00 am, with their placards denouncing activities of the alleged fraudsters, called for urgent intervention that would lead to their arrest and prosecution.

Vanguard gathered that the building which they started building last year had 13 mini apartments which were already subscribed for before its completion on June 30, this year.

Sources also said the developer had last April duped 100 prospective tenants at 12, Daniel Makinde Street, Ikosi-Ketu, Ikosi-Isheri LCDA, of about N50 million.

The prospective tenants explained that the landlord identified as Alhaji Ishola Salawudeen, after collecting the huge amount issued receipt to each of them and promised to hand over the keys yesterday.

One of the tenants, Mrs. Lateefat Folami, said: “I and my husband went to the house this morning with keys to take possession of our apartment, only to arrive at the house at 8:00 am and find out that our mini-flat had already been occupied by another tenant since yesterday (Sunday).

“Where do weraise the fund for new apartment after we had paid N520, 000 cash to Alhaji.”

Miss Ngozi Ane, another prospective tenant, said: “I paid N250,000 as advance payment for a mini-flat at the apartment. And I promised to give the landlord the balance of N85, 000 today ,

L

The building

which he agreed. But to my surprise, I discovered that the landlord had collected money from seven persons for the same apartment.”

Another tenant, Mr . Udehin Ugo, said: “I took my property there with the intention to sleep there today. But I was shock ed that someone was already occupying my mini-flat for which I paid N360,000. All efforts to get the landlord proved abortive, as all his telephone lines were switched off.”

Mr. Olalekan Agboola, who secured the security post to pack his property after he had paid N360,000, said: “My brother what will I do. I thank God that I can secure this place to protect my property from the rain.”

Lagos govt appeals for calm After several minutes of waiting,

kidnappers houses for three days before the company brought N8. 5 million.

Unfortunately, I did not know the whereabouts of the old man that was sacked to pay him the compensation he was denied.

“Of the ransom the company paid, I shared the money among eight others while I got N1.2 million. I used part of my share to send my younger sister to Europe to study then bought a car that I am currently using for commercial purpose.”

3 remanded over alleged terrorism, threat to kill

his own share.

Ufot said: “It is a lie, you got more than N1.2 million. You were the person that got the money and shared to us. Even after sharing the money, you threatened to take my name to a native doctor that would make me go mad if I told anybody about the kidnap.”

Taiwo then replied, “You are a liar. We have reached our dead end, so there is no point lying against me. I never threatened to take your name to any native docMild drama tor. Rather, you came to A mild drama, however , un- me demanding an infolded as one of the suspects, Ufot crease from N700,000 to Akaninyene charged at T aiwo, N3 million simply beaccusing him of telling lies about cause you claimed to

an official of the state government (names withheld) appealed to the protesters to return home, saying: “Please we have received your letter. We will hand it over to the governor. And in the ne xt two weeks, come back. The governor will attend to you.”

When Vanguard visited the house at about 1:00 pm, a mild drama occurred, as dozens of

people stormed the house to take possession of their apartments, but were halted by those who were already occupying them.

As the fight continued, residents and prospective tenants had to r un for cover, after touts supporting one of the tenants stormed the house with various arms to evict some of the tenants.

AGOS— A LAGOS Mag istrate's Court, sitting in Ikeja, yesterday, ordered that three suspects be remanded in prison custody over alleged terrorism and threat to kill.

Magistrate Margaret DanOni ordered the remand of the defendants in prison custody pending the legal advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The suspects are Olasunkanmi Are-Ago, 20; Dolapo Olowu, 38, and Ochuko Adeniji, 33.

The defendants, who were charged to the court by the police are facing a four-count charge of conspiracy, threat to kill and terrorism.

The Police prosecutor, Inspector Edet Okoi, told the court that the defendants and others at large, conspired together to commit the alleged offence on June 6, 2013, at about 7.19 p.m at Ikotun Egbe, area of Lagos.

He said the defendant, one Mrs Abosede Owolabi, on her phone, intimidated and threatened to kidnap her, her son and husband.

Okoi alleged that the defendants threatened to kill the family unless a ransom of N5.5 million was paid into their bank account.

6 trampled to death in scramble for Ramadan largesse

BY SALISU MARADUN

time around Maidoya planned to distribute some food items as usual, hence making hundreds of the villagers to gather in front of his house.

Hundreds of people were said to have trooped to his house as early as 5 a.m making it difficult for those assigned to distribute the food jealousy. have played a major role by givitems to control the crowd.

He said he kept him at the ing us information on where to It was alleged that some of gang’s hideout for two days bekidnap the man.” fore being paid N500,000 as ran- those scrambling to get a share of the food items succeeded in som.

I kidnapped my friend Explaining how they were ar- pulling down the main gate of out of jealousy – Suspect rested, Manko said Taiwo and one the building thereby giving Another suspect identified as Jimoh Olalere were arrested on access to many others.

Jimoh Olalere said he masterVanguard learnt that as a reJuly 3, 2013 at Elemoro area of minded the kidnap of his friend Lagos in connection with the kid- sult of the development, stamalso in Ajah area of Lagos out of nap of one Ifeanyi. pede ensued, leading to the trampling of six people to death.

At press time, the corpses of the six people had been deposited at the Federal Medical Centre mortuary, Gusau.

The state P olice Commissioner, Mr Usman Gwary, confirmed the death of the six people, adding that normalcy had been restored at the scene The kidnap suspects as, according to him, the police had dispersed the crowd.

Maidoya, early yesterday.

USAU — SIX people were Vanguard gathered that in reported to have died in line with the spirit of Ramadan, a stampede that broke out in the businessman had made it front of a house belonging to a point duty to assist the poor a Gusau-based millionaire, in the past 40 years.

According to the sources, this Alhaji Shehu Danfulani

G

8—Vanguard , TUESDAY , JULY 16, 2013

Boko Haram ceasefire: Operation continues until...

— Army

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

A

BUJA—DEFENCE Headquarters in Abuja, yesterday, said the ceasefire agreement signed between Federal Government and theBoko Haram sect had not been communicated to it.

Consequently, Director of Defence Information, Brigadier-General Chris Olukolade, said the military operation to rid the NorthEast part of the country of terrorists would continue.

Olukolade noted that the issue of ceasefire was the outcome of the political element of the attempt to solve the Boko Haram crisis, adding that questions on the ceasefire should be directed to the political authority.

He said: “As for the operational aspect, it will be maintained. So far , there has been no directive to stop the operation. We will not succumb to any deception whether ceasefire or not until otherwise directed by government.”

Finance Ministry takes over pension

BY EMMA UJAH & SUCCESS UZOKWE

A

BUJA—FEDERAL Government has transferred pension matters from the Office of Head of Service to the Ministry of Finance.

Head of Service of the Federation, Alhaji Burkar Aji, disclosed the latest development at a workshop organised by the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, in Abuja, yesterday.

He said: “The Office of the Head of Service will henceforth hands off direct control of pension matters," adding that government was moving to “reposition the pension office, which is going to be under the control of Minister of Finance under what we call Pension Transition Ar rangement Department.”

The HoS said the reform also affected the group life insurance of public servants, which had also been moved to the Office of the Accountant-General.

AU SUMMIT: President Goodluck Jonathan (left) and President Omar Albashir of Sudan at the opening of African Union, AU, Heads of State and Governments' special summit on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Nigeria, yesterday. STATE HOUSE PHOTO.

UK, Sagay, others kick against Al-Bashir's presence in Nigeria

BY INNOCENT ANABA & DAPO AKINREFON

T

HE question of whether Nigeria should arrest and hand over President Omar AlBashir of Sudan, who arrived Nigeria on Sunday for an African Union, AU, Summit on HIV/AIDS, has sharply divided Nigerians, with Professor Itse Sagay (SAN) and Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), disagreeing on what the Nigerian government should do.

Irked by the presence of AlBashir in Nigeria, rights groups, including Coalition on the International Criminal Court, NCICC and Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, have insisted on his being arrested and handed over to International Criminal Court, ICC in The Hague, over his indictment for alleged crimes in Darfur.

Al-Bashir is accused of masterminding genocide and other atrocities during the Darfur conflict, a charge he had repeatedly denied.

Similarly, United Kingdom’s Minister for Africa, Mr. Mark Simmonds, expressed disappointment over Nigeria’s decision “to host the Sudanese President, despite ICC arrest warrant on him,” noting that Nigeria’s action undermined the work of ICC. However, F oreign A ffairs Minister, Mr. Olugbenga Ashiru, said yesterday that Nigeria shunned ICC's arrest warrant on Al-Bashir because of its commitment to AU's position on the issue.

Meanwhile, NCICC has

dragged the Nigerian government before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, praying the court to compel Federal Government to hand over Al-Bashir to ICC. Speaking on the development, Sagay lampooned Federal Government for allowing Al-Bashir to visit the country.

crimes against humanity . I don’t see why such a person should be our guest when we do not belong to his group of people. Obviously this will rob off on our image, which will be soiled in the world and we will make enemies of civilised nations.”

Sagay

However, former President of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Agbak oba, disagreed, saying “ICC has no jurisdiction over Nigeria.

“While I may not like the man Al-Bashir, I don’t believe or agree that Nigeria has any obligation to any body to hand him over to ICC over an out-

Sagay, in a telephone interview with Vanguard, said: “I am very disappointed to hear that he (Al-Bashir) was invited to this country because he has a record of being brutal, despotic and very murderous.

“He has committed a lot of

Agbakoba

standing warrant for his arrest.

I don’t support that.

“The United States which seems to be in the forefront for the enforcement of rights refused to sign the ICC Rome Statute, which we all know is deliberate because if it does, its activities in Iraq, Afghanistan and other areas will be more scrutinised and jeopardise its foreign policy.

“Even though Nigeria is a signatory to the ICC Statutes, I believe this is the time to repudiate and follow the Chinese example.

“This is the right time for Nigeria to pursue a foreign policy that meets its need and not merely enforcing policies that promote Western and American interests. My position is purely as an African.”

SERAP, on its part, said it had sent urgent request to the Prosecutor of ICC, Ms Fatou Bensouda, requesting her to use her good offices and position to urgently refer the Nigerian government to the UN Security Council for failing to arrest Al-Bashir and surrender him to the ICC to face fair trial on the charges against him.

UK reacts

UK Minister for A frica, Mr. Mark Simmonds, expressed disappointment over Nigeria’s decision “to host” President Omar Al-Bashir of Sudan, in spite of ICC's arrest warrant on him.

A statement by the Foreign Office Minister for Africa, yesterday, said Nigeria’s action undermined the work of the Court.

Simmonds said: “The UK has a strong and abiding bilateral relationship with Nigeria. I am, therefore, disappointed that Nigeria has chosen to host President Al-Bashir of Sudan at an African Union event, despite ICC's arrest warrants against him for alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide."

Tension as NJC meets over 69 judges

BY SONI DANIEL

T

HERE seems to be no escape route for corrupt judicial workers in the country, as National Judicial Council, NJC, meets today to consider no fewer than 69 petitions filed by aggrieved Nigerians against judges across the country.

Interestingly, the meeting of NJC is coinciding with the first anniversary of the inauguration of the first female Chief Justice of Nigeria, Aloma Mukhtar, who was sworn into office on July 16, 2012.

Although the CJN is not organising any event to mark her one year in office, Vanguard learnt that the meeting of NJC, which she is to pre-

side over, might have been slated to enable her take stock of her performance.

The meeting, which will last for two days, will review the cases of no fewer than 69 judges, who had earlier been queried by the council for various infractions.

It was learnt that notable among the corrupt cases are those of a very senior judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja, who had been giving highly controversial judgements that had frequently embarrassed the judiciary.

Also being probed by the NJC is a female judge from one of the Southern states, who had also become famous for handing down contentious verdicts.

One of the controversial

judges, whose case would likely come up for deliberation, recently left on his own volition and took up a traditional post in his state.

The CJN has insisted that the verdict on the man, whose probe started before he opted to resign, must be made public at the appropriate time.

A competent source confirmed to Vanguard, yester day, that the meeting of NJC would consider the responses by judges, who had earlier been queried over their conduct in their respective states.

The source said: “The judges who are being investigated cut across the length and breadth of Nigeria and the NJC will spend two days looking at those that should be penalised or exonerated.”

Vanguard , TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013—9

Ministries stink with corruption — Borofice zAlleges Science & Tech ministry budgets N896m to supervise N50m project

BY HENRY UMORU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

A

BUJA—CHAIRMAN, Senate Committee on Science and Technology, Senator Robert Borofice, ACN, Ondo North, yesterday , accused ministries and agencies of government of malignant corruption, regretting that the development had drastically stalled Nigeria’s socio-economic progress.

He said in spite of Federal Government’s so-called crusade against the scourge, operators of government ministries and parastatals were still neck deep in malignant corruption.

Senator Borofice, who said this yesterday while fielding questions from newsmen in Abuja, particularly gave an instance of how Ministry of Science and T echnology budgeted a N896 million to supervise a N50 million project of an agency under the ministry, specialised in making solar panel, in the 2013 budget.

Borofice refuted the claim of the executive that National Assembly made deep cuts in capital projects funds in the 2013 budget, adding that his committee, however, cut the bogus allocation the ministry made for the said project supervision.

He regretted that Nigeria was not serious about developing science and technology, considering the amount of money being budgeted for the Ministry of Science and Technology annually.

The politician noted that if Nigeria was interested in the development of its science and technology sector, there was the need for it to make more

budgetary provision for the ministry.

According to him, countries like China, Germany and United State of America committed more funds into science and technology, noting that it was such commitment that

made them become technologically advanced countries today.

He said: “I think we are not serious as a nation as far as science and technology is concerned. What we commit to science and technology is about 0.001 percent. India is

CONFAB: From left— Mr. Moses Akpobosan, retired Permanent Secretary; Engr.

Olugbenga Adegun, Director of Information; Mr. Ntufam Ugbo, Secretary, all of National Planning Commission, and Dr. Nurudeen Olarinde, Oyo State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, at the 2013 conference of Directors of Planning, Research and Statistics, PRS, in the Public Sector, organised by the National Planning Commission on The Imperatives for Developing National, Regional and Sectoral Plans: Lessons Learnt from the Implementation of the Transformation Agenda in Ibadan, yesterday. PHOTO: Dare Fasube.

Enang rejects autonomy for LGs, mayoral status for FCT

BY HENRY UMORU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

A

BUJA—AS the Senate votes today on some amended clauses and recommendations in the ongoing constitution review, Senator Ita Enang has said he would not go with those with the opinion that local government areas be

granted financial autonomy.

He also kicked against granting mayoral status to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, as proposed by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu-led Constitution Review Committee.

Speaking yesterday in Abuja, Enang, PDP , Akwa Ibom North-East, said his reason was the fact that the third

tier of government was not a federating unit, adding that the extant law only recognised local governments within the state.

He also said giving mayoral status to the FCT might challenge the position of a sitting President and pose a security threat to the nation.

Enang insisted that granting mayoral status to the Federal Capital Territory was not in the best interest of the country.

He explained that in the United States, its capital, Washington DC, was under the President and legislature, thus making the position of the mayor similar to that of the local govinto the demands of INEC.’’ ernment chairman.

Meanwhile, acting National According to Enang, the apPublicity Secretary of Peoples proval of mayoral status for the Democratic P arty, PDP, Mr. Federal Capital Territory is caCaesar Okeke, who said the pable of challenging the authorparty was yet to get a letter ity of the President since the infrom INEC to the National tent behind the establishment of Assembly seeking some the FCT is supposed to be based amendments to the Electoral on neutrality.

Act, stressed that the party, at He said: “In Nigeria, there are the moment, had no comments 774 local government councils. to make on the matter.

If you have a mayor elected on INEC had again written to another party different from that the committee seeking for , of the President, there is bound among others, powers to disto be crisis. qualify candidates in subse“The idea behind the estabquent polls, just as INEC lishment of a capital territory was Chairman, Professor Attahiru intended to make for neutrality. It Jega, is seeking amendments is not in the interest of national to the 1999 Constitution and the security for us to create a mayoral Electoral Act 2010, as amended. status for the FCT.”

We 'll look into INEC's r equest for Electoral Act amendment — Ekweremadu

BY HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA—CHAIRMAN, Senate Committee on Constitution Review and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday, declared that the committee would look at the requests by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, seeking more powers to perform its duties in a holistic manner.

Speaking with V anguard yesterday, Senator Ekweremadu disclosed that the committee would look at the issues before the end of the year, when the Senate resumes from its vacation.

committing about 0.8 per cent.

“US and Germany are committing about 3 percent. W e have only 18 research institutes under science and technology in Nigeria and people are saying they are too many. In one province alone in China there are 49 research institutes.”

He said: “The only issue they raised, which is the time frame within which to complete the election, is in the Electoral Act. “We will consider the issue of time frame to conclude the election petitions.

We are of the view that what we have in the present law is good enough, that essentially we shall try as much as possible to adapt to the changes.

“They have to find a way through party directions to ensure that courts conclude election petitions within the time frame stipulated by the amendment to the constitution. Definitely, we will look

Oghiadomhe to journalists: Don't allow politician use you

BY BEN AGANDE

A

BUJA—CHIEF of Staff to President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Mike Oghiado-mhe, has called on the media not to allow politicians use their medium as a platform for beating drums of war in the country.

Speaking with State House correspondents, yesterday, Oghiadomhe said those chanting war song should see happenings in war-torn countries and learn lessons from them.

He said the effect of any violent conflict was worse than the devastation caused by HIV/AIDS and urged the electronic media to play back the clips on humanitarian effects of the Nigerian Civilian War between 1967 and 1970.

He said it will show the face of hunger and the face of kwashiorkor to serve as a stark reminder to those beating drums of war.

According to Oghiadomhe, the media should be the one bringing politicians back to their senses.

He added that Nigeria could not afford to be pushed into the situation some misguided countries had found themselves.

He said: “Let me say that while recognising the fact that you (the media) have been very supportive of this administration, you can see that for some strange reasons people are deliberately heating up the polity. ”When you overheat the polity it is not in the general interest of Nigerians.

Some people may feel that politics is a competitive business and they are doing this against the ruling party or against an interest or whatever.

"But politics must be played within a reasonable criteria and whatever we do we must avoid those things that would threaten the corporate existence of the country and those things that can derail democracy. ”We should never at anytime believe or take anything for granted. We are Nigerians.

"We have no other home like Idiagbon and co said in those days.”

10—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013

Aliyu laments drop in oil production

BY WOLE MOSADOMI

M

ASUP exco meets on strike today

BY DAYO ADESULU & LAJU ARENYEKA with agency report

L

AGOS — THERE are strong indications that the strike by polytechnics lec-

turers, under the aegis of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, may be called off today, as members of ASUP’s National Executive Council, NEC, hold an

emergency meeting, to appraise the situation.

The polytechnic lecturers have been on strike for the past 80 days.

ASUP Chair man, Dr .

Chibuzor Asumogba, while speaking to Vanguard, yesterday, said “there has been a green light on the Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTISS)

INNA—GOVERNOR Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, has raised alarm over the sharp drop in the countr y ’s oil production which he described as a bad omen for the country’s economy.

He pointed out that the economic situation in the country would get worse in the next few months if the United States, which was a major buyer of the countr y’s petro leum products ‘’begins the sale of its crude oil which would invariably force down the price of the country’s crude oil.

Nigerian Red Cross marks 150th anniversary with ‘Walk for Life’

BY KELECHI AZUBUIKE

L

AGOS — Nigerian Red Cross Society , NRCS, Lagos State branch, as part of activities marking the 150 years anniversary celebrations, is organising a 5000man walk titled “Walk for Life”.

The essence of the walk, according to a statement from the Organization by Simeon Ojeme, is to reach out to members of the society, create awareness on other activities marking the anniversary and also enlighten the populace on the activities of the society.

The walk which will come up on Saturday , July 20, will commence from the National Stadium at Surulere, through Costain, Apapa Road and terminates at the Red Cross secretariat on 2, Makoko Street, Adekunle Yaba.

The statement said the anniversary which was started with the anniversary logo unveiling cum endorsement of celebrity volunteers was held last month on the 16th of May, 2013 at the National Secretariat (annex) of the Nigerian Red Cross Society.

Lagos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN signing the condolence register opened for late Alhaji Ganiyu Ipaye, father of the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeola Ipaye, at the family’s residence in Agege, Lagos,

Fresh crisis in PDP as NWC cancels convention .Jonathan summons emergency caucus meeting today

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor & Henry Umoru

L

AGOS — THE P eoples Demo- cratic Party, PDP, was last night headedfor a fresh crisis after the party ’s National

Working Committee, NWC, uni- ers for the party.

President Goodluck Jonathan in laterally canceled the scheduled Special National Convention ex- a sharp reaction to the developpected to elect a new set of offic- ment, immediately summoned a meeting of senior party stakeholders today to deliberate on the latest development which party insiders said could fracture the party.

Chairman of the PDP Special National Convention Committee, Prof. Jerry Gana, contacted on the Justice Habeeb Abiru, who has development, would not comment been elevated to the Court of Ap- on the issue, saying he was yet to peal. be formally informed.

According to him, the appeal His silence, notwithstabnding, court had ruled under Section 211 other sources within the commitof the 1999 Constitution that as a tee and the party were miffed by government agency, EFCC was the development as they accused qualified to institute criminal pro- the National Chairman, Alhaji ceedings, insisting that he could Bamanga Tukur, of triggering a not do otherwise than to reject the crisis aimed at further dividing the application. party.

The judge also said he could not The decision to cancel the conrely on another ruling on a similar vention followed increasing diviissue delivered by Justice Babajide sions between the NWC and the Candide-Johnson of a Lagos High Gana-led convention committee Court in Igbosere, which was one which was constituted by the parof the references by Akingbola ty’s National Executive Commitwhile arguing his motion. tee, NEC, to supervise the naHe said: “There is no decision tional convention. on this issue yet by the Supreme The convention was called, followCourt so the Court of Appeal’s de- ing the report of the Independent cision takes precedence over the National Electoral Commission, decision of the lower court. I am INEC, on the PDP’s national conbound to respect the Court of Ap- vention of March 2012 which afpeal’s decision irrespective of my firmed that the election of eight of personal conviction. ” the members of the 12-member NWC Further hearing in the matter has breached the party’s guidelines for been adjourned till Sept., 20. the election of its national officers.

Intercontinental Bank: Cour t insists on Akingbola’s trial

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

L

AGOS — ADENIYI Onigbanjo of an Ikeja High Court, yesterday, refused the prayer asking him to quash the charge preferred against the former Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank, Dr. Erastus Akingbola and another person.

In his ruling against the motion to quash brought before the court

by Akingbola, the Judge held that the motion lacked merit, since an appeal court had ruled on a similar application.

Akingbola who was accused of stealing by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is standing trial alongside Mr. Bayo Dada, General Manager of Tropics Securities Ltd. Justice Onigbanjo said the matter had been settled by the appellate court, while ruling on similar application by Akingbola against the ruling of a former trial judge,

15.

“We have strong reason to believe that CONTISS 15 will soon be implemented. But it is at our National Executive Council (NEC) meeting tomorrow (today) that we will determine whether or not to call off the strike.”

The emergency ASUP NEC meeting, which holds at the Labour House in Abuja, is sequel to the intervention of the Joint House Committee on Education into the strike.

The committee, the Minister of Education, Professor R uqayyatu Rufa’i and his L abour and Productivity counterpart, Chief Emeka Wogu, had met with the union on July 9, urging them to call-off the strike.

Speaking to News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, earlier in Lagos, Asumogba said “the NEC is meeting to appraise the progress made so far, following the meeting held with the committee on education. W e have received a green light on the CONTISS 15 and we have promises here and there on other demands. The committee on education is proactive in addressing our demands. The committee is highly placed and with its members’ integrity, we have no doubt that our demands will be addressed.”

It would be recalled that ASUP, among other reasons, went on strike citing the failure of the federal and state governments to implement agreements on issues affecting polytechnic education.

ASUP wants a full implementation of CONTISS 15 and a stop to discrimination against holders of the Higher National Diploma.

The union is also protesting the absence of a National Polytechnics Commission and the deplorable condition of many polytechnics in Nigeria.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 16,2013—11

FG, states, LGs share N718.103bn

BY EMMA UJAH, Abuja Bureau Chief

T

From left, Commissioner for Special Duties and Oil & Gas, Edo State, Mr. Orobosa Omo-Ojo; chairman of the event and President, Nigeria Red Cross, Mr. Emmanuel Ijewere, presenting Catholic Young Men Association 14th Annual Lecture and Woman of Distinction Award to Chairman, Nigeria in Diaspora, House of Representatives, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and the President of Catholic Young Men Association, Mr. Vincent Ubalook, during the Association's lecture and award, in Lagos

Mimiko seeks more resources for states

T

HE GOVERNOR of Ondo State, Dr . Olusegun Mimiko, has called for the devolution of more resources to states to enable them meet their

numerous challenges.

Mimiko stated this in his office during a visit by officials of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commis-

sion, RMAFC, led by R ev.

Ajibola Fagboyegun.

According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Eni Akinsola, the

Ekiti PDP crisis worsens over consensus candidate

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

reverse himself or face stiff opposition from the group.

DO EKITI —THE crisis rocking Ogundipe, last week, constituted an t h e 11-member screening committee Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in headed by Justice Edward Ojuolape Ekiti State over the composition of the to pick a consensus candidate for the committee to pick a consensus candi- 2014 governorship election. date for the 2014 governorship elecHe said he derived his power to contion took a new twist, yesterday , as stitute the committee from the PDP group loyal to the former governor, Mr. constitution Ayo Fayose has issued out a sevenReacting, the former governor of the day ultimatum to the chairman of the state, Mr. Fayose kicked against the party, Mr. Makanjuola Ogundipe to arrangement, saying most of the committee members are known allies and sympathisers of some of the gubernatorial aspirants.

