PDP CRISIS:Govs to shun NWC meeting

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61798

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013

N150

Mega party emerges in June — Buhari •P.8

Senate resumes, warns politicians on 2015 •P.6

DANGER—A petrol tanker burning at the NNPC Mega Station, Bashorun in Ibadan, Oyo State, yesterday. Inset: The affected mega station. Photos: NAN

PDP CRISIS:

COLUMNISTS:

Govs to shun NWC meeting •Party's meeting now to hold in Chairman's house •PDP asks court to stay execution on Oyinlola's sack

•Turkur to meet Obasanjo, Bode George, others

EFCC declares Babalakin wanted •P.7

Mixed reactions •P.25 greet three new varsities

P.13

BY HENRY UMORU & IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA—PIQUED by what they perceived as insincerity on the part of leaders driving the reconciliation efforts in the crisis-ridden Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governors elected on the platform of the party will shun today’s National Working Committee, NWC, meeting.

Vanguard gathered

Continues on page 5

ROSE UZOMA'S SACK:

Fate of 4,560 employees hang in balance •P.8

•P.17

OCHEREOME NNANNA •P.19

THE HUB •P.19

Mr & Mrs

2 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANAUARY 17, 2013

C M Y K

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C M Y K

4 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANAUARY 17, 2013

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013—5

POCKET CARTOON

PRESENTATION—South Sudan's Special Envoy, Mr Pa'gan Amum Okiech (L), presenting his Letter to President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

PDP govs shun NWC meeting Continues from Page 1 that the PDP governors were determined to shun the meeting until the leadership of the party fixes a date for the National Executive Committee, NEC meeting where they will be able to express their griev-

ances before President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark; Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, PDP State Chairmen and other leaders, elders and stakeholders of the party.

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

B

E thankful. Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never have enough. Be thankful anyway.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

...and dreaming is very pleasant as long as you are not forced to put your dreams into practice.

That way, we avoid all the risks, frustrations and difficulties, and when we are old, we can always blame other people-preferably our parents, our spouses or our children-for our failure to realize our dreams – Paulo Coelho

C

OELHO, pearls of wisdom reminds me of an other beautiful quote by Rebecca McKinsey.

“One thing you have to realize from now on is that it doesn’t matter if this is a dream or not. Survival depends on what you do, not what you think.” When you focus on making yourself better, not on thinking that you are better, you ‘re travelling the road to success. “You’ll never know the outcome unless you just go out there and just do it.”. So much of what is often seen as obstacles that derail and hold us back, can ultimately be used and understood as the building-blocks of what’s to come in the future!

You’ ll be able to use those later to build your dreams!

One of the governors told Vanguard that there was no point going to the meeting. “All along we have been attending meetings in the hope of resolving the crisis but Aso Rock has a different agenda.”

The governors’ stance may force the meeting to be postponed once again. When Vanguard sought to know if the meeting would hold, there was no sign as even members of the NWC who spoke, said the meeting might not hold.

Indeed, the internal crisis rocking the party further worsened, yesterday, as the legal team of the party, told a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, to stay execution on the judgment that sacked the embattled National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, from office.

In a related development, the Acting National Secretary, Barrister Solomon Onwe who took over from Oyinlola on Tuesday has fully taken charge with almost all the paraphernalia of office provided.

Vanguard checks, yesterday, revealed that apart from escort vehi-

cles with siren that he has not inherited, Onwe now parks at the parking space of the National Secretary at Wadata Plaza, National Secretariat of the party.

Onwe consolidates hold on power To consolidate his hold on power as well as enjoy what it takes to be the scribe of the self-acclaimed largest party in Africa, Onwe was said to have written a memo to the Director of Administration, PDP, Gurama Bawa requesting for the number of personal aides that the position attracts.

A source also disclosed that he has sent a memo to all the heads of department in the party requesting for briefing about their various departments to enable him take action.

NWC meeting holds in Tukur’s house Meanwhile, the leadership of the PDP rather

than hold its weekly NWC meeting at the, National Secretariat of the party or in the alternative, the Presidential Campaign office, Legacy House, Maitama, decided to use the personal residence of the National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

At the National Secretariat of the PDP, except the Acting National Secretary who was at the secretariat briefly, others were not seen throughout even as at the time of this report.

Vanguard gathered that top on their agenda was the budget of the party that is currently undergoing preparation with inputs from members of the NWC. Asked how the meeting ended, Onwe simply replied in a text message that, “it was okay.”

It will be recalled that following the sack of Oyinlola by the court, the PDP National Chairman, while exercising his constitutional role, ordered Onwe to immediately take over in an acting capacity.

Why PDP wants execution of Oyinlola’s sack stayed The PDP team led by its Legal Adviser, Mr Kwon Victor, told a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, to stay execution on the judgment that sacked Oyinlola, from office pending the hearing and determination of the party’s appeal before the Court of Appeal.

The party is praying the court to restrain the beneficiary of the judgment from giving effect to, or otherwise seeking the enforcement of the judgment delivered on January 11, pending the hearing and determination of the party’s appeal before the Court of

Appeal.

The party also asked the court to stay the execution of Oyinlola’s sack pending determination of the appeal before the appellate court in Abuja, arguing that it (PDP) was dissatisfied with the High Court Judgment.

“The appeal raised substantial and arguable issues of law which were recondite,” Victor argued, adding that the court was empowered to stay the execution of all orders of the court granted by way of reliefs contained in the judgment of the court delivered on January 11.

PDP argued that granting the application would ensure that its appeal was not rendered nugatory, adding that refusal of the application would make it difficult for the party to return to status quo should the appeal succeed.

It will be recalled that Oyinlola was ousted from office by a Federal High Court, Abuja last Friday. He had appealed the decision, praying the appellate court that trial Justice Abdul Kafarati erred in law when he assumed jurisdiction over a dispute he said bordered on intra-party affair.

He argued that not only did Justice Karafati over-reach his powers, but also went ahead to sack him from office “against the weight of evidence.”

He contended that “the learned trial Judge erred in law when he overruled the preliminary objection to the jurisdiction of the court and assumed jurisdiction and delivered judgment.”

Oyinlola was ordered to vacate his office after the high court held that there was merit in a suit against him by chieftains of PDP in Ogun State.

6 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013

BY HENRY UMORU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

A

BUJA — THE Senate resumed plenary, yesterday, after its break, with a warning to politicians not to overheat the polity ahead of 2015. It warned Nigerians not to discuss the balkanisation of the country at all.

In his address at the resumed session, Senate President, David Mark, said a mechanism had been put in place to ensure that the Senate carried out its oversight functions to ensure that the 2013 budget was fully implemented.

This came as President Goodluck Jonathan urged the Executive and the Legislature to rise up to the collective challenge of ensuring full implementation of the 2013 budget.

Mark, however, reminded his colleagues that having raised the bar through their stellar performance in 2012, they would be judged by the very high standards they had set for themselves.

He said the expectations of Nigerians on the Senate would be realised within the framework of existing laws, promising that the task of legislative oversight would be discharged with firmness, diligence, transparency, courage and commitment.

Emodi hails NASS over budget 2013 However, addressing reporters in Abuja, yesterday, Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Joy Emodi, who praised the legislature for its speedy passage of this year’s budget, described the action as a significant landmark in the nation’s democracy in the last 13 years.

She said: "The short delay in the time between the actual passage and the processes that will lead to the eventual signing of 2013 national budget into law is due to some other transmission processes and does not in any way detract from the significance of this landmark achievement since 1999.”

Task before Senate —Mark Speaking earlier, Senator Mark said: "The task of the Senate in 2013 would be to work to restore confidence in the ability of the government to rise to the challenges elicited by the public expectations. We will seek to bring succour to our nation and reenergise our people’s faith in one indivisible nation and in constitutional democracy. We will do this by pursuing a legislative agenda that not only promotes the common good, but also responsive to the national mood and expectations.

"Some of these expectations can be met within the framework of existing laws, provided that the legislative task of oversight is discharged with firmness,

diligence, transparency, courage and commitment. Those expectations requiring constitution amendment will definitely be accommodated and addressed in the ongoing efforts to further amend the 1999 Constitution.

Balkanisation of the country "What we should never countenance is any talk about the balkanisation of our country. We have become a melting pot, welded by a common history, a common destiny, and a common heritage. The result is that the fault lines, if any, have become blurred!

"It is gratifying to note that our people have continued to repose their faith in democracy. That faith can only be repaid through sustained good governance. This is why all of us, without exception, must resist the temptation to sacrifice governance on the altar of politics as the 2015 elections approach. Not to do so is to inordinately pander to the mere selfish craving for career advancement.

Mark hails security agencies "Today, the horizon is not as bleak as it was three months ago.

The agents of anarchy and sectarian strife have been kept largely in check by the huge sacrifices of our security forces.

"I salute the commitment, the sacrifice and the bravery of our men and women in the security services, who on our account, place themselves daily in harm’s way to confront the formidable perils tearing at the sinews of our corporate existence.

"Continued vigilance and even greater sacrifice are still needed for terror and insecurity to be totally routed. Internal security operations can certainly benefit from our imaginative legislative efforts aimed at deterring potential perpetrators of such crimes and making the task of the security forces less hazardous.

...wants capital punishment for terrorists "The Senate will continue to work towards these twin objectives. Not only will we endeavour to enhance the capability of the security agencies to detect and nip these pernicious crimes in the bud, we will also work to ensure that the penalties for their commission are made even more stringent. In this connection, I strongly reiterate my earlier calls for capital punishment for this category of offences.

Vows to collaborate with the Executive "We will continue to collaborate with the Executive, within the context of the principle of separation of powers, to ensure that our nation emerges stronger and more dynamic. Such

REPS RESUME: Speaker House of Representatives, Mallam Aminu Tambuwal (2nd right); Deputy Speaker, Mr Emeka Ihedioha (2nd left); House Leader, Hajia Mulikat Adeola (left) resuming 2013 plenary session at National Assembly, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Senate resumes, warns politicians on 2015 zNigeria will not break up —Mark zVows there 'll be firm oversight on 2013 budget zPresidency urges Executive, Legislature on full implementation of budget collaboration in no way diminishes the constitutional status of the National Assembly as the driving force of this democracy. It rather enriches it, for the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary, are partners, all working towards good governance.

"Just before our last recess, we

did observe certain incidents smacking of disrespect and contumacy towards the Senate, and particularly of its power to investigate some MDAs. For now, let me make this very clear: The power to launch investigations into agencies of government is expressly given to

parliament by Section 88 of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended), as part of parliament’s oversight functions. The Senate will not brook any act contemptuous of it, nor will it abnegate a responsibility so expressly conferred.”

FG declines release of $1bn from ECA zAs FG, states, LGs share N467bn for Dec

BY EMMA ELEBEKE, with agency report

A

BUJA — THE Federal Government has declined the request by the 36 state governors to disburse $1 billion (about N157 billion) from the Excess Crude Account, ECA, in December.

This was even as the three tiers of government shared N467.007 billion from the Federation Account for the month of December.

Minister of State for Finance, Dr Yerima Ngama, made this known, Tuesday night in Abuja at the monthly Federation Accounts Allocation Committee, FAAC, meeting, pointing out that the Federal Government "accessed" $1billion from the account in December to offset the fuel subsidy claims to oil marketers.

He said the withdrawal followed the approval of a Supplementary Budget of N161 billion for fuel subsidy

payments by the National Assembly.

He said: "We withdrew the amount ($1 billion) to pay subsidy to oil marketers but not on the account for distribution to governors based on their request.

"Because of the withdrawal, we had a dip in the excess crude account, but yet we have credited the account (in December) with N91.70 billion and that will bring the total to $9.20 billion. ‘ "This shows that we have really met our target of having to save $10 billion in the ECA for the year 2012. Because if not for the Supplementary Budget, we could have ended up with over $10 billion.”

The minister told newsmen that with over $42 billion foreign reserves, the country had more than enough to pay for three months’ import.

He noted: "The finances of this country are in solid state and this is credit to the exemplary leadership style of President

Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.”

FG, states, LGs share N467bn A breakdown of the figures showed that the Federal Government received N217.42 billion (52.68 per cent), state governments N110.28 billion (26.72 per cent) and the local governments got N85.02 billion.

According to the minister, the Value Added Tax, VAT, distributed for the month was N57.53 billion, compared to N62.7 billion in November.

Also, N49.7 billion representing 13 per cent oil derivation was shared among the oil producing states for December.

Proceeds from Value Added Tax of N57. 535 billion was equally shared as follows: Federal Government N8.2 billion; states— N27. 6 billion and local governments-N19. 3 billion.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013—7

EFCC declares Babalakin wanted zEFCC's statement strange —Babalakin's spokesman

BY SONI DANIEL & IFEANYI OKOLIE

L MEETING: From left: Governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers); World Banks Vice President for Africa, Mukhtar Diop; Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State and a representative of the World Bank after a meeting of representatives of the Nigeria Governors' Forum with the World Bank team at the Rivers State Governor's Lodge, Abuja.

Nigeria loses N165bn to pipeline vandalism in 4 yrs —PPMC zAcquires four fire-fighting trucks

BY MICHAEL EBOH

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AGOS — PIPELINES and Products Marketing Company Limited, PPMC, yesterday, said the economy had lost about N165 billion in the last four years to pipeline vandalism.

The sum includes the cost of repairs and products theft.

Managing Director of PPMC, Mr. Haruna Momoh, at the commissioning of four units of triple agent fire-fighting trucks at its Mosimi Depot, Ogun State, noted that the activities of vandals at Arepo and products theft across the country had become a recurring national embarrassment and had cost the country, N165 billion between 2009 and 2012.

He added that on a number of occasions, the vandals at Arepo, who have become notorious in their operations, attacked personnel of PPMC with guns and other dangerous weapons, and prevented them from fixing the damaged pipelines.

This, he said, led to the death of a number of personnel over the years and had brought about a huge cost on PPMC, the marketing arm of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, in the area of repair of the vandalised pipelines.

He said: “In one case, the vandals killed one of our personnel, who had gone to fix a vandalised pipeline and buried him in an unknown grave. It took the intervention of the management of PPMC, who pleaded with the community for several days before they could show us the grave, allowing us to exhume the body so as to give the personnel a befitting burial.”

He maintained that PPMC had continually engaged various state governments and communities

on the effective policing of the pipelines’ right of way, adding that only a committed state government will ensure the protection of pipelines within their jurisdiction, thereby ensuring smooth distribution of petroleum products across the country.

Petroleum products supply still very robust He argued that despite the acts of vandalism, the supply of petroleum products in Nigeria was still very robust, adding that the problem was in the area of distribution.

He noted: “If vandals will allow pipelines be, PPMC will be in a better position to effectively deliver petroleum products to every part of the country, in view of the fact that the pipeline is the best means of delivering products across the length and breadth of a country like Nigeria.”

He appealed to Nigerians to partner PPMC in putting an end to pipeline vandalism to prevent the disruption of products supply and to check incessant shortages across the country.

PPMC acquires fire trucks On the acquisition of the new fire trucks, Momoh said: “Fire incidents as a result of our operations and willful damage by vandals are serious challenges that the organisation has to grapple with and address appropriately. Between 2010 and 2012, 76 fire incidents were recorded.

“Over 87 per cent of these fire incidents resulted from the nefarious activities of vandals along our pipeline right of way, a

typical example is the recurring decimal of Arepo.

"The challenges of containment and control of these fire incidents by our in-house firefighting system is tasking. PPMC recognises the need to accord operational safety its rightful place by procuring these four new firefighting trucks to further strengthen our state of readiness to attend to fire emergencies.”

AGOS — THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has declared the Chairman of Bi-Courtney Highway Services Limited, Wale Babalakin, wanted in connection with a case of criminal conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of N4.7 billion.

According to the Acting Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, "the businessman who was supposed to report to the commission, yesterday, preparatory to his arraignment on a 27-count charge before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of the Lagos High Court today (yesterday), reportedly failed to do so.

"Anybody having useful information as to his whereabouts should contact the commission in its Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt and Abuja offices or through

these numbers: 094604620, 07026350721,07026350722,07026350723,070-6350724, 070-26350725 ; or e-mail a d d r e s s : info@efccnigeria.org or the nearest police station. ’Babalakin is darkcomplexioned and speaks English and Yoruba fluently.’’

However, Babalakin’s spokesman, Dipo Kekinde, said the EFCC’s statement was strange as he (Babalakin) reported to commission on Tuesday as he was expected to report to them every two days, based on the administrative bail granted him.

He wondered the reasons for the latest development.

Kehinde said: "He (Babalakin) will be at the High Court today by 11 a.m and we are worried about this development.

We hope some people are not using this style to bring up spurious allegations against him."

CBN sells $108m at Dutch Auction zRevokes operating licence of 236 BDCs

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE, PETER EGWUATU& CHINEDU IBEABUCHI

L

AGOS — THE Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, yesterday, sold $108 million at the biweekly foreign exchange auction.

This came as the non release of statutory allocation funds by the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee, FAAC, as expected yesterday caused interbank interest rates to rise significantly.

In another development, the CBN has revoked the licences of 236 Bureau de Change, BDC, operators due to non-payment of the mandatory deposit of $20,000.

The revocation was announced by the Director, Trade & Exchange Department, Batari Musa, in a statement entitled: “Revocation of Operating Licences of 236 BDCs.” He said: “The licences of 236 BDCs have been revoked.

Consequently, all authorized dealers/buyers and the general public is advised that with effect from January 14, 2013, any

foreign exchange transaction, including sales to and purchases from these BDCs as well as transfer of funds through them and or on their behalf are illegal.”

CBN sells $108m at Dutch Auction System Result of the Wholesale Dutch Auction System, WDAS, session conducted by the CBN, yesterday, showed that the amount of foreign exchange sold by the apex bank rose 195 per cent to $108.5 million as banks besieged the official market to take advantage of the official exchange rate which is lower than the interbank exchange rate. Despite the surge in demand, the official exchange rate remained stable at N155.72 but the interbank exchange rate rose slightly to N157.28 from N157.24 on Tuesday.

FAAC delay pushes up interbank rates On

the

other

hand,

interbank interest rate rose by over 100 basis points (bpts) due to delay in the release of the statutory allocation funds from FAAC. Interbank operators had expected the funds to be released, yesterday. This coupled with outflow of liquidity for foreign exchange purchases and treasury bills purchases, caused scarcity of funds, and rise in interest rates.

Interest rate on overnight borrowing rose by 150 bpts to 14.63 per cent, while that of 7Days rose by 133bpts to 14.83 per cent. This trend is, however, expected to be reversed today when the statutory allocation will hit the market.

NSE appreciates by N1.30bn Meanwhile, the value of equities listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, appreciated by N130.13 billion, yesterday, on the back of sustained investors patronage.

Specifically, the market capitalisation rose by 1.37 per cent to close at N9.62 trillion as against N9.49 trillion recorded in the previous day.

8—Vanguard , THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013

Jonathan asks senate to approve Turaki, Nebo as ministers

BY HENRY UMORU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

A

BUJA—EIGHT months after the former Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Haliru Mohammed was removed as Minister of Defence, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday forwarded Kabiru Tanimu Turaki as a ministerial nominee from Kebbi State.

Jonathan also sent to the Senate for confirmation, Prof.

Chinedu Nebo as the ministerial nominee from Enugu State; six months after the former Minister for Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji resigned.

Jonathan had earlier requested the Senate to approve N253,199,752,409 as the budget for the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, in the 2013 fiscal year, just as he sought the Senate’s nod for consideration and confirmation of re-appointment of Alhaji Seleiman Barau as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. He informed the Senate of his administration's decicion to celebrate the centenary anniversary of the amalgamation of Southern and Northern Nigeria in 1914.

Jonathan, in a letter conveying his request, said that out of the amount, N155,660,399.641 was for capital expenditure while N48,034,818,410 and N49,504,534,358 would be for personnel and overhead costs, respectively.

The president, in the letter, dated November 30, last year to the Senate President said his request was in line with Section 299 of the 1999 Constitution which vested legislative powers over the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, on the National A s s e m b l y .

He appealed to the Senate to give the FCT budget proposal a speedy passage.

On the re-appointment of Alhaji Barau as CBN Deputy Governor, CBN, President Jonathan said his decision was based on the provisions of Section 8(1 & 2) of the CBN Act, 2007.

Jonathan, also stated in his letter asking the Senate to confirm the nomination of the proposed ministers that it was "In accordance with Section 147(2) of the 1999 Constitution... as amended.’’

He also forwarded CVs of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki and Prof. Chinedu Nebo, for consideration.

FEC MEETING—From right: Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah; Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi and Agric Minister, Adewumi Adeshina during the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council at the State House, Abuja, yesterday.

Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

ROSE UZOMA'S SACK: Recruitment turns awry as fate of 4,560 employees hang in balance

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH

A

BUJA—THE sack, on Tues day, of the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigrations Service, Rose Uzoma, by the Federal Government has dashed the hope of no fewer than 4,560 Nigerians who had been secretly offered employment by the service.

Vanguard gathered authoritatively that the Federal Government has ordered immediate cancellation of the employment letters already issued by Uzoma to the affected Nigerian applicants.

Findings revealed that most of those secretly offered employment were gearing up to assume duties when the recruitment controversy broke out, finally culminating in Uzoma’s forced retirement.

A source close to the Interior Ministry in Abuja said that the Federal Government was deeply embarrassed by the controversy surrounding the recruitment and would therefore not allow what it described as ‘backyard’ recruitment into the service.

The source said, “I can say that the government has cancelled the recruitment exercise and will take appropriate steps to recruit in a transparent way.

“There is no way we can allow the fake employment to stand,” the source explained.

When the employment row first broke out, Uzoma had tried to

deny recruiting people into the service and particularly favouring certain states but she had to own up before the National Assembly that the jobs were not advertised so as to avoid recruiting bad eggs into the service.

The former Comptroller-General argued that the recruitment was meant to ‘correct’ the existing anomaly in the service workforce in which 12 states were at disadvantaged position as they lacked immigration officers.

Before the scandalous exercise, Imo State for instance, where Uzoma comes from, had highest number of immigration staff with (1,187) followed by Kogi (885) and Benue (851) while Ebonyi had the lowest with 233.

The North Central zone tops the list with (5,144), South-South (4,306), North-West (4,089), North-East (3,095), South-East (3,415) and South-West3, 267) out of the 21, 612 employees in the NIS.

Meanwhile, Mr. Rilwan Bala Musa, who was appointed in acting capacity to replace Uzoma, assumed duties yesterday with series of meeting with key officials in line with his new designation.

Musa was described as the most senior officer in the NIS, thereby eliminating the usual controversy that attends such appointments. Musa was promoted to the post of Deputy Comptroller General of the NIS two years ago.

Mega party emerges in June — Buhari

BY GABRIEL EWEPU

A

BUJA—THE new party com ing from the merger of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, will pursue the restructuring of the country, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the CPC national leader said yesterday.

Speaking at the inauguration of the CPC merger committee in Abuja, Buhari said that a flag and logo for the new party which is expected to emerge in June this year have already been prepared.

The merger committee headed by former Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Alhaji Garba Gadi, is expected to formalize ongoing talks with the ACN and other opposition parties on issues ranging from manifesto, party flag and

logo.

Buhari said: “It is not impossible that the new party is presented to the people by middle of this year after signing the declaration. It should not take more than six weeks for the parties to pursue the matter within their own constitutional context to ensure that the issue is legitimated through the proper procedures and processes of its own organs”.

He said the party and the ACN were already pursuing the merger at an advanced stage as both parties are near perfection on every detail of the agreements between the two parties.

Buhari said there was a strong understanding and determination between the ACN and CPC to create a new party with a brand new logo and flag already designed, including all other para-

phernalia of a political party already in place.

Buhari who was optimistic on prospects of the new party said: “The new party will root for proper federation as the basis of the union and for the governance of the country; and should therefore support the restructuring of the country. The 36-state structure of the country is simply not working; and it must therefore be rationalised.

“The party should root for democracy, rule of law and the entrenchment of a democratic culture in the country; and the foundation of the new party should be anchored on the recognition and acceptance that our cultural and religious differences are a blessing and a source of strength, and should not be a cause for disunity".

Vanguard , THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013—9

Doctors not being attacked by hoodlums —Police

Investigate rape of 'prostitutes' by soldiers —NHRC

BY UJU MBANUSI

BY BUSOLA LIKOLO

ABUJA — THE National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, yesterday, called on the Chief of Army Staff, General Abdulrahman Dambaza and Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory, FTC, Command to investigate the allegation that some men in army uniform abducted and raped some women in Abuja under the guise that they were prostitutes.

Executive Director of NHRC, Prof. Bem Angwe, in a statement, noted that the commission monitored the report of the incident as aired

by Federal Radio Corporation on January 16, 2013 It was reported that on December 20, 21 and 22, 2012, some women were allegedly abducted by men in army uniforms in an unidentified black Hilux van in Wuse 2, Abuja, under the guise that they were prostitutes and taken to an unknown destination, where they were allegedly beaten and raped Angwe appealed to Army and Police authorities to investigation the matter.

From left: Mrs. Ethel Uche, Brewery Manager, Nigerian Breweries; Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, Lagos State Governor and Mr. Nico Vervelde,MD/CEO, Nigerian Breweries, during the Governor's working vist to Nigerian Breweries, Lagos, yesterday,

Customs arrests female passenger with $151,205 at Lagos airport

BY DANIEL ETEGHE

LAGOS — OPERATIVES of the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, yesterday, arrested a female passenger with $151,205 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos on her

way to board an Emirates flight to China.

The passenger, Mrs. Akinnuote Abiola Oluwafunke, was apprehended for not declaring the total sum of foreign currencies she had to the officials of the NCS and

Fire razes PHCN transmission station …Apapa, Festac, Ajegunle, others thrown in darkness

BY KUNLE KALEJAYE

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AGOS — OFFICIALS of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, transmission station was y e s t e r d a y thrown into confusion following a fire incident which gutted the control room of the 132KVH Amuwo Transmission Station in Lagos.

Eye witnesses said that the fire started at about 5:17 p.m .

As at the time of filing in this report, the cause of the fire was yet unknown even as the Federal Fire Service officials were already on ground battling to bring the situation under control It was gathered that the station's control room was severely damaged by the inferno.

Gridlocks: LASTMA reviews traffic control mechanism

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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AGOS — LAGOS State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, has unfolded new plans to manage traffic gridlocks in the state, just as it deployed more officers to traffic prone areas aimed at ensuring safety on Lagos roads.

LASTMA General Manager, Babatunde Edu, spoke at Ogudu Ori Oke Area of Kosofe Local Government during the traffic management exercise, tagged “Operation’ unlock the

gridlock,’a renewed approach to manage traffic, especially in the traffic –prone areas.”.

According to Edu: “It is part of the year's agenda to unlock all the gridlock in the metropolis.

The ongoing construction works should not be an excuse for any motorist to cause traffic, we all have to sacrifice and be disciplined while using the road.

That is one of the reasons we are out to control traffic in the places where road and drainage constructions are ongoing.

As a result of the inferno, Vanguard gathered that KiriKiri, Apapa, Satelite Town, Festac Town, AmuwoOdofin, Ajegunle, Industrial Estate, Tin-Can Coconut, Beach Island and environs will be without power supply for months.

According to the Zonal Command of the Federal Fire Service, Sterling Chukwu, the cause of the fire was yet unknown.

“Immediately we got the distress call that PHCN office was on fire, we rose to the occasion and in less than 10 minutes my team were on ground to arrest the situation.

And as you can see, the fire is under control, but we have called for back-up from our Lagos State counterpart because we will soon run out of water.”

Within five minute, men of Lagos State Fire Service arrived the scene with adequate water supply to combat the inferno.

Men of the Federal Road Safety, Nigeria Police and other security agencies were also on ground to assist in combating the inferno.

was arrested after the discovery of additional currencies by men of the command.

Speaking on the arrest, the spokesperson of the Nigerian Customs Service, MMIA Command, Mrs. Thelma Williams, pointed out that the female passenger was arrested while trying to board an Emirates Airlines flight EK 784 to China.

She explained that Oluwafunke failed to comply with the law of full disclosure of FER oreign currencies According to Mrs. Williams, the passenger with passport number AOO882373 only declared $100, 000 on the prescribed currency declaration forms: CDFIA and CDFIB, noting that a search on her bag, Customs officers discovered that she was carrying $151, 205 Mrs. Williams explained that the false declaration of the sum of $51, 205 ran contrary to the rule, which warranted her arrest.

The passenger, she said, had been immediately transferred to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, saying EFCC would carry out further investigation on the arrest.

She said: “At about 1300 hrs, one intending passenger travelling with Emirate Airline flight EK784 to China by name Mrs. Akinnuote Abiola Oluwafunke with passport No. A00882373 declared $100,000 on both forms CDFIA and CDFIB. On searching her bag, it was discovered she was carrying $151,205.

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AGOS — THE a g o s State Police Command, yesterday, took a swipe on the proclamation by the Nigerian Medical Association,NMA, that medical doctors were being attacked by hoodlums in the state, describing it as untrue.

Rather, the command said the recent killing of the 27 -year-old doctor by unknown gunmen around Anthony, on Ikorodu expressway, was not reported at any station.

It would be recalled that following the killing of Dr. Irawo Ademolekun, NMA in a statement by its Chairman, Dr. Francis Faduyile, described the act as wicked and barbaric and called on the Lagos State government and law enforcement agencies to live up to their responsibilities of protecting the lives and property of the populace.

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Dosu's election as Badagry LG Chairman upheld

BY DOTUN IBIWOYE

LAGOS —The fiveman Local Government Election Appeal Tribunal in Lagos headed by Justice Opeyemi Oke, has upheld the election of Mr. Husitode Moses Dosu, as duly elected Chairman of Badagry Local Government Area.

Appeal court dismissed petition by the candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Mustapha Dada on technical grounds.

The judges in a unanimous decision ruled that PDP did not comply within 30 days time frame stipulated by the electoral law when a petition should be filled, saying therefore that the petitioner lacked locus standi.

10—Vanguard , THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013

Why I could not swear by Quran 10 years ago —Akande

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

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SOGBO — NATIONAL Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Chief Adebisi Akande, yesterday, gave reasons why he failed to swear by the Holy Quran at his swearing-in ceremony as the governor of Osun State on May 29, 1999 in Osogbo, the state capital.

Speaking on the issue, Akande, at his country home, Ila-Oragun, during activities marking his 74th birthday, he dismissed the speculation that he was a cultist.

Chief Akande in his remark entitled: “An Award of Excellence: Ten Years in Arrears,” after he was presented with award of excellence as a 'Pace Setter' by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, Osun State chapter, said he failed to swear by any of the holy books because he was not pure to do so at the time of the oath-taking.

According to him: “At the time (May 29, 1999), I stood before the Chief Judge of Osun State for swearing to the oaths, I had farted several times, I had to take my oaths by affirmation which has been the popular practice in most civilised world.

"Since then, the ignorant perception became created among certain people that my mode of dress and style of swearing by affirmation, was dictated by my membership of a powerful secret court.

"Despite many explanations through media interviews, this wrong perception persists among numerous ignorant members of our communities in Osun and beyond.

"I am a devout Muslim and till today, in my life, God knows that I have never belonged to any secret society.”

From left: Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori, Osun State Deputy Governor; her boss, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Malam Nuhu Ribadu, former presidential candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN; Chief Bisi Akande, ACN National Chairman; his wife, Omowumi; Oba Wahab Adedotun, the Orangun of Ila and Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran, the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, during Chief Akande’s 74th birthday celebration in Ila Orangun, Osun State, yesterday.

PDP faction petitions Court of Appeal over Obasanjo's influence

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA—THE crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ogun State, took another dimension yesterday as the Chief Adebayo Dayo-led State Executive Committee petitioned the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab A. Bulkachuwa, accusing former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo of allegedly planning to influence the outcome of an

appeal pending before the Lagos Division of the appellate court.

A copy of the petition made available to Vanguard read: “I am the Chairman of the Ogun State Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party and the 1st Plaintiff/Respondent in the above-named appeal. That appeal is against the judgment of the Federal High Court delivered in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/347/2012 in our favour.

"The appeal was filed in 2011 and our lawyers have informed us that the briefs of argument for all the parties have been submitted except the reply of the Appellants which was filed outside the appropriate time and in respect which an application made by the Appellants for extension of time is still pending.

“Sometime last week our adversaries in the Ogun State PDP led by Senator Dipo Odujinrin were sighted

Failed infrastructure, threat to national security, not CAN, JNI, others ---Labour tells Sanusi

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

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VICE-PRESIDENT of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Issa Aremu, yesterday faulted the call by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, for ban of ethno-religious groups, especially the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN; Jamatul Nasril Islam, JNI and others in the country as a way of curbing insecurity in the country.

Aremu, who is also the General Secretary of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, in a statement, yesterday, argued that contrary to position of Mallam Sanusi, failed infrastructure were the real threat to national security, not non-state institutions.

According to him: “As attractive as this call on the ban of all these centrifugal forces namely JNI, CAN and others is, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) inadvertently has further increased their importance and indeed helped to increase the noise level of these organisations.

"However, these non-state organisations are certainly not the problem."

He pointed to the problems of failure of state institutions to deliver on their promises.

"PHCN is yet to deliver on uninterrupted power; Ministry of Trade and Investment with all its efforts still presides over factory closures (industrial mortuary) and smuggling, and CBN whose monetary and fiscal policies with all the efforts of its governor, is not yet industryfriendly, he said.

"Nigerian Customs Service

(with all its efforts) still turns the nation’s borders to smuggling zones and Immigration service is not faring better.

"Non-performiance of state institutions is the real threat to security, not non-state institutions that ape the bad behavior of state institutions.”

“In the task of nation-building, when the state’s institutions are not on duty, nonstate institutions (progressive or reactionary alike) will always fill the void.

"The issue therefore is for all state actors to deliver on promises and get reactionary non-state actors out of business. State officials should also stop patronizsing noninclusive institutions.

President and governors alike should make policy pronouncements in their respective Houses of Assembly not in churches and mosques or their primordial village/ clan organisations.”

rejoicing and celebrating loudly in Abeokuta.

