RIVERS CRISIS LATEST: Four govs stoned at P-Harcourt Airport

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 61927

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N150

WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

Senate strikes out six-yr Why Appeal Court freed single term for Al-Mustapha & co president, govs 14

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RIVERS CRISIS LATEST:

Four govs stoned at P-Harcourt Airport

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME, KINGSLEY OMONOBI, BEN AGANDE, LUKA BINIYAT & HENRY UMORU

•We’re shocked by Police role –Northern govs •Tukur sues for peace, exonerates PDP leaders •I remain authentic Rivers Speaker —Bipi P •How we protected Amaechi — Police

ORTHARCOURT— THE animosity between rival factions in the festering crisis ravaging Rivers State recurred again yesterday as four Northern states governors on a solidarity visit to their Rivers counterpart, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, were embarassed as their con

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COLUMNISTS:

ROTIMI FASAN

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DEAR BUNMI

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Mr & Mrs

NORTHERN GOVS VISIT AMAECHI—From Left: Governors Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State; Sule Lamido of Jigawa; Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers; Babangida Aliyu of Niger, and Murtala Nyako of Adamawa, during the Northern governors' visit to Gov. Amaechi in Port Harcourt, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

Reps summon Adoke over 14 $1.3bn Malabu oil deal C M Y K

ASUP suspends strike; ASUU adamant 11

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POCKET CARTOON

SPECIAL ENVOY—President Goodluck Jonathan (middle) with Special Envoy of Gabonese President/President of National Assembly of Gabon, Guy Nzouba-Ndama (Left) and Minister of Health of the country, Prof. Leon N'zouba, at the State House, Abuja, yesterday.

RIVERS CRISIS: Four govs stoned at P-Harcourt Airport Continues from Page 1

the Rivers State House of Assembly, also called for the transfer of the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Mbu Joseph Mbu. In a statement issued at Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday, the quartet said they came to the conclusion after interacting with Governor Amaechi and other persons, adding that the way the Police were being

allegedly used and abused could force state voy was pelted with governments to reconstones by protesters as sider their efforts tothey left for Government wards funding the NiHouse. geria Police.

Surprised by the turn They spoke as the ofof events in Rivers, the fice of the Inspector four governors — General of Police sumMu’azu Babangida moned and quizzed the Aliyu (Niger), Sule Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to Lamido (Jigawa), Rabiu Governor Rotimi Musa Kwankwaso Amaechi and his Escort (Kano), and Murtala Commander. Both officNyako (Adamawa), who ers who had earlier apcondemned the fracas in peared before the DIG Philemon Leha (DIG Operations) panel constituted by the IGP, to say

BY PASTOR ITUAH all they knew about the Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others fracas, were however cannot keep it from themselves –Fassy A.Y. Spread left to go back to Port a bit of sunshine today.

Harcourt and resume duties pending decisions by the Police High

BY ELLA RANDLE Command after interrogation. The report is ex“The far greater danger is in reaching the low pected this weekend. expectations that we hold for ourselves” Meanwhile, PDP National Chairman, Alhaji ICHELANGELO’S advice is just as appli Bamanga Tukur sued for cable today in your life as it was five centu- peace in the state and ries ago. Never listen to those who try to influence distanced leaders of the you with their pessimism. Have complete faith in party from the crisis. He your own capacity that love shines through your also denied anointing life, same as the great artist who shared the universal spirit of oneness with you and every human anyone for any post in the party’s forthcoming being who has ever lived.

Wayne Dyer, puts it beautifully: Aim high, and special convention as refuse to choose small thinking by the absurd idea the member of the Rivthat there is danger in having too much hope. In ers State House of Asfact, your high hope will guide you to heal your life sembly who was deand to produce your own masterpieces, whether they clared speaker by the be frescoes or fruit baskets. five anti-Amaechi facTo put these gems of tr uth to work effectively in our lives, one must refuse to internalise the procla- tion of the House, Hon. Evans Bipi, yesterday mations of those who point to your limitations. Aldeclared that he reways keep hope alive by remembering the famous mains authentic speaker remarks of Albert Einstein: “Great spirit have always encountered violent opposition from medio- of the House since he cre minds”. has not been imRemember this too, whenever the feeling of inad- peached. equacy is intense about your abilities, picture the Claiming that he was 89-year-old Michelangelo in his times, painting, elected by 23 members writing and sculpting, and you’ll know , he telling and not five as being a message, that you can create whatever you deacclaimed, Bipi said sire in your life. Ella Randle

LIFEWORDS

TAKE HEART

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“the only regrettable thing is the governor coming to the hallowed chamber to supervise the beating of my honourable colleagues.”

Bipi’s claim came as the Felix Obuah-led faction of Rivers PDP faulted the setting up of a judicial commission of inquiry by the state government to look into the crisis that rocked the House of Assembly, saying the action was to pre-empt the decision of the Senate Committee which would soon submit its report. Also, both the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, and Northern Elders Forum, NEF, called on President Goodluck Jonathan to order an immediate cessation of hostilities in Rivers State and stop using the Nigeria Police to settle political disputes.

We’re shocked by police role — Aliyu, Lamido, Kwankwaso, Nyako

The statement issued by the four governors read in part: “Having interacted with our colleague and other persons, we are shocked at the role of the Police in Rivers State and condemn its clear partisanship in the show of shame that took place at the Rivers State House of Assembly. As chief executives of our states, who have sworn to protect lives and properties in our various states, we are particularly troubled by the development in Rivers State.

“With the way the Police is being used and abused and with officers like Mbu in the force, we do not see the need for state governments to fund an antagonistic Police and may be forced to reconsider our position on the financial contribution of the states towards the funding of the Nigeria Police.

“We wish to call on the Inspector General of Police to hearken to the voice of reason and immediately redeploy and discipline Commissioner Mbu. His actions smirk of unprofessionalism and political partisanship which is unbecoming of his office. Arising from the actions of the Police and Mr Joseph Mbu in Rivers State, the call for state police as a constitutional provision has become a necessity.

“We commend the

House of Representatives for its proactive leadership in the crisis and appreciate the Senate Committee's thoroughness in addressing the matter.”

Continuing, the governors said the alleged action of Mbu had again brought to “the fore the question of true federalism and the need for institutions derived from the Constitution to be allowed to function without undue interference.

As federating units we must be allowed the space to guarantee our people's sustainable development as provided by the Constitution.

The governors, who arrived at 1.00pm did not come out to meet with reporters until about 4.15 pm. When finally they came out they declined to speak. Governor Amaechi told eager journalists that they only resolved to make available to the media a speech they had signed.

Thereafter, the governors started walking to their vehicles.

A smiling Governor Lamido of Jigawa State who managed to take a question from Vanguard on allegations that they were held hostage for a while by a protesting crowd at the VIP wing of the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa said there was nothing like that. “If I was held hostage, I won’t be here”, he said.

Ruptured peace at airport

Earlier in the day, the peaceful atmosphere at the Port Harcourt International Airport was ruptured as thousands of Nyesom Wike’s loyalists stormed the airport, protesting the visit of the four northern governors.

The protesters literarily took over the exit gate of the VIP lounge of the airport, singing antiAmaechi songs. Some of

the placards they carried read: “Northern governors leave Rivers State alone!” “Amaechi must go”, “Rivers money for Rivers people”, etc.

Vanguard gathered that the protesters came in several buses mobilised to the airport as early as 5a.m. Many passengers at the airport said they were terrified by the action of the protesters.

Governor Amaechi who reportedly flew in from Abuja yesterday morning at about 10a.m. went straight to the VIP lounge to wait for the other governors. The Adamawa State Governor was the first to arrive; he was followed by the Jigawa governor.

The governor of Kano State came in later while the governor of Niger State came in about one hour later.

It took the combined efforts of security men attached to Governor Amaechi and those at the airport to push the protesters back for the governors to exit the VIP lounge. An armoured personnel carrier was driven by security men into the crowd at the gate before it gave way for the convoy. Security men also fired several warning shots into the air. Meantime as the convoy was driving out, some protesters started hurling stones and other objects at the vehicles.

One of the stones, sources said, almost hit the windscreen of the vehicle conveying Governor Aliyu. “We saw him shifting inside the vehicle as if he was dodging the object”, an eye witness told Vanguard.

Rivers state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari condemned the actions of the protesters at the airport, saying it was worrisome.

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6—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

Three-year-old boy abducted in Delta

Subsidy riot: How dismissed DPO shot protesters — Witnesses

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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ARRI — SUSPECTED kidnappers, Monday, abducted a three-year-old baby, Destiny Osanebi, from the residence of the parents, Mr and Mrs. Lucky Osanebi, in Ashaka, Ndokwa East Local Government Area, Delta State.

Member, representing Ndokwa East in Delta State House of Assembly, Mr Friday Osanebi, confirmed the kidnap of the child when contacted, yesterday, saying: “The father of the child is my elder brother.”

Vanguard was reliably informed that the gunmen contacted the family, yesterday asking for N10 million ransom.

“Three gun-totting kidnap gang laid siege to the home of Mr Osanebi on Monday and held his family hostage at about 10.00 pm. They robbed family members of cash, phones and other valuable property, before abducting their son."

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

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AGOS — TWO prosecution witnesses in the on-going trial of the dismissed Divisional Police Officer, DPO, of Pen Cinema Police Station, Agege, Lagos, Segun Fabunmi, accused of shooting some fuel subsidy protesters on January 9, 2012, yesterday, said the indicted officer allegedly snatched a gun from one of his colleagues to perpetrate the act.

The witnesses, Adekunle Alabi and Alimi Abubakar, in their testimonies before Justice Olabisi Akinlade of an Ikeja High Court said the accused police officer shot at several people, including themselves on that fateful day.

Led in evidence by Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, Mrs Olabisi Ogungbesan, the first witness, Abubakar, said he and some of the victims were reading newspapers when they were shot at by the officer.

He also said some of them were pursued by the same officer, while they were running for safety.

Fabunmi is being tried for the alleged murder of one Adedamola Daramola and for also inflicting grievous bodily harm on Abubakar and two other protesters, Egbujor Samuel and Chibuzo Udo, by shooting at them with his gun.

The witness said he was standing with some other persons at Yaya Abatan Junction, Agege,

reading newspapers when a police team led by the defendant arrived in two patrol vehicles at about 8 a.m and one of the officers started shooting in the air and ground to scare people.

He said subsequently, Fabunmi snatched a gun from an officer and started shooting at the people at the junction including the deceased, Daramola.

He said: “I can’t state how many times he fired but I was hit by a bullet on my leg. Daramola was standing by my side and the bullet also injured him. He ran towards Abeokuta Street while I ran into a nearby mosque.”

The witness further claimed he saw Fabunmi chasing Daramola and some other persons towards Abeokuta Street from his hide-

Manager, 3 others arraigned over Agbor bank robbery

Two docked for stealing N2.4m property

BY IJEOMA NATHANIEL

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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SABA —THE Opera tions Manager of an old generation bank at Agbor, Delta State and three others have been arraigned in court.

They were arraigned before an Agbor chief magistrate’s court charged with conspiracy and robbery.

Although details of the charge was not made available at press time, the accused persons upon arraignment were immediately ordered to be remanded in Agbor prison custody while the court awaits further advice from the state Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP. Case was adjourned to 25th of this month.

State Police command’s spokesman, Mr. Lucky Uyabeme, told reporters that the bank raid which took place on June 14 this year had an insider’s connection.

According to him, “the arrested Operations Manager of the bank is helping the police in investigation. The command will not leave any stone unturned in ensuring that all the hoodlums involved are brought to book."

out inside the mosque.

However, he said he did not witness when Fabunmi shot Daramola, which finally led to his death, because he was hiding.

He said after the policemen ran away from the scene, he was rushed by some boys, alongside the badly injured Daramola, to Ifako General Hospital.

Abubakar also disclosed that Daramola later died as a result of the bullet wounds while he was referred to another hospital for treatment.

The second witness, Alabi, who claimed to reside at 84, Yaya Abatan Street, also gave evidence that he saw Fabunmi snatching the gun from another policeman and shot at the protesters.

He said the deceased, who was a tailor, was among the boys injured after the alleged shooting spree.

Alabi said:”I saw everything from my house where I was hiding. After the police left, I came out and I saw a bullet which I gave to the Baale of the community.

“Some policemen later came and took my statement and asked me to come and give evidence in court.”

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PROTEST: Some members of Grassroots Development Initiative, GDI, protesting at the Omagwa International Airport, Rivers State against the visit of some Northern governors to Port Harcourt, yesterday Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke.

Police recover explosives abandoned during civil war

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI — THE Imo State Police Command has recovered and detonated varying sizes of bombs, Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, and allied materials abandoned in the state during the 30-month civil war, which lasted between 1967 and 1970.

Speaking after displaying the weapons, yesterday, state Commissioner of Police, CP, Mr. Mohammed Katsina said in the course of their sweeping operation, five local council areas have so far been cleared of any debris that pose danger to people.

Katsina said some other explosive materials were recov-

ered from hoodlums, who normally engage them as subduing devices before they commence operation.

The CP said: “Some of the recovered bombs, IEDs and allied materials include old war time ammunition from the old military trench at Okigwe Local Government Area, five primed IEDs recovered from the scene of a robbery at one of the new generation banks in Ezinihitte Mbaise.”

Similarly, 10 old war time military bombs were recovered at a road construction site in Ogbaku, Mbaitoli Local Government Area, six bombs from Ohoba, Ohaji/Egbema Local council area and some IEDs from a generating plant environment at Okigwe.

The command also recovered an IED built inside a fire extinguisher, a rocket launcher, five electro-magnetic war time bombs and six hand held grenades from a road construction site at Orlu.

Mohammed said four primed IEDs and one hand held grenade were recovered from an abandoned vehicle used by robbers along Okigwe Road, Owerri.

He noted: “We also recovered six pump action guns, 61 canons, six bags of gun powder and chemicals. It is important to sound a note of warning that people should report the presence of strange objects to the nearest police station for immediate action.”

AGOS– TWO men, Godswill Chukwunyere, 25 and Fred Ine, 50, and others now at large were arraigned, yesterday, before a Lagos Magistrate's Court sitting in Ikeja for allegedly stealing property worth N2.4 million.

The suspects docked before Magistrate A. O. Akinde are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and theft preferred against them by the police.

The Police prosecutor, Inspector Chinalu Uwadione, told the court that the defendants and three others now at large, committed the alleged offence on January 12, 2013 at Impacto Trading Company Ltd, along Km 16, Lekki- Epe expressway, Agungi, Lekki, Lagos.

He said the defendants and three others now at large who are staff of Men-in-Black Security Company, were sent to mount security at Impacto Trading Company at the aforementioned date and place and that they allegedly stole some Spanish tiles valued at N2.4 million.

The suspects were granted bail in the sum of N300, 000 each with two sureties who must be relatives and one of them to deposit N20,000. The case was adjourned to August 8, 2013 for hearing.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013—7

Police rescue 2 Chinese, kill suspected kidnapper in Ogun

BY EVELYN USMAN

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AGOS — POLICEMEN at tached to Ogijo division in Ogun State, yesterday, engaged a four-man kidnap syndicate in a shoot-out, killing one of them.

Rescued at the end of the shootout were two Chinese men said to have been kidnapped in Odogunyan area of Ikorodu, Lagos.

The kidnappers, as gathered, laid ambush for their victims who are staff of LEE Group of companies at about 1a m. They reportedly forced them into their BMW car with number plate CK 737 LSD and drove straight to their den somewhere in Shotunbo village in Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Confirming the incident, spokesman for the Ogun State Police Command, Muyiwa Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP, said: “The Chinese, Song Jiang She and Zhang Wen Xue, were rescued unhurt after policemen from Ogijo divisional headquarters led by the Divisional Police Officer, Toyin Afolaogun, a Superintendent of Police, stormed the kidnappers' den and engaged them in a gun duel.

"In the process, one of the kidnappers who was fatally injured was arrested while others fled with bullet wounds. The injured kidnapper later died.”

The Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Mr Ikemefuna Okoye, visited the kidnappers hide-out, yesterday, and ordered that it to be cordoned off and placed under surveillance for further investigation.

This, he said, was to prevent the kidnappers from using the remote building located three kilometres away from Sagamu/Ikorodu road for similar operation.

“The CP has reiterated the command’s commitment to make Ogun State hot for any hoodlum or group of miscreants who may want to cause untold hardship on

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LORIN – ACTIVITIES in the ancient town of Offa in Kwara State came to a standstill, yesterday, as protesters comprising students of tertiary institutions across the country, market men and women, yesterday, stormed the palace of the Olofa of Offa,Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi, to pledge their support for his rulership.

All the markets and shops were under lock and key while business activities in the ancient town were grounded.

The protesters carried placards which read among others, “Mufutau ni gbogbo Offa nfe loba” (Muftau is the unanimous choice of Offa people) “Gbadamosi Ko se yo, E joko je”

weapons and the gang’s operational car were recovered from the den.

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IRNIN KEBBI — A TO TAL of 134 applicants, who recently applied for teaching appointment with the Kebbi State government, presented fake certificates, an official said, yesterday.

The state Commissioner for Science and Technical Education, Alhaji Muhammadu Ruwa, who disclosed this in Birnin Kebbi, noted that the applicants were among those denied employment by the government.

Ruwa, also the chairman of the recruitment committee, said 8,266 of a total of 8,600 applicants were successful.

He said the government needed 11,766 teachers for its schools, but only 8,600 turned up for the recruitment interview.

RESCUED: Commissioner of Police, Ogun State,Mr Ikemefuna Okoye (left) with two Chinese, Mr Song Jiang She and Zhang Wen Xue after being rescued from their abductors, in Sagamu, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

Killed policemen: Widows get N500,000 compensation L

BY EVELYN USMAN

AGOS — EMOTIONS ran high, yesterday, at the Zone II Police Command , Onikan , Lagos, after widows of policemen who died in the course of duty lamented the agony they faced following the absence of their husbands.

The widows and next of kins of deceased policemen, including policemen who sustained severe

Solidarity protest for removed monarch grounds Offa

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

the good people of the state,” Adejobi said.

He said three locally made pistols with some live cartridges, masks, handsets, dangerous

(Gbadamosi is irremovable, stop your opposition); Esuwoye Oba tuntun, Offa tuntun” (Esuwoye, a new king, Offa, a new town) and “E gbagbe Ote, Ilosiwaju la fe” (Forget hostilities, what we want is development).

Spokesman of the students group and national coordinator, Offa Student Leaders Forum, Salahudeen Lukman, said the alleged court dethronement of Esuwoye would mean a set-back for Offa because the monarch had, during his reign, contributed immensely to the socio-economic development of the community He called for intervention of state and Federal governments to ensure peace in the town, which he said, was paramount for sustainable development and economic stability.

injuries which left them incapacitated, were at the zonal command to receive payment, which forms part of the welfare package promised by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar.

The beneficiaries numbering 20, included policemen who served and are still serving in Lagos and Ogun states police commands. A total of N4. 2 million was paid to the beneficiaries.

Handing the cheques to them, Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone II, Mr Mamman Tsafe, explained that the package was to ensure that children of the slain policemen were taken care of and also to give psychological boost to those who suffered from injuries.

For policemen who lost their lives either during exchange of bullets with men of the underworld or through road accidents, a total of N500,000 was given as compensation to their next-of-kin while those who sustained injuries got between N100,000 and N200,000.

Noting that the IG’s initiative was a right step in the right direction, Tsafe said moves were ongoing to improve on the package.

He said: “Before now, there was nothing like this. But when the IG came on board, he initiated this compensation plan. Aside this, there are also other pack-

Teachers’ recruitment: 134 applicants tender fake certificates in Kebbi

ages like personal donations from course mates to help families of deceased policemen. Today’s payment is an open one to encourage them."

Mixed reactions trail compensation Immediately a cheque of N500,000 was handed over to the son of one of the deceased policemen, his mother burst into tears.

When Vanguard requested to know the reason, she simply refused to speak. After much persuasion, the widow who refused to disclose her identity for security reasons, said: “Even though I am grateful for this compensation, it will not bring back my husband. Immediately my son stood up to collect the cheque, I remembered how his father had boasted on sending him to the best school he could afford, unaware that he would not live to see his dream accomplished.”

Another beneficiary was a Police Corporal who is still serving despite his deformity, as a result of gun shot wounds he sustained when he stopped a vehicle which turned out to be conveying armed gang in Ogun State. He said the money given to him was not up to what he spent as medical bill, let alone bring him back to his old self. He, however, expressed gratitude to God that he was alive, unlike his colleagues who were dead.

Mob sets truck ablaze for crushing 3 youths on Okada

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GOJA — A MOB in Okuku a suburb of Ogoja in the northern town of Cross River State, weekend, set ablaze a Champion Breweries truck after it crushed three youths riding on Okada.

An eye witness, Matthew Ekawu, a staff of Yala Local Government Area, told Vanguard that the truck came from Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital laden with over 2,000 crates of the company’s products for delivery to a local distributor.

He said the driver had negotiated the bend at the Okuku roundabout and was heading towards the direction of Mary Knoll College when four youths on a motor cycle went speeding towards the direction the truck was coming from on their way to the Graki cattle market at Igoli.

Ekawu said: “The truck had occupied part of the narrow road and on the other side was a stationery car. In the effort to avoid colliding with the car, the motorcycle tried to maneouvre through the little space between the truck and the car but the space was too small and they ended under the rear tyres of the truck and were crushed.”

One of the boys was, however, able to jump down from the motorcycle but three others, Ohiho Ogar, John (the rider) and Alice, the girlfriend to Ohiho who was a student of the Cross River State University of Technology were all crushed by the truck.

8—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

Leadership: Court summons Jonathan

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA—JUSTICE Usman Musale of an Abuja High Court sitting in Kubwa, yesterday, summoned President Goodluck Jonathan to give evidence that a document entitled Bromide of the Presidential Directive , which was published by the Leadership Newspaper on April 3, was forged.

Consequently, the court directed that a copy of the subpoena ad-testificandum, which it okayed against President Jonathan on July 15, be served on the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), forthwith.

Justice Musale specifically ordered counsel to the media organisation, Mr. Femi Falana, to ensure that the summon was delivered at the Ministry of Justice headquarters located at Central Business District.

In the subpoena, which was issued sequel to a request by the defence lawyer, the judge ordered that President Jonathan should appear before the court “from day to day until the case is tried, to give evidence on behalf of the accused persons.

“And to bring with you and produce at the time and aforesaid the purportedly forged document entitled Presidential directive, having on it the seal of the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, published on the front page of Leadership newspaper on April 3, 2013.”

It will be recalled that Federal Government had on June 27, re-arraigned two Leadership newspaper reporters, Mr. Tony Amokeodo and Mr. Chibuzo Ukaibe, on an alleged 11-count charge of conspiracy and forgery.

The journalists were, however, granted bail after they pleaded not guilty to the charge.

SUMMIT: President Goodluck Jonathan (right) and President Uhuru Kenyata of Kenya, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: Abayomi Adeshida.

Jonathan redeploys Perm Secs

BY OKEY NDIRIBE

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R E S I D E N T Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, approved the redeployment of five Permanent Secretaries.

This was contained in a statement yesterday by Tope Ajakaiye, Director, Communications in the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.

Those affected in the redeployment exercise include Mr. Danladi Kifasi, who was redeployed from Ministry of Finance to Petroleum Resources.

Others are Mrs. Fatima Bamidele, from Federal Ministry of Health to Finance; Ambassador Sani Bala, from Civil Service Commission to Ministry of Health; Ambassador

Abdulkadir Musa, from Office of the Head of the Civil Service to Police Service Commission and Dr. Folasade YemiEsan, from Office of the Head of the Civil Service (Service

A

member of the Board of Trustees of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Emeka Ojukwu, jnr, yesterday, called on Chief Maxi Okwuled faction of the party to join hands with the National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh, to restructure the party ahead of the scheduled governorship election in the state.

This came on a day Chief Umeh predicted that APGA would win the forthcoming governorship election slated for November 16.

Umeh had said that the apparent set-back suffered by the party during its leadership crisis would not affect

nounced the re-deployments, also directed that processes for handing and taking over by all those affected should be completed by July 24.

JTF kills three suspected Boko Haram members in Jigawa T

HE Joint Task Force, JTF, has killed three Boko Haram members in Jigawa State and recovered their weapons in a pre-dawn raid at Guri Local Government Area of the state.

Spokesman of 3 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Captain Ikedichi Iweha, made this

Anambra guber: APGA BoT member seeks cooperation

BY ENYIM ENYIM & VINCENT UJUMADU

Policies and Strategies Office) to Ministry of Information.

The statement further said that the Head of the Civil Service, Alhaji Bukar Aji, who an-

the fortunes of the party, especially in the November 16 Anambra governorship election.

Umeh was, Monday, reinstated as the national chairman of the party by the Court of Appeal in Enugu, months after an Enugu State High Court sacked him as national chairman.

Speaking with journalists in his Nnewi residence, Ojukwu said that there was no need for governorship aspirants to panic, assuring that everybody would be carried along in the scheme of things.

According to him, APGA is one family and cannot afford to leave any member behind, particularly at the moment when election is around the corner.

known in a statement yesterday, adding that the weapons were recovered during the operation in the house where the Jihadists resided.

The recovered weapons includ four AK-47 rifles, five magazines and 164 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition for AK-47 rifles.

Iweha said: “On Tuesday, July 16, following extensive intelligence build up, a combined team of the JTF involving the Nigerian Army of the 3 Brigade in Kano and the Kano State Department of State Services conducted a pre-dawn raid at a house occupied by members of the terrorist group in Abunabu vil-

lage of Guri Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

“JTF had earlier warned, following the declaration of a state of emergency in some parts of the North East region of the country, that some fleeing elements of the terrorist network will be seeking refuge in other parts of the country, especially areas with little security presence.

“Be rest assured that JTF will not rest on its oars in ensuring the safety of the good people of Jigawa State and the states within the area of operational responsibility of the Brigade.”

He solicited “cooperation in the provision of useful information which will aid our operation.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013 — 9

Power situation worsens as Shell shuts down Afam VI

BY MICHAEL EBOH

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IGERIA’S power situation worsened, yesterday, as Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, shut down its 624 Mega watts Afam VI power plant.

Shell, in a statement by Mr. Tony Okonedo, Corporate Media Relations Manager, said the shutdown was due to shortage of gas arising from the closure of the Trans Niger Pipeline, TNP, as a result of crude oil theft-related leaks.