According to a statement jointly signed by the Chairman of Forum

BY GBENGAARIYIBI of former PDP Chairmen, Chief Diran Adeleye and ADO EKITI — EKITI State Government is to Secretary, Prince Taelolu Otitoju, in Ado Ekiti, yesgive a befitting burial to the wife of the former Military Governor of Western Region, late Madam terday, said any consenEunice Fajuyi. sus arrangement where Mrs. Fajuyi , who lost her husband to the military coup of 1966 at the age 38, passed on last Friday, July 12, 2013, aged 85.

The governor gave the assurance while on a condolence visit to the family of the deceased at her Okesa family House, Ado Ekiti, yesterday Speaking at the occasion, the gover nor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi said Lt. Col Adekunle Fajuyi, left legacies of commitment, integrity , honour and courage for the people of the state, saying nothing was too much to honour any member of his family with.

According to the governor, the state government would have honoured the late Fajuyi this week, when she would have celebrated her 85th birthday, but for her demise.

Fayemi, who was received by the only surviving child of the late F ajuyi, Mr. Donald F ajuyi, said every Ekiti indigene is happy with the last legacies of service of the Fajuyi dynasty.

A

Govt to accord Mrs Fajuyi befitting burial

governor submitted that some of the items contained in the exclusive list which included the issues of security and power were also being handled by

state governments.

He noted that the state, which is the closer tier of government tothe people, has various challenges that affect the socio-economic there are dissenting development of the voices could best be de- people. scribed as illegality.

While noting that The statement noted the issue of review of revenue allocathat anything short of tion is long overfree and fair primary would be unacceptable, due, Mimiko commended the pledging to challenge Commission for the such action. bold step taken to Expressing the posirevisit the allocation tion of the group,the fo- formula. rum, which consists of He said: “We are former party chairmen in total support of and secretaries, faulted devolution of reOgundipe for acceding sources to state beto the convocation of the cause a lot of activiscreening committee, ties are going on in the state. Nigerians when he had earlier committed himself to the believe that more resources must be conduct of free and fair devolved to the party primary. state. We believe The action of that the Federal Ogundipe, according to Government is havthe group, has portrayed ing much while lithim as a leader that tle goes to the components.” lacks honour.

HE FEDERAL, state and local governments have shared N718.103 billion as revenue from the Federation Accounts and proceeds of the V alue Added Tax, VAT, for the month of June 2013.

According to Minister of State for Finance and Chairman of Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC, Alhaji L awan Yerima Ngama, N623.767 billion was distributed as statutory disbursements, while N51.170 billion was shared between the three tiers of government as proceeds from VAT. According to the minister, the Federal Government received N294.038 billion or 52.68 per cent, state governments received a combined cheque of N149.140 billion or 26.72 per cent while all the local governments got N114.981 billion or 20.6 per cent of the statutory disbursements.

Osun-Osogbo festival holds Aug 23

O

SOGBO — THE 2013 edition of the Osun-Osogbo festival is to hold on A ug. 23, Alhaji AbduRasaq Adejare, the Aare Alasa of Osogboland, has said.

Adejare, who is the head of the 2013 OsunOsogbo Implementation Committee, announced the date, yesterday, in an interview programme monitored on Osun State Broadcasting Corporation, Osogbo.

He said the traditional ‘Iwopopo,’ a public procession in which all O s u n - O s o g b o stakeholders, would march through Osogbo, had been slated for Aug. 12.

He said Osogbo indigenes would from Aug. 13 begin to welcome visitors from all over the world.

12 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 16,2013

Vanguard, TUSDAY, JULY 16, 2013— 13

Rivers crisis: Dame Patience calls for truce zAs Amaechi sets up commission of inquiry

BY BEN AGANDE AND JIMITO-

TAONOYUME

A

“On a larger scale, we subscribe to the fact that conflicts and violence are the most lethal threats to peace, which itself is the irreducible minimum condition for development. ”The situation must, therefore, not be allowed to degenerate to a level that can be hijacked by miscreants and hoodlums, thus exposing everyone to insecurity from which there may be no easy es-

cape. ”We, therefore, call on elders of the state to intervene in the matter and continue to seek the highest good of Rivers State and its people, by stone-walling the activities of the few, who would rather fan little embers into a consuming inferno. Recent experience where certain otherwise respected elders of the country, from within and outside

Rivers State, were canvassing views that seemed to intensify the heat in Rivers State, is certainly unfortunate.”

The Rivers Commission of Inquiry is to ascertain how many persons were injured, threatened and property destroyed.

The Commission is also to determine if the incidents were caused by external factors or by members of the House.

BUJA—THE F irst L ady, Dame Patience Jonathan, yesterday, called on the feuding parties in Rivers State to consider the social, political and economic costs of the crisis to the state and its people and urgently find a way of resolving their political differences amicably.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government, yesterday, set up a commission of inquiry to investigate last week’s crisis in the state House of Assembly.

The panel is headed by Justice Biobele Georgewill. Inaugurating the Commission, the deputy gover nor, Mr . Tele Ikiru, who represented the governor, charged the commission to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the crisis, adding that it should submit its report to the state government on or before October 15, this year.

However, Dame Jonathan in a statement in Abuja, by her Senior Special Assistant, Ayo Osinlu, said if the crisis was not resolved, “the greater consequence of the impasse is, as usual, reser ved for the poor , the weak and the vulnerable, especially women and children, who are usually innocent CIVIL SERVICE WEEK: From left: Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Mr. Victor bystanders in all these. ”This derives naturally from Giadom; Chief Godwin Iroanwusi, keynote speaker and Sir Ngo Martyns-Yellowe, Chairthe saying that when two el- man, Civil Service Commission, Rivers State, during the Civil Service Week/Awards day, at the Civic Centre in Port Harcourt, yesterday. Photo; Nwankpa Chijioke. ephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.

Nwabueze is envious of Jonathan, Clark —Delta elders

BY EMMAARUBI

W

ARRI—THE Delta State Elders and Leaders Stakeholders Forum has said that Prof. Ben Nwabueze’s, SAN, criticism of the mid-term report of President Goodluck Jonathan and the rising political profile of Chief Edwin Clark were borne out of petty

jealousy.

Noting that Nwabueze was acting a written script aimed at mischief in the race to 2015, the forum, said Nwabueze’s disparagement of the achievements of President Jonathan and his choice of language on Chief Edwin Clark were derogatory, adding that as a military apolo-

gist that served under General Ibrahim Babaginda, he was no longer in touch with reality and had no moral right to question the credentials of a democratically elected President Jonathan.

The forum in a statement by Chief Godwin Ogbetuo, Chairman and Prince About, Publicity Secretary, described

the Babaginda years as military Head of State as years of locust in the country, characterised by inconsistencies, killings, Structural Adjustment Programme, SAP, comatose education system, incessant strikes/student unrests and shifting of transition dates culminating in the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by Bashorun M.K.O Abiola.

They maintained that Nwabueze having taught Chief Clark law at the University in London does not qualify him to claim superiority of knowledge over and above Chief Clark just like some other persons must have also taught him during his under graduate days.

Chairman of the Commission, Justice Georgewill, assured that they would discharge their duties without sentiments.

He appealed to the state government to ensure that the recommendations of the panel were implemented when submitted.

Abe dismisses oppositions’ plot to remove Amaechi

BY JIMITOTAONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT— SENATOR Magnus Abe, has dismissed the ability of the oppositions in Rivers State to remove Governor Chibuike Amaechi from office.

Abe in Bori, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area of the state, while presenting scholarships to 77 university students from Rivers South East senatorial district, which he represents at the Senate, said it was the almighty God that made Amaechi governor of the state.

Urging youths in the state to shun offers from the political class to indulge in violence, Senator Abe listed the achievements of Governor Amaechi in several sectors to include education, health and road construction.

“We are living at a time when politicians of all shades are going around recruiting young people, peoples’ children, daughters and sons to help them pursue their personal ambitions or their public aspirations.

I want to say clearly that gathering people to support you is what politics is all about and we will gather people to support us. If you see anybody who is calling you, buying you guns, machetes, giving you money to take so that he can use those are evil people.

“Anybody who loves you and is calling you at this time, the person should call you for something that will be good for you today and tomorrow. Nobody should call you and say you are a youth, come and fight, kill somebody, attack the House of Assembly or attack this person”

14—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013

EU, UN agency seek improved infrastructure devt in Nigeria

BY VICTORIA OJEME

A

BUJA—THE European Union and United Nations Industrial Development Organisation have signed N2.5 billion (12 million Euro) deal to support Nigeria in improving quality infrastructure in the nonoil, productive sectors of the economy.

Ambassador of the European Union to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Dr. David MacR ae, said the support would be delivered through the unique technical competence of United Nations Development Organisation.

UNIDO Resident Representative and Director, Dr. Patrick Kormawa, said: “The EU attaches a great importance to the diversification of Nigeria‘s oil economy, the role of the private sector in the creation of employment and the improvement of the living conditions of all its citizens.

“The support brought by the EU, in colaboration with UNIDO, to help improve Nigeria ‘s quality infrastructure is one good step in that direction.”

Kormawa said the aims of National Quality Infrastructure, NQI, of Nigeria project are to support the improvement and establishment of standards and quality control agencies to improve the quality of products and services exchanged in the Nigerian and international markets.

80 Nigerian students get US scholarships

BY VICTORIA OJEME

A

BUJA—THE United States Education Advising Centre, EAC, has said over 80 Nigerian students have got scholarship from the United States government to study in various American universities this year The centre also disclosed that it had invested over $2 million on the programme.

Head of Education USA, Jennifer Onyukwu, disclosed this at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja during pre-departure orientation for more than 80 Nigerian students, who got admissions and scholarships to study in US colleges and universities One of the beneficiaries, Yasir Ibrahim Mohammed, who was accepted into an American college on scholarship, told newsmen that he received $66,000 per year , which will run for four years.

Many other Nigerians received the same largesse from the centre.

Sanusi, ex-EFCC bosses, others shun Reps' probe of N2trn seized assets

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE & LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

A

BUJA—FORMER Chairmen of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and Mrs Farida Waziri, as well as Managing Director of Assets Management Company of Nigeria, AMCON, Mr Mustafa Chike-Obi, yesterday, shunned the investigative hearing into seized assets allegedly worth over N2trillion.

Both past chairmen of the antigraft agency were visibly absent at the hearing.

Also absent was the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

Current chairman of EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Lamorde, sent an apology letter through his Director of Finance, Mr Bukar Abba.

Acting Director General of Federal Inland Revenue Services, Mr Ahmed Kabiru, was also summoned to appear before the panel on Tuesday.

House Committee Chairman on Narcotics, Drugs and Financial Crimes, Jagaba Adams Jagaba, speaking at the hearing, tagged: “How to unravel the status of all assets seized by EFCC’, warned that chief executives who failed to appear before Wednesday would face the full wrath of the law.

Jagaba, not particularly happy that the EFCC boss did not show up, asked his representative when his boss would appear before the committee.

In his response, EFCC Director of Finance said his boss would appear hopefully on Wednedsady.

At this point, Jagaba said: “Section 89 sub section 1c of the constitution empowers us to summon any person and we can declare you wanted if the need arises".

A member of the Committee, Sunday Adepoju, declared that “this committee would not accept the EFCC chairman’s apologies because he did not personally sign the letter.”

But W arman Ogoriba, representing Bayelsa State, countered, saying "let us oblige them since they have promised to show up another day.

He said: “It is important for him to appear before this panel because Nigerians want to know what happened to those seized assets.”

Referring to the MD of AMCON, Yakubu Dogara, said: “We summon people because our action is laced by law, Section 89 sub section 1c spells it out that we can summon anybody in pursuance of an investigation

like this.

Dogara said: "Y our nonappearance before us is equivalent to taking arms against the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

"If we repeal the Act establishing AMCON, the MD would lose his job. This culture

of impunity must stop because if they do not come, then what are we doing here?

Chairman of the committee, however, r uled that the MD of AMCON must appear before the committee by 10am today.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu

Tambuwal, called for proper accountability in the seized assets by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, saying a situation where monies, landed property and business concerns estimated at N2 trillion was not properly managed was unacceptable.

From left: Senior Operations Officer, World Bank-assisted CADP, Dr Lucas Akapa; Perm.

Sec. Kaduna State Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Paulina Hassan; Project Manager, KADP, Dr Abdulkadir Kashim and National Project Operations Officer, NPC-CADP, Dr Salisu Garba at the CADP 8th joint implementation support supervision/restructuring mission in Kaduna, yesterday. Photo: Olu Ajayi.

Police rescue 4 kidnap victims, confirm one dead in Enugu

BY TONY EDIKE

E

NUGU—ENUGU State Police Command said it has successfully rescued four persons abducted by kidnappers in different parts of the state.

It also confirmed the murder of one of the victims, Ijeoma Maduabuchi, at Obinagu village, Ugwuoba, in Oji River local government area of Enugu State.

The state Commissioner of Police, Abubakar A damu Mohammed, who disclosed this in a briefing vowed that 22 kidnap suspects had been apprehended and would face the wrath of the law.

He said investigations into the criminal cases and similar ones were in progress and would be concluded without delay.

The CP said a Lebanese, Mohammed Kanaan, working with Grey Line Construction Company Udi/Ugwuoba road, Enugu was abducted on April 29, 2013, adding that men of the anti- Kidnapping Unit of the command succeeded in rescuing him on May 2.

According to him, one Albert Chukwu, alias Agbaranze, who claimed to be a native of

Ugwuoba, was tracked and picked up in connection with the incident and is currently assisting the operatives in their investigations.

He also disclosed that one Fidelia Obetta abducted on April 22, 2013, at Nsukka, was rescued unhurt, following useful information given to the police, while four suspects, including Chibueze Areji, Ikowo Ekene, Eze Ikechukwu and Ezema Okechukwu, were arrested with two locally-made guns and live

cartridges.

Adamu said seven suspected kidnappers were arrested in connection with the abduction and murder of Ijeoma Maduabuchi at Ugwuoba village Ugwuoba in Oji River Local Government Area of the state, while seven persons, namely Sunday Nwangwu, Raymond Nwambe, Uzoamaka Ogadi (F), Ekene Eze alias Mmachi, Chinonso Ikeanyi, Omah James and Nnaemeka Enyi, were apprehended.

Customs seizes N215m contraband

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

W E R R I —F E D E R A L Operations Unit, FOU, of Nigeria Custom Service, NCS, Zone C, has seized a 40-feet container stocked with foreign footwears, which duty paid value was put at N97.2 million.

Disclosing this to newsmen in Owerri, the Area Controller of Customs, Mr. Victor Dimka, also said his unit seized assorted foreign textiles and second hand clothing conservatively put at over N118 million.

Dimka said: "The trailer with number plate RUM 112 XA, was loaded with big sacks of

footwears numbering about 237 cartons. The contraband-laden trailer was arrested on July 13, 2013, along Eleme-Aba road”.

He expressed shock that smugglers did no want to heed to advice against smuggling, stressing that no matter how rich the importer might be, N97.2 million would no doubt affect his business adversely.

The Zone C Customs boss was particularly irked that some transport companies allowed their vehicles to be used for transporting smuggled materials instead of passengers and noncontraband goods.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013—15

Yuguda, Rep trade words over relocation of LG hqtrs

FG launches new HIV/AIDS response plan

BY SONI DANIEL & EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

castigate him and the lawmakers.

The governor said: “I AUCHI State know that the lawmaker is governor, Mallam Isa crying over spilled milk.

Yuguda, yesterday, lashed My happiness is that the out at the Chairman, House killing of innocent people has stopped since the of Representatives Committee on Services, relocation".

The governor’s reaction Yakubu Dogara, for trying followed claim by Dogara to heat up the polity over that he illegally moved the the relocation of the headquarters of T afawa headquarters from Tafawa Balewa Local Government Balewa to Bununu and that the action would not stand to Bununu.

Yuguda, who spok e to since it was in contravention of the Vanguard, said the Nigerian constitution. lawmaker was merely After raising the alarm, trying to play to the gallery over a matter that had long Dogara called on President Goodluck Jonathan and been concluded by the men of goodwill to prevail State House of Assembly on the Bauchi State House and which had brought about sustained peace and of Assembly to discontinue the move to transfer the LG stability in the area.

The governor said he was headquarters to Bununu.

Dogara vowed that no surprised that Dogara, who amount of threat to him, had witnessed steady decline in the destruction including attempt to recall of lives and property since him from the House of the exercise was carriedout Representatives, would by the House of Assembly, deter him from opposing the relocation. could turn round to

B

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, launched a new , special purpose programme targeted at achieving universal access to the prevention, treatment, care and support for Nigerians living with HIV/AIDS. Tagged the “ President’s Comprehensive Response Plan”, PCRP , the programme was developed to promote greater responsibility and accountability for HIV/ AIDS responses at national and sub-national levels.

Data from the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA, shows that 3.4 million Nigerians are living with HIV/AIDS. Launching the new programme during the Abuja +12 Special Summit on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria and other related infectious diseases, the President said the initiative was a demonstration of Nigeria’s commitment to the Abuja Declaration 2001. are not charged fixed “The government of charge and that most of the Nigeria realizes that HIV/ residential consumers are AIDS, TB, malaria and subsidided. other infectious diseases

pose a significant threat to human and economic development. We have developed this plan to accelerate implementation of key interventions with respect to HIV/AIDS. President Jonathan said: “This programme will help us bridge existing service gaps, address key financial, system and coordination challenges in current HIV/ AIDS response systems.

"I have also directed the immediate development of a new and creative

framework for sustainable financing of health to meet the targeted objectives”.

Addressing delegates, the President observed that Africa made significant progress towards reduction of the incidence of the diseases during the intervening years since the national benchmarks of Abuja Declaration of 2001 and the UNGASS Declaration of Commitment in 2006.

He said: “ As commendable and

encouraging as these achievements are, our continent is still far from attaining all the targets to sufficiently secure the wellbeing of their country and their future.

“To consolidate our progress in addressing the heavy burden with increased urgency, develop a stronger, home grown, sustainable health financing framework, we must take ownership of the process, and drive its implementation".

Electricity tarif f fair, reasonable — NERC

BY NOEL ONOJA

A

BUJA—NIGERIAN Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, yesterday, justified the current increase on electricity tariff being charged for the various categories of electricity consumers nationwide.

Chairman of NERC, Mr. Sam Amadi told newsmen that the tariff plans where fixed to accommodate for afive year period based on the expected cost of generating, transmitting and distributing the electricity for homes and businesses during the years stipulated.

Amadi explained that the Multi Year Tariff Order, MYTO, which is the stipulated tariff regime comprised of fixed charge and energy charge, saying “in the past, consumers paid for meter maintenance fee, the Commission abolished the maintenance fee in 2011 to make tariff in the industry fair and reasonable. Fixed charge is a component of electricity tariff all over the world, it is charged to recover some of the capital costs for production and supply of electricity.

In designing the fixed charge, NERC ensured that very poor consumers

BIRTHDAY—From left: Mrs D.P. Omatsola; Mrs Rose Egbe and Rear Admiral D.P. Omatsola (rtd), during a church service to mark the 70th birthday of Mrs Bernadette Adebisi George at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Victoria Island, Lagos. Photo: Shola Oyelese.

16—Vanguard , TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013

MRS PATRICIA AGBAKWU’S DAY AS MAJOR DISTRIBUTOR OF VLISCO HOLLANDAIS LINE OF ANKARA PIX: OSCAR OCHIOGOR.

LAUNCHING: From Left: Mrs. Bimbo Fashola, First Lady, Lagos State; Mrs. Patricia Agbakwu; Senator Daisy Danjuma; Princess Abba Folawiyo and Mr. Ifeanyi Dike, at the launch of VLISCO HOLLANDAIS line of Ankara, with Mrs. Patricia Agbakwu as major distributor, at the Surulere Super Plaza in Lagos.

Mr. Sam Amuka, Publisher, Vanguard Newspapers, Father of the day and Mrs. Funmi Ajila Ladipo, President, FADAN, at the event.

From left: Princess Abba Folawiyo, Mrs. Patricia Agbakwu and Mrs. Bimbo Fashola, First Lady, Lagos State, at the launch.

Mrs. Patricia Agbakwu (left) and Mrs. Bose Clarke.

Anguish as motorists pass thr ough ‘hell’ on Oshodi-Apapa Expr essway

Failed portion of Apapa-Oshodi expressway between Iyana-Itire and Sadiku Bus stops, yesterday.

The five-minute journey now takes more than five hours to complete. The gridlock causes untold hardships to motorists and commuters alike. (Top right)- Gridlock caused by the failed portion of the road. On the right is another bad portion of the road fit only for Caterpillers. Photos: Bunmi Azeez.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013— 17

C M Y K

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013 HOWEVER the strikes of university, and polytechnic teachers are resolved, they would fail to address the damages from imbalance in the attention the authorities give different sides of higher education.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, are demanding more funding for teaching facilities and research, better welfare for teachers and improvements in the administrative structures of their institutions. There may be extract additional promises on these issues, yet the authorities are neglecting dangerous shifts in our education.

Discrimination that governments and other employers exhibit in their treatment of graduates of universities and polytechnics is central to the issue. They promote the discrimination.

It took almost two months of the ASUP nationwide strike before the authorities negotiated with ASUP. Days into the ASUU strike, all efforts were mustered to return the teachers to the classrooms. Obviously, the children of the high and mighty attend universities – the ASUU strike affected them.

Only the children of the poor, those who do

More Disturbing Education Matters not have the contacts that pull in admission, after the jigsaw with cut off marks and postJAMB screening, attend polytechnics.

The ASUP strike benefitted from the attention ASUU received; the major reason the authorities remembered ASUP. Official discriminatory practices in education are dangerous for development.

Nigeria is already paying dearly for the indifference to polytechnic education. Fewer candidates are applying to polytechnics and colleges of education. We would be producing fewer graduates with the practical background that polytechnic education provides and less teachers at the critical levels graduates of colleges of education fill.

Statistics from the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination indicated that in

2013, 1,670,833 candidates applied to universities, 28,977 candidates to polytechnics, and 28,445 to colleges of education. They are jostling for 520,000 places in over 128 federal, state and private universities; 76 federal, state and private polytechnics; and the over 63 colleges of education.

It is instructive that the 52,608 students that applied to the University of Ibadan, which is the 10th in candidates’ choice, is slightly less than the 57,422 students that applied to all the polytechnics and colleges of education.

Applications to these institutions are 3.4 per cent of applications to universities.

Nigeria should worry about this development. The appropriate response would be to pay adequate attention to education and halt the discrimination. Of the 520,000 places that are available for students in 2013/2014, many of them are in polytechnics and colleges of education – they will not be filled.

Students are making their choices based on the premium Nigeria places on university education. It is time the education authorities realised the damage they are doing, more damage than ASUU and ASUP strikes.

OPINION

T

BY JOE UMUNNABUIKE

HE intrigues and political gimmicks unfolding in Anambra State are clear pointers to the governorship election slated for next year. Contenders and pretenders are declaring their ambition to rule the state, promising heaven and earth, and claiming to be the best, even when their antecedents indicate the contrary.

People of questionable character and illgotten wealth are already throwing money at the people. Some of them have failed to manage their private businesses and owe their workers millions of naira in outstanding salaries and allowances. Even those who had a stint in the political offices before now, without any meaningful contributions to show for it, are also back in the race.

Curiously, the state government is also busy clearing the ground to ensure, apparently, that the governor’s anointee succeeds him. Is this why government funds are being shared to individuals, churches, and communities in a manner that suggest bribe for votes ahead of the election? Beneficiaries of the state government’s suspicious gestures which were widely reported in national dailies include members of Agbo-Edo Motor Spare Parts Dealers Association, Nnewi that were presented with N35 million cheque for construction of the major access road across the market. Similarly the governor recently presented a cheque of N30 million to Chikason Group, Nnewi for the reconstruction of Chikason road.

Governor Peter Obi said the gesture was

Issues a head A nambra 2 0 14 guber 01 election part of his promise to always support and encourage industrialists in the state through provision of key infrastructural facilities such as access road to their factories in order to grow and expand their businesses to create more employment opportunities.

He also presented a cheque of N3 million to the management of Christ the King College, Onitsha, during a recent visit to the school, explaining that the gesture was in fulfilment of his promise to match any organisation that decides to build anything in any part of Anambra Sate with equal funds.

Recently the governor, in Awka, gave out N733 million to Catholic and Anglican churches to run their schools in the state.

He said the money was for the rehabilitation of primary schools taken over by the state government in 1970 but returned to the missions in 2011. The governor said he was impressed with the churches’ collaboration in rebuilding education in the State These gestures are unprecedented, but nobody is asking questions on the sudden official charity at the twilight of the administration and how the public funds will be utilized and accounted for. When has the state government become a Father Xmas? Or has the government run out of governance ideas that warrant giving out public funds at will to individuals to

embark on developmental projects?

One is also concerned about sentiment being expressed over which senatorial zone should produce the next governor of the state, instead of yearning for a strong character and quality leadership that will take the state to the next level. Unfortunately Governor Obi who was never a product of any zoning has promised the people of Anambra North senatorial zone that his successor would be chosen from there. His reason and that of his allies was that since 1999, the North has remained the only senatorial zone in the state that has not produced governor of the state. But it seems Obi and his allies have forgotten that since 1999, people from Anambra North zone have contested governorship election in the state though they have not won any. Besides, at no time did the people of the state agreed that governorship seat would rotate among the three zones in the state.

A

nambra people should be concerned about quality of their leaders, rather than the zone they come from, or their party platforms. Why should Anambra government introduce such divisive tactics to charge the peaceful political atmosphere in the state ahead of the election? Political power is never given on a platter of gold; rather, it is taken. And in every free and fair election, the voters remain the ultimate

decider of the outcome. Anambra people should be allowed to make their choice in the election. All those who are aspiring for political seat should work for it by reaching out to the people, not by offering money for votes but with their peopleoriented economic blueprint on how to move the state forward if elected.

The 1999 Constitution, as amended, has no provision for zoning for elective political offices. It only has provision for appointment into federal political offices to reflect the principle of federal character.

The development on zoning has thrown up more mediocres in the system today than super stars of our time. Zoning of political offices ahead of election is undemocratic and anti-people, no matter how one looks at it. It often shrinks the political space and provides limited choice for the electorate.