"Out of curiosity we sent some of our people to find out what was happening. We received a report that they were celebrating in anticipation of victory in the above named appeal based on assurances they claim they were given by honourable Justice Amina Augie, Presiding Justice of the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal before which the appeal is pending.

“According to the report, the main pillar of the recalcitrant group, ex-president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, had sent his long term lawyer, Chief Afe Babalola, to use his influence with Justice Amina Augie in respect of the pending appeal and had visited Justice Augie in her office sometime during the second week of January 2013.

“It was during that visit, according to the report, that Chief Afe Babalola secured the assurance of Justice Augie that she would ensure that the panel constituted to hear that appeal were amenable to giving judgment in the appeal in favour of the Appellants.

"She also promised to fast track the case for hearing before the end of the third week of January 2013.

"Chief Obasanjo was quoted during the celebration as boasting to these party members that he had spent millions of money to ensure that judgment was secured for his protégés and that they would soon see the result of his work."

Vanguard, THURSDAY THURSDAY,, JANUARY 17, 2013—11

7 die in C-River communal clash

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

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ALABAR—NO fewer than seven persons were feared dead in a renewed communal clash between the people of Adadama and Igbo Amabana in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State.

It was gathered that hostilities between the neighbouring communities started on Sunday night and raged till Monday, as the two communities in a show of supremacy attacked each other with guns and matchetes.

The conflict, according to sources, was as a result of a long standing dispute over the ownership of a parcel of farm land which borders both communities.

On Tuesday afternoon, the lifeless bodies of three men were seen at Adadama along the Ugep – Abomege Road, which leads to Ebonyi State.

A Mobile policeman, who did not want his name in print, but on duty to maintain peace in the area, said: “Apart from these ones you are seeing on the road, there are about four (dead bodies) inside the villages which I saw.”

Investigations revealed that communal conflicts have become a common phenomenon among neighbouring communities in the area during farming seasons.

Meanwhile the affected villages of Adadama and Igbo Amabana, Igbo Ekureku and Afagara, in the recent communal clash, have become ghost towns as the villagers have all fled for fear of arrest by the detachment of anti-riot policemen in the communities.

“Many of them have fled to Ugep and some to Abomege in Ebonyi State.

Anyone seen around here would be taken to Calabar to explain the senseless violence. Don’t forget that the

governor is from this local government area.They have no respect for him,” a villager said.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. John Umoh, said a team of Mobile policemen had been dispatched to

the warring communities, adding that from the reports available to him, normalcy had been restored to the area.

Uduaghan tasks Oghara monarch on unity

BY EMMAARUBI

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STAFF OF OFFICE: Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State (left) and HRM Noble Oyibo Eshemitan, FCA, Uku-Ogharaname, Orefe III, Ovie of Oghara Kingdom, during the presentation of staff of office to the monarch, at Oghara, Ethiope West Local Government Area, Delta State.

Police, youths launch manhunt for kidnappers of Bayelsa Speaker’s mum

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA—The Police have launched a massive manhunt for the kidnappers of Madam Betinah Benson, mother of the Speaker of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Mr. Kombowei Benson.

The 78-year-old woman was whisked away from her Korokorosei country home in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area in the early hours of Monday by gunmen.

Informed sources told Vanguard that the community youths had also joined in the search for the kidnapped woman, combing all the mangrove swamp to comple-

ment the effort of security agents.

Though it could not be immediately confirmed, it was also learnt that some suspects had been arrested by the police in connection with the kidnap.

The source added that security operatives have got a clue which they are working on, assuring that in no distant time, the kidnappers would be unmasked.

At press time, the kidnappers were yet to contact the family, 72 hours after her abduction.

Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Fidelis Odunna, refused to confirm the development but said security operatives were working around the clock to ensure the quick release of the

septuagenarian.

Meanwhile, the state government, yesterday, described as unfounded, rumours of an alleged kidnap of the governor’s sister.

She was allegedly abducted at the riverside Toru-Orua community in Sagbama Local Government Area of the state by gunmen.

But the police spokesperson dismissed the reported abduction as mere rumour and urged Bayelsans to go about their normal businesses.

He said: “We have deployed men to the home community of the governor to forestall any such plan.”

The governor’s media aide, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, also dismissed the claim.

ARRI—GOVER NOR Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, yesterday, charged the newly installed monarch of Oghara Kingdom in Ethiope West Local Government Area of the state, HRM Noble Eshemitan, Orefe III, to use his current position to unite people of the kingdom.

The governor also charged the Oghara community to respect and support their royal father, saying that the new monarch was not just an accomplished and certified accountant and Rotarian, but also an astute businessman and philanthropist par excellence.

Uduaghan, who spoke at Oghara during the official presentation of staff of office to the monarch, said that as a little boy growing up at Oghara, he knew the late Oreki II, who he later grew up to meet as a politician, and who nurtured him. He said that

by God’s grace, he (Uduaghan) is the one now presenting a staff of office to a king of the same kingdom.

The governor also admonished people of the kingdom to put behind them, all their personal grievances in order to move Oghara forward.

He noted that Oghara is a kingdom blessed with natural and human resources, which he said were capable of taking Delta State to the next level of development.

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013

GCUOBA Lagos branch gets new Exco

DSS parades 7 suspected kidnappers in Edo

NEW Executive Council of Government College Ughelli Old Boys Association, GCUOBA, Lagos branch, emerged after an election in Lagos.

Mr. Gordons Egbedi emerged President; Mr. Clement Djebah, Vice President; Robinson Odoko, Secretary; Efetobo Awhana, Asst.

Secretary; Mr. Paul Karika, Financial Secretary; Col. David Binitie (rtd), Treasurer; Mr. Stephen Ighofose, Publicity Secretary and Mr. Alfred Okoigun, Ex-officio.

Mr. Egbedi, in his inaugural speech, promised to sustain the vibrancy of the branch and follow closely the footsteps of the outgoing President of the Branch, Mr. Alfred Okoigun.

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Warri crisis depleted our finances —Okumagba

BY EMMA ARUBI

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ARRI—THE Oku magba family of Warri, Delta State, yesterday, said the seven years ethnic crisis in Warri greatly depleted their finances, as most of the buildings in the village and part of the family estate were burnt down.

Emayomi for burial

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HE remains of late Mrs. Bibiana Emayomi will be laid to rest at Urhuoka-Abraka on January 18, 2013.

The late Bibiana Emayomi who died at 62, was married to Chief J. A. S. Emayomi, a retired group general manager of defunct National Electric Power Authority, NEPA. She is survived by her widower, 8 children and 7 grandchildren.

Late Mrs. Emayomi

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

ENIN—SEVEN suspect ed kidnappers were, yesterday, in Benin, paraded by Edo State Command of Department of State Security, DSS. State Director of DSS, Mr. Tukur Bakori, who paraded the suspects before Governor Adams Oshiomhole in Benin, said two of the suspects, Peter Omoregbe (31) and Oshaki Karimo (30), were alleged to have kidnapped the Auditor General of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Mr. Fred Omoaka, at Igbanke, Edo State.

He confirmed that the suspects collected N10 million ransom from their victim, out of which N2.7 million was recovered from them, adding that two other suspects, Osato Patrick and Efe Osasebor, said to have kidnapped Prof.

Patrick Imoisili, Dean of Natural Science, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, confessed to their involvement in other criminal activities in

the state.

Governor Oshiomhole, who commended DSS for the arrests attributed the action of the sus-

pects to greed. He observed that all the suspects have jobs, but “the problem is that a driver wants

to live like a billionaire.”

He added that security agencies were winning the battle against criminality in the state.

SUSPECTED KIDNAPPERS ON PARADE: From right: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State; Mr. Tukur Bakori, Director of DSS, Edo State, and journalists during the parade of suspected kidnappers in Benin City, Edo State. Photo: Barnabas Uzosike.

Why we appointed Perm Sec outside civil service —Oshiomhole

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN—GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, said, yesterday, that the appointment of Major Lawrence Loye (rtd) as Permanent Secretary was a deliberate “shock therapy” to jolt the civil service back to action.

The governor, at the swearing-in of Major Loye, said the appointment was based on merit.

He said: “The appointment of Major Loye is deliberate, it is the most potent indication of the fact that it is no longer business as usual. For us to take Edo to the next level, we cannot use outdated tools to drive digital changes. It is now business

unusual. It is not how close you are to the governor that will determine the position you hold, but your competence, who you are and what you are capable of doing.

“Those who are aware of the changes in the state know that Major Loye has been a driver of those changes beginning with Akpakpava Road, Airport Road,

Siluko Road and several other locations in the state. Ordinarily, these are responsibilities vested in the Ministry of Land and Survey. They know what constitutes right of way, they know what is an illegal structure, but they also choose to look the other way when the illegal structures were being erected.

Delta House rejects DLA's budget defence

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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SABA—A MILD drama played out, yesterday, when members of the Finance

and Appropriation Committee of Delta State House of Assembly sent back the management team of the state’s Direct Labour Agency, DLA, following the agency’s inability to justify its claim of rehabilitating 20 roads in which over

FCT suspends ban on mini buses

By LAIDE AKINBOADE

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BUJA —THE Federal Capital Territor y Administration (FCTA ) , yesterday, suspended the ban on the use of mini-buses within the Federal Capital City, Abuja for three weeks.

The Minister of FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed gave this instruction after meeting with the stakeholders including the officials of the Mini-Buses Union, FCT chapters of the

“I had to sidetrack the Ministry of Land and Survey to bring in a Major, who had no knowledge of land matters to try to enforce the right of way and to clean up those illegal structures. Those who said it was not possible to expand Akpakpava Road are now driving through the road, courtesy of Major and myself.”

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) respectively , the FCT Police Commissioner as well as Director, Department of State Security on Wednesday in his office at Abuja. He directed the setting up of a Committee to be chaired by the FCT Permanent Secretary, Engr. Anthony Ozodinobi to fine-tune its implementation.

All the stakeholders including the FCT Chapters of the NLC/ TUC respectively, the Police, VIO, FRSC, and member of a

Civil Society Organization are being represented on the implementation Committee.

Senator Mohammed insisted that there is no going back on the policy as it is for the good of all the residents of the Federal Capital Territory.

He however lamented that even the Park and Pay policy had similar challenge but described them as laudable policies.

half a billion naira was quoted to have been expended.

The agency led by Mr. Emmanuel Igbini, while appearing before the Committee, listed 20 road projects which it claimed were rehabilitated across the three senatorial districts of the state.

But when the member representing Aniocha South constituency, Mrs. Amaechi Mrakpor and member representing Ughelli South constituency Mr.Talib Tebite, queried some of the roads they claimed were rehabilitated as incorrect, the agency management team became jittery and began to put their heads together.

At that point, Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Daniel Mayuku, said that arising from the conflicting claims, it was necessary to undertake an on the spot assessment of the projects.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013 —13

Ebonyi/C’River land dispute: 2 abducted, houses destroyed in Ebonyi

PDP crisis: Tukur to meet Obasanjo, Bode George, others

BY PETER OKUTU BAKALIKI—THE recur ring land dispute between the people of NdeaguAmagu community in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State and Adadama Community in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State, Tuesday, took a dangerous dimension as two persons were reported to have been allegedly abducted after a sporadic shooting by unknown gun at Ikwo.

It was also alleged that a few members of Ndeagu-Amagu community were shot during the abduction as their houses were equally burnt during the mayhem.

Assessing the level of destruction in the area, Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State, urged the displaced indigenes of Ndeagu-Amagu community to maintain peace and order.

According to him, government is putting modalities in place to ensure peaceful resolution of the land dispute involving them and Adadama community of Abi council area of Cross River State.

He called on them to return to their homes as adequate arrangements had been made for the security of the area.

The governor also charged the mobile policemen deployed to the crisis area not to take sides

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BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA-AS part of ways to nip in the bud the unending political quagmire in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur has c o n c l u d e d arrangements to meet with former President and ex-chairman, Board of Trustees, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

It was gathered yesterday night that Tukur and other members of the National Working Committee, NWC will also meet with Chief Ebenezer Babatope; former Minister of Justice, Chief Richard Akinjide; Senator Bode Olajumoke; former Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George; General Olatunji Olurin; and Chief Dapo Sarumi.

This was part of the decisions reached at the end of two consultative meetings held on Tuesday and Wednesday at the residence of the national chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur in Abuja.

The NWC agreed to meet with some of these selected prominent politicians from the southwest to discuss following the sack of PDP national Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola by the court and his replacement by his deputy, Barrister Solomon Onwe.

Also to be at the meeting are Professor Tunde Adeniran, Engr.

Segun Oni and Otunba Oyewole Fashawe Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun; Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo, Chief Yekeen Adeojo, Chief Lekan Balogun, and Chief Joju Fadiro.

According to a source, the peace talks and reconciliation will commence this Saturday in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital.

The meetings as gathered were part of the peace moves to placate the southwest over the removal of Oyinlola.

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but ensure peace and order throughout the duration of their stay in the area.

He noted that the state government would meet its Cross River State counterpart to proffer lasting solution to the problem.

The governor said: “Know it that there is no war between Ebonyi and Cross River states but misunderstanding between indi-

viduals and communities, as you should ensure that there is no fracas but maintain peace.”

Also, the Youth leader of Ebonyi State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Chinedu Ogah, an indigene of the area, said one woman and a boy were abducted, as gunshot wounds were inflicted on people and several houses burnt.

He said the abduction was the sixth from the Adadama community since August last year, stressing that all those abducted in the past were never seen or returned to the community again.

Elechi was accompanied on the visit by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mamman Sule, and other stakeholders.

CELEBRATION: From left: Mr. Yinka Sanni, Deputy CEO, Stanbic IBTC Bank; Ms Lovina Kyoku, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers' one millionth retirement savings account holder; Mrs. Sola David-Borha, Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Bank and Dr. Demola Sogunle, CEO, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers at the celebration of Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers' one millionth retirement savings account milestone in Lagos. Photo Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

Angry youths unleash terror on murder suspects in Imo

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI—THE bru tal murder of one of the community leaders in Isiebu autonomous community, Nze Hilary Onuoha, has sparked angry reactions from the youths.

Already, the homes of Ichie Romanus Akano and Marcel Emeh, who were allegedly fingered

as masterminds of the murder, have been burnt.

One of the angry youths told Vanguard on strict grounds of anonymity that all the members of the two families, whose heads stood accused of the crime, scampered into safety on seeing the surging angry youths.

Vanguard recalls that late Onuoha returned home last Tuesday and

told his brother, Bonaventure Onuoha, that his “stomach was burning.”

Before his eventual death a few minutes later, the dying man equally disclosed that he drank locally brewed gin sold by one Marcel Eme, adding that he suspected the gin was poisoned.

It was further gathered that Emeh initially denied poisoning the drink

Abductors release daughters of slain Aba bizman

BY ANAYO OKOLI

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M UA H I A — T H E daughters of Chief Iroeke Ukaku, the Aba based businessman, who were abducted on January 4, 2013, by unknown gunmen have been released.

The gunmen also killed their father after he was kidnapped along with his two daughters.

A source told Vanguard that an unspecified amount of money was paid as ran-

som before the girls were released.

The Enachioken of Abiriba community, Eze Kalu Kalu Ogbu, announced the release of the girls when he led a delegation of members of the community on a courtesy call on Governor Theodore Orji at Government House, Umuahia.

Vanguard also learnt that an Abirirba indigene based in Germany, who came home for the Christmas celebrations, was kid-

napped in the community a day before Ukaku was killed and his two daughters abducted.

It was gathered that despite the N4 million ransom allegedly paid for his release, his captors are yet to release him.

Meanwhile, the curfew imposed on the community is still on and soldiers and other security personnel have taken over the place, patrolling the entire area to ensure peace and order.

but when it was clear that the autopsy result would allegedly nail

him, he went back to the dead man’s brother and confessed.

14—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013

Church, community spoil for war with Imo govt over school playground

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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REVIEW: From left: Mr. Kingsley Okoma, President, Association of Foreign Airlines in Nigeria; Alhaji Oluropo Owolabi, MD/CEO, SAHCOL and Mr. Basil Agboarumi, Head, Corporate Communication, during the review of 2012 activities and projection for 2013 in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

WERRI—ISIMGBIDI community and Anglican Diocese of Oru are jointly spoiling for war with Imo State Government over the forceful conversion of the playground of Central School into a lorry park.

Addressing journalists in his office, Bishop Geoffrey C h u k w u nenye accused government of trying to breach the prevailing peace in the community, stressing that the community and church were not ready to part with

the land for any amount.

Wondering why school children would be deprived of their playground, the Anglican cleric lamented that government could not and should not use its apparatus to intimidate hapless citizens.

He said: “There is what they call due process. Why it was not applied in this case is most baffling, especially as the playground has already been bulldozed by the invading officials.

Government cannot rescue us through intimidation, harassment and molesta-

tion of innocent citizens.”

Already, the traditional ruler of Isi-Mgbidi, Eze J. C. Onyejekwe, has alerted the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area about encroachment into church/school land.

He was particularly irked that government’s action could lead to disorder between two neighbouring autonomous communites.

The royal father said: “We, therefore, wish to ask you to use your good office to stop them, pending due process of getting the education authorities/ church and the community that gave out the land to know and grant permission, if necessary for such a project.”

A letter dated December 20, 2012, addressed to Eze Onyenekwe and signed by the Commissioner for Transport, Chief Steve Ahaneku, had explained that the move to open and operate a lorry/vehicle park at Mgbidi had become necessary.

Farouk: Keyamo gives Police 1 week ultimatum

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AGOS—LAGOS law yer Festus Keyamo has given the Police authorities a one week ultimatum to charge House of Representatives member, Farouk Lawan to court over the $620,000 subsidy bribe scandal.

In a statement issued in Lagos, yesterday, Keyamo expressed surprise that more than six months after Lawan admitted collecting the said money that no action had been brought by the Police against him.

He said: “What ought to be a simple and straightforward matter has since assumed an absurd dimension. The Police and the office of the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation have traded blames back and forth as to what is actually happening.

“The public has been treated to all sorts of shameless and obvious attempts to drag the investigation into the murky water of politics instead of treating it purely as a crime.

“If, the Police fail, refuse and/or neglect to arraign Farouk Lawan within the stipulated time, I will have no other option than to proceed to court to bring him to justice.”

Vanguard , THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013—15

Drivers' protest turns violent in Abuja, commuters stranded

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU, LAIDE AKINBOADE, CALEB AYANSINA & SAMUEL MOSES

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BUJA——ECONOMIC activities at the Nyanya axis of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, were temporarily brought to a halt on Tuesday morning as commercial bus drivers, under the aegis of SelfEmployed Commercial Drivers Association, Abuja, SECDAA, violently protested the recent transportation policy of the FCT administration.

The new policy introduced by the FCT Administration stopped commercial drivers from plying their trade within the city centers.

The FCT administration had weekend directed the drivers coming from Masaka axis to stop at Nyanya bridge, while those coming from Kubwa were told to stop at Berger bridge where SURE-P vehicles will then take passengers to the city centre.

Not comfortable with the policy, the drivers had on Monday announced that they were embarking on a peaceful demonstration to the National Assembly and FCT Minister’s office to find out whether the new policy was approved.

The protest, however, assumed a violent dimension as the drivers allegedly smashed windscreen and glasses of SURE-P vehicles as well as setting burn fire in the middle of the road.

For fear of the unknown, many offices and shops in the area remained closed within the period the protest lasted, while there was traffic jam resulting in commuters trekking long distance to get to their destinations.

The drivers had to beat a retreat after discovering that the initial plan to match to the National Assembly and the minister’s office had been thwarted as a result of the blockade at the major roads to the capital area occasioned by the Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration.

This policy has brought untold hardship to commuters who have to trek a long distance to Berger junction for those coming from Kubwa axis going to Wuse before they board the Abuja Urban Mass Transport Company Ltd, popularly known as El’Rufai as the mini buses have been prohibited from plying the Wuse road.

Some of the commuters who were dropped at the Highway

by Banex on Wednesday cursed the government that introduced the policy without adequate arrangement to cushion the effect, saying that government was

only interested in the money the SURE-P buses were going to make for them than the welfare of the people.

To ensure that the new transport policy was not truncated by the drivers' union, heavily armed policemen have been positioned in strategic places, while plain cloth security operatives monitor activities of the Urban Mass Transit buses at the various loading points to avoid any attack by the drivers union.

In an interview with Vanguard, one of the protesting mini-bus drivers who simply gave his name as Musa, vowed that the associa-

tion would not allow the SURE-P buses to load until they were called back to their duty post.

When Vanguard visited the scene, some workers rushing to go to work were seen stranded.

A staff of NNPC, Jerome Ohiome, described the implementation of the new transport policy as “hasty without adequate provision of alternative buses that could replace the mini-buses.”

He said the SURE-P buses were not enough to take care of the population working in FCT but living in Nyanya –Maraba metropolis. ‘’This policy is not only affect-

ing the mini-bus drivers alone but those of us who don’t have car now.

“I am of the opinion that government should introduce many buses that will be able to compete with these buses with less cost of transportation instead of stopping these mini-buses without proper provision,” he said.

FCT Commissioner of Police, Adenrele Shinaba, confirmed that the ‘Araba’ people protested at Nyanya in Abuja and Mararaba in Nasarawa State, adding that the situation was brought under control as he sent his men to the trouble scene.

GOVERNOR OF CENTRAL BANK OF LIBERIA VISITS UBA—GMD/CEO, UBA Plc, Mr. Phillips Oduoza (2nd right); Governor, Central Bank of Liberia, Dr Joseph Mills Jones (middle); Deputy Managing Director, UBA Africa, Mr. Emeke Iweriebor (1st left); and Chairman, UBA Liberia, Prof Dew Tuan-Wleh Mayson (2nd left); and MD, UBA Africa, Mr. Emmanuel Nnorom, during the visit of the Governor of Central Bank of Liberia to UBA House in Lagos.

....NLC asks FCDA to reverse ban on operation of mini bus in Abuja

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

A

BUJA— NIGERIA Labour Congress, NLC, yesterday, asked the Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, to immediately reverse the ban on mini buses in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, saying the ban had inflicted unimaginable hardship on workers and other residents of the nation’s capital.

NLC in a statement by its President, Abdulwaheed Omar, said congress was disturbed by the abrupt disruption of public transportation in the FCT since Monday, leading to loss of man-hour at several workplaces as well as truncation of the means of livelihood of several artisans and commuter bus drivers.

The statement read: “The sud-

den introduction of a ban on the use of mini buses for transportation of commuters into the main city of Abuja has been confirmed to be responsible for this disruption. And this has greatly affected movement of workers and artisans whose workplaces are located in the main city as over 90 percent of those who work in the Federal Capital Territory live in the suburbs, called satellite towns, far from the city centre where their workplaces are located.

"That the Federal Capital Development Authority’s Transport Secretariat suddenly banned mini buses from the city centre because of its plan to introduce long buses is not enough to abruptly stop the mini buses when the FCDA is yet to provide enough of those long buses it intends to introduce.

“Until there are enough of the

long buses accessible to commuters in the satellite towns, the ban must be reversed as it is completely anti-people, ill-timed and threatens peace and socio-economic development as workers may lose their jobs if they are unable to report for work on schedule, while the mini bus drivers and their assistants who may lose their means of livelihood may find it difficult to survive.

"No matter how plausible a policy is, government must learn to get the people involved in all the process leading to the introduction of such policies that directly affect the lives of the people. We are convinced FCT lacks enough commercial buses and what is needed urgently is the provision of more commercial buses and not an abrupt ban on any of the existing ones.”

Awosika retires, calls for national unity

BY NOEL ONOJA

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BUJA—PERMA NENT Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Power, Dr. Dere Awosika, has called on Nigerian leaders and its people to collectively work towards sustaining the country as one indivisible entity in the interest of a l l .

Awosika made the appeal on Tuesday, when she launched her book, Footprints in Time: ‘Dere Awosika, to mark her 60th birthday and retirement from public service.

Present at the launch was President Goodluck Jonathan, who described her as “a woman of great subs t a n c e . ” Awosika, daughter of Nigeria’s first Finance Minister, Festus Okotie-Eboh , said the country was segmented into 774 local governments and 9, 555 wards for the convenience of governance.

According to her, if any part of the structure falls apart, the entire nation would suffer greatly.

She said: “We are trying as a nation. At any opportunity that God gives me , I like to say that we belong to one system. If you cut one ward out, you cut Nigeria out.

“It could be just the dangerous ward that you are cutting out, because one state out, you cut Nigeria out. It could be just that state that will give us the best for that season, because there is a season for e v e r y t h i n g .

Awosika stressed the need for the country to put competence above religion or ethnicity, noting that competenc was the key word.

She also called on every citizen to play his/her part in governance, describing government as a multistake holding structure “It is not necessary where you come from or your tribe, because it does not do the work. Your religion does the work only when it affects you as a person.

“We must strive to build a system where the head works, where the legs work, where the hands work, where the fingers works, where everything works together for the good of this nation.

16—Vanguard , THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013

Tambuwal seeks partnership with European legislators

Money laundering: Judge's absence stalls Gov Lamido's son trial

BY EMMA OVUAKPORIE

BY SONI DANIEL

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BUJA—SPEAKER of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, yesterday solicited a closer working relationship between Nigerian parliamentarians and their counterparts in the European Union.

Tambuwal disclosed this when he gave audience to members of the Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa, AWEPA during a courtesy visit to the Speaker.

He asked the visitors to help Nigerian lawmakers in the areas of budget tracking, training for members of national and state assemblies and other areas to deepen democratic ethos.

Tambuwal said both the House of Representatives and the European parliament could share experiences and challenges for the benefit of the two entit i e s .

He said by developing closer contact, the two parliaments could enhance democratic ideals in Africa and Europe.

He assured that the House of Representatives will play active role in the promotion of the aims and objectives of AWEPA. Earlier in his remarks, leader of the delegation, Prof. Tadeusz Iwiriski, said they were in Nigeria to explore ways of enhancing cooperation between AWEPA and the National Assembly of Nigeria.

From left: Mr. Bolu Akin-Olugbade, Son; Engr. Femi Okunade, Chief Launcher; Omo Oba Olusunmade Akin-Olugbade, Snr Son; Prince Bola Ajibola, Chairman of the occasion and Oba Adegboyega Dosunmu, Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Ogun State, during a book launch.

Photo: Diran Oshe.

Lassa Fever kills medical doctor, 2 other patients in Makurdi

BY PETER DURU

M

AKURDI——THREE persons, including a medical doctor have been confirmed dead in an outbreak of lassa fever in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

Sources told Vanguard that the medical doctor (name withheld) reportedly contracted the disease from his patients at his private clinic located in Wadata area of the town.

The doctor and his three patients were later rushed to Benue State University Teaching Hospital, BSUTH, Makurdi, where they died 48 hours after being admitted into the h o s p i t a l .

However, the fourth patient who is currently receiving treatment at the teaching hospital had been quarantined by medical experts.

Confirming the report, Chief Medical Director, BSUTH, Prof. Orkuga Malu stated that

the medical doctor had been treating the patients before they were brought in to his hospital where three of them later died.

According to him, "there were suspected cases of lassa fever.

Four people were admitted into this hospital from different places. The symptoms of their illness made us to believe that they died of same disease.

"For now we can not state categorically that it was lassa fever but the symptoms suggested it. Some of the symptoms can also occur in other diseases. So we can not state categorically whether it is lassa fever until the laboratory tests confirm it.

“Among the three who died was a medical doctor who we gathered might have been treating the patients of the sickness. The patients and the medical doctor died within 48 h o u r s . ”

Also confirming the development, Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr. Orduen Abunku, said samples of blood obtained from the patients have been transferred to the Special Federal Government Lassa Fever laboratory at Federal Medical Centre, Irrua, Edo State to ascertain if the current strain was like those that broke out in the past or a mutant strain.

“All medical doctors and other health personnel that have had any form of contact with the patients are being given prophylactic medications to guard against any further mishap while the fourth patient has been quarantined,” the Commissioner said.

He also confirmed that the health officials were being administered Ribavirin, Virazole and other medications used in the treatment of lassa fever as preventive measures.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

ABUJA—THE trial of Aminu Lamido, son of Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, could not proceed yesterday due to the absence of the presiding judge, Justice Shehu Yahaya, of the Federal High Court in Kano.

Although Aminu had been brought to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, at about 8.45am, court officials were not ready to proceed with the trial.

An hour later, the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Court announced that the judge was unavailable to take on the case but promised to communicate a new date for the arraignment to the parties. He gave no reason for the judge’s absence.

Aminu, who faces a onecount charge of money laundering, was arrested

by EFCC agents on December 12, 2012, at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano on his way to Egypt, for failure to declare the $50,000 he had on him to Customs as required by law.

Section 12 of the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act Cap F 34 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Section 2(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 requires that travellers declare their foreign currency before the Nigerian Customs Service.

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

AFCON 2013: THE CHANCES OF SUPER EAGLES (3)

I

T is good that the play ers now understand that the way it was before is not the same now. So it will do Super Eagles more good to go to South Africa and make Nigerians proud. I expect to see them return with the cup. Miss Kelechi Ebereke— Student.

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NE thing I have dis covered about the Super Eagles is that if they really want to play, nothing will stop them from playing. I think the players are happier now because they are not being owned like before, so they will do well. Miss Chioma Ani—Model.

E

VERY other team in the competition is well prepared for the competition. I think what will help the Super Eagles more is their experience, even if the team is made of old and new. I believe they will surprise Nigerians. Mr. Emmanuel Nwachukwu—Footballer.

I

just want the Super Ea gles to return to Nigeria with the Nations Cup. I like the fact that the Super Eagles coach is one who played, captained and lifted the Cup during his time.

Mrs. Assumpta Ebere— Businesswoman.

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HO says the Su per Eagles won’t win the Nations Cup, let that person have a rethink because, whether good or bad, the Cup is coming to Nigeria. After this competition, we shall then get a better position in FIFA’s rating. Miss Anasthesia Ezeka—Communicator.

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Y prayer for the team is that God will grant them success and they shall find favour in the eyes of match officials, especially the referees. If the referee is biased, then there is bound to be problem. Mr. Nelson Azubuike—Cleric.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013— 17

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“It (is) the best of times, it (is) the worst of times, it (is) the age of wisdom, it (is) the age of foolishness, it (is) the epoch of belief, it (is) the epoch of incredulity, it (is) the season of light, it (is) the season of Darkness, it (is) the spring of hope, it (is) the winter of despair, we (have) everything before us, we (have) nothing before us…” CHARLES DICKENS in TALE OF TWO CITIES

I

T was the much-lamented Chief Sunday Awoniyi, a founding member of the party that once described the PDP as “a basket of scorpions stinging themselves to death”. Judging by all that happened in recent weeks, there can be no better description of the behemoth which holds Nigeria in a stifling bear-hug since 1999! As we have argued here, a vicious struggle is unfolding for the soul of the vote “capturing” contraption, with different tendencies within the party posturing for advantage, in the buildup to the 2015 elections. We warned that only the politically naïve would believe that

PDP: Turmoil inside the basket of Scorpions 2015 politics have not taken centre stage. Isn’t politics warfare by other means?

President Goodluck Jonathan is fighting the battle of his political life, despite appearances; and he has to contend with many political foes. His main advantage is incumbency with the apparatus of state power available for deployment to fight his battles.

Recent stirring by the EFCC against perceived foes like Sule Lamido and Rotimi Amaechi, is a piece of the jigsaw. But Jonathan has become increasingly alienated from many of his supporters in the bruising battles that took him to the summit of Nigerian politics. The “shoeless” boy is now obliged by circumstances to become master of his own political life, for the

Coming soon to skies over your head: US CIA predator drones

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N an article written therefore for the 600 Nigerian troops recently for CNN, that will soon be deployed in Mali, titled “On drone killings, because even with a regional Brennan doesn’t uphold imperative to justify the deployment, our values”, Mary Ellen there is the long shadow of O’Connell, quoted the imperialism hanging on the project. As American Defense Jean Bricmont wrote in Secretary, Leon Panetta, HUMANITARIAN IMPERIALISM: as saying that CIA “the ideology of our times, at least targeted killings through when it comes to legitimising war, is a predator drones will certain discourse on human rights and “likely to expand to democracy”.

Libya, Mali and The Malian context fits that frame Nigeria”. As O’Connell perfectly. A military coup toppled a noted in the article, democratic administration and the “attacks by CIA drones…have killed President Barack Obama spoke publicly for the West’s worst nightmare unfolded, as Islamists took over Northern Mali and thousands of people, first time on the controversial CIA Drone. imposing draconian interpretations of including hundreds of children, far from any battlefield. These to open a new base in South Sudan”. Sharia. This region of West Africa was killings have occurred in Pakistan, Already the Pentagon is spending always profiled as neo-colonial West Somalia and Yemen”. Similarly, in an $8.1million “to upgrade a forward Africa’s soft underbelly and most likely to become launch pads for radical article titled “Mali and the Scramble operating base and for Africa”, written for Global Research airstrip in on January 14, 2013, Ben Schreiner Mauritania”. pointed out that “the Pentagon’s Even with deepening penetration of Africa”, is a O b a m a ’ s crucial part of an overall worldwide presidency, the process of domination. He quoted the nature of American ARMY TIMES as noting that Africa Imperialism does “…in many ways remains the (US) not change. Obama Army’s last frontier ”, and “in order to has killed more satiate the U.S. appetite for global people with ‘power projection’, no frontiers are to predator drones be left unconquered”. than the war Despite its overwhelming rejection criminal, George

by Africans, the US Africa Command Bush!

The (AFRICOM), plans to deploy soldiers i n c r e a s i n g to 35 different African countries in militarisation in 2013, with upwards of 4,000 US Africa is part of a For CIA drone Warriors, the Future is Death. soldiers to “take part in military new scramble for exercises and train African troops on everything from logistics and African resources being waged with Islam. Since year 2000, there have marksmanship to medical care”. China. Currently, the US gets 18 been military, political and security Instructively, “the Malian officer percent of its energy needs from Africa projections about the Sahel region of responsible for the country’s March and that will reach about 25 percent West Africa. The fact that the American (2012) coup just so happened to have by 2015. Africa supplies about one- Defense Secretaryopenly threatened received US military training”. In the third of China’s energy needs, “plus targeted killings through CIA predator same vein, the WASHINGTON POST copper, platinum, timber and iron ore”. drones in “Libya, Mali and Nigeria”, in June 2012, “ revealed” that Maximilian Forte in “Slouching shows how far we have travelled on ‘preliminary tentacles’ of the US Towards Sirte” argued that: “Chinese the dangerous path into the unending military already extend across Africa, interests are seen as competing with “War on Terror”. So get ready because noting that: “US surveillance planes the West for access to resources and predator drones are on the way; with are currently operating out of political influences. AFRICOM and a certainties of collateral deaths raining clandestine bases in Burkina Faso, range of other US government out of our skies!