Prior to the shut down, he disclosed that the power plant was only supplying 105 Mega watts of electricity to the national grid, due to insufficient gas supply.

According to him, the shut-

down of the TNP system, comprising the 28-inch and 24-inch streams, resulted in the deferment of 150,000 barrels of oil per day, and also led to tank tops and nonevacuation of condensate from Okoloma Gas Plant, which supplies Afam VI power plant with feed gas.

He expressed concern about the negative impact of incessant crude theft activities on lives and environment in the Niger Delta region, and also the loss of electricity to businesses and households across the country.

He said: “SPDC had to shut down Okoloma Gas Plant as it could not continue to produce gas without the evacuation of con-

densate.

“Afam VI power plant was available at 624Mw capacity, but supplying only 105Mw to the national grid due to reduced gas volume at the time of shutdown.

The leak

“The latest leak on TNP occurred on the 24-inch stream at Owokiri on July 11. A joint investigation visit comprising government agencies, community and civil society representatives and SPDC personnel found that unknown persons had installed a 6-inch crude theft valve on the facility.

“SPDC repaired that leak, and is working to remove other crude theft points that were discovered in the process. The 28inch TNP had earlier been shut

in for removal of similar oil theft connections.

“The company is striving to repair the TNP as quickly as possible, and restore operations that will enable power generation to resume at Afam VI.” Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, had a couple of days ago put the power generating capacity of the country’s power plants at 2,290Mw, blaming it on the vandalisation of two major gas pipelines supplying gas to eight power generating stations across the country.

According to TCN, the affected plants are Egbin/AES Thermal Stations, Olorunsogo, Omotoso, Geregu NIPP, Afam IV and VI Thermal Power Stations and Rivers State Independent Power Station, which resulted in drastic reduction of power supply by 1,598Mw.

LECTURE: From left— Mr. John Alufohai, President; Mr. Olayemi Shonubi, Chairman, Lagos Chapter, and Mr. Olusegun Ajanlekoko, past President, all of Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, at the 5th annual distinguished lecture of the institute's Lagos chapter, in Lagos, yesterday.

Nigerian Army recruits 16,000 in 2 yrs

BY PETER DURU

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AKURDI—CHIEF of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubike Ihejirika, yesterday, said that the Nigerian Army has recruited over 16,000 officers and men to beef up its operations within and outside the country in the last two years.

Ihejirika spoke during the Nigerian Army Combat Support Arms Training Week 2013, with the theme Enhancing the Capacity of the Nigerian Army Combat Support Arms in the Contemporary Environment, at the Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering, NASME, in Makurdi, Benue State capital.

Meanwhile, Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State has described the army as “the backbone, hope and stabilising factor in our country’s democracy and therefore deserves the continuous sup-

port and encouragement of the political class.”

Suswam was represented on the occasion by his Special Adviser on Security, Col. Basil Kwembe (rtd.).

Ihejirika said the Army would continue to improve on its capacity to meet the challenges of the time, adding that the military in col-

laboration with other security agencies was already winning the war against terrorism in the country.

He said: “In the last two years, the all-round recruitment into the army is put at over 16,000.

“This means we must improve on our housing facilities, which is a challenge our

Army Engineers must be prepared to tackle.”

Earlier in his speech, Commander Army Corps of Engineers, Major-Gen. Gunshot Owonibi, had said that the week-long training would provide officers the needed platform to brainstorm on issues of security in the country and ways of tackling same.

3,000 Kano farmers get N209m from World Bank

BY DOTUN IBIWOYE

W

ORLD Bank has disbursed N209 million to over 3,000 farmers in Kano State from the World Bank Assisted Commercial Agriculture Development Project.

The project was said to promote Draught Tolerant Maize, DTM, in the traditionally non-maize growing areas, using and adoption of System of Rice Intensification, SRI, amongst rice farmers.

It resulted in an average yield increase from 2.7 metric ton to 3.6 metric ton per hectare.

World Bank’s Senior Operations Specialist and Task Team Leader of the project, Dr. Lucas Akapa, made this disclosure in a statement.

The beneficiaries from Kano State’s Commercial Agriculture Development Project , CADP, comprises 1,637 are males and 1,502 women.

Akapa said CADP encouraged the adoption of flash-drying technology by rice processors, reducing drying time from 12 hours to three per ton, which increased the production efficiency of beneficiaries and the satisfaction of clients.

He said: “Over 3,000 farmers have benefited from Commercial Agriculture Development Project, CADP, in Kano State.

“Of this number, 1,637 are males, while 1,502 women benefited. The beneficiaries received over N209 million from the World Bank-assisted project.

“These achievements are directly attributable to increased adoption of improved technologies.”

Agbakoba threatens to sue NASS over ecclesiastical courts

BY DAPO AKINREFON

F

ORMER President of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has threatened to sue National Assembly and AttorneyGeneral of the Federation over the absence of Christian and Ecclesiastical Courts in the 1999 Constitution.

Agbakoba, in a petition to

the Senate President, entitled Establishment of Ecclesiastical Courts, argued that it was a violation of Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which prohibits discrimination on account of religion.

He observed that no provision was made for Christians to have their religious and spiritual affairs adjudicated by persons adequately learned in Ecclesiastical laws and biblical

jurisprudence.

Agbakoba said: “Islamic and Customary practitioners are well recognised and accommodated in the Constitution by the establishment of the Customary and Islamic court systems in Sections 260, 265, 275 and 280.

“But no corresponding provision is made for Christians or Ecclesiastical Courts. Christians are forced to resort to Customary and High Courts which are manned by persons with little or no knowl-

edge of Ecclesiastical law and jurisprudence.”

He recommended that in the “present Constitution alteration process, provision be made for the establishment of Christian and Ecclesiastical Courts. Nigeria is a multi-religious country and faith is personal.

“I believe matters of faith should not be contained in the Constitution as provided by Section 10, which prohibits state religion.”

10—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

Taskforce on environment returns N7m seized goods

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

L

AGOS — LAGOS State Government through the State Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit has returned seized goods worth over N7 million to their owners.

The goods were seized by special team of taskforce, weekend, from Idumota traders, who converted a portion of the road for trading.

Items seized include: jewelry, clothing materials, household items, among several others.

Catholic knights kick against abortion

T

HE ORDER of the Knights of Saint Mulumba, has vowed to mobilise against any legislation legalising abortion in the country as the debate spreads across Europe and Americas.

The Maryland SubCouncil of the church, spoke during a visit to Kosofe Local Government Chairman, Chief Afolabi Babatunde Sofola.

Rising against increasing liberalism that tends to confer on people, especially women, absolute right to their bodies leading to increase in promiscuity and the resultant unwanted pregnancies and abortions among youths, the knights stressed the inalienable right of the unborn to life.

2013 SQHN Conference holds in Lagos

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HE SOCIETY for Quality in Healthcare in Nigeria, SQHN, will tomorrow hold its annual conference with the theme: “Advancing Patient Safety in Nigeria.”

The conference is aimed at showcasing specific examples of current patient safety practices in Nigeria and how quality can be used as a marketing strategy, among others.

The conference will feature a discussion panel with the leaders of the medical and dental councils of Nigeria and key professional healthcare groups.

No more free medical services to terminally ill patients —Fashola The governor, who spoke while commissioning the centre at the Gbagada General Hospital, Kosofe Local Government Area of the state, explained that the state free healthcare policy could not cover terminal diseases like complicated surgeries, child birth, kidney and cancer, among others.

He, however, said the state would continue to provide

free healthcare on ante-natal care, malaria, especially for certain segments of the society.

According to him: “This is why I think that citizens must sign up to medical insurance.

This is because when we complete the challenges of infrastructure and welfare, we will move to the most defining issue, which is medical insurance.

“With this, citizens will be their own insurance from where the free healthcare stops.”

Giving reasons for the deciAGOS — GOVERNOR sion, Fashola said: “The rate, Babatunde Fashola of at which our population is Lagos State, yesterday, said growing, is not commensurate the state would no longer prowith the rate at which the state vide free medical services to resources are growing.” patients suffering terminal On the facility, the governor diseases, even as he commissaid: “The aim is to protect the sioned the first Trauma and life of the residents and to reBurns Centre in the country. duce the rate of patients traveling abroad to seek such treatment.

“I remember in 2007, there was a major fire incident at Alimosho axis of the state. The medical officials were available, but they were helpless, as the facilities were lacking. And that left an indelible mark on my mind, because I saw people affected by the fire, struggling for life.

“This informed why I decided that the state must provide facility that would cater for such cases.

“And this burns unit has the equipment for the treatFrom left, Lagos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Fasholas, SAN; Commissioner for Health, Dr. ment and management of Jide Idris, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adesina, during people that have acute the commissioning of the Trauma and Burns Centre, at Gbagada General Hospital, Gbagada, burns, and can provide plastic surgeries for payesterday. Photo By Bunmi Azeez tients.”

BY CHIOMA OBINNA AND MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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NAMA to dismantle illegal telecom masts

BY LAWANI NIKAIRU

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IGERIAN AIRSPACE Management Agency, NAMA, has given a four-week ultimatum to owners of telecommunication masts at several locations across the country to dismantle them or face sanctions.

The agency said the order was to enhance air safety in the country.

A statement by Supo Atobatele, General Manager, Public Affairs, NAMA , said the directive became imperative following the inherent danger posed by such structures to air navigation in the country.

According to the statement: “Consequently, the agency has engaged the services of Seas Electrical and Computer Services Ltd to effect the dismantling of affected masts at the expiration of the ultimatum.

“The firm has been mandated not only to identify and report, but also to reduce height or dismantle as applicable.

“NAMA Act section 7(1) c and d of its establishment Act No. 48 of 1999 is empowered to prohibit and regulate the installation of any structure which by virtue of its height or position is considered to endanger the safety of air navigation,” and also “prevent interference with the use or effectiveness of all apparatus used in connection with air navigation.’’

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013—11

ASUP suspends strike, ASUU adamant

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG, DAYO ADESULU, JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU LAJU ARENYEKA, IKENNA ASOMBA & KELECHI AZUBUIKE

LAGOS — ACADEMIC activities will today resume in all the Federal and State Polytechnics nationwide following the suspension of the 81-day industrial action by the lecturers under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP. However, the two-week old strike by university lecturers is continuing as the meeting be-

tween the joint Committee of Senate and House of Representatives on Education and the lecturers under the umbrella of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to find solution to the strike ended in deadlock.

This came as pro-labour civil society groups, under the aegis of Joint Action Front, JAF, have expressed concern over the state of education in the country, and are planning a nationwide mass protest to force the Federal and state governments to not only accede to the legitimate demands of workers of the nation’s tertiary

institutions, but also make adequate funding of public education compulsory.

Speaking on the suspension of the strike after their National Executive Council, NEC, meeting in Abuja, ASUP Chairman, Dr. Chibuzor Asumogba, told Vanguard that the decision to suspend the strike was a result of the intervention of the Joint committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Education.

It would be recalled that ASUP embarked on nationwide indefinite strike on April 29 over what they termed Federal Government’s insensitivity to its de-

INAUGURATION: From left, Osemawe of Ondo of Kingdom, Oba Victor Kiladejo, Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Bade Omoloja, Governor Olusegun Mimiko, wife of the governor, Olukemi Mimiko, and Ondo State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Alli Olanusi, at the inauguration of the Moferere City Market, in Ondo town, yestersday.

Jaiz Bank capitalisation hits N13bn …opens 10 branches Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

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BUJA — JAIZ Bank plc, Nigeria’s first non-interest bank has raised its authorized share capital to N13 billion and now has 10 branches after one and a half years of operation.

The latest branch which was opened in Kastina town was commissioned by governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema, yesterday.

The governor pledged to identify with the ideals of the bank and support its operations.

“Katsina State Government is ready to partner with and support Jaiz bank and other Financial Institutions that are ready to invest in the real sector of the economy, to enable the State attain greater economic prosperity. ”Today, we extend our unique hospitality to Jaiz Bank, as we say welcome to Katsina. There is no doubt that the people of Katsina and many other parts of Nigeria have been agitating for a financial service provider that operates based on rules of commerce and trade, in accordance with Sharia Principles,” he said.

Chairman, board of directors of Jaiz Bank, Alhaji Umaru Mutallab thanked, the governor and people of Katsina for their hospitality and promised to help develop the real sector of the economy of the state.

He said: “Our vision is to be the dominant non-interest financial service provider in sub Saharan Africa. We intend to achieve this by providing inno-

vative, value-added, non-interest financial services to our clientele by employing the best people, supported by technology.”

According to him, there were plans to locate additional branches in Bauchi, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi and Jigawa States and to open additional branches at Bayero University Kano, Federal Secretariat Abuja and Zaria, before end of year 2013.

Reps urge FG to send relief materials to Warri crisis victims

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE & LEVI

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BUJA — HOUSE of Representatives, yesterday, urged the Federal Government to send relief materials to areas affected by the recent Warri crisis.

The House in a resolution, mandated the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, committees and National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, to immediately take

records of destruction and give shelter to the victims by rebuilding their burnt houses.

This development was sequel to a motion brought to the House by Daniel Reyenieju, PDP, representing Warri Federal Constituency in Delta State.

Reyenieju, in his motion, tagged: “Indiscriminate attacks, killings and destruction of Houses in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, noted that unless immediate steps were taken to urgently forestall the incessant attacks, a more tragic inferno might recur.

mands.

Meanwhile, efforts by the Joint Senate and House of Representative Committees on Education to resolve the crisis between the ASUU and the Federal Government Monday night ended in deadlock.

The joint Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Education in a bid to ensure amicable resolution of the crisis that led to the shut-down of universities invited the union and representatives of the Federal Government, but the two warring factions could not arrive at an agreement for the strike to be called off.

Speaking to Vanguard after the meeting, President of ASUU, Dr. Nasir Fagge, said the union made its presentation before the committee, while the Federal Government delegation led by the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i also made their own presentation, adding that towards the end, there was no common agreement.

D r. Fagge said: “The government side made their presentation and we also made our presentation and it became clear to the Senate and House of Reps Committees on Education that there have to be a follow-up meeting.

"So they requested both side to go and look at their presentations again and make some consultations and come back at a later date.”

Similarly, to the Secretary of the Senate Committee on Education, Felix Orumwense, the meeting which lasted over eight hours ended with ASUU standing their grounds.

He said: “Our meeting with ASUU started by 1.00p.m. and ended at about 8.30p.m. All efforts to appeal to them to call back their members back to classroom fell on deaf ears.”

Meantime, pro-labour civil society groups, have threatened to organise mass protest in support of better educational system in the country.

The group also threw total support for the ongoing nationwide strike by Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, and Senior Staff Association of Polytechnics, SSANIP, that have shut down the nation’s university and Polytechnic education for the past two weeks and about four months respectively.

JAF in at a general meeting to discuss the crisis facing the nation’s education, lamented perceived irresponsibility and insensitivity of the Federal Government and state governments to the collapsing state of public education.

JAF added that most political office holders (executives and legislators) and civil service top functionaries at all levels of Government, allegedly have unhindered corruptive access to the looting of public fund, with which they allegedly sustain their children and cronies in private schools and universities in Nigeria and abroad.

Abia invites FG to take over tertiary institutions

BY ANAYO OKOLI

UMUAHIA — ABIA State Government declared, yesterday, the state was not marginalised by the Federal Government in the area of locating tertiary institutions.

Governor Theodore Orji made the declaration, after returning from China, in an interview with newsmen.

According to Governor Orji, the state had initiated moves towards handing over some of the state tertiary institutions to the Federal Government.

The governor said the state government had already written the Federal Government requesting it to take over some of the institutions.

Anambra EXCO approves N5.5bn road contracts

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

AWKA — ANAMBRA State Government has approved road contracts worth N5.5 billion to be executed in various parts of the state.

Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Chief Joe Uzodike, said after the weekly postexecutive council meeting at Government House, Awka, that the projects would be completed before the end of the tenure of the present administration in the state.

24m disabled voters task guber aspirants

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

AWKA — 24 million disabled Nigerians vowed in Awka, yesterday, to take aspirants for Anambra State governorship election in 2013 and 2015 presidential poll to task by extracting from them written documents on their plans for a comprehensive empowerment of Nigerians with disability.

Addressing newsmen in Awka, National President of Association for Comprehensive Empowerment of Nigerians with Disability, ASCEND, Mr. Cosmas Okoli, said if such elected persons reneged on their agreement, the association would evolve ways of making their administrations ungovernable.

12—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

ACN stalwart faults PDP on Esan North council polls result

BY SIMON EBEG-

BULEM

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ENIN CITY—AC TION Congress of Nigeria, ACN, chairmanship candidate in Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State, Mr Sam Oboh, has faulted the claim by the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the council, Mr. John Yakubu that he won the cancelled April 20, 2013 council election in the area.

It will be recalled that Edo State Independent National Electoral Commission, EDSIEC, cancelled the elections for the chairmanship and councillorship positions twice due to alleged electoral malpractices and violence perpetrated by supporters of both parties. EDSIEC said it would fix a new date for the poll.

The PDP candidate, Yakubu, had in a recent interview faulted the decision of EDSIEC to cancel the election, which he said he won. But reacting, ACN candidate, Oboh, told Vanguard that the claim was laughable, adding “if it was in a good society where the rule of law is respected, he should have been arrested for claiming victory in an election that was cancelled by the umpire.”

Forum faults terrorism allegation against Rep

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OMADI—ELITES Forum Akugbene in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, has condemned the allegation of terrorism and kidnapping levelled against a member of House of Representatives, Mr. Nicholas Mutu, representing Bomadi/Patani federal constituency.

The forum’s President, Mr Mark Perekeme, who spoke with journalists after a meeting of the group with other groups, said that the allegation was a calculated attempt by Mutu’s foes to dent his image.

He advised youths in Bomadi Local Government Area to abstain from being used by politicians as trouble makers for their selfish desires, adding that the lawmaker has no record of involvement in politicalviolencefrom1997tilldate.

Militants’ pipelines protection contract part of Amnesty deal —PRESIDENCY livelihood for the ex-warlords body can protect oil pipelines crisscross their backyards can as a means of encouraging better than the natives of the conveniently work with the seBUJA—THE Presi them to prevail on their supoil communities where the curity agencies to stop oil theft dency, yesterday, deporters to keep the peace. pipelines traverse. I believe and protect the facilities,” Kuku fended the award of multi-mil“It is important that we stop that only the people of the com- said. lion Naira pipeline protection deceiving ourselves that anymunities where the pipelines contract to former Niger Delta warlords, saying that the action was part of the lifeline offer under the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, made the position known while, announcing the new Head of Department in charge of Post-Amnesty Training, Mr. Tamarabebe Mologi, in Abuja.

Kuku explained that the choice of ex-militant leaders such as Tompolo, Ateke Tom, Boyloaf and other leaders was to ensure the success of the jobs, as only the natives of the Niger Delta were well placed to assist security agencies in combating oil theft and tampering with facilities.

CLIMATE CHANGE: From left: Director General, National Environmental Standards and The Presidential aide also Regulation Enforcement Agency, NESREA, Mrs. Ngeri Benebo; Governor Emmanuel said that before the signing of Uduaghan of Delta State, ‘Desert Warrior,’ Chief Newton Jibunoh and Mrs. Denise Welch, the amnesty deal, the Federal during a stakeholders’ forum on Territorial Approach to Climate Change in Asaba, yesterGovernment had accepted to day. provide appropriate means of

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BY SONI DANIEL

Ekiti PDP crisis worsens as faction suspends chairman

with guns, cutlasses and cudgels took over the secretariat while others fled.

BY GBENGAARIYIBI The hoodlums indiscriminately fired into the air, apparDO EKITI—THERE was ently to scare away the group commotion at the state secretariat of the Peoples Demo- that had wanted to address the cratic Party, PDP, in Ado Ekiti, press conference In the ensuing melee, the Ekiti State, yesterday, as some PDP state Legal Adviser and aggrieved members of the party announced the suspen- former Speaker of the Ekiti sion of the chairman, Chief State House of Assembly, Mr. Makanjuola Ogundipe for al- Kola Adefemi and state Audileged misappropriation of tor, Mr. Olatunji Olanrewaju, funds, corruption and inability who were said to be loyal to to carry along other members the chairman, sustained head of the Central Working Com- injuries. mittee, CWC, of the party.

The party had been embroiled in controversy over moves to pick a consensus candidate for the 2014 governorship election.

The man at the centre of conBY VICTORIA OJEME troversy, Chief Ogundipe, was also accused of unilaterally BUJA—THE United States constituting the 11-member government and EuroScreening Committee to pick pean Union, yesterday, conthe gubernatorial candidate for demned the Federal Governthe 2014 governorship election. ment’s refusal to hand over In a statement by the party’s the Sudanese President, Omar Public Relations Officer, Pastor Al Bashir, to the International Kola Oluwawole, the embattled Criminal Court, ICC, for proschairman was suspended for ecution over alleged crimes one month, while his deputy, against humanity.

Mr. Femi Bamisile was asked The Sudanese leader was in to take over from him.

Abuja last weekend, to attend Trouble was said to have the just concluded African started when the public an- Union conference on HIV/ nouncement of the new devel- AIDS, tuberculosis and maopment, was disrupted by laria. hoodlums.

In a statement by InformaNewsmen and party faithful tion Officer, Rhonda Fergusonsubsequently ran for safety, as Augustus, the U.S. government the hoodlums who were armed said: “We regret Nigeria’s

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But Chief Ogundipe, who was not at the party’s secretariat at the time of the tussle, claimed ignorance of his removal and the planned press briefing.

Members of the CWC, who signed the statement for the suspension on the chairman are, the Secretary of the party, Dr. Tope Aluko, Publicity Secretary, Pastor Kola Oluwawole, state Women’s Leader, Mrs. Busola Oyebode, PDP Vice Chairman, Central, Mr. Femi Ogunleye, State Organising

Secretary, Alhaji Lateef Agbaje, the State Treasurer, Mr. Aluko.A.O. and the State Youth Leader, Mr. Tayelolu Olatunji.

Meantime, the Public Relations Officer of the state Police Command, Mr. Victor Babafemi, said police have deployed men to the party secretariat to maintain law and order.

The police image maker, however, said no arrest have been made.

US, EU condemn Nigeria’s inability to hand over Pr esident Al-Bashir

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decision to welcome a visit by Sudanese President, Omar alBashir. “ President Hassan al-Bashir and other Sudanese individuals are subject to ICC arrest warrants for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur. It is serious cause for concern that these individuals remain at large and continue to travel across international borders.”

Reacting to the EU said Nigeria ought to have refused the Sudanese President entry into the country in accordance with ICC’s arrest warrant place on him.

The EU, in a statement by

High Representative, Catherine Ashton, said: “The High Representative is concerned by the visit of President of Sudan, Al-Bashir, to Nigeria , a state party to the Rome Statute of the ICC.” The EU noted that President Al-Bashir was under an arrest warrant by the ICC for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

It reiterated the importance for all member states of the United Nations to abide by and implement the resolutions adopted by the Security Council under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, in this case UNSCR 1593(2005).

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013—13

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14 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013—15

Bank indicts EFCC over N2trn seized zSays Commission operates fixed deposit account assets

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE & LEVINUS NWAGBUHIOGU BUJA—MORE facts emerged, yesterday, that the Economic and

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Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, may have allegedly tampered with the N2 trillion seized assets and money recovered by the commission.

The commission at the moment operates six different accounts, ranging from Naira to Euro and Pound Sterling.

The development came on the heels of a public

LAUNCH—From Left: Director, PMO & Operational Strategy, Etisalat Nigeria, Ms. Ndidi Okpaluba; Representative of the Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment; Chief Executive Officer, Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, Mr. Jim Obaze; Director General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Dr. Joseph Odumodu; and Chief Executive Officer, Thistle Praxis Consulting, Mrs. Ini Onuk at the launch of ISO 26000 Guidance Standards on Social Responsibility in Nigeria sponsored by Etisalat Nigeria.

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hearing of the House of Representatives on Narcotics, Drugs and Financial Crimes which investigated the status of assets, tangible and intangible, recovered or seized by the EFCC since its inception till date.

The committee had invited Access Bank Plc, which is the custodian of the commission’s accounts for questioning on the current account status of EFCC. Testifying before the committee yesterday, Access Bank General Manager/Chief Inspector, Mr. Olayinka Tiamulu, who represented the Managing Director of the Bank, said the EFCC maintained six different accounts.

According to him, the Euro and Dollars accounts have nil balances at present.

Categorizing the accounts, Olayinka said they had different names which included EFCC Regular Accounts, Fixed Deposit Accounts, EFCC Trust Accounts (Dollar) and EFCC Recovery Accounts.

Giving details of the credit balances in the accounts, Tiamulu said the EFCC Regular Accounts had N73, 967,997,57; Fixed Deposit Account, N3,210,535,866,59; EFCC Trust Account, N4,962,869,90; EFCC Recovery Account had 290, 795,2.

He said while EFCC Trust was Dollar Account, EFCC Recovery Accounts was in Naira, adding that the Fixed Deposit was interest rated.

He could not, however, confirm the last time monies were withdrawn from the accounts but stated that they were operation accounts.

Also speaking at the hearing, managing Director of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, Mr. Chike Obi, said there was no seized property whatsoever by the EFCC, that was in its possession as widely speculated.

Obi, however, revealed that the case of hectares of landed property in Lagos, which was confiscated from former Oceanic Bank Managing Director, Mrs. Cecilia Ibru, was 101 hectares as against the speculated 1001 hectares, stressing that it was paid for

by AMCON and not EFCC recoveries.

Jonathan urges stronger bilateral relations with US

BY BEN AGANDE

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BUJA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, called for further strengthening of NigeriaUnited States Bi-National Commission to make it a more productive platform for boosting bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

He spoke when he had an audience with the outgoing ambassador of the United States to Nigeria, Mr. Terence McCulley.

According to President Jonathan, the commission, which was established during President Barack Obama’s first term in office, is a laudable initiative that should be nurtured and built upon by both countries.

He called for maintenance of the regularity of the twiceyearly meetings of the commission which is cochaired by the United States Secretary of State and Nigeria’s Minister of

Foreign Affairs, saying it would greatly help to further improve cooperation between the two countries in various areas, including economic relations, trade, security and defence.

He thanked Mr. McCulley for his efforts to strengthen the already cordial relations between Nigeria and the United States and wished him success at his next post.