The fact that political parties do so, for strategic reasons, does not make it constitutional and binding on all Nigerians.

All three senatorial zones in the state have enough quality leaders to aspire for the position, so why the campaign for zoning?

In all these schemings, where does the interest of the majority of the people of the Anambra State lie before and after the election, and what do they need to move the state forward? Anambra people should not be swayed by the financial patronage and political rhetorics of the aspirants and their godfathers.

The people should think and act wise in the election for the betterment of the state and its citizenry. *Dr. Umunnabuike, a Computer Scientist, wrote from Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013— 19

, T

HE Assembly described by the conveners of the confab on insecurity as the "national family meeting" was scheduled for July 2 and 3 at Uyo. It was also called a political summit on the future of Nigeria. The Vanguard Monday, June 24, 2013 titled its report thusly: Confab on Insecurity: Soyinka, Sule, Anyaoku, Clark, others storm Uyo The national family meeting has been reschulded to enable the conveners accommodate requests of those who want to be part of the Assembly of the Nation in Uyo. The two day summit has as its theme: "National Security and P olitical Stability." A ccording to the conveners, the summit is being convened to douse the tension created by the emergency situation in the country. Kura, Head of Communications, the summit secretariat, says: "The summit is being convened against the background of the current challenges facing our dear country,

Nigeria in the areas of national security and political stability. The emergency national consultative meeting is designed to bring together distinguished statesmen, government functionaries, political and religious leaders of thought from the six political zones, to discuss and negotiate an agreed modality to securing the stability and future of Nigeria".

The gathering will indeed be a representative assembly of the nation's most valuable asset of intellect, visionaries, experience, proven integrity, and patriotic zeal.

The list begins with the President to lead the distinguished presence of former presidents/heads of state, their deputies, leaderships of the National Assembly , state governors and ministers, including First Republic Minister and Chairman, Northern Elders' Forum, Alhaji Y usuf Maitama Sule, the Chairman of The Patriots, the legal icon, Prof Ben Nwabueze (SAN); Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka (lead speaker); General T.Y. Danjuma, Dr Ale x

,

Ekweme, Chief Edwin Clark,Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Ambassador Christopher Kolade, Chief A yo Adebanjo, Alhaji Aliko Mohammed, Chief Philip Asiodu, Prof Itse Sagay (SAN), Prof Akin Oyebode. The list is a representative assemblage of the nation's best, brightest and passionately and courageously committed not only to the survival and stability of the nation but to its thriving and enduring prosperity. It is a veritable 'Who is Who in Nigeria'. All zones, all sectors, private, media, technocratic, governmental and political are represented. All are proven and effective articulators of the interest of the nation. The danger to the nation contained in its present circumstances compels the convening of this "national family meeting."

T

he report's Introduction is an economic summary of the purpose of the conveners.

"Disturbed by worsening

Obaze a nd i ssues a rround ound A Anambra nambra 220 014 201

BY CHUKS ILOEGBUNAM

I

HAD a chance encounter with Oseloka Henry Obaze in July 2012. I was in A wka, about to confer with a number of folks on official business, when someone introduced one of my would-be interlocutors -Mr.Obaze - as the Secretary to the State Government of Anambra (SSG). For whatever it was worth, I quickly mentioned to the hearing of all that I had resigned my political appointment in Anambra State a year earlier and, since I was entitled to some disengagement fees, it was, to say the least, embarrassing that I " hadn't received anything. Mr. Obaze asked how long I would be in the state for and where I was lodging. Thereafter we had our deliberations and went our separate ways.

Two days later the receptionist at the hotel I was staying alerted me via the intercomthat I had a visitor . Since I wasn't e xpecting anyone, I replied that there must be a mistake. The receptionist had the visitor identify himself as Mr . Obaze's P A. Downstairs the man, the son of a prominent female politician from Onitsha, thrust pen and paper in my face, and I signed the document to indicate that I had received my severance allowance from the Anambra State Government!

Since Mr. Obaze's behaviour ran against the common Nigerian grain, I subsequently rang up a number of my former colleagues in Awka, including a couple of them working in the SSG's office, to ask what kind of man Obaze really was. Did he act that kind and considerate way to me because he knew that, if the spirit moved me, I was liable to ruffle a few feathers? No. That was Obaze, came the common reply. Still surprised, even if pleasantly so, I decided on investigating the Obaze phenomenon a little bit more. I found out that the man had trained in the United States and held down diplomatic

C M Y K

positions at the United Nations.

Last August I attended the W orld Igbo Congress (WIC) summit in Orlando, Florida. On one of the nights during the summit, I found myself in congenial company that included Chief RaphUwechue, then President-General of OhanaezeNdigbo, P rofessor Pat Utomi, Professor Michael Echeruo, Professor Ebere Onwudiwe, and many others. We were being hosted by Dr. Obi Nwakanma and his wife, Mira, in their Orlando home.

When I spotted Chike and Ethel Momah, a most distinguished couple, I knew I had my best opportunity to obtain a character profile on Oseloka Obaze. Chief Momah, a friend and contemporary of Chinua Achebe's from their Government College, Umuahia, days, and his wife had been married since 1959. He was the first indigenous Librarian of the University of Ibadan. His wife, an elder sister of Senator Onyeabor Obi, is a professional in her own right. They lived for decades in New Jersey , where Obaze was reportedly also domiciled.

I casually mentioned to them that Anambra had a new SSG, a certain OselokaObaze, who NdiAnambra were yet to place. Without any hesitation whatsoever , the Momahs pronounced Obaze a decent and likeable person, a proficient diplomat.

That settled it for me. OselokaObaze appears to be a square peg in a square hole.

I left the matter there until most recently when the media reported that Obaze was considering seeking nomination to contest the Anambra governorship election slated for later this year. I decided to probe the Obaze man a little bit more. Where, indeed, was he coming from? What, for a second instance, are the details of his credentials?

Mr. Obaze, I found out, was born on April 9, 1955 in Chinua Achebe's hometown of Ogidi but hails from Ochuche Umuodu, in

,

Planned assembly of the nation in Uyo: Confab on insecurity

Events in the country portray the Nigerian society as threatened with anarchy and a government fighting an insurgent civil war; insecurity is, therefore, not a challenge to be fixed through reform

insecurities and political tension in the country ahead of the 2015 general elections, eminent leaders of thought, statesmen and politicians across the six geopolitical zones will converge on Uyo, Akwa Ibom State Capital, next week to chart the way forward.

They will gather at Le Meridien Hotels and Resorts between July 2 and 3 for a political summit on the future of Nigeria, convened by Project Nigeria-National Consensus Group". At this point it is pertinent to ask what exactly is the present condition and crises of Nigeria and what opportunities for redirection does the nation's condition provide for this particular intervention and how are the nation's crises to be managed to allow for planning and piloting of ways forward? The objectives of the Confab are not modest. The Assembly of the Nation is called with "a view of kick-starting a profound process of national consultations and political negotiations capable of fostering enduring solutions to the heightening tension in the country". It is therefore of critical importance to ascertain what are the assumptions with respect to the prevailing national crises that inform the convening of the consultation meeting to plan the way for ward for the countr y.

Events in the country portray the Nigerian society as a society threatened with anarchy and a government fighting an insurgent civil war. The insecurity to be addressed at the Uyo conference is therefore not a challenge to be fixed through reform. What confronts the citizenry is a society described in terms of anarchy. The Sunday Comment on THISDAY May 12, 2013 editorial page written by the Editor, Peter Ishaka is titled: 'A verting a Slide into Anarchy': "These are trying times

It will be impolitic to ditch the venue of a chieftaincy celebration simply to pitch camp at the propitiation of the god of recklessness

,

the Ogbaru LGA of Anambra. His father, Anthony Chukwunweike Obaze, (19201969), was a Senior Local Government Administrator and his mother , Mrs. Rosemary OmuluzuaObaze (1928-2009), a school teacher. This second of six children had to spend his early life in many parts of Eastern Region - Aguata, Anang, Onitsha, Umuahia, Uzuakoli, etc, as the father got transferred from one station to the other.

For his secondary education, he attended the two oldest (and most famous) colleges in Onitsha - Christ the King College (CKC) [1967-1970] and the Dennis memorial Grammar School (DMGS) [1973-1974].

O

as criminal gangs are on the rampage. There is urgent need to contain the danger". Peter Ishaka writes: "No fewer than 55 persons were killed last T uesday when suspected Boko Haram militants invaded and attacked separate security formations in Bama, a border town in Borno State, freeing 105 prison inmates in the process. Among the victims were 22 policemen, 14 officials of the Nigerian Prison Service and two soldiers. On the evening of the same day, another group of religious militants said to be worshippers of a local deity called 'Ombatse' ambushed and killed 43 policemen and several operatives of the State Security Service, SSS, in Lafia, Nasarawa State. At the time of writing this editorial, many policemen were still unaccounted for. So within the period of 24 hours, 65 policemen, 14 prison officials and two soldiers were officially confirmed to have been murdered by some bandits in two states with the fate of several others still unknown‌.Against this backdrop that men and women in uniform embody the state, it should be obvious to the authorities that the situation where official armed personnel could be so cynically executed poses a serious threat not only to the security of citizens but also to our corporate existence as a nation". These two killings occurring within the same day involving two radically different killers in two different states are alarming in their scope and ordinarily are indicative of a society ill secured. The societal crisis in Nigeria is characterized by the fact that these two killings are not extraordinary or shocking events but part of what has now become a routine of armed violence. Continues next week

Processes and Mediation Efforts, from the FolkeBennadotte A cademy, Sandon, Sweden (2007).

Obaze worked in the Nigerian Foreign Service from 1982 to 1991 when he joined the United Nations where he served for 21 years before he took office on June 29, 2012 as the Anambra SSG. A published writer and literary critic of note, Obaze is married to Dr. Ofunne Omo Obaze and they are blessed with children.

I have briefly gone into Obaze's past in order that NdiAnambra will acknowledge where the tree fell and where its leaves scattered. This is because it will be impolitic to ditch the venue of a chieftaincy celebration simply to pitch camp at the propitiation of the god of recklessness. There are nearly a hundred gubernatorial aspirants in the state at the moment! Some of them are graceless. Others are comical.

A third category, some say, are of characters better administered long stretches in solitary confinement. The categorisation bears elasticity. For a few, governorship aspiration is a once-in-four-years ritual, a jamboree.

For a special group, it is a means for jostling for crumbs after the main prize. Closely associated to this group are jesters digging above their limit, plotting to update their CVs as "also-aspired" and "also-rans". The really qualified can be counted on the fingers of one hand.

However, the good thing about democracy is that when its doors swing open, everyone is let in, except those barred by legitimate statutes. In this wise, NdiAnambra deserve praises for their toleration of the babel of voices aiming for the top job in the state.

These are a few of the reasons I humbly and solemnly urgeNdiAnambratosit back and examine with open minds the possible candidacy of Oseloka Henry Obaze in the forthcoming governorship election. I already sat down and scrupulously examined the prospect.

baze earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from the Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln, NE in 1979, and a Masters degree in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Nebraska (1980.) He also holds a Certificate in Diplomacy from the Nigerian Foreign Service Academy, Lagos, Nigeria (1983); Certificate in Peacekeeping and P reventive Diplomacy, from the UNITAR/International Peace A cademy Course, Burg Schlaining, Austria (1996); Certificate in Early Warning and Preventive Measures, from the UN System Staff College, T urin, Italy (1999); and a Mr. Iloegbunam, a commentator on naCertificate in Facilitation of Dialogue tional issues, wrote from Lagos.

20 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013 — 21

GSK used travel agencies for China bribes — Police

C

HINESE police, yesterday , accused British dr ugmaker, GlaxoSmithKline, of channeling bribes to Chinese officials and doctors through travel agencies to boost sales illegally and raise the price of its medicines in the country.

The charges make the GSK’s case the highest profile corporate investigation in China since four executives from mining giant, Rio Tinto, were jailed in March 2010 for taking bribes and stealing commercial secrets.

Gao Feng, head of the economic crimes investigation unit at China’s Ministry of Public Security, said since From left: Group Managing Director, WEMPCO Western Metal Products, Mr. Lewis Tung; President Goodluck 2007, GSK had transferred as much Jonathan and Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, at the Nigeria-China Business Forum, as 3 billion ($489 million) to more than in Beijing, China.

700 travel agencies and consultancies over six years.

Four senior Chinese executives from GSK had been detained, Gao said at a news conference. The Ministry of Public Security had said last week that GSK executives in China had confessed to bribery and tax violations.

GSK said it was deeply concerned by the developments and had stopped using the travel agencies identified by

By PETER DURU flow of investments in all sectors of the rican countries in the inflow of foreign the investigation. It said it was direct investment, which as at the end reviewing all third party agencies and nation’s economy. of 2012, was put at over $7billion.

According to the minister , “Foreign all historic transactions related to the IGERIA has been rated by the “It is a clear indication that Nigerinvestors are becoming even more intravel agencies.

United Nations Conference on terested in investing in the Nigerian ia’s economy has picked “GSK shares the desire of the Trade and Development, UNCTAD, as the biggest beneficiary economy, which undoubtedly is a func- up.Government on its part has also put Chinese authorities to root out tion of President Jonathan’s commit- in place a strategic plan of action corruption,” it said in a brief of foreign direct nvestment in Africa known as the Nigeria Industrial De- statement. “These allegations are with over $7billion worth of foreign in- ment to the transformation agenda, velopment Plan. shameful and we regret this has vestments inflow in 2012. The coun- which he has executed with all dili“This plan would anchor the totality occurred.” gence.”

The president has seized the try was also adjudged by the world GSK supplies key products such as body as the best destination for for- initiative to take this country to the next of the countr y’s industrial developlevel of development; we must all key ment in the next four years and by so vaccines in China, as well as drugs eign investments in the continent. into that vision and support the initi- doing; go a long way in shaping and for lung disease and cancer.

Minister of State for Trade and Indirecting the industrialisation of the Sources familiar with the situation vestment, Dr. Samuel Ortom, who dis- ative. country. We’re making great progress, said GSK’s general manager for “Because the presidential initiative closed this in an interview in Makurhas already started paying off, accord- I can assure you.”

China, Mark R eilly, had left the di, noted that the country had in the country for London 10 days ago to last two years led other African coun- ing to UNCTAD, for the second year attend routine meetings and was now tries in the UNCTAD rating in the in- running, Nigeria is leading other Afworking in Britain, where he is in regular contact with the team in China.

Nigeria records $7bn FDI, sa ys minister

N

Lagos loses N1bn annually to illegal billboards — LASAA

By PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

M

ANAGING Director of the Lagos State Signage and A dvertisement Agency (L ASAA), Mr. George Noah, has said that Lagos State government loses about N1billion in revenue generation annually to illegal outdoor signages located within police, military and other Federal Government establishments in the state.

The LASAA boss disclosed this at the A dvertisers Association of Nigeria, (AD VAN) 2013 Annual General Meeting and special marketers evening held in Lagos.

Addressing a community of marketing professionals comprising of outdoor advertising practitioners, creative advertising agencies, media buyers, public relations and experiential marketers, Noah said: “We have a huge problem. The police, military and other FG establishments in the state are practicing outdoor by default and there is no where in the law that permits these set of institutions to regulate and control

the signage industry.” Noah further stated that the illegal practice by the police, military and Federal Government institutions in the state has contributed to Lagos losing revenue in the region of N1 billion.

He, however, said the emphasis is not the money, while appealing to practitioners and advertisers to desist from patronising such boards.

“These are the only places we have problems in outdoor within the state and the state loses about N1billion yearly to these illegal structures.

“I don’t think the emphasis is on the money . We are only interested in doing something right and also protecting the environment,” he stated.

He said intelligence reports have it that police management in the state is planning to erect over 60 unipoles in the state. He pointed out that such poles are being erected in Falomo, Dodan barracks and Gbagada areas in Lagos already. Noah also appealed to advertisers and operators to invest in new innovation to ensure that the environment is protected.

119.35

-3.8

2,196.00

+5.00

16.04

-0.06

108.65

+0.92

105.60

+0.69

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL DOLLAR 154.76 POUNDS 233.5483 EURO 201.6213 FRANC 162.648 YEN 1.5543 CFA 0.2887 WAUA 231.6787 RENMINBI 25.2138 RIYA 41.2627 KRONA 27.0215 SDR 232.3257

155.26 234.3029 202.2727 163.1739 1.5593 0.2987 232.4272 25.2957 41.396 27.1088 233.0763

SELLING 155.76 235.0574 202.9241 163.6994 1.5643 0.3087 233.1757 25.3776 41.5294 27.1961 233.8269

CBN Exchange rate as at 15/07/2013

22 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013

How collective inves tment scheme is governed

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

I

T is important that investors have basic knowledge of how a collective investment scheme is governed and who is responsible for the different aspect of its operations.

At the apex is the Securities and Exchange Commission, which regulates the activities of mutual funds, through the provisions of the Investment and Securities Act (2007). The Act set out the general guidelines for establishment and operations of mutual funds in Nigeria.

Next are the Trustees to the mutual fund. The Trustees are the equivalent of the board of directors of a company. Their responsibility is to represent contributors to the mutual funds. Hence, they take decisions on behalf of contributors, with the objective of safeguarding the assets of the mutual funds. They are also to ensure that the mutual fund is operated and managed in compliance to the laws, regulations, and rules.

Among other things, the Trustees decide on dividend payment, organise and conduct annual general meetings of contributors to the fund.

The Fund manager (usually a company) is the one contracted or hired by the Trustees to make and manage the day-today investment activities of the Fund. The Fund manager must be licensed by SEC to operate as a portfolio or fund manager.

According to the ISA 2007, A “ manager shall administer a collective investment scheme: honestly and fairly; with skill, care and diligence; and in the interest of investors and the securities industry.

The Fund manager is also required to: maintain adequate financial resources to meet its commitments and to manage the risks to which its collective investment scheme is exposed; organise and control the scheme in a responsible manner; keep proper records; employ adequately trained staff and ensure that they are properly supervised; have well defined compliance procedures; and promote investor education.

There is also the Custodian of the Fund, and its principal duty is to keep the assets of the

According to the ISA 2007, A “ scheme fund shall be invested by a manager in accordance with the provisions of the trust deed or custodial agreement with the objectives of safety and maintenance of fair returns on amounts invested.

“No manager, trustee or custodian under a scheme shall make any alteration in the Trust Deed or custodial agreement in which are expressed the trusts of an authorised scheme or to make any change in the name of an authorised scheme without prior approval of the Commission”.

The above imply that before investing in any mutual fund, the investor should inquire about the trustee, the Fund manager, and be sure they are licensed by SEC. Most importantly, investors should also Fund, and maintain proper be. manager and the T rustee. It acquaint themselves with the record of all transactions on the governs the management of a Trust Deed, because the docuThe management of the day assets. In addition to these, is mutual fund by laying down ment determines where their to day investment activities of the Registrar of the Fund and rights, responsibilities, invest- money will be invested, how it the mutual fund is governed his job is to maintain register ment objectives, policies, out- would be invested, and the by a document called the Trust or records of unit holders or lets and all other relevant in- profitability of their investDeed. A T rust Deed is the shareholders as the case may formation of the Fund. ment. agreement between the Fund

Top 10 performing stocks

building paints, wood finishes and automotive refinishes.

HARES of companies Available financial statement like IPWA Plc, HIS Plc, of the company for the third Mobil Oil Nig Plc, Beta quarter ended 30 th September, 2011, showed that gross Glass, Ikeja Hotel and Ecobank Transnational In- earning declined by 13 percorporated, ETI, were cent to N241.07 billion from N276.06 billion in 2010. It among the 10 stocks that recorded huge patronage recorded loss before tax of last week to emerge in the N59.21 billion, a four percent decline over negative N61.56 list of top ten performing billion reported in the same stocks.

The rest are Julius Berger period of 2011.

The share price has risen by Plc, National Salt Company 64 percent year-to-date from of Nigeria, NASCON, UACN, and Dangote Sugar N0.50 at the beginning of the year to the present market Refinery. price. It had previously risen to N0.97 before falling to the current price.

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

S

IPWA Plc, listed on the building material sub-sector of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, recorded 30.16 percent or N0.19 price appreciation to top the list.

It opened the market at N0.63 and closed at N0.82.

By virtue of its products profile, IPWA Plc is the most diversified paint manufacturing company in Nigeria, producing highly technological Marine , Protective, Packaging, Industrial and coil coatings in addition to

...a leading telecom infrastructure provider

Telecommunications services company, IHS Plc, trailed behind with 30.15 percent or N0.60 gains from N1.99 at the beginning of the week to N2.59. L ast year, IHS announced that it entered into a definitive agreement with MTN Group Limited (“MTN”) (JSE: MTN) pursuant to which it wills acquire up to 931 mobile network towers from MTN Cote d’Ivoire for US$141 million and up to 827 towers from MTN Cameroon for US143

million. Following the agreement, IHS became 100 percent shareholder of the tower companies to be set up in each country to manage the towers and other passive infrastructure. The quarter two financial statement for the period ended 31st October, 2012 showed that it recorded 213.9 percent increase in turnover from N3.61 billion in 2011 to N11.32 billion in 2012. Profit, however, nose-dived by 97.4 percent to negative position of N1.22 billion from another loss position of N618.02 million in 2011. Already, its share price has risen by 52.35 percent

year-to-date from N1.70 to N2.59, its highest in the year.

Mobil Oil rose by 10 percent or N1.00 from N107.10 at the beginning of the year to N117.81. Mobil is the second most highly priced stock in the petroleum and petroleum products distributors’ sub-sector of the NSE just behind Total Nigeria plc, whose stock price stood at N159.99 per share as at F riday 12th July, 2013. For the year ended 31st December, 2012, the company’s tur nover rose by 30.1 percent to N80.8 billion.

The company’s after tax profit dropped by 29.5 per cent to N2.88 billion within the same

period. The stock price has risen by just 10 percent from N107.10 to the current market price. It had previously gone up to N146.00 per share.

Beta Glass was the fourth top gainer with 10 percent or N1.00 price gain from N10.00 to N11.00. The company is involved in the manufacturing, sale and distribution of hollow glassware. The revenue rose by two percent to N12.93 billion from N12.73 billion for the year ended 31st December, 2012. Profit after tax dropped by 25 percent from N1.77 billion in 2011 to N1.33 billion in 2012.

Ikeja Hotel’s share price went up by 8.14 percent or N0.07 from N0.86 at the beginning of the year to N0.93. Ikeja Hotel, listed in Hotels/Lodging sub-sector, has not paid dividend for two years, a development that was attributed to planned refurbishment of one of its subsidiaries – Lagos Sheraton hotel.

Others are ETI, which went up by 7.88 percent or N1.11 from N14.09 to N15.20. JB went up by 7.72 percent or N50.02 from N65.00 to N70.02; NASCON appreciated by 7.40 percent or N0.91 to N13.20 from N12.29, while UACN and Dangote Sugar appreciated by 7.34 or N4.00 and 7.30 percent or N0.84 to close at N58.50 and N12.34 respectively.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013 — 23

INVESTORS SPEAK

CSCS has stopped sending SMS alert to investors -PROSAN O

Bukar Kyari, Managing Director, Central Securities Clearing System Plc.

derinde: It is the statuto ry function of Central Securities Clearing System ( CSCS) to alert Nigerian shareholders whenever his or her stockbroker is trading on their stockbroking account with or without their consents. When CSCS started, every capital market stakeholder was commending them for this superb initiative that will check fraud and unauthorised trading on client’s account by fraudulent stockbrokers. Presently, in the last few months, the Nigerian factor has stepped in; staff of CSCS are collaborating with stockbrokers to dupe unsuspecting investors in one way or the other. One of the principal ways they are doing it is by not alerting investors through SMS messages whenever there is transaction on their stockbroking accounts. Sir, we want you to help Nigerian investors to investigate and publish this story for a rethink by the

management of CSCS Nigeria Ltd to start sending SMS to any Investor whose stockbroker is trading on his or her account. In addition, SEC as the capital market apex regulatory body should

Our findings

I

NVESTORS Forum con tacted CSCS on the issue of sending SMS to shareholders whenever there is a transaction on their account. Below is the summary of our findings: *It is not the statutory function of CSCS to alert shareholders whenever his/her stockboker is trading on his/her stockbroking account with or without their consent. *The Trade-Alert is a laudable initiative which has brought transparency to the system.

However, the success of the SMS alert system depends on a few critical (absolutely nec-

COMPLAINTS AND INVESTIGATIONS I

nvestigate Aims Asset & BGL I invested in Aims Asset manager’s shares and BGL mutual funds in 2009 and 2011 respectively, and I have not been able to reach them since then. Please help me investigate them.

Investors Forum We advise that you contact the companies directly. The contact of Aims Asset Management is 23, Ajao Road, Off Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja. Tel: 2347029523916, 8095988382; Email: aims@aimsassetmgt.com. The contact of BGL Asset Management Limited is Plot 1061, Abagbon Close, Off Ologun Agbaje Street, P.O. Box 74122 Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. Tel: 270 3902, 270 7096, 2798856.

Email: bglassetmgt@bglgroupng.com

The company does not have an office in Aba. You can reach the company’s head office at Plot 2 Abebe Village Road, Iganmu or call 08033018295, 08191410456 Aims Asset Mgt in Abuja How can I locate AIMS ASSET MGT LTD in Abuja or a phone number I can use to call them?

(Dafe) Investors Forum The company does not appear to have an office in Abuja.

You can contact its head office at 23, Ajao Road, Off Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja, Lagos. Tel: 2347029523916, 8095988382; Email:aims@aimsassetmgt.com

No share certificates from my companies I bought several shares from I need update on investment several companies in the late 80’s and early 90’s which I am in ABC Transport.

Please kindly help me find out yet to receive any dividend about my investment in ABC from them, most especially FSB bank. My address use to Transport Company. be at Marokoo in V.I, which was later demolished, since Investors Forum Please contact First Registrars, then I lost contact with these at Plot 2 Abebe Village Road, companies. I will be most Iganmu or call 08033018295, grateful if you can help me locate them. (Mrs. Florence 08191410456.