Mauritania, Uganda, Ethiopia, initiatives are meant to counter this Djibouti and Kenya, with plans afoot phenomenon”. Spare a thought

The PDP denizens are held together by power and the access it offers to the incredible looting of Nigeria they have perpetrated since 1999. They are not political fools, because the threat of being knocked off their perch will eventually make them rally

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first time. It is an unfamiliar turf for Jonathan and he faces a bloody battle.

The enemies are many, ranging from the badly wounded despot, Olusegun Obasanjo to the over-bearing governors whose control of the party machinery as a self-serving collective, has cast a pall on PDP politics since 2002, when they first flexed their muscles and almost deprived Obasanjo a Second Term ticket!

Obasanjo is hurting from the short shrift he got from Jonathan, whose steady ascendancy from a nondescript deputy governor, to presidency he had facilitated; yet President Jonathan will not allow him rule by proxy. It is an irony of politics, that Obasanjo who publicly declared that whoever invested in his presidency in 1999 for a return, forfeited all, will somehow attempt to defy political logic that“godfatherism” has a short shelf life! But Jonathan must be taught a bitter political lesson, so Obasanjo has become the arrowhead of an alleged plan to take power to the North.

Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s removal as party secretary is Jonathan’s first move against Obasanjo and the governors.

But we still don’t know how that will pan out: a lost battle or vanquish in war! I expect a countermove.

It is frightening that Jonathan’s base has narrowed and by returning to churches in recent weeks, he was hankering back to base religious sentiments which he craftily exploited in 2011. How rank-and-file Christians (just like other citizens) worried about insecurity; incompetent governance and sundry unfulfilled promises, will react to the new manipulation of religion remains to be seen. But things will get messier in the weeks and months ahead. The PDP denizens are held together by power and the access it offers to the incredible looting of Nigeria they have perpetrated since 1999. They are not political fools, because the threat of being knocked off their perch will eventually make them rally. But before then, many PDP scorpions would have been stung to death. This is a moment of turmoil inside Africa’s largest basket of scorpions: The PDP!

Bamaga Turkur : PDP national chairman

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013

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ALKS about Nigeria’s unity not being negotiable is about one of the biggest threats to the country, a bigger threat than insistence by some, that there were enough reasons to negotiate our oneness as a country. What benefits does the unity of Nigeria confer on its peoples? Even if there are benefits, should we not discuss on expanding them?

President Goodluck Jonathan calls those asking for negotiations of our unity, “lazy politicians seeking to be kings in tiny islands.’’ Does shutting such people up guarantee that they would not be kings of tiny disputations over Nigeria?

“I think the key thing is actually the size in terms of the human beings; it’s not the oil that we think we have. So any person who feels that they just want to stay as one nation, just want to be king without hard work. They will not get it, because Nigeria will not divide,’’ Jonathan said, happy he found reasons the country should remain one.

Many Nigerians, in negotiating the unity of the country, are asking that the bases for

Not Negotiating Unity being a country are discussed and agreed.

The apostles of indissoluble Nigeria fail woefully in explaining the foundation of their conviction.

Does unity mean that every decision about the country is unfeelingly taken in Abuja, thousands of kilometres from some parts of Nigeria? Is unity so important that we are not allowed to discuss threats to it? Are we allowed to discuss the dangers bad governments are to Nigeria? What has unity done for millions of Nigerians living in abject poverty? Will unity ensure transparency in government?

Unity as a value is of minimal benefit to ordinary Nigerians. Our leaders use unity as the attack dog on opponents. Anyone who asks serious questions is against the

unity of the country? It is blackmail in its purest form.

Our Constitution, in its preamble, says the document is “for the purpose of promoting the good government and welfare of all persons in our country, on the principles of freedom, equality and justice, and for the purpose of consolidating the unity of our people.”

The Constitution therefore expects that promotion of good government, welfare of all persons in our country, freedom, equality and justice, would consolidate Nigeria’s unity.

Why do the authorities talk only about unity? What have they done with the unity? Have they given life to the unity of Nigeria through good government and welfare of the people?

We live in the age of ideas. Without constant probing of our unity, questions about its future and new ideas about exploring unity for the benefit of our people, we would be exhausting ourselves on rhetoric, just what politicians want.

OPINION

BY TOCHUKWU EZUKANMA

A

WRITTEN constitution is not a prerequisite for democracy. Not surprisingly, some flourishing democracies have no written constitution and some failed democracies had some wonderfully crafted constitutions. Nigeria has had a number of well written constitutions.

Lamentably, none of them has worked well. Still, there are clamour for a new constitution or the continued tinkering with the existing one. As far as I am concerned, this on going expensive political shenanigan, reverently referred to as constitutional amendment, is a charade.

The problem of Nigeria is not constitutional but attitudinal. Our attitude towards the law is perverted.

It is an attitude that scoffs at the rule of law, and consequently, exalts lawlessness. The constitution is the supreme law of the land. It is not surprising that a people given to breaking every law have also repeatedly trampled the stipulations of the constitution, and periodically, reduced the constitution to something of a worthless piece of paper.

Stop tinkering with the Nigerian constitution England, for example, has no written constitution, but is a flourishing democracy. Her politics is regulated by political traditions and social conventions that evolved over many centuries. Because the Israelis have failed to reach a consensus on the object of Jewish nationhood, and therefore, lack a generally acceptable basis to premise a constitution, Israel is yet to have a written constitution.

However, she remains an island of democracy in the ocean of corrupt and repressive autocracies, that is, the Middle East on the one hand.

On the other hand, Nigeria, with her series of magnificently written constitutions, has continually failed to hold credible elections and uphold other tenets and ideals of democracy.

Her institutional anchors of democracy remain very weak and the government is estranged from the people. Elected and government officials and the institutions of government continue to function in repudiation of the legitimate

aspirations of the people.

The present Nigerian constitution is not a perfect document. Actually, no country ’s constitution can be considered perfect. Despite its imperfections, the Nigerian constitution provides the political and legal framework for good governance.

That Nigeria remains one of the most misgoverned countries in the world has nothing to do with the Nigerian constitution. It has to do with the mindset of our political operators, and by extension, the Nigerian society.

T

he fundamental problem of the Nigerian society is lawlessness.

Our culture of impunity – might is right and it mirror image, the end justifies the means - is antithetical to respect for rules, tradition, and decorum. And as such, Nigeria is a nation that thrives in the disobedience of the law, and of course, the constitution. So, the endless tinkering with the Nigerian constitutions will not solve our political

and social problems. No constitution will work in Nigeria until we change our attitude towards the law.

In the First Republic, the Nigerian constitution was modeled after the British parliamentary system.

Interestingly, parliamentary constitutions have worked in many other countries of the world, including many Third World countries that, like Nigeria, emerged from colonialism, and had to grapple with the problems of artificial sovereignty and cultural shocks of colonialism. Parliamentary democracy failed in Nigeria, not because there is anything wrong with it, but because of the Nigerian problem of disdain for the rule of law.

In our self defeating escapism, we sometimes choose to pretend that our problems are too complex, and consequently, intractable because Nigeria is a very populous and heterogeneous country. A country like Indian has shown that our problems are not, in anyway, unmanageable.

Continues tomorrow on pg 18 *Mr. Ezukanma, a public affairs commentator , wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013—19

, What many of the responses to (Achebe’s book: There Was a Country) make clear, above all else, is that we remember (the events of 1966 to 1970) differently – CHIMAMANDA ADICHIE

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T is that time of the year when I like to remember the darkest days of Nigeria’s history, January 15th 1966 to January 15th 1970.

For years it has been a ritual for me, for the simple reason that my life was defined, altered and in fact, retarded by it. I am just one of the millions who lived in Nigeria’s core theatre of war as a sub-ten little boy already looking forward to the best that life could offer only to come out of the bush in January 1970 as a refugee to be plunged into a (temporary) life of destitution.

Everything we had was lost. What the enemy could not bomb they burnt or looted. In fact, we came back from our five-month habitation in the bushes to find our centuries-old compound overgrown with weeds! Though

my grandfather’s storey building (built in Abiriba in 1917) remained standing (miraculously, I must say) all the exotic furniture were looted leaving only the manila dressings in the sitting room which, I presumed, the “vandals” did not understand their worth as antique artefacts. That house still stands with people still living in it!

When Professor Chinua Achebe wrote his latest book: There Was a Country, telling his experiences through the crises and war as well as offering his personal perspectives and judgement on roles played by the central figures in the saga, it provoked a fire storm of reactions from across the divides. It reopened dormant but suppurating emotions and generally had the three major ethnic groups and their affiliates – the Igbo East, Hausa/Fulani North and the Yoruba West at daggersdrawn, at least intellectually (thank God). No one was willing to be a “Nigerian”.

It is difficult to be a “Nigerian”, rise above primitive sentiments and deliver a fair and unbiased

,

analysis of roles played by the various ethnic groups, sections and their leaders in the events before and after our independence in 1960. The root cause of our problems came from the very manner in which Nigeria was amalgamated and run by the British colonialists until 1960. The country was never configured to facilitate the emergence of a nation. Structural inequalities were foisted on it to create a permanent state of flux, crises and disputations among its various stakeholders, big and small.

T

hat was why, barely five years after independence the quarrels boiled over when the first military coup took place on January 15th 1966. Because the coup failed, it was later rationalised and branded an “Igbo coup”, based on which the course of action taken against the Igbo people between 1966 and 1970 by the federal coalition led by the North with the technical support

The missing link in Jubril Aminu

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UBRIL Mummad Aminu is one man with very tall credentials and still growing: a renowned Professor of Cardiology, a Diplomat, a Politician extra ordinaire.

Aminu has made waves the world over. A few of the qualities that stand him out: A solid background of MBBS from the University of Ibadan, PhD in Medicine from Royal Post-Graduate Medical School, London, Fellow of the following: Nigerian Academy of Science, Royal College of Physicians, London, West African College of Physicians and a Distinguished Fellow of the Nigerian Postgraduate Medical College.

He was a Consultant in Medicine, Senior Lecturer, Clinical Studies at the University of Ibadan Medical School, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Universities Commission, Visiting Professor to various Universities, Vice-Chancellor, University of Maiduguri. He served as Federal Minister of Education as well as Petroleum and Mineral Resources and President of the OPEC Conference before being elected to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from Adamawa Central Senatorial District.

Wherever he goes, he leaves a mark, something to be remembered by. He has something for everybody. For me, the legacy he left as Federal Minister of Education was the establishment of the Federal Government Academy for gifted children, from which I have benefitted vicariously. His idea was to catch the Nigerian children of high Intelligence Quotient (IQ) young, put them together in a world of their own, give them whatever is required to develop them into men and women who would eventually drive this country to excellence.

His original idea was that the Academy should grow into a University of its own and a centre of excellence. While still alive, it must be lamentable to see how his noble ideas have been killed, no thanks to his own kinsmen!

The more you speak of Aminu, the more you see the goodness in him. This makes the problem at hand rather daunting: how do you remind such a man that the law of diminishing utility is beginning to set in on him and that he should step aside from politics’ mucky waters? Not many can be as lucky as General Yakubu Gowon who had an ample opportunity to be humiliated by a lesser mortal at the time, Dr. Dalhatu Tafida at one of those delegates’ congresses, when grassroots approach to elective offices was new.

Aminu has just deposited in the public place, an incomplete message about the Governors’ forum: “The forum is strange and an instrument of oppressing the Federal Government and the people. I don’t know how the forum came about. And if it is not checked, it will put the country in serious trouble as the State Chief Executives unite to challenge the Federal Government. I have worked in many parts of the world and have not seen anything like such a forum” Our first worry is that a more vibrant Aminu who had no half measures in his dictionary would have gone one vital step further to say what he wants done to the forum. As a teacher, we wonder how many times he gave pass marks to students who submitted their term papers with problems fully stated and no attempt at proffering a solution. And as a Senator, how many motions he moved without a prayer – a solution to the problem.

As it were, Prof has now reached the point where he wants us to do his thinking for him.

Does he want the Governor ’s forum abolished? But these are citizens first and governors after that. How does Prof intend to reconcile the proscription of the body with the provision of Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees every Nigerian the freedom of association?

In a world that is over-unionised, Aminu

cannot be too right that he has never seen a forum like the governors’.

For every organisation, there is a forum – from tomatoes sellers to okada riders, f r o m

,

Why we remember differently

We need to allow the Nigerian people to draft unto themselves a new constitutionthat will help us build a new nation where no one is oppressed

of ex-colonial authorities, the UK, took place.

Let us assume (without necessarily conceding) that indeed the first coup was an Igbo coup.

The question I would like us to reflect upon is this: which of the subsequent coups, attempted coups and even transitions from military to civilian regimes were “national” events? Sectional forces simply took over and foisted their narrow interests upon the rest of the country as “national” interests. At no time did any leader who emerged sit down to creditably and patriotically carry every section of the country along.

Even the 1999 hand over of power to General Olusegun Obasanjo by the North was meant to serve northern interests of burying June 12 and returning power back to the North.

As Chimamanda noted in the above quote-line, Nigerians will always remember 1966 to 1970 differently. Some Nigerians experienced the pain of war and lost everything. They came out of the trenches and were plunged into forty years of exclusion (marginalisation) from strategic involvement in the affairs of state.

Some Nigerians gained ascendancy, besides not even knowing what the war being fought in Eastern Nigeria was like.

Some took what the Igbo fled from and fed fat on it for thirty years before they were rudely told they could not be president.

Smaller groups, which were happy to be part of the mob, in their euphoria of being “liberated” fought to “keep Nigeria One” only to find out they were mere pawns.

Smaller groups from the North tried to assert their right to power but were always brutally and bloodily silenced both in the

Rather than seek to abolish the Governors’ Forum, which we cannot do anyway, we should seek to encourage its members to lift the forum above the narrow confines of their self-interest

,

prostitutes to straight women. Has Prof not heard of the Conference of Speakers of Nigerian Legislatures? What of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON)? Until recently, this writer was the Chairman of the forum of Board Chairmen in Edo State. When the Boards were dissolved, of course, the Forum melted away. But while it lasted, the Forum provided a veritable opportunity to adopt common positions on issues of mutual interest to members and the government.

W

e wonder if Prof has heard of the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU), the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Summit of the Heads of State and Government, etc., etc., and the

military and now in their churches while they worship and in their homes while they sleep. For smaller groups in the South, it was their oil that the ruling class descended upon; the very true reason for which foreign powers ensured the war was fought and Igbos bumped out of reckoning.

Today, the only thing we Nigerians remember in the same light is that the country has been ruined by the post-war ruling class, who imposed mass poverty on the country, particularly the more culturally vulnerable northern masses. And the angry, though misguided youth, has responded with militancy, terrorism, violent crimes and general disobedience to the postwar ruling class and their agents.

The post-war ruling class simply factored their permanent interests into the system before handing over, just as their colonial predecessors had.

They ossified their interests in a difficult-to-amend presidential constitution which was updated in 1999. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 is still very much Decree No 24 of 1999, despite the cosmetic amendments and charade of grassroots public hearings towards its further amendment.

I have said it before, and I say it again: we need to allow the Nigerian people to draft unto themselves a new constitution that will remove traces of colonial and military self-interests; a constitution that will break with the past 99 years of external and internal imperialism; a constitution that will help us build a new nation where no one is oppressed.

Nigeria must never enter the second century in 2014 without it.

League of US Mayors when he was Nigeria’s Ambassador to the USA. What of the Diplomatic Corps in virtually all counties of the world?

We think Chester Irving Barnard (18861961) was essentially right, when he said: “When the individual has become associated with a cooperative enterprise, he has accepted a position of contact with others similarly associated. From the contact, there must arise interactions between these persons individually, and these interactions are social. It may be, and often is, true that these interactions are not a purpose or object either of the cooperative systems or of the individuals participating in them. They nevertheless cannot be avoided.”

We keep talking of peer review mechanism and that’s the type of cooperation that emanates from the Governors’ Forum. How else do we encourage inter party and intergovernmental relations? Banard speaks further: “Cooperation compels changes in the motives of individuals which otherwise would not take place. So far as these changes are in the direction favourable to the cooperative system, they are resources to it.

So far as they are in the direction unfavourable to cooperation, they are detrimental to it or limitations of it” This explains why rather than seek to abolish the Governors’ Forum, which we cannot do anyway, we should seek to encourage its members to lift the forum above the narrow confines of their selfinterest to the level of development in the interest of their individual States and the national interest at large.

20—Vanguard , THURSDAY THURSDAY,, JANUARY 17, 2013

Crooked cop apprehended over sale of seized okada

N30,000.

Continuing, Niyi said: “Right now, I don’t know my fate as the suspects have not been charged to court and I don’t have time to pursue my business again. This is because I have to report at the station whenever I am needed’’.

When contacted on phone, Police Public Relations Officer Ngozi Braide, did not respond to VM’s calls but her orderly who refused to mention his name said thus, ‘’Oga is attending a conference after which she has another meeting. You can call back in an hour’s time,’’.

•Buyer also arrested

By BOSE ADELAJA

A

POPULAR adage states that every day is for the thief but one day is for the owner of the stolen property. The story of Niyi Owolabi Saheed, 24, who hails from Osun State, seems to corroborate this agelong adage.

Prior to the restriction of motorcycles to certain roads in Lagos, Niyi earned his living as a commercial motorcyclist.

He bought a bike for N180,000 on a hire purchase arrangement and had only remitted N60,000 to the owner before his bike was allegedly seized by armed policemen at Ikorodu late last year. The seized bike was allegedly sold by a police corporal to another Okada rider.. Niyi recounted his ordeal to Vanguard Metro. “I bought my motorcycle (Okada) with registration number Lagos 1239KD for N180,000 on hire purchase arrangement. I have only paid N60,000 to the owner of the Okada when I was arrested by a team of policemen at Ojubode area of Ikorodu.

They took my machine from me after giving me three dirty slaps on my face. I pleaded with them to temper justice

Niyi Saheed narrating his ordeal (Inset) Niyi on his bike

ahead to seize my Okada. The police officer later told me that the machine has been sent to Alausa, but I suspected a foul play. This made me to start

,

They took my machine from me after giving me three dirty slaps on my face.

I pleaded with them to temper justice with mercy, but all these pleas fell on deaf ears

with mercy, but all these pleas fell on deaf ears. They took me and my bike to Igbogbo Division Station where one CPL Goroye threatened to send the machine to Alausa for destruction.

But a few days ago, I found my seized machine at Ikorodu garage with one Ismail Olomitutu popularly called Oro, who had converted it to his personal use. He had succeeded in changing the number plate but the engine number and inscriptions I made on the Okada were still intact,” Niyi said.

Niyi claimed that the police officers came to their park on regular basis to arrest innocent riders. ‘’Prior to that fateful day, they arrested me and demanded for a sum of N5,000 which I paid without looking back. But on December 12, 2012 , they refused to collect a dime from me but rather went C M Y K

,

searching for the motorcycle.

My burden was increased when the owner insisted that I must complete the payment or face his wrath. I cried out for help before I met a sympathizer who released a used Okada to me. I was to be remitting N5,000 weekly to him.

“Like an answered prayer, I was going about my legitimate business last weekend when I ran into the motorcycle which has been converted by another rider. Though he has changed the number plate but all the inscriptions I made on it were intact and I raised an alarm which attracted people to the scene,” he said. Ismail was later arrested and taken to the same Igbogbo police station.

Vanguard Metro learnt that the sale of the motorbike was traced to a corporal at the station who was allegedly in the

habit of selling seized items at rock bottom prices. Although the two suspects have been detained at the Igbogbo Police station, residents of the area are worried because the case is not receiving speedy attention at the Area N Command.

Those who spoke with Vanguard Metro alleged that the

Corporal has the backings of the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, who was allegedly dismissed from the Force for about six years before he later regained his employment and was posted to Lagos.

On the other hand, Olomitutu is believed to be a relation to the branch Chairman of Motorcycles Operators Associations of Lagos State MOALS. He was said to have confessed that he bought the motorcycle at a paltry sum and that he owns six other motorcycles which he bought through the same crooked means.

A source alleged that the nefarious activities gained prominence when the former Divisional Crime Officer, ASP Fatai Adigun was transferred to another station late last year.

The source alleged that policemen were in the habit of confiscating new motorcycles with the intent of selling them later.

Such motorcycles are allegedly sold at give-away prices which range from N15,000 to

Fashola must act fast — Pekis Reacting to the development, the State Chairman for MOALS, Mr. Tijani Pekis urged Governor Babatunde Fahola to step into the case.

According to him, some law enforcement agents are using the new traffic law to extort money from innocent riders. ‘’ The State Government meant well to have introduced the traffic law but enforcement is the problem. The law enforcement agents have seized the opportunity to extort money from the riders and the union is not happy about it. The Police usually go to the rural areas to extort money from the riders.

The case of Ilupeju and Apapa where we lost two members to the traffic law have been swept under the carpet but I believe justice will be done this time. Thank God that the owner and the suspects are still alive,” he said

Ejigbo LCDA doles out N2m to family of deceased councillor

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

F

OR the wife and four chil dren of late Supervisor For Agriculture, Youth, Social and Sports Development in Ejigbo Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, MrMuritala Olaiwon, Tuesday, January 8, 2013, would remain evergreen in their memory. It was the day the Ejigbo LCDA doled out the sum 500, 000 Naira to each of the four children of the deceased coucillor as endowment for their educational development.

Speaking at the presentation of the money, the chairman of the council, Mr.Kehinde Bamigbetan also announced t the payment of all the financial entitlements of the late councillor. The occasion was the eight day Fidau for the Olaiwon organised by the council, at Ejigbo mini stadium.

In an emotion- laden voice, Bamigbetan, recalled the last days of the deceased. According to him, even though he was sick, he showed no signs that death was lurking around..

The Council boss stated that Olaiwon’s death occurred on the last day of 2012,a day after he turned 42. He left behind an aged father and mother, apart from his wife and children.

Kehinde who described his transition as a painful one, was consoled that the late councillor lived a meaningful and fulfilled life.

“It is not possible to write the history of the development of Ejigbo LCDA without the gargantuan space occupied by his colossal contributions. It is historically significant that no other person has consistently resurfaced in each administration of the council than Olaiwon,” he said While consoling the widow, Hajia Risikat Olaiwon, the Council boss commended her for giving his husband companionship till he breathed his last.

Hajia Olaiwon stated her late husband influenced her life positively. According to her, she would she would still have gone ahead to marry him 14 years ago, when they got married, if she had been told he would die of a terminal disease.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013 — 21

From left: Mrs Funmi Akande, Chief Finance Officer, Siemen; Mr Michael Akande, MD/CEO and Mrs Josephine Otigba, Head, Corporate Communication during the media briefing by the new MD/CEO of Siemens Ltd, in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

Nigeria’s centenary celebration to generate over 15,000 jobs

BY JONAH NWOKPOKU

S

ECRETARY to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim has said that the events and projects to mark the commemoration of Nigeria’s hundred years of existence will generate over 15,000 jobs. The SGF made this known at a private sector stakeholders’ engagement forum where he presented a document on the celebrations tagged, ‘The Centenary Project’.

153.85

0.55

2,257.00

-10.00

18.64

-0.26

111.09

-0.79

93.90

-0.24

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL DOLLAR POUNDS EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYA KRONA SDR

The SGF said the country has good reasons to celebrate its one hundred years of existence despite the several challenges that had confronted and still confronts the nation. “On January 1, 1914, the Northern and Southern Protectorates were officially amalgamated into one nation, giving birth to modern day Nigeria. January 1, marks the 100 years of our union as a nation,” he said.

“Notwithstanding our struggles and challenges, this is a period that deserves

154.72 248.3565 206.5667 167.0842 1.75 0.2957 237.3727 24.8985 41.2543 27.6686 238.145

155.22 249.1591 207.2342 167.6242 1.7557 0.3057 238.1398 24.9794 41.3876 27.758 238.9146

SELLING 155.72 249.9617 207.9018 168.1641 1.7613 0.3157 238.9069 25.0603 41.5209 27.8474 239.6842

CBN Exchange rate as at 16/01/2013

celebration by the citizens and government of Nigeria.”

The senator who pointed out that the event will be a yearlong event culminating at the new year of 2014, and concludes on first of October same year, also enumerated some of the activities that will mark the celebration to include; the centenary lottery programme, centenary concerts in Lagos, London and the USA, centenary music competition and comedy night show and miss centenary beauty pageant.

Others include; the trade and investment road shows by MDAs and state governments, centenary festivals and carnivals, special centenary legislative session and centenary sports contests. Each of these events which he said is proposed to hold monthly throughout the year will generate over 15,000 direct and indirect jobs to Nigerians. “The centenary project will provide potentially 5000 direct jobs and over 10,000 jobs indirectly. It will also provide

an economic boost especially to the informal sector, the petty traders and the hospitality sector service providers.”

The forum which held at Harbourpoint, Victoria Island, Lagos was aimed at wooing members of the organized private sector to invest in the centenary project. According to the senator, “the whole idea is to seek consultation with the organized private sector.”

He outlined the road map to actualizing the centenary project to include; “government partnership with interested corporate organisations which show commitment and capacity to organise and manage a well packaged Nigerian centenary project, signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the company or consortium of companies selected to organize and manage the centenary project and liaising with the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to ensure that the objectives of the centenary projects are realized fully.”

In response to the SGF’s request, some leading members of the organised private sector who were at the forum pledged their commitments to the centenary project but urged government to draw up plans of celebration that would benefit the people and as well be sustained.

The Group Managing Director, Julius Berger Plc, Mr. Wolfgang Goetsch, who represented the construction sector commended the initiative for the proposed centenary city but advised government to build something unique and sustainable instead of modeling other existing cities.

Cocoa stakeholders on collision path over calls for ban

BY DAYO JOHNSON AKURE

N

ATIONAL President, Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN), Mr. Sayina Robinson Riman, has picked holes in the call for a ban on the export of cocoa beans from Nigeria by the Cocoa Processors Association of Nigeria (COPAN) Riman said it was “ wrong for COPAN to have expressed its view on the pages newspapers, since such could be done through CAN, which is the umbrella association of all professional and interest groups in the cocoa value chain.

He therefore frowned at the option taken by COPAN chairman Mr. Oladimeji Owofemi.

According to him the “suggestions about placing a ban on export of

cocoa beans would send the wrong signals to government and the international community.

While noting the huge investments in setting up cocoa processing plants, cost of running the factories profitably and the challenge of infrastructure failure,CAN noted that “ the position taken by the processors smacked of selfishness and intolerance.

Riman pointed out that each link in the cocoa value chain was as valuable as the other and none may undermine the relevance of any other.

He noted that farmers, traders, input providers, researchers, warehouse and collateral managers, exporters, processors, transporters

were all important to the sector.

He noted that “a similar attempt to ban export of cocoa beans in 1992, also championed by a group of cocoa processors, led to farmers abandoning cocoa farms and destruction of many farms.

He said that the position being canvassed by the processors was alien to the spirit of free enterprise, adding none of cocoa producing countries like Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroun bans export of cocoa beans.

Riman urged the cocoa processors to look inward and look for more creative ways to solve their challenges instead of coming up with suggestions that could cause ripples and upset the stabilizing cocoa economy in Nigeria.

22—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013

International Breweries projects N1.93bn profits in Q1 2013 NKIRUKA NNOROM

T

HE year 2013 may end well for International Breweries Plc, the brewers of Trophy beer and Betamalt, a non-alcoholic drink, going by the unaudited figures for first of the year already available to the investing public.

Specifically, the company said it expects to deliver N1.93 billion profit for the first quarter ended 31 st March, 2013, which represents 389.79 percent growth over N387.49 million projected in equivalent period of 2012.

The company’s unaudited financial statement made available to the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, showed that the turnover is projected at N17.67 billion, while cost of sales is expected to be in the region of N8.43billion.

This stood for 513.5 percent and 447.4 percent increase over N2.88 billion and N1.54 billion projected in the same period of 2012 respectively.

The company also targets profit before tax and exceptional items of N2.84billion,

From left: Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State; Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Governor and Sarah Alade, CBN Deputy Governor, Monetary Policy during the signing of tripatite agreement for the establishment of CBN Enterprenuership Development Centre in three geopolitcal zones, in Abuja. which translates to 633.85 percent growth over N387.49 million in 2012. International breweries said it expects to pay N909.56 million tax within

the period.

Meanwhile, analysts at Proshare opined that the company stands the chance of hitting the projected profit and

turnover “We have reviewed the forecast against its believability index, relying on previous performances against

forecast; to confirm that International Breweries Plc has a 22 percent chance of achieving or exceeding its PAT forecast and a –one percent chance of delivering o n its turnover projections for the period in view.

This weights fall within the ‘most believable’ forecast range for quoted companies in the sector,” the analysts said in a review of the financials.

For DN Tyre & Rubber which also released its results, it sees a gloomy second quarter performance for period ended 31st March, 2013.

Though the turnover is expected to hit N152 million, both profit before tax and profit after tax are expected to drop to N85.501 million, probably due to a tax holiday.

The company also said it expects operating expenses to stand at negative N68.501 million, while financial charges will decline to N41.45 million during the same period.

International Breweries is a Nigeria-based company active in the brewing industry.

The Company is primarily engaged in the brewing, packaging and marketing of beer and non-alcoholic malt drinks. International Breweries Plc is a subsidiary of Brauhaase International Management GmbH, which holds a 50.42 percents stake.

NSE: Health s’ patr onage in 20 13 Healthyy banks ’ll drive inves investt or ors’ patronage 201

By CHINEDU IBEABUCHI

A

NALYSTS at Financial Derivatives Company Limited, FDC, have projected that solid performance and impressive corporate results of the healthy banks will drive investors’ patronage on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 2013.

Also, they expect that banking stocks will continue to drive an increasingly resurgent market within the year.

In FDC’s Monthly Economic Report titled, “Good Bank,

Bad Bank – A Clean Break for Some, and A Fresh Start for One,” the analysts said, “Most banks currently trade at attractive levels. The banking sector still accounts for about 30 per cent of market capitalization and trades at a price to earnings (PE) ratio of 5.92, which is lower than emerging market peers.

“We expect that most banks will trade closer to intrinsic values, leading to significant traction for the stock exchange. With improved earnings quality, the sector looks

like an attractive proposition for investors in 2013.

“Banking stocks will continue their upward movement in 2013, buoyed by the activities of market makers, sustained rally in the market and favourable performance by deposit banks,” the report said.

The NSE Banking Sector was the 2nd best performing index in 2012 after the NSE 30 index, giving a return of more than 23.47 per cent in the year. The Bank Index went up from 275.07 points on January 3, 2012 to

339.63points on December 31, 2012.

The NSE Banking Index comprises of the top ten (10) performing banks listed on the bourse and measures the market performance of the subsector on the NSE. Equities in the banking sub-sector were among the best investment in the market in 2012 as most of them recorded remarkable year-to-date capital appreciation.

The banking sub-sector led the gainers chart in the Financial Sector with Diamond Bank

We need NSE, SEC ttoo encour age SMEs — Seriki encourage

BY PETER EGWUATU

T

HE Securities and Ex change Commission and Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) have been challenged to partner the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in order to attract them to the capital market.

Managing Director/CEO, Omatek Ventures Plc, Engr (Mrs.) Florence Seriki, who made the plea said, “There is need for the SEC and NSE to partner the SMEs by patronizing our products. We want them to embrace the local content and policy of the Federal Government and in doing this it will attract more listing on the Exchange. The local content and policy can create more jobs

if well harnessed.”

According to her, “Funding manufacturers is a totally different thing from funding traders or sellers. The banks need to be involved to know the kind of business we do. It is a long term projects that will require a single lending rate. We commend the Bank of Industry (BOI) who later knew why we needed huge fund with lower interest rate in our sector. The business of ICT requires volume and that is why we need funds. We want to see the ICT to drive the economy of Nigeria.

She further tasked the Federal Government to revive the local content policy in virtually all the sectors of the economy, saying there should be tolerance of Nigerians in local con-

tent and policy. She commended the Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson for listening to the plight of operators in the ICT sectors.

According to her, “Our parley with the minister in recent time will yield fruits. We want to continue to brainstorm with the government where we can share experience and allow local manufacturers to produce the things we need in Nigeria.

This will go a long way in providing jobs and also meeting the vision 2020 target of the Federal Government.

While commenting on Omatek Ventures’ effort to improve its bottom line, Seriki, said, “ We have restructured and overhauled the company and hope that this year our

shareholders will reap from their investment. We have continued our e- learning scheme, consumer scheme, civil service scheme, National Identity scheme. We have put a new face to the e-learning scheme as we want to change with time.

Gone are the days that the student will use lanterns and candle to read. For the consumer scheme, it slowed down when the banking crisis started but right now we intend to revive it.”

She further stated that Omatek intend to improve on its distribution channel. “We want to engage more sellers from all the states.

We have more volume, as turnover is very critical to our service.”

Omatek boss noted.

Plc appreciating by 145.77 per cent, followed by Access Bank Plc with 79.56 per cent growth to close at N9.05 on December 31, 2012, compared to the N5.04 per share it opened the year.

In the same vein, just at First Bank of Nigeria Holding’s shares climbed by 73.32 per cent in 2012, from N9.07 per share as at January 3, to N15.72 per share as at December 31, GTBank ‘s shares also advanced by 63 per cent to close at N23 per share from N14.12 per share. Zenith Bank Plc’s shares also posted a growth of 58.45 per cent from N12.30 per share as at January 3, 2012 to N19.49 per share.

Taking a glance on the outlook of the banking industry in 2013, the Analysts said outlook remains positive as banks are expected to remain solvent, with relatively stable creditworthiness, and strong liquidity retained amongst the DMBs as they maintain ownership of large proportions of non-interest bearing deposits and government bonds.