In his remarks, the out going USA ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. McCulley, thanked President Jonathan for the support and cooperation he received from the Federal Government during his tenure.

He said the United States regarded Nigeria as a key strategic partner in Sub-Saharan Africa and would keep working with Nigeria to strengthen and expand bilateral cooperation in all possible areas.

....laments access to HIV/ AIDS service delivery

BY VICTORIA OJEME

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BUJA—DESPITE Nigeria’s stable change in the incidence of HIV infection among persons aged 15-49 years between 2001 and 2011, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday lamented that the overall gaps in access to service delivery remained a great challenge.

Jonathan, who made the remark during the AIDS Watch Africa Champions’ session at the justconcluded Special Summit of African Union on HIV/ AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Abuja, observed that the challenge gave rise to the President’s Comprehensive Response Plan, PCRP, to accelerate the implementation of key interventions to bridge existing service gaps.

The President said: “Furthermore, 491, 021 HIV positive persons out of an eligible population of 1.6 million were accessing Anti-Retroviral Therapy, ART, as at December 2012 which represents 30 percent of national need.

We saw this as a challenge. We regarded it

as a wake-up call for more concerted action and rededication.

“The overall gaps in access to HIV/AIDS service remains a great challenge given the fact that Nigeria has the second highest HIV burden in the world with 3.4 million people estimated to be living with HIV as at 2012”.

He pointed out that the PCRP was designed to address the service delivery challenges facing the HIV/AIDS response system in the country.

The plan, Jonathan said, would help to address key financial, health systems and coordination challenges besides promoting greater responsibility at federal and state levels.

The AU leaders, in their draft declaration on HIV/ AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, agreed to accelerate the implementation of the earlier commitments, step up mobilization of domestic resources to strengthen the health system, ensure that strategies are in place for diversified, balanced and sustainable financing for health, in particular AIDS, TB and Malaria.

16—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

ACF, NEF resolve to reclaim power in 2015 zSay North williingly conceded power to the South in 2011 zCondemn Rivers crisis zAsk Jonathan to stop using police to settle political disputes

BY LUKA BINNIYAT ADUNA—AREWA Con sultative Forum, ACF, and the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, have unanimously resolved to ensure that power returned to the Northern part of Nigeria in 2015.

The groups also said the North willingly conceded power to the south in 2011, to give the zone a feeling of belonging.

Briefing newsmen yesterday in Kaduna, spokesman of the groups, Prof. Ango Abdullahi called on President Goodluck Jonathan to order an

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immediate cessation of hostilities in Rivers State and stop using the Nigeria Police to settle political disputes.

His words: ‘’The fact that we don’t come out in shouting matches and in abusive languages styles and so on sometimes gives the wrong impression that we do not have deep rooted concern for ourselves about 2015. This is not truth.

The South South is a tiny enclave of a few people, perhaps not bigger than Kaduna state.

‘’The north is determined and is insistent that the leadership of the country will rotate to it in 2015. And I am making that very clear to you. On behalf of all of us, ACF in front because they have been the oldest group and the Middle Belt Forum and our other groups that have been very active and strong. All of us are likely to have this very tough and common agenda. Not that the north and power blind. No! it will be argued on the rational agree-

ment that are on ground today.

“The north on the basis of oneman-one-vote can keep power indefinitely in the present Nigeria state. If it is on the basis of one man, one vote, the demography shows that the north can keep power as long as it wants because it will always win elections “ If we didn’t have eight years because of truncation, at least we have six but they said no.

But I don’t want to go into how this no were translated into yes.

Because it must have been the fault of northerners as far as I am concern they allowed this because it was their turn. But they allowed it. So, then , it was Jonathan came 2011. I thought he should be the first, purely on moral grounds, knowing that there is rotation arrangement in place and that there was an agreement and all of them were signatory but they came out in the public to say that they don’t know about rotation. Obasanjo started it, he said he didn’t know about rotation. Jonathan himself said it that he didn’t’ know about rotation” In addition, Abdullahi said: ‘’The shameful and disturbing abuse of power and rule of law in River State, are signs that Nigeria is descending into anarchy and lawlessness rarely seen in our history.

“The hands of the presidency are clearly visible in all these events that appear to draw inspiration from the ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan to stay in power in 2015. The most recent development in River State represents a new low in the shameful conduct of political office holders at the highest levels, and they should be condemned by all Nigerians.

“The crisis in River State is a sad reminder of our experience in the western Nigeria crisis of 1963. We call on President Goodluck Jonathan to order an immediate cessation of hostilities in Rivers State and stop using the Nigeria Police to settle his political disputes.

The Police must not be dragged into the internal crisis of the President’s party. The governor and people of River State and indeed, all citizens of Nigeria, deserve the full protection of the law and their rights to live in peace under the stateguaranteed security.

“There are ominous signs that the new leadership of the NPC is out to create sensation and plunge Nigeria into avoidable crisis. Instead of settling down to understand the complex demographic dynamics of the country, the new leadership has so far only engaged in spurious pedestrian and unsupported allegation to discredit the 2006 national population census.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013 —17

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18 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013 JUSTICE Aloma Mukhtar’s inauguration as the first female Chief Justice of Nigeria a year ago, passed without much fanfare because of her character, a quality she has brought to judicial reforms, particularly the sanctioning of judges. Her appointment left her with the challenge of reforming an arm of government that bears its inadequacies with stoic embarrassment.

Corruption in the judiciary is barely punished. Justice Mukhtar has confronted corruption in the judiciary. She has led the National Judicial Council to punish it. The flood of 198 petitions that got to the NJC in one year, though Mukhtar said 150 of them were frivolous, could be an indication of peoples’ disappointments with the judiciary, as well as their expectation that Mukhtar would address the complaints.

Notable among the cases the NJC decided were those of Justice Charles Archibong of the Federal High Court and Justice T. D. Naron of High Court of Plateau State, who were retired for alleged unprofessional conduct. The NJC on 26 April 2013, also suspended Justice Abubakar Talba from office for a year without pay over findings

One Y ear Of Year Mukht ar’s R ef orms Mukhtar’s eforms that he did not exercise discretion in sentencing Mr. John Yakubu Yusuf, who he convicted for stealing N1.3 billion from the police pension fund. The N750, 000 fine, which Yakubu paid on the spot and gained his freedom, outraged the public.

Last week, six court workers were dismissed by the Federal Judicial Service Commission which Justice Mukhtar chairs, for leaking undelivered judgments for cash.

Cases of 69 judges are awaiting the attention of the NJC. Many applaud Mukhtar’s performance in just a year. However, more challenges lie ahead. She has to tackle them more expeditiously before her retirement in November 2014.

The most pressing of them is making the punishments for judges stiffer. Retirement of corrupt judges, with full benefits, and without recovery of their loot, is not adequate punishment that would deter others from embracing corruption.

In addition, corrupt judges and other judicial workers should be prosecuted. The odium of prosecution, with their offences made public, would be a bigger deterrent than retiring them. The current practice of the NJC, peopled with judges, trying their colleagues, does not provide adequate comfort to the public.

The other level of corruption, the exposure of undelivered judgement to litigants, deserves heavy punishment. The exposure of judgement is the precursory to bribing judges to reverse judgements. It is not enough to sack the judicial workers involved.

What about those who paid for the judgement? They pose a greater danger to the judiciary. Do they not deserve punishment?

Justice Mukhtar has done well, but her performance has raised public expectation for more cleansing of the judiciary.

OPINION

BY ZIK OKAFOR

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AM writing this piece in a sad mood.

Why wouldn't I. Muhammadu Buhari, retired army General was one of my authentic Nigerian heroes, a man of untrammeled integrity and granite cast will.

In the 2011 presidential election, I voted for him without any qualms. I have argued strongly against the notion that he is an ethnic jingoist or a religious bigot.

I had followed his carreer in the military; from being a military governor to Petroleum Minister and then head of state. I could only speak about him with utmost veneration.

When some weeks ago, the revered Sultan of Sokoto called for amnesty for Boko Haram, I was staggered by the shift in his posture towards these merchants of terror he had consistently condemned without any equivocation. But his royal majesty's amnesty trumpet was soon chorused by the Northern States Governors' Forum, NSGF, and almost with the speed of a tornado, the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, followed, urging President Jonathan to grant amnesty to a band of misguided, bloodthirsty terrorists.

I was disgusted by the impish and warped theory of amnesty being propounded by these men. I was so sure that 'noble' men like Buhari would not lend their voices to the evil cacophony of the NSGF and the NEF. I argued that if Buhari had been silent, it was simply because he didn't want to speak against Boko Haram for political reason.

"But he will never, ever endorse Boko C M Y K

Buhari's pathetic utterances Haram's murderous activities; never," I had argued.

But on Sunday, June 2, 2013, Buhari broke what I found now to be his ominous silence. Speaking on Liberty Radio in Kaduna, the reticent retired General criticized the declaration of state of emergency in three Northern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, describing the action as a grave injustice against the North.

Buhari holds the strange notion that while Niger Delta militants were given special treatments, the Boko Haram terrorists were being killed and their house demolished.

Hear this soldier: "You see, in the case of Niger Delta militants, the late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua sent an airplane to bring them, he sat down with them and discussed with them, they were cajoled and they were given money and amnesty". But he was not done yet. "They were trained in some skills and were given employment, but the ones in the North are being killed and their houses demolished."

Again, I stress that I am at pains that a man I admire and practically adore could allow his emotion to so blur his reasoning that he could sound so parochial and pathetic. First I want to ask Buhari, what is the cause of Boko Haram. What are they fighting for? In the case of the Niger Delta militants, we know about the degradation of their environment by Nigeria and foreign oil companies prospecting and exploiting the oil buried in their land by God. Their

land, water and even air are so polluted that survival is put in peril. For all these threats to their lives, successive governments in Nigeria had paid but scant attention to a people who tragically found themselves mired in poverty by the very natural gift that should elevate them to an earthly paradise.

So, when the young militants found themselves with arms, they decided to redress the gross injustice and oppression that had pervaded for decades. And while many of us would not agree with their violent approach, we would not deny that they has a cause.

What is the cause of Boko Haram? They don't want Western education. Simply idiotic. The arms they use is a product of Western education, so is electricity and the clothes they wear. They said they want Islam as only religion in Nigeria. So, some of us that are non-Muslims should jump into the river. Very foolish. These are rascals with out a cause except mypotic, wild and horrid religious fanaticism.

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uhari said Yar'Adua sent an airplane o pick the militants and they brought them to Abuja. Correct. But did the airplane land in the creeks, the abode of the militants and picked them? The fact is, Yar'Adua called the Niger Delta leaders and appealed to them to persuade their 'boys' to drop their arms and come for talk, for negotiation on t

the way forward for their exploited and devastated homeland. And the elders returned and met their wards in the creeks and convinced them to meet with Yar'Adua.

The militants in deference to their elders sat with Yar'Adua and negotiated the Niger Delta question. They did not negotiate out of fear; but they didn't fear to negotiate.

I ask Buhari, where are these terror elements called Boko Haram? They remain ghosts, apologies to President Jonathan.

The Niger Delta elders and leaders went to the creeks to fetch their boys. Buhari is both a leader and an elder. I ask him, where are those sons of terror? Why can't he and the likes of Professor Ango Abdullahi (of Ali-Must-Go shame) fetch their boys so that Jonathan can also send an airplane to fly them to Abuja.

The Northern leaders, including the Sultan of Sokoto, clamoured for amnesty for the murderous gang. Jonathan accepted and set up an amnesty committee. The foolish boys in reaction said it was Nigeria and Jonathan that needed amnesty. As if this reaction is a huge shame to the Northern elders and to the Nigerian governments because they are forcing amnesty on killers, gangsters and animals that have no iota of remorse.

As if all that was not enough, they increased their barbaric unslaught not only on innocent Nigerians but the police and the military, killing and maiming in horrifying proportions.And you said Jonathan should not declare state of emergency? *Mr. Okafor, an artiste, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013 —19

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VIDENTLY President Goodluck Jonathan, as the Yoruba proverb goes, has eating his fill of his food and is now actively looking for what will deflate his round belly. In other words, trouble sleep yanga go wake am. This is another example of weak breed leaders Nigeria routinely throws up; men heedless of the lessons of history and are therefore doomed to repeat it. His ambition to continue in office beyond 2015, a legitimate one if he so pleases, but without prejudice to the right of other people to the same officeJonathan’s post-2015 ambition has blinded him to the necessity of recognising he does not hold the patent to the presidency. But he is gradually going for broke, given the unfolding chaos in Rivers State where a minority of five legislators are bent on imposing their will on 27 others in their determination to oust the current speaker, Olelemaba Dan Amachree from office. Nobody needs to be told that Nigerians would see the barely concealed hands of Jonathan behind the badly plotted drama in spite of his sneaking out to China on the eve of the event as if that was enough to conceal his

involvement. He has learnt from past masters like Obasanjo and Babangida the logic of flashing a good smile at those already marked for the guillotine.

It was only days before these lawmakers’ drama that Jonathan held Amaechi in warm embrace on a visit to Rivers State. But Nigerians only need to recall his frosty relationship with Chibuike R. Amaechi, the State governor, to connect Jonathan, rightly or wrongly, with last week’s event in that state where police commissioner, Mbu Joseph Mbu and Nyesom Wike, Minister of State for Education, have with Abuja’s goading been taking on Amaechi. Jonathan could claim Evans Bipi and his four accomplices are free agents exercising their democratic rights in seeking to oust Amachree but we are not fools as Doyin Okupe foolishly imagines by his disclaimer of Abuja’s involvement.

Jonathan wouldn’t be a Nigerian politician if he acted contrary to his present behaviour. His misuse and privatisation of power is much in character, a peculiar affliction of Nigerian politicians, including many of his present critics across

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the political spectrum. Yet for his own sake and those of the likes of Chief Edwin Clark whose pronouncements sometimes imply Jonathan was born Nigerian president, we need to retrace Uncle Joe’s trajectory to Aso Villa. And I do this by way of a long excerpt from a piece that first appeared here in the tail end of 2009, after President Yar’Adu’s fateful trip to Saudi Arabia. That piece was titled ‘The good in Jonathan’s luck’-

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“ here’s, perhaps, nothing better than the destiny of a man who has thrust upon him what many struggle, kill or get killed, to get. A man like that would be the envy of his mates. Such is the story of Nigeria’s Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan, who in the space of a few years since he became a politician seems to be living to the hilt the full meaning of his first name, Goodluck. One cannot but emphasise the ‘good’ in VP Jonathan’s name, the truth being

Constitution review: 'Doctrine of necessity' t o the rescue

BY CHUKWUDI ENEKWECHI

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O most Nigerians, the greatest impediment to the nation's rapid development is the structural imbalance on which the country has rested since its forceful amalgamation by Lord Fredrick Luggard in 1914. Since then, there have been several attempts, both by the colonial masters, military rulers and civilian administrations, to formulate a suitable constitution for the disparate entities that constitute the present day Nigeria. Every attempt to modify an existing constitution has rather appeared to be retrogressive, and meant to spite the very obvious desires of our people.

Perhaps, this is the best way to describe the current effort at constitution review by the National Assembly. Going by the reports submitted by both committees of the National Assembly on constitution review, it is clear that the outcome is predictable and premeditated. First of all, the committees' membership as we know are pure establishment and run -of the -mill type who will never alter the status - quo, as long as their bread is buttered. At worst they hold the very people they claim to represent in derision.

Their masters are not Nigerian people, as their personal interests surpass even the most genuine and altruistic aspiration of the majority. If not, how will one accept the pedestrian excuse that none of the demands for state creation met the constitutional requirement? One may now ask - what is their role as law makers if not to smooth the rough edges as it were, to meet people's C M Y K

aspirations. Granted that the process leading to creation of a new state is cumbersome, but so are other aspects of constitutional amendment.

For example, in the case of state creation they overlooked the very popular demand for parity and equity in number of states for every political zone. Even when they found it hard to accept the numerous demands for states creation, they ought to have recommended at least parity and equitable number of states for the six geo political zones. That way, the other five zones who are short-changed in the number of states as compared to North West with seven states will balance up with one state each, with the exception of South East that will get additional two states. This is simple political arithmetic as the late political legend, Dr.Chuba Okadigbo, will posit.

From the preliminary report already submitted, especially in the House of Representatives, there is absolutely nothing to justify the enormous time, energy and resources which they have put into the nationwide gallivanting over several weeks and months. They merely took Nigerians for a ride and on a political rigmarole not different from similar past jamborees.

In fairness to the initial critics of the exercise, they rightly predicted that the committees were set up to divert Nigerians' attention from the agitations for a Sovereign National Conference which at the time was dominating national discourse and attention. They also rightly predicted that the committees and indeed National

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Jonathan’s privatisation and misuse of power

Jonathan wouldn’t be a Nigerian politician if he acted contrary to his present behaviour; his misuse and privatisation of power is much in character, a peculiar affliction of Nigerian politicians

that not every luck is good. Some luck can be the very opposite of good, but that’s not the case of Goodluck Jonathan….

But it is a measure of the man’s loyalty or , perhaps, lack of confidence or colour or, indeed, all three that he was virtually railroaded into the substantive position of governor even when it had become clear that Alamieyeseigha had forfeited his claim to the office despite a disgraceful guard of honour mounted for him following his Alcatraz-like escape home.

Goodluck Jonathan would have nothing to do with the position of governor of Bayelsa, he continued to prevaricate until it became impossible to pretend he couldn’t be governor in the absence of DSP .

His tenure thereafter did not witness any landmark achievement. As with his pr esent position as V ice President, the only thing remarkable about his time as governor of Bayelsa, aside trying to prove loyal to Alamieyeseigha even in jail, was the complete lack of charisma or remarkable achievement. But governor Jonathan became and not longer after that the race started for the 2007 presidential election. Several prominent politicians from the aggrieved Niger-Delta showed their interest, including Dr. Peter Odili and ‘fine boy’, Donald Duke.

Given their closeness to the ultimate kingmaker then in Nigeria, the man who had the knife and the yam, President Obasanjo, many expected either of the two men, especially Odili, to clinch the prize as PDP presidential candidate. But the wily farmer had something else up the folds of his agbada. And so it was that he sprung ‘Umooru’, Musa Yar’Adua, lately gover nor of another laidback state, Katsina, on Nigeria….Yar’Adua had neither indicated interest in the race nor was he one of the frontrunners. But

Lest we forget, the nation will continue to be on a roller-coaster ride until all those who have assumed rulership over us can be sober enough to guarantee justice to all the sections of the country

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Assembly will dash the hopes of Nigerians to have a peoples' constitution, and from all indications their prediction has come to pass.

In fact, this was a venture that was carefully designed to achieve a premeditated end, and fail the populace.

Understandably, Nigerians are paying less or no attention to the highpoints of the recommendations reeled out recently.

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ne can easily recall the wise saying that you cannot give what you don't have. From the preliminary report already submitted to the National Assembly, there is no doubt that the committees did not do the necessary hard work required in an exercise as important as constitution review.

Their report is watery and lacking of any substance, as it failed to address the fundamental structural and systematic problems which are presently threatening to undermine the very foundation on which the nation stands.

Yet, there is a flicker of hope that both chambers of the legislature have another

Obasanjo knew best. And to complete the surprise mainly he and, maybe, a few other cultists in the PDP chose Goodluck Jonathan, just a few months before deputy governor of Bayelsa, as his running mate. The unlikely pair from the PDP, both former school teachers, went on to win the race respectively for Nigerian P resident and V ice President in 2007. The administration had hardly been inaugurated when signs started showing that another good luck was in the corner for Jonathan, to wit, that he might sooner than later become Nigeria’s president. The reason was no other than that from even the campaigns, candidate Umar Yar’Adua had, on account of his fragile health, shown remarkable incapacity for the position he was aspiring for. The campaigns had no sooner taken off than he was bundled off to Germany for medical attention. He has since been in and out of hospital several times, the latest being in Saudi Arabia.

With about 18 months left of their first term and the President again in hospital, many Nigerians, including the prominent and notso-prominent have been calling for his resignation and attention has once more shifted on the man who is constitutionally positioned to take over in the event President Yar’Adua chooses to go take a deserved rest in order to fully take care of his health….the moment he chooses to leave the office on any of the grounds prescribed by the Constitution, the man to take over is his deputy and that happens to be Goodluck Jonathan...Should Jonathan then emerge president, it would be yet one more good in his luck. ‘’ Perhaps Jonathan’s waterloo, not his luck, is upon him. Let him who stands watch it!

chance to rectify the mistakes of their constitution review committees by refusing to adopt the recommendations hook, line and sinker. I take this position considering the fact that the reason for their mandate is to do good to the greatest number of people, no matter where they come from. And in the case of state creation the question is, have some zones been cheated in the exercise under the military, and if the answer is in the affirmative as we all agree, then efforts ought to be made immediately to redress it.

In this case, there may be need to adopt the doctrine of necessity to give South East an additional state to bring the zone to parity with other states. This indeed will be the utmost test of statesmanship by the National Assembly, and there is no way this grave injustice can be wished away.

Lest we forget, the nation will continue to be on a roller-coaster ride until all those who have assumed rulership over us can be sober enough to guarantee justice to all the sections of the country. Any constitution review that fails to address the fundamental problems besetting the country, to all intents and purposes, is a futile effort and a nullity.

Since the Constitution empowers the National Assembly to make laws for the good governance of Nigeria, any new constitution should be seen to protect all sections of the country in word and deed.

As far as I know, there are sufficient and enabling powers under our laws to enable the National Assembly do what is right, and they cannot afford to abdicate this responsibility. History, and indeed posterity, beckons on all men of goodwill to immediately rise to the challenge and elevate the country to enviable heights of human attainments and rapid development.

*Mr. Enekwechi, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Abuja.

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— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

the safety of priests.

He confirmed that each of the robbery incidents was properly reported to the police for investigation and possible protection of the priests, stressing that the parishioners have also been urged to work out sound security arrangements for the parishes and church establishments.

In his own reaction, the Vicar General of the Archdiocese, Rev. Fr. Patrick Ibole, expressed shock at the serial nature of the attacks, stressing that the church can no longer fold its hands and watch helplessly as its priests are molested by hoodlums.

Ibole told the Archdiocesan tabloid, The Leader, that some people are no longer afraid to tamper with anointed men of God, stressing that “the Rectory is a sacred place that must be respected and protected”.

*Parishioners of Saint Hilary’s Parish, Amaukwu Orodo in a prayer procession seeking for divine intervention to the attacks on priests

Rage of robbers: Catholic priests on receiving end T

HESE are not the best of times for Catholic priests in Imo State, especially those in the Archdiocese of Owerri.

Investigations have since revealed that dare-devil armed hoodlums have carefully descended on Catholic rectories and mercilessly beat up the hapless and helpless priests.

Most of the physically assaulted and wounded priests have been battling for survival in varying hospitals.

Within the past three months, according to very credible reports, no fewer than six Catholic parishes have been attacked by armed hoodlums in Owerri Ecclesiastical Province. About a week ago, a newly ordained priest lost his brand new Toyota Camry at gun-point to the rampaging hoodlums.

Before the hoodlums settled for parishes in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of the state, they had earlier in the year, stormed and ransacked some Catholic institutions, including Holy Rosary Hospital, Emekuku, Immaculate Heart Catholic Parish, Akwakuma and Saint Joseph’s Catholic Parish, Ulakwo. While the foregoing parishes and medical establishment are located in Owerri North local council area, the armed robbers also attacked Saint Anthony’s ParC M Y K

ish, Inyishi, Ikeduru Local Government Area.

It is sad to note that since the rampaging armed hoodlums settled for Mbatoli local concil area, they have serially attacked some parishes and their priests between the middle of June and second week of July.

The first target of the hoodlums in this council area was the Parish Priest of Saint Hilary’ Parish, Amaukwu, Orodo. This sordid attack was recorded June 16, 2013.

Robbers in bedroom According to the badly shaken priest, the armed robbers traced him to his bedroom at about 11pm and ransacked the Rectory for over three hours.

In the end, according to the priest, the hoodlums carted away valuables belonging to him. Not feeling satisfied with their takings, the robbers descended on the priest and gave him the beating of his life. Vanguard gathered that the hapless priest was still hospitalised in an undisclosed place, where doctors are battling to save his life, as at the time of going to press.

On June 23, precisely one week after the attack at Amaukwu, Orodo, the robbers descended on Saint Mary’s Parish, Ubomiri. Not much

damage was recorded in this parish because of the timely intervention of security operatives, who were quickly alerted as soon as the hoodlums struck in the Rectory.

The robbers next stop was Saint Peter ’s Parish, Awo Mbieri. The Assistant Priest of this Parish turned out to be the target. The robbers trailed the priest and snatched his Toyota Camry car a gunpoint, as he made to turn to the parish house. This was July 3, 2013.

Narrating his ordeal to newsmen, the priest recalled with grief that the armed robbers, who were operating on a motor cycle, trailed him from Nwaorieubi Junction on the evening of the ill-fated day. He also recalled that the robbers were about three in number.

Feelers from the parish While two of the robbers alighted from the motorcycle, the third sped away on the bike. The other two, who obviously meant to shoot him if he refused to obey, eventually succeeded in taking away the vehicle. The vehicle is yet to be recovered till date, according to feelers from the parish.

There is also the latest attack on the Rectory of Stella Marris Parish, Orodo. The hoodlums numbering about seven,

stormed the Rectory July 8, at about 12.06am. According to the Parish Priest, the modus operandi of the robbers showed that they meant serious business.

The first thing the robbers did was to tie all the security men to a stake. They tried gaining access into the Rectory but

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BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

Protection of priests On what the Archdiocese was doing to protect its priests, the Vicar General said: “Appropriate measures are being taken to beef up security in all Catholic parishes. The faithful must continue to pray for the conversion of these rampaging hoodlums in our society”.

Meanwhile, parishioners of Saint Hilary ’s Parish, Amaukwu Orodo, have embarked on prayer, penance and novena to seek God’s intervention in the area and safety of their priests. All the parishioners spotted black attire and said their Rosary, calling God to intervene in the situation.

Speaking to newsmen, the Parish Council Chairman, Mr.

Not feeling satisfied with their takings, the robbers descended on the priest and gave him the beating of his life

when this failed because of the burglar-proof mounted in the place, they broke through the wall.

The robbers descended on the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Kevin Ugoamadi and held him hostage for long. As expected, the robbers ransacked the Rectory and made away with some valuables. They eventually took their exit through the entrance after their dastardly operation.