Uwhubetine) Is First Registrar in Aba Sir, I want to know if First Reg- Investors Forum You should have indicated the istrar has any office in Aba, name of the companies. In the Abia State. case of FSB Internal Bank, the bank merged with Fidelity Investors Forum

Bank. To confirm the status of your shareholding in Fidelity contact First Registrars, Plot 2 Abebe Village Road, Iganmu or call 08033018295, 08191410456 No dividend from Ecobank, others Please I have shares in Ecobank, Sterling Bank and Finbank, but I have not been able to get my dividend since I bought them in 2007, help me find out why. Ekene Gideon Investors Forum For your investment in Ecobank, contact ESL Registrars Ltd, 16/A Rauf Taylor Close, Off Idego Street, Victoria Island, Lagos or call an official of the bank on 08023877699. For Sterling Bank contact Sterling Registrars Limited, Knight Frank Building (8th Floor) 24 Campbell Street, Lagos. Tel: 01-2635607. For Finbank contact City Securities, Primrose Tower, 2nd Floor, 17A Tinubu Street, Lagos. Tel: 012641298, 01-7924462

Lagos. Tel: 01-2641298, 7924462.

I need UTC registrars Please I need UTC Registrars address. I have not received dividend or update on my investment for over 10 years. (Mrs. OSAKWE M N) Investors Forum Contact Africa Prudential Registrars Plc at 220B, Ikorodu Road, Palmgrove, Lagos. You can call 01-8401153, 018931501, and 01-4606460 or send message to info@africaprudentialregistrars.com.

I want to recover Unclaim dividend in AP, BCC How do I recover unclaimed dividend in AP / BCC. I have shares in AP / Benue state since l990. After I returned in 2000 till date; I have not received any dividend.(Ejike)

Investors Forum African Petroleum (AP) is now Forte Oil, while Benue Cement Company (BCC) was merged with Dangote Cement To recover your dividend in AP, contact Zenith Registrars Limited at Plot 89 Ajose I need Okomu Oil registrar Adeogun Street, V ictoria Please help me with the name Island Extension, Lagos. and address of Okomu Oil Reg- Tel: 234-1-2708930-4. F or istrars name.

Dangote Cement contact Afribank Registrars Limited Investors Forum Address: 2A G bagada The registrar is City Securities Expressway, Anthony Village, and its contact is Primrose Tow- Lagos. T el: 01 2691867, er, 2nd Floor, 17A Tinubu Street, 2692094, 7735963.

act on this, given that our market has just recovered from 2008 collapse. ( Oderinde Taiwo is the National Coordinator of Proactive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, PROSAN)

essary) things, which include; the investor must provide an active/valid GSM number to their broker, the investor must watchout for an alert when they buy or sell shares. *If an investor sells or buys shares on NSE and has not received an alert, it may mean that either they may not have provided their number, or they provided a wrong number, or their boker may have not provided CSCS with the correct number, or have not updated CSCS with the number. *If an investor is not receiving alerts - what do they do to start receiving alerts? They should write a letter to their broker(s) to update their details on their account with CSCS. They may copy CSCS the letter they send to their broker. CSCS will still reach out to the investor’s broker to verify. However, the request must come from the broker since the KnowYour-Customer (KYC) mandate rests with brokers when it comes to opening and maintaining CSCS account of a shareholder. *Shareholders are advised to periodically request for their account details from their broker to ensure the accuracy of the information they might have provided when they first opened the account. Keeping your details up to date is not only a good housekeeping, but also help in safeguarding your investments. If there is any incorrect information, write your stockbroker to correct the information.

COMPLAINTS AND INVESTIGATIONS Do you have any challenge with your investment in the stock market or with any company (stockbroker, Registrar Company etc), write to vanguardinvestorsforum @gmail.com OR send text to 07043855187. We will INVESTIGATE AND REPLY

24 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013

BY MICHAEL EBOH

T

HE World Bank has faulted the Federal Government’s management of oil revenues, and also warned that the country faces serious challenges in sustaining the momentum of its fiscal consolidation and reserves growth.

The bank’s warning comes ahead of a predicted slowdown in the growth of oil export in the years ahead.

A W orld Bank’s Nigeria Economic Report for May 2013, noted that Nigeria has made significant progress in the effective management of its oil wealth during the last decade.

It however maintained that institutional weaknesses need to be addressed, saying: “Nigeria made a giant step forward during the 2004-2009 through the establishment of the Excess Crude Account, ECA, fiscal reserve that successfully insulated the country from the sharp swings in oil prices during this period.

“But the year 2010 revealed remaining weaknesses in the institutional framework for macroeconomic management.

Despite the recovery in oil prices, Nigeria expanded its fiscal stimulus significantly , increasing consolidated spending by an estimated 2.5 per cent of Gross Domestic Product, GDP, and drawing down the remaining balance of the ECA at the same time that many other oil exporters were building back their reserves.

“Under this fiscal expansion, the balance of payments remained in deficit, the naira came under pressure, and investor sentiment toward Nigeria became more cautious.”

For the country to be able to shore up its ECA to the preglobal financial crisis levels of $22 billion, the W orld Bank said Nigeria will have to limit Federation Account distribution of oil revenues to zero real growth up till 2015.”

Analysts worry over inactivity However, one month after the release of the W orld Bank report, the Federal Government of Nigeria is yet to come up with any policy to address this concern, instead, it is currently battling the National Assembly for an appropriation to the 2013 budget.

Mr Goodie Ibru, President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industr y, e xpressed concern on the extreme dependence of government finances and external trade balances on proceeds from the oil sector, saying this exposes the nation to significant risks from oil price and production

World Bank faults FG’s management of oil reser ves shocks.

He said, “The unfolding global oil market scenario and the shortfalls in domestic oil output pose a major threat to the 2013 budget. At an output

level of 1.85 million against the budgeted 2.54 million barrels, Nigeria currently records an estimated shortfall of N10.7 billion ($69 million) daily due to oil theft, bunkering, illegal

refineries and rising spate of insecurity.

“The domestic and international issues facing the oil and gas sector pose both risks and opportunities for the

Nigerian economy . The greatest risk is the potential shock to fiscal sustainability if the global oil price slumps at a time when Nigeria’s oil output is declining.

•LPG Cylinders

NLNG/NIMASA row: Marketers run to Niger for LPG

BY KUNLE KALEJAYE

T

HE row over levy between the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has forced liquefied petroleum gas, LPG, dealers in the country to import the product from neighboring Niger Republic to meet local demand.

NLNG which account for 150,000 Metric Tonnes of LPG yearly from its Bonny Island plant in Rivers State to Lagos, has been halted by security forces attached to NIMASA over none payment of tax levies to the Federal Government.

As a result of NIMASA ’s action, LPG terminals in Lagos have exhausted their supply dealing to artificial scarcity, thereby leaving dealers with the option to import from Niger Republic.

President of Nigeria LPG Association, NLPG A, Mr. Dayo Adeshina said 10 of the companies appointed as off-takers to lift the product in vessels and sell to the local market have paid for the

products but are to receive them due to the row between the two government agencies.

“As we speak, none of the terminals have supply in Lagos since NLNG was not allowed to sail from Bonny to Lagos and the owners have paid for their products to be supplied here in Lagos. The prices of little that is left have been skyrocketed “NIPCO will run out of stock very soon if they have not already run out and we are left with the option to import this product that we are abundantly blessed with but we hope that the Federal Government will relax the rules guiding the importation of LPG. Commenting on LPG supply from Niger Republic, Adeshina said the country cannot meet the demand of one state in Nigeria adding that the Federal Government should intervene on the issue between the two agencies.

“It is rather unfortunate that this is happening at this time. This the first major disruption of NLNG supply since it began operation in 2009 and it is happening at a time when government has commenced enlightenment campaign on LPG usage in the country. No doubt it will affect government effort negatively,”

he said.

Meanwhile, concern has been raised over the safety and standard of LPG from Niger Republic that contains 50 per cent of propane which is already in the country.

National President, Liquefied Petroleum Gas Retailers Association of Nigeria, LPGARAN, Michael Umudu said LPG from Niger Republic is not against the laws of Nigeria.

He explained that the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR and Standard Organisation of Nigeria, SON agreed that LPG can contain up to 50 per cent of propane but not more than that, while brutane can be above 50 per cent.

“The current LPG standard by SON says that propane content should be a maximum of 50 per cent and Niger Republic gas meets the standard. But stakeholders have been expressing concerns over the safety of LPG with high amount of propane, such as the one being imported from Niger owning to the fact that there is a lot of substandard and out dated equipment and accessories such as cylinders, storage tanks, hose, pipe cookers in the Nigeria market.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013—25

ERHC, Bell sign contracts for gravity survey of Kenyan block

T

HE survey is a significant component of geoscience studies that will guide drilling decisions ERHC Energy Inc., a publicly traded American company with oil and gas assets in Sub-Saharan Africa, announced today that its wholly owned subsidiar y, ERHC Energy Kenya Ltd., has contracted Bell Geospace to acquire an airborne Full Tensor Gravity Gradiometr y (FTG) survey of Block 11A in northwestern Kenya. The selection of Bell Geospace follows a competitive bidding process.

The FTG survey is an airborne survey that aids significantly in the structural mapping of prospective hydrocarbon basins. Using a converted DC-3 aircraft, Bell Geospace will fly a dense grid of flight lines to measure small changes in gravity caused by changes in density of subsurface rocks. This survey method has been used successfully in Africa and contributed to recent oil discoveries in Uganda and Kenya.

“Bell Geospace has impressed us with their expertise and experience, and we are excited to be moving forward with this airborne gravity gradiometry survey, a crucial element of ERHC’s oil and gas exploration work program in Kenya,” said Dr .

Peter Thuo, general manager of ERHC Energy Kenya Limited. He continued, “When combined with other existing geologic data, this FTG survey will be used to further assess the geological structure of the area, which helps us to identify potential leads and prospects.”

Subject to certain contingencies and governmental approvals, the survey is expected to be flown through this summer according to a predetermined timeline. The information gathered will enable ERHC to focus on the most promising areas for acquisition of 2D seismic data, which is the next step in the work program for the Kenya Block. The combined results of the FTG and seismic work will then determine the nature and location of any drilling in the Block.

By SEBASTINE OBASI

A

N air of uncertainty hovers around the execution of some major liquefied natural gas, LNG projects in Nigeria, as partners are still undecided on the wisdom of their investments.

At the just concluded business forum of the Nigerian Gas Association, NGA, Mr. David Ige, the Group Ex ecutive Director, Gas and P ower, Nigerian National P etroleum Corporation, NNPC, said that the Final Investment Decision (FID) of the Brass LNG would be taken soon.

According to him, “Brass LNG is a big project. We are talking of a multi-billion dollar project. This kind of project takes a long time to start. Definitely, this has taken much longer than expected.

“We are doing a multibillion dollar project in a fast changing business environment. That makes convergence for FID a difficult task. Haven said that a lot of the angles for FID are being addressed one by one.

We are closer now than before to the FID. I believe that we will attain the FID shortly on the Brass LNG. Ige also said that the exit of Conoco Philips from the Brass LNG would not impact negatively on Nigeria, as the company is exiting from some other countries. “ Conoco Philips is exiting Nigeria. It is not exiting the Brass project alone. It is exiting Nigeria as part of the global portfolio rationalization. Exit of Conoco Philips should not be viewed negatively on Nigeria.

“Global portfolio rationalization is a good thing. It allows new players to come in and ensure liquidity in the market. The exit of a player is really not a bad thing. It is part of giving reality to the industry going forward,” he said.

Aborted decisions Recall that the Group Managing Director NNPC, Mr. Andrew Y akubu, while addressing the Senate and House of Representatives’ Joint Committees on Petroleum Resources in Abuja early this year , said the shareholders of the Brass LNG project in Bayelsa State, will sign the Final Investment Decision (FID) for the project

by April 2013.

Yakubu stated that despite the divestment of ConocoPhillips from the project, discussions were already on with other critical stakeholders to key into the project.

NNPC holds 30 percent equity in Brass LNG, while Bayelsa State Government

Indecisionstalls Investment in LNG projects

•LNG Vessels

,

BRIEF

We are doing a multi-billion dollar project in a fast changing business environment; that makes convergence for FID a difficult task

has 10 percent; LNG, Japan four percent; Itochu Corporation three percent, and a joint venture between Nigerian indigenous company Sahara, and France-based Sempra Energy holds two percent.

The other shareholders are American oil group, ConocoPhillips, T otal of France and Eni of Italy, which hold 17 percent stake each.

The Brass LNG project located in Brass Island of Bayelsa State is designed to produce 10 million metric tonnes of LNG per year.

The FID on Brass LNG was initially planned for 2006. It was later rescheduled for 2008 and then 2010. The FID has never been realized till date.

Apart from the Brass LNG, other planned LNG projects include Olokola LNG (OKLNG) and Train 7 of the Nigeria LNG Limited, NLNG. The shareholders of OKLNG signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in 2006; FID was billed for 2007 while production was scheduled to begin in 2009.

,

The project was initiated in 2005, with NNPC as the major shareholder with 46.75 percent shareholding. Shell and Chevron have 19.5 percent apiece, while BG Group, which has withdrawn, had 14.25 percent. Olokola LNG is located between Ogun and Ondo States.

The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) facility on Bonny Island, Rivers State, is Nigeria’s only LNG complex. NLNG partners, including NNPC (49 percent), Shell (25.6 percent), Total (15 percent), and Eni (10.4 percent), completed the first phase of the facility in September 1999. NLNG currently has six trains and a production capacity of 22 million metric tons per year (1.1 TCF).

A seventh train is under construction to increase the facility’s capacity by 8 million metric tons per year. However, regulatory and political issues, particularly regarding the long-delayed PIB, have delayed the project’s start date to beyond 2014.

During a visit to the plant

last December , a for mer Nigerian Military Head of State, retired General Yakubu Gowon, said T rain 7 would provide 10,000 construction jobs and also attract over $8 billion in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

“It is seven years since activities leading up to T rain Seven started in September 2005, five years since sales and purchase agreements were executed with five international buyers, and five years since pre-FID construction activities started in April 2007, with $300 million spent so far on such activities as soil preparation, preloads, and geotechnical investigations on Bonny Island. We can no longer afford to delay or dither,” he said.

International gas price

Vanguard learnt that falling natural gas prices at the global market due to the discovery of Shale gas around the world has threatened the implementation of the three LNG projects in Nigeria.

Sources told Vanguard that shareholders in the three major LNG projects in Nigeria have failed to reach FID on the projects, which have been in the drawing board for several years because of the drop in gas prices at the international market.

The Brass LNG was believed to have gulped a pre-FID expenditure of $1billion, a demonstration of the faith of the various investors in the project, but the FID for the two-train, 10 million metric tonnes per year (mmt/y) project is yet to be signed.

26—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013

K

AZTEC Engineering Ltd, KEL, a member of the Chrome Group, has won a $84.5 million for the engineering procurement and construction, EPC contract of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company , SNEPCo’s T rans-Niger Pipeline, TNP. The signing of the contractual agreements for the project, which took place at the SPDC Office, P ort Harcourt, Rivers State, is valid for one year , according to a statement from the company.

The General Manager , Offshore and Shallow W ater Projects, Mr Toyin Olagunju, and the Contracting and Procurement Lead Pipeline Projects, Mrs Chioma Ogunuka, signed for SNEPCo, while the Executive Chairman, Mr Emeka Offor, and the Chief Operating Officer, COO, Mr Ikechukwu Okpala, signed for Kaztec.

The statement also said that this is the first major pipeline project to be executed by Kaztec for Shell, saying: “The objective of the project is to construct a 3-inch, 58kilometre loop line from the Ogale manifold to Bonny Terminal, in the South-South region of Nigeria. SNEPCO had been experiencing challenges with the current Trans-Niger Project.”

It added that SNEPCO and the National P etroleum Investment Management Services, NAPIMS, consider the project as an emergency, which was why it was divided

Kaztec, Shell sign $84.5m pipeline contract into three phases The statement said Kaztec Engineering is to undertake the first package of the contract, for which it was chosen based on the strength of its recent track record of project delivery in the oil and gas sector.

Speaking, Offor assured SNEPCO of his company ’s commitment to deliver on, and

even surpass all expectations from the project. He expressed delight for Kaztec joining the Shell family, and looked forward to a productive partnership in the years to come.

Okpala also reassured SNEPCO of KEL‘s delivery of the project on time and of good quality, as a taste of the “KAZTEC Magic”.

Speaking on behalf of SNEPCo, Olagunju, said that he looked forward to the successful completion of the project, and called for worldclass performance in all aspects of the project.

He urged for particular attention on safety and environment with a zeroincident execution of the project.

• Oil Bunkers

‘Maritime Convention will curb bunkering’

BY MICHAEL EBOH

T

HE ratification and planned domestication of the Maritime Labour Convention, MLC 2006, in Nigeria, will help entrench fair competition among ship owners, reduce oil bunkering, boost local content and increase Nigeria’s crude production and export, according to stakeholders in the petroleum and maritime sector.

Nigeria became the 37th member state to ratify the Maritime Labour Convention, as the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Mr. Emeka Wogu, presented the instr ument of ratification to the Director-General of the ILO, Mr. Guy Rider in Geneva at the just concluded 102nd conference of the International Labour Organisation, ILO. According to Wogu, the discovery of oil in many countries in the West African sub region has increased maritime activities which have made the ratification of the MLC 2006 more compelling.

He said, “Nigeria has decided to join other countries that have ratified this very important convention known as the Seafarers Bill of Rights in order to safeguard the

fundamental rights of the seafarers and ship owners.”

He also noted that domestication of the Convention will ensure increased employment generation, increase in revenue generation, reduction in piracy, oil bunkering and insecurity.

According to him, this marks the beginning of a journey that will take Nigeria to a higher level in the maritime industry, especially as it is in realization of this new trend of economic activities that will create both positive and negative results that has informed the need for a well regulated maritime sector.

A stakeholder, Mr. Philips Matthew, Senior Vice President, PEM Offshore, said it is a major breakthrough that would uphold our Flag State and complement the global effort for promoting decent working and living conditions of seafarers and ensuring conditions of fair competition for ship owners.

The effect on the petroleum industry, according to him, is that participants in the oil industry would ensure that their contractors comply as soon as possible as seizure would amount to downtimes to both the oil companies and in turn affect daily production.

With the ratification, Matthew said, Nigeria is the 37th ILO Member State

and the fifth State from the African region – after Benin, Liberia, Morocco and T ogo – to have ratified the landmark Maritime Labour Convention, 2006.

He noted that it will ensure that better players would emerge in the industry while shabby and non-compliant owners/operators would leave.

As regards local content, he said, “It is solely a drive to promote decent working and living conditions of seafarers and ensuring better working conditions for those working aboard ships. This is the actual aim of local content, not just to ensure local participation, but also to ensure a better working environment as well.”

Another stakeholder, Mr. Steve Blair, Manager, MSC, said the MLC 2006 includes a ‘ no more favourable treatment’ clause, meaning that member states will be obligated to ensure that the ships that fly the flag of any state that has not ratified the convention do not receive more favourable treatment than the ships that fly the flag of any state that has ratified it.

He maintained that there will be no hiding place for ships from noncompliant countries, as the law will force many ships registered in states not party to the convention to seek and obtain voluntary MLC certificates.

BRIEF Shell to rehabilitate Ogbotobo flow station

T

HE Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) operated Joint Venture has taken a key step towards rehabilitating the Ogbotobo flow station in Western Niger Delta through the award of a contract for reviving the power system of the facility.

Operations at the flow station were suspended in the security crisis in 2006, and SPDC plans to restart the facility to support resumption of oil production from the entire Ogbotobo field.

Ogbotobo flow station, with a capacity of 45,000 barrels of oil per day was producing about 10,000 barrels when it was shut down. The contract was awarded to an indigenous firm, LEE Engineering and Construction Nigeria Limited, and covers replacement of the station’s power generation and distribution system. It is planned to resume operations at Ogbotogbo flow station once the power system is up and running.

“This is a major step toward fulfilling our aspiration to re-enter fields that we left in the West in 2006 due to insecurity,” said General Manager, Operated Onshore and Shallow Offshore Projects, Toyin Olagunju, at the contract signing ceremony on July 5. “A significant aspect of the contract is that it is being executed by an indigenous contractor thus promoting SPDC efforts to grow Nigerian capacity in the oil and gas sector. We will support the contractor to deliver the project on schedule in a safe and secure manner.” he said.

Chairman of LEE Engineering, Dr. Leemon Ikpea said: “I thank SPDC for the opportunity to be a part of their production delivery goal.

As our practice, LEE Engineering will strive to work safely in the delivery of the project.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013— 27

28—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013

Govt, IOCs hold fast to arguments on PIB

BY SEBASTINE OBASI

T

HE disagreement over the contentious P etroleum Industry Bill, PIB, between the government and the International Oil Companies, IOCs, reared its head again at the just concluded business forum of the Nigerian Gas Association, NGA. While Mr. George Osahon, Director, Department of Petroleum R esources, DPR , said that the passage of the PIB will encourage a vibrant gas exploration and production industry.

He added that this will lead to exploration for gas in new frontiers such as the Anambra

Basin, Chad Basin and Benue Trough, even as Mr . Mark Ward, Managing Director , ExxonMobil Nigeria, maintained that the PIB will set the industry back.

Osahon, who was represented by Mr . Oliver Okparaojiako, Deputy Director, Gas, DPR, also said that the problem of insufficient gas distribution network will be solved, as the PIB will usher in vibrant gas distribution network, introduction of third party access and implementation of network code.

“It is not that what federal government is asking for is too much; it is because the people (IOCs) want to take too

much. There is no way we will not make money from our gas. We are not the only gas nation.

Other nations are producing gas and if you go to the internet, you will see their fiscal terms. It is not that gas is cheap. Nigerians are paying more to get gas. We are begging for gas, while we have abundant gas resources because the people that want a lot of profit are keeping our gas,” he said.

As regards gas transportation, he said that there will be a vibrant gas sector, as the market will attain full liquidity, thus enabling gas to be transported from any source

to any market.

“The implementation of these reforms will strongly open up the Nigerian Oil and Gas Sector to new local and

international investors for competitive growth and sustainable development in line with international best practices.

… As NEITI seeks suppor t for contract t ransparency

T

HE Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has called on the National Assembly to ensure that contract transparency is clearly embedded as a key provision in the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

Defending its position in a Memo to the National Assem-

bly at the public hearing on the PIB by the House of Representatives, the Executive Secretary of NEITI, Mrs Zainab Ahmed explained the issue of contract transparency is already a law in the United States through the recent Dodd –Frank Act, while The European Union has also recently endorsed similar legislations for adoption by all EU Member countries.

“In conformity with the global trends and EITI principles which Nigeria is a signatory, NEITI is pro posing the creation of a register that will contain comprehensive information and data about holders of oil, gas and mining licenses.

Such a register should also contain information on corporate entities of all those that bid for or invest in the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry, the identities of the beneficial owners of oil blocks and licences, including all exploration and production contracts”.

Ahmed also said that the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) recently aligned with the trend by formulating executive principles to promote openness in the award of oil, gas and mining licenses.

NSE, Renaissance Capital partner on E & P training

R

ENAISSANCE Capi tal, an emerging markets investment bank has partnered with The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) for a oneday Institutional Investors’ Clinic in Lagos to update investors, regulators and operators in the oil and gas sector especially the Exploration and Production aspect.

The NSE has been working on several initiatives aimed at providing growth opportunities domestically and transforming Nigeria into one of the most vibrant capital markets in the world.

The Investors’ Clinic Series is one of the investor education initiatives designed by the NSE to address low investor confidence and provide valuable information for all investors in various sectors

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013— 29

C M Y K

— Vanguard , TUESDAY, 30 03

JULY 16, 2013

By Theodore Opara

Low price, high quality behind Sinotr uk success in Nigeria — Okwu T

HE General Manag er, Richbon Nigeria Limited, distributors of Sinotruk brand of trucks in Nigeria, Mr. Edmund Okwu has attributed the success of the products in the country to its high quality and price advantage.

Speaking to Vanguard Motoring in an interview recently, Mr. Okwu disclosed that over 10,000 unis of Sinotruk vehicles are operating in Nigeria presently without complaints.

“All the Sinotr uk tr ucks we sold four years ago when we ventured into the franchise are still running without complaints”, he said, adding that Sinotruk is a product of the Chinese National Heavy Duty Truck Company (CNHTC), the number one heavy duty truck manufacturer in China, and is well known all over the world.

According to him, the product is gradually dominating the Nigerian truck market, having won the Nigeria Auto Awards as the fastest growing product in its category.

Durability and fuel efficiency

country. People who buy old trucks can add little amount and acquire brand new Sinotruk trucks that can last a very long time. This would not only reduce accidents but also keep the environment free of pollution. He said Richbon was in the business of selling used trucks before veering into importation, sales, and maintenance of the Sinotruk brand, having realised the advantages of new trucks, especially Sinotruk which is not only easy to run but very fuel efficient and environmentally friendly.

“We observed that there is this mentality about used trucks.

The mentality L-r: Mr. Edmund Okwu, General Manager, Richbon Nigeria Ltd., and a Sinotruk truck motivated us to go into new trucks. Our research revealed workshops, the company rethat people who drive used that the truck could disappoint were built to the highest industry standard, the General sponds quickly to customers trucks tend to abuse them but and this gives a level of demand within 24 hours Manager said, “Sinotruk is those who drive new trucks confidence to even the adding that part of their built for Nigerian roads, and have this joy to drive because company you are delivering expansion plan is to build can be maintained by any they feel at home in them. They their products that it will get to workshops in all the six geomechanic because the technoldon’t need to spend more the destination. money on maintenance given “So in this case you have ad- ogy is simple and one hundred political locations across the the fact that the trucks are cov- vantage of fuel efficiency, tech- per cent manual. It is powered country very soon to carter for ered by warranty. nical backup, warranty, reliabil- by Steyr’s six cylinder straight their customers needs.