“In 2013, we expect an improved banking system underlined by healthy banks, responsive regulation and growing sophistication of banking services. With greater lending to the real sector of the economy, the banking industry may finally help fund Nigeria’s march to economic development,” the report said.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013—23

Local wine industry going, going …

STORIES BY FRANKLIN ALLI

S

T

O say Nigerians love parties is an understatement’ but what is sure is that at parties organised by influential Nigerians, the in thing is to serve choice drinks. The irony of it is that most of these choice drinks are imported.

At a recent party in Lagos, foreign brands such as Henessy, Amarula, B ‘N’ G Cuvee, CarloRossi, E and J Gallo, Hardy’s, Baron brands (De Valls and Romero) were served The ladies were not left out as brands like Night TrainBlossom Hill, Jacobs Creek, Sutter Home, Robert Mondavi, Yellow Tail and Beringer adorned the tables.

Just before Christmas, companies and individuals that sent out hampers tried to outdo one another with the choice of foreign drinks included in the gift items.

This observation brought to bear the cry of the local wine manufacturers under the umbrella of Distillers and Blenders Association, a sub group of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, who recently cried out that the sector is on the brink of collapse.

The executive secretary of the Association, Aare Fatai Odesile, lamented their pathetic story in these words: “We are being forced out of business as a result of illegal influx of alcoholic beverages, wines and spirits into the country, and the development if not quickly checked by government will lead to the death of our industry.”

He further disclosed that high inventory of unsold stocks have forced most of their member companies to scale down production from three shifts to one shift per day.

“At our last counts, there are over 450 brands of foreign wines and spirits circulating in the market; these products are illegally smuggled into the country from regions and countries like South Africa, Asia, India, and Europe,” said Odesile.

Remi Adegboyega, Executive Secretary of the Association of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE), who painted the big picture of the impacts of the sector on the economy, said if the sector is allowed to close down that first to go will be thousands of the workforce employed.

Konica Minolta expo to attract 10,000 visitors — Sky-

From left: National President, National Union of Food Beverage and Tobacco Employees, Comrade Lateef Oyeleka; Acting General Secretary, NUFBTE, Comrade Lamidi Danjuma and Executive Secretary, Distillers and Blenders Association Sectoral Group, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Aare Fatai Odesile, during a press conference on the state of wines and spirits industry.

“ It’s an ominous wind that will blow nobody any good at the end of the day because we have created jobs for more than 125,000 Nigerians directly in our various companies and another 180,000 people indirectly. If we assumed that for every employed Nigerian there are at least five dependants, the livelihood of five million people depend on the well being of our industry.

He added “The industry accounts for 40 percent of the Nigerian manufacturing industry output estimated at N700 billion. In terms of corporate tax and VAT the industry contributes N40 billion per annum; the market capitalisation of the top ten listed companies in the food industry is N2.17 trillion,” he said.

In view of this, Tunde Abdulraham, Chairman of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees (FOBTOB), wants the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, abrogate the legislation that allows unrestricted importation of alcoholic beverages, wines and spirits; he suggested that any interested investor should be encouraged to come and set up manufacturing facilities in the country instead of taking shortcut that are economically and socially dangerous to the country.

He urged government and other stakeholders to heed the cries of local manufacturers of wines and spirits in order to avert the looming crisis. He recalled that the failure of the government to listen led to the death of several promising sectors in the country such as Berec Batteries, Isolo; Afprint, Enpee Industries,

Dunlop and Michelin tyres, etc.

Furthermore, Mr. Lateef Oyelekan, National President of National Union of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE), called for outright ban on the importation of all food, beverages, wines and spirits product into the country. This, according to him, will encourage and protect local and interna-

,

We do not want what happened in the textile industry, which has now been brought to its knees to happen to our sector.

We are appealing to our

,

tional investment as in Ghana. In fact, Nigeria should borrow a leaf from Ghana in protecting local industries.

“We do not want what happened in the textile industry, which has now been brought to its knees to happen to our sector. We are appealing to our law enforcement agents especially the customs, to live up to expectations and save the Nigerian economy and the food beverage sector from the hands of

economic saboteurs and smugglers,” he said.

Chief Kola Jamodu, the President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), wants the Federal Government to promulgate new laws against smuggling of products with stiffer penalties. In an address during MAN AntiCounterfeiting and Brand Protection Stakeholders Forum, Jamodu said that the menace of counterfeiting, faking and smuggling with its associated crimes have contributed immensely to the problems of Nigeria’s real sector with devastating effects in the nation’s social structure resulting in unemployment, etc.

He appealed to the legislators to expedite action to pass the Bill of an act to repeal and re-enact the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods.

The foregoing has shown that the local wine industry is truly heading to the slaughter house but all stakeholders must not allow this to happen. Never again! All hands, therefore, must be on the deck.

In the words of Jamodu, instead of factories closing down, we would like to see new manufacturing investments spring up and some old manufacturing plants revived this year.

Last year, President Goodluck Jonathan commissioned some new manufacturing investments in Lagos, Ogun, Imo, Rivers, Enugu and Anambra states. This is a welcome development for the manufacturing sector. and I look forward to seeing more of such happening in all states of the federation,” said Jamodu.

KYSAT Technologies Nig Ltd; says no fewer than 10,000 visitors from the printing industry and other corporate firms will attend Konica Minolta digital print exhibition in Lagos next week.

Speaking ahead of the expo, Mr. Izzat Debs, the company’s Managing Director, disclosed that the exhibition with the theme: ‘Digital Printing, Possibility and Profitability, will be declared open by the President of Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, (NACCIMA), Dr. Ademola Ajayi.

He stated that the two day event would showcase printing solutions designed specifically for commercial printers, banks, insurance companies, telecommunication companies’ airlines, oil and gas including schools, etc.

“Visitors will be exposed to Konica Minolta machines that come with a full range of inline finishing options, staple finisher, saddle stitching, perfect binder, punch kit of folding options; the expo will run concurrently with presentations and seminars where resource

persons from the organisation in Japan will educate printing practitioners and other consumers on the power and versatility of the various digital print solutions at the stable of Konica Minolta; visitors will also be educated on how to optimize the office work load, which is office workflow ,” he said.

On why they are introducing the Bizhub range of Konica Minolta in Nigeria, he explained that digital printing has completely eliminated the use of impression plates.

“It is the latest printing technology that uses LASER signals to directly create the impression and transfer a full colour image to the media in a single run. It is neater, more environmentally friendly, less cumbersome, less tedious, and faster, delivering full colour offset quality images in a simple process.”

“Today, throughout North America, Europe and Asia, there are thousands of digital print shops scattered in hundreds of cities, providing print services to businesses and individuals.

“In Nigeria, this trend is just about taking off as 80 percent of printing

SON seals warehouse over substandard aluminium

T

HE Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has sealed a Chinese warehouse called Three Friends International over importation of low gauged aluminum coils into the country.

Head of Inspectorate and Compliance, SON, Mr. Bede Obayi said the company will remain sealed because it has failed to meet the minimum requirement of the Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS) which is 0.4 millimeters.

Obayi who led a team with a task force and aluminum stakeholders to an enforcement exercise in Lagos to ensure compliance, said SON will not rest on its oars until it rids the country off substan-

dard products. ”We are here with the task force and aluminum stakeholders. It is our routine function going from one company to another to ensure they comply with the directives given to us in 2010 to conform to the minimum requirement of the Nigeria Industrial Standard for aluminum roofing sheets which is NIS 487 and 486 of 2010.”

He said the company also used quality plain coil of about four layers to cover low gauges coated coils. ”We should be mindful of the fact that what the consumers want is commensurate with the value of products they are getting so that the consumer is not cheated,” he said.

24—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013

Tank farms: FG to complete Atlas Cove STORIES BY GODFREY BIVBERE

T

HE federal government will complete the three other tank reservoirs at the Atlas cove and the pipeline from there to Mosimi through Ejigbo, Senior Special Adviser to the President on Maritime Matters, Leke Oyewole, has said.

Oyewole who disclosed this to Vanguard in an exclusive interview, said the completion is the only permanent solution to the danger pose by the tank farms littered along Ibru jetty area of Apapa – Oshodi expressway.

He said when the above is completed, products can then be pumped straight to Mosimi from where trucks can then load.

Similarly, he said that products can also be pumped from there as far as Ibadan, Ore and beyond.

The Senior Special Adviser pointed out that only one reservoir completed during the regime of General Sanni Abachi is still functional while the other three have been abandoned since then.

He pointed out that past government had neglected the project and stressed the willingness of the present government to do something about it. The completion which is a short term measure he continued; will cut of the trailers from that area of Lagos.

On the security of pipeline which had suffered a lot of vandalisation, he also noted that there are modern ways of monitoring which is scientific and effective. He explained that after instillation of the equipment, any act of digging close

•Says Ejigbo-Mosimi pipeline only solution to a pipeline triggers an alarm, adding that quick response can help to eliminate completely any form of vandalisation.

Oyewole said that “those tank farms must leave” because of the danger pose by their operation on Apapa and its environs. He explained that the country was lucky a few weeks when a barge dumping petroleum products in one of the tank farms exploded.

The Senior Special Adviser noted that had the explosion affected any of the other tank farms, the whole of Apapa and may be even part of Lagos Island would have been on fire and that the rest of the world would have been watching Nigeria on television.

He noted that there is no doubt that the owners of the tank farms had invested huge sums of funds in the tank farms in the area but advised that they must begin to think of divesting from the area.

As for the long solution, the Senior Special Adviser said that the operators must begin to think

Former governor of Anambra State, Senator Chris Ngigi (left) and Chief Peter Obih, Managing Director, Sea Map Group, owners of Sea Map Shipping Nig. Ltd.during the wedding of Chief Obih daughter in Awka-Etiti, Anambra State.

of moving their investment from the congested Lagos area to Olokola between Ogun and Ondo states.

A

N aspirant to the Chairmanship position of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Apapa Chapter, Mr. Femi Anifowose, has assured clearing agents in the chapter that he will tackle all operational bottlenecks to make their jobs ease if elected.

Anifowose who made the promise while flagging off his campaign, said his coming into the race is predicated on the desire to bring about positive change not only C M Y K

vessels calling there.

This will also help in eliminating the problem of shipping products

from mother vessels midstream by smaller ones to the tank farms as is obtainable presently in Apapa.

NPA redeploys top management staff T

HE management of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), has made major changes to its management team.

The shake up is said to have been approved by the Managing Director of the Authority, Mallam Habib Abdullahi. The new disposition affected all the Port Managers who have been redeployed, except that of Warri.

It is gathered that General Manager Public

Affairs of the NPA, Chief Michael Ajayi, has been redeployed to head the Administration Department, while the General Manager, Marine, Capt. Iheanacho Ebubuegbu, takes over from Ajayi as General Manager, Public Affairs.

General Manager, Western Ports, Mallam Mohammed Bulangu, has been redeployed to NPA Corporate Headquarters as General

ANLCA elections: I’ll remove hindrances to freight forwarding practise — Aspirant

BY VICTORIA EDEMA

He said when the port which is expected to have deeper shores when completed, will see bigger

in the association but also in the freight forwarding practice in Apapa port, Lagos.

The chairmanship aspirant assured that he would work at providing solutions and harmonious working environment with the Nigeria Customs Service and other relevant government agencies in the port.

According to him, “my ambition is purely a desire to satisfy your quest to further place the profession on integrity, purposefulness and trust.

“I did not just wake up

to contest for this position on cheer personal opinion but I was judged and asked by my thinking to call for change, to rejuvenate a new blood, good thinking and good product for excellence.”

The contestant assured them that he will provide a purposeful leadership that will run an open door administration, accountable and transparent and evolve a lot of manpower development and welfare programmes which will include a befitting secretariat and education training/workshop, for the overall benefit of all members.

Manager, Marine and Operations, while his counterpart in the Eastern Ports and former Acting Executive Director, Marine and Operations, Barrister Sotonye InyenengiEtomi also returns to the headquarters as General Manager, Special Duties.

Former Acting Executive Director, Engineering and Technical Services, Mr. Sunny Nwobi, is now General Manager, Eastern Ports, while Miss Adenike Shonaike, former General Manager, Human Resources, takes over from Bulangu as General Manager, Western Ports.

The new General Manager Finance is Mr. Okonji.

The NPA helmsman has also approved the appointment of new Port Managers for all the six ports.

Mr. Nasir Anas Mohammed is Port Manager of the Lagos Port Complex (LPC), Apapa, taking over from Mr. Joshua Asanga, who has been redeployed to NPA Headquarters as Acting General Manager Procurement, while Mr. Babatunde Longe heads the Tin-Can Island Port

Complex (TCIPC), Apapa, Lagos.

Longe takes over from Barrister Effioita Ephraim who is now the Assistant General Manager, Commercial of Western Ports. Mrs. Caroline Ufere, Assistant General Manager, Special Duties, takes over from Mr. Dele Alabi as Port Manager of Rivers Port Complex,

Port-Harcourt.

Port Manager, Warri Port, Mr. Obuneme Onuenyenwa, is the only Port Manager to retain his post even as Mr. Munir Umar takes over from Mallam Goje as Onne Port Manager and Engr. Wada Musa resumes at Calabar as the new Port Manager.

....to establish intelligence centre at ports

BY EDIRI EJOH & JIMOH WILLIAMS

N

IGERIAN Port Authority (NPA) is to establish a command control communication and Intelligence centre in the nation’s seaports for surveillance of all activities in the Ports.

The Authority noted that the above will also serve as information network centre for security agencies in the Port.

Disclosing this in Lagos while receiving a delegation from Smiths Detection Group from France who paid him a courtesy visit, Managing Director of NPA, Mallam Habib Abdullahi, noted that the plan is part of the effort of the Authority

to guide and protect the heavy investments of multinational companies in the nation’s Seaports.

Speaking further, Abdullahi who was represented by the General Manager, Security, Lt Col. J M Tahir (Rtd.), noted that the issues of security vulnerability in Nigeria is very unfortunate and disturbing and that the Authority will continue to collaborate with other agencies to forestall security breaches at the nation’s seaports.

While speaking earlier, the leader of the team and Africa’s sales Manager for the company, Loic Lebret, noted that the company has Four hundred and Eighty Three (483) Hieman Cargo Vision cameras installed at ports worldwide.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013 — 25

BY AMAKA ABAYOMI & LAJU AREYENKA

F

OLLOWING the Federal Government’s approval of three more federal universities to be sited in Gashua (Yobe); Birnin Kebbi (Kebbi) and Gusau (Zamfara), vice-chancellors, educationists and parents are divided on whether having 37 federally funded varsities is a step in the right direction.

Rising from its Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, said the decision was in fulfillment of government’s promise to give each state a federal university.

According to Maku, only 10 per cent of school leavers get admission into higher institutions nationwide due to limited space available. Skeletal services are to start as soon as possible in the new varsities and academic work should start by 2014/2015 academic year.

This view was supported by the Policy Advisor, Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All, (CSACEFA), Mr. Wale Samuel, and Senior Lecturer, English Department, Lagos State University, Dr. Henry Hunjo, who said this would translate to more access to education by more people.

According to Samuel, “There is need for more varsities considering the challenges of access in terms of the high volume of secondary school leavers seeking admission.

However, government should equally address issues like funding to achieve quality tertiary education and the need to support hands-on education at the polytechnic level. The Open University system, when strengthened, is another viable option of addressing the access problem.”

For Dr. Henry Hunjo, “though this would provide more access to education for those that are qualified, but we should ask: after these degrees are

Revised Basic Education Curriculum, Teachers Guides will achieve human capital devt — Prof.

Obioma, NERDC boss -— Page 30 C M Y K

• Mr Babajide Sipe, Corporate Communication and External Affairs, GTBank (middle), among some medical students of University of Lagos, Idi-Araba during the award of Excellence in Health and Education bestowed on GTBank by the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Tuesday. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

Mixed reactions greet three new varsities awarded, what plans are being made to translate these degrees into jobs?”

On the issue of funding, Hunjo said that would not be a problem as they would be adequately funded because government would not want to be criticized.

“But we must note that this

move is politically motivated as government wants to make sure that no zone complains about lacking a federal university,” Hunjo said.

For Gloria, a parent, only God knows the fate of Nigerians if we still had only the University of Nigeria, University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo

University and Ahmadu Bello University.

“As long as the NUC does its job of ensuring that these varsities get their programmes accredited, there would be no problem.

In 1976 when Gen. Murtala Muhammed wanted to establish 14 second generation varsities, he

was criticized for trying to water down the quality of education.

“The same thing when Jim Nwobodo established the first state university at Enugu, and it continued with the establishment of the private varsities.

Contines on page 26

FG to spend N12bn on labs in CoE — Minister

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

HE Minister of Education, T Prof. Ruqqayatu Rufa’i Ahmed has said that the Federal Government would spend N12 billion on multimedia laboratories in all state and federal colleges of

NobbleAfriq discloses why students fail Harvard exams -— Page 26

education across the country.

The minister revealed this during a visit of UK-based GEMS Education Solution to her office in Abuja on Monday, stating that the Federal Goverment was determined to invest in the promotion of quality teachers across the

country.

In additon to the N12 bilion, Rufa’i also said that government has earmarked N6.6 billion for technical colleges to ensure that they are well equipped for better service.

She further hinted that the ministry would place more pri-

TASUED merger: NANS appeals to Amosun -— Page 28

ority on addressing the issue of quality of teachers in the country, which she noted would go a long way in enhancing and refocusing the entire education s e c t o r .

She said; ”There is need for teacher training and development, we know that teachers are the most critical factor in the classrooms, if we have good teachers, most or half of our problems are solved. We need to have better quality to ensure that we enhance our system at all levels” She pointed out the need to have adequate data management that would help to provide enhanced statistics. ”In terms of whatever we do in the system, it will be based on statistics that will be germane. Data is what we have been working on,we need to partner with Gems.

26 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013

NobbleAfriq discloses why students fail Harvard exams

BY DAYO ADESULU

N

,

OBBLEAFRIQ Centre for Global Innovation has disclosed reasons students fail to enrol in Ivy league institutions in America,while stating its commitment to help Nigerian senior secondary school students get admission into universities like Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Cornell etc.

Speaking at a press conference held at Tickle Bay, Ikoyi, Lagos, the global chairman, NobbleAfriq, Maxwell Thompson-Eleogu said; “Students fail because of lack of innovative educational directives to compete globally. ” Thompson-Eleogu who is a Harvard product said NobbleAfriq's inspiration in the area of education is to create future leaders of the postAfrican world and bringing the best of American education to Africa adding that NobbleAfriq addresses issues of education, innovation and talent development.

According to him, before Harvard will start looking at your certificate, you must have scored 95 per cent in their examination, noting that NobbleAfriq is established to bridge the gap. ThompsonEleogu, a Nigerian who has spent over 30 years in the US and a university don said; “Nigerian students are good in essay writing but poor in critical thinking which is the advantage the whites have over the blacks. We believe that all persons are created equal and deserve equal education and opportunity.”

He said students fail because their schools lack how to govern and serve talents. Point-

“Students fail because of lack of innovative educational directives to compete globally.”

ing out the importance of American education on its citizenry, Thompson-Eleogu disclosed that this year alone, five of the 11Nobel Prize winners in the natural sciences and economics were educated in the US, adding, “Since 1970, six Mathematicians from the US who were educated there have won the Field Medal, the highest honour in Mathematics, awarded every four years.”

To achieve innovation in our education system in Nigeria, he reiterated that NobbleAf-

,

riq, a non-governmental organisation which has the endorsement of North America in Washington DC, is committed to establishing directives for identifying gifted and talented students, developing programmes that will increase their learning.

He said NobbleAfriq's objective in Africa is to ensure that every student in their programme has access to a

will help students prepare for the academic rigours of the Ivy League education.

Through advanced placement university level courses and examinations, he added that high school students can earn university credits.

Thompson-Eleogu who explained the importance of SAT test to a student, noted that it is a globally recognised university admission test which lets a student show universities what he knows and how well he can apply such knowledge of reading, writing and Mathematics.

He disclosed further that these exams provide a path to opportunities, financial support and scholarships in a way that is fair to all students. ”The NobbleAfriq staff and the summer school programme in Nigeria are here to help you select the right courses. Once you are here, tutors offer academic guidance, hold office hours and review sessions and organise study groups," he said.

His words; “As a nonprofit organisation, we are committed to working in collaboration with the State Department in Washington, for the issuMr. Maxwell Thompson- * ing of American Visa to Eleogu bona fide Nigerian student applicants registered with our programme. high quality education that Those who are qualified will help him succeed in to apply include: SS3, SS2 Ivy League universities in a n d S S 1 s t u d e n t s f r o m America, stressing that its both public and private initiatives promote curric- schools in Nigeria. ula, assessment tools and guidance resources that

Mixed reactions greet three new varsities Continues from page 25 With a population of over 160 million, Nigeria needs as many varsities as possible to educate all these young people.”

Providing further insight on government’s decision, Minister of Education, Rukayyatu Rufa’i, said out of 1.3 million school leavers that seek entrance to higher institutions every year, less than 200,000 gain admissions into existing institutions.

“The establishment of the new varsities complement efforts being made by the Federal Government towards tackling educational challenges at all tiers in the country, from almajiri schools to post-primary institutions,”, Rufa’i said.

Not in agreement with the reasons for establishing more universities is the immediate past VC, University of Jos, Prof. Sonni Tyoden, who citC M Y K

ed lack of qualified staff as a major challenge.

“I hope government did their homework well in getting staff because even the old varsities are facing the challenge of qualified staff, especially as it takes almost 10 years for a varsity to produce PhD holders.

“What this implies is that these new varsities will be gleaning staff from the existing ones, hence shortstaffing them, and this would likely create more problems for the sector in the future.”

To avert this trend, Tyoden advised government to provide opportunities for staff to do crash doctorate programmes abroad.

Calling on government to get existing varsities to strengthen their Distance Learning Departments, a vice-chancellor, who pleaded anonymity, said this would solve the

issue of adequately trained staff.

“Assuming there already are administrative staff, do they have the teaching staff or do they want to turn out halfbaked graduates? Rather than more varsities, government should expand the existing ones by distributing the available human resources among them and get them to strengthen their Departments of Distance Learning to accommodate more students.”

In as much as there is need for more varsities, the VC, Bells University of Technology, Prof. Isaac Adeyemi, tasked government to ensure that emphasis is placed on quality, not quantity.

“Even if we need more varsities, we should be clamouring for qualitative education and improved facilities and structures, while consolidating on the existing ones. Another issue of concern is lecturers, especially at the senior cadre because it takes about three years to earn a PhD and government must be

ready to award scholarships to these lecturers for them to be properly grounded in their fields.

“I’m of the view that we should explore the options Distance Learning offers, just as it is done in developed climes because if DL takes pre-dominance in Nigeria, all the structures in these institutions would become obsolete in the nearest future.

“Besides, approving the establishment of more varsities is not something that we should just dabble into because it involves a lot of strategic planning which takes time to execute. But if government is willing and capable of adequately funding them, then they can go ahead, otherwise there is no need to approve more universities."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013—27

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

We aim to take affordable healthcare to the world through innovative technologies – STEVE AYANRUOH

BY EBELE ORAKPO

H

ealth, they say, is wealth and a healthy nation is a wealthy nation.

Despite this truism, so many people the world over, especially in developing countries, do not have access to adequate health care and where they do, the cost is out of the reach of many. To solve the problem of reaching the unreached and making health care affordable, a US-based Nigerian physician, Dr. Steve Ayanruoh, invented a machine he calls Hospital-in-a-box. In this chat with Vanguard Learning, Ayanruoh speaks on his background and invention, saying that his mission is to ‘ensure that every citizen of the world has access to comprehensive healthcare irrespective of colour, race, religious belief, sexual orientation and economic status.’ Excerpts:

•Dr. Steve Ayanruoh...People’s lack of access to adequate health care service is my driving force.

Background: r. Steve Ayanruoh is a pediatrician based in New York, USA. Born in Okitipupa in Ondo State, the Delta State indigene graduated from the University of Ibadan College of Medicine, Oyo State, Nigeria.

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Motivation: “As a pediatrician in the US, I went to work one winter morning, only to find out that I was the only one in the clinic to attend to about three patients at the same time. So, I said to myself, ‘If only I could do something that will aid their treatment.’ This was my motivation. People’s lack of access to adequate health care service is my driving force,” the Chief Executive Officer at Ruskat Medical Equipment Corporation said.

Realizing that dream: Dr. Ayanruoh said it took him about eight years to complete the project.

“I met major computer firms but they turned me down. It was not until I found one that agreed to buy into my dream of the equipment. I was asked to deposit $10,000. From there, I knew it would become a reality.”

As with everything else in life, the journey was not a smooth one but he was determined to make the dream come true.

Said he; “At some point, I had to depend on my extended family back home in Nigeria, for finance to fulfill this dream of making an equipment that can bring good health to people’s homes.”

How it works: As the name implies, it is C M Y K

•Hospital-In-a-Box

•Inside of the Hospital-In-a-Box

indeed a hospital in a box.

According to Ayanruoh, the components include the following; spirometer, electrocardiogram, nebulizer, pulseoximetry, otoscope, thermometer, cuff, wireless, AC/DC battery.

“On the desktop are icons for all the examinations that the machine can perform. When each examination is performed, the results are stored in each individualized folder, which is also on the desktop. These results can either be stored in a flash drive or sent through the internet to assigned server.

Doctors assigned to the locations where the machine is being used can log into the server to review the results and send their recommendations to the site provider.

For example, if there is a trained provider using the machine in Lagos, he could send his results to a server in Kano or Maiduguri and the assigned doctor. The assigned doctor who is vacationing in Enugu can log into the server to review the result and send recommendations back to La-

gos. The device can also be used in disasters such as hurricane, tsunamis, floods, etc.”

Explaining the function of each of the components, Ayanruoh said; “The electrocardiogram is used to examine how well the heart is doing. The

equipment also helps to diagnose fast or slow heart rate, diseases of the heart and its sac. It can diagnose enlarged heart, heart attack, heart failure and fluid in the sac covering the heart. No special EKG is needed, which means it can save

about $5,000 worth of EKG paper yearly.

“The spirometer can be used to examine how well people’s lungs are functioning. The lung can have diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive disease, bronchitis, bronchiolitis, croup, pneumonia, hard lung tissue among others.

“The nebulizer is used to measure blood pressure. It can also be used to diagnose high blood pressure (HBP), low blood pressure, systolic hypertension, and dizziness due to changing blood pressure with changes in the patient’s position.

“The pulse-oximeter measures oxygen level in the blood and heart rate. It can help to differentiate lung disease such as asthma. Also, it helps to diagnose cardiac disease such as Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) and endocrine disease such as Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA). Not every panting patient has a lung disease just as not all bluish patients need oxygen.

“The thermometer can be used to measure the temperature of the forehead in seconds. It can be used to diagnose fever, low temperature and febrile seizures. The hand-held device can examine any part of the body such as ears, eyes, nose, and mouth, among others.”

Good news: “Everybody can use it. They only need to receive the training.”

On the cost of the equipment, he said “it can be purchased with a moderate $40,000 USD investment. We are looking for serious investors so that we may begin mass production of Hospital-In-a-Box (TM) and make it more accessible to all individuals,” Ayanruoh said.

Clean environment leads to economic growth — Prof. Aluko

BY ABASS ALOBALOWO, OAU

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HE concept of sustainable cities has been said to be closely interconnected with environment and economy and the safeguard of natural resources, which in turn leads to minimum acceptable quality of life.

Prof. Bioye Tajudeen Aluko who was the guest lecturer at the 6th Oba Abimbola Annual Memorial Lecture, organised by the Ife Varsity Saki Students’ Union which took place at the Saki Town Hall with the theme; The Making of a Sustainable City – Concept, Characteristics, Stakeholders, Issues and Challenges, the expert in estate management and senior lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife said that clean environment and economic growth are complementary to each other, as

they both result in a vibrant community who see themselves as stakeholders in all aspects of daily life.

Emphasizing that the core areas inhabited by the indigenes are characterised by problems associated with haphazard development, poor access and drainage system, improper refuse dumps and a critical dearth of community and allied recreational facilities, he asserted that more frightening and discernible are the general human and environmental poverty and the declining quality of life.

He noted that the base map and master plans have to be updated for a city to be renewed or rejuvenated. He added that the frustration of professionals in a city can be imagined in the absence of a standardized zoning arrangement, the framework of which a city plan would have been provided.

28—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013

TASUED merger: NANS appeals to Amosun

BY DHIKRULLAH AKINOLA, OAU

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HE President-elect of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Yinka Gbadebo has appealed to the government of Ogun State to reconsider its earlier decision to merge the state owned Tai Solarin University of Education, (TASUED), with the state university at Ago-Iwoye.

Comrade Yinka Gbadebo made this known in a statement made at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, over the weekend.

He said that the new leadership of NANS is compelled to write the open letter as part of its commitment to the struggle for quantitative and qualitative education in Nigeria.

Gbadebo appealed to the Ogun State Government under the leadership of Sen. Ibikunle Amosun, to reconsider the current decision to scrap Tai Solarin University of Education, but instead give consideration to adequate funding of the institution and other educational citadels in Ogun State. He added that this is within the ambit of pragmatic reality of the need to educate the younger generation in

preparation for the future the comity of qualitative needs and challenges of e d u c a t i o n delivery civilization, economic growth institutions in Nigeria may and development. deal a great blow and His words; ‘’Sir, from entrench a massive lacuna available statistics, Ogun in the opportunity of the State currently produces average teenager, youth, graduates of about 55,000 at secondary school graduate the secondary school level, to get quality education which naturally cannot be w h i c h i s t h e m a j o r effectively absorbed by the component of the historical available tertiary institutions antecedent that the Ogun in the state, hence the need people are known for." The to establish more tertiary NANS president referred to institutions and the need to Ogun as a state that is in strengthen the existing ones. history presented as the According to him, “The forerunner of both formal institution in question, education and civil literacy according to the NUC, ranks one of the b e s t universities •Prof. Edmund Egboh presenting a speech, (tertiary while the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Boniface institutions) Egboka and wife, Ifeoma, listen. in Nigeria.

Tai Solarin University of Education is also the only university t h a t specializes in the training o f professional educators in Nigeria.”

He posited that the dissolution of the ‘’great university in

UNICAL inaugurates electoral committee for SUG elections in Nigerian society.”

He affirmed that NANS executives were on solidarity cum inspection tour of the facility on the invitation of the Students’ Union between the 3rd and 4 t h o f J a n u a r y, 2 0 1 3 , saying that having realised the qualities, ‘’we recommended that a great future development facility and asset like TASUED is and could be the future security of an average Ogun State youth for Continues on page 31

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etermined to ensure that their wards get the best educationally, the Bells University Parents Forum, BUPF, have commissioned a N45 million cafeteria and e-learning centre at the Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun State.

Speaking at the commissioning, the chairman, BUPF, Mr. Kayode Shobajo, said the centres, comprising a 200-seater cafeteria and e-learning centre fitted with 44 state-of-theart internet-enabled computers, were to augment what was already on ground.

“Education should not be left in the hands of schools alone, prompting the BUPF to embark on this project in 2010.

The VC made it clear that these projects would be optimal when we were considerC M Y K

ing where to intervene.

“Going forward, it is our hope that the cafeteria and e-learning centre, which would also serve as students’ project completion area, would transform to better learning environment for the students.”

Appreciating the efforts of

the parents, the VC, Bells University, Prof. Isaac Adeyemi, said the project was timely as the company that was managing its e-learning centre terminated its contract. He also disclosed that the school is in talks with an American

company on how to improve on the school.

The centres would be managed by the BUPF and the proceeds would be ploughed back for future developmental projects in the university.

UNIZIK students honour ex-Dean for developmental strides

By EMEKA ATTAH, NAU-AWKA

T

he Students Union Government of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka has honoured the immediate past Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. Edmund Egboh as the Most Hardworking and Outstanding Dean of the university.

Presenting the award on behalf of the student body, Dr. Ezenwa flanked by the SUG executives said the award to Egboh is in recognition of his laudable achievements while in office.

Prof. Egboh had recently upgraded and refurbished the faculty complex with

T

he Calabar University Electoral Committee (CUECO) that will conduct the 2013 Students’ Union Government election has been inaugurated. The inauguration which took place at the institution’s new Senate Chamber was done by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof.

James Epoke. Equally inaugurated alongside the CUECO is the Independent Observers Committee as well as Orientation of Freshmen Committee.

The CUECO has Dr. Idaka Idaka who represented the Students’ Affairs Dean, Prof.

Eyong U. Eyong as its chairman, Barr. (Mrs.) Eno Abia who is the Head of UNICAL Legal Unit as Deputy Chairman, and Mrs. Anita Eyo as its Secretary alongside other six members.

BUPF commissions cafeteria, e-learning centres

BY AMAKAABAYOMI

BY EMMANUEL AHANONU, UNICAL

interlocking blocks, asphalted roads, remodeled brick stones for student’s class discussions and social activities. A new car 2011 model Toyota corolla was also provided for the succeeding dean.

Egboh while delivering his valedictory speech said he was able to achieve what he did for the faculty as a result of the approval by the vicechancellor for him to use the internally generated revenue of the faculty to work. He also said the projects were carried out through competitive bidding by contractors to ensure transparency and noted that students and other staff of the faculty provided the moral support which saw the actualization of the projects.

In the same vein, the Independent Electoral Observers Committee has Prof.

B. I. Ita of Pure and Applied Chemistry Department as its chairman, Mrs. Joyce Bekeh of Students Affairs Division as its Secretary alongside 15 other members drawn from the various strata of the institution. While the Freshmen Orientation Committee has Dean, Students' Affairs, Prof. Eyong U. Eyong as the chairman, Mrs. Benita Ipkeme as the Secretary alongside 13 other members which include Mr Effiong E. Eyo, the institution's Public Relations Officer, Mr. Okon Usani, the Oppression Commander of the School Security Unit, Ahanonu Emmanuel Eca, the Nigeria Union of Campus Journalist President, Mrs. Anita Eyo, Mr. Enwu Emmanuel Emori among others, as its members.

In his remark, the Dean of Students' Affairs, Prof.

Eyong welcomed all the committee members to the event saying, “I welcome all of us to this January event.