Confirming these attacks in a telephone interview, the Archndiocesan Director of Communications, Rev. Fr. George Nwachukwu, wondered why the robbers were attacking hapless and defenseless priests. He appealed to the security agencies to turn their searchlight on Rectories with a view to ensuring

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Matthew Elebor, wondered why the hoodlums were now targeting priests and holy places. He explained that the prayer, fasting, penance and novena was their own way of registering their strong ill-feeling against the sordid act. He prayed God to touch the hearts of these hoodlums.

It was not clear at press time if any of the rampaging robbers had been nabbed but there is a strong feeling from within the parishes already attacked that the hoodlums may not be far from the area.

Efforts made to talk to the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mrs. Joy Elemoko, failed as she could not be reached on phone for comments.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013 — 21

GlaxoSmithKline in £300m bribery scandal, China says

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FROM LEFT: Manager, Mass Market Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Nnamdi Ezeani; winner of N500,000 in the ongoing Etisalat FC Barcelona promo, Obinwaanne Ikedinnu and Manager, Etisalat Experience Centre, Ikeja Mall, Firdausi Okezie, at the Etisalat FC Barcelona promo first prize presentation, at Etisalat Experience Centre, Ikeja Mall.

CBN sells $300m forex at WDAS ...Microfinance key to economic growth — Vento

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) sold foreign exchange worth 300 million U.S. dollars at its 52nd Wholesale Dutch Auction System (WDAS) on Monday, it said.

The CBN said that the figure had remained the same for three consecutive times in the month. The naira, however, remained firm against the dollar at an exchange rate of N155.76, the same as on July 10. Eighteen banks participated in Monday’s auction, a drop from 20 on Wednesday. The volume of forex sold had hovered between 300 million and 500 million U.S. dollars since May. Meanwhile, a Professor of Microfinance, Banking and Finance at the Regent University, Gianfranco Vento, has said that the Nigerian microfinance industry holds a greater

120.15

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+5.00

16.16

0.1 +0.14

105.93

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DOLLAR 154.76 POUNDS 232.7745 EURO 201.2963 FRANC 162.4265 YEN 1.5428 CFA 0.2887 WAUA 231.6787 RENMINBI 25.2133 RIYA 41.266 KRONA 26.9899 SDR 231.9698

155.26 233.5266 201.9467 162.9513 1.5478 0.2987 232.4272 25.2953 41.3994 27.0771 232.7192

SELLING 155.76 234.2786 202.597 163.4761 1.5528 0.3087 233.1757 25.3772 41.5327 27.1643 233.4687

CBN Exchange rate as at 16/07/2013

member of the working group for modifying the liquidity risk model for banks and leader of the modules ‘Microfinance’, ‘Global Banking’, ‘Financial Regulation & Corporate Governance”’ and ‘Financial Markets & Instruments’ cited enormous and well skilled Nigerians currently in need of start up capital for micro entrepreneurial businesses but not attended to owing to the present capacity of microfinance institutions in the country.

He said the foresight in developing the conference was to address not only the problem in microfinance, franchising, agribusiness, entrepreneur ‘MSME’ quality, green and ICT-digital but emerging issues that will help in diversifying, creating a sustainable economy and reducing fiscal pressure due in shortfall in oil revenue.

North-West: SURE-P creates 21,000 jobs for women, youths

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

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potential and if properly harnessed would contribute positively to the growth of the country’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP. Professor Vento, who stated this while speaking on the forthcoming annual conference on Micro Small and Medium Enterprise, MSME, and agro-business management for developing economies in August 2013 in Abuja, disclosed that the sector if well developed, would create massive employment, thereby, reducing poverty and crime.

The theme of conference: “Creating New Thinking for Self- Sufficiency and Sustainable Growth” will hold simultaneously with a workshop on Quality, Green-Digital economy management in domestic-global market value chain.

The professor, who is also a visiting

HINA has accused the British pharmaceutical company, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), of behaving like a criminal godfather, bribing doctors with cash and sexual favours in return for prescribing its drugs.

Chinese police have detained four senior Chinese executives as part of an investigation that stretches back to 2007 and involves deals worth 3bn yuan (£320m). The Chinese investigator leading the inquiry said the head of GSK’s Chinese operations, Mark Reilly, a British national, had left the country on 27 June. Gao Feng, the head of China’s fraud unit, said: “We found that bribery is a core part of the activities of the company. To boost their share prices and sales, the company performed illegal actions.”

GSK is alleged to have used a network of more than 700 middlemen and travel agencies to bribe doctors and lawyers with cash and even sexual favours. In a rare public briefing to reporters Gao added, in a clip recorded by a Daily Telegraph reporter: “There is always a big boss in criminal organisations, and in this case GSK is the big boss. In order to win the favour of GSK, some travel agencies don’t just offer money to their executives but also sexual bribes.” GSK said it was “deeply concerned and disappointed” by the allegations, and would cooperate fully with the Chinese authorities. However, Gao said the investigators had yet to receive any information from GSK’s British headquarters. “This is a very serious violation and a high-profile case,” he said. “We are wondering why we have not received any information. As for the chief of the China business, you had better ask him yourself why he has left China and is not willing to return so far.”

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HE Federal Government has said the Community Services Women and Youth Employment, CSWYE, project of Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, has created no fewer than 21,000 job opportunities in the North-West Geopolitical zone of the country.

Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, disclosed this when he led a delegation comprising the Minister of Youth Development, Inuwa Abdukadir, and his Ministry of Environment counterpart, Hajia Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafa, the Special Adviser to Mr. President on Political Matters, Ahmed Gulack, on sensitisation and appraisal visit of the CSWYE project to

the Governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji, Mukhtar Yero.

According to a statement by Olowookere Samuel, Assistant Director (Press), in the Labour Ministry, five other ministers were also represented at the event.

According to Wogu “The present administration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, is working and putting the masses first in its development plans. In the North-West Geo-political zone a total of 21, 000 women, youths and people living with disabilities are benefiting from the Community Services Women and Youths Employment Project”.

He enumerated the gains of SURE-P in the North-west geo-political zone, to include the Kano Maiduguri Road

dual-carriage way; construction of bridges, the Abuja-Kaduna Railway modernisation project, the Maternal and Child Health projects as well as over 4,132km road maintenance projects among others.

Wogu commended the implementation process of the CSWYE project in Kaduna State, affirming that, “the state, though not a pilot state has done very well on the implementation process, the speed of submission of time sheets for the payment of stipends to beneficiaries has been commendable, and payment has been made up to June 2013.”

Responding, Governor Yero, tasked the Federal Government on the sustainability of the project which he said would take the youths off the streets.

22—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

BY ROSEMARY ONUOHA

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ave you been in need of insurance cover but ended up confused on what type of insurance to take? Have you had to make a claim from an insurance company but don’t know how to go about it?

Then you need an insurance broker.

Insurance brokers act as intermediaries between clients and insurance companies.

Clients may be either individuals or commercial businesses and organisations.

They use their in-depth knowledge of risks and the insurance market to find and arrange suitable insurance policies and ar range cover.

They act in the interest of their clients and offer products from more than one insurer to ensure that their clients get the best deal The job of a broker nsurance brokers obtain raw data from layman customers and fill in the complex forms which insurers need in order to thoroughly assess the risk they are being asked to underwrite.

The broker also assists prospective insureds with developing risk management strategies appropriate to their risk profiles. They work with insureds to find out what kinds of risks they regularly encounter, and educate insureds about what policies are available for each type of risk.

Insurance brokers also may help insureds obtain multiple layers of excess/surplus lines policies from different insurers over a primary policy, and can work through scenarios for reducing premiums with deductibles or self-insured retentions.

For most individuals, multiple layers of insurance coverage are unnecessary, but they are an essential component of risk

Want the best deal?

Get an insurance broker management for large businesses and wealthy individuals.

Insurance brokers play a significant role in helping companies and individuals procure property and casualty (liability) insurance, life insurance and annuities, accident and health insurance.

For example, brokers play a significant role in helping small employers find health insurance, particularly in more competitive markets. Brokers provide services beyond procuring insurance, such as

providing risk assessments, insurance consulting services, insurance-related regulatory and legislative updates, claims assistance services, and helping to resolve benefit issues.

Retail and commercial insurance brokers etail insurance brokers usually arrange insurance policies for individuals or companies and deal directly with them. Policies range from motor, house, travel or health cover for individuals

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or property to employer ’s liability and public and product liability insurance.

Commercial insurance brokers deal with high value and more complex insurance cover in areas such as marine, aviation, oil and gas and financial risks.

Having a good broker n Nigeria, insurance brokers are registered by the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers, NCRIB, which is then regulated by the National

I

Insurance Commission, NAICOM. A broker must be registered by the NCRIB before he can be licensed by NAICOM. Accordingly, there is need for you to deal with a registered insurance broker who has been certified by the NCRIB to operate in the insurance sector.

Negligence on the part of insurance brokers can have severe effects upon clients when they discover their insurance coverage is worthless, which in turn illustrates why retaining a competent insurance broker is so important.

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FROM LEFT: Mr. Adeyemo Adejumo, former Managing Director, Continental Reinsurance Plc; Mr. George Onekhena, Deputy Commissioner for Insurance, Finance & Administration; Mr. Fatai Kayode Lawal, President, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria, CIIN when the Commissioner for Insurance paid a thank-you visit to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State.

Royal prudential life to focus on service excellence G

ROUP Managing Director of Royal Exchange Plc, Mr. Chike Mokwunye has charged staff of Royal Exchange Prudential Life Assurance, especially those in customer-facing departments, to make service excellence their guiding principle and watchword in their interactions and dealings with clients of the company.

Speaking at a national retreat for management staff of the company, Mokwunye urged them to focus on customer service excellence, among other major initiatives, to drive its quest for market leadership and enhance the company’s status as a dominant player in the life insurance industry in the next three years.

Mokwunye said, “The customer is at the heart and soul of every

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organisation’s growth and success and it is very important to keep them satisfied if one wants to remain in operation. If the customer is treated well, he/she stays with you, but if they receive shabby and unsatisfactory treatment, they will take their business elsewhere.

“The future of insurance in Nigeria is the life business, which has not been fully tapped into, and for Royal Exchange Prudential to seek market leadership, an effective and efficient policy of customer service, loyalty and retention must be in place in the organisation,” Mokwunye added.

In his remarks, Mr. Wale Banmore, Managing Director of the company said in addition to service excellence, his company ’s focus is also on the deployment of a robust retail marketing strategy to take insurance to the

grassroots, as well as training/ upgrading of its marketing personnel, in line with current realities.

“The attainment of these goals, amongst others in the current financial year, will impact positively on the fortunes of the company, improve service delivery to our clientele and boost our premium income,” Banmore added.

He further added, “Management believes strongly in the Royal Exchange brand and its people, it’s most important resource are more than capable of delivering outstanding service to existing and potential clients nationwide.”

Banmore commended all staff of Royal Exchange Prudential for their drive and resourcefulness, which has resulted in ‘ winning ways’ for the

company. He further challenged them to “ work even harder in the years ahead, in order to achieve our objective of becoming a world class company by 2015.”

Royal Exchange Prudential Life Assurance Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Exchange Plc, licensed by the National Insurance Commission to offer the full range of life and endowment insurance products.

With years of experience in the Nigerian insurance market, Royal Exchange Prudential Life Assurance has an enviable reputation for reliability, integrity, professionalism, technical competence and financial strength.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013 — 23

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RE you the bread winner of your family? Then a life insurance cover is something that you must have in order to protect your family against any unforeseen and unexpected circumstances. It serves as an income replacement or protection just in case your income generating capacity is gone or lost either by accident that results to permanent disabilities or worse, death.

Anything that is precious must be insured and you are your family’s greatest asset and most precious possession, and a life insurance policy can provide for them if you die.

You can’t rely on the government to take care of your family; neither can you rely on your relatives. Hence, if you want to provide for your family financially if you die, life insurance is a must.

The main advantage of having life insurance is that your family is protected financially when you are not around. For example, if you are in debt or have a bond in your name, having life cover means that those debts will be covered should you pass away.

Why should you buy life cover? he purpose of life insurance is to provide financial assistance to your beneficiaries. Some life insurance plans may have different features but the real purpose of life insurance is simply to provide your family financial assistance in case you lose your income generating capacity.

Many families experience stress both emotionally and financially once their bread winner dies or gets disabled, but a life insurance plan is a hedge or protection against such life events.

Life is very uncertain and you never know what will happen, however, you can prepare against its uncertainties by anticipating what could happen, accidents and death are certain, you just don’t know when. Taking out a family life insurance can help solve these problems. Before taking out insurance, you would want to compare life insurance policies and when doing so consider comparing family covers. Not only will you be able to make a better deal and get better cover but also drastically save on the premiums, compared to what you would pay if you were to take individual policies. A family life insurance will cover all the family members.

Protect your family with a life insurance cover policy.

If you are paying off your house and something happened to you suddenly, a life insurance policy would ensure that your family doesn’t get saddled with additional

debts or losing everything you have worked so hard for. They also won’t have to worry about paying for your funeral or any related expenses and can grieve without the added stress. Buying a life cover

policy is a simple way of ensuring that your family is well cared for when you are no longer around.

A life cover or life insurance policy will pay an amount of cash to your beneficiaries in the

event of your death from natural or accidental causes.

Most families don’t have the capital to settle huge amounts of outstanding debt without warning; a life cover policy will ensure that your family won’t struggle financially when you are no longer around. If you do not have a house already, getting a life cover policy will enhance your chances of getting finance from your bank when you apply for a home loan because you already have collateral.

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Benefits of getting a life cover enefits of having a life insurance policy is that if you end up in financial trouble for whatever reason, there are ways that you can secure a loan against your life insurance

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RETREAT: From left: Mr. Wale Banmore, MD, Royal Exchange Prudential; Mr Gbenga Olawoyin, MD Wema Insurance Brokers and Mr. Chike Mokwunye, GMD Royal Exchange Plc, during the Royal Exchange Prudential Life retreat.

Stanbic IBTC Pensions supports Police College with water project T

HE Police community had cause to celebrate recently following the commissioning of a water project built and donated to the Nigeria Police Training School, Odukpani, Calabar, Cross River State, by Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited, a subsidiary of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc. The water project, comprising 16,000 liter water storage tanks and pipe network with taps, was commissioned by the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kola Shodipo.

The Commissioner of Police, who was represented by Mr. Chris Mbazor, Assistant

Commissioner of Police, expressed delight at the project and commended Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers for undertaking the water facility, which he said would bring great relief to the school community and students who hitherto had to walk long distances in search of water.

He urged Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers and other corporate entities to identify areas of need in the school and assist in order to enable the students and entire school community live and study in an atmosphere that will enhance the capacity of men and women of the Police force

discharge responsibilities.

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their

arlier in his welcome address, Commandant of the school, Assistant Commissioner of Police Godwin Ahulor, thanked Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited for the initiative. “I must express my deep appreciation to Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited for this rare gesture, which has come as a huge relief to every member of this community” Ahulor said.

On his part, Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited, Dr. Demola Sogunle, represented

by the Head of Sales, Mr. Bimbo Ladele, said the project was in fulfillment of the group’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives which aim at impacting positively on the wellbeing of host communities in critical areas such as education, health and economic empowerment.

He noted that Stanbic IBTC Pensions had in the recent past commissioned similar projects at the Nigerian Police colleges in Ikeja, Lagos State and Kaduna, Kaduna State, as part of a strategic partnership with the law enforcement agency to contribute to the security of the nation.

24 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

Mainstreet Bank lauds FG, commits N10bn to agric development

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XECUTIVE Director, Corporate and Investment Banking, Mainstreet Bank Limited, Mr. Roger Woodbridge, has commended the Federal Government (FG) for coming up with the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES), which is designed specifically to provide affordable agricultural inputs like fertilizers and hybrid seeds to farmers in order to increase their yields per hectare and make it comparable to world standard.

Speaking to newsmen after a stakeholders meeting held in Abuja recently, Mr. Woodbridge acknowledged that the GES scheme has enabled the private sector to play an integral role in growing the nation’s food production.

Citing Mainstreet’s experience in funding fertilizer distribution to Agrodealers and smallholder farmers, he stressed that the Public Private Partnership (PPP) provides effective framework for private sector engagement in overall agricultural development.

On the role of Mainstreet Bank in supporting Nigeria’s agricultural sector, Mr. Woodbridge noted that the bank’s investment of nearly N10billion so far under the GES scheme has given the bank an opportunity to contribute towards the reduction of hunger amongst Nigerians, noting that Mainstreet Bank offers a learning experience to other banks that are still skeptical about agricultural funding.

In his words, ‘Nigerian banks must lend support to human centered development activities such as agriculture, which has the ability to increase the production capacity of local farmers, as well as aid gainful employment for the youth population.”

It would be recalled that in the recently released report, the progress of the affected countries was measured between 1990 to 1992 and 2010 to 2012, against benchmarks established by the international community at the UN General Assembly in 2000. The countries achieving MDG 1 alone were identified to include: Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chile, Dominican Republic, etc.

From left: Chairman, Board of Directors, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc, NAHCO, Mallam Suleiman Yahyah; Managing Director, NAHCO, Kayode Oluwasegun-Ojo and Vice Chairman, NAHCO, Denis Hasdenteufel during NAHCO’s 32nd Annual General Meeting at Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, in Abuja.

US stocks rise as Citigroup overshadows retail sales

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NITED States stocks rose, sending benchmark indexes toward record closing highs, as better-than-estimated manufacturing data and earnings from Citigroup Inc. overshadowed a disappointing retail sales report.

Citigroup rose by two percent after profit beat analysts’ estimates as stocktrading revenue surged and losses on unwanted assets declined. Leap Wireless International Inc. more than doubled after AT&T Inc. agreed to buy the company for $1.2 billion. Boeing Co. climbed 3.6 percent as a U.K. agency said last week’s fire on a 787 aircraft is unrelated to battery blazes that grounded the fleet earlier this year.

The Standard & Poor ’s 500 Index climbed 0.2 percent to 1,682.91 in New York. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 23.80 points, or 0.2 percent, to 15,488.10. Trading in S&P 500 stocks was 24 percent below the 30-day average at this time of day.

“We have our focus on earnings,” James Gaul, a portfolio manager at

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Boston Advisors LLC, which oversees about $2.6 billion in assets, said by phone. “Citigroup had a good report this morning and the question is whether earnings will be strong enough to push us higher. That’s where the short-term focus will be.”

The S&P 500 closed at a record last week after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke backed sustained monetary stimulus. The gauge added three percent through the five days, for a third week of gains and its biggest rally since Jan. 4.

An unprecedented three rounds of central bank stimulus have helped drive the S&P 500 (SPX) up 149 percent from a 12-year low in 2009. The index slumped as much as 5.8 percent after Bernanke signaled on May 22 that the Fed could start scaling back bond purchases as soon as September. Stocks have since recovered all those losses as data on hiring and housing bolstered confidence in the economic recovery.

The first results from FBN Holdings

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BN Holdings Plc, FBNH, is the post-transformation name of First Bank of Nigeria Plc and its subsidiaries.

FBNH is organised into four major business groups; commercial banking group led by First Bank of Nigeria Limited, investment banking and asset management group led by FBN Capital Limited, insurance group led by FBN Life Assurance Limited and FBN Insurance Brokers Limited and other financial services group led by FBN Microfinance Bank Limited.

The contribution of the commercial banking group to the net revenue of FBNH is 94.2%, the investment banking and asset management group contributes 2.7%, and the insurance group contributes 1.3% while the other financial services group contributes 1.8% of net revenue. The contribution of the commercial banking group represents 90% of pre-tax profit. Essentially the performance of FBNH depends largely on the commercial banking group.

The Chairman’s statement in the 2012 annual report and accounts indicates that the overall objective of the transition to FBNH was to maximize shareholder value. The statement also indicates that the setting-up of FBNH as a nonoperating holding company was based on a re-appraisal from first principles of the operating and governance structure of all the companies that make up FBNH. These statements from the Chairman are very significant because it is the abandonment of first principles that has brought about the situation in which FBNH is under-performing.

I will illustrate. More than 30 years ago, a company that I knew took a loan for the construction of an office building and warehouse. This loan was granted by a combination or syndicate of at least three financial institutions of which one was an insurance company. If the office building were to be built today, it would cost less than N1 billion and the loan would be granted by one financial institution. The opportunity of having the risks involved in granting the loan assessed by three or more independent entities has been abandoned.

As for the performance of FBNH, I will go back to the 2007 hybrid offer. 3000 units of FBNH shares were purchased for N99, 000 during the 2007 offer. These 3000 units have now grown to 4921 units with bonuses and they are currently worth about N88, 000. I have chosen the 2007 offer price as the reference value for FBNH given that FBNH shares rose to more than N50 per share on the Nigerian Stock Exchange between the 2007 offer and the market crash of 2008.

At the time of offer, net assets per share was N7.33 and the dividends paid was N1.00 for the financial year ending March 2007 an N1.20 for the financial year ending March 2008. The net assets per share are put at N13.45 per share in the 2012 annual report and accounts and a dividend of N1.00 per share was paid for the 2012 financial year.

Why has the recovery of FBNH been slow post the 2008 market crash? FBNH has some significant investments that have not paid any dividends over the years and in some cases, the investments

are recoding losses. If one looks at the annual reports of the First Bank Group over the years, one would notice that FBNH holds shares in Nigerian Telecommunications, Nitel, Plc. Sometime in 2001/2002, First Bank of Nigeria Plc gave a loan of over $100 million to Investors Group Nigeria Limited, IGNL, such that IGNL could make a deposit for shares of NITEL Plc as the preferred bidder. This loan would not have been granted if First Bank of Nigeria, FBN, Plc had not abandoned first principles. When FBN found itself as the only entity left in discussions with IGNL, the transaction should have come to an end.

In any case, IGNL could not carry the transaction with the Bureau of Public Enterprises beyond the payment of the deposit. The FBN loan to IGNL was first declared as lost but subsequently the Bureau of Public Enterprises issued shares in Nitel Plc to cover the deposit paid by IGNL less the expenses of the Bureau on the privatization of Nitel Plc. The shares in Nitel Plc were then given

,

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

The Chairman’s statement in the 2012 annual report and accounts indicates that the overall objective of the transition to FBNH was to maximize shareholder value

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to FBN. Recently, there has been an announcement that a liquidator has been chosen for NITEL Plc. This is an opportunity for the directors of FBNH to make a strong case for the Bureau to take back its shares in Nitel Plc and pay cash to FBNH. The shares were given to FBNH because the cash paid by IGNL to the Bureau had been spent by the time the decision was taken by the Bureau not to impose an absolute penalty on IGNL. The other investment by FBNH that immediately comes to mind is the shares in Airtel Networks Limited. FBNH was amongst the initial shareholders in this company and a number of other initial shareholders have been able to sell their shares at a profit. FBNH has not earned any dividends on this investment over a period of about ten years and FBNH should sell its shares now so as to give some return to FBNH shareholders.

There are also issues of whether FBNH as a public company should be involved in investments in private companies that do not publicly publish their balance sheets. …TO BE CONTINUED

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013 — 25

DIARY

Select ICT events zMicrosoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2013. Holds July 7-11, 2013 in Houston, USA.

EDITED by Adekunle Adekoya

No going back on disconnected SIM cards, says NCC

zBig Data Monetization in Telecoms Summit. Holds July 15-17, 2013 in Dallas,Texas, US. z 2nd Annual FTTX Summit Africa 2013. Holds July 22 - 25, 2013 in Cape Town, South Africa.

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

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zSIGGRAPH 2013.

Holds 21-25 Jul 2013 in Anaheim, USA z ITEXPO West 2013. Holds 27-29 Aug 2013 in Las Vegas, USA.

New inventions shaping life and living

Coffee socks defend against heat, feet odour

‘Biotechnology, must for food security in Nigeria’ zPresident asked to sign Biosafety bill into law

BY EMMA ELEBEKE

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TLAS socks are made from a mix of cotton, recycled polyester and carbonized coffee, which filters and absorbs sweat and odour to keep feet cool.

After a long day, traditional dress socks are not always very gentle to the feet, what with all the heat and sweat they keep in.

This new technology can provide new levels of comfort that previously impossible.

Carbonized coffee is a weapon against odour, attracting molecules (composed mostly of carbon) with its spongy structure.

The molecules are eventually released when the socks are washed, ready for a whole new round of foot odour.

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LTHOUGH Pres ident Goodluck Jonathan has set up a committee to vet the long awaited biosafety bill as passed by the National Assembly before he could sign it into law, participants at the 10th anniversary of African Agricultural Technology Foundation, AATF seminar say Nigeria’s dream of achieving food sufficiency in 2015 will be a mirage, unless the country adopts biotechnology in the agric sector.

To achieve these goals, they called on the President not to further delay signing into law the biosafety bill currently before him, which they believe would open a new

I N S I Can Lagos be a D smart city? (4) E C M Y K

Samsung powers up again with Galaxy Star

vista for massive production of food for local consumption and export.

Agricultural biotechnology is the application of technology to agriculture to make, modify or improve on a product for the benefit of mankind.

When the bill is signed into law, it is expected that Nigeria with vast arable land and so many agricultural potentials would benefit more, as it would make a significant economic impact on the

,

,

Preview

FINANCE MINISTER AT OMATEK: From left, Chairman, Omatek Ventures Plc, Dr Timothy Farinre; Group Managing Director, Omatek Ventures, Mrs Florence Seriki; Senator Kola Bajomo, and Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, during the minister's recent tour of Omatek's factory in Lagos. Photo: Emeka Aginam.

populace by contributing immensely to job creation, wealth creation, eradication of hunger and malnutrition.

Farmers on their part, experts say would not require special skills or training to key into the benefits of the initiative, as they are the end users of the agricultural biotechnology product otherwise called Genetically Modified Organisms, GMOs; such as seeds and plantlets, which are the

Speakers at the seminar said the introduction of GM foods processing system in Nigeria would multiply food production that would ensure food security, and improve nutritive value of foods

Six million e-commerce jobs coming by 2015 — MINISTER

same as conventional crops.

GMOs are organisms in which the genetic material, DNA has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally.

The technology is often called gene technology and allows selected individual genes to be transferred from one organism into another, also between related species. It is this method that is used to create GM plants, which are used to grow GM food crops.