Sinotruk trucks comes in 4 x engine with rugged suspension Even bank hardly finance ity, safety, easy maintenance, 2 and 6 x 4 single and double to withstand the toughest used trucks, their reason being confidence of customers and that owners hardly repay the owners of the goods and even terrain. Okwu however, added axles, dumps, trailers, flatbed, loans. When you use new the driver of the truck” he said. that with an ultra modern work- low bed and other diverse applications. shop in Lagos and mobile trucks, you don’t need to fear Disclosing that the trucks

Highlighting Sinotruk’s unique selling points as price advantage, ruggedness, durability, fuel efficiency , comfort and economy , Okwu said “buying new trucks can reduce the incidents of road accidents to the bearest minimum.

According to him the company has put together many incentives aimed at encouraging their customers to acquire their trucks, including flexible payment plans.

Users have come to realise that instead of buying used trucks which P France in collaboration with M.S. and Sons have no has unveiled the new Peugeot 301 to the public warranty and assurance for in Abuja.

Group Managing Director (GMD), ASD Movalue, they tors, Alhaji Shehu Sani Dauda who unveiled the could use new 301 on behalf of AP France and M.S and almost the same Sons said the car was made from over 120 years amount or add of automotive experience and stands out in terms a little to of safety, space and comfort. purchase a He described the new 301 as a rugged car with brand new Sinotruk vehicle enough room and comes at an affordable price, “with the new 301, P eugeot would adequately that could last many years and compete in the Nigerian automobile space, he guarantee re- said.

According to him, “ Peugeot wants to use this turn on their incar to make a statement that we are back. By we vestments. are back I mean that we have been absent for “We at Sinotruk are at about a year. Our clients have been requesting the fore-front of us to be present in the sedan lower earning segment of the automobile sector. ”The coming the campaign for accident re- of this car is to tell you that we have a new global initiative that is produced and suitable for clie nts’ duction in the

Peugeot stages comeback with 301

A

world-over. We produce for the global market now, not just for segments like Europe and Africa.” The ASD boss disclosed that the 301 has been unveiled in countries like Dubai, Kuwait, China and other Asian countries, adding that the manufacturer targeted more of Africa.

The elated ASD Group Managing Director noted, “The 301 is rugged, spacious and affordable. One thing people should understand about this car is that it is very affordable and cheaper than most of its competitors. “While most other cars in this category go for above N4.3m, our product is about N3.5m. We are going to have another entry product which will come with a 1.2litres engine that will priced less than N3m. You can imagine what the impact will be? W e intend to make it affordable. We intend to make all Peugeot lovers we lost to come back and to also make them know we are thinking of them.”

He explained that the car is very fuel efficient and powerful in the category. “It’s about 150HP and also more of the modified engine of 307.

Speaking about their performance in the market he said, “In terms of sales, we are quite down but we are coming back. This is the product that will make us catch-up. As you can see, it’s definitely going to make an impact based on the quality and features it has. W e will give competitors a run for their money. We are back. We are ready and they going to feel our impact very soon”, Hesaid, explaining that the 301’s unmistakable Peugeot styling exudes French elegance, while its impressive road handling and superior fittings makes driving a pleasurable and comfortable experience.

“What I’m showing you is a product that has been developed to adapt to all conditions of use, even in extremes, such as hot countries, cold countries and poor road surfaces,” Dauda said, adding that the 301 is strong on the outside and also comes with a generous inside.

Vanguard , TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013 — 31

By Theodore Opara

KIA offers discounts, cash-back on vehicle service

D

ANA Motors Limit ed, the sole distributors of KIA Motors in Nigeria, is now offering customers servicing their cars a 10% discount as part of promotion. Customers not only have the opportunity to get 5% Cash Back but also exciting offers on cars more than 5 years old, from July 22 to 27, 2013.

According to Mr Gitesh Yagnik, Chief Commercial Officer of the Service division of KIA Motors Nigeria “ we always strive to provide ‘ family like care’ for parts and service to all our valued customers and they can avail them at any of our KIA service centers’. “We seek new customers, but always keep our old customers satisfied. This campaign is specifically for Kia Zahav auto assembly line in Ikotun Lagos customers who have purchased their vehicle before 60 months period” said Mr. Sanjay T atpati, General Manager , months, we can make more inof double-cabin pick-ups at the AHAV Automobile response to Federal Service division of KIA time of the tour . vestments, like installing heavy Nigeria Limited has joined Government’s call on key Motors Nigeria. machines in order to raise the Among the challenges the exclusive club of pick-up players in the automotive “During this season, local content in Zahav vehicles manufacturers in Nigeria with sector to invest in local produc- militating against progress in we want our valued to a very high level. if governthe aim of meeting specific tion. The call by top govern- the local auto industry which customers to benefit Jammal felt government ought ment backs local auto makers needs of the market. ment officials, from the promotions by reducing the advantage The new plant, located in He lamented that years after to have addressed is the low and discounts being importers presently enjoy , tariff differential between CKD Ikotun Lagos and equipped to setting up the plant, testoffered on Spare parts believe me, we will immediatesets for local production and the roll out variants of the running the assembly lines & services” added Tatly respond by invest more on imported finished products. commercial vehicles, including and up to now that formal pati. to painting, welding and While importers of FUB 4 x 4, 4 x 2, single and double production has commend, he It is well known that stamping (which will cost cabins, as well as petrol and was yet to see the support the vehicles can easily adjust their in Nigeria that rainy nothing less man three mildiesel engine models has the Federal Government promised prices to get more patronage for season is the most unlion Euro) and then mobilize their products owning to low capacity to produce 24,000 the auto industry. romantic season for local input” suppliers. overheads, Nigerian auto vehicles annually.

“I am regretting going into cars running on roads.

The results, he remarked, plants, he said, price their The company also plans to auto manufacturing”, the Water filled potholes, would manifest by way of more start the production of Zahav Zahav Chief Executive Officer vehicles with very little profit severe rains, floods, competitively priced Zahav margins because of high cost SUV, which lik e the pick-up, stated as he took the journaland many other products, more jobs for Nigeriof production. is already making friends in ists through the various sectroubles affect your car ans and a more developed auto ”If the environment is made the market as imported fully tions of the auto plant which considerably. Drivers industry. built up vehicle. was busy with the production better for us, in the next few even face the acute The Managing Director of problem of water Zahav A utomotive Nigeria, creeping inside engine Nasser Jammal, disclosed that which affect engine, formal production commenced staling of car’s engine in February, following a long that ultimate leads to test-run which began in July car damaging.

FAO Motors Nigeria Limited, T ruck di 2012.

Light Truck Chassis from IVECO that combines It is very important to vision has introduced two new IVECO compact dimensions with impressive capabilicheck out whether Models into the Nigerian market. The two Modern ties that will never let you down in your daily your car is ready for new models are Leoncino DN 35Y13 3.5 work. With its 125HP P ower Output, the DL production the pre-monsoon tons light truck and DL 60Y13 6 ton light 60Y13 Leoncino is Energetic and Unstoppable season or not. Few tips trucks. offering a choice of engines to suit all jobs and He informed that customers are shared below as to Managing Director of CFAO Trucks, Mr. boasting of an impressive load carrying capacity. who were used to imported how to maintain your Regis Tromeur told journalists in Lagos that Maximum Strength and reliability comes as stanZahav pick-up and have car in rainy season. the introduction of the two new IVECO dard. driven those produced by the So, never forget to go model was in line with the company’s corCFAO Automotive Group currently distributes new plant, could not find any for pre-monsoon porate focus on effective satisfaction of its and supports some of the most established Vedifference between the two, check-up of your car. customers with truck ranging from Light to hicle Brands in the W orld. Its Corporate Misbecause, according to him, heavy duty trucks and for the IVECO brand sion in Nigeria was to remain committed to Suquality standards are not comto reinforce its pride of place in the Nigerian perior Customer Service, delivery of Quality & promised by the manufacturAuto market. Before now, the Truck Division Innovative Products as er. of CFAO Motors has other models of IVECO well as continually promotUnfortunately, Jammal is full in its portfolio such as IVECO Eurocargo, ing greater awareness, of regrets for embarking on the Powerdaily Vans & Buses, Trakker 4x2 & 6x4 support and skill to create project of transiting from imModels with diverse body applications. an unmatched level of cusporting FUBs to setting up a The Leoncino DN 35Y13 is a new 3.5 tomer loyalty in Nigeria. modern production facility that Tonne Light Truck Chassis that is very ideal The Commercial Managgulped about N 2. 0 billion, for your re-distribution purposes. With its er, Engr. Augustine Oguninstead of channeling the fund 125HP Power Output, it is ver y energetic na has explained that the into expanding his import of and only exists in the 4 Wheel V ersion (SinIVECO brand remains a finished vehicles - which gle Rear Wheel). This is very ideal, espeleading Commercial Vehiwould have ensured a quicker cially of recent, where there are restrictions cle Brand in the W orld. return on investment. on movement on certain roads for 6 Wheel- IVECO designs, manufacAt present, the plant rolls out er Trucks & above. turers and markets a broad about 50 to 70 units a month, With a Wheel Base of 2600mm and Cargo range of light, medium and which is far below the possible Body Length of 3360mm, Width of 1810mm heavy commercial vehicapacity of about 2, 000 a and Height of 370mm, the Truck possesses cles, off-road trucks, city month. ample space for Load Carriage. and intercity buses and Zahav ’s ventured into The Leoncino DL 60Y13 is a new 6 onne T coaches.

IVECO Leoncino DN 35Y13 truck vehicle manufacturing was in

Zahav Auto promises affordable vehicles if...

Z

CFAO adds two new IVECO tr ucks

C

32 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013

Residents of distressed buildings defy Fashola’s quit order •Blame over-zealous officers for marking of houses •We’ll seal the houses — Govt commodation is on the high side. That is why many don’t like to vacate their apartments ESIDENTS of Oloto easily, especially when issues and Herbert Macaulay like this occur.

Streets, Ebute Meta, Yaba Lo“All the residents who vacated cal Council Development Area, their apartments did so in LCDA have defied the state agony. Many of them kept their government order to vacate the belongings with relations.”

30 buildings marked as disAnother resident, Mrs. Olutressed. watoyin Adedayo said: “I don’t The buildings were marked by know where to go from here. the Lagos State Building Last week, I went to the bank to

By MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO

R

,

Why will I vacate the building? besides our building isn’t distressed.

The house was marked by overzealous officers from the state government agency on building control

Control Agency, LASBCA, after a three-storey building located at No. 29c, Oloto Street collapsed leaving seven persons dead and 14 others injured.

When Vanguard visited the streets weekend, commercial activities have since resumed, as many private organisations operating from the marked buildings were going about their businesses without heeding government’s warning.

Minor repairs Also, residents were sighted moving in and out of their apartments without hinderance.

The residents argued that not all the structures marked by the state gover nment agency , LASBCA were distressed, saying, “Some of the buildings marked were built less than two years ago and don’t require any test but minor repairs.”

They also pleaded harsh economic condition for not quitting saying, “With the state of the economy, no tenant can afford to rent new apartment within the short notice given by government.”

Mr. Muritala Zubair , a resident of Oloto Street said, “Who among those who vacated their homes could afford to rent new apartment within the area?

This is because the cost of ac-

,

withdraw all I had in my account to pay for my house rent.

I don’t have any money left in the account. So where do I start?”

Mr. T ochukwu Anek e, a motorcycle spare parts dealer, said: “Why will I vacate the building? Besides our building isn’t distressed. The house was

Two of the marked buildings marked by overzealous officers from the state government agency on building control.”

“What we will advise our landlord to do is to demand for the agency to conduct structural stability test on the structure, as this will help prove to the government that the building is in good condition.”

Speaking on the reason for the action, the General Manager , Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA, Mrs. Kafayat Odunayo said that the buildings were marked by the state government after it was discovered that they were distressed.

Explaining the process for demolition, Odunayo said: “We have asked the residents of the marked buildings to evacuate the building immediately. This is to give the agency the opportunity to carry out structural stability test on the building.”

She lamented that many resi-

Lagos Assembly tackles Omo-Oniles H

ARD times awaits those calledOmoOnile and Ajagungbale as the Lagos State House of Assembly has proposed a three-year jail term for any person or group of people who engage in forcible entry and occupation of landed properties in the state.

This was part of the provisions of the State Properties Protection Bill, 2013 which has scaled through the second reading on the floor of the House.

The bill seeks to regulate the use of forceful or unreasonable force to take over any landed property in the State.

Atrocities by land grabbers Speaking on the necessity for the bill, Chairman, Committee on Lands and Housing, Bayo Osinowo said if the bill is eventually passed, it would address so many atrocities committed by land grabbers in the State.

Osinowo said, 60 percent of Certificates

of Occupancy (C. of .O) are fake. This is part of the anomalies the bill will correct when passed.

“In Lagos State, land is our major resource. It is our petrol compared to oil producing states in the country. Therefore nothing will be too much to protect its sanctity,” Osinowo noted.

Also speaking, Sanai Agunbiade explained that the bill will also take care of land agents who parade themselves and seize landed properties illegally without recourse to the law. “The bill would prevent Omo-onile from potential buyer(s) who are usually harassed and intimidated before and during construction work,”Agunbiade stated.

He further explained that the bill would

prevent anyone, who without lawful authority, uses or threatens violence for the purpose of securing entry into any landed property for himself or for any other person(s).

The bill stipulates a fine of N200,000 or two years imprisonment for any person found guilty of the section on forceful possession of lands.

The bill which is a private member

Lagos State House of Assembly

Vanguard, TUESDAY,

JULY 16, 2013

— 33

Ajegunle inhabitants dar e govt dare over water fr ont land waterfr front R

dents don’t heed the warning of the agency . And when the agency discovered that they are still occupying the structure, it will seal up the building completely.

ESIDENTS of T olu Community, in Ajegunle, Ajeromi -Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos State have lamented the location of a septic discharge unit at Tolu Jetty and the location of an illegal dump site in their neighborhood, calling for urgent intervention to avert an epidemic.

The accredited septic discharge unit, Tolu Jetty and the dump site in the community share boundary with the T olu Schools Comple x, where over 15 primary and secondary schools are located, close to Apapa Tin can canal.

Some of the schools directly affected are; Tin can Island Port, Tolu Nursery and Primary School, Bola Ige Millennium Secondary school, Okoya Secondary School, Oluwa Memorial Secondary School and Ojoku Secondary School.

On the illegal dump site, Vanguard investigation revealed that some officials of the council and the local chiefs established the site and employed youths who collect N220 from cart pushers per disposal.

Some of the residents who spoke with Vanguard said the present location of the discharge unit constitutes health threat to residents of the area, especially school pupils, who are disturbed by the offensive odour from trucks discharging human waste.

But the state government through the coordinator of State Waste Water Management Office, LSW A, Mr Olalekan Shodeinde, dismissed the allegation saying the residents were

proposes 3-yr jail term bill states that anyone found with fire arm, weapon or chemical material or in company or any –person so armed would be liable to a death sentence.

In his submission, Mudashiru Obasa who had a contrary view on the propose bill said an existing law which addresses same issue should be

considered instead of passing another bill.

However, if the bill is passed, a special offence court shall try any person found guilty, while any one contravening it will be liable for three years imprisonment or N300,000.

The bill has been committed to the Committees on Lands and Housing as well as Judiciary, Human Rights and Public Petitions to report back in a month.

Virtually all members who spoke on the merits and demerits of the bill supported it with the conviction that when passed into law, it would stop the activities of Ajagungbale (land grabbers) and nefarious activities of Omo-Onile in the state which had hitherto hindered smooth land transactions in the State.

only calling a dog a bad name in order to hang it as the state government planned to build a sewage plant in the area for waste water management.

According to Shodeinde, ”We all know the state gover nment’s directive on the set back from water bodies. The government owns the Tolu waterfront. That is where you have the school complex. There are 12 schools built by the state government. The residents are living closer to the waterfront and built shanties closer to the water body.

“When one visits the place, all we will see are wooden structures built close to the water. They are now laying claim to

,

By OLASUNKANMI AKONI

”Also, there is an illegal dump site some few metres from the waterfront where many of the cart pushers dump refuse.

“They are the ones using the dump site. One needs to visit the place to understand my argument. For us, all their claims are excuses not to leave the area.

“The Lagos State government is trying to take the place to the next level.

You will remember that the state government said it is ready to invest in waste water management. Before now, the residents of the state don’t care about their waste water. All they care about was portable water . And if we

Our plan is to build a treatment plant and not channel the waste water into the drainage or through the ground. That is the state government’s perspective to waste management

the land that belongs to the government.

“Their argument isn’t that they don’t want to leave the place. The state government has a project and the land has been earmarked for it. And the plan is to construct a waste treatment plant.

The plant will afford the state government the opportunity to treat waste water in Lagos.

The state government has approved the needed funds to construct a fence for the site. The place had a fence constructed by the first executive governor of the state, Alhaji Lateef Jakande.

“However due to its closeness to water, the fence fell and the state government is ready to reconstruct the fence.

“The Baale of Tolu had earlier said that the government owns the land. He (Baale) said that the occupants came to beg him and he told them that if the government is ready to use his land, it will take it back.

Proposed sewage plant

,

don’t manage it well, it will haunt us later. ”So our plan is to build a treatment plant and not channel the waste water into the drainage or through the ground. That is the state government perspective to waste management. If one digs a borehole today, one cannot get potable water anymore. If we are still using septic tank and it is soaking through the ground, where is the water going to. It goes back into the borehole that we dug some months or year before. “ ”If you live in an area where they have low water level, the sand will do filtration. But for those living on the Island where they have shallow water table, if one digs the ground, before he or she digs one metre, he will get water. If there is a septic tank constructed there, so where is the water going as it is not filtered?”

34—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013

•Women are even a minority in their own function

Politics: Still hard for women at the top THE lot of Nigerian women in the workplace has not always been pleasant. It is even more brutish in the political arena.

Gender activists and other stakeholders gathered in Abuja recently to ponder their lot.

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR & JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

M

RS. Rifkatu Samson Dannahn the only female member of the Bauchi State House of Assembly , suspended for about one year from the House by her male colleagues, was the cynosure of many eyes at the W omen in Parliament summit in Abuja penultimate week.

Her circumstances were reflective of what many at the summit bewailed as the discrimination that has been the lot of many women in the political arena.

Dannahn was suspended from the Bauchi State House of Assembly after she protested that her male colleagues reached an agreement to transfer the headquarters of the T afawa Balewa Local council from the constitutionally stipulated location to another part of the local government at a secret meeting.

Even more vexatious is that Mrs. Dannahn is the one representing Tafawa Balewa and her protest that her head was shaved in her absence earned her suspension. A court ruling voiding the suspension has been waived away by the maledominated Bauchi House. Mrs. Dannahn’s woes are only a tip of the iceberg in the narratives of women in politics.

•Emodi: Made her mark in the Senate

•Akande: Overwhelmed

Arguably, the most br utal assault on the female gender is the case of Mrs. P atricia Etteh who was chased out as speaker of the House of Representatives by a male dominated coalition garbed in the shape of an anticorruption group in the House in 2007.

contract was awarded at a higher figure!

After Etteh, a plan pushed by her party to have another woman occupy the office of speaker was spurned, albeit in a less controversial manner after majority of the House members mobilized in favour of the obviously more likeable candidate, Aminu Tambuwal.

Besides gender inequality , domestic violence was another matter that engaged the attention of many of the participants at the two-day summit.

Female assault: The seeming assault against the female gender is also reflected at the entry rate of women in the legislature.

According to a 2012 W orld Bank report on the percentage of women in parliament, the proportion of Nigerian women in

Integrity group Etteh spent just about six months before the coalition with the name Integrity Group led by Hon. Farouk Lawan forged unity with conservative groups in the House to force her out on the allegation of initiating a contract which the Integrity Group led the public to believe had been awarded at a scandalous amount. Remarkably only months after Etteh resigned, the

•Etteh: First female speaker parliament stands at 7 per cent; well below many other African countries such as Angola 34per cent, Malawi 22per cent, Eritrea 22per cent, Cape Verde 21per cent. All of Nigeria’s neighbours even fare better . Benin is 8per cent, Chad 15per cent, Cameroun 14per cent and Niger 13per cent.

The meeting which was the 3rd National Women in Parliament Summit, organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Women in P arliament in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre, WARDC. The summit was sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme’s UNDP’s Democratic Governance for Development, DGD, Project,

which has been actively involved in building capacity of the country’s democratic institutions.

The summit was attended by stakeholders including Hon. Binta Maigari Bello, Chair , Women in Parliament Committee, Hon Nkiruka Onyejeocha, former Chair, WIP and now chair Aviation Committee in the House of Representatives, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Executive Director, WARDC and Senator Helen Esuene, Chair , Senate Committee on Women Affairs.

Women affairs Others were, Hon Mulikat Adeola Majority Leader, House of Rep, Hon Christiana Alaaga, Chair, W omen A ffairs Committee, Hajia Zainab Maina, Minister for W omen A ffairs, Senator Joy Emodi, Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters and Prof. Olabisi Aina, Dean Faculty of Social Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife. Also present were Senator Nkechi Nwogu, Chair , Senate Committee on Gas, Hon Saudatu Sanni, Special Asst to the President n National Assembly Matters, Hauwa Shekarau, National President FIDA, Prof.

Patricia Donli, Hon Nkoyo Toyo, Dr. Lydia Umar, Hon P eace Nnaji, Hajia Hafsat Mohammed, Chief Bisi Olateru-Olagbegi, Continues on page 35

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013—35

PDP: Rumbles in S-West over national scribe

BY DAPO AKINREFON

T

HINGS are no longer at ease in the South-West zonal chapter of the P eoples Democratic Party, PDP. This is as a result of last weekend’s adoption of Professor Wale Oladipo as national secretary by party leaders in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Already, some PDP South-West leaders have vowed to resist any move to impose anyone on the region as a representative at the national secretariat of the party.

George, Filani dig it out: At the centre of the feud are Chief Bode George, a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT), and the incumbent zonal Caretaker Chairman, Ishola Filani, who are at loggerheads over the presentation of a suitable candidate to fill the seat.

It all started when leaders of the party rose from a meeting in Ibadan, last Saturday, and chose Oladipo, a former governorship aspirant of the PDP in Osun State, for the position which was

•Filani

•George and replacing same in accordance with the provision of the constitution of the 1st defendant with candidate nominated at a valid congress of the South-West zone chapter of

congress.

To him, the unilateral appointment made by George did not enjoy popular support of the zonal leaders of the party from the region.

In a show of purposefulness, the Lagos State PDP admonished the party’s leaders in the zone to desist from actions that can present them as fifth columnists within the party

,

declared vacant due to a court judgement that affected the former National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

Professor Oladipo, a nuclear physicist, was the former chairman of the Osun State Education Board and a host of federal boards.

Extraordinary zonal congress While Chief George is said to be opposed to the presentation of Oladipo as he is presenting a candidate from Lagos State, Filani and other executive members have thrown their weight behind Oladipo to fill the vacancy.

Faulting George’s move, Filani, after an extra-ordinary zonal congress of the party held in Ibadan, said “Bode George has been taking wrong steps. How he came about putting a Lagos man in the position belonging to Osun State in line with the court order was not known to us”.

Citing the Court order marked Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/504/2012, he said “An order is hereby granted directing the 3rd defendant (Independent National Electoral Commission) to rectify the records of the 2nd defendant (PDP) by deleting the name of the 1st defendant (Oyinlola) as the national secretary of the 2nd defendant;

Internal democracy has come to stay in PDP – Oladipo Meanwhile, the new acting national secretar y, in his acceptance speech, gave kudos to the national leadership of the party for giving room to internal the 1st defendant to be held democracy which he claimed within 21 days of the order of the made his endorsement possible. court”.

Chairman of Osun PDP,Alhaji Delegates from five states Ganiyu Olaoluwa, and another adopt Oladipo In line with the court order, he leader, Chief Lere Oyewumi, explained that party delegates confirmed the adoption, saying from all the six states in the zone the state had put forward its best for the position. They noted that including Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, “Professor Oladipo is a tested and Osun, Ekiti with the exception accomplished professional who of Lagos turned up for the

,

will not disappoint the zone and the national leaders of the party.”

Lagos PDP rejects Oladipo Already, the L agos State chapter of the PDP , where George holds sway, has rejected the adoption of Professor Oladipo by the South-West caucus of the PDP as the new national secretary of the party.

In its reaction, the Lagos PDP dissociated herself from the purported South West meeting allegedly nominating another person to replace an already serving acting national secretary of the party.

In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Taofik Gani, Lagos PDP said “the state chapter opines that the necessity to make

this declaration is borne out of the fact that the Acting National Secretary was endorsed by the NEC of the party , noting that revisiting such decision at this time will amount to a betrayal of leadership.”

Picking holes in the decision reached by leaders of the party over the weekend, the party said, “the caretaker committee of the party in the South-West had on Saturday held a caucus meeting at Ibadan where they nominated another person to replace the incumbent acting national secretary. The present occupier of the seat of the acting national secretary was endorsed by the NEC of the party.”

Reiterating the superiority of the National Executive Council, NEC, the party maintained that “the NEC is a higher authority than the Zonal Executive Committee. This hierarchy of authority must be understood by all. Taking actions outside the decisions of the NEC would be tantamount to making ultra vires decisions and Lagos PDP cannot be part of this.” The state chapter thus “unequivocally condemns the resolution at the said caucus meeting whilst also urging the national secretariat to discountenance same.

In a show of purposefulness, the Lagos State PDP admonished the party ’s leaders in the zone to desist from actions that can present them as fifth columnists within the party.

It noted that the bigger fight in the zone is against the ACN and thus called on the leaders to aggregate their strategies and resources against the opposition rather than antagonising one another.”

Politics: Still hard for women at the top Continues from page 34 Ayisa Osori, Amy Oyekunle, Hon Uche Ekwunife, Hon Abike Dabiri Erewa, Hon A yo Omidiran, Oby Nwankwo and Hon Mohammed Alli.