It is statutory in every given session that we should have proper orientation for our new students to understand why they have come to the university, this is why it is relevant that the Students’ Affairs Division puts in place an orientation for first year students.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013—29

BY LAJU ARENYEKA

N

OW more than ever before, the fashion flag of the world resembles our national flag. All the shades of green are up for display in today’s fashion trends, and you don’t want to be left out.

Lemon green: From jackets to camisoles to pants, lemon green items give ladies a brightness that no other colour does. However, it would be cool to restrict this colour to days when you don’t have much work

Green, fashion, green

load.

Emerald: Emerald jewelry is to die for. Not only does it fit nicely with practically any colour, you have options that fit nicely into your quadlife. Emerald dresses are also a much sought after fash-

ion item now.

Mint: This colour is as refreshing as the name suggests. Set your sights on getting a mint green bag with matching shoes.

Pair with your little black bag, and you’re ready to go.

Army: This shade of green has been a much loved fashion accessory for ages. With good reason too. Army green jackets, casual dresses, and shoes will make your wardrobe stand out anytime.

Communication faculty tasks freshmen on academic excellence

BY FOLUSO SOTOMI & MOSES ADEYEMI

F

RESH students of the Lagos State UniversityAdebola Adegunwa School of C o m m u n i c a t i o n (LASUAASOC), were last Wednesday tasked to be focused and take their studies serious so as to attain academic excellence after their four-year stay in school.

This charge was made at the orientation ceremony for the 2012/2013 academic session.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Awodele, Acting Head, Department of Public Relations, advised the students that if they must attain academic excellence in the university, they must “endeavour to know something about everything.

This makes you versatile in all aspects of your tertiary C M Y K

education.”

Also, Mrs. Omolade Atofojomo of the Department of Broadcasting, charged the new students to be disciplined and dress modestly. While noting that as a

communicator, one’s mode of dressing should speak volumes of the distinct profession, she referred to the speech of veteran boxer, Muhammad Ali noting,“Muhammad Ali said

to his daughters, 'where do you find diamonds? Deep down in the ground, covered and protected; Where do you find pearls? Deep down in the ground, covered and protected; Where do you find

gold? Way down in the mine covered over layers and layers of rocks. You got to work hard to get them. Therefore, your body is sacred, because you are far more precious than diamond and pearls, so ensure you dress modestly.”

EKOBA commends Fashola on EBHS facelift

BY FRANKLIN ALLI & LAJU ARENYEKA

L

AGOS State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola has been commended by the Eko Boys' High School Old Boys Association (EKOBA) on the facelift carried out on the premises of the school at Mushin.

The president of the Old Boys Association, Ekorian Chief Idowu Sofola, S.A.N who gave the commendation recently at a general meeting of the association, also commended the Commissioner for Education and her team for their commitment to the ed-

ucational development of the state.

According to him, the gesture by the Lagos State Government under the leadership of an old boy of EBHS is in tandem with the selfless efforts of the founders of the first indigenous private secondary school in Nigeria to ensure the provision of quality education to students, not minding their religious or denominational background.

Sofola said that "the products of Eko Boys’ High School in the last 100 years have contributed and are still contributing in no small measure to the growth and development of all facets of the

Nigerian economy. The contributions of the likes of the late Oba Adeyinka Oyekan, Oba Architect Olawale Adisa Odeleye, Hon. Justice (Dr.) Muri Okunola, Senator (Dr.) Olusola Saraki, Dr. Bayo Kumolu-Johnson and others, will remain indelible in the minds of many.”

Chief Sofola appealed to the old boys as well as all well meaning Nigerians to contribute meaningfully to efforts towards the development of modern infrastructural facilities at the new site of the school in Abijo, Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State.

30— Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013

Revised Basic Education Curriculum, Teachers Guides 'll achieve human capital devt — Obioma, NERDC boss T

he Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) has just completed the revision of the 9year Basic Education Curriculum and has also developed Teachers Guides meant to assist the teachers in implementing the curriculum. With the completion of these tasks the nation’s primary and junior secondary schools are set to commence the implementation of the curriculum by September this year.

The curriculum and the novel idea of Teacher’s Guides, according to the Executive Secretary of NERDC, Professor Godswill Obioma, will achieve the human capital development aspect of the Federal Government transformation agenda. He speaks extensively on this in this interview, the other major achievements of the council in the out gone year and those programmes he intends to roll out in the education sector in 2013. Excerpts:

What criteria were taken into consideration in selecting these people whom you called editors?

First and foremost, there are eight subjects ranging from English Studies to Mathematics, Basic Science and Technology, Religion and National values, Prevocational studies, and the languages including French, Cultural and Creative Art. In choosing the editors we considered their expertise.

First, they should be professionals in the subject.

For instance, there is a professor in mathematics; we also have a teacher educator because we want to ensure that the pedagogical components of the material are also in harmony with the profession. We have also gotten English studies experts who roam across the subject panel to look into what they are doing. For the French group, we have gotten French specialist. We have also gotten those who are competent in handling French character. If you go to the laptop or computer, you will see that the French version of the laptop is slightly different from the English version because characters are not the same.

We have also done so for Ibo, C M Y K

we have done so for Arabic, for Hausa and Yoruba. And so we are not just getting the content specialist, we have also gotten the technical experts.

Now that the four stages of writing the Teachers Guides have been completed, what is going to be the next step?

We have initiated the printing of the Teachers Guides. In order to fast track the process of producing the Teachers Guides,s we had sent out the critique manuscript to the printers, to NERDC press before coming to this editorial activity, to evaluate them in terms of how much it would cost to print them. Then, after that we will get the publishers that had been cleared by our due process office to bring in

A

•Prof Godswill Obioma we have set that in motion.

First, this was gaining from experience of what happened earlier in about three or four weeks ago when we were not too conscious, we just assumed that the materials had been sent to schools when in fact some of them did not really get to the schools. So we set up this monitoring team to do that. Second, we are going to run training sessions for teachers and we will do them in such a way that it will be on a master trainers’ basis. In other words, we will identify very experienced teachers in various subjects, train them and the training will cascade down to the state level and

,

hat value is the editorial workshop that recently held in Enugu going to add to the Teachers Guides?

We have done the writing of the Teacher ’ Guides, we have done the critique which has quality assurance and we will need to ensure that the material is properly fine tuned.

The editorial exercise is to make sure that it is error free in terms of English, in terms of presentation, in terms of formatting. So we have brought these resources persons who are editors to assist us critique what has been done at the critique level.

Handbook that broadly addressed issues of curriculum implementation and sensitization of teachers. There was a gap and the gap was that we didn’t generate the process of training the teachers on the skills required in the various subject areas

,

quotations and submit tenders and after that we will award the contract for them to go and print.

H

ow does NERDC intend to monitor the implementation of the Teachers Guides?

Gaining from experience when we implemented the first nine-year basic education programme, in distributing the curriculum which has been revised, we have a monitoring team to ensure that the curriculum get to the endusers, that is the schools. So

Ajayi for AASU NMA Award

BY GAB EJUWA

BY DAYO ADESULU

W

Brief

those people will also train people at the local government level and at the school level.

We can’t train every teacher at the same time. So, we will train them at regional level, at the geopolitical zone and those people will then be guided to train others at the state level, expanding the population of teachers that have been trained and that population will then get to the school level. At the end of the day almost every teacher would have been trained in the training session on the use of the Teachers Guides to be able to

implement the curriculum very effectively.

W

hat impact are the Teachers Guides which your council just developed and the revised 9-year Basic Education Curriculum expected to have on the nation’s education system?

Let me ask that what could have been the case if the Teachers Guides were absent?

We didn’t have Teachers Guides for the 9-Year Basic Education Curriculum in 2007.

We had Teachers Handbook that broadly addressed issues of curriculum implementation and sensitization of teachers.

There was a gap and the gap was that we didn’t generate the process of training the teachers on the skills required in the various subject areas.

There is an improvement now.

The Teachers Guides had been developed to fill up that gap and meet the challenge. What value is it going to add to the education system?

It’s going to improve the quality of teachers. It’s not just enough to develop curriculum or curriculum specification as the case may be without also thinking about those who are going to teach in the classroom, those teachers who are going to deliver the processes in educational delivery. So, the very way the Teachers Guide is constructed addresses seven broad areas. We have the issue of what the curriculum is all about what is the structure, then we look at issues of certain terms, the scheme of work-what is it how is it and how is it going to be done, syllabus-how does it differ from curriculum, how will teachers evolve and develop them? Then we get into modern approach to teaching because there are newer skills of effective teaching.

s part of its programme of appreciating those that have excelled in the education sector in Africa, the All Africa Students Union (AASU), has nominated the Provost of Federal College of Education, Okene, Dr. Iyela Ajayi for the 2013 National Merit Award.

A statement signed by the Nigeria representative of AASU, Mr. Yinka Dallas, stated that the provost was chosen amongst others due to his landmark achievements in the college in the last four years.

AASU implores all other academic administrators to follow the steps of performance and prudence of Dr. Ajayi in order to make the African academic sector the envy of other continents.

RUN appoints Oloketuyi as registrar

N

igeria’s former representative at the governing board of West african Examinations Council and Study Group Directing Staff at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies(NIPSS), Mrs. Bolatito Oloketuyi, has been appointed as the registrar of Redeemer’s University.

As an astute administrator with 25 years experience in the University system,Oloketuyi was appointed as the Chairman of the Task Force on Administration and also as the Examination Officer of the Studies Department of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies. She also served on various Committees of the National institute before her appointment.

Oloketuyi is an alumnus of the prestigious University of Ife, where she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree with Second Class Upper in Social Statistics and Demography in 1984.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013—31

Kano sponsors 100 students

By AMAKA ABAYOMI

I

N its bid to delist K a n o State from the list of least educated states, the state government has awarded

TASUED merger: NANS appeals to Amosun Continues from page 28 qualitative education at university level.

With due respect to your office sir, from our findings, you have only dwelled on lopsided report of a biased committee to arrive at your decision. We are made to know that you have never visited the institution since you became the Executive Governor of Ogun State two years ago.”

He affirmed that NANS have since the last two decade been in the crusade to make sure that government, at various levels, invest the 26 percent UNESCO r e c o m m e n d e d budgetary allocation to education.

He advised the governor to “use the fiat of his good office to invest more funds to TASUED in order to restore the confidence of youths and students in the state and in your administration, that was earned on the platform of your campaign programs which laid emphasis on Qualitative Education.”

Ayefele, as he is fondly called observed that the present leadership of NANS is committed to the welfare of Nigerian students and e d u c a t i o n a l development at all levels, ‘’hence our holistic resolve to defend the interest of our students in TASUED in their quest for educational excellence. ‘’Sir, we strongly hope that our request for the c o n t i n u o u s sustainability of TASUED will be granted without any unnecessary delay that may result into further actions from the NANS leadership.”

C M Y K

full scholarship to 100 indigent students to study any course of their choice at Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun State.

This was disclosed by the Special Assistant to the Kano State Government on Higher Education, Hon. Lawan Hussain, who stated that another 502 would be sponsored to do their Master’s degree programme abroad.

According to Hussain, the purpose of the schol-

arship is to educate the people of the state so as to reduce the stranglehold of terrorism on the youths.

“Education is top priority to this administration, making the state governor to allot the highest amount to education. The North-West University just commenced operation with 1,000 students, and our investment in education is expected to avert the bombings in the North and enable our youths reach their poten-

tials.

Educating youths “Kano State Government is ready to partner with any school on educating our youths. We already have 100 students here at Bells University and another 100 would soon be admitted into Crescent University and other schools. We have also sent 501 abroad for their postgraduate studies, while

the second batch of 502 is already underway.

“The aim is to ensure that Kano State fulfils its quota educationally.

What we do is send a team to different schools, especially private universities, to see if they would want to partner with us by granting more admission to Kano State indigenes, and we are ready to do everything legally possible, even if it means us building hostels to accommodate them.

“Kano State is the only state that accesses its full share of the ETF which we use in constructing blocks of classrooms and purchasing furniture for primary and secondary schools.”

On the criteria used in selecting the beneficiaries, the Special Assistant said all the benefitting students are from public schools and they must have seven credits in one sitting and score above 190 in the UTME.

32— Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013

Japanese govt hands over 33 schools, 77 buildings to FG

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

I

N fulfilling its bilateral agreement with the Nigerian government, the Japanese government handed over to the Federal Government 33 schools comprising 77 buildings and 317classrooms for basic education sited in Kano State.

The N2.31billion project which was donated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) aimed at cementing the bilateral relationship between the two countries, is expected to help alleviate the problem of classroom congestion spread across 22 local government areas in the state.

Handing over the keys to the schools to the Minister of State for Education, Mr Nyesom Wike in Abuja recently, the Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria, Mr Ryuichi Shoji said the Japanese government has been making effort towards ensuring that access to primary education for all primary school aged children especially the girl-child, is achieved in the country.

According to the Ambassador, the history of Japan proves that unfettered access to basic education is one of the foundations for nation building of Japan adding

that investing in people is crucial to economic development of a country and the emancipation of each individual hence the effort to assist Nigerian government achieve the feat.

Mr. Shoji noted that the project which was signed in June 2010 enabled JICA to provide additional 317

classrooms in 33 schools, with toilet facilities and classroom furniture for the pupils of Kano State.

He noted that though there was great security threats in the state during the project implementation, but all the works were securely done with the support of Universal Basic Education Commission

(UBEC) and Kano State Government.

The Minister of State for Education, Mr Nyesom Wike in his acceptance speech said that JICA has demonstrated more than a passing commitment to the provision of educational development assistance and support to Ni-

•Rotary Club donates exercise books to school

geria. He noted that the challenge of providing sustainable qualitative education to every Nigerian is quite enormous and requires the concerted efforts and commitment of all stakeholders to overcome.

He said the Federal Government will welcome any positive intervention from the international development partners, which is directed at improving education in Nigeria.

In his speech, the Executive Governor of Kano State, Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso said the kind gesture from the good people of Japan has tremendously complemented their determination to improve the situation in all the primary schools, including the educational institutions.

The construction of additional classrooms in Kano State is the Phase 2 of the JICA project in the country as it would be recalled that Niger, Plateau and Kaduna states have also benefited from such interventions from the Japanese government.

The Kano State projects comprises 33 schools, 77 buildings, 317 classrooms; 61 toilets for boys and girls, 308 booths, 6,340 tables and chairs for the students, 317 for teachers and 317 blackboards.

Dragnet Solutions starts CBT revolution in tertiary institutions

BY DAYO ADESULU

D

RAGNET Solutions, a computer-based testing and talent management firm, has once again raised the bar of innovation with the planned introduction of computer-based testing (CBT) programme specifically designed for tertiary institutions in the country.

CBT is a method of administering tests in which the questions and responses are electronically recorded, assessed, or both. CBT makes use of a computer or an equivalent electronic device (i.e. hand-held computer). It enables educators and examiners to author, schedule, deliver, and report on examinations, surveys, quizzes and general tests.

According to the Managing Director, Dragnet Solutions, Mr Robert Ikazoboh, this innovation is intended to extend the e-assessment revolution to the tertiary institutions level in a bid to

simplify examination assessment processes.

He said; “Without an iota of doubt, CBT will revolutionise the test administration at the tertiary institutions level. The current system, pen and paper testing (PPT), faces a lot of challenges. Examiners still mark tons of scripts manually.

Examination results are delayed which lead to prolonged follow-up actions, among other drawbacks. But all of these will be adequately addressed by CBT. “ CBT guarantees efficiency in examination delivery, administration and scoring. It far surpasses the traditional manual paper-based assessments as the manual efforts of human hands are replaced by the many times more efficient processing power of the computer.

“It also reduces the need for resources for many elements of the testing life-cycle such as printing and storing of paper, requirements of more invigilators to distribute and

collect question papers and answer sheets. Also, CBT ensures that results are released almost immediately as students receive sms with their scores. No room for lecturers who use results as tools for witch-hunting.

“Studies have shown that large class size in various higher institutions is inimical

to learning but with constant continuous assessments and feedback, better learning outcomes will be achieved. The problem is that it is difficult to have constant continuous assessments in large classes under PPT. CBT makes assessment and instant feedback possible and delivers better learning outcomes.

“It will eliminate examination malpractice and maladministration and engender a sense of meritocracy, responsibility and transparency. These are some of the benefits that CBT will bring to our higher institutions when this innovation is introduced,” Ikazoboh concluded.

Bellstech admits 640

BY AMAKA ABAYOMI

T

HE Vice-Chancellor, Bells University of Technology, Ogun State, Prof. Isaac Adeyemi, has charged the 640 newly admitted students of the institution to strive for the highest standard of behaviour by working diligently to achieve their aims.

Speaking at the eighth matriculation ceremony, Adeyemi said though they are free from parental control,

but what they make of their stay in the school would, to a large extent, determine their future.

“Achieving your aims means that you are going to device a sense of responsibility and hard-work. You should not spend your whole time listening to endless music on your phones or watching movies on your laptops.

“Bells University has the facilities needed for you to achieve your desired intellec-

tual capacity and the university environment is secured to foster the life of a community.”

The VC pointed out that all the programmes in the institution have been accredited by the National Universities Commission, NUC, while the College of Management Sciences has received the full accreditation from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013—33

I N S I D E

Economy, Politics and Human Rights: Whither Nigeria?

— 35

In 2013, NGOs must return to the trenches (2) — 35

Amending the constitution will not solve Nigeria’s problem — Orbih, SAN Mr Fred Orbih, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, based in Benin, Edo State, in this interview, cautioned that amending the country's constitution was not the solution to the problems facing the country. He stressed the need for Nigerians to imbibe attitudinal change, which according to him was the only way the nation’s constitution will be appreciated.

He also spoke on the call for the removal of the immunity clause, autonomy for local government administration and other national issues. Excerpts:

A

S a senior lawyer, how would you describe the nation’s judiciary in 2012 and the way the Justice Ayo Salami matter was handled?

The judiciary performed creditably well in 2012 in the discharge of the functions for which it was created under our constitution. We can only say that we can build on those achievements this year. If you talk about controversy, life it self is controversial, there is no society that is not controversial, it is how issues are resolved that varies from one society to the other.

Commenting on cases that are in court The Justice Ayo Salami issue you mentioned is still in court and as a lawyer, I am usually very reluctant to comment on cases that are in court. But the credit I will give to the judiciary as far as the issue is concerned is that every body is respecting the simple fact that the matter is in court, so there is a limit to which they can go unless the matter is either resolved by the court or withdrawn from the court.

There are calls for the removal of the immunity clause, so that corrupt elected office holders could be tried while they are in office rather than when they are out of office. What is your position on this?

To a very large extent, I think the immunity clause is causing havoc in our body polity and the earlier we take a second look at it, the better. I believe that if the immunity clause should continue to exist at all, it should only be in respect of the President, for

obvious reasons.

The Presidency as an institution cannot afford a situation where it is bugged down with countless court cases because court cases are time consuming, they are expensive and if the •Mr Fred Orbih, SAN President is to devote his time to that, then he will not have time well for the country. There must for any other thing. However, let be consequences, especially if me say this, either for President criminal allegations are leveled or governors, where there are against any officer at any level weighty allegations of corruption, and it is the possible I think the immunity clause must consequences that will act as a give way so that those allegations deterrent. How many governors can be investigated. Where there have we been prosecute is substance in such allegations, successfully after they left office. then they should be prosecuted The number is negligible. Even in court. Until we begin to do that, the most successful one was not we will continue to have a prosecuted in this country. It was situation where people continue outside the shores of this country.

,

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

Accusing the judiciary of bribery always is a reflection of our attitude, culture and our way of life

to act with impunity. This culture of impunity must be brought to an end in Nigeria. That is the foundation of corruption in Nigeria. People do things and nothing happens. And now, it is even worst that the constitution creates a kind of cocoon around certain public office holders and invariably and inevitably, they will continue to believe that they can get away with every thing and any thing and they have been getting away with everything. We have seen it in operation and it does not augur

,

And those who are vast in criminal investigation will tell you that time is of the essence in every criminal investigation. The more time lapses, the greater the opportunity to cover up the crime, whether in high or low places. So the immunity clause in my humble opinion should be removed from the constitution as far as criminal matters are concerned, especially criminal matters bothering on corruption.

But the judiciary is part of the problem too?

I am not one of those who

that take care of discipline of judges. I can tell you that the few cases that have gone there were promptly handled.

Let me tell again, it is sad that when people lose cases, they accuse the judiciary of bribery but when the win, the judiciary is good. That is very bad. Accusing the judiciary of bribery always is a reflection of our attitude, culture and our way of life. What I am telling you is that Nigerians are not good losers, some of these allegations of corruption you hear, arise when one loses a case and because they must find a reason for losing that case, they say the judge was bribed.

Some times, you can even lose a case you ought to have won not because the judge was bribed but because of the way the case was presented to him or her by your lawyer. It will not be because he received money, and don’t also forget that judges are human beings.

Allegations of corruption

subscribe to the view that the Nigerian judiciary is corrupt, rather, I am of the humble opinion that there are some corrupt judges but like in every system, you know it is one rotten apple that can spread corruption to the many that have nothing wrong with it.

You will always have a few bad eggs. The reason why this allegation of corruption rings such a loud bell is because of the nature of the job they perform.

The judiciary is not more corrupt than any other segment of the society. I can even tell you that it is to a large extent, cleaner than other arms of government.

I make bold to tell you that if you compare the legislature, executive and judiciary, you will always find that the judiciary will be smell like roses but that is not to say that you don’t have few bad eggs that don’t deserve to be in the offices they occupy.

And like every self cleansing society, I believe in the mechanism in place to get rid of these bad eggs, and that is why we have the National Judicial Council, NJC,

If we were so sure that every judgment will be right, there will be no need for the Appeal Court or the Supreme Court. It is because the system is conscious of the fact that these judges can make mistake, that is why you have the Court of Appeal. Even at the Appeal Court level, the system recognised that mistakes can also be made and that is why you have the Supreme Court.

Even at the Supreme Court level, they are not infallible but they only happen to be the final court and that is why there is no further appeal, that is not to say that they cannot make mistakes.

They can also make mistakes of the heart. But the only thing is that if they make mistake at that level, then you leave the matter to God. But I think that it is wrong

Continues on page 34

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

34—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013

Amending the constitution will not solve Nigeria’s problem — Orbih, SAN Continues from page 33 to accuse judges of corruption after every judgment especially when there is no proof. I am not saying that some judges are not corrupt but I don’t think it is as rampant as we intend to believe.

This country had produced great judges. We have produced Chief Judges in the Gambia, Uganda.

We produced judges in the International Court of Justice in the Hague. So, I think it is wrong to paint the entire judiciary bad, the only thing we should do is to flush out the bad eggs. It is important that we don’t castigate the judiciary to such an extent that the public will lose confidence in it because if the public loses confidence in the ability of the judiciary to adjudicate on issues, then there will be anarchy.

It means that no body will take his case to court, as he will rather pick up a cutlass or a gun or whatever extra-judicial means available to settle the matter because he has no confidence that if the case was taken to court that he will get justice. So we need to be careful.

Engaging in propaganda You know the judiciary does not engage in propaganda, in the course of this interview, I have mentioned the NJC several times.

Do you know that judges are expected to make returns to NJC on quarterly basis to show the number of cases they handled within a given period, how many they concluded and how many of those are pending to serve as a yardstick for accessing whether they are productive or redundant?

All these things are there and they are being implemented by NJC. But you know the judiciary by nature is supposed to be calm, it hardly shouts even when every other person has lost their heads, it manages to keep its cool. You will not know that things are being done to see that he system was improved upon. I will agree with you that a lot still needs to be done to strengthen the system.

Some judges are fond of delaying cases before them. Do you subscribe to a disciplinary committee being set up to deal with such judges?

I will rather subscribe to the view that divisions of existing court be created to handle criminal cases.

You had that in other countries, in the United Kingdom for instance, you have Queens Bench Division and Probate Division Council, so there is some form of specialization and you know that the more you specialize, the more thorough you become.

That will also address the issue of how expeditiously cases are concluded. But let me add this, the slow pace at which corruption and criminal matters are concluded is not restricted to

how many of such complaints had been investigated. And in those cases, how many judges had been found guilty of shielding criminals. If court injunctions are not useful tools in the hands of those who administer justice, there will be no provision meant for them in our laws. When I hear things like this, I begin to wonder how serious we are as a people.

Ventilating grievance

•Orbih, SAN those matters alone, it is a function of the system. So apart from creating divisions of these courts, we need to actually overhaul the system. That is being done, it is just that it is going to take time to get the effects. Court rooms are being changed now to fast track trial. It is an issue that needs comprehensive attention not just criminal matters.

Talking about investigation of cases before trial, we have noticed this confusion between the police and Department of State Security, DSS while investigating cases. Is this not part of the problems facing the judicial system?

The truth of the matter is that unless we create a system where there is complete corporation between all law enforcement agencies, we will continue to have problems. It is not peculiar to Nigeria. The September 11, 2001 attack in the United State of America, occurred because there was no inter-agency corporation, some people got information

instead of passing it to those who would have acted on it, they kept it to themselves. Now they have eliminated that, so we should also do the same in Nigeria. There must be sharing of intelligence and where you are both investigating the same case, you should be able to corporate because they are all geared towards serving the same purpose.

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has on several occasions lamented that the judiciary had made it almost impossible to prosecute corrupt governors, through court injunctions and other judicial pronouncement, like the case of Dr Peter Odili, who secured a perpetual interim injunction against the commission. What is your position on this?

Let me tell you, allegations are easy to make but to prove them are always difficult. I don’t know how many judges EFCC had complained against to NJC and

If a High Court grants an injunction wrongly, the Court of Appeal is there. If the Court of Appeal feels that the order was wrongly made, it will lift or vacate the order. But if the Court of Appeal upheld the decision of the High Court, there is still a further avenue to ventilate your grievance against that decision, you can go to the Supreme Court.

If a High Court gives an injunction rightly or wrongly in favour of Peter Odili, what has EFCC done about it? Assuming that was their impediment, have they appealed? Have they exhausted all judicial avenues available to them to attack the order? Some times, we like to push blames to other people.

What is your opinion on calls for Local Government autonomy?

There is no constitution that is perfect, just like there is no husband that is a perfect one and there is no wife that is a perfect wife, also, there is no child that is a perfect child. There is no constitution that is perfect, Nigerians must realise that. So, if we have to amend the constitution because of Local Government autonomy, the question we must ask is, why are people clamouring for Local Government autonomy?

Is it because they believe that the governors are interfering with the funds meant for Local Governments at the local level, will that solve the problem? What if you give them the autonomy and the chairmen of the councils now misappropriates the funds themselves, will you now call for another constitutional

amendment for us to have community autonomy, so that the various communities that make up the councils will have their funds directly? We need to look at things differently in this country. I think a lot has to do with our attitude. If for instance the governors were giving Local Government Councils their funds, there will be no clamour for this.

I have my doubt whether even if you give the Local Governments their autonomy, whether we will have development at that level.

The question is, how do we evolve a system that will ensure not only that these funds get to the Local Governments but that they are used for what they are meant? You now begin to look at the entire society, how do we ensure that the Local Governments use funds meant for the development of the Councils?

Private pockets How do we ensure that funds voted to the states are used for the development of these states and that they do not end up in private pockets? How do we ensure that the money for the centre is also spent for the benefit of Nigerians and that such money does not end up in private pockets? How do we ensure good governance, is it by continuing to change our constitution?

For instance, I will tell you that there was nothing wrong with our Republican constitution of 1963 or even the Independent Constitution of 1960? It is the operators of the system that bastardize the constitutions. If you ask me, I even still believe that the parliamentary system of government is far better than the presidential system of government, but Nigerians have managed to make every system of government look bad because of the way we govern ourselves.

It is a fundamental issue. How do we change the attitude. It is more important and more fundamental than writing a new constitution at every opportunity we have.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013—35

Economy, Politics and Human Rights: Whither Nigeria?

N

IGERIANS recently, celebrated the 48th anniversary of the beginning of what is almost certainly the most storied legal career of his generation, to celebrate what a committed and good man can accomplish and inspire even in the face of odds that seem insurmountable.

Ganiyu Fawehinmi was a Senior Advocate of the Masses, SAM, long before an embarrassed legal profession sought to expiate for malevolent petulance by belatedly conferring upon him the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, decades after he had earned the rank and long after some with worse than questionable qualifications for the entirely worthy task of polishing his professional shoes had desecrated it. By the time of his death in September 2009, Gani had transcended the legal profession. The Independent in London described him as “one of the most famous figures in Nigeria”, while the Daily

Telegraph reported that “fellow lawyers gathered at a valedictory court session to honour a ‘colossus’. Politicians from across the spectrum, recognising Fawehinmi’s common touch and immense popularity, hustled to pay their own tributes, even while perpetuating many of the vices he had long criticised.”

Gani’s life was hugely significant because rather than make a fetish of legal process or symbolisms irrespective of content, he realised early in his career that the law is, to use a well worn formulation, the practice of “civic virtue”, which cannot happen happily in the absence of a stable country with serviceable institutions.

In this belief, he “campaigned against the corruption and misrule of his country in the half century after it gained independence from Britain in 1960.”

He was “a man for whom silence was never an option, and for whom there were no tyrants too big to be challenged.” He spent his life working to achieve this. Gani was that quintessence of the lawyer-statesman described

“void he left in our political life remains unfilled, for so large was his presence while he breathed.”

It is also a fitting coincidence that the this lecture and the anniversary of Gani’s admission to the Nigerian Bar coincide with the annual memorial of Nigeria’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day when we

•Chidi Odinkalu

by Anthony Kronman as: a devoted citizen. He cares about the public good and is prepared to sacrifice his own well-being for it, unlike those who use the law merely to advance their private ends.

He is distinguished, too, by his special talent for discovering where the public good lies and for fashioning those arrangements needed to secure it.

Fittingly, Poet and lawyer, Ogaga Ifowodo, would later lament – on the third anniversary of Gani’s passing in September 2012 - that the

,

BY CHIDI ODINKALU

He (Gani) was a man for whom silence was never an option, and for whom there were no tyrants too big to be challenged

,

commemorate and honour the memory of fallen soldiers.

Gani was a warrior. Battered through many battles in an otherwise massively fulfilled professional life, posterity will probably record that Gani, whatever battles he may have lost, ultimately won the war for a Nigeria in which the

In 2013, NGOs must return to the trenches (2)

BY CHINO OBIAGWU

Obiagwu continues this week with this article on why the human rights community must go back to the trenches.

T

HE ICC prosecutor opened preliminary examination into the situations to determine if Nigeria’s international justice obligations have been breached. The April 2011 post election violence, incessant cases of kidnapping, assassination, terrorist bombings and attacks on police and military formations, armed attacks on hapless civilians, etc demonstrate the urgency of addressing the situation as a matter of priority. Jonathan’s administration has failed to take firm and decisive actions to stop the violence and prevent future crimes.

Improving the intelligence expertise and institutional capacity of police, SSS and other security agencies are necessary but have been ignored, despite voting close to a trillion naira in the 2012 national budget for security.

Those arrested or fingered in perpetrating violence are not effectively prosecuted.

Several reports of commissions of inquiry over past conflicts are not implemented or made public and victims remained without redress. There can be no development and peace when there is no justice. Justice can only be done when those who commit crimes or infringe on rights of others are prosecuted and punished, and those offended are given remedy

where necessary. This is totally absent in Nigeria today. So we live in a society without peace and justice.

Civil society activists must rise up in 2013 and demand that justice be restored to our land.

A major social and economic challenge in the country today is the high rates of youth unemployment and job losses.

Recent reports from civil society put unemployment rate above 40%, underemployment rate above 65 percent, and much higher rate among those under the age of 30. The productive segments of the middle class and the lower artisans are completely wiped out in the country whose economy is fast shrinking towards the centre into the hands of less than one percent of the population.

The only means of wealth ‘creation’ in Nigeria today is public office through which public funds are stolen.

Industries are closing down and the productive sectors are going extinct. In spite of these difficulties the current government has not demonstrated any commitment or competence to address the macro-economic issues including the power and transport sectors, the two critical drivers of any emerging economy.

The difficulties in accessing small and medium scale credit, and lack of adequate private sector investments in agriculture, cottage industries, and other small scale initiatives reduce the space for employment of our young citizens. Government has not shown sufficient commitment to job creation within the private sector. It has neither

increased motivation for small scale entrepreneurship among the youths nor opened channels for governmentbacked unsecured credits for young school leavers, and deinvesting in critical economic activities in order to attract a truly transparent private sector-driven economy.

Nigeria’s maternal and infant mortalities are still one

of the world’s highest, nearly 5000 of every 100,000.

Investment over the next four years in primary and maternal health is critical. The much taunted National Heath Bill, which was dead on arrival, have sloppily killed hope in that direction.

•To be continued

people must decide who governs them and how. In this sense, he was the supreme soldier of the peoples’ army.

Before proceeding, therefore, can we rise to observe a moment’s silence in memory of Gani and all other fallen soldiers on this Remembrance Day. At our Bar, Gani was not just arguably the most successful advocate of his generation and surely one of the most successful of all time in Nigeria, he was also a leader.

His career included a stint as the National Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). It is proper, therefore, that nine years ago, in 2004, he made the bequest of this annual retreat to us through the Ikeja Branch of the NBA, his home branch.

Far from being that parody of a critic as nay-sayer with no constructive proposal, Gani was also prolific in proffering ideas to fix the problems with Nigeria across the spectrum of challenges in politics, economy, and governance.

The theme of today’s Symposium is entirely, therefore, in keeping with the man and his mission.

The announced theme for this event is “Economy, Politics and Human Rights: Wither (sic) Nigeria”. I read the announced theme as having a typographical error.

My remarks in this presentation will not, do not and cannot address how or why to “wither Nigeria”. I happen to believe that our country has tremendous possibilities and I do not wish the country to “wither”.

•To be continued

UNILAG’s law faculty is first in NIALS’

T

HE University of Lagos, UNILAG, came first in the maiden edition of Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, NIALS, Nigeria Law Faculties Annual Ranking conducted in 2012.