Speakers at the seminar said the introduction of GM foods processing system in Nigeria would multiply food production that would ensure food security, improve nutritive value of food, improve

Continues on page 29

OTWITHSTAND ING the last minute-rush by defaulting subscribers to get their SIM cards registered; many subscribers had their lines deactivated at the June 30 2013 deadline.

Despite their outcry however, the telecoms regulator, NCC says there will be no reprieve for disconnected subscribers.

Some of the affected subscribers are more enraged because they had earlier registered their SIM cards before starting getting text messages from their respective networks regarding ‘unregistered status’ of their lines.

However, the NCC has described the complaints and protests as effort in futility because it would only amount to dragging both the commission and telecom development in Nigeria backwards.

Head of NCC's Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement Department, Engr. Maska Ubale, specifically stated that “every contract must come to an end otherwise it is no longer a contract at all. It will not only seem unthinkable but also inconsistency on the part of the commission to now consider anything otherwise, after the length of time given to telecoms consumers to register their SIMs. We can not move the contract terminal date any more; we did that on several occasions in the last two years.”

“By putting an end to the exercise last month, the Commission was of the opinion that even subscribers must act with responsibility and obey the laws of the land, at least, by doing simple SIM registration, observing that

Continues on page 31

Lagos govt lists new standards for masts

26— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

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Can Lagos be a smart city? (4)

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wish to round up dis course on the possi bilities of Lagos being a smart city within the shortest possible time. Of course, it can be seen that a lot of obstacles abound in the realization of this ideal, but personally I like to look at the sunny side of things. If there are issues, they should be tackled but nothing should be allowed to detract from set objectives.

In the last take of this column I wrote of the law enforcement angle to making the city’s traffic flow significantly better than what we currently experience. A few years back, under a World Bankassisted programme, the Lagos government embarked on Junction Improvement Works all over the metropolis.

As I see it, the implementation of the Junction works was to make the traffic flow. It did, in the first few months.

Except in Alausa, some parts of Ikeja, and locations in the island, the impact of the Junction Improvement Works has almost vanished completely. Also, at these junctions, traffic lights were installed. The benefits of that device in regulating traffic flow bears no repetition here, but current experience indicates that many of these traffic lights no longer function, while men in various uniforms now do what traffic lights were installed for.

There is no need to ask whether there is a relationship between traffic lights that don’t function and the over-bearing presence of uniformed personnel at the junctions. The smart objective of the Junction Improvement Works has been defeated by manual, pecuniary traffic control.

Also, a smart city has to have a response system to failures in infrastructure that make life liveable for residents. Presently Lagos State has LASIMRA (Lagos State Infrastructure Monitoring & Regu-

latory Authority), and it should be the agency with this responsibility. If a road fails, LASIMRA should know within 48 hours and see how repair works can begin within the 48 hours after that.

Presently motorists and commuters are going through sheer hell at the failed portion of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway at Ilasamaja. Politics of road ownership aside, Lagos residents shouldn’t suffer after paying their tax.

Okay, that is a federal road undergoing repairs but the contractor just hasn’t got to that point. What then do we say about Iyana-Ejigbo in the Ejigbo LCDA? The colourless political leadership in the area is yet to appropriately rise to the failure of that section of the road, a state road.

The story of that road’s perennial failure at that point over the y e a r s means issues around it have to be tackled and resolved in favour of the majority of the people.

Developing a market on the flood plains of rivers that were extinguished in the first place by land speculators is anything but smart.

What this translates into is the need to constructively engage the traditional tier of leadership with a view to ensuring that they key into the smart vision for Lagos.

That includes the antics of the omo-oniles, the agberos, and other nonsmart, revenue-driven human fixtures whose activities are simply dangerous to the environment in the long term. In these days of climate change, Lagos authorities should monitor land sales properly. Entire flood plains are being sold by desperate omo-onilesto people equally desperate to own homes. When the chicken comes home to roost, even the innocent ones will pay. That is not smart at all.

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The smart objective of the Junction Improvement Works has been defeated by manual, pecuniary traffic control

OREAN smart phone maker, Samsung Electronics has recently introduced Galaxy Star Smartphone, an affordable product targeted at the younger generation of mobile phone users The dual SIM device which is already available at Samsung stores and accredited dealers nationwide has exceptional performance, powered by an A5 1GHz processor and the latest Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) operating system. It also features a three-inch touch screen, 2-megapixel camera, 512 MB RAM and 4GB internal memory.

Overview The new product has fast processing power that enhances all tasking applis enjoyement and content sharing possibilities, great connectivity, large capacity memory and rich Android experience including Google interface.

Additionally, the product incorporates intuitive motion and smart multimedia features for easy control and flow.

The product's powerful CPU provides speedy computing power, and with fast connectivity wifi access and BT 4.0, it enables users do quick downloads of apps and easy content sharing. It

Samsung powers up again with Galaxy Star in Nigeria and also comes with rich apps and content such as Samsung apps, Google play store, YouTube, among others.

Customer benefits With the dual SIM function, customers have the advantage of being connected and reached at al times important business meetings and family emergency.

Whether users want to organize their professional life separately from personal matters, pop in a local SIM card when travelling abroad to avoid roaming charges, or simply want to economize by taking advantage of preferred pricing plans, the Galaxy Star Dual SIM multiplies options and gives greater flexibility, freedom and control.

Meanwhile, Samsung as part of its youth empowerment with the product has already flagged off a campaign that will take 10 lucky winners who buy the product on a four-day

allexpense paid trip to Dubai.

Director of Hand Held Products at Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas had earlier said that the company would continue to display its commitment to provide mobile phones that suit the unique needs and resources of individuals

indeed, the whole of Africa.

“Mobile handsets are rapidly becoming the centre of our lives, even as more and more users desire access to content and enjoy more features and activities such as gaming, video and music anytime, anywhere, via their devices," said Revmatas, adding that, “individuals interested in participating in the initiative are required to shoot a video using the Galaxy Star smartphone and upload same on Samsung’s website between June 3 and July 7, 2013. Twenty winning videos will be shortlisted via public voting after which 10 finalists will be selected for the trip to Dubai.”

— Emeka Aginam

zA cross section of Presidents of Nigerian IT bodies at the just concluded CPN IT Assembly,in Abuja.

Photo: Emeka Aginam

Lagos govt lists new standards for masts

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

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HE Lagos State government, through the Urban Furniture Regulatory Unit,UFRU, has once again rolled out a new set of standards for the installation of communications masts in the state.

UFRU is the Lagos Government Agency, under the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development that is responsible for the regulation of masts installation in the state.

This time around, Lagos may not be targeting the telecommunications companies with the new standards but Internet services Providers,

Banks and other financial institutions. The agency admitted that although telecom operators are the highest deployers of masts in the state, the new standards may not affect them because their masts comply with international standards, approved specifications and quality of steel materials.?It however revealed that those that may be mainly affected included the banks, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and other Small and Medium Enterprises,SMEs, that are using communication masts for their businesses.?Reeling out the new standards to bank officials in Lagos

recently, General Manager of the agency, Mr. Joe Igbokwe warned that henceforth, all communication masts in the state not erected with galvanized steel materials and not between 30 metres and 50 metres high, contravenes the new standard. ?He stated that the galvanized steel material replaces the hollow pipes that was hitherto used by banks and ISPs in installing masts in the state.

Igbokwe also noted that the new standards became imperative because of the coastal nature of Lagos and the global climate change.?According to him, "the state govern-

ment had since discovered that hollow pipes have little resistance to strong wind and other weather conditions like rain and sun, thus giving way easily to the slightest wind. This has resulted in collapse of several masts that have killed several people and destroyed property worth billions of naira in the state.?"All hollow pipe type of masts must be removed and replaced with galvanized steel that has the shape of a pyramid. We will not accept re- painting of masts, but a complete evacuation of hollow pipe masts, and the evacuation must start now," Igbokwe warned.

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FBN Life's Padi4life rides with Airtel

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

Microsoft Imagine Cup as enabling contest for software start-ups

BY EMEKA AGINAM just back from St. Petersburg, Russia

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TEAM NIGERIA AT IMAGINE CUP: From left, Oluwole Michael, Adewale Adeyinka, Dr. O.T. Arulogun, mentor, Team Nigeria, Afolabi Olamide and Akinlaja Solomon rehearsing before their presentation at the just concluded 2013 Microsoft Imagine student software competition in St. Petersburg, Russia. Photo: Emeka Aginam

,

UNNING in its 11th year series, Microsoft Imagine Cup, the world's premier student programme and competition has been growing from strength to strength, enabling opportunities and preparing global technology-savvy students to use their ideas and talents to change the world for better.

For one thing, watching closely on how student technologists, developers and aspiring entrepreneurs created innovative projects and ultimately bringing those ideas to market at various Imagine Cup competition especially, the just concluded 2013 edition which ended successfully last week in St. Petersburg, Russia, one can say that Imagine Cup experience is a launching pad that helps young software innovators get guidance and be whatever they want to be in life eventually.

Apart from wining awards or prizes at the premier technology programme and competition for students to learn, build and compete with innovative tools, platforms and services, Imagine Cup experience has helped software start-ups to network, learn new skills, showcase their solutions and by extension, get guidance from academic mentors that will go a long way in making them self reliance in software entrepreneurs in the 21st century knowledge society.

At the event that attracted no fewer than eightyseven student teams from seventy one countries who had competed in the worldwide finals after winning local and online competitions around the world, Microsoft awarded cash and other prizes valued at more than $1 million throughout the year long Imagine Cup competition, including awards for the winning teams at the worldwide finals that just ended..

Beside students showcase and presentations, there were also learning sessions during the competition where Team Nigeria called Team Life Saver from Obafemi Awolowo University and Ladoke Akintola University of Technology presented an application called CardioLife, which helps prevent heart attacks by monitoring heart readings on the fly via the

The innovation from Team Nigeria is full of promises to revolutionize cardiovascular related diseases with computing technologies

Microsoft Windows Phone. The project which was lauded by many visitors during showcase provides a rehabilitation programme for stroke patients using the Kinect sensor.

How to get your project funded, how to apply for Imagine Cup grants, applying for a job in the age of social media, how to write an effective business plan, building for both Windows phone and Windows 8, among others issues were dealt during the learning sessions.

Students scramble for Imagine Cup grant: Meanwhile, during the learning sessions, students were seen making enquirers about how to apply for Imagine Cup grants which will help students actualize their dreams through Microsoft grant, software and invaluable connections. The inquiries helped students to get information about eligibility, the application process, judging criteria, dates, among others. Speaking earlier in an interview, the General Manager for Audience and Platform Marketing of Microsoft, Kurt Sreek said urged the students to continue to develop product that change the world.

“For the past 11 years, Imagine Cup has been a

place of inspiration and innovation for students around the world,” Steve Guggenheimer, corporate vice president and chief evangelist at Microsoft told the gathering, adding that, “The students participating in this competition demonstrate the very best in innovation from their home countries and together are creating new apps, innovations and services that will change the way the world works, interacts and learns. We are incredibly proud of the finalists who competed in Imagine Cup this year and stand in awe of the projects and technology they brought forth during this exciting week.”

Every team a winner “Every Team who has participated at the global finals is a winners. They are all brilliant students.

They can change the world with their solution.

The survival of 21st century knowledge economy lies in the hands of this students who have devised new ways for people to engage with technology” Rob Miles, Imagine Cup Competition Captain told Vanguard Hi-Tech after the result was announced after four days of showcasing creative ideas, innovation and passion in technology by

the brightest technology students around the world at the historic Alexandrinsky Theater in St. Petersburg, Russia, Thursday last week. According to him, the world will be a better place if all the solutions at the showcase were put to work at least five years down the line.

Ahead with innovation “My word for the Team is to forge ahead with the innovation. Produce working product to the market. It will save a lot of life, the whole world is waiting for the team lifesaver innovation.

The innovation from Team Nigeria is full of promises to revolutionize cardiovascular related diseases with computing technologies that support remote monitoring and remote rehabilitation.

“I had a wonderful experience, networking with like minds and exploring innovative projects from all over the world,” the mentor of Team Life Saver of Nigeria, Dr. O.T. Arulogun of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, said shortly after the event ended.

African can be globally competitive: In the opinion of Oluwole Michael, spokesperson for Team Nigeria, Africa has every it takes to be globally competitive.

“The evidence has been shown in this Imagine Cup competition. African students especially Team Nigeria have amazing solution that can turn the continent around. Our solution CardioLife can save lots of lives. W e will take it to the next level, Michel said with optimsim.

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N a bid to make insur ance services easy and accessible to greater number of Nigerians, FBN Life believes the fastest vehicle should be the mobile phone due to its power of penetration even in the rural and underserved areas.

The company has thus partnered telecom operator, Airtel Nigeria, in introducing a micro insurance scheme, tagged Padi 4 Life The product which was unveiled last week in Lagos, showcases a technology-driven life protection plan aimed at providing low-income earners living in remote locations where insurance infrastructure and services are not readily available the opportunity to take daily insurance cover for permanent disability or death.

Managing director of FBN Life, Mr Valentine Ojumah while unveiling the scheme, noted that it was designed to make a difference not to the rich, but to the majority of lowincome earners in the society who suffer from the effects of non-indemnity in the event of death or permanent disability of a

bread winner.

“Padi4Life is our own way of enabling bread winners with minimal benefits to leave wealth for their loved ones. It is revolutionary in the sense that it helps to address the challenges of distributing insurance to the masses who wrongly see insurance as the exclusive preserve of the rich. The real victims of non-insurance are the poor and not the rich.”

For him, the strategic objective of the product is in consonance with the company’s mandate to deploy inexpensive and simple insurance protection products across channels and market segments in Nigeria.

Also speaking at the ceremony, Airtel Nigeria’s Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director, Deepak Srivastava, allayed fears that the number of people that would engage in the scheme may hamper its services, assuring that the company has made enough provision for adequate network capacity to absorb new customers following subscriptions for the product. “This is one more reason for Nigerians to port to Airtel,” he observed.

Wincor-Nixdorf sees boom in NIgeria's financial sector

BY ADEKUNLE ALIYU

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HIEF Executive Officer of one of the world's leading providers of IT solutions and services for banks and retails businesses, Wincor- Nixdrof, Mr Echard Heidloff has said that he and his company see boom in the Nigerian financial market and increase in the use of Automated Teller Machines (ATM).

Echard Heidloff made this known at the opening of Wincor-Nixdorf's office in Lagos last Thursday.

He said this firm is extending its investments in Nigeria because Nigeria is one of the fastest-growing economy in the world.

He said just as Nigeria is pursuing cashless policy, Wincor-Nixdorf sees great increase in the use of ATMs in the country, hence the chance of providing access to banking services for the people who currently have no banking accounts as ATM is the key channel to serve unbanked customers through Mobile Money Accounts.

Heidloff said further that worldwide, the

amount of cash is increasing by dix per cent in industrialized countries and even more in emerging countries hence the primary reason for the growing demand for ATMs. He disclosed that currently there are only 57 ATMs per million inhabitants in Nigeria while in Brazil there are about 780 ATMs per million and in Russia 808.

To cover the country's growing hunger for basic services and to help banks meet demand in Nigeria Wincor-Nixdorf will give support in enhancing ATMs through new service offers or future-oriented technologies such as ATM for Top up payment cards or pay bills, mobile banking solutions .

Mr Peter Woydich, Wincor -Nixdorf's Regional Sales Director for Africa said his company's presence in Nigeria would increase the popularity of the ATM, through the provision of innovative solutions for mobile banking as Wincor-Nixdorf will create close cooperation with partners in providing value added services for end users.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013—29

‘Biotechnology, must for food security in Nigeria’ Continues from Page 25 agricultural practices by minimizing use of chemicals such as herbicides and pesticides.

In his remarks, Minister of State for Agriculture, Alhaji Bukar Tijani commended NABDA for its pioneering role and achievements in the development of sustainable agriculture through the utilization of biotechnology tools such as culture, molecular breeding and genetic engineering.

The minister said he

believed that biotechnology has the strong potential to achieve sufficient food for every Nigerian, one of the aims of the transformation agenda of the present administration, which is to ensure food security for all Nigerian. ‘‘The African Agricultural Technology Foundation, AATF, through its synergy with NABDA does not only ensure food security, but ensures the local farmers utilize appropriate technologies such as biotechnology.

One of their key projects in Nigeria is the development of nitrogen-use, water efficient and salt tolerant rice. This is key because Nigeria is the second largest importer of rice in the world, about two million metric tons of rice from countries like Thailand and China. ‘‘The project would ensure Nigeria is self sufficient in the production of rice and would boost the countries revenue,’’ he added.

Another key project AATF has in Nigeria is the

Cassava Mechanization and Agro-processing project.

Being the largest producer of cassava in the world, the minister said the project would boost farmers’ capacity for production thus showcasing a local product globally and boosting the economic growth for the country.

Earlier in his welcome address, Director-General of NABDA and Chairman, Open Forum for Agricultural Biotechnology, Professor Bamidele Solomon said the advent

of AAF has triggered revolution of ideas, leading to mind bogging decisions and game changing actions in the Nigerian research and agric sectors.

He said biotechnology is no longer viewed through the lens of suspicion and uncertainty, but that is seen as a panacea for food security, economic growth and stability. ‘‘The Nigerian people are becoming more open to the technology and its numerous benefits and applications. ‘‘We at NABDA would positively respond to national aspirations for food security, job/wealth creation, affordable healthcare delivery and sustainable economic environment and working together with

AATF has made the fulfillment of this mandate a lot easier by the day. The resultant effect has led to unimaginable breakthroughs in the proposed domestication of biotechnology in Africa,’’ he said.

Continuing, Professor Solomon said, having a law will ensure the safe use of modern biotechnology, while protecting human health, the environment and national biodiversity.

Six million e-commerce jobs coming by 2015

— MINISTER

BY DOTUN IBIWOYE

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INISTER of Com munications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, has disclosed that an estimated 6. 2 million e-commerce related jobs will be created between now and 2015.

Johnson noted that the contribution of ICT industry to the GDP is 7.5 percent and the country is already witnessing increasing participation of indigenous companies like Jumia Nigeria and others.

The minister made this assertion at the first Annual eCommerce Conference hosted by Jumia.com in Lagos, with theme: ‘eCommerce and ICT in Nigeria: an Engine for Job Creation and Economic Growth', in commeration of its first year anniversary.

She stressed that the developing ICT ecosystem in the country is a wonderful opportunity which increases percentage of local content in products and services.

According to her: “In a less fragmented industry with strong growth across most sectors, , an estimated 6.2 million jobs will be created by e-commerce and the contribution of ICT industry to the GDP is 7.5 percent by 2015.

The ICT is the primary driver of growth of the Nigerian economy and we are already witnessing increasing participation of indigenous companies and Jumia is one of them.

“The developing ICT ecosystem is a source of tremendous opportunities which engenders an environment that encourages and rewards innovation. The opportunities also increases percentage of local content in products and services, utilisation of local capacity, increases percentage of domestic value-add increased retention of value in the country and increased opportunities for job creation."

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Jim Ovia empowers software entr epreneurs

BY EMEKA AGINAM

No going back on disconnected SIM car ds Continues from Page 25 every attendant issue must have been sorted.”

He also noted that, “the Commission also realises that obedience to law by the various stakeholders such as telecoms consumers, operators, the Commission and government, is one reason the country's telecom sector has witnessed exponential growth in the past decade, and does not want to compromise this positive development the sector has attracted to Nigeria.”

He argued that even the operators, who earlier pleaded for additional three months extension to the exercise, as against the June 30 deadline, have expressed appreciation on the latitude given the exercise and the overriding importance of bringing it to a close.

Although, SIM registration is going to be a continuous process, as operators are expected to continue to re-register the deactivated SIM cards as well as new ones, experts have advised that a prop-

er collaboration must exist between the network operators and the NCC, especially in transmitting the new SIM data collected to the regulator.

A source at the Commission, however, disclosed that the regulator was already putting strategic plans in place to get new SIM data collected by the

operators on a regular basis.

According to the source, “henceforth, details of registration of new lines, biometrics and other personal information would be sent to by the operators to the Commission on weekly basis for entry into Central database.”

It was also learnt that the

Enforcement Unit of the NCC, which is at the centre of operations, is already out to ensure full compliance.

“The Commission has taken a decision which it will enforce to the letter to achieve stated objectives, that could have positive impact on the country.”

MTN Business unveils latest female entrepreneur

BY LAJA THOMAS

FEMALE entrepreneurship, in Nigeria got a boost last weekend, as the curtain fell on 13 weeks of intensive intellectual drills and tasks, at one of Nigeria’s most resourceful entrepreneurship reality shows, the MTN Business Next Titan academy.

The academy which has just produced a 27-year old, female Public Health and Promotion graduate, Ogbeifun Iroghama, as the winner of its inaugural season, is setting the pace for women entrepreneurship, which is fast gaining prominence, in

Nigeria and, indeed, Africa as a whole.

Speaking at the grand finale, Ruth Obi, CEO of 3Invest said that participating and emerging overall winner of the reality show is not about winning the prize money or courting fame but "about greatness through establishing businesses capable of providing solutions to socio-economic challenges that Nigeria currently faces."

For her, the emergence of enterprising young women across different sectors in the nation, is inspiring, taking into account the growing agita-

tion to accord the female gender its desired place in impacting on the society positively.

This is, however, in tandem with various global initiatives and movements like UNESCO’s Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) and campaigns by the Aids-Free-world organizations. It is expected that the extraordinary intelligence and passion exhibited by the winner of the Next Titan’s entrepreneurship reality show will go a long way to inspire more women in Nigeria and beyond to go into transformative businesses.

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N support of the UN endorsement of ISPON Software initiatives as reported in the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Information Economy Report 2012, Visafone boss, Mr Jim Ovia, CON through the Jim Ovia ICT Foundation has rolled out millions of Naira to empower winners of ISPON “Best Software Startup of the Year” award for budding IT Entrepreneurs.

The beneficiaries are: Pledge51 Ltd., Future Software Resources Ltd. and Encipher Group. Reliable studies have shown that Nigerian software startups are greatly challenged and lack office space to practice their profession to create and develop innovative software; critical mass of human resource capacity and remuneration ability; marketing support and facilities to engage and secure bigger, larger and more meaningful accounts from multis in the software ecosystem; high technology software development tools; and corporate reference from renowned ICT

solutions providers and professional bodies.

According to Chris Uwaje , President of ISPON, a Framework and national strategy for Software Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital in Nigeria is long overdue. Therefore, there is an urgent need to re-examine the critical role Software plays in national development and wealth creation.

Meanwhile, the recent UNCTAD Information Economy Report 2012 on “The Software Industry and Developing Countries”, has rightly recognized Software as not only fundamental, but critical to National Development, Prosperity and National Security.

Uwaje warns that there was an urgent need to retool the national workforce to respond to the challenges of the Knowledge economy – not doing so, will result to grave consequences.

Other Corporate Bodies and Philanthropic Individuals and organizations should emulate Jim Ovia in his foresight to encourage Software Development in Nigeria and the world.

SIM CARD REGISTRATION: NATCOMS, ALTON secure window for telecoms subscribers

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L-r: Deputy Managing Director, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka; presenting a gift to Kenyan President, Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta, during a luncheon organised by UBA Plc, in honour of the Kenyan President in Abuja, on Monday. With them is Vice Chairman, UBA Plc, Ambassador Joe Keshi.

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R-l: Consumer Activation Manager, Unilever Plc, Femi Atoyebi; Movie Star, Yemi Solade; Category Manager, Skincare, Unilever Plc, Rotimi Oyesiji, explaining some isues during the “2013 Clean Up Lagos” organized by JCI Eko in partnership with Lifebuoy Antiseptic soap and Unilever Plc in Lagos. Photo: Diran Oshe

ELECOMMUNI CATIONS subscribers whose SIM cards have been deactivated or disconnected by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, have been urged to avail themselves of the opportunity for reconnection and reactivation of such lines. They should visit network service providers’ customer care centres, friendship centres or network operators' offices to register.

The creation of the win-

L-r: Hon. Irene Imilar, member representing Warri North constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly in a handshake with the transition committee chairman of the local government, Evangelist David Ewetan Edun in Koko after the member called on the council boss for briefing on recent attacks on some Itsekiri communities

dow for subscribers' SIM Card Registration follows appeals by the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers, NATCOMS, and Association of Licenced Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, ALTON, to the Nigerian Communications Communications and the Ministry of Communications Technology, as well as the NTA Network live interview with Dr. Tony Ojobo of the NCC and Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo of NATCOMS. A statement by NATCOMS national president, Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, said the NCC window was now the only opportunity for subscribers all over the country to have their deactivated or disconnected SIM cards registered for reactivation and reconnection. The statement said that already, Communications Service Providers, CSP’s were encouraging deactivated/disconnected subscribers to register their SIM Cards and get between N5,000 and N10,000 re-activation/reconnection bonus for onnet calls.

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Re: Cost of installing a Catholic bishop for Nsukka

Author slams Oritsejafor's critics at book launch

By SAM EYOBOKA

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HUNPIKING: No Shortcuts to God, a 176-page book written by Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on New Media and founder of a multi-media project, Build Up Nigeria, Pastor Bemigho Reno Omokri was recently introduced to the Nigerian market at a ceremony attended by House of Representatives deputy leader and member representing Isoko Federal constituency in the lower chambers, Mr. Leo Ogor Okuweh, who represented the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Director of Lagos Business School, Prof.

Pat Utomi, and Special Adviser to the president on Research and Documentation, Mr. Oronto Douglas.

National President of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor who was chairman of the occasion, described the book as topical and a seed that will go out to Nigerians and the rest of the world to desire to do the right things.

In his reaction, the author and pastor of the Mind of Christ Christian Center in California and Abuja, Pastor Omokri used the occasion to berate critics of the CAN president, Pastor Oritsejafor.

"I can never be ashamed of Jesus and I will never shy away from using any platform I have in projecting my faith in God through Jesus His Son. Let people tell me that it is unethical and unprofessional I don’t care. My ethics and professionalism are not sourc-ed from the world’s standards but by the Word of God. And let me say that I am not ashamed of aligning with Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor in as much as he himself continues to align with Christ.

Historical Jesus Pastor Oritsejafor, he noted, is a man who models himself after the historical Jesus not after the religious Jesus. "In Matthew 4:23, we see that Jesus spent His life doing three things: Preaching, Teaching and Healing, the very things that Pastor Ayo has spent his time in ministry doing.