The Deputy Speaker, House of Reps Hon Emeka Ihedioha, Chairman House Committee on Education Hon Aminu Suleiman, Women in P arliament in some African countries and women in States House of Assembly also attended the summit.

Declaring the occasion open, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal said it was thoughtful of the organizers in making sure gender issues remain on the front burner of national discourse.

Tambuwal noted that gender equality is guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution, which

clearly states that no one must be discriminated against on the basis of sex, ethnicity, religious or political affiliation, adding that the unequal treatment of people on the basis of their gender is therefore illegal.

Gender inequality He said that there is growing evidence that gender inequality and discrimination contribute to the increase in poverty and does not only deny a large part of our citizens their rights to achieve their potentials, but it also denies the nation the benefits of the contribution of these people.

He said, “The legislature, which represents the interest of every Nigerian has a duty to defend anyone against discrimination. W e are

determined to make sure that there are no second class citizens in this country and we shall do everything possible to protect the rights of women.

“It is a good thing that we many a committed women in the National Assembly who have shown great concern not only to the plight of women but to the plight of every Nigerian. Working with them has shown me how much we need to have more women in politics and in the parliament where they can help promote issues of gender.

The Project Director of United Nations Development Programme, UNDP/DGD, Dr .

Mourtada Deme in a paper on “Agenda Setting: Gender and Nation Building” noted that in some parts of the country, women are denied certain rights in the community and are subjected to

all forms of ill-treatment and in some cases excluded from holding certain political positions. Dr. Deme expressed optimism that the summit would make contribution to identifying some of the obstacles that block women from realizing their considerable potential as key agents of economic development, democratization and nation building in Nigeria, and considering some of the strategies that can help overcome those obstacles.

In the communiqué issued after the summit, they called for increased mentoring of emerging female politicians by women within the political space and the strengthening of law and policy regime for increasing women’s access to the political space through the passage of relevant bills into laws.

36—Vanguard , TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013

Monarch, revenue board boss commend Uduaghan on restoration of peace

Oil theft is Nigeria's biggest challenge — Oshiomhole

BY OLAYINKA LATONA

from their responsibilities by participating in politics, he said OVERNOR Adams that oil subsidy encourage Oshiomhole of Edo State smuggling, criminality and has called on Federal fraud in the nation’s oil sector.

Government to take urgent steps Oshiomhole said: “It is much

BY FESTUS AHON to address the problem of oil better that oil subsidy is theft in the countr y, just as he removed because it only allows GHELLI—TRADIurged Nigerians to back TIONAL ruler of some Nigerians to sabotage the government on oil subsidy Okpai Kingdom, oil sector , while the lessremoval.

Ndokwa East Local Govprivileged in the society suffer.

He spoke during the 14th ernment Area, Delta annual lecture of the Catholic State, Igwe Enebeli Young Men Association of St, Ugbome II, has Agnes Catholic Church, commended Governor Maryland, Lagos.

Emmanuel Uduaghan ELTA State Oil Producing Oshiomhole, who was for the role he played in Graduates Association, represented by the the restoration of peace Commissioner for Special DESOPOGA, has faulted comto the kingdom.

Duties, Oil and Gas, Mr . ments credited to Mallam Nasir Meanwhile, ChairOrobosa Omo-Ojo, lamented el-Rufai, over the discretionary man, Delta State Board power to be enjoyed by either that the biggest challenge of Internal Revenue, facing the country today was not the President or Minister of PeDBIR, Mr. Joel- Onowtroleum Resources as envisoil subsidy but oil theft. akpo Thomas, has also In a paper entitled Nigeria: aged in the proposed Petroleum commended G overnor The Politics of Oil Subsidy and Industry Bill, PIB. Emmanuel Uduaghan for The former Minister of Fedthe Socio-Economic initiating numerous proimplications, Oshiomhole said eral Capital T erritory was regrammes that are aimed oil subsidy removal will not be ported to have suggested that at liberating the state from a curse but a major blessing if the said discretionary power be being dependent on oil as well utilised by the Federal its main source of revenue.

Government.

The monarch spoke durHe advised Federal ing the ceremony to mark Government to subsidise the return of peace to the

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME kingdom. manufacturing and production & BRIGHT OGUNKILEDE It will be recalled that sectors of the countr y, instead the community was enof the oil sector.

ORT HARCOURT—UNIgulfed in crisis some Urging churches and other VERSITY of Port Harcourt months back. religious bodies not to shy away chapter of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has appealed to parents and other stakeholders in the education SABA—DELTA State missioning; first phase of the sector to help prevail on FedCommissioner for Hous- Sapele market and new sec- eral Government to implement ing, Chief P aulinus Akpeki, retariat complex, Asaba. agreement reached with lecyesterday in Asaba, listed over Chief Akpeki, who briefed turers.

20 projects, including those reporters on the activities of Speaking at an interactive abandoned, over the years, by his ministry, said that the state forum with students of the uniprevious administration, re- government had also apversity on the main campus of cently completed by the state proved construction of 150 the school, Chairman of ASUU government. units of low/medium cost in the university, Prof. Antonia Among the projects are the houses for civil servants in Okerengwo, said as lecturers N2.687 billion Delta Towers, Asaba at the cost of N800 mil- they feel the pains like other Abuja, which is awaiting com- lion.

Nigerians, but that they were

G

U

“It will help to address huge scam in the oil sector and also help fight corruption to an extent. The rate at which some people are exploiting our Godgiven gift is enormous, hence the need to remove this oil subsidy.

“There should be sincere and cogent plan by Federal Government to reinvest the

money saved from subsidy if it is eventually removed totally , like the way we did with diesel.

“Federal Government should design plans, especially for the less-privileged, who are mainly affected. There should be stable power supply in the country as it will go a long way to cushion the effect of oil subsidy removal.”

... as Delta graduates fault El-Rufai on PIB

D

withdrawn.

However, DESOPOGA, in a statement by Mr . Sebastine Agbefe and Mr. Progress OmoAgege, President and Secretary-General, respectively, said el-Rufai had no moral ground to make such suggestion.

It said: “As a former public servant in the Federal Executive Council, where policy decisions on economic principles are muted, such suggestions would have been wel-

comed.

“We mak e bold to say that under moral law , Mallam ElRufai lacks the capacity to make such suggestions, more so as crude oil is not the only resources that is found in the country.”

The group urged El-Rufai to “concentrate your ideas and suggestions on how to exploit the mineral resources in your zone and leave the oil producing zones alone.”

Stakeholders urged to inter vene in ASUU strike

P

Delta commissions 20 projects

A

forced to go on strike.

She said: “Our children are also exposed to the hardship and difficulties encountered by other students in the Nigerian university system.”

She explained that the Union had no other option than to embark on a national strike in the face of the failure of Federal Government to implement the agreement.

Continuing, she said the university ’s chapter of ASUU organised the interactive session with the students to keep them informed on the issues that gave rise to the strike action.

She said: “ASUU had em-

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

barked on a three months strike starting December 8, 2011.

"The strike was suspended on March 20, 2012 after government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the union affirming details of implementation of the agreement.

“In the last 16 months, ASUU had taken several steps to get the government to fully implement the agreement to avoid the resumption of the suspended strike action. Government had failed to do this.”

The students, who took turn to ask questions, urged government to take urgent steps to save the countr y’s education system.

By Bartholomew Madukwe (nwamad@yahoo.com)

On Al-Mustapha's freedom

I

salute the Court of Appeal’s courage in the face of daunting politics and powerful interests who wanted Al-Mustapha dead by all means. I knew Al-Mustapha neither ordered, nor had a hand in the killing of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola. — Dr. Frederick Fasehun, OPC Founder.

A

NYBODY that does not believe his in nocence should follow the videos of Oputa panel. Congrats for getting justice after years in detention. Those that were unable to defend the accusations lavelled against them are kingmakers.—Mr. Usman Danbaba, Graduate Assistant.

A

L-MUSTAPHA’s acquittal, despite all the plethora of evidence against him, is more political than judicial. With due respect to the Appeal Court justices, it was a perverse verdict which the Lagos State Government should appeal.— Mr. Richard Akinnola, Rights Activist.

T

HE trial and aquittal of Mustapha by the appellate court suggest to me that there are political undertones.

Mustapha may not have killed, but he probably has an idea of who did what in the death of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.— Mr. Emmanuel Iyoke, Businessman.

P

UNISHING an obedient servant for obeying orders? I disagree with that. If Abacha had been alive, who would have found him guilty? It is an era where instigators are punished and not the poor people they use to for criminal offences.— Mr. Daniel Okoji, Student.

A

L -MUSTAPHA could not have done anything without the Commanderin-Chief (Abacha) approval. The gun law says “it is not the hand that pulls the trigger that kills, it is he that gave orders.”

He deserves to be released.— Miss Joy Amos, Businesswoman.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013 — 37

Why I was arrested by EFCC —Elumelu zThreatens to sue the commission for character assassination

A

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

SABA—FORMER Chair man, House Committee on Power and Steel in the House of Representatives that probed the power sector, Mr. Ndudi Elumelu, weekend, said that since he has been discharged and acquitted by the court over charges levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, he was considering suing the commission to redeem his name.

He was discharged and acquitted by an Abuja court last month.

He said that since EFCC hounded him, his life has never been the same as he read with dismay , the avalanche of publicity given to the prosecution both locally and internationally especially the social media network.

Elumelu who represents Aniocha/Oshimili federal constituency, Delta State, said he was merely being punished by some powers because he refused to bend and dance to their tune by diluting the said controversial power sector report.

Speaking at a thanksgiving service held at St Michael’s Catholic Church, Onicha-Uku, his home town, to mark his court victory against EFCC, he said: “Power is something that if you don’t have it, there can be no meaningful development. And our task was an opportunity for us to unravel all the atrocities that were committed in the sector.

“My colleagues were people who were committed to ensuring that Nigerians were given stable electricity and we wanted Nigerians to know what happened, that money

Council aspirant condemns Ijaw/Itsekiri clash

W

ARRI North Local Gov ernment Council chairmanship aspirant, Mr. Andrew Aganbi, has frowned at the recent attack on some Itsekiri villages by suspected Ijaw youths in the council area, which led to the death of over 12 persons.

Aganbi, in a statement said that he does not want the crisis, which he described as agitation, to escalate to destruction of life and property.

He said: “There are better and peaceful ways to resolve issues without loss of life and destruction of property.

"The issue can be resolved without bloodshed” C M Y K

passed hands because one would not understand why the 132/33 KVA sub-station in Asaba, which cost N9.6 billion out of which N8.1 billion was paid to a contractor has never been completed since 2005.

“The question is what happened and why was it so. These

were the issues I looked at. Asaba falls within my constituency and if I go home, I expect my people to have stable electricity that was the reason why they voted me into office. It was very ridiculous and let me tell you that the Asagba of Asaba at that time led a delegation to the then President, ask-

ing that they give us a sub-station for stable light. That was one of the reasons I refused to dilute the report as requested because I am a Deltan. I wanted the people to know the truth. They attempted to bribe us, they made us all manners of offer and we rejected.”

LECTURE: From left: Chairman, Nestle Nig. Plc., Chief Segun Osunkeye; Guest Lecturer , Chief Emeka Anyaoku; President, Torchbearers Society, Justice Samuel Ilori, and Prince Henry Odukomaiya, during the lecture organised by Torchbearers Society, at Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, Ikeja, Lagos. Photo: Diran Oshe.

VC blames ASUU strike on FG’s insincerity action called by members of the Academic Staff Union of UniverBY SIMON EBEGBULEM sities, ASUU, over the non-impleENIN CITY—THE Vice- mentation of agreements reached Chancellor, Wellspring Uni- between it and the Federal Government, saying that rather than versity, Benin City , Edo State, Prof. Godson Igborgbor, week- maintain the existing universities, end, blamed insincerity on the government was still establishpart of the Federal Government ing more.

He said: “Stakeholders, governand other stakeholders for the persistent disruption of academic ment and even lecturers themactivities in tertiary institutions selves, must be sincere. When in the country through strike ac- after negotiations government says, we will do this and say, go tions.

The vice chancellor, who ad- back,’ and it is not done, I think dressed newsmen to announce government ought to be sincere, that the university was about to so that you will know what to exgraduate its first set of students, pect. We must admit that educalamented the current industrial tion is a very expensive venture

B

and when they go to negotiate, government should be able to say this is what we have.

“Government is still establishing more universities, but I think what they ought to do is to expand and fund the ones we have better. All universities don’t have to produce engineers.

“A university that is well funded and is productive will fund itself and that is the issue. Nigerians have gone to several other countries with the knowledge they got from Nigerian universities, to benefit other nations, so what we need to do is to make our programmes more usable and resultoriented.”

2015: IDU urges Itsekiri people to vote for credible candidates

W

ARRI—A Warri-based group, Itsekiri Democratic Union, IDU, yesterday, called on the Itsekiri nation to “continue in their steadfast and sound political attitude in voting candidates into public offices.”

Leader of the group, Mr .

Meyiwa Abugewa, told Vanguard in a telephone chat that running for public offices in 2015, from the House of Representatives, local government chairmanship, among others should be done with

merit taking into cognizance for the qualified and most viable candidates to be voted into offices, instead of the lazy man’s formula of handpicking candidates, unnecessary agitation for zoning, and retrogressive trick of “it is my turn,” mentality.

He explained that the Itsekiri is a unique tribe with one king, one language and a common ancestral home town, Ode-Itsekiri in W arri SouthWest and one united voice.

IDU said there should be no room for slots in Iwereland, adding that “whoever is interested in representing the people should follow set down democratic processes and test his/her popularity.”

It noted that such individual should also allow the electorate decide through their votes, who would give them “a grassroots, pragmatic, quality and robust representation that will ensure dividends of democracy.”

Edo oil communities allege marginalisation

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN—FOUR oil producing communities in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State, Obozogbe-Nugu, Ikobi, Oben and Iguelaba, weekend, alleged that they had been marginalised and neglected by the management of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC as well as the Edo State Oil and Gas Producing Development Commission, EDSOPADEC, in the provision of basic amenities.

The communities in a petition to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, also appealed to him to use his good office to recommend their son, Mr. Enofe Courage as the representative of Edo State on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, when the board is reconstituted.

The petition by the representatives of the Enogie of Obozogbe-Nugu, HRH E.I. Omobuogie, HRH Odoligie Ogiemwonyi (Enogie of Oben), Pa Osazuwa Izevbizua (Odionwere of Iguelaba), Pa Igbenedion Imafidon and others, explained that since the inception of NDDC, none of their sons or daughters had been appointed to the board of the commission, despite producing 95 per cent of oil in the state.

Mutu lauded on devt

W

ARRI—HOUSE of Representatives member, representing Bo madi/Patani federal constituency, Delta State, Mr. Nicholas Mutu, has been described as a political colossus, who has turched the lives of his constituents and also attracted several federal projects to the area.

Mr. Godwin Obie, a Warri-based businessman, who spoke about Muti, commended the giant strides of the federal lawmaker, which he noted had brought changes in areas of education, food security ,infrastructural development, capacity building, public healthcare delivery and poverty alleviation in the constituency.

Obie in a statement, yesterday, noted that the self less and exemplary leadership style of Mutu is worthy of mention, adding that the remarkable response by the lawmaker during 2012 flooding that devastated his constituency cannot be forgotten.

38—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013

CLO blames political upheaval on past leaders

Panoko holds health walk in Benin

M

ANAGEMENT and staff of P an Ocean Oil Corporation, Benin Operations Base, weekend, embarked on a 4.5 kilometre road walk in Benin City, as part of measures to ensure physical fitness of personnel, with a view to achieving organisational objectives.

The exercise, part of the fiveday annual Health, Safety , Environmental, HSE, and People Week, with the theme, “Safety Through Teamwork,” ends today.

The walk from the company’s operations base on Sapele road, through Itohan Girls Grammar School, along the road where they engaged in other aerobic activities with two male instructors as guide.

Tests for diabetes , blood pressure, kidney and sugar level were among the medical examinations conducted for participants before and after the exercise by the medical team.

Commenting on the exercise, the company ’s Benin Operations Base Manager , Monday Ikhureigbe, said: “The Health Walk is an integration of the HSE and People Week, 2013 to promote wellness of staff and teamwork.”

“It is to create an environment for staff to have some fun. It is an annual event but can be reduced to a quarterly event and I advise all staff to participate in the exercise.”

Anambra 2014: Igbokwe drums support for Ngige

A

HEAD of the Anambra governorship election scheduled for November , spokesman for the Lagos chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Mr Joe Igbokwe yesterday tipped Senator Chris Ngige as the best man to take over from Governor Peter Obi. In a statement, the ACN spokesman noted that Ngige during his first stint as governor, was the architect of the historic liberation of Anambra politics from the shackles of godfathers, adding that the liberty paved the way for Obi’s success.

Igbokwe said: “For the avoidance of doubts, the template of Anambra renaissance we all are benefitting from today was set up by Ngige when he damned the hawkish demands of the godfathers to free Anambra and its resources for the people of Anambra” .

C M Y K

BY EMEKA MAMAH

T

HIV/AIDS—From left: Director General, National Agency for the Control of Aids, NACA, Professor John Idoko; Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Nnenna Ihebuzor; Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu and Executive Vice Charman, Messagewise Ltd, Dr Henry Nzekwu, at the Abuja +12 African Union special summit on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Abuja, weekend.

Police probe rulership tussle in Ebonyi community

BY PETER OKUTU

two embattled Ezes, Eze Moses Okafor Ngele and Elias Ezenta, were invited to the state BAKALIKI—-EBONYI police Command to ascertain State police command, last the process of their coronation weekend, began investigation and the level of participation by into the kingship tussle at the people of Ishiagu Ishiagu to maintain peace and community. order in the community.

The source condemned the The tussle, which had stirred negative involvement of lots of controversies among some politicians into the traditional stakeholders at Ishiagu and institution of the people and divided the people along two advised them to allow only the camps, is currently brewing council of elders in the area to disaffection and tension among decide who should be the Agu the people of the area.

III of Ishiagu kingdom and A police source (name nobody else. withheld) who explained the The police source said: “W e reason for the intervention by the invited them because we want police into the matter , said the to maintain peace and order in

A

the area".

Eze Okafor Ngele was selected and crowned by the Council of Elders of Ishiagu while Elias Ezenta was selected by some politicians and stakeholders in the area and crowned at Ivo local government area.

In a chat with V anguard, Secretary to the Council of Elders in Ishiagu, Sir Felix Ochuba who said the Ezeship tussle had brought confusion into the community, stressed that the elders were solidly behind the Agu-elect, Eze Moses Okafor Ngele who was crowned by Chief Joseph Ochuba from Ngwogwo village in Ishiagu community.

Group expresses doubt over ceasefir e by Boko Haram

T

HE Christian, Association of Nigerian-Americans, CANA, and the Y outh Wing Christian Association of Nigeria, YOWICAN, yesterday, have expressed doubts over the purported ceasefire by Boko Haram announced by the federal Government while also congratulating Pastor A yo Oritsejafor on his re-election as the national president of the nation's apex christian body.

In a statement jointly signed by CANA Executive Director, Pastor Laolu Akande, and YOWICAN Assistant General Secretary and Chairman Diaspora Committee, Revd. John Pofi, the groups said the Minister of Special Duties and Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Committee on Dialogue and P eaceful R esolution of Security Challenges in the North, Alhaji Kabiru Turaki, must create a sense of public confidence in the purported breakthrough in the committee’s assignment by

clearing public doubts on the ceasefire deal.

The groups said: A “ s we have always noted that we are not opposed to a political solution to the Boko Haram crisis.

“We are a people of faith, and therefore a people of reconciliation who will welcome a ceasefire, if it is for real, but the evidence of this right now is still at best very sketchy.”

HE Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO , has blamed recurring political upheavals in several states in the country on successive presidents who hold the erroneous belief that state governors would only complete their tenures if they were subservient to them.

The South East zone of the CLO which made this known while reacting to the current crisis in Rivers State, where President Goodluck Jonathan is alleged to be backing Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi’s opponents to disorganise the state.

This was contained in a statement, entitled, "Impeachment proceedings: Where the politicians get it wrong; issues arising from current crisis in Rivers State.’’

In the statement signed by the Zonal Director of the organisation, Mr Olu Omotayo, the CLO stated: "The cause of these reoccurring problems lies in the erroneous belief of successive presidents that governors of states of the federation can only enjoy their tenure if only they are submissive to the president, which is not the true position in federalism and also as regards the provisions of the constitution of Nigeria". ‘’Federalism does not connotes or envisaged the subjugation of the states by the Federal Government, but in Nigeria the case is different as there has not been any removal or attempt to remove a governor in the country that was devoid of Federal Government interference".

20-yr-old woman, others arraigned for allegedly stealing N10m

BY IJEOMA NATHANIEL AGOS—A 20-year-old woman was last weekend arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate Court for allegedly conspiring with others now at large to steal N10 million.

The suspect and others now at large are facing a two-count charge of theft and conspiracy preferred against them by the police.

Police prosecutor, Inspector Benson Emuerhi, told the court

L

that the defendant and others committed the offence on June 27, 2013, on V ictoria Island, Lagos.

Emuerhi told the court that the defendant who served as a help to the complainant and madam,, one Adeola Yusuf, conspired with others to steal N 27, 000.00 cash, gold wristwatch, jewelries, coral beads, per fume spray, pans and women scarves, all valued N 10, 000, 000.00.

He told the court that, the offences were punishable under

section 409 and section 285 (1) (2) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and Magistrate B. O. Osunsanmi granted her bail in the sum of N 100,000.00, with two sureties and affidavit of means, and adjourned the case to August 1, 2013.

Similarly, three men were also arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate Court, for allegedly conspiring with others now at large to steal of N 6, 600, 000.00.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013 — 39

ENGAGEMENT: Mr. Segun Aina, OFR, FCIB, President/Chairman of Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, CIBN (middle), presenting a souvenir to Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, MD/CEO, Airtel Nigeria, and Dr. Uju Ogubunka, FCIB, Registrar/CEO (right), during stakeholders' engagement with Airtel Nigeria, at Airtel's office, Banana Island, Lagos.

THANKSGIVING SERVICE: From left, Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko; newly elected President of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees of Nigeria, AUPCTRE, Comrade Solomon Adelegan; his wife, Olufunke, and Deji of Akure, Oba Adebiyi Adesida, at the Thanksgiving Service to mark Adelegan's election as AUPCTRE's National President, in Akure, on Sunday.

AWARD: Niger State Governor Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu (2nd left) receiving the 2013 Global Empowerment Award from Commissioner of Tertiary Education, Dr. Muhammad Bashar Nuhu (2nd right), who represented the Governor, at the award ceremony in Houston Texas. With them are Special Adviser to the Governor on Investments, Hajiya Asabe Ahmed (left) and Dr. Hauwa Husseini.

INTALLATION: From right: Chief Francis Emeka, Eze John Ako, Agabaidu I of Nimbo and Chief Charles Akor and Chief Hycinth Akor, during the intallation of Eze Ako. Photo: Hill Ezeugwu

LAUNCH: From left: Joseph Benjamin; Lillian Esoro, both cast; Ogugua Dopamu, producer; Carol King, cast; Oladapo Ojo, executive producer, all of Emerald and Llyod Weaver, during the launch of Emerald, a new TV Drama Series, at BheerHugz Café, Shoprite, Ikeja, Lagos

ROADWALK: From right: The Community Relations Manager, Olabanji Ajijola; Benin Operations Base Manager, Monday Ikhureigbe; Chief Security Officer, Joseph Ugbenu, and Maintenance Manager, Semiu Fadeyi, ready for the roadwalk, during 2013 Health, Safety, Environmental, HSE, and People Week of Pan Ocean Oil Corporation in Benin City, weekend.

UNVEILING: Head of Marketing, Nokia West Africa, Deborah Shepard (left) and ace rap artiste, Modenine, at the unveiling of the new Nokia Asha 210, Asha 501 and introduction of the second round of the Nokia's 'Don’t Break Da Beat Rap' competition, at Grandeur Events Centre, Oregun, Ikeja. Photo: Akeem Salau

VALEDICTORY SERVICE: From left: Mr. Olatokunbo Doregos, Director, Doregos Private Academy; Mrs. Abeke Doregos, Proprietor; Mr. Bankole Adetukasi, Station Manager, Arik Air, and chairman of the occasion and Mrs. Funke Adetukasi, at the 19th valedictory service of Doregos Private Academy, Gowon Estate, Ipaja, Lagos. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor

BURIAL:From left: Mrs. Mercy David-Ejiro, Mr. Glory Asantuliawa Ayovunefe, Mrs. Esther Ejiko, Mrs. Folake Wole-Soyinka (centre), Mrs. Rebecca Oghenesue Ikomi, Mrs. Roli Gagiyovwi and Mrs. Blessing Idede, cousins of Mrs. Folake Wole-Soyinka, at the burial ceremony of her mother, Mrs. Comfort Avwedioghe Doherty (Nee Ayomanor), in Sapele, Delta State.

C M Y K

40—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013

Taraba signs N17.6bn contract for Bali, Gashaka, Gembu Road

Rain destroys 1,000 houses in Jigawa

J

ALINGO—THE Taraba State Government, yesterday in Jalingo, signed a N17.6 billion contract with PW Nigeria Ltd. for the construction and rehabilitation of Bali-GashakaGembu road.

Mr Iliya Wanapiya, the Commissioner for Finance, who oversees the Works Ministr y, signed the contract on behalf of the state government while the Regional Manager of the construction firm,Mr John Coen, signed for the company.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that work on the road would be completed in two years.

Wanapiya said although the road belonged to the Federal Government, the state would commit the amount to the project because of its importance to the economy of the country.

Idoma youths want 2015 guber position ceded to Benue South

BY PETER DURU

M

AKURDI—A GROUP under the aegis of Idoma Youths P rogressive Movement, IYPM, has demanded the ceding of the 2015 governorship position in Benue State to Benue South Senatorial District, which it said had never produced a governor of the state since its creation about 37 years ago.

Benue State was carved out of the defunct Benue- Plateau State in 1976.