Director-General of NIALS, Prof. Epiphany Azinge, SAN, in a statement, said “After assiduous research and collation of scientific data on Nigerian Law Faculties using underlisted indices, the following law faculties emerged top 10 in the following order: University of Lagos; Obafemi Awolowo University; University of Jos; University of Benin; Lagos State University; Ahmadu Bello University; University of Nigeria; Babcock University; University of Maiduguri and Igbinedion University.

“Our duty demands that we undertake a project of this nature to promote standardisation and for the mutual benefits of the students and the institutions.

Thus, the essence of this ranking is to challenge Nigerian law faculties to

improve standards in aspects of their academic endeavour.

“This ranking is not interminable as law faculties that were not captured in the top 10 rank are encouraged to improve their standards significantly, so as to stand a chance in subsequent years, while those ranked are encouraged also not to rest in their oars, but to work tirelessly to maintain already set standards.”

The research was conducted

based on the strident allegation of standards of legal education being on the decline bearing in mind the statutory responsibility of the Institute to provide information, supervision, guidance and advice to researchers of any university in the field of law.

NIALS in October last year wrote letters to ViceChancellors and Deans of Law Faculties. Consequently, NIALS started the annual ranking of faculties.

NBA to hold peace & security summit

N

IGERIAN Bar Association, NBA, will on January 30 – 31, 2013, hold a two-day Peace and Security Summit. The summit is being organised in partnership with the United Nations Systems in Nigeria. The theme of the Summit is: “Comprehensive and Sustainable Peace and Security in a Plural Society: Extreme Challenges to Nigerian Internal Security.”

Keynote address is to be presented by Chief A.K. Horsfall, which will be followed by a showcase discussion session and

presentation of a paper on topic around the theme of the summit by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, former Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on the topic, What has corruption got to do with insecurity – Appraising the effectiveness of the existing legal regime in taming the dragon.

The summit will approach the theme from a multidimensional perspective in order to get at the root causes of our seemingly intractable peace and security challenges in our nation.

36—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013

One year of Osun’s walk of life N

State House, refreshment and 2013 budget

WHY would the State House headquarters spend N327.154.931 on refreshment and N406,738,969 to purchase food stuffs?

Similarly, why would the office of the Vice President spend N112.5million to purchase food for 2013 fiscal year?

Why this wastage? In the same 2013 fiscal year, N553,056,411 was budgeted for sitting allowance while the presidency will spend N72,510,832 just to fuel generator sets. Why not channel the funds to make power supply more efficient in this country?

Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke is to spend N25,036,076 just to maintain generators while other countries are jubilating and celebrating several years of power supply without failure Where are we heading to?

Our leaders should have spent such funds on infrastructures that will benefit the masses. Mallam Ribadu re-

important personages join the governor to walk many kilometres on foot, across streets - is now freely accepted by the people of the state. They now see it not as a government thing but as an initiative that is meant to truly improve the quality of their lives.

This answers for the enthusiasm, passion and commitment the people display in any area of the state in which the exercise takes place. Not only are they full of joy for being part of a walk aimed at improving their health, they are also overwhelmed with the bliss of seeing a governor and his team partake in a physical exercise with them.

This alone speaks eloquently of how close the government of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is to the people at every local level. It is often a moving sight to behold the whole apparatus of the Executive Arm of government just out there in the midst of supposed ordinary people who before now were only used to being harassed with eargrating sirens of government vehicles moving dangerously at neck-braking speed, with their occupants shielded off by heavily tinted glasses.

port on oil fraud in our oil ministry is there and yet nobody has been prosecuted or punished.

Anthony writes in from Lagos State DANA Air resumption and crash reports Why are Nigerian leaders

,

Dear Sir, OW in its one year, ‘Walk To Live’ the monthly physical exercise introduced by the Osun State Government is by all means a well-conceived idea that richly adds value to the health of the high and low citizens of our state and enlightens them on the importance of body exercise.

As any medical expert can attest to, people tend to live better and healthier when they are well informed about the little things they can do to improve their health.

The late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, understood this essential fact. In one of his many insightful utterances, he did posit that ‘medical men know too well that if many people (through education) were less free in their choice of the types of food they eat, of the beverage they drink, of the clothing they wear, and of the houses they live in, the health of the community would be more than 100 times improved’.

Today in the State of Osun, the monthly exercise - in which the governor, his deputy, the members of the State Executive Council, newspaper editors, football stars, popular Nollywood stars, and many more

a

The ‘Walk to Live’ programme further makes evident the security status of the state. Since its debut in the last one year, no single threat to security, or a case of breakdown of law and order has been recorded. It is so well organised and fully enjoyed by the people that it begins and ends without hitches in all the places it has taken place. Again, the Omoluabi virtues that the people of Osun are known for are displayed at each edition of the programme.

They conduct themselves orderly and show respect one for the other. The programme equally offers an opportunity for those who trade in food

Re-open Ikorodu jetty Dear Sir, FOR almost seven years now or thereabout, waterways transportation has become popular and provided succour to the ever-growing Ikorodu residents, who normally spend hours to get home daily due to do things the right way. The same thing happened during the Accident Investigation Bureau’s Report on Bellview and Sosoliso plane crashes.

Let's set a standard to avoid these needless human errors, technical defects and cutting of corners to the detriment of human lives. Why is the Federal Government allowing DANA Airline to treat those who lost their properties and loved ones on ground with levity when the airplane crash landed on them? DANA Air have remained adamant to their plight. May the soul of the crash victims rest in perfect peace.

With the bad blood generated early last year by the oil subsidy removal, one would have expected the President to ensure that transparency rules in all the committees set up in the wake of the fuel subsidy protest.

Rather, it was all messed up

,

always on the negative part?

What was the outcome on the ongoing panel on the DANA Air crash? Nobody has been found guilty and punished to serve as lesson to other air contractors that would want to cut corners in the near future. Our government and leaders should learn how to

stuffs to rake in some money.

In other words, beyond the health benefit of the programme, there are also economic gains for traders.

I have participated twice in the programme and it was sheer fun besides the health benefits I derived from it. This to me is one of the best programmes of the governor and I hope the State House of Assembly will make a law that will guarantee its continuity even if another administration comes to power after Ogbeni.

Kudos to Governor Aregbesola for such great thinking.

Olumide Adewale, Iwo, Osun State

Anonymous 08058231669

Ketu-Mile perennial traffic. A journey from Ketu to Ikorodu which under normal circumstances should not be more than 15 minutes takes between two - four hours on working days. On a very bad day, it

Alhaja Muaza writes in from FCT, Abuja

Still on Ribadu’s report

It seems President Jonathan is not in control of anything at all. With the bad blood generated early last year by the oil subsidy removal, one would have expected the President to ensure that transparency rules in all the committees set up in the wake of the fuel subsidy protest.

Rather, it was all messed up.

It is so unfortunate that Mallam Nuhu Ribadu would allow his reputation to be dented by serving on this panel.

Gbenga 08020582233

The Ribadu’s report

Does the President Jonathan led administration mean to use the probe panel job to sway Ribadu to it side? It was rudely awakened by the way the whole thing turned out.

could be over six hours!

However, almost two years after the completion of the Ikorodu mordern Jetty which was started by the Tinubu administration, it is difficult to understand why the Lagos State Government has not yet opened the facility for use.

Many had expected that Gov Fashola would open the Jetty, especially when the 3rd mainland bridge was closed to traffic, to provide alternative route to commuters, but that was not the case.

Although it was remoured that the state had placed orders for special fleet of speedboats from Russia, private ferry operators should have been allowed to pick their passengers from the Jetty, which has a large car park. This would, no doubt, reduce the inherent risks associated with their operations in their rickety, makeshift and wooden Jetties located at Ofin, Ebute, Origin and Majidum.

I am therefore, appealing to BRF to fast-track the opening of the Ikorodu Jetty as this will not only reduce the sufferings of Ikorodu commuters, encourage competition amongst operators, increase the state’s IGR but most importantly, reduce the current abnormal fares of N600 being forced on commuters throat per trip.

Abel O. Iyasele Lagos

Ribadu has shamed those who rebuked him for accepting the job in the first place, he remains a man of integrity, no matter the turf he finds himself.

Anonymous 08158086832

Fuel subsidy Ribadus’s report

and

It is obvious that both Steve Oronsaye and Ben Otti, who have been appointed into the NNPC board, are hatchet men planted by the powers that be to rubbish the effort of the Task Force on Petroleum Revenue to cleanse the besmirched sector. Both men should have resigned their membership of the task force or rejected the NNPC board appointment in the spirit of openness. It was alleged that they are representing some interested parties and cabals in the oil sector and yet no one has been prosecuted by Mr. President for defrauding the nation.

SAYINGS OF OUR ELDERS 1.The feathers on a fowl do not let one know that the fowl sometimes sweats.

Plot against Ribadu’s report

Mallam Ribadu has once again proven that he cannot be cowed. The presidency thought it could get the fiery cop to do its bidding by turning out a doctored report, but Ribadu stuck to his guns.

Amarachi (08162271104), Ebonyi State.

Send us your Sayings of Our Elders. They must be African sayings or proverbs. Biblical or English proverbs are unacceptable. You will be paid N100.00 for every saying published. Address your sayings to: The Co-ordinator, Sayings of Our Elders,Vanguard Media Ltd., PMB 1007, Apapa,

Vanguard , THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013 —37

From left: Prof. Isaac Adewole, Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan; Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and Mrs. Tokunboh Fayokun, Oyo State Commissioner for Education, at the inauguration of School Monitoring and Supervision Project, in Ibadan.

Prof. Ita Basey Okon Ewa, Minister of Science and Technology (left) and his team being taken round the site of the proposed SHESTCO Silicon Valley

by Prof. Sunday Thomas, the DG/CEO, SHEDA Science and Technology Complex (2nd right), during a working visit to the agency, in Abuja. Photo: Emmanuel Elebeke

From left; Mr. Sunil Kumar, Director Consumer Electronics, Samsung Electronics West Africa (SEWA); Mrs. Bernadette Eyisi, Director, Sims Nigeria limited and Mr. Simon Eyisi, Managing Director, Sims Nigeria Limited, during the launching of the Samsung Electronics West From right: Senator Annie Okonkwo, the Asantehene of Ashanti Kigdom, Governor Africa (SEWA) AFCON Fan Zone, in Lagos, at Samsung store, Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, Senator Osita Izunaso and others, during C21's visit Shoprite Mall, Alausa, Ikeja. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi to Ghana for the inuguration of John Mahama, the country's president.

From left: Naeto-C, hip-hop star and guest judge; Ms Eboh Egwu, Manager, Events and Sponsorship, Etisalat Nigeria; Jeffrey Daniels, Nigerian Idol judge; Elvis Daniels, Head, Youth Segment, Etisalat Nigeria; Yinka Davies, Nigerian Idol judge; Ill Rhymes, host of Nigerian Idol; Ms Modupe Thanni, Head, Events and Sponsorship; Idiare From left: Oba Rauf Adeniyi Amore, Olu of Ikeja (left), Mike Atimomo, Manager, Youth Segment, Etisalat Nigeria and Mrs. Patricia Ordia Iletogun, Omeri, Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA) Marketing Manager, Key Accounts, Pepsi, at the theatre show of the Nigerian Idols top and Oba Shakirudeen Adesina Kuti, Elewu of Ewuland, during 30, at Dream Studios, Ikeja. a two-day workshop by NOA.

From left: Mr. Mayo Okunola, General Manager, DStv; Mr. Abiodun Abayomi, winner of Walka 7 in the DStv Mega Promo and Mrs. Busola Tejumola,Consumer Insight Manager, MultiChoice Nigeria, during the prize presentation, at the MultiChoice head office, Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi C M Y K

From left: Mr. Olawole Simeon Awiye, an awardee of 30 years long service award, of Warm Spring Waters Nigeria Limited; Mr. Larry Ettah, GMD/ CEO, UAC of Nigeria Plc; Mr. Samuel Adeola and Mrs. Folake Oshinyemi, MD of Warm Spring Waters Nigeria Limited, during the 2012 long service award ceremony of UACN Plc, at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos

Bishop Emmanuel Chukwuma reads the plaque after laying the foundation of a N100m utra-modern diagnostic centre, at the Good Shepherd Specialist Hospital, in Enugu.

38—Vanguard, THURSDAY, January, 17, 2013 him. I would either have to go to the bank or ask my husband when he returns. I was able to get N10,000 from my husband that evening after coming up with some stories.

I was so convinced of what I was doing with the ‘man of God’ such that I felt confident that I could take my mother-in-law or anyone up after the prayers.

And we had not even finished. We repeated the bathing session the next day and I did not feel as nervous as I had the previous day. We went back home to pray and I gave him the N10, 000. Though he thanked me, he told me that since we will be rounding up the special prayers tomorrow, I should try to make it N20,000 so that we will just make it N50,000. He stated that what he had done for me was not only against my mother-in-law’s attack but for anyone and that if I had sought him out in his church, he would have charged me nothing less than N150,000.

I promised to get the money ready for him by the next day.That evening, now desperate to get the money, I told my husband that I needed some money to sort out some personal family problems. When he told me that it would have to wait, something came over me. I insisted I must have the money as I needed it the next

Deceit, danger all around (5)

A

diza (33), a Civil Servant, lost 40,000 to some fraudsters a while back. She said she was so hooked that she took a bath in a flowing river with ‘a man of God’.

And you can guess why I felt relieved. It was because all the revelations was coming from a ‘man of God’ who is now promising to help me win the battle against my mother-in-law.

He went on to map out how we would go about our mission. I would have a bath in a flowing river which will help wash away all the evil plans she had mapped out for me. I would also buy a dove bird, white piece of cloth, some crucifix, three Guinea fowl eggs and some other stuff. All these would be used for the prayers which must begin immediately as it was very urgent.

Because it is better to be one step ahead of your enemy.

He said the whole thing would cost me a lot of money because after this first session of prayers, there were still a few others. However, he does not want me to get apprehensive because of the huge amount, so for now, if I could go and get the items by myself, he would take whatever I have to give him. When I told him it would not be possible for me to get the items by self, he said he would have to do it for me and that I should bring N20,000 for everything. It was just as well because

that was the exact amount of money I had at home. So, I went inside and gave it to him. He promised to come back at about the same time the next day so we can begin the prayers.

When my husband returned from work that evening, I could not tell him all that had taken place that morning. How God had worked such wonders right in our home. Nor could I tell him that I have evidence that his mother is an evil woman who is plotting to ruin our marriage. The next day, the man of God came just as planned for the bathing session and I was forced to take the children with us as there was no one to leave them with. The flowing river was somewhere around Queens College, Yaba area and I had to strap my baby on my back when we arrived there.

The ‘man of God began praying fervently as soon as we located a spot we could use. In no time, I had goose pimples all over my body. I conclud-

,

HI,As if the stories of kidnap ping and bombing across the country are not enough, the “ember months” including the beginning of a new year are considered precarious whether by design, myth or reality. A lot of weird, incredible stories make the rounds during this period, all of them twisted with violence, spiritual and physical manipulations, loss of property and death. For those who are lucky of a chance to tell the bone chilling stories, life may never be the same as they once knew it. In this series, some of these people will be sharing their experiences with us. The story you are about to read today was recently told by a young lady who claimed she narrowly escaped being kidnapped after she boarded a taxi right in front of her house.

After the prayers, he directed me to where I would take the bath, he would wait for me with the children while I finished off. I quickly took the bath because I was very conscious that someone might be watching me and looking at my nakedness

ed that the prayers must be powerful and working. As we prayed, my children began crying but I ignored them. I thought to myself, if only you know I am doing this for us all, you will not be crying at all. After the prayers, he directed me to where I would take the bath. He would wait for me with the children while I finished off. I quickly took the bath because I was very conscious that someone might be watching me and looking at my nakedness.

After the bath, we returned home for another prayer session and this time, he sprayed the whole house including our rooms with holy water. He left telling me to get some more money ready for the second part of the prayer which will continue the next day. Just after he left, I remembered that he’d asked for N20,000 for all that we were going to do and now he was asking for more.

Would I be giving him another N20,000 or what? I’d already given him all the money I had and didn’t have anymore in the house to give

,

day. It turned into a big row between us that night.

But I did not care. All I wanted was to get the money for the ‘man of God’. Eventually, he promised to get me the money in the morning.

To my surprise the next day, my husband did not go to work.

When I started talking about the money, he told me he would have to get it at the bank and so, would be going out later in the day. As time ticked, I became very worried about the development.

What if my husband does not go out to get the money and then the ‘man of God’ arrives, what would I tell him? Again, should my husband see this man, how would I explain his mission in our house?

I was in the kitchen when the ‘man of God’ arrived. As soon as I heard my husband shouting my name and questioning him, something snapped in my head. It was as if a wool was removed from my eyes or fog from my brain. I started questioning myself too about what I was doing with the man.

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08177547235 •Dear readers, please note that neither Vanguard, nor Yetunde Arebi will be liable for any error in the publication of requests on the Lovezone that may result in any form of embarrassment to any member of the public.

Also note that we do not run any match-making agency in or outside the country. Any reader who transacts business with anyone claiming to be our agent does so at his/her own risk.

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More than just friends

BY ONOZURE DANIA

F

OR women, friendships and romanti relationships are two separate things, they are not the same. Though one can lead to another, it’s rare when it happens.

While most men would sleep with most of their female friends, if the woman allows them to, most women would not sleep with most men that they consider just friends.How do women differentiate between just friends and also the feeling of being intimate with a man? I believe that the answer comes down to understandinghow women know when they want to be intimate with a man and even more importantly, understanding how women know when they don’t want to be intimate with a man.

The thing that tells a woman whether the guy she’s with is a friend material or a lover material is how she feels. It’s a combination of emotional feelings and physical feelings.

It is not logic. She might use logic to rationalise her decision or she might use logic to sound like she has a good reason for either being with or not being with a particular guy. But don’t let that distract you. Logic isn’t important at all in this context. When a woman feels something emotionally orphysically, then she uses those feelings as the basis for her decisions and actions with a particular guy.

If she feels that then her logical conclusion will probably not be that she wants to date the guy in question.

If she feels that It’s getting’ hot in there then her logical conclusion will probably be that this guy is interesting and attractive, and a good choice to date. At this point, she will take action on her feelings and thoughts so how do you trigger the “it’s

getting’ hot in here” feeling? Most men try to use gifts and compliments and being thoughtful to let a woman know he is interested, hoping that when the woman sees these displays she will be interested in him. But most of the time, the things men do to court women make women not to feel anything even remotely similar to attraction and arousal of any kind for the man of course, we all know this.

You might have probably done this stuff many times I know what it’s like to try over and over to let a particular woman know that you are interested in her, only to have her not interested in a romantic way. The problem with this kind of thing is that it communicates clearly that you don’t get. It tips a woman off instantly that you are not hip to what’s going and it kills your chances with her.

Doing nice things Doing nice things for women, and trying to show how you feel can actually hurt your chances with a woman, Yea, it can look, if you have been dating a woman exclusively for six months and her birthday comes it’s ok to buy her a gift and tell her that you like spending time with her.

After all you are already in a relationship. But if you have known a woman for six days and you try this kind of thing, you are going to shoot yourself in the foot. Women are experts at recognising men who don’t get it. And if you don’t get it, plus you are trying to compensate for the fact that you don’t get it with gifts and compliments, and then you are really screwed or not screwed, as the case may be, single,

•Joe,30, 5.6ft tall, fair in complexion and from Delta state, needs an Urhobo girl, aged 22-26, for a serious relationship, that will lead to marriage.08032833746,08052946229 •Isiaka, resides in Lagos, needs a lady, for a serious relationship, that can lead to marriage.

08068158969 •Godfrey, 30, a writer, from Anambra state, needs a pretty Christian girl, for marriage aged 18-, from Anambra state, for a relationship.

08139549818,07081344046 •Dominic, 23, needs a pretty and busty lady, aged 30-55, either in Lagos, Delta or Anambra state, for a relationship.07033798710 •Azu, 53, a business man, Ibo by tribe, divorced with no issue and resides in Lagos state, needs a Christian lady, who is educated and employed, aged 36-42.07065557964 •Collins, 35, dark in complexion, from Delta state, needs a rich matured lady, aged 35-40, who can sponsor his film production for a relationship.08182067889

Vanguard Vanguard,, YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEO; Some of you who are travelling purposely for love are in for a rewarding day. All of you will need to take your social life more seriously.

VIRGO; Unusual co-operation may come your way today but if you are carried away by this the whole thing may change soonest. Respect your spouse.

LIBRA; Tomorrow will prove more rewarding financially but you will have good opportunity to do things rightly within your working arena. Be loving.

SCORPIO; Although tomorrow may be your best day good opportunity to enhance your financial prospects will come your way even today. Try to be more practical however.

— 39

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

CANCER; Professional advice may be needed over your finances but if you are sure of what you are doing you can go ahead. Be more family minded.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

W

HEN the crafty devil wants to deceive Eve, he confused her by telling her what she wants to hear. The holy writ says, the devil told Eve ‘if you eat of the forbidden fruit, you will be like God. But did she actually look like God

Are you on drugs? after tasting the forbidden fruit.

This is the same way drug addicts feel. They believe when they take drugs it makes them high. It gives them bold-

TERROR MUDA

ness. Yes, they are bold: But what kind of boldness? Animal boldness?

Some say, it leads to high performance. But, at what expense? Examples abound of very

in “Never say goodbye”

skillful talents who got themselves destroyed through drugs.

Stop being hooked to drugs. Drugs destroy your life, destroy your family, destroy your health and destroy your destiny.

Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

SAGITTARIUS; This is your day when both your personal efforts and element of good luck will bring you much desired result. The more self assertive you are today the better for you.

CAPRICORN; Tomorrow is your day; although there will be some challenges within your base of operation today, eventual success will be yours. Be more family minded.

AQUARIUS; Even if friends have failed to live up to expectation in the recent days you will need to leave the past behind you and forge ahead. Lovers are fairly favoured.

PISCES; Business challenges of yesterday notwithstanding pleasant surprises are possible. The more financially ambitious you are today the better for your cause.

ARIES; Better opportunities indicated for those of you willing to be as self assertive as possible, and it could turn out to be a happy day to be remembered by real lovers.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

TAURUS; Although you will need to keep your secrets for the next few days that is not to say you should not pursue your financial interest. Take care of your health.

GEMINI; Don’t wait till tomorrow before you make an important move because good luck and success are closer to you today than you image. Be hopeful.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

Who am I? Dear Joshua, Please keep my birth data secret, but I want you to analyse my horoscope bluntly so that I can know who am I; talking about my personality. Who am I ?

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Oyinlola, Kano.

Dear Oyinlola, What you will find here under will prove useful if you take them seriously and utilise them.

ANALYSIS OF YOUR HOROSCOPE DATA/PLANETARY PLACEMENT Aries that hosted the most important heavenly body (the Sun) together with indicator of mental focus lensMercury, is known for special leadership quality and higher degree of positive aggressiveness. Yes you were endowed with leadership talents which can manifest either in the business world or POLITICS and probably both.

It is true that Aries can be very aggressive, but with many planets placed in more mild Star signs, with less than 50% of push-full influence, loving Venus as most influential planet when you were born, certainly aggression of Aries is greatly water down to the minimum . That is not to say you the timid type but yours is a balanced personality. You are gentle, honest and straight forward person. Preponderance of fixed and earth in your chart are pointers to the fact that you are the careful type who will not change his mind just for the fun of it. Then as peace loving Venus was the most influential planet when you were born, peace and harmony will always come first whenever you want to take any (important and/or) decisive action.

Placement of mighty Sun (indicator of basic-self hood) the Moon (indicator of sub-conscious self/emotion) and the Stellium (that is more than two planets in one Star sign} in Aries, Pisces and Taurus respectively meant that basic characteristics of the three Star signs stated in this paragraph are highly pronounced in your inner-self..

C M Y K

Commen3

by Lawrence Akapa

40—Vanguard, THURSDAY THURSDAY,, JANUARY 17, 2013

Ogun bans daytime Oro festival

BY PEACE ONYEUKWU

A

BEOKUTA—THE Ogun State Government has proscribed the daytime annual Oro festival in Imeko Township to prevent outbreak of religious war and frequent violation of Human Rights of other citizens in ImekoAfon Local Government Area of the state.

This re-modification has helped douse the lingering religious tension in the community between the Traditional Oro Cult Worshippers, the Shams-UdDeen Al-Islamic organisation and the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Imeko branch.

Investiture

N

IGERIAN Institute of Town Planners, NITP, holds the investiture ceremony for its 20th National President, Chief Steve Onu, FNITP, NPOM on Friday, January 18, at Shehu Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

Chief Onu was elected at the Annual General Meeting of the institute at Abuja on November 20,2012.

According to the National Secretary, Mr. Nathaniel Atebije,the event will be chaired by Dr. Musa Babayo,Talban Katagun and Chairman Board of Trustees, Tertiary Education Fund, while the guest speaker will be Chief Mike Ahamba, SAN.

Boko Haram: CAN urges dialogue with opposition

L

A G O S — CHAIR MAN, South-West Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Archbishop Magnus Atilade, yesterday, urged President Goodluck Jonathan, to create an enabling environment for dialogue with opposition groups to end Boko Haram menace.

Atilade said in a statement in Lagos, that the dialogue has become imperative particularly with opposition groups in Northern Nigeria for peace to return to that part of the country.

He also commended Jonathan for his courage and approach in fight against terrorism in the country.

From left: Governors Rauf Aregbesola (Osun); Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); former Governor of Kano State, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau; and Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Minority Leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, during the presentation of the book '2015 Manifesto of Nigerian Opposition Politics,’ authored by Salihu Mohammed Lukman in Abuja.

From left: Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Mrs. Olvadi Madayi; Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, and Managing Director, Rice Africa, a Pan-African Organisation, Dr. Edwin Idu, during a meeting with the Minister in Abuja.

2 policemen, 3 others shot dead in PH

BY JIMITOTAONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT—THE Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the death of two of its men who were shot Tuesday night alongside three others at the Harbour road end of Port Harcourt.

State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ben Ugwuegbulam

who confirmed the incident, however, declined further comments on the issue.

He said five persons including two females were shot dead same night by suspected hoodlums, adding that investigation was on to track down those behind the killings.

Sources told Vanguard that one

of those shot dead was a repentant militant, adding that the killings occurred about 11pm on the fateful night.

It was learnt that the assailants swooped on a vehicle conveying the two policemen and three others, and opened fire on them.

The sources said the assailants pumped several volleys of bullets

NAFDAC backs Kwankwaso on fight against fake drugs

L

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

AGOS—THE recent clo sure of the open drug market in Kano metropolis by Governor Rabiu Kwakwanso has received the backing of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, even as the state government and drug dealers in the state continue to lock horns over the closure.

Applauding the closure, Director General, NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii described the renewed

fight against counterfeit drugs and other unwholesome regulated products in the state as commendable.

Orhii who had last year led a team of top NAFDAC officials to Kano to destroy N600 million worth of the fake drugs seized by the state government maintained that the closure of the market was irreversible.

He reiterated the determination of the Federal Task Force on counterfeit drugs (under NAFDAC) and the Kano State Gov-

ernment to wipe out fake drugs from circulation.

In a statement signed by the Agency’s Acting Director (Special Duties), Mr. Abubakar Jimoh, the DG disclosed that NAFDAC was already collaborating with Kano State Government, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, PCN, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, PSN, and other stakeholders to ensure that quality and registered medicines are sold only in approved and appropriate environment rather than the open market.

into five of them in the vehicle to ensure they were dead before leaving.

Meantime, residents of Harbour road area of Port Harcourt where the killing occurred are now reportedly said to be living in fear following the manner of the murder.

They said: “We just can not explain what informed the killing.

All we saw was a group of boys who surrounded a vehicle and killed all the passengers on the spot. We are all living in fear now in this part of Port Harcourt.”

Two weeks ago, three other boys were shot dead by suspected cultists on Bonny Street in Port Harcourt. A resident of the area said he escaped death by the whiskers the day the incident occurred, as he was close to the scene of the killing.

Nigeria to attain self sufficiency in rice production by 2015 —Akinjide

FG unveils centenary project plan

BY PROVIDENCE OBUH

A

BUJA—THE Federal Government has unveiled plans for its centenary celebration, conceived as a private sector initiative anchored on enduring legacy.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, unveiled the plan, during the Private Sector Stakeholders’ Engagement

forum in Lagos.

On January 1, 1914, the Northern and Southern Protectorates of Nigeria were formally amalgamated into one country. January 2014, marks one hundred years of Nigeria’s union as a nation.

Anyim said: “The centenary celebration is expected to inspire confidence in our ability and de-

termination to rise above our present challenges to build a strong and united nation. As the world grapples with the challenges of globalisation, technology and the economy, the centenary offers a unique opportunity to focus global attention on Nigeria, its history, peoples, achievements and aspiration for the next centenary.

Community appeals to Uduaghan on compensation

BY EMMAARUBI ARRI—THE Ugbori community in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, yesterday, appealed to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to extend the compensation being paid to illegal occupants of their land at the old port area.

According to them, the ownership of the land in

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question was determined long ago by courts of competent jurisdiction.

Speaking on the N800m compensation paid to militants who occupied their land since the warri crisis through force of arms, Chief Roland Omagbemi thanked the governor for his assistance in evacuating the illegal occupants from their land.

He said even Nigerian

Ports Authority knew that they owned the land as they had recently paid compesation to them as ordered by the High Court of Justice, Warri.

Chief Omagbemi who is the Ewolufun of Warri kingdom, noted with regret that this was the second time the government would be paying compensation to the illegal occupants of Ugboriland without recourse to them.

A

BY PETER EGWUATU

BUJA—THE Min ister of State for Federal Capital Territory, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, yesterday, assured that the Federal Government and FCT Administration were committed to ensuring that Nigeria was selfsufficient in rice production by 2015.

The minister, who stated this in Abuja during a meeting with the Managing Director of Rice Africa, a Pan-African organisation, Dr. Edwin Idu, said agriculture was one of the pillars of the transformation agenda of the Federal Government.

She said, “The Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is making appreciable progress to ensure that the nation is self-sufficient in rice production by 2015. It has revolutionised the agriculture sector with the development of a new policy aimed at making agriculture commercial.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANAUARY 17, 2013 — 41

42—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013

Oteh is a drowning woman — Rep Ogene

BY OKEY NDIRIBE & EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

ARE you mindful of the impression among some that the House is pretentious in its actions of defending the interest of the public?

We are mindful of public perception about us. But you must realize that this is a House which is made up of 360 adults. There is no way you can totally regulate the conduct of 360 people; not even a man with three children can successfully regulate the conduct of all of them. You can set standards within the home but when they go outside, one or two of them may do things that you would scold them for doing. The House is not a House of saints or a house of sinners; it is a house made up of Nigerians.

Why no provisin to Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) in the 2013 budget?

It was not an issue that began and ended in a single day.

When an arm of government makes a pronouncement, people should respect such a pronouncement. The institutional integrity of that arm of government should also be respected. We know that it is not the responsibility of the National Assembly to make appointments into key positions of government; but it is the duty of the National Assembly to appropriate the resources of the Nigerian nation to institutions of government and not to individuals.

Running cost for SEC If you have a head of an institution of government that the National Assembly has declared unfit to continue in office through a resolution, how can the parliament now entrust such an individual with public funds? I don’t know the reason for keeping her; whoever is keeping her should be able to find the running cost for SEC. However, even if they do that outside the appropriation act, it would also be illegal.

Did you weigh the implications for the workers and the market?

Of course, all of us were witnesses to the fact that workers at SEC came out to jubilate when the SEC DG Ms Arunma Oteh was suspended; when she was recalled from suspension, the same staffers came out to protest against her. We didn’t rent that crowd; they came out of the headquarters of SEC. This was widely reported by the media.

MR Victor Ogene, deputy spokesman of the House of Representatives, in this interview gives explanations on the decision of the House to curtail funding for the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC in fiscal 2013 among other issues.

*Ogene: Even SEC workers are against her

For such workers, I don’t think their labour would be in vain.

Whenever, the issues concerning the status of the head of the institution are resolved, their entitlements would be addressed.

If you recall when the funds belonging to local councils in Lagos State were withheld by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the money was kept in an escrow account.

Don’t forget that SEC also has other mechanisms for raising

money. So, the workers’ salaries should be number one.

But there is a clause in the budget that clearly bars anybody in that institution from spending any money accruing to it…

Cuts in: Yes, we are saying the same thing. In addition to that I don’t see this matter dragging beyond another one or two months, except somebody somewhere doesn’t like the workers and doesn’t want them to get paid.

Since the buck stops at Mr.

President’s table, has the House leadership raised the issue with him?

I don’t believe that the buck stops at the president’s table on all issues. It is true that such meetings take place but you should also realize that Mr President also has aides that can offer him a different type of advice on some of these issues.

But we also saw that even though he didn’t act swiftly in the case of the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE), but at the end of the day he eventually removed the Director-General of that institution from office.

There are some perceptions outside that the House is being vindictive because of the extortion allegation raised by Oteh against House members during the public hearing?

It is laughable for anybody to say that the House has embarked on a journey of vendetta against Oteh. Which one came first? This same House was already having a public hearing on SEC when Oteh made her allegations.

That an issue arose midway shouldn’t abort a process that was already on-going. During this process, issues had been raised regarding Oteh’s competence; regarding some resources of SEC that were paid into private accounts; issues bordering on corporate governance whereby staffers were recruited from outside the system and issues regarding indecorous working relationship

with key commissioners in SEC. These issues were already on the front burner of the Committee’s discourse before Oteh made her allegations which up till now still remain mere allegations because the parties involved are still in court. So, until Oteh proves her allegations, they remain mere allegations. The above issues had been established long before Oteh made her allegations. It is only when somebody is drowning that he or she could clutch at anything he or she sees in order to survive.

In July last year, members of the House were agitated over the poor implementation of the 2012 budget. What is the opinion of members now concerning implementation of that budget?

There has been a quantum leap in terms of implementation of last year’s budget. This is not just in terms of percentages .

We can say for instance, that implementation was at 0 level when we passed a resolution on the poor implementation of that budget last July. After that, it rose steadily to about 40 percent as at the end of the year; that is a quantum leap. I can tell you that in the different federal constituencies, the constituency projects are the only projects being executed by the Federal Government. These are perhaps beside federal roads that interconnect different states.