"Many people expect a docile CAN President. But Jesus was not docile. He was meek, but not docile. He stood up in defence of God and God’s people.

"In John 2:15 , Jesus made a whip and chased out those who defiled the House of God. Some people attacked Pastor Oritsejafor when he spoke and reproached an ex-dictator whose speech may have in-cited his fol-

*CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor addressing the audience as Director of Lagos Business School, Prof. Pat Utomi, chairman, National Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Sam Amadi; Special Adviser on Research and Documentaion to President Jonathan, Mr. Oronto Dougla,s and president, Dominion Ministries, Bishop John Praise listen at the book presentation.

*Pastor Oritsejafor presenting the book to the public while the author, Pastor Omokri looks with keen interest.

lowers to violence forgetting that Jesus spoke in the same manner to Herod, another dictator in reproach calling him “that fox” in Luke 13:32. "Some people who have no knowledge of spiritual things but are so puffed up with their intellectual knowledge call Pastor Oritsejafor ostentatious because he wears gold jewel-ry.

You see, such people follow the religious Jesus and not the historical Jesus. If you read Matthew 2:11, the very first gift given to Jesus was a gift of gold given him by the wise men from the East. So do these pseudo intellectuals think that they are more Godly than Jesus, the wise men and the Gospels? I don’t wear jewelry myself, but I admire Pastor Ayo," he added.

Continuing, Pastor Omokri disagreed with those who attacked the CAN president because he accepted a gift of an airplane on the occasion of the celebration of his 40th year in the Lord’s vineyard, saying it was not a mark of humility.

"Pastor Oritsejafor has been given a task of evangelizing and the world needs know-ledge of the Word of God; and anything that can enhance that work is a priority. "I know Pastor Oritsejafor and he is a man of immense humility. It is not humility when an intelligent person says he is not intelligent or when a beautiful person says she is ugly. It is dis-

honesty.

"Satan has instituted a stronghold in the world whereby he has people think-ing that humility means valu-ing the gifts that God has given us less than they are.

Notice that when God told Jesus in Matthew 3:17 that 'This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased' Jesus did not blush and say oh no, I am not that. No. "He accepted what God said about Him. And what does God say about you? He says in Ecclesiastes 3:11 'He has made every thing beautiful in its time'. True humility is accepting that you are a valuable and beautiful person with immense talents yet accepting that it was God that made you that way and not you. But denying and under valuing your talents is not humility," he stated.

Turning to the two-time CAN president, Omokri said: "when they revile you in the press and in their inner rooms, don’t let it get to you. By virtue of Matthew 5:11, they are only blessing you because that verse says 'Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me'.

Shunpiking: No Shortcuts to God is available in all Barnes and Noble Bookshops in the US and at Waterstone’s in the UK and on amazon.com as well as in major bookshops in the Americas and Europe.

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WRITE to express my disgust and displeasure with the reports in your paper on July 7 and July 10, 2013. The reports were titled Varsity don accuses Catholic Church of ostentation and Don condemns N335m budget for bishop’s consecration respectively. The reports also displayed anti-Catholic bias, contempt and ignorance.

First of all, does a budget of N335 million immediately translate into expenditure? The reports remind me of Judas Iscariot complaining about the opportunity cost of the oil used to anoint Jesus. (John12:11-11). If the reporter and the lecturer had bothered to ask; they would have been told that the installation cost goes beyond traveling expenses for over 1,000 priests. It also involved providing a house for the retiring bishop.

This is the standard practice. It is done in dioceses where a house for the retired bishop does not exist? In older dioceses e.g. Lagos, Onitsha, Enugu; the structures are already there.

In Nsukka, Bishop Okobo is the founding bishop. It would have been improper for him to build a retirement home for himself, so he left it for the new bishop.

Decades ago, the dioceses did not need to bother about building retirement houses as the missionary bishops simply returned to Europe.

To demonstrate the ignorance of the reporter, the caption of the picture used on the July 10 stated that Bishop Godfrey Onah was crowned. Catholic bishops are not crowned, they are ordained. It appears you are trying to give the audience the impression that the new bishop is a king.

Another point is the mention of the Nsukka-Leija Road. Why is the lecturer not willing to ask the federal, state or local governments to tar the road leading to a unity school? If the elite whose children attend the school have not bothered to do this why is the Catholic Church being harassed over this road?

The report insulted the Catholic Church by accusing Bishop of being the bishop of an unviable diocese in Sokoto and ridiculed him by referring to him as the Catholic ambassador to the Caliphate. For the avoidance of doubt, the Catholic diocese was created in 1964, 36 years before Nsukka. Bishop Kukah is the fourth bishop and the Catholic Church does not create dioceses without considering viability.

The lecturer goes further to accuse the Catholic Bishops of being pro-Jihad, pro-OIC, pro-Buhari and anti-Jonathan. This is based on the fact that they have chosen a different path in addressing the issue of jihadist violence in Nigeria. It is easy for a prosperity-bishop in the comfort of southern Nigeria to attack and insult Muslims in the North.

Most of them have no churches in the North and do not have to live or interact with Muslims daily. The Catholic Bishops cannot afford to make loud outbursts and put the lives of Catholics in northern Nigeria at risk. That is why our bishops have chosen to engage non-violent Muslims and the government in tackling the problems.

Revival Assembly hosts 11th Azusa Confab

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HE 11th annual Azusa Conference of Revival Assembly is scheduled to begin Thursday, July 25 at the church headquarters in Lagos. The 4-day event will feature early morming worship while the conference continues each day in the evening from 6.00 p.m. - 8.00 p.m.

The event will also feature gospel carnival; Azusa Praise Jamz and a ministers' conference for men of God in ministry.

It will feature local and international ministers including Prophetess Gladys Dark, Micah Stampley, Dr. Victor Okorie of and the host, Apostle Madubuko.

Nigeria's hottest gospel artistes, Keffee, Nathaniel Bassy, Iroko, Tunde Akinokun, Frank Edward, Seun Bankole among others are also billed to perform at the event just as a Kenyan gospel star, Emmy Kosgie is expected.

Speaking on the programme, Apostle Madubuko told reporters that this year's conference will bring remarkable blessings as God has told him He will start something new in the lives of the people. Azusa, he said, is an Indian word meaning blessed miracles, a spiritual revival where the awesome presence of the Holy Spirit is made manifest.

Christians attend launch of Prize of total Obedience

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OMADI—THE launch of spiritual awakening book, The Prize of Total Obedience, recently attracted scored of Christian faithful to Bomadi, headquarters of Bomadi Local Govern-ment area of Delta State.

The book, according to the author, Evangelist Ogbotubo Ebide, is a key to unlock all closed doors in the supernatural realm for true worshipp-ers of God, noting that the benefits of tapping the hidden knowledge imbedded in the inspired work could not be ascertained.

36 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

I panicked against Spain — Egwuekwe

By JACOB AJOM

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ZUBUIKE Egwuekwe is one of Coach Stephen Keshi’s dependables. He is strong, bold and industrious. His exploits in the local league with Warri Wolves have made him one of the stalwarts of the Warri based club and he is easily picked ahead of his contemporaries for national assignments.

The Confederations Cup was yet another test case for the well-travelled WarriWolves defender. As usual, Keshi named him in the squad that took on the world champions, Spain. It was a tall challenge for the young lad.

“I panicked, when I was introduced against Spain,” the usually tough-looking defender confessed to Vanguard Sports Xtra in Kaduna, recently.

“As a player, I had to encourage myself, saying I can do it and that was the trick that gave me the confidence.”

In the course of the match,

Egwuekwe gave a good account of himself as he was able to contest favourably against the sleek Spaniards.

“At the end of the match I was happy. Not because we lost but when people came to tell me ‘ you played well,’ after the match, I felt encouraged.”

On the result, which the Eagles conceded three goals, Egwuekwe said he resigned himself to fate.“In any situation one finds himself, one has to give glory to God. We tried our best but we could not convert our chances.”

Despite his initial jitters, Egwuekwe said they(the Eagles) did not enter the pitch with an inferiority complex. “No, far from it. We did not go into the match with the hope to lose because we had played against most of the players in the friendly against Catalonia so we were not afraid of them.

“As we went in, I just believed anything could happen but at the end of the day we lost. There was nothing we can do.”

2014 CHAN: Eagles battle Cote d’Ivoire on artificial pitch IGERIA have said they are ready to a tack le hos ts Cot e d’Iv oire on leg nd synthetic pitch in a 2014 CHAN seco qualifier. ian The home-based Eagles beat their Ivor at ed play leg first the in 4-1 s counterpart una Kad the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in the earlier this month. “We learnt from will e gam the that NFF leadership of the t say be played on artificial turf and I mus our give will we use beca d ghte deli e we wer our ping kee are all on such a pitch but we ator plans close to our chest,” team co-ordin day.

Mon on said Atta Emmanuel his Hea d Coa ch Step hen Kes hi and t men elop dev the assistants were calm over o Day y, etar secr team to because according throw Enebi Achor, “Anything they want to ds han at us we are sure we have capable .” led by Keshi to counter them on The Eag les will resu me trai nin g ect Proj l Goa FIFA the at ning Tuesday mor ning Abuja and will train once in the mor until otherwise decided. and Meanwhile, Super Eagles goalkeeper to first the was im Agb ie goz skipper Chi the as n arrive camp on Monday afternoo leg of training camp opened for the return Cote nst agai d roun l fina r the CHAN qualifie 27.

July jan, Abid D’Ivoire in s of Agbim was soon joined by the like

Golden Eaglets can U-17 World Cup — A

F

N

C M Y K

*Egwuekwe

*Oboabona

we, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuek er dinn by and Ali iu Benjamin Francis, Rab for ted invi ers play 24 the all time almost the crucial tie have reported.

ORMER coach of the Golden Eaglets, Fanny Amun has described the current Golden Eaglets squad as a strong force, capable of winning the U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Amun said in Lagos that the squad was impeccable and in a good shape to do the country proud at the tournament.

The former coach added that he was anticipating a good run from the team, because of their antecedents.

“This U-17 team is a strong force, in spite of losing on penalties in the African championship; we can see the hunger and passion to win in the boys.

“But we remain hopeful because they have done marvellously well, prior to this, so I have high expectations from them, but no pressure,” he said.

Amun, who was at the helm when the Golden Eaglets won the 1993 edition of the U-17 World Cup, stressed that new crop of players must be pro-

duced on a regular basis.

“When there is no progression, from the U-17 to the U20 then it’s a cause for concern, these boys are young and capable of playing at the next level.

“They deserve that option,

*Coach Manu Garba (m) and his boys

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013 — 37

Transfer update ... Transfer update ... Transfer update ...

Ivanovic wants Suarez Fabregas going nowhere in Chelsea — Vilanova B B ARCELONA coach Tito Vilanova has said that Manchester United target Cesc Fabregas wants to stay at the Spanish champions.

United made a bid for the midfielder, who has failed to secure a regular starting spot at Barca since returning to the club from Arsenal two years ago. However, Barca insisted the 26-year-old was not for sale and Vilanova has now confirmed that Fabregas is not wanting to move on either.

Vilanova said at a press conference on Tuesday morning: “I’m aware there have been offers, I had a conversation with him and he told me that he wanted to continue here and that he didn’t want to go to another big club.

“He wants to succeed here.”

Confirmation that Fabregas is committed to the club will come as a boost to Vilanova following the departure of rising star Thiago Alcantara.

*Fabregas The Spain international is currently finalising his move to Bayern Munich after the European champions reached an agreement with Barca last weekend to sign the 22-yearold for a fee which could rise to 25million euros (£21.6m).

RANISLAV Ivanovic would be happy for Chelsea to sign Liverpool’s Luis Suarez despite being on the receiving end of a bite from the Uruguayan last season.

Suarez was banned for 10 matches after putting his teeth into Ivanovic during a Barclays Premier League clash in April and has been linked with a move away from Anfield, with Stamford Bridge rumoured to be among his possible destinations.

“About Luis Suarez, I said straight after the game, whatever happened on the field finished there,” Ivanovic said in Bangkok on Tuesday.

“He’s one of the best strikers in the Premier League. I don’t have any problem with him.”

Ivanovic has been linked himself with a move, with big-spending Ligue 1 clubs

Mourinho dismisses Rooney, Benteke link as rumours

n win Amun consistency and growth is key to rebuilding our teams,” Amun said.

Amun also harped on the need for positivity and support for the U-17 team, as they prepared to play in Dubai.

J

OSE Mourinho is happy with the composition of his Chelsea squad and has played down reports linking the club with Wayne Rooney.

After one week of training in his second spell as Blues boss, Mourinho expressed satisfaction at his players’ work ethic and branded speculation surrounding Rooney’s future - as well as that of Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke - as “rumours”.

Mourinho named two sides for Wednesday’s first match of his return, the pre-season contest with Singha All-Stars in Bangkok, and appears set to begin with the same four-twothree-one formation favoured by predecessor Rafael Benitez

*Rooney

and which delivered the Europa League trophy in May. The ‘Special One’, who returned to Stamford Bridge last month after a near six-year absence, hopes for victory at the Rajamangala Stadium on Wednesday.

“Winning is part of a culture: if you can do that even in friendly matches, we have to do it,” he said.

*Benteke

Man City eye Ibrahimovic

N

EW Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini is ready to launch a cut-price swoop for Swedish superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The volatile Ibrahimovic has ALREADY fallen out with Paris Saint-Germain boss Laurent Blanc - who was only appointed 18 days ago - and seems set to quit the French champions.

Ibrahimovic has refused to return a call from the former France manager, despite being given an extra 10 days off from pre-season training than the majority of the PSG squad.

The 31-year-old is understood to be unhappy at the imminent arrival of Uruguayan hitman Edinson Cavani, set to move in a £53million

deal from Napoli, and there is a growing suspicion the Swede will refuse to turn up for training next Thursday.

Former Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona and AC Milan ace Ibrahimovic - who scored four sensational goals against England in a friendly last November, including a 30-yard overhead kick - has authorised his representative, super-agent Mino Raiola, to open negotiations with Real Madrid.

Ibrahimovic believed he would be available for ‘just’ £17m and was prepared to take a pay-cut - to ‘a mere’ £250,000 per week - to grease the wheels on a move to the Bernabeu.

*Suarez Paris St Germain and Monaco apparently courting the Serbia defender’s signature.

The 29-year-old downplayed the prospect of a transfer ahead of Jose Mourinho’s first match of his second spell in charge, the Bangkok clash with Singha All-Stars which comes a week into pre-season preparations.

“The first thing, we are a little bit too far from reality,” Ivanovic said.

“We are not so focused on that kind of thing.

“For us, the most important thing is to pass this base, which is very important for every single player for the beginning of the season.

“My situation, I’ve always said I’m happy to be here.

“I will do everything and will work hard to do everything for the club. Nothing will change until the last day I’m here.”

*Ibrahimovic

38—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

The truth about NGF election'll haunt many govs — Gov Fayemi GOVERNOR Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State in this interview responds to issues pertaining to insecurity in the land, the crisis in the Nigerian Governors Forum, the forthcoming gubernatorial election in his state among others. why it saddens me because those who are against the result of the election are highly respected people.

They came back and said there was no voting when every single one of them voted. Of course, you have seen Niger Sate governor’s comment, you have heard Kano, Jigawa, Adamawa and Sokoto governors’ comments on the issue.

They have come out to say who voted for whom. Ours (ACN) was clear because we voted in bloc. It was those who joined us that were not clear to Nigerians. And those who did it have come out to say they did it.

What is worrisome is the reaction from the other side.

We felt Mr. President is the president of all. Our president is not a candidate in the NGF election. He has no interest because he made that very clear to us that he has no interest in the NGF election and I don’t want him to be dragged into this NGF issue because it diminishes the Presidency.

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

D

O you believe that the introduction of state police could solve the threats of insecurity in the country?

I am an advocate of multilevel policing. If you bring me (as a policeman) from Ekiti to Zamfara and dump me at Talata-Mafara and give me a gun to protect people; who am I protecting at the place when I don’t have a clue about the language? I see multi-level policing having a key role to play in the country.

In the light of what we have also seen in Rivers State, I can tell you that some of our colleagues, who are opposed to multi-level policing are changing their views now because they could see the blatant abuse of federal police within a local entity simply because somebody is not on their side of the debate. Many of us are setting up alternative security forces in order to protect our people and our environment.

That is what Zamfara State wanted to do that led to the debate at the National Assembly. The governor decided to take the bull by the horn because 48 of his citizens were killed in one day and our police cannot do anything about it. Governors have come to a conclusion that if the police cannot help their states after they have bought uniform, patrol vehicles, bullets, some electronic equipment and

•Fayemi: Our president was not a candidate in the NGF election of these things are clear distortions of federalism.

Yet you agreed to the one percent deduction from your statutory allocations to be funneled to the police?

Not all the governors agreed to the idea. Some governors came out to address the media on it. I have raised it with the

,

Our colleagues who have found themselves defending this albatross round their neck also know that this will come to haunt them, a lot of them have lost their credibility

Armoured Personnel Carriers, APCs, for the police, they will look for alternative way to protect their citizens. We (governors) are actually running the police. Many of our colleagues train police personnel even abroad. If we are doing all these, how can someone turn back and talk about federal police? Many

,

chairman of the NGF. I wasn’t there when the idea was tabled to governors and I know that some governors, who were there did indicate they will go to court. I’m elected by Ekiti people. I cannot subscribe to that deduction without going to my people first. It’s their money.

Do you just sit at one economic council meeting and decide on your own to accept the deduction because they put a paper before you to agree to one per cent deduction from federation revenue?

What is the modality for that? Will one per cent deduction from our allocation address Ekiti State security challenges? Who dictates what happens with the one per cent? Is it Abuja or Ekiti?

Do I have total control over what the commissioner of police does in my state?

Even with what we bought for police; we don’t have total control on them. In this country, we just keep dodging fundamental issues, which are structural.

As an active insider, what actually happened during the NGF election?

Our colleagues, who have found themselves defending this albatross round their neck also know that this will come

to haunt them. A lot of them have lost their credibility.

First, they said there was no election. When we came out with tape, Nigerians knew that there was an election where the ballot was counted.

Before we got to 35 votes being cast and counted, we had three hours of debate on one, consensus. We said at the last meeting we concluded that Okauru (NGF DG) was going to organise the election and whoever wins, becomes our chairman.

Later, they said we should vote via open ballot, show of our hands; we said we are adults, we were not doing show of hands, we would vote by secret ballot which is recognised in the country’s electoral act. They agreed again. We moved to the issue of agents for the candidates, both candidates agreed on one agent, the DG. We all sat, voted and the agent supervised this.

They knew the truth, that is

Diminishing the Presidency The occupant of that office should not be diminished. We must not do anything to diminish the office and the occupant. But, we have been diminished before Nigerians because they don’t really make a difference between 19 and 16.

They just say these governors can’t even hold simple election and they want Nigerians to come and vote in 2015.

I think the president must find a way to exercise his moral authority on this matter.

We must also find a way to meet the president in supporting him to exercise that moral authority because it doesn’t augur well for us, for some people to be hiding or creating the impression that they are the president’s men.

We all are president’s men.

We are the president’s governors. So, we are all his Continued on page 39

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013—39

I

POLITICAL METABOLISM with

EMMANUEL AZIKEN 08052201189

Al-Bashir: Remembering Abacha crimes in the Darfur region of his country.

He is alleged to have supported ethnic cleansing of minority groups, and all

,

MAGINE Gen. Sanni Abacha ruling Nigeria for 24 straight years. Then consider the lot of the politically benighted people of Sudan in the hands of Gen. Omar Al-Bashir.

It was indeed remarkable that it was just days after Abacha’s powerful Chief Security Officer, Major Hamza al-Mustapha was released from jail that President alBashir burst upon Nigeria’s political consciousness.

Critics who had in the past derided the present administration as clueless were quick to point at the presence of President Bashir in the country as another example of the insipidity of the administration.

There were nudged on by the fact that Nigeria is only the fourth African country to have allowed the embattled Sudanese president to visit since the International Criminal Court, ICC issued an arrest warrant on him in 2009.

The only exceptions are Djibuoti, Chad and Kenya.

Others including South Africa have kept him away.

Bashir was indicted by the ICC upon conclusions of his personal culpability in the acts of genocide, crimes against humanity including forcible deportations and other war

President Jonathan has boldly told the West that he must not always cavort to their instructions

these, are besides politically orchestrated schemes and crimes that have sustained him in power for 24 unbroken years. Arresting the wanted Sudanese leader was, however, out of the question.

If not, then for the repercussions on the millions of Nigerians living in Sudan, a country which arguably harbours more Nigerians in the Diaspora than any other country on the continent.

In allowing him into the country, President Jonathan has boldly told the West that

Pius Ewherido: O

N behalf of my family and the good people of Delta North Senatorial District, I salute the dynamism, selflessness and patriotic commitment to service of our departed colleague, brother and friend, Senator Pius Akpor Ewherido.

Senator Ewherido was an outstanding legislator, peaceful, calm and very courageous. We are inspired to celebrate his remarkable life and accomplishment.

His Bill on “Corporate Manslaughter” is before the Senate. Pius will be remembered and counted among those that excelled in the 7th Assembly.

Leader of proven integrity He was a leader of proven integrity, tenacity and character.

His passion about a democratic and united Delta State and indeed Nigeria was a common thread that ran through his sterling career in public service and politics, which remained so till his last day on earth.

Senator Ewherido made a mark in his stay at the Delta State House of Assembly.

As Deputy Speaker and Acting Speaker from 1999 – 2007, his vibrant and robust leadership will forever remain

,

five nation trip to China.

The visit to China by the president and the first lady was interpreted in some circles as Nigeria’s response to the continued snub by President Barack Obama who in two straight African trips has avoided the continent’s biggest democracy and upcoming economic power.

Al-Bashir, however, would remind many Nigerians of the deceased former head of state, Abacha in the same way that his country once reminded Nigerians of the political and

parliament and put his one time ally, al-Turabi in jail in the same way that Yar‘Adua and Abiola were jailed by Abacha in Nigeria.

Like Abacha who turned a deaf ear to the voice of the international community, alBashir similarly scorned the international community going as far as providing succour for America’s Enemy Number One, Osama Bin Laden in the 90s. For his act of defiance, his country was placed on the United State’s list of sponsors of terrorism.

Sponsors of terrorism With all the negatives attached to him, President alBashir would, however, be remembered for his bold step in allowing the separation of Southern Sudan and as such bringing to an end the more than 40 years of conflict between Southern Sudan and Northern Sudan.

That was, however, something Abacha simply wouldn’t have allowed.

Abacha in his days in Nigeria would not allow one foot of his territory to be taken from him and it is not for nothing that the people of Bakassi till date cherish the memories of the man many others like to forget!

My brother and my friend

,

BY IFEANYI OKOWA

he must not always cavort to their instructions. It is remarkable that the al-Bashir fuss happened just days after the president returned from a

religious divides of their own country.

The Sudan before its recent partition, was divided into an Islamic North and a Christian-cum-animist South almost reflective of the demographic shape of present day Nigeria.

Al-Bashir came to power in 1989 after taking power from an unstable civilian government just as Abacha took over power from a wobbly “interim” government led by Chief Ernest Shonekan.

Just as Abacha pretended to console the civilian political power brokers like Chief Moshood Abiola and Shehu Musa Yar‘adua in his first days in power, al-Bashir in Sudan, also had a popular honeymoon with the civilian political leader in The Sudan at that time, Hassan al-Turabi.

The romance between AlBashir and al-Turabi led to the promulgation of harsh Islamic law as favoured by the latter, who also became speaker of the parliament.

But just as Yar‘Adua scented Abacha quite early not to have any democratic leaning as he espoused, al-Turabi was to also discover the same trait in al-Bashir. It was not surprising that after al-Bashir settled himself in power he quickly dissolved the

The entire nation will always remember with appreciation Senator Ewherido’s immense contributions and notable inputs to national development

,

a reference point.

Due to his contributions in politics and community service, he was honoured with the

•Ewherido following chieftaincy titles: Otemunorueme of Ewhu

kingdom, the Adjerese of Effurun-Otor Kingdom, Aruore of Enwhe and most recently, the EjeUrhoboYovwi of Olomu Kingdom.

Senator Ewherido was resolute and refused to bow even where it would have been rosier to abandon his principles. He remained on the side of the people, lived and died in pursuit of the interest of his people.

He left an indelible footprint that we should follow. Pius, we will sur ely miss you! You will continue to live in our hearts and remain the height of moral ethical and all other standards that people must strive to attain.

The entire nation will always remember with appreciation

Senator Ewherido’s immense contributions and notable inputs to national development and the growth of true federalism and democracy.

I therefore, urge the family, people of Delta Central Senatorial District, all Deltans and Nigerians in general to take solace in the fact that Pius lived a most fulfilled life.

May his soul rest in the bosom of the Lord.

Adieu Gogorogo!

*Sen Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa formerly Secretary to the Delta State Government is Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District.

The truth about NGF election'll haunt many govs — Fayemi Continues from page 38

men. The president was once a governor, a member of the forum.

So, he knows that he must not do anything to denigrate the forum. He must not allow people to hide under his apron string to undermine the forum.

Do you have any fear about the entry of Governor Fayose into the Ekiti gubernatorial contest?

What will be the basis of that fear? Do you know Fayose

very well? Anyway, I try as much as possible not to make any derogatory remarks about my predecessors in office. Do you know Fayose and his antecedents? Let me give you an insight into his character for better understanding. He woke up one day and was on his way to Afao, his home town.

He claimed some people chased him and shot at him while driving along. ACN hierarchy responded that as the party in government in

Ekiti State, we are concerned about security of every citizen, we thought ex-governor Fayose ought to have reported this case to the police and if he hasn’t, we hope the Commissioner of Police will take this up because it’s about security of a very important citizen in our state. I insisted that the commissioner of police must follow the case up.

The commissioner replied that the police were in touch with the former governor

many times to bring the vehicle and to come and tell us what happened, how it happened? If you know how far Fayose used to draw attention to himself, you must give him credit for his ‘Alawada’ politics.

He has to make sufficient noise to attract Abuja people, so that they will say he is the solution to their problem in Ekiti. You know he calls himself the Architect of modern Ekiti, we shall see!

40— VANGUARD,

WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

Can I get pregnant this way?

My mother prefers my first wife!

Dear Bunmi, Some years back, I took a second wife. My first wife and I have three children between us, but it was always understood that being a Muslim and coming from a polygamous home, I might take a second wife, which I eventually did.