The IYPM said that the aim of agitating for the creation of the state was to ensure equity , unity and progress of the area.

It regretted that the situation whereby only one area had been ruling the state was not good enough, as it "does not show fairness."

C M Y K

BY TINA AKANNAM

D

AWARD—Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed (left) receiving an award and a medal as Grand Patron of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) from Funmi Kolawole (3rd left) at Government House, Ilorin, last Thursday. With them are Asiwaju Joe Olarogun (2nd left); Hajia R.B Lawal (2nd right) and Chairman PSN Kwara State, Abdulmojeed Oderinde (right).

2015: Northern youths condemn planned replacement of Sambo

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH

A

BUJA—NORTHERN youths reacted angrily to the rumoured plan by the Presidency to replace the Vice President, Namadi Sambo with the former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima, as a means of winning the support of more Muslims ahead the 2015 election.

President Jonathan, facing some resistance from the North, was said to have met with the former Zamfara governor on how he could help mobilise block support from the region for his re-election.

The President, who met with some Muslim scholars and leaders on his anticipated second term bid, was said to have been impressed by the senator ’s role in facilitating the meeting.It was gathered that the senator promised to mobilise support for him.

However, the President of the Arewa Youth Forum, Gambo Gujungu, told Vanguard last night that the North would never support Jonathan in 2015 whether he used Sambo or Yerima as running mate.

Gujungu pointed out that Jonathan’s plan to jettison Sambo for Yerima would only aggravate his political problems rather than give him any edge in the North.

“The main reason we cannot support him is that he wants to further divide the North and create more problems so as to exacerbate our poverty, backwardness and

disunity,” the A YF leader said.

“But I can assure you that whatever those who are advising the President are plotting against the North will only backfire on them because as far as we know, he has not done anything in the North despite the fact that Sambo has been serving him

loyally and faithfully.

The attempt to draft Yerima into the presidential team is coming in the wake of opposition to Jonathan’s rumoured second term in office, which the North is stoutly opposed to, hinging its opposition on the fact that the President had promised to do only a term, which would end in 2015.

UTSE—TORREN TIAL rainfall has destroyed over 1,000 houses in Mallam Madori town in Jigawa State.

Some of the areas affected include Kamfala, Dunari, Sirinya, Sabongari and some parts of the primary health Centre and civil defence office in Mallam Madori Local Government Area.

The heavy rainfall also destroyed electrical installations and trees in the area, leaving the town in total blackout.

Though no casualties were recorded during the rainfall, Vanguard gathered that some of the affected people have relocated to schools and other public places in the town.

Reacting to the incident, the Council Chairman, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi sympathised with the victims of the disaster, promising that his council would assist them.

Bauchi SUBEB re-engages 2,495 primary school teachers

BY SUZAN EDEH

Teachers Ser vice Commission, TTC. AUCHI—THE Bauchi According to Kobi, this has State Universal Basic brought the total number of Education Board, SUBEB, teachers in the state to 21,495. has re-engaged the services He further said that the veriof 2,495 primary school fication committee set up by teachers who were cleared the state government was still by the state government un- screening more teachers. der the first batch of the In a related development, teachers undergoing screen- teachers in the state have ing in the state. started organising prayer sesThis came as primary sions for God to soften the school teachers in the state hearts of those in the authorihad demanded the immedi- ties so that their seven ate payment of their seven months salaries could be months salary arrears. paid.

Deputy Director, Public ReThe leadership of the T TC lations at the Board, Kabiru which organized the prayers Kobi said in a statement said that the screening exerweekend in Bauchi that the cise was taking too long and number of the reinstated asked government to comteachers were among the plete the exercise in order to 2,873 teachers under first allow them to continue with batch whose certificates were their work. Some of the teachverified and subjected to the ers- Mallam Y usuf A damu proficiency test by the state and Mallama Hajara said that

B

they had resolved to take their case to God for His devine intervention.

According to them, “20 teachers so far have died because of this lingering problem as they did not have money to seek medical attention. This morning, we took the corpse of a teacher to the grave yard,” they said.

In its reaction, a senior staff with SUBEB who spoke with newsmen on condition of anonymity faulted claims by teachers that they were not being paid their salaries promptly.

He said: “SUBEB has over 25,000 teachers and the board only screened 5,000; out of which about 2500 were cleared. So, we only have over 2000 teachers left. They should be patient because the committee is still working on their matter. There is no cause for alarm.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013— 41

C M Y K

42 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 16,2013

Vanguard Vanguard,, TUESDAY,

JULY 16, 2 013

— 43

44 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 16,2013

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013 — 45

Snowden affair may lead to truce in cyber war, says UN official only one. Now we know it’s not necessarily only one country or two. People used to accuse China and Russia, easy targets.

But we know that it’s something that involves everyone. I think we have to be realistic on that.”

Involvement in cyber attacks is routinely denied by all governments, but Touré said that “indeed, there’s a cyber war going on, unfortunately”.

“I wish there was not, but there is,” he said, add-

...Trapped in Russia E

DWARD Snowden’s revelations about U.S. Internet surveillance have created a chance for countries to call a halt to a cyber war, a senior U.N. official said yesterday.

This is even as the Russian President, Vladimir Putin said that US authorities have in effect trapped fugitive intelligence leaker Edward Snowden in Russia, “It gives us an opportunity, and I keep saying let’s build bridges,” said Hamadoun Touré, head of the Inter national Telecommunication Union (ITU), which is working with Interpol and the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime to work out how to

police cyberspace.

The accusations by Snowden, a former U.S. spy agency contractor , that the National Security Agency spied on Internet traffic, has prompted outrage from the target countries but some diplomats say the such activities were always an open secret.

“You’re saying that we know that all countries are doing it. And we do,” Touré said, in answer to a Reuters question at a news conference.

“I was talking to one ambassador a week ago who was saying: ‘I’m surprised by the Europeans’ surprise, because we all do this.’ That’s what he

•Ki Moon said. He was very frank.”

Touré wants a treaty in which countries would promise to ensure Internet access for their citizens, protect them from attacks, work with other countries to stop criminal activities, and not attack another country first.

Touré said he had been

calling for a cyber treaty for years, but countries always said they did not have a mandate to discuss it and accused others of being behind cyber attacks.

“Now, with current international events, it’s no longer the case,” he said.

“People used to accuse

ICC rejects request to tr y Ruto in Africa The International Criminal Court in The Hague yesterday turned down Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto’s request that his trial for crimes against humanity be held in Africa.

Ruto is accused along

Trayvon Martin: Protests over Zimmerman verdict P

rotesters yesterday took to the street across the US after neighbourhood watch volunteer, George Zimmerman, was cleared of murdering an unarmed black teenager.

Most demonstrations were peaceful, demanding justice for the family of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin and questioning the fairness of the justice system.

The biggest protest was in New York, where a small rally grew into a crowd of thousands.

President Barack Obama has appealed for calm reflection after the verdict.

He acknowledged on Sunday that the case had elicited “strong passions”, but said: “We are a nation of laws, and a jury has spoken.”

The Department of Justice says it is investigating whether a civil case can now be brought against Mr Zimmerman.

The 29-year-old neighbourhood watch volunteer had faced charges of second-degree murder and manslaughter due to his fatal shooting of the teenager last year.

After the not-guilty

verdict was announced late on Saturday, there were protests in cities across the US - including in San Francisco, Philadelphia, Chicago, Washington, Boston, San Diego and Atlanta.

In New Y ork City , thousands of people marched to Times Square on Sunday night, chanting “Justice for Trayvon Martin!’’

Police attempted to keep the crowd in controlled lanes, but the demonstrators made their way around the officers into the square.

Demonstrators march through the Lower East Side neighborhood of Manhattan in New York.

Egypt’s army chief defends ousting Morsi

E

GYPT’S military chief has defended removing Mohamed Morsi from office, saying the ousted president had violated his popular mandate and antagonised state institutions.

Speaking to an auditorium filled with military officers on Sunday, General Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said Morsi “entered into a conflict with the judiciary, the media, the police and the public opinion. Then [he] also entered into a conflict with the armed forces.”

He did not elaborate on the nature of the conflict

with the military, but said that the armed forces could no longer stand on the sidelines as millions of Egyptians took to the

streets to call for Morsi to step down over allegations he was abusing his power.

The military chief said he frequently advised Morsi

and finally reached out to him before giving him a 48hour ultimatum to reconcile with opponents and address public demands.

FG okays consular office for China's Guangzhou them the long awaited province Power and some state

BY CHIOMA OBINNA RESIDENT Good luck Jonathan last week approved a consular office in Guangzhou, China. This was following the appeal by Nigerians resident in the city that the president uses his visit to China to give

P

consular office that will attend to their immigration issues easily. President Jona-than was said to have met with Nigerians in China while on the visit in company of his wife, Dame P atient, top government and private sector delegations including Ministers for T rade and Investment, Aviation,

ing that governments should “refrain from such actions”. He said he included cyber espionage as a form of attack.

Touré urged gover nments to discuss the problem frankly and to “ find some solutions that will not embarrass anybody”.

“And I am not trying to embarrass anyone, because I understand the motives. But the means may have gone too far ,” he said.

governors.

Reacting to the presidential approval, one of the spokesperson of the Nigerian community in China, Mr. Festus Mbisiogu, who had been clamouring for the establishment of the office, commended the President for harkening unto their cry.

with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta of helping to orchestrate postelection violence five years ago in which 1,200 people died. He had asked for the trial to be held in Kenya or neighboring Tanzania, where there is already a U.N. court.

“While in principle in favor of bringing the ICC’s proceedings closer to the affected communities, (judges) concluded that the proceedings in this instance shall be held at the ICC’s headquarters,” the court said in a statement.

It has yet to rule on a similar request by Kenyatta.

The two men, who were elected on a joint ticket in March, had asked for the move so that they could more easily combine their political duties with attending court. Critics said it might expose prosecution witnesses to intimidation.

The court said judges had considered factors including “the potential impact on victims and witnesses” and the “perception of the court”.

Their decision will be controversial in Kenya and Africa more broadly, where sensitivities about European and Western influence r un deep.

Earlier this year, heads of state and government at an African Union summit urged the ICC to refer the charges against Kenyatta and Ruto back to the Kenyan courts.

46— Vanguard, TUESD AY, Y, JULY 1 6, 2 013

HIV infection is a blessing to me says Gloria Asuquo, 24, diagnosed HIV positive at 12 giving her the money? she would ask. We know that she ROM the depths of dis would soon die. Why is she taktress, disillusionment, de- ing the drugs? Why are we jection and the certainty of un- wasting money? My mother timely death occasioned by went to the Church and told HIV infection through blood the Reverend who announced transfusion at the tender age my status to the community. of 12, Gloria Asuquo, has risen He advised I should be taken to become a vibrant, assertive to one of the General Hospiand ambitious young woman tals and abandoned there to who is taking a decisive and die. But my father refused to incisive battle to one of the heed such advice. R ather, he world’s most dreaded infec- challenged the Reverend to tious disorders - HIV/AIDS. take one of his four children to In an encounter with Sola the hospital and abandon her Ogundipe in Abuja, the ener- there to die first, only then getic 24-year-old recounted would he obey the instruction. the frustrations of living as a The pressure became too much. pauper in addition to the ignoMy mother separated me miny of HIV stigma and dis- from the rest of the family. She crimination. demarcated my own part of the Today, Gloria who once con- house separate from the others. templated death until sheer The stigma became too much. luck and doggedness turned Escape from home her fortunes around and One day I could not bear it brought unhindered access to again. The pressure was too the elusive, life-saving treat- much for me to bear. I had to ment has undergone a trans- break the window and jumped formation. The same HIV in- out to escape from home at the fection that took her to the age of 12. I escaped to an unbrink of total despair is today known village called Oki. I a source of her blessing. How went to Jabi P ark in Abuja, I did it happen? She tells it all had only N800. I didn’t know in this encounter. where to go, but just wanted to Excerpts: leave and even die.

Living with HIV stigma Death wish I’m a young person diagnosed I wanted to die. I was in the HIV positive at 12. I was in Pri- bush; I had stopped using my mary six going to JSS1. I got drugs which at that time cost infected through blood transN15, 000 per month. T est for fusion. The stigma was so CD4 count was N6, 000, viral much I couldn’t bear it. There load N12, 000. Where was I were drugs at that time, but they going to get that kind of were too expensive for my par- money? I wasn’t working, I just ents to afford. Each time my told God to let me die. father raised the money to pay Before then, I went to NT A for my drugs, my mother would and shared my stor y. I told challenge him. Why are you them I was HIV positive; I

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

F

• Dr. Osahon Enabulele, NMA President

NMA President emerges VP Commonwealth Medical Association

P

RESIDENT of the Nige rian Medical Association, Dr Osahon Enabulele, weekend emerged as the Vice president of the Commonwealth Medical Association, CMA. Enabulele, who is also a Consultant Family Physician at the historic election of the 51-year-old CMA among other elected officers are to pilot the affairs of the association for the next triennium, 2013-2016.

Other elected officers during the 23rd Triennial Conference and Council meeting of the CMA held from July 4 to7, at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel, Port of Spain, Trinidad and T obago include; Dr. Solaiman Juman, a Consultant ENT surgeon and former President of the Trinidad & Tobago Medical Association as the new CMA President; Dr . Oheneba Owusu-Danso, of the Ghana Medical Association and a Consultant plastic, aesthetic and hand surgeon as Secretary; Dr. Phophi Ramathuba, a clinical pharmacologist and delegate of the South Africa Medical Association, as Treasurer and Dr. Gordon Caruana-Dingli, a general and breast surgeon from the Medical Association of Malta, the Immediate P ast President and member of the executive.

The Commonwealth Medical Association, CMA, was founded in 1962 and it is made up of National Medical Associations from at least 42 Commonwealth countries from the various continents of the Commonwealth, including Nigeria, United Kingdom, South Africa, Singapore, Trinidad and T obago, and India.

wanted to declare my status to the world. They said I should cover my face, but I said no. I wanted the world to know my story so that if I die, everyone would know what killed me.

Breaking the stigma is an individual thing. If you want to come out to testify, nobody can take that away from you

Saved Then I met Dr. Anthony Agu, a lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. When he asked about my parents, I burst into tears. He took me to the University and I told him my story. He took me to his house,

Continued on Page 48

• Miss Gloria Asuquo

Young adults, highest users of marijuana, others in Nigeria —— POLL

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

T

EENAGERS and young adults aged between 15 and 29 years are the highest abusers of marijuana, codeine, alcohol and other most commonly abused drugs and substances in Nigeria, according to latest poll results released by NOI Polls Limited.

Overall, 91 percent agreed that there is a high level of drugs and substance abuse in Nigeria. The finding supports UN data that Nigeria has the highest level of abuse of cannabis (marijuana) in Africa.

On the chart identified by 22 percent of the respondents is codeine (cough syrup followed by alcohol (20 percent), then tobacco with nine percent, pre-

scription drugs nine percent and hard drugs six percent.

Reasons adduced for the trend as identified by respondents in the poll conducted between July 1st and 4th, 2013 included poverty and unemployment, peer pressure, societal influence and bad friends.

The findings come on the heels of the 2011 Report of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime which rated Nigeria top on the chart in drug/substance abuse in Africa and largest abuser of cannabis.

World Health Organisation, WHO, describes drugs and substance abuse as “the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illicit

drugs”.

Worldwide, there has been an increase in drugs and substance abuse especially amongst young adults, with no exclusion to Nigeria. The Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, reported that within the period of 1999 to 2007 alone, about 2,267,830.53 kilograms of various illegal drugs and substances were seized all over Nigeria.

Substance abuse has also been linked, to a certain level, to early school dropout and a number of HIV/AIDS cases due to the sharing of needles in the course of administrating drugs.

Based on this background, NOI Polls conducted its latest poll to explore awareness of Nigerians regarding the issue.

Respondents were asked five specific questions including what can be done to curb the rising incidence of drugs and substance abuse in the country, possible reasons why people abuse drugs and substances and on what can be done to curb the rising incidence of drugs and substance abuse in Nigeria. A majority of 39 percent recommends creation of more awareness/orientation in public, homes and schools on the effects of drugs and substance to a great extent would reduce the rise in drugs and substance abuse especially amongst teenagers and young adults.

Another group suggested youth empowerment; creation

Continues on page 48

Vanguard, TUESD AY, Y, JULY 16, 1 6, 2 013 —47

NASS seeks r elease of funds to NNMDA

M

EMBERS of the House of Representative Committee on Science and Technology have tasked the Federal Ministry of Finance over nonrelease of appropriated funds to the Nigerian Natural Medicine Development Agency , NNMDA. Lamenting over the issue, the Committee members also expressed concern that out of N112 million budgetary allocations to the Agency in the 2013 budget, only N24 million has been released by the third quarter of the year.

Speaking during a working visit to the Agency in Lagos, the Committee Chairman, Abiodun Akinlade who described the situation as a “clear lapse” on the part of the Executive, called for immediate release of funds to the agency to enable it meet its mandate.

“It is surprising that by July no reasonable release of funds has been made by the Executive.

This has shown executive lapses which we feel should be

corrected in the shortest period.

This is the third quarter of the year and the total funds for this year is about N114 million only about 24 million which is about 25 per cent has just been released to them.

Further, Akinlade said: “W e have the money but why are they not releasing the money to the agencies is what the National Assembly is yet to understand.

There is no way these agencies can function well if their funds are not released to them.” Calling on the Federal Ministry of Finance to urgently release funds, he regretted that even the personnel and overhead funds released are not sufficient to pay workers their full salaries.

Akinlade argued that the National Assembly will not pass a budget without making sure that the needed money is available.

“We believe that we have a lot of money to meet up with the budget.”

Earlier, Director-General of the Agency, Dr. Tamuno Ibuomi Okujagu said capital projects of

the Agency had been hampered by poor release of funds to a shortfall of N800, 000 monthly. “We can no longer pay salaries. What we do in order to keep our staff is by paying 75 percent across board.”

Okujiagu listed some of the projects embarked by the Agency to include; development of a modern laboratory to assist in providing scientific and technical support in the development of traditional medicine products, facilitate research, training an promote valuation addition. “This is aimed at assisting practitioners in the development and production of safe and efficacious therapies including the development of appropriate low cost process technology and formulation of standardized low cost highly essential herbal remedies for some health challenges like cough, malaria and the control of mosquito, arthritis, topical dermatitis and health tonic among others,” he stated.

Nigerian scientist bags European award for quality r esearch

A

Nigerian scientist, Dr .

Basil Fadipe has been awarded the European Society for Quality Research, ESQR, Quality Achievements Awards at its Annual Convention at the luxurious Copthorne Tara Hotel Kensington, London, United Kingdom.

The Award, in recognition of The Justin Fadipe Medical Center ’s enhancement and strides in quality research, is in honour of the doctor ’s father, and celebrated for its “excellence, innovation, visionary thinking and the spread of knowledge.” In a citation, the Centre was “recognised for extraordinary achievement in quality management.”

Fadipe, proprietor of the Center said the Award is an ac-

knowledgement and recognition of hard work by the 12year-old Center’s quest for excellent customer service as a key factor.

Fadipe was also honoured by the Nigerian High Commissioner to United Kingdom, Dr. Tafida, at the British High Commission, London. “W e are happy that you have done us proud but you must seek to return home in the near future to help our country no matter the challenges,” Tafida noted. The Switzerland-based ESQR promotes quality awareness, recognise good business practices, technological innovation, quality achievements in organisations worldwide, and for publicising these organisations’ successful performance strategies.

• A representative of the European Society for Quality Research, and Dr. Basil Fadipe during the award giving ceremony recently.

• L-R: Director-General of the Nigerian Natural Medicine Development Agency, Dr. Tamuno Ibuomi Okujagu, Chairma n, House Committee on Science and Technology and other members of the committee during the committee’s oversight function to the Agency last week in Lagos.

AGPMPN begins mobilisation of medical doctors for WAH Expo 2013

T

HE Association of Private and General Medical Health Practitioners of Nigeria, AGPMPN has begun an aggressive mobilisation of health professionals to participate in this year’s West African Health, WAH Expo, a conference and exhibition of global health experts and medical solution providers holding in Lagos.

According to the Chairman of the Lagos State Chapter of the association, Dr . A deyeye Arigbabuwo, the event would help spur Nigeria’s chance of creating platforms for medical tourism and the chance for many people to save themselves the stress and cost of travelling far for medical help.

“The state-of-the art medical technologies that would be displayed and the high-profile personnel discussion and training workshops that would be held during the event provide great opportunities for medical practitioners in Nigeria to leverage for expanded benefits to the country,” Arigbabuwo said it would be a disservice to healthcare if a meeting of this magnitude is holding in Nigeria and the practitioners are left out.

“We have began active mobilisation of AGPMPN’s over 1,000 members and the hundreds of members of the healthcare providers association to be at the event because we

have a lot to gain from being there,” Arigbabuwo said.

“As you are aware, there is going to be series of exhibitions of modern health facilities and models as well as several networking opportunities and experience sharing by foreign participants with our doctors, some of whom may not have been to the part of the world these people are coming from. So it is really an opportunity to share best practices in healthcare,” he added.

WAH Expo 2013 is an inter national Exhibition focusing on medical equipment, scientific and laboratory instruments, hospital furniture, pharmaceutical products and services.

LEO Club tar gets 20 indigent children for free cataract surgeries

BY DOTUN IBIWOYE

I

N a bid to combat prevent able blindness, the youth affiliate of Lions District 404A1, LEO District 404A1,is targeting at least 20 indigent children for free cataract surgeries. There will also be screening for diabetes, HIV and other diseases of the eye.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to V anguard Corporate head office in Lagos, District President, Leo Shogo Oloshunde, said the focus of the Club is in the area of combating preventable blindness where several millions of dollars is being spent to give back eye-sight to millions of people.

“We are focusing in the area of combating preventable blindness where several millions of dollars is being spent to give back eyesight to millions of people who have given up the hope of regaining their sight. We have been focusing on adults for a long while, the

cost of cataract for adults cost between N30, 000 and N50, 000, he said “We now deemed it fit to fo cus on the children. Our focus will be more on children because if cataract in children is not quickly treated, it might lead to blindness. We are going to be collaborating with some General Hospitals in the State to help in the selection of these children. We want to make sure that these children are from homes that cannot afford the cost of the surgery.”

Oloshunde said the Club intends to raise N10 million to execute humanitarian projects and provide bore holes in orphanages and motherless babies homes. “Over the years, it is the contribution of members that we have utilised. If philanthropists come out we will be grateful. We are the medium that acts between the philanthropists and the children who need the operation.”

48—Vanguard, TUESD AY, Y, JULY 16, 1 6, 2 013

‘HIV infection is a blessing to me’ Continues fromPage 46 gave me a room to stay . But he told me not to disclose my status to his family. He enabled me continue my education and in 1996, I finished my school.

Back to treatment Dr. Agu then told me that he heard that the drugs were now free that I should go and tr y. So I went back to Gwagwalada General Hospital where I met Dr. Ajayi. When he asked if I had been taken my drugs, I said yes. I lied to him because I was afraid that if I told him I had not been on drugs, he would send me away.

But he placed me on the drugs. That night I went back to Nsukka, but never went back home. Dr . Ajayi got all my details and related to Dr. Pat Matemilola and Professor Babatunde Oshotimehin who were all looking for me. Eventually, it was Godwin Odemije of Radio Nigeria that came to look for me, and brought me back home. In 2006, I developed typhoid and ovarian cyst. Doctors said I would be operated upon because I stopped using my drugs for a number of years. To the glor y of God, I’m still on firstline drugs.

HIV infection as blessing God first, but the treatment has kept me alive till today. If there were no free drugs, by now, I would have been a forgotten issue. People would have forgotten me, my name would not be written anywhere. HIV has become a blessing to me. I am sitting with important people. If not for HIV , I would not meet Ministers, and Ambassadors and so many important people. If not for HIV, I would not have ever fly in an aircraft.

I’m proud to be HIV positive. T oday, I’m a testimony in my family , there is no

meeting at which they do not seek my opinion. I’m proud that I’m HIV positive.

Make treatment available I’m still pleading to the Ambassadors and everyone in the country to make these drugs accessible especially the youths and women. W e are the most vulnerable and do not have anywhere to go. We are tomor row’s leaders. We may be driven out when we are diagnosed with HIV because the general belief is that HIV is contracted through promiscuity. But HIV can be contracted through many ways.

The three zeros If the drugs are made to be more available, only then can we truly have

the three zeros, that is, zero related deaths, zero new infection and zero stigma. As a young person I cannot come out but keep quiet and spread it, but if we provide access to treatment, give free education, employment and there is no stigma, I bet you, these three zeros will be achieved.

Ambition I’m dreaming to become a medical doctor. I want to achieve this. HIV has nothing to do with my future. I would match it and overcome it. I need you to help me achieve my dream and also to find a cure to HIV. I want my name to be great, so that it will be said that Gloria Asuquo found a cure to HIV. I want a scholarship so that I can achieve my goal.

• Results from the latest NOI Poll showed that 9 in 10 Nigerians believe the highest abusers of drugs and substance are teenagers and young adults aged between 15 and 29 years old.It has also emerged true from this poll that the most abused substance in Nigeria is marijuana.

Young adults and marijuana Continued from Page 46 of jobs and improved standard of living as paramount in curbing the situation. Furthermore, 14 percent of the respondents are of the opinion that more law enforcement and penalties will reduce the problem to its minimum; eight percent said good governance, effective control checks, improved and approved medication services would go a long way in curbing the trend.

Part of the recommendation is a call for more focus on enforcement of laws and penalties, as well as careful consideration to be given to creation of more awareness on the effects of drugs and substance abuse. This is to be greatly supported by youth empowerment and more job creation in order to generally improve standard of living especially within the age group identified. In addition there should be more focus on the enforcement of laws and penalties which should be enforced in order to keep a check and balance on the drugs problem, which has greatly affected the Nigerian society.

The results from the poll revealed that almost 9 in 10 Nigerians (90%) believe the highest abusers of drugs and substance are teenagers and young adults aged between 15 and 29 years old.It also found that the most abused substance in Nigeria is marijuana.