Although, we actually gave a September deadline for 100 percent completion of projects scheduled for the third quarter of 2012, it was actually that push that led to the award of contracts for many of the on-going federal projects across the country.

EKITI ACN: Things fall apart A YEAR or so to the governorship election in Ekiti State, leaders of the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, are devising strategies and structures to sustain their hold on the state, but dissension is coming from unexpected quarters.

BY DAPO AKINREFON

D

R Kayode Fayemi is considered by many in his Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN as having performed. The same perspective is, however, different in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, where party leaders are still grumbling over the Appeal Court judgment that truncated the party’s hold on power in 2010.

Already, the ranks of the PDP has been bolstered by the re-entry of a former governor of the state, Mr. Ayo Fayose who is believed

to be preparing to contest the election against Fayemi who he supported in the last election.

While some see his return as having the possibility of causing disaffection within the PDP, other party members maintain that his entry would give the ACN a good run.

Bamidele’s ambition But more of a threat to the ACN, however, is the increasing confusion within the party on the ambitions of Mr. Bamidele Opeyemi, a member of the

House of Representatives on the platform of the ACN. Recently, Opeyemi’s posters surfaced in parts of the state announcing the legislator ’s intention to contest the governorship election in 2014 on the platform of Labour Party.

The posters carrying the inscription ‘Promised Land 2014’ were lavishly displayed on major streets in Ado Ekiti, especially at Fajuyi Park, and Iyin-Ekiti, the hometown of the first term federal lawmaker.

The legislator who was abroad at the time the posters surfaced was quick to renounce them announcing that it was the work of detractors who he promised to expose soon. Bamidele, a former Commissioner for Information

and Strategy in Lagos State, is not new to controversy. Ahead of the 2011 election he had contested and reportedly won the ACN ticket to represent the Central Senatorial District. He was, however, replaced by Senator Babafemi Ojudu reportedly on the intervention of the elders who said that age was still on the side of the lawyer to have his time in the senate in the future. The action was to create a crisis which till date is still being papered over.

One of the problems was the suspicion by Bamidele’s associates that Governor Fayemi stood aloof from their man and his travails at the peak of the

Continued from page 43

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013 —43

of civil society organisation in nation building noting that “those of us who strongly believe that Nigeria’s development can only be achieved and sustained with the active participation of civil society organisations (CSOs), the coming into being of J9C is most welcome. I have been opportuned to interact with some members of the Collective and can publicly attest to their zeal in bringing about a much better Nigeria.”

For Nigerians to take up its role as Africa’s giant, Agbaje said “we need to transform from being a people interested in just sharing the national cake as it is today to a people realising that the way

forward is in baking a much larger cake. Oil prices may be high but the reality is that the citizen’s average share of the cake is not just getting smaller, his ability to bake a bigger cake is diminishing by the day.”

Continuing, he said “today, our citizens can be categorised into those that do not even know how to contribute to the baking (these are in the majority), those who cannot be bothered and the last group being those that know how to bake a much larger and tastier cake but are being edged out by the system in different ways.”

While explaining the roles which education and moral values play in national transformation, he said it was important to inculcate them to form the nation’s core values.

To bring about any envisaged national transformation, he stated that “education and moral values will play key roles. All citizens (from early childhood to late adulthood) must be deliberately and systematically educated about the importance of producing a national cake that will satisfy the needs and wants of our citizenry. This means the development of age-appropriate curricula and related practical projects at all levels.”

While pointing out that national values influence transformation, he said Nigerians must be convinced to deliberately and collectively “embrace a new set of morals or national core values - that encourage baking rather than just sharing of the national cake!"

deprive other members of the party the right to contest against the governor at the primary.

Besides, he urged the electorate to discountenance the publication that he had no interest in the election and that he had not defected to the Labour Party.

Bamidele said “The endorsement of Fayemi by a section of our party is a step that is allowed in politics. But I want to say that other party members who are interested in the position can still show their interest. The ACN is not a lawless party. It is a party that believes in the rule of law and democratic tenets, so I am confident that the rules will

chapter of the ACN, might affect the fortunes of the party if urgent steps are not taken to resolve the matter.

In an effort to set the records straight, the Director of Publicity of the ACN, Akogun Oguntayo refuted claims that there are cracks in the party.

In a telephone chat with Vanguard, Oguntayo said “what happened at Otunba Niyi Adebayo’s house was a declaration by the party leaders that we are supporting the governor of Ekiti state. That is our decision. At the appropriate time, the national leadership of the party, will also accept this. There is no crisis in ACN, let me just

Elite are tools for transformation— Agbaje

BY DAPO AKINREFON

T

HE need for quality leadership as an antidote for national transformation has been in the forefront of discourse as eminent Nigerians have highlighted the need for this in the polity.

Though the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan is aimed at transforming the lives of Nigerians across the federation, some critics opine that a lot still need to be done to achieve this feat.

Perhaps, this informed the inaugural lecture organised by the January 9 Collective (J9C), a pressure group formed after last year’s January 9 fuel subsidy protest, in Lagos.

The event, which was organised to coincide with the first year anniversary of the protest took place at the banquet hall of the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Lagos. The event had in attendance eminent Nigerians, traditional rulers, scholars.

A former governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr Jimi Agbaje, who was the guest speaker, argued that without the elites, national transformation will continue to erode the nation.

Speaking on the lecture entitled: “Elite, leadership and national transformation”, Agbaje

maintained that national transformation can only come about if the elites are actively involved in politics.

Agbaje, a pharmacist, who decried the absence of quality leadership express worry that the political system in the country is not made to bring out the best but mediocre.

According to him, “The country is crying out for leaders that model integrity, excellence, compassion and responsibility.

The vision is to develop “no excuse” leaders of integrity and exceptional organizational skills from both the private and public sectors in Nigeria and the diaspora who will perform instead of just pronounce; give expertise and competence instead of title and position; initiate bold developmental programmes instead of seeking handouts; respect and honour our people instead of dictatorship, control and abuse; and, leave legendary positive impact in our country instead of failures and excuses.”

He further lamented insufficiency in skill acquisition on the part of the present crop of leaders noting that “transformative leadership can only be effective when certain skills are cultivated. The skills of a leader ensure that the effort of transformation is what it needs

*Jimi Agbaje: Harps on quality leadership to be.”

The one time governorship candidate of the Democratic Peoples Alliance, DPA, said it was important that leadership needs to be demonstrated at all times by everyone.

Restating the need for Nigerians to be optimistic that national transformation can be achieved, he said “can we get there? And how do we get there?

First of all, we must believe that we Can! Second, we must understand that we Must! And third, we must recognise that getting there requires a quantum leap in many areas.”

Beside the need for quality leadership, he stated the roles

EKITI ACN: Things fall apart? senatorial combat. It is as such believed that the lawmaker could now decide to slug it out with the governor as a way of pay back.

There is also speculation that Bamidele is also being nudged to contest by a former governor from the southwest.

Looming crisis Though Fayemi is yet to declare publicly that he will seek reelection, party leaders have been asking him to continue in office beyond 2014. Leaders of the party in the state including former Governor Niyi Adebayo; Chairman of the ACN in the state, Chief Jide Awe; and some ACN leaders at a gathering in Adebayo’s residence in Iyin Ekiti recently, said Fayemi deserved a second term based on his performance.

Other leaders, who backed Fayemi’s re-election at that gathering were the representative of Ekiti South Senatorial district in the Senate, Tony Adeniyi; a member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Ife Arowosoge, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Dr. Adewale Omirin; and Mr. Dapo Karounwi.

*Gov Fayemi: Ekiti governor

*Bamidele:

It is an endorsement that Bamidele has remarkably downplayed. This, perhaps has dashed Bamidele’s hopes of getting the party’s governorship ticket as the leaders, at a party at Adebayo’s residence in Iyin Ekiti recently, said based on Fayemi’s performance, he deserved a second term. The endorsement of Fayemi by Adebayo is expected to give the governor an advantage, especially at Iyin Ekiti, which is also Bamidele’s hometown.

“The Kayode Fayemi administration has done a lot to move the state forward and his developmental strategies and strides are quite laudable. I also think he deserves a second term, just as our people are clamouring,” Adebayo said.

Bamidele was, however, quick to assert that the endorsement did not amount to an automatic ticket for the governor. He reiterated that only the endorsement from the national leaders of the ACN could

,

Continued from page 42

But more of a threat to the ACN, however, is the increasing confusion within the party on the ambitions of Mr. Bamidele Opeyemi, a member of the House of Representatives on the platform of the ACN

be followed strictly under this circumstance.”

No cracks in ACN Meanwhile, political pundits hold the view that the recent drama playing out in the state

,

make that clear. Opeyemi Bamidele is a loyal party member and he is still in our party and he has not indicated any intention to contest and we remain one party.”

44—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013

BITS

Workers rally for industrial sector

P

RIVATE sector unions in the manufacturing sector, as part of the activities marking African Industrialisation day, have staged mass rally to and to the National Assembly and other relevant government agencies, calling for the speedy revival of the industrial sector in Nigeria.

The rally which kicked-off from the national Secretariat of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, at the Labour House, Central Business District, to Shehu Yar’Adua Center, where the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment was having an activity to mark the Africa Industrialization Day also.

Textile union's campaigns On arrival, the General Secretary of the National Union Textile Garments and Tailoring Workers’ of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, Comrade Issa Aremu, explained that the aim of the rally was the need for the Nigeria government to put Industrialization in the front burner.

He said the union had embarked upon textile industry revival’s advocacy in the last decade, saying “the Textile Union has been consistent in the campaign for the revival of the Nigeria Textile Industry and other collapsed industries.

Re-opening of United Textile According to him, the timely response of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, through development financing and the Intervention fund from Bank of Industry, BOI, had help to stimulate the closed United Nigeria Textile Plc in Kaduna to resume operation and reengagement of over 1500 workers.

He urged the Federal Government to give attention to Industrialization and reopening of closed factories.

According to him, factories were more significant and sustainable than the official socalled entrepreneurial /lottery approach to job creation by the Federal Government YouWiNProgramme.

Receiving the protesting union leaders and workers, Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom, said rally was an indication that workers and the federal government were partners in the project Nigeria.

Labour, others rue declining manufacturing sector •Seek speedy re-industrialisation of Nigeria Few days into 2013, the recent survey report on Industrial Development in Nigeria, with the theme Industrial Development: performance policy issues, constraints and prospects carried out by Professor Olawale Ogunkola of University of Ibadan, and Femi Aborishade of Ibadan Polytechnic, was the subject of a round table discussions by manufacturing sector unions and other stakeholders.

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

T

HE event facilitated

by Friedrich Ebert Stiftund, FES, as part of African Industrialization Day celebration, was first observed on November 20 1990, was attended by among others, key industrial unions in the manufacturing sector, namely the National Union Textile Garments and Tailoring Workers’ of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather and NonMetallic Employees, NUCFRLNMPE, Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association, FOBTOB, Steel & Engineering Workers Union of Nigeria, SEWUN, the AgGeneral Secretary of NUTGTWN, Comrade Issa Aremu, President of NUTGTWN, Comrade Oladele riculture and Allied Hunsu and Honourable Peter Akpatason, at the National Assembly.

Workers Union, AAWUN, and the Federation of Informal Workers’ of other locally available metallurgical Organizations of Nigeria, FIWON. to create jobs in a sustainable manner. raw materials are globally utilized for Also in at the event were representaIn Nigeria the importance of industrialithe local iron and steel industry. Nigeria tives of State Government, National Aszation is not lost to government as is endowed with those mineral resources semble as well as expert on Policy and reflected in the national plan and other in abundance. Nigeria must Trade issues. economic policies and programmes right reindustrialize if it must be part of the In a keynote address, General from independence.”

20 leading economies in 2020, this is beSecretary of NUTGTWN, Comrade Issa “Under the current dispensation, MAN cause Nigeria with an open Aemu, gave a brief history of the African recognized the need and has consistently unemployment rate of 50% must wake Industrialization Day from inception and advocated for the transformation of the up to industrialization to get Nigeria said the day was set aside annually to manufacturing sector into a dynamic and back to sustainable employment, income stimulate the International Community viral sector of the Nigerian economy, in earnings and poverty eradication.” commitment to the industrialization of line with the strategic national vision Africa. According to him, 22 years after, 2020:20. This commitment informed our Blueprint on statistics showed that the share of Africa articulation of the blueprint for the improvement of in the global manufacturing fell from accelerated development of the 12% in 2000 to 11% while that of develmanufacturing sector manufacturing sector in Nigeria, which oping Asia rose from 13% to 25% in the has been forwarded to government and same period, lamenting that while Africa Speaking, President of Manufacturers other relevant agencies for consideration was talking about industrialization, Association of Nigeria, MAN, Chief Kola as useful document to aid policy China was working itself into global ecoJamodu, in a speech presented on his conception and implementation for the nomic hierarchy. behalf, said a blueprint had been sent revival of the manufacturing sector.

He said “since we cannot beat or even to the government on the improvement “As we are all aware, challenges compete with China, let Africa emulate of the manufacturing sector in line with abound on our way to industrialization, China. With 160 million populations the strategic vision 2020:20. we have high cost of fund, inadequate (potential industrial consumers indeed) The MAN’s President who noted that infrastructure, especially power, road and a quarter of Africa population and even at the ECOWAS sub-regional, inrail networks, smuggling and counterabundant minerals (being the primary dustrial development was considered as feiting, shortage of skilled middle level raw materials for industrialization for a a veritable pillar in a viable economical manpower, multiple taxation and even wide range of industries) re-industrialblock, said “it is evident that no develinformal levies. We are however encourizing Nigeria means re-industrializing oping nation has successfully transaged that the engagement process with the great continent of Africa. With popuformed its economy from developing to the government is yielding some positive lation and economic endowments, industrialized status, without first draresults, resulting in the redress of some indeed Nigeria should be what China matically increasing the condition of of the challenges. Even though there are is to Asia.” manufacturing sector.

The still challenges, we remain committed to “In fact as far as raw materials are manufacturing sector when compared to continuously networking and engaging concerned, we are more endowed than other value creation sector of the all stakeholders, government and non China. For instance, Iron ore and a host economy like the petroleum, if placed government actors.” along with agriculture, it best positioned

Vanguard,THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013 — 45

Military retirees decry 53 percent unpaid benefits

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

N

ATIONAL Association of Military Pensioners, NAMP, has decried the nonpayment of 53 percent benefits to ex-service men and appealed to the Federal Government to expedite action on the payment to lessen the hardship of retired service men NAMP in a statement by its General Secretary, Patrick Okpaiyo, said the payment of the new entitlements as approved by the Federal Government in July 1st 2010, was the only “ way the Armed Forces Remembrance Day could be meaningful to us.”

“Another area we want the government to seriously look into is the disparity in salaries between the serving personnel and the military pensioners which has never been. We are not envious of the serving soldiers’ salaries in any way but rather we are asking for justice to be done to all Exeservice military pensioners of this country.”

“Those servicing personnel

had their salary structures harmonized years ago but up till now, our pension still remains the same. We soldiers of 19671970 that fought the civil war are asking the government to pay us civil war gratuities. It is our right and not privilege.

It is the responsibility of the Federal Government to have paid us for the service we rendered to our mother land.”

While urging President Goodluck Jonathan to take the issue of military pensioners seriously, it noted that “ we are reserved military force and a nation that has no good reserve and well catered for cannot boast of a viable defense.

Take the American case as an example that has one of the best military reserves in the world both in men and women.”

It warned that the pensioners may protest on the streets if the Federal Government failed to heed to their demands, which according to the statement, “ will portray the country in a bad image before the international community.”

NIPOST Pensioners protesting unpaid arrears

Rights group condemns plight of NIPOST Pensioners STORIES BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

C

AMPAIGN for Democratic and Workers’ Rights, CDWR, has condemned perceived refusal of the Postmaster General of the Federation, PGMF, and the federal government to pay the retirees of the Nigeria Postal Service, NIPOST, their 69 months unpaid pension arrears.

The group called on the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, to spearhead the struggle for pensioners to be paid their entitlements.

CDWR in a statement by Chinedu Bosah, its Secretary, “The pensioners whom we spoke with at the picketing of one of the post offices in Lagos on Friday January 11, 2013 revealed that government owes them 69 months pension arrears. They also stated that government only paid them about 1/3 of their gratuities. All the while the Postmaster General

Pension scam in Nigeria: Role of regulator

BY IVOR TAKOR

(Continued from Thursday, January 10, 2013)

T

he Commission has been able to attract and retain good professionals with expertise in finance, accounting, actuarial sciences, information technology, law and business management etc. The National Pension Commission through its Inspectorate and Technical divisions has been performing effectively in its regulatory duties in the pension industry.

This has been attested to by awards given to it by Thisday Newspaper as the Regulator of the year 2008. In the same year, the Leadership Newspaper also gave it the Regulator of the year award.

Kayode Komolafe in an article titled “Pension: A Matter of Social Protection” in Thisday Newspaper of Wednesday October 29, 2008 rightly captured it that “Ahmad has so far led a team that shows a lot of passion in discharging regulatory, monitoring and oversight functions to make the sector work”. Ac-

cording to him, “we are talking of what happens to people’s savings towards their retirement”. He stated that pension fund, is not the kind of fund to be put mindlessly at the disposal of speculators and buccaneers whose laissez faire understanding of capitalism is turning every N20 to N40 overnight. It could never have been better put as he did, when he further stated that if there is one sector where there should be a firm resolve towards regulation, it is the pension industry. According to him the social sensitivity of what is involved deserves no less.

To put an end to the mind bugging fraud taking place in the Pension Transitional Departments, the provisions of the Pension Reform Act 2004 should be obeyed and complied with. The Departments should be placed under the supervision of the National Pension Commission in strict compliance with the law.

Furthermore, while we at the Centre have no intention of revisiting the issue of the remov-

al of Military and Security Agencies from the Contributory Pension Scheme, because we believe that in view of the nature of their duties, the government should fully take responsibility of their retirement benefits, we are however convinced and align with the school of thought that believe and are advocating that the administration of such public funds should be regulated as no financial institution can be self-regulated.

In conclusion therefore, we at the Centre are of the view that the Commission should be allowed to regulate all sectors of the pension industry, no matter the types of benefits they provide to their members, in line with international best practices. It is only this independent regulation that will minimise if not totally put a stop to the fraud that is pervasive in pension administration of the Pension Transitional Arrangements Departments.

IVOR TAKOR, Executive Director, Centre for Pension Right Advocacy, CPRA

Concluded

and Accountant General have been playing ostrich with the pensioners. Some of these pensioners, particularly those that retired in the 1990s earn as low as N12,000. This is scandalous and callous in country where the political office holders and top government functionaries pay themselves jumbo salaries, allowances and perks, including building houses worth billions of Naira in addition to daily looting of treasury. ” “Besides, Nigerians were recently treated to a scandal in pension fund administration where billions of Naira has been embezzled; yet, pensioners are left to die waiting for their legitimate entitlement. Not too long ago, the Pension Reform Task Team uncovered N151 billion fraud while we are still kept in the dark as to how much funds was lost to the Stock Exchange crash.

CDWR solidarises with the protesting pensioners; we encourage them to sustain the picketing of NIPOST offices across the federation.”

CDWR appealed “to all workers of NIPOST to show sympathy to the pensioners and actively support the ongoing picketing. We also call on NLC and TUC to spearhead the struggle for pensioners to be paid their entitlements.

…Ika LG boss makes case for ex-service men

C

HAIRMAN of Ika South local government tran sition committee, Andrew Obiazi, has called on well meaning Nigerians, corporate bodies and Non-Governmental Organizations in the country to assist ex-service men and the Nigerian Legion by donating generously towards the welfare of the dependants of the nation’s fallen heroes.

Obiazi spoke during the final activities marking the 2013 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration in Agbor.

The Chairman who said the assistance could be in form of cash or kind, appealed to the public and private organizations in the country to assist the ex-service men still fit and employable with gainful employment “especially in the area of security and vigilante services provisions.”

According to him, the supreme sacrifices which the nation’s fallen heroes paid by laying down their lives for the peace and survival of the Nigerian nation and mankind in general were worth more than mere celebration.

He said “So many ex-service men became disabled in the course of their involvement in national assignments which makes it almost impossible for them to work and earn a living, thereby making their dependants to suffer untold hardship”, he said, adding that the socio-economic situation in the country demands that “the plight of these categories of persons deserve our individual and collective attention.”

46 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013

Edited by MCPHILIPS NWACHUKWU 08026350360 E-mail: chimeena@yahoo.com

RESTITUTION WAR:

••Missing Nigeria's arts showing in Paris

Nigerian artefacts. But how did all these excellent works of Nigerian art reach the United States and Europe? The introduction states that there were essentially two waves of collection of the artefacts from the Benue River Valley. The first wave was constituted by Western anthropologists who did field work in the area between 1949 and 1953 mentioning in particular the research of Laura and Paul Bohannan on the Tiv who were followed by other researchers in the 1950s and 1960s. The second wave of collecting was in the 1960s and 1970s when the Biafra War (19671970) provoked a large exodus of artefacts via Cameroon for the international market through dealers in Paris and Brussels.

Most of those artefacts were acquired by private collectors but later on ended in art galleries in the United States.

According to the authors of the Introduction, Marla C. Berns and Richard Fardon most of the

BY KWAME OPOKU

W

,

E have just received an excellent catalogue of the exhibition, Arts de la vallée de la Bénoué Nigeria (Nigeria - Arts of the Benue River Valley) which is taking place at the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris, France from November 13, 2012 to January 27, 2013. The exhibition no doubt shows some 150 impressive wood, terracotta and metal sculptures demonstrating the diversity of cultures and the creative genius of the peoples of the Benue Valley.

What struck me though, in this Age of Restitution with various discussions about the return of cultural artefacts looted or otherwise illegally exported from Nigeria, is that the artefacts all come from Western institutions and private persons. The artefacts have been lent for the exhibition by institutions and private individuals. Of the 19 institutions, 12 are from the United States of America, two from the United Kingdom, one from France; one from Germany and two from Switzerland.

The private individual lenders are also from the United States and Europe. There are no lenders from Nigeria.

A look at the contributions to the catalogue shows that there are no Nigerians among them.

We looked at the bibliography given in the catalogue and noted that out of the 76 writers mentioned, 6 came from Nigeria. And the remaining are from the United States and Europe except one writer of Congolese origin...The

Neither the United States nor France would grant visa to Nigerians who want to see these objects of Nigerian culture

•Seated female statue, Idoma, Nigeria, now in Musée du Quai Branly, Paris, France.

works shown in the catalogue were sold or stolen during and after the Biafran War when art traffickers and dealers profited from the porous nature of the eastern frontier of Nigeria and the tragic poverty of a country at war.

mentions no Nigerian by name or any Nigerian institution. So much for the sincere acknowledgements in French which will presumably not be read by any of those whose help and assis-

Export licence

,

The general introduction of the catalogue states that both Fowler Museum and Musée du Quai Branly possess vast collections of Nigerian artefacts

preponderance of Western presence is thus massive in all aspects of organizing and presenting the exhibition.

In her acknowledgement of the help given by several persons, the curator thanked the lenders and those who helped in the United States of America and in Europe by name, expressing the hope that she had not forgotten to mention the name of any person. Some 183 persons and 24 institutions are mentioned.

When she comes to acknowledge the help she and the other scholars received from Nigerians since 1960, she declares that they are too many to mention and

,

tance she wishes to acknowledge. After mentioning so many names in the Western world, she did not seem to find it odd not to mention Nigerians who had helped the scholars. This seems to be a Western scholarly tradition; one treats Americans and Europeans in the way that most people would expect but when it comes to Africans, there is a very different treatment. I am sure the writer did not intend to offend anyone. But this is what makes such differentiated consideration even more annoying. Africans are accorded different treatment as this appears most natural to some Westerners. Was this dif-

of illegally exported artefacts.

The authors have convincingly explained that most of the artworks left Nigeria during or after the Biafran War and that many of the sellers may not have been aware of the need of export licence. But Picton is suggesting that we must not presume that such works left Nigeria illegally and that only thorough research could we settle the question of legality.

With all due respect, it would seem to us that most of these objects, like most Nigerian artefacts abroad, must be presumed to have been illegally exported unless the holders can prove the existence of a relevant export licence. The need for export license for antiquities has been a requirement of Nigerian Law since 1953.

The fact that some sellers may not have been aware of this legal requirement does not make the export legal. Moreover, the Western purchasers, including the museums, were aware of this requirement but did not bother, as some of them still do, to worry about legal requirements. In this regard, I agree with Derek Fincham when he states “My rule of thumb when visiting a museum is, if they don’t tell you about the history of an object, there is

•Seated female statue, Idoma, Nigeria, now in Musée du Quai Branly, Paris, France. ference in treatment accidental or is there a system behind it?

The general introduction of the catalogue states that both Fowler Museum and Musée du Quai Branly possess vast collections of

The authors add that in all probability most of the sellers of these objects were not aware that the sale of objects that were the property of their community required export licence. This raises the question whether these sales were legal or not at the various stages of actions that are now some forty years old. The authors quote John Picton as stating that: ”The fact that a work of art, that formerly was in a shrine or temple, is now in a museum, wherever that museum may be, does not automatically lead to the supposition that the process of its acquisition was necessarily illegal. Only a thorough research could clarify this question. In the meanwhile, we must agree or at least admit that the object can be seen and published, if we do not want to remain in ignorance nourished by prejudice and disinformation”. (P.25) What an extraordinary defence

,

very good chance it was looted.”

In any case, ignorance of legal requirements is no excuse. In an interesting contribution on the development of the market for the arts of the River Benue Valley that completes the catalogue, Hélêne Joubert concludes that the absence of properly regulated market has at least contributed to the preservation and conservation of these artefacts that are now to be found in European and American collections. It is this kind of reasoning; much beloved by Westerners, that annoys most non-Westerners.

Having stolen a huge amount of our artefacts, Westerners tell us: be happy, the objects now exist in Europe and America that would otherwise have been destroyed. One could thus justify most criminal and nefarious activities of Europeans in their colonies.

What is generally missing in this catalogue is an impression that there is a sincere feeling of unease or guilty conscience among the owners and organizers of the exhibition for the massive illegal transfer of Nigerian artefacts from the River Benue Valley of Nigeria. There is no indication that efforts are being made or will be made to return some of these objects to Nigeria.

Continues on page 47

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013 —47

Shyllon’s Sculptural Garden

Some of the sculptural works at the garden

TUCKED in Okupe estate in Maryland Lagos is a privately owned Sculptural garden. This property which plays host to a number of local and international visitors annually, is owned by renowned art collector and promoter, Engr. Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon.

The expansive art garden is constructed within the premises of Omooba Yemisi Shyllon Art Foundation, OYASAF, one of the largest privately owned art collection centres in Africa. The beauty of this sculptural garden brings to the fore, the extent to which visual arts and nature preservation can go in enhancing the state of the built environment. At Shyllon’s garden, the presence of well trimmed plants, arts works done in various media and mounted at different locations and various reptiles that crawl the environment go a long way in bridging the gap between nature and man. It is important to state here that in an environmentally changing world including Nigeria, the example of Yemisi Omooba’s built concept can go a long way in aiding Nigerian developers in formulating policies that enhance healthy living.

GARDEN: BYJAPHET ALAKAM

L

OVE for Sculptural Garden?

My first real contact with gardening was in the University of Ibadan when I was an undergraduate studying Engineering. That time I did my part three project that had to do with land surveying and I was selected to survey the stream that ran across U.I from the second gate down to the botanical garden. But I didn’t know that there was a botanical garden that time though, I knew that there was a Zoological garden which I patronised a lot . While I was doing my land survey, I stumbled unto it and I was surprised by the beauty of the use of plants in beautifying an environment.

Thereafter, I found out time to visit the garden and that was how the idea of the garden came about. And as a result of that, I made up my mind that whenever I was gong to build my own house that I would make sure that two third of the property must be in the garden.

Introducing Sculptures on my garden How I came about using sculptures on my garden, that I did not get from U.I because the school did not have public sculptures in the campus. In fact, I was the first to donate a sculptural monument to the school in 2009.

But my first contact to what Sculpture can do to a garden was during a visit to a park in Norway. During the visit I was engrossed with

Restitution war Continues from page 46

The National Commission for Museums and Monuments has called for the return of artefacts that left Nigeria illegally. We are not aware that the Commission has approached the organizers of the exhibition or the lenders of objects to arrange for the return of any of the objects.

The exhibition which started in the United States of America , in the Fowler Museum, University of California, Los Angeles, (February-July 2011), went to the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art (September 2011February 2012), then to Cantor Arts Center, Stanford University, May to October 2012) is now in Musée du Quai Branly Paris, France (November - January 27,1213). But this travelling exhibition will not be shown in Nigeria or any other African country.

Objects of Nigerian culture

Another view of Shyllon's sculptural garden

what I saw. So, after that incident I made up my mind that I was going to build a garden thatwouldbefullofsculptures,beautifulplants and so on in my compound. Looking at the garden now, I am very proud of it because it is the first major sculptural garden in Nigeria in terms of content and quality, it houses works by many great masters like Enwonwu, Ola Sheko, Olu Amoda etc.

Purpose of Garden The garden serves as a source of beauty, relaxation, contemplation and pleasure for me, It also serves as a platform for showcasing Nigeria’s cultural heritage and beauty. If you go round the garden, you will see a kind of village setting of what my people do, how they lived their lives, for instance, the story of Mary Selessor, the story of the woman weaving clothes, the man selling kolanut, the kaakaki, the Eyo, the Ekpe masquerade, the Igbo flutist, the Benin dancers etc are all in my garden. It also serves as a way of propagating the positive values of our people, the nation and culture.

Maintaining the garden?

Maintaining a garden is not an easy thing. It is not r recommended to somebody who does not have a passion for it.

You have to have the passion because you are going to deprive yourself of many things. To maintain a neat garden with gardeners, buy chemicals, keep the animals, buy drugs for the animals, preserve the art-

works by getting experts to make sure that the works are maintained, cleaned and ensure that the grass is always green 365 days of the year requires a lot of money. It is an expensive venture and is not meant for the ordinary man to do.

Choice of works and animals in the Garden?

There are two factors involved in the selection of art works: first, the concept must come from me. Most of the works you find here are my own commissioned art works. I have the concept based on the missing gap in terms of my research on our culture as a people in Nigeria.

And the second factor is the artist. There are some artist I just can’t resist, people like Olu Amoda, Adeola Balogun etc. Many at times when it comes up to some people they tend to more or less agree to my own objective of collection for the garden. Another factor is the material, the materials matter a lot because I disemphasise the purchase of black fibre. We have gone beyond that age so it has to be either in bronze, stone or metal. These are the works you can find in the garden because of longevity and durability.

About the animals, number one, I don’t like dogs, I am not a lover of cats, I am a lover of birds and it was the University of Ibadan that engendered my love for birds and that is why you have the peacocks, , geese, king reed birds and pigeons. The porcupine also interests me a lot, The tortoise, fish, snail are also my kind of animals.

Neither the United States nor France would grant visa to Nigerians who want to see these objects of Nigerian culture. So for whom did the Westerners preserve Nigerian cultural objects?

Do Nigerians and other Africans need not learn about Nigerian art? This should worry all those concerned with our cultural development.

In cases such as this exhibition, where we are told that little is known about the objects and that many of them were removed from Nigeria, in 1967-1970 or at an earlier date, a large number of Nigerians will not be familiar with these objects. Somebody would have to explain to Nigerians why they cannot see the objects in this exhibition.

This exhibition demonstrates the preponderant influence of the Western world over African art; the West has most of the excellent pieces of African art and has demonstrated that it can organize exhibitions on African art, such as Nigerian art, without the Nigerians and Nigerian scholarly input.

These fine objects are African but the rest is Western. Who finally benefits from such exhibitions? No doubt one may find a few of the Nigerian elite who may even express their pride that Nigerian culture is being exhibited in the West but have they thought about the long term effect of such a trend? Have they thought about the negative effect of Western dominance in this as in other areas?

Have they considered whether a country that is so dependent on the West to exhibit its culture can truly enjoy the advantages of independence? The West seems to have taken full control over the narrative of Nigerian Art History. Whoever directs Nigeria’s culture and cultural policy, directs the destiny of its peoples and that of many African peoples.

48—Vanguard, THURSD AY, JANUARY 17, 2013 THURSDA

Milk consumption boosts brain power T

Spice up your life with ginger and garlic

BY CHARLYNE IKPE & BUSOLA LIKOLO

G

INGER and garlic are popular spices relished by the rich and mighty as well as the poor and lowly. However, not too many realise their medicinal potential.

Take ginger which can be used fresh, dried and powdered, or as a juice or oil.

Ginger is commonly used to treat various types of “stomach problems,” including motion sickness, morning sickness, colic, upset stomach, diarrhea, nausea caused by cancer treatment, nausea and vomiting after surgery, as well as loss of appetite

A nagging pain brought on by muscle soreness, menstrual pain, and cough, can be promptly relieved with a refreshing ginger drink. Ginger is also sometimes used for chest pain, low back pain, and stomach pain.

Some people pour the fresh juice on their skin to treat burns.

The oil can be applied to the skin to relieve pain.

Ginger is particularly useful in treating chronic inflammation because it partially inhibits two important enzymes. Ginger does not cause stomach irritation, instead it helps protect and heal the gut. Ginger is also a cancer preventing spice with anti-inflammatory properties which is

helpful in treatment of cancer.

Ginger is also known as stimulant for appetite, treatment of nausea and hang over.

Garlic, on its own is recognized as one of the vegetables with potential anti-cancer properties.

Garlic is widely recognized to be very effective in preventing cancer in human body. It helps in formation of cancer fighting enzymes in the body.

Apart from that, garlic helps in building immune system and lower the cholesterol level and prevent cardiovascular diseases like heart attack by regulating the flow of blood in vessels. regular intake of garlic decreases the risk of prostate, colon, throat and stomach cancer.

O improve your chances of winning the next Nobel prize, you need to drink plenty of milk with your cereal, tea and coffee, or drink milk and eat chocolate as much as you can.

Researchers recently discovered that in nations that the people consume a lot of milk and milk products, also tend to have a lot of Nobel laureates.