But my first wife took an unhealthy dislike to this poor girl because she’s had a kid for her previous husband. Well, I was a father of three too!

The long and short of it is that I was retrenched and couldn’t afford two homes. I told my wife we would all have to live under the same roof and she hit the roof! She said that would happen over her dead body.

She’s made appreciable progress in her job, and without telling me had bought a middle income flat from the state government. She then moved out before the date I said the second wife was moving in, and my mother, who had all along been living with us, moved in with her!

It was like a betrayal. She said she had always lived with us, was used to my first three children and didn’t want to entrust their welfare to a maid. Moreover, she said she was so used to looking after her own grandchildren such that she wouldn’t know how to look after a stranger ’s child— her way of showing her disapproval for this new wife of mine.

I have threatened her, but

she remained adamant. She has settled into this new flat with my first wife, but this is wrong. She is my mother, and I want her with me. How can I make her see that her loyalty should be to her son?

Kenneth, by e-mail.

Dear Kenneth, Since you haven’t divorced y o u r first wife, she’s still very much your r e sponsibility a l o n g with her children. I don’t see any reason why your poor mother should be forced to take your side. She might

As ejaculation nears, a man surrenders all control. At that critical moment, your well-being is marriage, irrelevant to s o d o e s his needs your first wife have a right to enjoy her peace of mind which, thankfully, she can affor d.

My son’s wayward girlfriend Dear Bunmi, I am in my 50s and have been married for over 25 years. I recently met one of my only son’s girlfriends and my life has never been the same again.

Her body is simply wonderful; well-stacked boobs and glowing skin and she wears all the revealing clothes that are the

She pays me for intimacy!

Dear Bunmi, I have this ex-girlfriend who is married to a brute who illtreats her and starves her of intimacy. I used to be wildly in love with her but she jilted me.

I have just been separated from my wife and live alone.

When she heard about the break-up of my marriage, she came to me. I am not financially buoyant and I told her so.

That was how I found out about the abusive bully she’s married to. He is rich and she doesn’t want me for material things. She then suggested we meet for love-making so as to comfort each other and we’ve been doing that fairly regularly.

My problem is that she

be your mother , but she’s grandmother to three children. Count your lucky stars as very few wives get along with their mothers-in-law.

Your decision doesn’t have to be abided with byyour wife or your mother— this is a new millennium remember? Just as you now have all the time in the world to enjoy your second

would disappear for weeks, then suddenly turn up to cook meals for me and leave money after we’ve made love. I feel like a gigolo though I could use the money.

Where do you think all these would lead?

Jack, by e-mail.

Dear Jack, Your guess is as good as mine. Your lover obviously loves the financial gains of her ‘unhappy’ marriage and is not prepared to give it up.

She never promised anything more than the good times you can give each other.

Make the most of it but don’t forget to leave room for a more lasting relationship if you intend to remarry.

rage these days. For months I fantasised about maving love with her.

Then she started making teasing remarks to me and flirting with me behind my son’s back.

To cut a long story short, we are now lovers and I give her most of the financial support she needs.

My son is now talking about their getting engaged and the thought that she could be around permanently is killing me. It is one thing to be bedding a casual girlfriend, but not a daughter-in-law! She said she loves my son and is quite keen on marrying him. What can I do to stop this marriage?

Yakubu, by e-mail.

Dear Bunmi, When my boyfriend and I make love, he always withdraws at the last moment. But I’ve heard that I can still get pregnant this way.

We don’t use condoms and I’m worried that I might be expecting because of what we’ve been doing.

Anita, by e-mail.

Dear Anita, Interrupting intercourse in this way is one of the oldest and simplest ways of reducing the risk of pregnancy. Yet it’s hugely unreliable. A man expels tens of millions of sperm every time he

has makes love. Just one escaping before he withdraws is enough to fertilise an egg, and make you pregnant.

Condoms protects a woman against pregnancy and disease.

Please use them and do not rely on any other person to take care of your sexual health. As ejaculation nears, a man surrenders all control. At that critical moment, your well-being is irrelevant to his needs.

Next time bring out a condom that you have at the ready! In the meantime, get a pregnancy test kit from the chemist to find out if you’re pregnant.

He makes me feel so special Dear Bunmi, I’m divorced with grown-up children and have a decent job.

Two months ago, I received a text message from a work colleague saying how he felt about me and some of the things he told me were really flattering.

For once in my life I felt really special. In all the years we were married, my husband never spoke to me that way.

I’ve always liked this man but never thought he’d fancy someone like me. We’ve seen each other a few times since. The only problem is, he’s married. My head is saying that having an affair is wrong but my heart is saying the opposite. I just can’t get him out of my mind.

Anifat, by e-mail.

Dear Anifat, The attention of a man who you believe was unavailable to you could be very flattering, and he’s very eager to massage your ego

with honeyed words. He’s obviously pressing the right buttons but what’s his plan? He may have strong feelings for you but it’s obvious he wants to sleep with you as often as he can. Yet where do you envisage things will go from there?

Becoming a married man’s bit on the side or consenting to some kind of romantic experiment with him in which he tests his love for his wife is an unacceptable proposition. You need a man who is able to offer you love and commitment that any woman deserves. Do not compromise.

Having a secret affair with another woman’s husband will bring you nothing but humiliation. Tell him, ‘thanks, but no thanks.’

Make a decision to find a man who’s single and a suitable match— there are so many honest, decent handsome men out there who would give you the love you need.

My daughter-in-law swears at the kids Dear Bunmi, My daughter-in-law uses bad language when she shouts at my three grandchildren— all under eight. She uses horrible swear words then warn them not to mention it to their father. As a result, the kids are frightened of her and withdrawn. When my son asks them what’s wrong, they eventually reveal their secret.

This infuriates her more and they get another mouthful of abuse from their mother. My grandchildren are well loved and cared for otherwise. They mean the world to my son though he can be difficult to live with. I’m so worried.

Nana, by e-mail.

Dear Yakubu, You can do absolutely nothDear Nana, ing if your son decides to marry You’re right to be worried about his girlfriend. Y ou have alyour daughter-in-law. Because ready made a fool of yourself she’s dissatisfied with her lot and by not only lusting af ter her, your difficult son, she hands her but taking her to bed. Y ou might be going through a midlife crisis, but what a way to massage your ego!

Wedding bells haven’t started ringing yet.

If and when they eventually do, I would cut my losses if were you and pray that my indiscretion never comes up.

children pain and anguish.

Don’t tolerate this cruel behaviour. The hurt these kids know now will shape their future lives.

Find a time you can have the undivided attention of both of them and speak candidly to them. Offer them your unconditional support in resolving their problems. But point out that their children’s suffering is unnecessary and hor ribly unfair. Say bluntly that for them to continue in ways that harm their kids is unacceptable.

To protect ever yone’s happiness they need either to live together peacefully or admit that their relationship is utterly rotten and then part. However your son and his sad wife respond to your intervention, continue to give them and your grandchildren infinite love. The sin here would be not to step in. This would give their kids continued pain.

Share your problems and release your burden.

Write now to Dear Bunmi, Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos. or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

Vanguard Vanguard,, WEDNESDAY,

JULY 17, 2 013

— 41

YOUR LUCK TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 VIRGO; Partial Solar Eclipse in Virgo today ; Unless you are more careful matters-of-the-heart may cause avoidable trouble the way your career/business can suffer temporarily.

LIBRA; Partial Solar Eclipse in Virgo today ; It is important you don’t exhibit aggression unnecessarily.

Here is a day when secret love is capable of bringing serious pressure. Try to be very diplomatic.

SCORPIO; Partial Solar Eclipse in Virgo today ; Your concentration level is not perfect and if you take bad advice from friends you would be misled. The more practical you are the better for you.

SAGITTARIUS; Partial Solar Eclipse in Virgo today ; Unnecessary aggressive approach on your part along your career/business lines will back-fire more than you imagine. Graceful expression is what you will need.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

A

RE you in good term with your landlord? I mean, do you have an excellent relationship with your landlord? If yes, congratulation!

I want to ask you

Are you a senior tenant? a simple question: how many years have you lived in the house - ten years, twenty years, thirty years etc? How many years? I was dis-

cussing with a neighbour the other day and he told me he has lived in a house for a whooping twenty eight years, twenty eight years, I ex-

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”

claimed! That’s long enough to build your own house. That’s long enough to be your own landlord or is it a crime for you to have your own house? ...

By Lanre Kehinde

CAPRICORN; Partial Solar Eclipse in Virgo today ; Happenings within your working arena can bring minor provocation but it is just a passing trend. Travelling for love will bring more challenges than expected.

AQUARIUS; Partial Solar Eclipse in Virgo today ; Male members of this Star sign will need to watch their libido while female must not ignore their sex-life.

Beware of joint ventures with those you don’t know.

PISCES; Partial Solar Eclipse in Virgo today ; It is not compulsory you take to aggressive re-action to those within your base of operation who are not as perfect as you. Protect your spouse.

ARIES; Partial Solar Eclipse in Virgo today ; Watch what you eat and drink today. This is the wrong time to engage in unnecessary heated argument.. Romance at work may bring disappointment.

TAURUS; Partial Solar Eclipse in Virgo today ; Trying to influence matters-of-the-heart with money will not give you the desired result. Any way it is a day you will need to be more careful with money.

GEMINI; Partial Solar Eclipse in Virgo today ; It is important you are more careful while trying to pass judgement on people within your base of operation because you too may be wrong.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

CANCER; Partial Solar Eclipse in Virgo today ; Taking a pleasure drive or movement may bring more than anticipated responsibility. Keep away from whatever can not be placed above board today.

LEO; Partial Solar Eclipse in Virgo today ; /9 If you allow friends to force their ideas on you financially or on matters-of-the-heart, you would be the loser. Express yourself gracefully.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

What should I know?

Dear Joshua Kindly tell me where the Moon was placed when I was born and other things I should know about my star.

Mustapha Kano.

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Dear Mustapha, What space can take will be given here-under.

Your natal Moon was in Aries.

ANALYSIS OF YOUR HOROSCOPE DATA Preponderance of cardinal quality in your chart is an indication of GREAT LEADERSHIP QUALITY together with innate ability to attain prominence on one hand, on the other hand, exaltation of intellectual related Mercury in Aquarius at positive angle to both lucky Jupiter and Uranus (the planet of genius) in Libra pointed to a person with higher pitch of intelligence.

Action loving Mars as the final dispositor of your horoscope ( that’s most influential planet at home when you were born) will most times induce you to strongly desire importance with likeness for quick results; actually long promise without concrete action will bore you easily. Equally 60 percentage of push-full influence in your chart means that the best for you is to go after your needs and wants.

Combination of all the placement and aspects formed within the planets when you were born are pointers to you as a person with balanced personality with little bias for good spiritual life.

And you believe in disciplinarian life style.

Placement of your natal Sun and Moon in compassionate Pisces and self conscious Aries respectively are indications of your being mainly a Piscean and partly an Arian, however as Aries is also your Stellium sign, both basic characteristics of Pisces and Aries are highly pronounced in your inner-self.

HOME AND ABROAD

by Lawrence Akapa

42 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY,

JULY 17, 2013

•Pharmacist selling over the counter drugs

Affordable malaria tr eatment still a bitter pill to swallow I

ALMOST died of malaria,” recounts Oluwadamilola Agbajo, Miss Nigeria 2010. “I was in school at the time, and was so ill for a long time. I missed writing a very important examination no thanks to that bout of malaria.”

This experience forever changed Oluwadamilola’s perspective about malaria. Today, she is Queen Ambassador of the Affordable Medicines Facility for malaria, AMFm, initiative in Nigeria.

She recalls that her encounter with malaria was more as a result of late diagnosis than lack of access to efficacious drugs. “My illness opened my eyes and I became really interested in treatment, prevention and management of this sickness. I have gone on the internet to find out more on available research of a lasting malaria cure. I believe in the AMFm programme because it is appropriate.”

The Queen Ambassador expresses total willingness to support the Federal Ministry of Health of Nigeria in the AMFm initiative which debuted in Nigeria in November 2010, as an effort to develop a major policy that would put in place a sustainable malaria treatment, control and prevention programme.

Oluwadamilola’s rendition echoes the typical Nigerian attitude to malaria infection, and even though not everyone is privileged to be appointed ambassador, it’s a safe bet every Nigerian knows malaria as much as malaria knows them. Virtually everyone has a story to tell about this “ordinary” illness with extraordinary consequences.

Here, the story of malaria is a mixture of misery and mystery.

Every narration is a lamentation of woe, a recitation of grave repercussions and a distress call to action. Nine in 10 persons are at risk in Nigeria which accounts for 25 percent of malaria cases in Africa.

Extraordinary consequences Every 30 seconds, a Nigerian child dies from malaria; 30 percent of childhood mortality and 11 percent of maternal mortality in Nigeria are attributable to malaria. Just about every other person on the street has had at least one malaria attack at some point in the last six months.

The World Health organisation, WHO, estimates that 50 percent of the adult population in Nigeria experiences at least one episode of malaria yearly, while infants and small children have up to two to four attacks annually.

Many persons actually suffer multiple attacks in the same year.

Infants, young children and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to the malaria menace. The multiple indicator cluster survey, MICS, Nigeria conducted in 2010 showed that about 52 per cent of children aged six months to five years tested positive to malaria.

Despite significant progress in increasing awareness, malaria remains one of the greatest public health burdens in Nigeria.

Every year the nation loses about N132 billion to malaria in man hours, while the illness drops the nation’s annual Gross Domestic Product by one percent.

Long ago, medical experts realised that the malaria parasite will continue to debilitate its victims due to increasing resistance to older, inexpensive treatments, such as chloroquine.

Currently, the WHO specifically recommends Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies, ACTs, as the best treatment for uncomplicated malaria. ACTs have remained the gold standard in malaria treatment, and, essentially, their use at the community level has been vigorously promoted over the years since the emergence of chloroquine-resistant strains of the malaria parasite.

Domestically, the Federal Government of Nigeria

subscribes to globally acceptable malaria control and prevention measures, including the free distribution of insecticide-treated nets to vulnerable groups.

Government also ratified global responses in the form of the Roll Back Malaria partnership by the WHO and the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, GFATM. “The launch of AMFm will further accelerate our drive to ensure we have 50 per cent reduction in malaria by 2013,” Nigerian Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, announced during the official

,

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

Director, AMFm Nigeria explained that under Phase I implemented over 24 months, eligible first line buyers placed orders for AMFm subsidised ACTs after completing the necessary Global Fund documentation.

The goal of the AMFm initiative is simple. Enable increase in provision of affordable ACTs through the public, private notfor-profit and private for-profit sectors, through provision of a subsidy of up to 95 percent of the manufacturers cost of ACTs. The goal is to facilitate the increased use of ACTs by drastically reducing the cost of these drugs (potentially to N75.00 for end users for an adult dose).

The first objective is to increase availability of ACTs in public and private outlets; second, to reduce

Nine in 10 persons are at risk in Nigeria which accounts for 25 percent of malaria cases in Africa; every 30 seconds, a Nigerian child dies from malaria

kick-off in November 2010.

Under the programme, all medical doctors and health officials in government hospitals utilize ACTs for treatment of uncomplicated malaria.

In Nigeria, the AMFm is being implemented by the Ministry of Health’s National Malaria Control Programme, the Society for Family Health and the Yakubu Gowon Center with support from Clinton Health Access Initiative, CHAI. Dr Olusoji Adeyi,

,

the cost of ACTs to a level that is comparable with other antimalarials (such as chloroquine, sulphamethamine, and artemisinin monotherapy); third is increasing the market share of ACTs among antimalarials. And lastly, to increase use of ACT among vulnerable groups such as poor people, rural communities, and children.

While the AMFm remains an interesting model, so far, it appears effective only on paper.

Continues on page 43

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013— 43

Safety relief for air travellers as NCAA presents bill on consumer rights DOMESTIC AIRLINES CANCELLATION JANUARY-DEC 2011

•With the new bill, passengers can demand compensation for cancelled flights

BY JUDITH UFFORD

F

RIDAY July 19, 2013 promises to be a land mark in the annals of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA as well as air travellers in the country. On this date, passengers on both domestic and international flights can heave a sigh of relief as NCAA would present to the public its Consumers’ Bill of Rights as well as launch its Consumer Digest. The Consumer Digest, a pamphlet, seeks to enlighten air travellers on the Regulation NCAA has promulgated for their protection. The rights are drawn

entitlement. They are obligatory on the airlines. Demand for them. Every airline passenger whose rights are infringed upon is to demand restitution at the point of infringement.

Others would be to inform air passengers what to do during flight delay. For example: “ If your flight is delayed for at least one hour/cancelled without prior notice, ask the airline officials for a written statement of your rights, particularly with regards to compensation or assistance. If your bag is damaged/ pilfered /delayed/ missing, ensure that you report to the

,

Passengers on both domestic and international flights can heave a sigh of relief as NCAA would present to the public its consumers’ Bill of Rights as well as launch its Consumer Digest

from Part 19 of “NCAA Regulations 2012, Vol. II.” Accordingly, all airlines, foreign and domestic, are subject to the provisions of the Bill. For instance, regulation one prescribes the minimum rights and duties of passengers and the obligations of airlines. To ensure it takes off without a hitch the NCAA organised a three-day training workshop for its staff. The workshop was designed for Consumer Protection Officers on NCARs Part 19.

In addition to this, the Consumer Protection Directorate under NCAA will be engaged in serious advocacy in this regard. This will come in form of bulk sms. Some of the sms would read thus: “Do you know that you are entitled to some rights, demand for it when the need arises from the airline. Your rights are not a privilege, but your

,

airline and also fill the PIR Form at the airline’s counter before leaving the airport. Persons with Reduced Mobility have the right to priority boarding/assistance from the airline.

When infringed, pack your luggage yourself, carry valid photo ID, arrive at the airport on time one hour for domestic flight, three hours for international flight and be of good behaviour”. This sms comes with a phone contact and and email address.

The regulation, according to the bill, shall apply on the occurrence of any of the following: No-show and overbooking of flights, denied boarding against the will of a passenger, delayed scheduled flights, and cancelled scheduled flights.

In 2008, for example, about 63 cases involving air passengers and airlines were resolved by NCAA, while in 2009

about 40 cases were resolved. These cases range from missing luggage, flight cancellation to delayed flights.

The authority recorded the highest number of resolved cases in 2010 with 65 settled issues.

The Directorate has initiated an electronic data capturing application.

This is an on-line complaint collation machinery. On completion, the system will go a long way in simplifying and perfecting the complaint collation and resolution procedure.

International airports Presently, there are Consumer Protection Officers’ posted to the four major international airports (Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Port-Harcourt International Airport and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport– on 24 hours basis) and 16 other domestic airports in the country. Their presence at these airports will enable stakeholders get prompt resolution of their complaints, concerns and inquiries.

The portal will incorporate a call centre with a toll-free number where complainants can call in to lay their complaints, or fill the on-line complaint form, which immediately delivers at the data centre. The software will also enable the Directorate to track the concerns of stakeholders.

With the coming into force of the Regulations, Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulation’s PART 19- consumers of aviation services and products certainly have better days ahead!

Affordable malaria treatment still a bitter...

Continues from page 42 How much its objectives have been achieved is debatable. Nigerians still do not have penchant to seek a clinician’s assistance at the onset of symptoms. Rather, preference is for self-medication, fueling sub-clinical therapy.

People complain of the side effects of orthodox drugs and would rather settle for herbal remedy in malaria treatment. Then there is the problem of misdiagnosis and several cases of malaria are still treated as typhoid.

Argument has been that low cost ACTs would only be a reality if the public is fully aware of the programme, the effectiveness of ACTs and the fact that they are to be made affordable by retailers. The current picture is that Artesunate/Amodiaquine (AS/AQ) combinations and Artemether Lumefantrine (AL) though widely available, are expensive.

Patients of uncomplicated malaria still do not have adequate access to ACTs comparable to prices of other less effective medications such as mono-therapies. From this perspective, the goal of AMFm to eventually crowd out the ineffective medicines cannot be said to have come to light.

The National Malaria Control Programme, argues that for eligibility to supply ACTs under the AMFm, a manufacturer must meet criteria set out in the Global Fund’s Quality Assurance Policy.

Under the signed agreement, the Global Fund mandates local manufacturers to mandatorily brand all AMFm ACT packages with a special logo of a green leaf with the words “ACTm” underneath.

The logo is meant to be a symbol of high quality and affordability.

Obtaining subsidized drugs, a challenge However, in practice, it is a challenge obtaining the highly subsidized medicines at health facilities, pharmacies and chemist stores at the advertised shelf price of about N30.00 per dose for children and N75.00 for an adult dose.

A spirited search of drug stores in Lagos neighbourhoods for ACT packs with the green leaf logo yielded little success. None of the drug stores visited stocked the specially branded drugs. Random sampling among buyers of malaria medicines showed there is limited public awareness about this requirement.

This is regardless of a nationwide awareness campaign for the AMFm brand by the three Principal Recipients viz: the National Malaria Control Programme, the Society for Family Health, SFH and Yakubu Gowon Centre. At inception in 2011, 43 importers were signed up to participate in the commitment to making ACTs affordable and available across Nigeria. More than 20 million doses of ACTs were brought in for distribution through first line buyers in the public, private and not-for-profit institutions.

Anti malarialtreatment: Although ACTs account for significant numbers of antimalarial treatments, cost is still a major hindrance. Use of local herbs, consultation of spiritualists/traditional priests is not uncommon in preference to use of the clinic/hospital services or routine prevention measures such as use of medicine (prophylaxis), insecticides (coils and sprays), ordinary mosquito nets, insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and window/door nets.

44—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

Real estate lawyers commend Jonathan over Land Use Act

Youths urged to shun violence

BY FESTUS AHON

U

R

GHELLI—DELTA State Coordinator of Integrated Youth Development Initiative, Mr. Edmund Guanah, has charged Nigerian youths to shun violence in the interest of the corporate image of the country.

Guanah, who addressed youths in Ughelli, Delta State, yesterday, noted that as future leaders, Nigerian youths should embrace peace and unity, adding that “no nation develops in an atmosphere of rancour.”

He commended the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Youth Empowerment, Mr. Obi Admin and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Job Creation, Josephine Washima, for their roles in youth development in the country.

He assured youths in the state that they would be empowered and appealed to those at the grassroots to exercise some patience.

EAL Estate Lawyers Association of Nigeria, RELAN, yesterday, commended President Goodluck Jonathan for calling for the removal of Land Use Act from the 1999 Constitution RELAN, in a statement by its Vice-President, Operations, Mr. Adekunle Omotola, noted that Federal Government’s commitment was in line with the view of his association during its first national summit on Land Use Act in Abuja in 2009 and the recent one in Lagos on June 20,2013.

He said: “RELAN is not unaware that to remove the Land Use Act, it must conform with Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

“We are also aware that the plenary session of the Senate and the House of Representatives are currently debating the report of Senator Ike Ekeremadu and Mr. Emeka Ihedioha-led Committees on the amendment of the constitution.

“We are gratified that President Jonathan publicly declared that the Land Use Act will be removed. It is a right

step in the right direction.

“Indeed, President Jonathan’s commitment is a continuation of the concrete step taken by his immediate predecessor in office, late

LDER statesman and politician, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, has expressed worry over the high number of awaiting trial inmates in prisons across the country.

He said: “Many people in the prisons should not be there.

Many are there due to the terrible justice administration system in the country.”

Speaking at the presentation of relief materials to prison inmates at the Ikoyi Prisons, Lagos, to mark his 80th birthday,

Braithwaite, a lawyer, promised to give free legal services to some of the awaiting trial inmates in the prisons.

He described his visit to Ikoyi prison as an eye-opener, saying “there is a happy aspect and there is a sad aspect. Many people in the prisons should not be there.

“Justice should not be expensive but the reality is that to get justice in Nigeria is.”

He noted that there were more people awaiting trial than the

I

JAW leaders from the Egbema axis and neighbouring clans in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State said they have waded into the recent violence to speedily nip it in the bud.

High Chief Bibopere Ajube also agreed to use his extensive network to locate perpetrators of the attacks and disarm them.

Condemning the attacks, Evang. Samson Fetimi, an Ijaw leader in the Benin-Rivers axis of the state, who is also from Warri North, urged the two ethnic groups in the council to always allow for dialogue.

Meanwhile, the Alpha May Club, an association of Itsekiri professionals resident in Lagos, has expressed shock and indignation over the recent

actual convicts, who the prisons are meant for, adding that many of the inmates have been granted bail but could not meet their bail condition due to economic condition in the country.

Braithwaite said: “There is ongoing dichotomy in the legal profession by their so-called award of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, by which young enterprising lawyers are shut out of practice because of the mentality of Nigerians in respect of this copied rubbished from abroad.”

attack by Ijaw elements on Itsekiri communities in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State.

Alpha May said in a statement by its Chairman and Secretary that the senseless killings and wanton destruction of Itsekiri villages have again occurred in spite of efforts by Itsekiri to foster brotherly and neighbourly relationship among communities in the Niger Delta.

The statement said: “Alpha May Club wishes to stress that the Itsekiri are entitled to their place in the sun under the Nigeria Project.

“We demand this, and therefore take this opportunity to respectfully call on Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and President Goodluck Jonathan to enforce the rule of law to prevent a re-occurrence of incessant bloodletting.”

Uduaghan commended over intervention in Warri crisis

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN—A leader in Egbema Kingdom in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta Area, Chief Ladina Yebu, has commended Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan for visiting the various Itsekiri communities, where lives were lost during the recent attacks by some Ijaw youths.

Chief Ladina in a statement in Benin, Edo State, noted that the visit by the governor, asides dousing tension in the affected area, demonstrated that the governor was committed to proffering lasting solutions that would bring peace and good neigbourliness among the ethnic groups.

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

cal approach by the government to remove the Act is to ensure that the it wears a human face and to be consistence with democratic norms and ideals.”

Ijaw leaders wade into Warri North crisis

Braithwaite condemns congestion in prisons

E

President Umaru Yar ’Adua, who forwarded a bill to the National Assembly for amendment of some sections of the Act in 2009.

“It is our view that a practi-

He also commended the genuine efforts of some Itsekiri leaders and youths, who he said restrained their people from towing the part of retaliation in the crisis brought about by some criminals.

He said: “This singular act has further demonstrated the governor’s genuine desire for peace in Warri North and this has reminded me of the popular saying that two wrongs don’t make a right.