NOI Polls Limited is Nigeria’s leading opinion polling and research organisation, which works in technical partnership with the Gallup Organisation, USA, to conduct periodic opinion polls and studies on various socio-economic and political issues in Nigeria.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

H

ELLO everybody and welcome. For years now, we have dealt with common male sexual problems such as lack of erection and stamina, premature ejaculation, low semen quantity , water y semen, a small sized penis and lack of sexual enjoyment. We deal with these issues every week and try to recommend the best available solutions for people in need.

To tackle all of the above problems however, one will need four to five different products, making it a bit expensive for the buyer. But today, we now have that one super supplement that does it all. It is called MaXtremeZen 2000 and it is one of a kind. If your erection is weak, it strengthens it. If you cannot get an erection at all,MaXtremeZen 2000 will give you a powerful erection. If your sex drive is low, it brings it up and if you experience premature ejaculation, MaXtremeZen 2000 will enable you last longer. If you have no energy for multiple rounds of intercourse, it will give you superb energy for days and if your sperm quantity is small and light, it thickens it and increases the volume as well. And finally, if you want a bigger penis, it enlarges your penis and makes it longer and thicker. Is there anything else that a man can possibly want from a sexual supplement? I bet if you need a visa to fly to London, it will get it for you as well.

MaXtremeZen 2000 is the most powerful supplement I have ever come across and one capsule works for a whole week to do all of the above. It is fast acting and begins to work one hour after taking it.MaXtremeZen 2000 is 100% natural, doctor designed and suitable for adult men of all ages. It is not available in large quantities but for now we have it. So, if you are lucky enough to get it, write us and tell us all about it. our Y testimonies are important because right here, we only care about what works for people.

And not to forget the women, we have three new vibrators that will put a big a smile on their faces.

They are the Waterproof Turbo Glider, the Temptress Leopard Massager and the Miracle Massager

Wand. All three vibrators are affordable toys of high quality and are dependable. So if multiple orgasms are what you are looking for , you are tr uly spoilt for choice. Let us now answer one or two questions from our readers.

Hello sir. I experience vaginal dryness and sometimes I fail to get aroused even during intercourse.

Do you know of anything that might help? Thanks – Ugonwa Dear Ugonwa, a good arousal gel will make all these problems go away. Get the Mood Tingling Gel. It lubricates and sensitizes the clitoris when used, making stimulation and sexual enjoyment easier. It also makes for pain free intercourse – Uche Good day sir. I hear that there is a way of maintaining my erection even after quick ejaculation. Please is it true? Akpan Yes it is true. You can achieve that through the use of a Cockring. A Cockring has the unique ability of retaining blood within an engorged penis in order for a man to maintain his erection for up to twenty minutes, even after ejaculation. So what you hear is true – Uche Hello sir. I find it hard to use the delay cream that I bought because my girlfriend gives me oral sex sometimes I am not sure if it is safe. What should I do?

Thanks – Joseph Joseph you can use theBlo Numbing Spray instead.

It stops premature ejaculation and is meant for oral sex too. So depending on the occasion, you can use one or the other – Uche That’s it for today. The names of the people featured here have been changed for their privacy . Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call07086754515 or 08051924159 or any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com.

Zee Virtual Media delivers to you wherever you are in Nigeria. For enquiries, send your emails to custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com - Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013—49

•A housing estate in Abuja.

FG not committed to recapitalising FMBN, REDAN alleges

By CHRIS OCHAYI

S

TAKEHOLDERS in the housing industry alleged last week that promises by the Federal Government to provide affordable housing for the citizens could not be fulfilled because of lack of commitment to recapitalizing the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, FMBN. National President of Real Estate Developers’ Association of Nigeria, RED AN, Mr .

Olabode Afolayon who revealed this shortly after a meeting of the stakeholders in Abuja, said the government has reneged on its several promises to recapitalize the bank to the tone of $200 million.

He said the implication of this, is for developers to continue to believe and do business in the act that housing in Nigeria is going to be 99.9 per cent private sector driven, adding that let everybody forget about the government.

According to him, “you can see in the last three years the Federal Government has been talking everyday about housing. It is talking about recapitalization of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, FMBN. So we are tired. W e don’t want to believe Mr .

President anymore.

“I read it over the pages of the newspapers about two weeks ago during the flag-off

of housing estate for the paramilitary where the President repeated it that they are going to recapitalize FMBN. For goodness sake, how can you be saying the same thing for three years?

“Each time people like us and others in the sector listen

to the President talking, it makes us to sit down and reappraise ourselves to enable us forge ahead. We don’t even want the government to talk about recapitalization anymore because we are tired of hearing the same thing everyday.

“The last time we were with the President during the Presidential Retreat in December and the issue of mortgage refinancing came up, the government said they want to enhance the bank by encouraging MRC for them to enhance demand through the provision

of mortgages but that was the last we heard about it.

“The Federal Government also said it during the inauguration of the new Board of FMBN. At every moment it is saying it but for one single second we have not seen anything to justify that. Don’t you feel the issue is politicized?

“For people like us, we are not politicians. W e are only talking about our business and business interest and the interest of the general public that we serve. When we heard that the government was going to recapitalize FMBN, a whole lot of private individuals in the real estate business went ahead and invested in development plans.

“Some of them went for expensive plan, with the view that the demand is going to be enhanced and somebody is coming to take it over from them because the issue of housing in Nigeria is not a problem of you looking for the market but a problem of demand. “The government is really not doing anything about it. The government should stop saying these things because they are trying to create artificial pricing.

'People are beginning to think that money is coming into the sector , meanwhile nothing is coming. Developers are now having what we call bad asset because you invest but you cannot even complete the transaction cycle.

Supply is now there but the demand is not there'. REDAN boss said.

Intercontinental Homes Savings and Loans now TrustBond Mortgage Bank Plc

By KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

T

HE management of Interconti nental Homes Savings and Loans has effected a change of name; it is now TrustBond Mortgage Bank Plc with a new logo.

Unveiling the new name last week in Lagos, chairman of the mortgage bank, Mr. Etigwe Uwa said the change of name was in fulfillment of the Share Sale Purchase Agreement, SSPA which the former Intercontinental Homes Savings and Loans, IHSL had with the new core investor group known as Interrec which acquired Access Bank’s 51.88 per cent shares in IHSL, pointing out that the agreement stipulated that IHSL would change its name not later than six months after the completion of the share sale and purchase agreement.

According to Uwa, with the acquisition of Intercontinental Bank Plc by Access Bank, IHSL became a subsidiary of Access Bank, adding that in line with regulatory directives, Access Bank decided to divest from IHSL, and new core

investor group, Interrec acquired Access Bank’s 51.88 per cent shares in the mortgage institution.

The chairman explained further that in fulfillment of the commitment to the share sale purchase agreement, the Board of Directors of IHSL resolved to change the name of the PMI to TrustBond Mortgage Bank Plc, adding that the change of name has been approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria and appropriate changes have been effected at the Corporate Affairs Commission.

“In keeping with our new name, the new ownership and management of the bank is poised to continue to nurture and retain the trust of our customers, our shareholders and our regulators. Preserving your tr ust is our bond. T o this end, the bank will strive to observe the highest ethical standards and adherence to robust corporate governance principles in the conduct of our business.

“The core management of the bank has not changed significantly . This is the same management team which has cred-

itably run the affairs of the bank from its inception and grown its shareholders funds from N100 million to N4.7 billion today in six years, making it the second most capitalized mortgage bank in the country inspite of the upheavals and challenges it faced in the wake of the banking reforms of 2009 which affected its parent company adversely.

“At its last AGM, our bank shareholders resolved to increase the authorized share capital of the bank to N10 billion and the first phase of the fund raising efforts is proceeding excellently. In the coming months, you will witness the transformation and expansion of the bank to lofty heights, delivering cost effective mortgage banking products and services to our numerous customers”, Uwa noted.

The managing director of the bank, Mr.Adeniyi Akinlusi who explained the colour of the new logo which is made of blue and green with white background to mean productivity and resilience, added that the triangle in the logo means TrustBond.

50—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013

•Goodluck Housing Estate, Idimu before completion.

T

HE first phase of Goodluck Estate comprising 228 3bedroom units has been completed and ready for commissioning any moment from now.

The housing estate which is exclusively residential, is nestled in a very secure and highly accessible part of Idimu in Alimosho area of Lagos metropolis.

The estate which was initiated in 2008 but actual construction work commencing 2011, has unparalleled access to key city locations such as Ikeja, Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos State University , L ASU, Ejigbo, Isolo and Iba. The sprawling estate sited on 11.5 hectares of land, is a partnership deal between the Nigeria Police Force who are the owners of the land and Remax Realtors Nig. Limited, the developer. The estate which is expected to provide 504 housing units of three-bedroom each at the completion of the

Phase 1 of N4bn Goodluck Estate ready with 228 units second phase by 2014, will cost a whopping N4 billion.

In a chat with V anguard Homes & P roperty, the chief executive officer of Remax Realtors Nig. Limited, the developers and promoters of the estate, Mrs. Funke Adesoji said the estate which has a leasehold of 99 years, is a Public P rivate P artnership, PPP project, pointing out that 60 per cent of the 504 housing units the estate is expected to provide would be sold to men and officers in the police force because the police are the owners of the land, and that was the agreement reached between her company and police.

Remax Realtors’ boss who noted that she funded the project through borrowed

,

By KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

60 per cent of the 504 housing units the estate is expected to provide would be sold to men and officers in the police force because the police are the owners of the land, and that was the agreement reached between her company and police

funds from both local and international financial institutions, disclosed that the remaining 40 per cent would be sold to members of the public. Mrs. Adesoji who said payment for the apartments can be either by cash which is direct payment or through mortgage arrangement, explained that subscribers who intend to pay through mort-

,

gage arrangement must be subscribers to the National Housing Fund, NHF or such subscribers can arrange for mortgage loans through their bankers, as her company has no mortgage arrangement with any of the primary mortgage institutions for the purchase of the apartments.

She disclosed that the key features in the estate are that

each flat has a large living and dining room with big windows for aeration, guest toilet, master bedroom en-suite two additional bedrooms with family bathroom and toilet, as well as spacious kitchen with a store.

The infrastructure and facilities in the estate include beautifully landscaped and tarred roads, fully fenced and gated estate, two parking lots per flat, electricity with adequately clustered transformers, solar-powered street lights and boreholes with water treatment plants. Others are standard drainage system, recreational facilities, shopping mall, adequate security, professional facility management services and provision for sports as well as community centre.

We spend N12m annually on tree planting —Council boss

By IKENNA ASOMBA

T

HE Chairman, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area, Comrade Ayodele A dewale, Sunday, disclosed that the council spends about N12 million annually in its efforts to combat the menace of climate change in Lagos State.

Speaking during the 2013 tree planting day in the Council, Adewale said this money is spent on payment of salaries for members of the Green Club, an agency established by his administration to engender the planting, protection and sustenance of trees in the local government.

He said: “Over the last four years, our administration has determined to invest in our environment, through the planting of trees. This initiative is in line with Governor

Babatunde Fashola’s efforts towards making adequate preparations against the negative impact of climate change. Over these years, we have established the Green Club, which has over 50 staff.

Paying them N20, 000 monthly, one would discover that we spend over N12 million annually to plant trees alone.”

While thanking Amuwo-

•ETERNIT1: L-R: Marketing Manager, Eternit Limited, Mr. Kayode Adeniji; Chairman, Nigeria Institute of Architects, Rivers State Chapter, Mr. Dike Emmanuel; and Managing Director, Eternit Limited, Mr. Dirk Modderman, at the official opening ceremony of Eternit Limited Office in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State last week

Odifin residents for their continuous commitment and support to the council towards a cleaner environment, he added: “In the last four years, the Green Club has planted over 5,000 trees, and this is the major reason, why we are calling on all residents to continue to support the tree planting campaign of our administration. W e will continue to thank God for a zero flood situation in Amuwo Odofin, which is as a result of our prompt actions towards a cleaner and greener Lagos.”

Meanwhile, Gov. Babatunde Fashola, who was represented by former Speaker Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Abayomi Kiyomi expressed satisfaction in the state’s tree planting campaign. He said: “When we launched the tree planting exercise in 2008, our aim was to plant 1 million trees in 10 years.

But today , I am proud to announce that we have successfully planted over 4 million trees in just six years.”

Fashola however noted that “the tree planting exercise was designed with the sole aim of awakening the consciousness of Lagos and the larger Nigerian public on the unique role trees and other plant communities play in making our environment conducive for human habitation, and to encourage everybody to plant and protect trees. It’s gratifying to note that other states like Ogun and Oyo have also keyed into this initiative.”

Explaining the benefits of tree planting, Fashola averred that “Because trees absorb rainfall and prevent flooding, Lagos was spared the heavy flooding which ravaged the nation in 2012. It is not by coincidence; it was the result of our collective efforts at preserving nature to prevent her wrath.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013—51

Fashola highlights importance of greenery at 2013 tree planting campaign

By KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

L

AGOS State Governor, Babatunde Fashola on Sunday highlighted the importance of trees in the environment, saying that “from taking shade under trees to reveling in the aesthetics, daily we take from trees in several ways that we do not fully realize.

Making this disclosure at the 2013 tree planting campaign which is the fifth anniversary of tree planting initiated by the state government 2008 as a way of combating the menace of erosion and other ecological challenges confronting the state, Fashola noted that the theme of this year’s exercise which is “Green is Peace”, is in recognition of the fact that the absence of enough green, especially trees, is a threat to the survival of all creatures that depend on oxygen, adding that “we need trees to absorb the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to prevent us from suffocating”.

Continuing, he said “it is not a coincidence that green leaves are often used to signify peace.

Internal peace begins with the well-being of individuals, to which green holds the ace, and we know that the absence of internal peace breeds aggression towards neighbours, thereby creating several ripple effects that undermine peace and peaceful coexistence.

“A hungry man they say, is an angr y man. T rees are germane to human existence. They are a direct and indirect source of food for man and animals. The absence of greens results in vegetal degradation, impoverished ecosystem and decreased biological productivity that lead to food shortage, ill health and low per capital income. We want to avoid all these situations in Lagos.

“We can see the negative effects of desert encroachment on norther Nigeria already. It is ravaging 11 of the 19 northern states and rendering the land bare. The lack of sufficient vegetation in some parts has been fingered as the major cause of the several clashes between Fulani herdsmen and native crop gowers. The loss arable land compels herdsmen to search for greener pastures, and this creates conflict between them and farmers because their animals invariably graze on cultivated farmlands”, Fashola said.

In his welcome address earlier , the State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello had noted that trees at maturity act as shelter for rare and endangered animals, pointing out that they also act as storm/wind breakers as well as deflectors of sun rays and other adverse weather.

According to Bello, trees serve as breeding ground for some animals and equally help to check erosion as well as supply food and materials for building houses. “medicines are also produced from stems and leaves of some plants.

... As Nigerian Breweries jo ins the train

A

LSO, to demonstrate the love for nature, Ni ge in collaboration with L agos State Environme rian Breweries Plc took part in this year nt al Agency, LASEPA ’s took place at the prem tree planting. Speaking during the even t that ises of Nigerian Brew Managing Director of the company , Mr. eries, Iganmu, Lagos, the Ni event was to support humanity’s effort toward colaas Vervelde said the s a sustainable environ pointing out that tre es ar ment, environment by mode e vital for climate control, as they amen d the rating the climate.

Vervelde added that trees absorb and clean as carbon dioxide, str se the to xins in the air such essing that trees and forests are closely lin with weather pattern ked s and also the mainten nature. He said trees ance of a crucial balan are therefore vital to ce in the of the environment be cause, not only do tre existence and well-being es improve the quali we breathe, they are ty also providers of foo d and shelter for huma of air wildlife. ns and “Trees play a major ro le in erosion control, of water supplies an protection and conser vation d pr that trees make to ou eventing floods. Because of these contrib r environment, they are essential to our we utions planting trees, we ma lfare. By ke up for the loss we have caused the pla ourselves through th net and e destruction of fores t areas over the cent Nigerian Breweries uries”, CEO stated.

52 — VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013

Transfer Update....Transfer Update....Transfer Update.

Man U make •30m Fabregas bid M

ANCHESTER United have made a 30m (£26m) bid for Barcelona’s Cesc Fábregas and are waiting to hear the Catalan club’s response, as David Moyes intensifies his focus on strengthening his midfield.

The deal now hinges on whether Barcelona – who bought him from Arsenal for 29m in 2011 – are willing to sell. Any indication that they would consider doing so may force Fábregas’s hand as it would be clear that he is not considered central to the plans of T ito Vilanova, the Barcelona coach.

Moyes has turned his attention to Fábregas after missing out on Barcelona’s Thiago Alcântara. The Spain Under-21 international decided instead to join his former manager Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich for £21.6m.

•Asafa Powell •Fábregas

Cavani completes PSG medical O

N

APOLI’S Edinson Cavani has completed his medical with PSG. The Uruguayan international has been one of Europe’s most sought after strikers this summer and it looks as if the

Ligue 1 side have won the race for his signature. According to Sky Sport Italia, the medical is complete and all that is needed is for the 26year-old to formally sign a contract with Les Parisians.

Gerrard pens new deal

L

IVERPOOL skipper Steven Gerrard has signed a new two-year deal, the club have confirmed.

The deal which was signed at the club’s training ground, Melwood, means Gerrard will stay at his boyhood club beyond his 35th birthday , Gerrard has been a oneman club having spent his entire career at Liverpool, racking up 630 appearances and scoring 158 goals.

•Cavani

City chase Jovetic

M •Gerrard (r) shakes hands with Perry

Bayern sign Thiago J

•Thiago

Athletics shame Another Jamaican found doping

UST a few days after new Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola confirmed his admiration for Barcelona midfielder Thiago Alcantara, the German club have announced that they have agreed a deal with the Spanish club for the transfer of the 22-year-old Spaniard. The Spanish international will be join-

ing the German club for £21.6million.

He will be signing a four-year contract with the current Champions League and Bundesliga champions. Despite achieving the treble last season, Bayern Munich have gone on and strengthened their team once again.

ANCHESTER City are continuing to pursue Fiorentina’s Stevan Jovetic, though the Montenegrin is one of several strikers being targeted, with Sevilla’s Alvaro Negredo also of interest to Manuel Pellegrini, the new manager.

Pellegrini is aware that the addition of Jovetic and Negredo would offer much required reinforcements to his forward ranks as Sergio Agüero is the only other established player in that position at City.

“It’s difficult to say a date, but before July finishes I think we will have more players. We are not in a hurry to bring them in now but we are clear that we need two or three more players.''

LYMPIC discus thrower Allison Randall on Monday became the third athlete to confirm a positive drugs test from the Jamaican trials in June following Sunday ’s revelations by sprinters Asafa P owell and Sherone Simpson.

Randall, who competed at last year ’s London Games but failed to make the final, acknowledged receipt of the Jamaica Anti-doping Commission’s (JADCO) notification of her adverse finding for a banned diuretic but, like Powell and Simpson, denied knowingly taking a performance-enhancing substance.

“I have not intentionally taken any banned substance.

“I have been vigilant with everything I consume, so I am extremely shocked and surprised by this incident,” Randall said in a statement to Jamaican Radio station RJR 94 FM. Reuters sources said she had tested positive for the banned drug Hydrochlorothiazide, which reduces blood volume.

IOC smile over new doping cases

I

•Rogge

NTERNATIONAL of ficials are looking at the bright side of the latest doping scandals to jolt track and field.

IOC President Jacques Rogge says “I am naturally disappointed, and I would like to reiterate our zero-tolerance policy against doping. ... but these cases do once again show the effectiveness of the strong, sophisticated and continually evolving battle against doping in sport.”

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013 — 53

Odemwingie omitted from tour squad P

ETER Odemwingie has been left out of W est Brom’s squad for their tour

of Austria as he nears an exit from the Hawthorns.

The Nigerian is widely

Toro Continues from BP goals difference.

Their record on the field has turned Nigeria into a laughing stock in the comity of football nations and speaking yesterday to Sports Vanguard, Toro, who was the scribe of NF A during the glorious days of Nigerian football, blamed the scandal on the failure of the Amateur League body to closely monitor teams during matches.

“This scandal would not have happened in the first place if members of the Amateur board were on their toes. I have observed that the

people running the amateur league have been aloof. If they were up and doing, they should have nipped the scandal in the bud. It also shows that they are not doing their intelligence gathering.

“They knew that two teams were fighting for promotion and yet failed to put everything in place to stop this embarrassment to this great nation. If we were in a civilised environment, the chairman and his board members would have resigned. And since they have not done the needful, I urge them to resign so that proper investigations can be

expected to depart the club ahead of the new Premier League season after unsuccessfully attempting carried out”, added Toro.

While describing the scandal as highly unfortunate and a dent to the country’s image, Toro said he was impressed with the way the case was being handled by the NFF and the Nigerian Police, who he urged not to give into sentiments of having their team, P olice Machines of Y ola, involved in the matchfixing.

“This is a test of the impartiality of the Nigerian Police to carry out a thorough probe on their own and come up with an objective report, with the appropriate sanctions”, said Toro.

to force through a move to QPR on transfer deadline day in January.

Odemwingie went on to feature sparingly after the incident and manager Steve Clarke admitted towards the end of the season that the fans’ treatment of the striker had prevented him from playing.

NOC congratulates Gumel

P

RESIDENT of Nigeria Olympic Committee, NOC, Alhaji Sani M. Ndanusa has congratulated Nigeria’s representative at the International Olympic Committee, IOC, Engr.

Habu Gumel on his successful re-election as the T reasurer-

Mba Continues from BP Wolves.

3) Realising that the player needs to continue to play at the highest possible level and in the highest profile competitions and in keeping with Warri Wolves policy to encourage to the best of their ability the career paths of their players

and in order not to jeopardize the international career of the player the club have agreed to allow the player to continue to play for Rangers pending his inevitable move to a club abroad.

The loan move to Rangers International does not have any financial obligation attached to it.

General of the Association of National Olympic Committee of Africa, ANOCA. Gumel, a former President of NOC was returned un-oppossed in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire during ANOC A’s 15 th Ordinary Elective Assembly. Gumel’s opponents withdrew as they recognised his pedigree as a worthy candidate.

“We’re ver y proud of Gumel and his records in Nigeria. He has done so well and internationally, he is also recognised.

We at the NOC wish him well and pray that he joins us as we take Nigerian sports to the next better level”, Ndanusa who is also the President of the Nigerian T ennis Federation said.

54 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 16,2013

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013— 55

C M Y K

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013

Top 10 Richest Clubs 1. Real Madrid - Value: $3.3 billion 2. Manchester United - Value: $3.16 billion 3. Barcelona - Value: $2.6 billion 4. Arsenal - Value: $1.33 billion 5. Bayern Munich - Value: $1.32 billion 6. AC Milan - Value: $945 million 7. Chelsea - Value: $901 million 8. Juventus - Value: $694 million 9. Manchester City - Value: $689 million 10. Liverpool - Value: $651 million

Fantasy Football Scores

Test case for Police — Toro •Says Amateur League Board should resign

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

A

former SecretaryGeneral of the Nigeria Football Association (NF A), Sani T oro has called for the resignation of the board members of the Nigerian Amateur league, under whose watch the incredulous 146 goals were scored in two games last week Monday.

As both Plateau United F eeders and P olice

Machine FC fought to reach the fifth tier of the Nigerian Amateur league, the two sides racked up 79-0 and 67-0 wins respectively.

Interestingly, at half time, both sides had managed to score 13 goals between them, only for the high haul of goals to begin in the second half, as they tried to outwit one another on

Ugly face of shame — P.52

GAY SULKS — Tyson Gay sheds tears following his failed dope test alongside Powell, Simpson and Randall. Read more on Page 52.

Mba: Rangers lose benefits

A

•IGP Abubakar

Continues on Page 53

•Maigari

FCON 2013 hero, Sunday Mba has finally returned to Warri W olves. In a landmark meeting between the player and representatives of the Warri-based club in Lagos yesterday , the following terms were reached.

1) MBA accepts fully

the ruling of the NFF and that W arri Wolves have full control of his contractual rights.

2) Despite the NFF ruling over two months ago Rangers international FC have not been unable to meet the terms of transfer requested by Warri Continues on Page 53

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Disc (6) 5 Parched (4) 8 Match (5) 9 Merriment (3) 10 Proud (4) 11 Tor (4) 12 Enquired (5) 13 Current (6) 16 Final (4) 18 Urge (4) 20 Insect (3) 22 Garland (3) 23 Attempt (3) 24 Essence (4) 25 Surmounting (4) 28 Zero (6) 30 Spurn (5) 32 Appear (4) 33 Eject (4) 34 Fish (3) 35 Repair (5) 36 Air (4) 37 Jail (6)

DOWN 1 Deny (6) 2 Accost (8) 3 Disclose (6) 4 Feeling (9) 5 Non-believer (7) 6 Attack (4) 7 Oaf (4) 8 Through (3) 14 Clumsy (9) 15 Purchase (3) 17 Clique (3) 19 Advance (8) 20 Help (3) 21 Clot (7) 26 Placard (6) 27 Purloined (6) 29 Slender (4) 30 Tender (4) 31 Fruit (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 3, Large 9, Leader 10, Animal 11, Acrid 12, Swop 15, Ripe 17, Shelter 20, Top 21, Rigid 23, Maid 25, T rot 26, T ight 28, Sew 30, T reason 33, T rap 35, Dine 36, Pupil 38, Detail 39, Soiled 40, Plump.

How to Play Sudoku

DOWN: 1, Bliss 2, Canoe 3, Lea 4, Archer 5, Gain 6, End 7, Ambit 8, Sleep 13, Whimper 14, Plait 16, P ortion 18, Right 19, Pit 22, Dryad 24, Dig 27, Truism 28, Study 29, Waste 31, Silly 32, Needy 34, Pull 36, Pip 37, Lop.

TWO WEEKS TO LIVE

P

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

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

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

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.

C M Y K