This development arose from the strong association between mental acuity including Nobel laureate prowess, and consumption of milk products, especially chocolate.

Findings published in Practical Neurology revealed a direct relationship between per capita milk consumption in 22 countries and production of Nobel laureates. Sweden has the most Nobel laureates (33) per 10 million of its population. Although, it hosts the Nobel committee, which some might argue could introduce an element of bias; it also consumes the most milk per head of the population, getting through 340kg every year.

Next is Switzerland, which consumes 300kg of milk every year, and has 32 Nobel laureates.

China has the lowest number of Nobel laureates, but also has the lowest milk consumption of the countries studied -- at around 25kg a year.

There was no discernible impact beyond an annual per capita consumption of 350kg, as Finland's Nobel haul seems to attest.

Is milk consumption therefore simply a reflection of a strong educational system, or do Nobel Prize winners celebrate by drinking it, query the authors?

A plausible biological explanation for the link is the richness of milk in vitamin D, which is reputed to boost brain power, as suggested by evidence.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

H

ELLO everybody and welcome. I want to be gin today’s column by talking about the fear of infidelity. I recently got a letter from a woman who doesn’t want her husband to travel for one year to do his Master’s degree programme overseas because she is convinced that he will cheat on her. Now she has a point.

Her husband could travel and cheat. But here is the thing about trust and cheating. Except you are with a confirmed cheater, you should not live your whole life in fear. Such fears affect your quality of life, your peace of mind and your emotional well-being. Instead of being scared, be positive, pray and do your best to satisfy your partner.

That’s all anybody can do. This reminds me of those of us who habitually go through our partner’s phones and computers in search of evidence of cheating. While we may actually find the evidence we are looking for, we also risk becoming paranoid people who suspect everybody and everything. That’s no way to live a happy life.

Anybody can be cheated on. Nobody is safe. But until that happens, we must do our best to trust that things will work out between us and our partners.

This might sound naïve and even foolish but ignorance is bliss. Believe me; you don’t want to know everything your partner has been up to. It will just drive you crazy. Let us now answer more questions from readers.

Hello Uche. My name is Samuel and I am 59 years old. Six years ago, I lost my wife. I just remarried last year. I am writing you because I have low sex drive. When I was younger, I wanted sex all the time.

At my age now, I am okay with having sex once every few weeks. The problem now is that my new wife is just 36 and I worry that I may not satisfy her.

I need something – Samuel Dear Samuel, it is normal for sex drive to diminish as adults get older. I recommend you take Max Intense Testosterone Booster. It is a supplement for men

that boosts sex drive by increasing the testosterone levels in the body. It is all natural and has no stimulants. I also suggest buying your wife a vibrator. The truth is that within a few years, intimacy will become even more difficult for you. So to ensure that your wife does not start looking outside for sex, get her a vibrator and an orgasm gel. Euphoria Blue Dolphin vibrator is very good and so is Orgasmix gel – Uche Good day sir. Since November last year, I have been using the Max Width instant penis enlarger and I am very happy so far. Now I want a more permanent enlargement. Can I combine Max Width with Max Size enlarger? Charles Yes you can Charles. Max Width is a cream while Max size is a capsule. You can also combine your Max Width cream with a penis pump for more permanent results – Uche Dear sir, my penis will stand if I am with my girl but during sex, it will come down. It has not happened before. I need advice on what to do – Olusegun Dear Segun, if you have only had this problem once, then do not panic yet. Men lose their erections sometimes when they have taken alcohol or when they are mentally distracted.

But if it continues to happen, then go and see a doctor. Supplements such as Xzen 1200 and Sex Voltz can help you recover full erections but I still suggest you see your doctor as well just to find out the cause of the problem – Uche I had a good time over the festive period with some of your products. My personal favourite is the Love Stuff All Night Delay Cream for stopping premature ejaculation. Good job guys – Frank You are all welcome. Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can reach us on 08191978308 or 08027901621 to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com. Zee Virtual Media delivers to you wherever you are in Nigeria. For enquiries email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com. Happy holidays - Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013 — 49

Mali: France vows to defeat rebels ...as Nigeria warplanes arrive

BY TONY EDIKE

F

RENCH President Francois Hollande yesterday vowed to wipe out the islamist rebels as his countrymen began gun battle. This came as Nigerian planes moved to Mali.

Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Alex Barde, said the Nigerian Airforce will this morning (Thursday) commence deployment of Nigeria war planes to check the activities of jihad fighters in Mali.

Barde who paid his maiden visit to Enugu Airforce Unit, yesterday, said the action was in compliance to President Jonathan’s directive that military contingent be sent to assist the country to contain the jihad fighters in Mali.

Said he; “As I speak to you now our air planes have arrived in PortHarcourt; in-fact I’m on my way to Rivers State now and tomorrow morning we are beginning our deployment to Mali and

that’s what I am going to witness. ”I am going there to bid them a sort of farewell and go-and-fight-well greetings as they depart. ”We expect them to do what Mr. President directed that we do; he has directed that we should go and assist Mali in repelling the jihad fighters there because you know that if they finish with Mali the next thing will be to come to Nigeria. ”So we are going there to fight them and also protect our borders. ”You don’t say how many families you are sending to war; but the president has directed that we send a total of 1200 in all; but you know it is our planes that fight and we are beginning deployment this morning.

The Chief of the Airforce said his maiden visit to Enugu unit is to talk to the personnel on his vision for the Nigeria Airforce; “that we must use innovative technology because we have spent so much

Pakistan PM demands

T

AHIR-UL-QADRI, a Canadian-Pakistani Muslim leader, has addressed thousands of people protesting on the streets of Islamabad for the third day, demanding that the government.

According to him, the nation will throw out the corrupt leadership. “The world can easily judge what the rulers have delivered in the last five years,” Qadri told the crowd outside parliament. ”They are looters, not leadership, who always looted Pakistan and nation.”

Qadri set a one-day deadline for four demands to be fulfilled: to announce electoral reforms before elections; to dissolve the election commission and form a new one; to setup a caretaker government; and to dissolve the provincial and national

assemblies.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Faisal Mirza, a supporter of Qadri from the Netherlands, said the current system was not in conformity with

French Elite Special Operations soldiers drive through the town of Markala, about 275 km (171 miles) from the capital Bamako, to meet Malian soldiers and organize a counter-attack in the jihadist-held town of Diabaly. money buying equipment and each time they are bad we

say we have to send them to the manufacturers for

Obama unveils biggest gun-control measures P RESIDENT Barack Obama yesterday proposed a new assault weapons ban and mandatory background checks for all gun buyers even as he tried to channel national outrage over the Newtown school

resignation the Pakistani constitution. ”No political leader has accepted his challenge to debate him,” Mirza said.

massacre into the biggest U.S. gun-control push in decades.

Rolling out a wideranging plan for executive and legislative action to curb gun violence, Obama set up a fierce clash with the powerful U.S. gun lobby and its supporters in Congress, who will resist what they see as an encroachment on constitutionally protected gun rights.

Obama presented his agenda at a White House event in front of an audience that included

Bain, ‘Dif f’rent S tr ok es’ ‘Diff’rent Str trok okes’ comedian is dead C ONRAD Bain, known best as TV dad Phillip Drummond on “Diff ’rent Strokes,” has died, family sources tell TMZ. He was 89 years old.

Bain passed away Monday night in Livermore, California; even as the cause of death has not yet been released.

Bain’s daughter, Jennifer tells TMZ, “He was a lot like Mr. Drummond, but much more interesting in real life. He was an amazing

repairs. ”We have the know

how, we have the personnel, we have so many PHD holders, we have professionals in the Airforce and we cannot too continue buying and not repairing. ”So I came to sensitize them about my vision and what we need to do in order to save the scarce resources that we have.”

France called for international support against Islamist insurgents it says are a threat to Africa and the West and acknowledged it faced a long fight against well-equipped and determined militant fighters who seized Mali’s vast desert north last year.

father.”

Born in Alberta, Canada, Bain served in the Canadian army during World War II and studied acting in New York City alongside Charles Durning and Don Rickles.

Bain played Bea Arthur’s sparring partner Dr. Arthur Harmon on “Maude” for six seasons, which led to his bestremembered role: kindly millionaire Phillip Drummond, who took two orphaned AfricanAmerican boys from

Harlem into his Park Avenue home on NBC’s “Diff ’rent Strokes.”

Debuting in 1978.

•Bain

•Obama relatives of some of the 20 first-graders who were killed along with six adults by a gunman on December 14 at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

“We can’t put this off

any longer,” Obama said, vowing to use “ whatever weight this office holds” to make his proposals reality.

“Congress must act soon.”

Until now, Obama had done little to rein in America’s gun culture during his first four years in office. But just days before his second inauguration, he appears determined to champion gun control in his next term with a concerted drive for tighter laws and other steps aimed at preventing new tragedies like the one at Newtown.

...Kids write Obama

T

HE White House yesterday released handwritten letters to the President from some of the children who will be at the White House when President Obama unveils his plan to prevent gun violence.

The kids offer their own ideas on gun control ideas that go significantly further than the President’s plan.

Eight-year-old Grant from Maryland, writes the President, “there should be some changes in the law with guns. It’s

a free country, but I recommend there needs be [sic] a limit with guns.”

Grant’s ideas: “Please don’t let people own machine guns or other powerful guns like that.

I think there should be a good reason to get a gun.

There should be a limit about [sic] how many guns a person can own.”

“Even though I am not scared for my own safety, I am scared for others,” writes Eleven-year-old Julia from Washington, DC.

50—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012 Contact: udumali@yahoo.com 08126502370

•One of the pictures on the 'Goodluck Jonathan facebook page'

during deliverance’.

The page has 14, 766 likes. In his displayed picture, Jonathan wears his bowler hat and brown Ijaw dress, with his wrists under his jaw.

He is described as ‘Politician’. And that he is a lecturer and politician, and is ‘currently the President and Commander-inchief of the federal republic of Nigeria'.

And just like the official Goodluck Jonathan FB page, this one also has ‘Notes’ made of 13 speeches, including those of Pat Utomi,

Nude pictures flood ‘Goodluck Jonathan Facebook Page' STORIES BY UDUMA KALU

T

HIS is the season of scam. And no one, not even the rich and the powerful, including President Goodluck Jonathan, is spared.

Indeed, when President Goodluck Jonathan launched his Facebook (FB) page in July 2010, many Nigerians said it was a progressive approach to keep citizens in touch with government programmes.

However, immediately the president opened the page, all kinds of pages came out as Goodluck Jonathan Facebook page. A check showed that there are over 200 Goodluck Jonathan FB pages, having different profile pictures of the man, different profiles and titles.

Profiles and titles Some simply have the Nigerian coat of arms.

The number of those that like the pages varies, ranging from 30 to 800, 000.

Indeed, the FB helped the president during his 2011 campaigns. He launched his presidential intention on his official FB page. No doubt mainstream media houses monitored it for news, and the president did not disappoint

them.

But since after the elections, Jonathan's official FB page has been largely idle. Members' mails are rarely replied, giving way to some unscrupulous activities.

One of which is the flooding of one of those so called “Goodluck Jonathan Facebook” pages with nude pictures.

The nude pictures are many and varied, ranging from a secondary school teacher in his khaki coloured French suit

making love to his female secondary school student in her bright blue blouse and navy blue skirt in the classroom. There was another picture of a lady showing her breasts, and another her private part with snake coming out of it.

Some of the headlines on the page say, ‘Four Friends Rape Single Lady; Record the Act With Blackberry,’ Uncle Caught Having Sex With His 12-Year-Old Niece’, ‘Snake crawls out of woman’s private part

poetry festivals, announcements etc. All the posts are from one Djakpor blog, meaning that it is operated by administrators of the blog or they simply hijacked it. They therefore use the page to drive traffic to the blog. Because with 15, 000 following, a post to the page will get to a wider audience than it would on the blog. A click on the material will therefore refer you back to the blog.

X3M evolves radio, TV commercial studios J

UST one year in the advertising business, Steve Babaeko’s X3M Ideas has entered with major winnings at pitches as well as the establishment of the first full radio and television commercial stations by a Nigerian advertising agency.

On a media facility tour of his agency recently, Babaeko whose X3M stands for “Extreme”, said though the industry in 2012 was fraught with challenges, X3M did well as a young agency because the idea of starting the company

was grounded before takeoff.

X3M Ideas has hit the ground running with a first major pitch victory against older and more experienced agencies.

The new agency emerged one of the top two agencies which finally won the Inbisco – FMCG business. The business according to our sources, was shared between Lanre Adisa’s Noah’s Ark and X3M Ideas. It was gathered that the Inbisco’s Kopico campaign is slated to break very soon. The new agency boasts of a state-of-theart studio for radio

commercials to cut down on turnaround time in a bid to reflect its hunger and readiness to deliver as a nimble and dynamic team of young professionals. As at today, X3M holds 46.7 percent Etisalat creative which was relinquished by CentreSpread FCB in 2012.

It worked on brands like BAT, MultiChoice among others and was exposed to some of the best tools and international trainings and exposure in the industry.

Reporters’ shrinking tools

T

hese days, the tools of the reporters are shrinking. The days of the pen, the reporters’ note, tape recorder are over. Tape recorders replaced the notebook. Later, the PC came in. Today, the phone, ipad, iphone which can record audio and visual, and send news stories to the office rule the newsroom. There are even talks about the death of the PC. The days of paying for costly software upgrades are numbered as the PC will soon be obsolete. The ipad, the iphone, blackberry, laptops are everywhere. All are wireless that can be connected without cable.

Also, DVD machine as well the CD and DVD which replaced the floppy disk are on the way out. The flash drive has taken over. While the DVD has 4.5G max, a flash drive can have over 100G. Reporters can even insert their flash drives into their TVs, most of which come with everything compact, with space for flash drive, driving the DVD machine away.

Jahman Anikulapo @ 50, quits The Guardian

A

MID his 50th birthday celebrations, cultural activist, arts critic and Editor of Sunday Guardian, Jahman Anikulapo has resigned his appointment. His last edited copy came out last Sunday. Reason for his action is still Anikulapo not disclosed.

Meanwhile, friends of the theatre artist under the aegis of the Committee for Relevant Art, CORA, are planning a month-long programme to commemorate his 50th birthday.

CORA is a group of artistes, art enthusiasts, art promoters and art writers committed to the development of the Arts in Nigeria and their enabling environment.

The series of events which is also meant to celebrate Jahman’s contributions and service to the development of the cultural sector in the country is tagged “3D-Jahman: The Three Dimensions of a Cultural Change Agent – Artist, Activist and Art Journalist.”

A timetable released by the committee says the programme will kick off on January 13 with a panel conversation on the interplay between art advocacy, art journalism and art practice and how this has shaped the evolution of cultural propagation in the last 25 years at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery in Lagos.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013—51

Reps pass vote of confidence on Tambuwal amid plots

By SONI DANIEL,Regional Editor, North OKEY NDIRIBE & EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

T

HE House of Representatives, yesterday, passed a vote of confidence on its Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal. The motion for the vote of confidence was moved

by Bello Osagie, ACN-Edo State, following an earlier motion

by Hon.Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi over media reports that there was an attempt to impeach Tambuwal.

The motion was passed despite allegations of N4. 8 billion scandal against the leadersip by some members. The House dismissed the alleged scandal said to be in connection with the purchase of 400 Toyota Camry cars for the 360 members last year.

There were reports by a section of the media, yesterday, alleging that there were plots to impeach the Speaker. Tambuwal, who expressed deep regrets that this was happening at a time members were working relentlessly to improve on the integrity of the House as an institution, however, urged his colleagues to ignore

the publications, as well as see the allegations as challenges associated with representing their people.

Chairman of the House Committee on Works, Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi, had in his motion brought under “Matters of Privileges,” drawn attention of members to publications in some national dailies, alleging plots to sack Tambuwal over purchase of 400 Camry cars, stating that it was a clear design to create disharmony since the decision to install anybody as Speaker of the House lies with the 360 members.

Ozomgbachi said that but for the possible erosion of the integrity and reputation of the House, there would have been no reason to react to the said publications, adding that he and other members were fully aware that the current leadership of the House under Tambuwal had distanced itself from all procurement processes.

Following his submissions, Mr Bello Osagie who described the publications as “the most profound evidence of distraction” plan for the House, subsequently moved a motion for a vote of

confidence on Tambuwal and the entire leadership as “a way of putting an end to any further debate” on the m a t t e r .

His motion was seconded by Chairman of the Committee on Aviation, Nkeiruka L-r: Mr. Jeffrey Hawkins, US Consul General; Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, President Campaign for Democracy, CD, and Women Arise, WA; Prince Goodluck, chairman Onyejeocha. But Campaign for Democracy, South West and Comrade Peter Bach, chairman, before Tambuwal Campaign for Democracy, CD, Lagos State at a reception organised by the US put the question Consulate General in honour of Kirk Donahoe and Ben Lazarus in Lagos for voice votes on the motion which was fully supported, he remarked about disbursement of funds from Appropriation Act “we took due that he “felt terribly bad”when he in the House, they eventually cognizance of the job creation read the publications, pointing calmed down after the element encapsulated therein out that he had never seen any leadership rendered account of and reinforced it in deserving of his colleagues showing its stewardship to them before cases. It is our conviction that interest in any of the issues raised they proceeded on the yuletide rather than continue to lament in the publications, especially recess. over our mono- product economy, when no names were mentioned we must take concrete steps to in the stories.

Living stimulate the private sector which While urging members to standards is better placed to create jobs ignore the publications, more rapidly. We can further do Tambuwal said they should rather Earlier during the plenary this by way of a revolutionary “continue to be in the vanguard session, Tambuwal had in his approach to agriculture as well for the promotion of those things welcome address re-stated the as massive attack on our that have helped in keeping commitment of the House to uplift infrastructure deficit, especially Nigeria as one the living standard of Nigerians. power, transportation and united country. His words: “We are convinced vocational development.” on the He stressed now more than ever before, that Commenting that the House a situation where majority of the new attitude in the National as an citizens continue to live in abject Assembly he said: ”Let me note i n s t i t u t i o n poverty while an insignificant in passing that the budget for the w o u l d minority corner the National Assembly, which continue to commonwealth is not only unjust encompasses the Senate, the work for the but unacceptable. In this regard House of Representatives, the welfare of we shall continue to adopt a Management of the National N i g e r i a n s . pragmatic and functional Assembly, the National Assembly The reports approach to ensure that the war Institute and the National had indicated against corruption is removed Assembly Service Commission, that the plot from the realm of rhetorics by has never been increased in the was hatched by exercising absolute diligence in last few years. We have, in this a certain our oversight function so as to way, striven to lead by example member of the enhance transparency and in the efforts to curb costs despite House from accountability in both high and the fact that the National Borno State low strata of the society ” Assembly has been growing and who had He further stated that in the evolving into an even more accused the consideration of the 2013 dynamic legislative body.” leadership of the House of fraud over the purchase of 400 Toyota Camry saloon

BY INNOCENT ANABA association’s secretariat, that the c a r s .

IGERIAN Bar National Assembly was H o w e v e r, Association, NBA, empowered by the constitution to investigations make laws for the peace, order

by Vanguard yesterday, condemned the and good governance of the revealed that refusal of the National Assembly, country, arguing that the approve budgetary the plot could to Assembly should deal with not have appropriation for Securities and institutions and not individuals a t t r a c t e d Exchange Commission, SEC, for in the performance of their duties support from year 2013 budget because of the for the benefit of Nigerians. m a n y face-off between members of the Wali faulted the members as House of Representatives and lawmakers’demand for the sack Ta m b u w a l Director-General of SEC, Ms. of Oteh before they can approve r e m a i n e d Arunma Oteh.

It will be recalled that the funds for SEC describing same popular in the House of Representatives failed as interference in the functions House. of the executive arm of It was to invite Ms.Oteh to defend her government. While arguing that gathered that appropriation for approval in this the lawmakers should not though few year’s budget and consequently interfere in the functions of the members of the demanded her sack as a executive, he described their House had condition to approving the action as unconstitutional and e x p r e s s e d Commission’s budget.

NBA President, Mr Okey Wali, inconsistent with democratic reservations SAN, told newsmen at the principles.

SEC: NBA flays NASS’ refusal to approve budgetary allocation

N

52 —

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013

AFCON 2013 update..... AFCON 2013 update...... AFCON 2013 update

I'll risk NPL stars — Keshi N

Underrate your foes at your own peril — Esin

F

ORMER Eagles mid fielder Etim Esin says the Super Eagles can only underrate their foes at their own peril.

Defending champions Chipolopolo of Zambia and the Eagles are the favorites to advance from the group to the knockout stage of the tournament but Etim admits that there are no longer underdogs in African football.

“There are no longer underdogs in African football. Don’t forget that champions Zambia are in our group. Nobody expected them to win the trophy last time out,” Etim said.

“There are spoilers like Burkina Faso and Ethiopia. These teams can make things difficult for us if we underrate them.

We saw what little Cape Verde did to us during a friendly game. So we should expect more of that in South Africa,” explained Etim.

IGERIA coach Stephen Keshi has said he is willing to take a chance on players from the Nigeria league at the AFCON because it is worth it.

Keshi has picked six players from the NPL for this AFCON, a clear departure from the 2008 and 2010 tournaments when no player from the domestic league made the final squad.

Goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim, defenders Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe, midfielder Gabriel Reuben as well as forwards Sunday Mba and Ejike Uzoenyi play their football in the local league and have made the final cut for this competition in South Africa. ”Football is a game of risks. At the 1990 Nations Cup when the likes of (Daniel) Amokachi came in, about 80% of the players were from the

E

YOU’RE UP TO IT . . . Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi (C) psyches up his players during a training session in Vilamoura in preparation for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. Photo: AFP . local. It’s a risk worth taking,” declared Keshi, who has worked with these players since December 2011.

The former international skipper will not promise Nigeria a third

Nations Cup trophy but said the team are confident and will give their b e s t . ”I don’t want to promise Nigerians anything, I am not going to give any assurance but I will

do my best with the team in South Africa,” he said.

“The level of discipline is great, good atmosphere. I hope the confidence will be sustained at the AFCON.

Traoré ,K aboré absent against Nigeria ,Kaboré B URKINA Faso will launch their Africa Cup of Nations 2013 campaign against Nigeria without two of their stars, Alain Traoré and Charles Kaboré.

The FC Lorient striker and saviour of the Stallions in this competition’s qualifiers, Alain Traoré, did not receive the green light from the medical staff for the first match, as he has not yet fully recovered from his

heel injury.

As for the Olympique Marseille midfielder and vice-captain of Burkina, Charles Kaboré, he is suspended for accumulation of yellow cards.

So a diminished Stallions outfit will measure strengths with the Super Eagles in Group C this coming Monday in Nelspruit, while Zambia will meet Ethiopia in the group’s other match.

•Traoré

•Kaboré.

NOA canvasses total support for Eagles T

•Etim C M Y K

•Otunba Runsewe

Ethiopians promised cash to win Afcon

HE National Orien tation Agency on Wednesday called on Nigerians from all walks of life to have firm belief in and give total support to the Super Eagles’ campaign at the 29th Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, which kicks off on Saturday.

Director –General of the agency, Mr. Mike

Omeri said in Abuja on Wednesday: “We all have a patriotic duty to have faith in the Super Eagles, to do everything within our power at various levels to support the team for this competition. At the National Orientation Agency, we are calling on all Nigerians to rise up and belief in the Super Eagles.

“Football is the major event that brings all of us together, as Nigerians. The Nigeria Football Federation has done its duty of preparing the team very well for the championship, and also to make arrangements for its participation. It is now the turn of Nigerians to give support.”

THIOPIA’s players have been promised more than $100 000 each if they win the African Cup of Nations on the country’s return to the tournament after a 30-year absence.

Ethiopian Football Federation president Sahilu Gebremariam said Wednesday the players would get $111 000 each to win the Cup and $55 000 to make the final in South Africa.

Sahilu said coach Sewnet Bishaw and his assistant coach would be rewarded with “significantly higher prize money”.

Nwosu plays down preAFCON game

F

ORMER Golden Ea glets’ coach, Henry Nwosu has cautioned Nigerians not be carried away by Super Eagles 50 thumping of Portuguese side, Farense in Faro, Portugal.

Tuesday’s pre-AFCON 2013 build-up game stood out as the biggest win in the Eagles preAfrica Cup of Nations.

The Eagles had earlier drawn 1-1 against the Catalonian selected and goalless against AFCON debutants, Cape Verde.

Nwosu said the massive win may count as nothing when the team square up against their AFCON foes in South Africa starting against Burkina Faso next Monday in Nelspruit.

•Nwosu

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013 — 53

You can do it — Zambian President tells Chipolopolo Z

AMBIAN President, Michael Chilufya Sata believes Zambia can retain the Africa Cup and he has implored the national team to do just that.

Zambia Daily Mail reports that the number one citizen urged the team to represent the country with determination, passion and pride to overcome all the obstacles they will encounter at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations tournament kicking off on Saturday in South Africa.

Sata said he had never doubted the team’s passion for the game and to fulfill the desire to be champions.

The President said this in a statement released in Lusaka Tuesday by his special assistant for press and public relations, George Chellah.

Sata urged the team to maximise their unlimited potential as they did at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations finals co-hosted

by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea and aim for the ultimate prize.

“I have never doubted your passion for the game, courage to overcome and desire to be champions. I know your determination to win and I believe in your abilities,” he said.

WORTHY CHAMPIONS: The Chipolopolo in their moment of glory

NFF’s target for Keshi primitive — Laloko K ASHIMOWO La loko, a former T e c h n i c a l Director of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), on Wednesday said that the target set for the Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi was primitive.

Laloko, who made the assertion at the maiden Ogun Chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Forum in Abeokuta, said

Keshi Continues from B/P that his main task was to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians.

Speaking to AIT’s Ufoma Ebare in Faro, Keshi said, “the level of concentration has been high, high level of discipline and team work. I pray they continue like this throughout.

“What I have noticed that needs to be improved upon is their attitude. Their attitude in the game must improve and we are working on that. I am happy that the boys have been talking to themselves.

“I am happy the boys have realised it and they have to step up our game for us to achieve

anything tangible for Nigeria in South Africa.”

Asked if he was under any pressure to do well at the tournament, Keshi smiled and said, “I am not under any pressure from any quarters.

Perhaps, the only pressure I am under is from my own quarters.

It’s from myself because I want to bring back smiles to the faces of Nigerians.

“People always want to put you under pressure.

They tell you what they want, but I don’t listen to them. People say what they want to say, if it is good I take it if not I ignore them. We live with that kind of pressure everyday, but I only do what I believe will be good for the team.”

that such would prevent the coach from performing optimally.

He spoke against the backdrop of the NFA asking Keshi to deliver the South Africa 2013 Africa Cup of Nations trophy or nothing.

The first Vice-President of the NFA, Chief Mike Umeh, had toldK e s h i

that based on the support he (Keshi) enjoyed from the association, “it is either the trophy or nothing”.

He, however, added that Keshi would be allowed to perform his job without any interference.

Laloko, the Director of Pepsi Football Academy, Lagos, said there was

Cote d'Ivoire Continues from B/P c o m p e t i t i o n .

Situated less than 22 kilometers from the Mbombela Stadium and just 20 kilometers from the Kruger airport, this all encompassing dream sports facility has two standard pitches within its expansive facility, making the Super Eagles the only team in the competition that will not have to drive out to train.

This is the attraction that made the Ivorien National team take up residence there to acclamatise.

The Ivoriens who vacated the hotel on Wednesday to their Kedar Lodge in Rustenberg are questioning the rationale behind hotel allocation. ” if we had our way, we would have stayed there to play our matches because it is an ideal venue” an official of the

team said.

Sports Vanguard has it on good authority that the Ivoriens did make some move, but it was rebuffed given the contracts already entered into by the LOC and the chosen hotels.

Last year, before the Draw CAF Executive Committee drew lots to allocate hotels to qualified teams.

The Super Eagles will play their first two matches against the Stallions of Burkina Faso and the Chipolopolo of Zambia in Nespruit after which they will move to Rustenburg on January 29 to play their last group match against Ethiopia, a match that will determine wether they come out group leaders and go back to Nespruit or runner up and stay in Rustenberg to play Cote D’ivoire, potential group D winners.

always room for measuring the performance of any coach, with or without silverwares.

He said that when targets were set for a coach, he might not perform.

SWAN mourns Ositelu

T

HE National Executive of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has expressed deep sorrow at the demise of erudite journalist, Ayo Ositelu, who passed on last Wednesday night while watching a television programme with his wife at home.

SWAN described late Ositelu as the doyen of Nigerian sports journalism and a titan of the pen profession, who brought glamour to the noble profession.

Commenting further on the death of the veteran journalist, SWAN President, Saidu Abubakar noted that the association would miss his wealth of experience and invaluable contributions to sports development at this crucial time.

“Ositelu was a leading light among his colleagues and he upheld the tenet of the noble profession. He was a standard bearer and became a reference point among the practitioners.

Brazil, England to reopen Maracana in June

B

RAZIL will play England in a friendly on June 2 when the Maracana stadium is reopened after its World Cup refurbishment, the five-times world champions confirmed on Tuesday.

The match, a warm-up for the Confederations Cup Brazil will stage from June 15-30, will follow a friendly between the two teams at Wembley next month as part of the Football Association’s 150th a n n i v e r s a r y celebrations.

“Nothing better than to face an adversary of England’s standing a fortnight before the Confederations Cup,” Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said after the Brazilian Football Confederation’s announcement on its w e b s i t e (www.cbf.com.br).

“It will be a great match, a world classic, of those that everyone

wants to be a part of,” added 2002 World Cup winning coach Scolari, who is beginning his second spell in charge of the national team.

England have not played a match in Brazil since 1984.

“It’s almost 30 years since England last played in Brazil, so it will be a proud moment to take the team back there again,” England manager Roy Hodgson said on the FA’s website.

•Neymar C M Y K

54 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANAUARY 17, 2013

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANAUARY 17, 2013 — 55

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VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013

Guardiola goes to Bayern!

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Prove we’re Africa’s giant, Jonathan charges Eagles

•President Jonathan

BY BEN AGANDE, Abuja

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has charged members of the Super eagles to ensure that their performance at

the African Cup of Nations in South Africa this weekend reflect Nigeria’s status as Africa’s giant.

Minister of Sports and Social Development, Bolaji Abdullahi who disclosed this at the end of the Federal Executive Council said the council also prayed for the success of eagles.

According to Alhaji Abdullahi, the eagles are well prepared to take on their opponent in the opening match and Nigerians should expect the best from the team.

He said president

Zambia return AFCON trophy

BY MMACHI ILECHUKWU, with Agency report

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•Keshi Jonathan charged the super eagles to ensure that they bring laurels to the country pointing out that Nigeria’s absence at the medal tables in major outings is unacceptable.

I want to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians — Keshi

BY JACOB AJOM

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HE Super Eagles of Nigeria flew into South Africa Wednesday and are about settling down in the former apartheid enclave for the 2013

TODAY'S

Africa Cup of Nations which begins Saturday.

Before their departure from Faro, Portugal, where the team had been camping for the past two weeks, head coach, Stephen Keshi declared

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PUZZLE

•Pep Guardiola

•Enyeama YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

HE Football Association of Zambia and the winner of last year’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament returned the Cup to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) yesterday and vowed to defend the trophy in South Africa This was disclosed by George Kasengele the General Secretary of Zambia Football Federation.

His words; “it is difficult for us but we have no other choice than to return the trophy and we hope to take it back to Zambia for two more years”.

Coach Herve Renard also confirmed that he and his players will work towards returning the cup to Zambia this year.

ACROSS 1 Recover (6) 5 Mood (6) 8 Keep (8) 9 Off (4) 10 Attempt (3) 12 Allude (5) 15 Fixed (3) 17 Mineral (3) 18 Perform (3) 19 Bird (3) 20 Fool (5) 21 Every (3) 22 Horse (3) 23 Tree (3) 24 Label (3) 26 Famous (5) 29 Enclosure (3) 33 Fuel (4) 34 Gap (8) 35 Current (6) 36 Revolved (6)

“We are in South Africa and we are here to do everything possible to win the AFCON trophy again. Last year was amazing for us and I know that we can do it again,” Renard said.

AYERN MUNICH have announced that Pep Guardiola will become the club’s new coach when Jupp Heynckes’ contract expires this summer.

Heynckes will stay on in his post until the end of this season before retiring, at which point the former Barcelona coach will take over on a deal that runs until June 2016.

K a r l - H e i n z Rummenigge, Bayern’s chief executive, said: “We are delighted that we have managed to get Pep Guardiola whom several big clubs wanted and contacted. He is one of the most successful trainers in the world and we are sure that not only Bayern Munich but the whole of German football will benefit from what he brings.”

The news comes 24 hours after Bayern’s media director Markus Horwick described claims the club had approached Guardiola to take over as “complete rubbish”, and Guardiola himself said he hoped to manage in the Premier League.

Cote dÍvoire protests Eagles’ hotel T

HERE is no doubting the fact that the Ingwenyama Conference and Sports Resort which will serve as the Super Eagles

abode during the Nations Cup is the best hotel in Nespruit if not the best among the hotels allocated for the

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DOWN 2 Mistake (5) 3 Comfort (4) 4 Blend (5) 5 Subject (5) 6 Lament (4) 7 Delete (5) 10 Handle (5) 11 Youthful (5) 12 Rule (5) 13 Sham (5) 14 Assessed (5) 15 Impression (5) 16 Claw (5) 25 Overhead (5) 27 Hatred (5) 28 Go in (5) 30 Elude (5) 31 Adhesive (4) 32 Spoken (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Chic 4, Pad 6, Rack 8, Dilate 9, Repent 10, Ace 12, Start 14, Adder 15, Eider 18, Border 20, Yearly 24, Yield 26, Ditch 28, Focus 30, Met 32, Divine 33, Animal 34, Here 35, Kit 36, Grew.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 2, Hoist 3, Charred 4, Plea 5, Dire 6, Rapid 7, Conceal 11, Cue 12, Sob 13, Tie 16, Dry 17, Rye 19, Orifice 21, Elf 22, Adoring 23, Yes 25, Ice 27, Crime 29, Usage 30, Meek 31, Tart.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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