“Indeed, the Itsekiri leaders including the youths should be commended for the way they handled the crisis.

“I will also appeal to the Federal and State governments to come to the aide of families that have lost lives and property with a view to cushioning the effects of the attack on them.”

By Bartholomew Madukwe (nwamad@yahoo.com)

On Al-Mustapha's freedom

I

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

A

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

A

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

T

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

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

P

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

A

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

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

Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013 —45

Rivers crisis: NUPENG calls for removal of CP Mbu

BY VICTORAHIUMA-YOUNG

L

AGOS—NIGERIA Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has called for the removal and prosecution of Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu, for his poor handling of the security situation in Rivers State.

NUPENG in a statement by its President, Igwe Achese, warned that it would not watch the democracy it fought for during the June 12, 1993 crisis, put to the dustbin

by Mbu. The union argued that the Police in Rivers State under Mbu had failed in its primary duty of protecting lives and property, describing same as unfortunate.

The union said that the Inspector –General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, should be held responsible for the failure to address the issue of loss of lives and damage to property in Rivers State.

He said: “NUPENG will take necessary steps to protect its members and fellow Nigerians in Rivers State, as the security of lives and property can no longer be guaranteed by the police.

“NUPENG sees as unfortunate the incident that took place at the Rivers House of Assembly and call on the Federal Government to quickly intervene and allow justice, equity and fair play to have its way. NUPENG appreciates the decision taken on the matter by the House of Representatives and call on the Senate to equally move in to restore order to the Rivers

Cleric urges leaders to show love

L

AGOS—NIGERIAN leaders have been enjoined to show genuine love and concern to the citizenry in order to attract God’s continued favour. They were also urged to denounce their sins and get closer to God. These remarks were contained in the sermon delivered by the Bishop, Diocese of Ikono, Methodist Church Nigeria, Akwa Ibom State, Rev Emmanuel Esedeke at the Methodist Church Nigeria, Recognition of Service and Award of Merit, at Williams Memorial Methodist Church Cathedral, Ago Ijaiye, Ebute Metta, Lagos, with the theme “The world is drunk.”

The bishop berated the flagrant abuse of power, human rights violation and reckless spending of the country’s resources by some leaders in authority, and reminded them of the resultant effect, as being witnessed in Egypt, Iraq and other parts of the world.

C M Y K

State House of Assembly.

“The Police should be held responsible for the threat to our

democratic values in the state,” adding that they should “not be allowed to destroy the democracy

we struggled to put in place during the June 12 crisis, when most of the people went to sleep.”

SCHOLARSHIP: Senator Magnus Abe (right) and King G.N.K Gininwa, Chairman, Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council, during Abe’s senatorial undergraduates scholarship award ceremony in Bori, Rivers State.

Itsekiri graduates ask govt to r ebuild burnt Warri North council villages

W

BY DANIEL GUMM

ARRI—ITSEKIRI graduates, both in Nigeria and in the Diaspora have called on the federal and state governments as well as other relevant agencies to immediately put machinaries in motion to ensure the rebuilding of Itsekiri communities, recently burnt by suspected Ijaw youths from Egbema clan in Warri North Local Government Area.

This, they stressed is the only way “to forestall further agitations and possible reprisal attacks.”

In a statement made available to Vanguard, yesterday, the Itsekiri graduates under the auspices of National Association of Itsekiri Graduates,

NAIG, described the recent attacks as “senseless, barbaric and unprovoked,” wondering how the Egbema youths, who carried the attacks got such “sophisticated weapons after claiming to have accepted amnesty.”

The statement by NAIG President and Secretary, Alero Tenumah and Collins Edah, respectively, lamented that “seven years after the protracted Warri crisis, neither the federal nor state governments had done anything to rebuild the Itsekiri towns and villages that were destroyed.”

Calling on the Federal Government, National Assembly as well as the state government to take decisive step to bring perpetrators of the recent attack on over six Itsekiri communities to book as a way of averting further break-

down of law and order, NAIG enjoined the federal and state governments as well as NEMA and international organisations to send relief materials to “the over 2,000 displaced persons taking refuge, especially in Koko town and environs.”

The statement stressed that sending of relief materials “should not be politicised by those in government” for the interests of the displaced persons.

It will be recalled that a section of Egbema-Ijaw youths recently burnt down not less than six Itsekiri communities being rebuilt by the Itsekiri Regional Development Committee, IRDC, in Warri North, while no fewer than 12 persons were killed under the guise of alleged political marginalisation.

Delta govt lists completed projects

BY EMMAAMAIZE &

AUSTIN OGWUDA SABA—IT was a harvest of projects, yesterday, in Asaba, Delta State, as the state Commissioner of Housing, Chief Paulinus Akpeki, listed no fewer than 20 projects, including those abandoned, over the years, by previous administration recently completed by the state government.

Among the projects are the N2.687 billion Delta Towers, Asaba, which is awaiting commissioning, first phase of the Sapele market and new secretariat complex, Asaba.

Chief Akpeki who briefed re-

A

porters on the activities of his ministry, said that the state government had also approved construction of 150 units of low/medium cost houses for civil servants in Asaba at the cost of N800 million.

He said if the approved fund was released to his ministry, he would deliver the housing estate for the workers in six months.

Besides the initiative, he said the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, FMBN, had also granted N1.5 billion facility to the state government for the provision of low cost houses for civil servants in Asaba.

Akpeki said: “Some abandoned projects, among them, religious

hostel, Government House in Asaba, construction of High Court complex in Warri, construction of office complexes for Ministries of Finance and Economic Planning in Asaba, construction and beautification of Erejuwa Play Ground in Warri, we have resuscitated and are now ongoing.

“Other projects at different stages of completion are the construction of laboratory/classrooms at the Staff Training Centre in Asaba, multi purpose hall phase 2 in Patani, modern abattoir in Pessu market in Warri and construction of Vehicle Inspection Office in Koko.”

Ikas tasked on Delta North agenda

BY FESTUS AHON

U

G H E L L I — FORMER President of Anioma Students in University of Port-Harcourt, Mr Donald Igudia, has enjoined the people of Ika ethnic nationality in Delta State, to place less emphasis on ethnicity in the choice of who becomes Delta State governor in 2015.

Igudia, who spoke when the Ika Youth Initiative gave him and Mr. Abel Ologbo, an award as advocates of Youths Development in Ika, stressed the need for the people of Ika to support the Delta North agenda.

He said: “It is only good for us to present a credible candidate of not more than 50 years of age for the governorship position in 2015.

I call on all youths and the entire Ika nation not to be selfish about the Anioma 2015 project. It is not an Ika agenda but Anioma agenda, so we must look beyond Ika if we must achieve this goal.

“We need a man with good leadership charisma to carry all Deltans along in the governance of the state. Delta North is one and we must be strongly united in our agitation to occupy Government House in 2015.”

Uduaghan lauded on Delta Beyond Oil

W

A R R I — C H A I RMAN, Delta State Board of Internal Revenue, DBIR, Mr. Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, has commended Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan for initiating numerous programmes that are aimed at liberating the state from being dependent on oil as its main source of revenue.

Joel-Onowakpo said that Governor Uduaghan has not only fulfilled his campaign promises to Deltans through the effective delivery of his three-point agenda of peace and security, infrastructure and human capital development, but has gone ahead to build the capacity to drive his Delta Beyond Oil vision.

Speaking with newsmen in Warri, after the inspection of the DBIR Zonal offices under construction across the state, JoelOnowakpo expressed satisfaction with the way the governor has been piloting the affairs of the state.

46—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

We dedicate Umeh's victory to Late Dim Ojukwu — APGA chieftain

Ex-Imo speaker asks Okorocha to pay terminal benefits of former lawmakers

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

BY ANAYO OKOLI

O

WERRI—IMMEDIATE past Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Chief Goodluck Nana Opiah, yesterday, appealed to Governor Rochas Okorocha, to pay the terminal benefits of former lawmakers to enable those that are indisposed access proper medical attention.

Opiah also lamented that the former member representing Ideato North constituency, Mr. Louis Chukwu, had died following alleged inability to access proper health attention.

Opiah said: "It is most unfortunate that all the political office holders and appointees of government, who served between 2007 and 2011, left without receiving terminal benefits and stipends”.

While saying that efforts made to get the governor to pay this legitimate benefit failed.

Opiah added that: "Late Chukwu was in the vanguard of this struggle to get the state government to pay our entitlements. His case had been decided by the Industrial Court, Enugu. If he had been paid his entitlements, he probably would have had more money to access better medical attention".

Imo speaker to face contempt charge if...

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI—PEOPLE’S Democratic Party, PDP, candidate for Orlu East in the Imo State House of Assembly in the 2011 general election, Mr. Robert Okwuego, has threatened to commence contempt charges against the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Benjamin Uwajumogu, if he continues to ignore the judgment of the Court of Appeal.

Okwuego gave the threat through a letter written by his counsel, Prince Ken Njemanze, SAN, addressed to the Speaker and captioned “Request for the implementation of the judgment of the Court of Appeal, dated May 10, 2013, in appeal number CA/OW/123/2012, Barr Robert Okwuego versus Barr Greg Okemili and INEC”.

He urged the Speaker to respect the judgment of the Court of Appeal on the matter within seven days or face contempt charges.

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VISIT—From left: Mr Ariyo Olushekun, President, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers; Mr Albert Okumagba, Chairman, Annual National Workshop, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers; Mr Ifie Sekibo, MD/CEO, Heritage Bank and Mrs Mary Akpobome, Executive Director during visit of council members to Heritage Bank, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

Ebonyi demolishes suspected abode of kidnapped victims

BY PETER OKUTU

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BAKALIKI—EBONYI State Government, yesterday, demolished a threebed room apartment in Umezabi community, Ngbo, Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state, following reports that the place was a safe haven for keeping victims of kidnapping.

Commissioner for Works and Transport, Mr Chukwuma Nwandugo, who supervised the demolition with policemen from Ebonyi State Police Command, said the exercise was a new policy of the government meant to send a warning to criminals and their accomplices.

It would be recalled that the demolition of the building followed the kidnap of the wife of the Deputy Leader of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Mrs. Winifred Ogbu, last Friday in Abakaliki, by a six-member gang who operated with motorcycles.

Mrs Ogbu was taken away by the suspected kidnappers who held her hostage in the three bedroom mud house located in an isolated part of Umezabi community, until she was rescued by the Police following a tip off after a gun battle that left one of the suspected kidnappers dead.

The Command’s spokesman,

DSP Sylvester Igbo, noted that such policy would serve as a deterrent to other criminals who might want to engage in the heinous crimes.

According to him, Onicha, Ohaozara, Afikpo South and Ezza North Local government areas had been identified by the command as locations where kidnappings were prevalent in the state.

Igbo said the police had commenced investigation to ascertain the true owner of the building that was demolished by the government as nobody was found inside the building when the team arrived Umezabi community.

Oladipo duly nominated as national scribe — S-West PDP

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HE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, South West Zone, has described a statement credited to the Lagos State chapter of the party dissociating itself from the nomination of Professor Wale Oladipo as PDP National Secretary as unfounded and puerile.

In a statement by the Zonal Publicity Secretary of South West PDP, Mr Waheed Lawal, said Oladipo’s nomination was in accordance with provisions of Part 7 VII, Section 28, Subsection 3,4 and 5 of the party’s constitution.

"We make particular reference to subsection 4 which says ‘an extraordinary meeting of the zonal congress shall be held if requested for by at least two third of the members of the State Executive Committees’.

"In essence, an extra ordinary meeting can be called by members of the State Executive Committees of four States (which is two-third). But in this case, five

states – Ekiti, Ogun, Osun, Oyo and Ondo – called for the meeting. Even at that, about 29 delegates came from Lagos, including the Zonal Organising Secretary, Engr. Adedeji Doherty; Zonal Youth Leader, Bolaji Jeje and Ex-official

member, Olalekan Abubakar".

"Besides, the Federal High Court in Suit No FHC/ABJ/C8/ 504/2012 not only removed Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola as National Secretary but also prescribed the process for choosing his successor".

CNPP hails APGA over resolution of crisis

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HE Conference of Nigeria of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, has commended the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, on the resolution of its protracted leadership crisis following the Court of Appeal ruling that validated Chief Victor Umeh as the party’s national chairman.

CNPP, in a statement by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu noted that the ruling has set the basis for the

National Judicial Council, NJC, to “sanction and sack Enugu State Chief Judge, Justice Innocent Umezulike for the role he played in aggravating the crisis.”

The statement reads in part: “It was apparent that Justice Umezulike acted out a script and this should have no place in the judicial landscape of Nigeria hence the need for the NJC to bring closure to this sordid chapter.

MUAHIA— CHAIRMAN of Abia State Chapter of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Nnanna Ukaegbu, said yesterday that the party dedicated the victory by the National Chairman of the party, Chief Victor Umeh, at the Court of Appeal Enugu, to Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the late leader of the party.

He said the victory was a way of invoking Ojukwu’s spirit ahead of the November 16, 2013, Anambra State governorship election.

Reacting to Chief Umeh’s victory, Ukaegbu said Ojukwu’s spirit would be happy with what was happening in the party and would be with members during the November 2013 election.

He said the party had started reaching out to members who might have been aggrieved one way or the other in the course of the crisis, and expressed hope that everybody would be reconciled.

Princess Fagbuaro for burial

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HE burial arrangement for late Princess Senami Olubunmi Fagbuaro, (Nee Whenu), aged 55 years who died on July 5, 2013 has been announced.

According to Chief (Mrs) Olabisi Salis, the wake keeping is scheduled for tomorrow at her residence, Talabi street, Off Ojodu Berger, Lagos and funeral service at Methodist Church, Orile Road, Agege and reception of guests at Ogba, Lagos.

z Late Princess Fagbuaro

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013—47

FORUM: From right, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Dr. Christopher Nuttal, Executive Director, R20, and Mr. Newton Jibuno, during stakeholders' forum on Territorial Approach to Climate Change, TACC, at Event Centre, Asaba. Photo: Nath Onojake

ORGANISED TREK: A cross section of participants, during the International Finance Corporation, IFC, and African Finance Corporation, AFC, organised trek tagged, 'Let's be Sickle Smart' from Kitchen Muson, Onikan to Tinubu Square and back to Kitchen Muson, Lagos.

Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor

INVESTITURE: New President, Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria, ICSAN, Dr. Slleyman Ndanusa (left), being decorated by his predecessor, Mr. Tunde Busari, during the former's investiture, at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja.

CONFERENCE: From left, former Vice Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria, Chairman, Northern Elders Forum, Prof. Ango Abdullahi; Col. Mohammed Abdul (rtd), and Chairman, NUJ, Kaduna State Council, Comrade Yusuf Idris, at a press conference on recent developments in the nation, at NUJ Secretariat, Kaduna, yesterday. Photo: Olu Ajayi.

INSTALLATION: Rotarian Kayode Owolabi, incoming President of Rotary Club of Omole Golden (District 9110); Rotarian Oladipo Idowu, the outgoing president of the club and Rotarian Ajose Aderemi, past president of the club, at the installation ceremony of the new president in Lagos.

BIRTHDAY: From left, Christopher Iro, Uzo Iro, Chinyere Obijuru, Chinedu Iro (children of the celebrant); Engr. Joe Iro (husband of the celebrant); Mrs. Maria Iro (celebrant); Tim Obijuru (son-in-law); Udochi Isiuwa, Chijioke Iro, Ijeoma Orogbu (children of the celebrant), at the 70th birthday celebration of Mrs. Maria Iro, in Ikeja.

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COMMISSIONING: MD, Ecobank Nigeria, Jibril Aku (middle) commissioning the refurbished Iru/Victoria Island Health Centre, a Rotary Club of VIctoria Island East project sponsored by Ecobank Nigeria. Others are President, Rotary Club of Victoria Island East, Tiyan Alile (left); Rotarian Chinedo Ebo (right); and back row: Rotarian Harvey Zabusky, and immediate past president, Osaro Ekomwereren, at the event.

COMMISSIONING: Rotarian Olugbemiga Olowu, Governor, Rotary District 9110, commissioning an incubator donated by the Rotary Club of Gbagada, at Shomolu General Hospital, while Rotarian Tayo Adelaja (1st left), President of the Club, and Dr.Oluwatoyin Adelaja, Medical Director, Shomolu General Hospital, and others watch

ENGAGEMENT: From left, Chief Bola Olawale-Cole, mother of the bridegroom; Miss Rebecca Ekundayo, the bride; Chief Michael Olawale-Cole, father of the bridegroom and the President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered), and Mr. Abiola Oladipupo OlawaleCole, the bridegroom, at the traditional wedding (engagement) of Rebecca and Abiola, at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos. Photo: Oscar Ochiogu.

48 —Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

Kano Govt converts Abacha Youths Centre to technical college

Cleric calls for prayers for Nigeria, cautions politicians

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HE fasting and prayers for Nigeria which Archbishop God-Dowell Avwomakpa, Chairman, South South of CAN declared 21 days ago ended weekend with prayers for intercession for Nigeria.

In a message after the prayer session, Avwomakpa caution politicians to take serious precautions between now and 2015 so that the prediction for the break-up of Nigeria will not come to pass.

According to him “God answers prayer of the godly just as the people will rejoice when righteous people are in power. But the way things are going, Christians need to pray more fervently to prove those who want the prediction of the break-up of Nigeria to come to pass totally wrong.

We need to for our beloved country to get her out of the prediction for break-up.

The devil and his agents are bent on seeing that Nigeria breaks up but with God, we can stop the devil and that is why I am calling on well meaning clerics to stand in the gap for our leaders and the political class.

Kogi extends electricity to 24 communities

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OKOJA—THE Kogi Commissioner for Rural Development, Alhaji Umar Mohammed, said the Ministry of Rural Development had extended electricity to 24 communities in the three senatorial districts in the last one year.

Mohammed said this at a news briefing to mark one year of the creation of the ministry in Lokoja on Monday.

He said 18 of the electrification projects had been completed, while six others had reached advanced stages.

The commissioner cited paucity of fund as reason for the delay, adding that the projects would be completed when funds were made available to the ministry.

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VISIT—From left: Wife of pioneer principal of Thomas Adewumi International College, Oko, Kwara State, Pamela Estes; pioneer principal, Jon Estes; Principal, Dr. Roy Lillman; Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed and proprietor of the college, Dr. Johnson Adewumi, during a visit by 15 American volunteers to the Governor, at Government House, Ilorin, Monday.

2015: Jonathan won't drop Sambo — Gana

BY EMEKA MAMAH

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AGOS—THE Coordinator for Goodluck Jonathan/ Namadi Sambo Presidential Election in 2011 in Kaduna State, Alhaji Umar Gana, has debunked media reports that President Jonathan might drop the Vice President, Namadi Sambo for the former Governor of Zamfara State, Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima, describing such claims as "absolute rubbish."

Gana who spoke with Vanguard in a telephone interview, yesterday, said that if Senator Sani could not develop Zamfara "which is the poorest state in the country today, the North would not do him a favour by giving him higher responsibilities."

His words: "It is utter rubbish and a figment of some people’s imagination to suggest that Senator Yerima will replace Namadi Sambo as vice president.

They are flying kites. I was involved in the 2011 campaign that brought Jonathan and Sambo into office. Some Nigerians believe that the Presidency is divided. In this country, we have only one presidency. We are not in a parliamentary democracy where the Prime Minister and the President would be trying to carve a niche for one another. In the system we are now operating, the President and Commander-inChief of the Armed Forces is in charge and the Vice President must be loyal to him as one of his lieutenants.

"That is how it should be. We cannot expect Sambo to be competing with his boss, except they want him to be disloyal so that they would start using same

against him. The presidency is an indivisible entity and the Vice President and the President have been working harmoniously together. He is loyal to a fault.

"People who say he is not pushfull enough do not understand the system we are operating. We in the North do not believe that Jonathan will just throw him away like that; for being loyal? It is not possible. To think of it how can anybody want Sani Yerima to be the Vice President of this country?.

"The current security prob-

lem in the North started during Yerima’s tenure as governor of Zamfara State with his brand of Sharia, so what are we talking about? He did not leave any legacy in Zamfara and people are talking about his taking over from Sambo.

"Sambo is popular in the North and his popularity attested to the fact that the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, won elections in a place like Kaduna, with all its temperaments and manufactured upheavals; and other parts of the North."

ANO—THE Kano State Government is to convert the Sani Abacha Youths Centre in the state to a technical college to boost technical education in the country.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Director of Press to the Governor, Alhaji Halilu Dantiye, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Kano, yesterday.

According to the statement, Gov. Rabiu Kwankwaso announced the plan during an official visit to the centre.

It quoted the governor as saying that the name of the institution would not be changed as it was named to immortalise the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, who played a significant role in its establishment.

The governor was conducted round the premises of the centre by some members of its staff. He lamented that despite the huge amount of money spent to construct the edifice and provide it with facilities for skills acquisition, it was left to dilapidate.

“The current condition of the Sani Abacha Youths Centre is irritating. It was left to decay despite the huge investment in it.”

Olugbense Ruling House wants Kwara govt to instal new Olofa

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

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L O R I N — T H E Olugbense Ruling House in Offa which won the appeal court case against the incumbent Olofa of Offa,Oba Mustapha Gbadamosi has appealed to the Kwara State government to enforce the Court of Appeal’s judgement by installing Prince AbdulRauf Adegboyega Keji as the new Olofa in the interest of "peace, justice, fairness, equity and adherence to the principles of the rule of law which forms the bedrock of

democracy."

The Spokesman of the Ruling House, Prince Saka Adebayo Keji who spoke at a news conference in Ilorin, yesterday, noted that,”there is no Oba in Offa until the state government does the needful by enforcing the court judgement", stressing that, “this is necessary to ensure that peace continues to reign supreme in Offa.”

Prince Keji explained that the landmark judgement which stated that it was the turn of Olugbense to fill the vacant stool of Olofa of Offa following the demise of Olawore Olanipekun of the

Anilelerin Ruling House in 2010 had put the Olofa Chieftaincy status in proper historical perspectives. ”Offa has been very peaceful and, as a matter of fact, many people, including those on the side of the deposed Mufutawu Esuwoye have been trooping to our ruling house to congratulate us and to wish us well as we take over the mantle of leadership. ”It is astonishing, disgusting and naïve that some uninformed people out of mischief have even suggested that the Olugbense ruling house should allow the sleeping dog to lie and allow perfidy to continue, we say no to this."

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013 — 49

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5 4— VANGU ARD, WEDNEW SD AY, JUL Y 1 7, 20 01 3 ANGUARD, SDA 2 01

Why Appeal Court freed Al-Mustapha & Co Last Friday, the Court of Appeal, Lagos quashed the death sentence which Justice Mojisola Dada of the Lagos High Court handed Major Hamza Al-Mustapha and Alhaji Lateef Shofolahan over the death of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola. The appellate court said that the court below convicted the duo at all cost despite the prosecution's failure to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Below is the judgment as delivered by the appellate court.

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF NIGERIA, LAGOS JUDICIAL DIVISION HOLDEN AT LAGOS. ON FRIDAY THE 12TH DAY OF JULY, 2013 , BEFORE THEIR LORDSHIPS AMINA ADAMU AUGIE, RITA NOSAKHARE PEMU, FATIMO OMORO AKINBAMI, JUSTICES, COURT OF APPEAL. APPEAL NO.CA/L/469A/2012 DELIVERED BY RITA NOSAKHARE PEMU

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No eyewitness on record Noteworthy is that the crime, subject matter of this appeal was innitially investigated by the Nigerian Police Force at Panti in 1996, a Special Investigative Panel, SIP, and the Agbaje Panel set up in 1998 by the Government of General Abubakar Abdusalami. The accused persons were absolved of any involvement by the SIP and the Agbaje Panel in the death of the deceased.

On June 4, 1996, the deceased was shot dead. There was no eyewitness on record to the actual crime, but one Dr. Mark Adesina whose statement is recorded at pages 10-18 of Vol. 1 of the Record of Appeal and whose name is listed as number one in the list of witnesses at the back of the information but was never called as a witness.PW1Dr Ore Falomo witnessed the removal of a white bullet which was taken by the police. He testified that the deceased died after a head surgery and after her second cardiac arrest. Autopsy was conductyed on the deceased. After the commission of the crime, some members of

Major Al-Mustapha the Abiola household were suspected of the commission of the crime. At the trial, the prosecution called four (4) witnesses, PW1, PW2, PW3, and PW4 respectively, while the Appellant called two (2) witnesses.

PWl - Dr. Oreoluwa Falomo testified that he was going to Ikosi on the 4th of June 1996 when he saw people running in front and thought it was an accident.

He, as an orthopaedic surgeon thought he could help. he then saw Alhaja Kudirat Abiola slumped on the back of the car and the driver also shot. He recognised them as he had known these victims before. He arranged for a vehicle to rush them to the hospital. The deceased had been shot on the forehead and was bleeding from that spot. The driver had also been shot, but his condition was not as bad as that of the deceased.

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HE Appellant, in a 326 pages Judgment of the High Court of Justice, Lagos State in Charge No 10/ 37C/03 Coram Moji Dada J. was convicted for the offences of conspiracy to murder and murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola. The Charge initially included Chief Superident of Police Mohammed Rabo Lawal, but he was discharged on a no-case submission made on behalf of the Defendants.

FACTS OF THE CASE The case of the Prosecution is that the Appellant conspired with another to murder and allegedly did murder Alhaja Kudirat Abiola on June 4, 1996, along Lagos-Ibadan expressway opposite Cargo Vision, Ikeja Area of Lagos State. The Prosecution called four witnesses, namely: Dr. Ore Falomo (PW1), Barnabas Jabila, a.k.a. Sgt. Rogers (PW2), Mohammed Abdul a.k.a. Katako (PW3) and D.C. Yusuf (PW4), while the Appellant called two witnesses and testified himself.

The facts leading to this appeal can aptly be put as follows. This trial started at the Lagos State High Court as ID/43C/ 99 in which the present Appellant with Mohammed Abacha, Rabo Lawal and one Mohammed Abdul were charged with conspiracy and murder.

Mohammed Abacha was eventually discharged by the Supreme Court on July 11, 2002, on the ground of non culpability. The charge metamorphosed into the present Charge No ID/37C/2003.

Alhaji Lateef Shofola

the Police that the bullet belonged to the family of the deceased in mediolegal term.

He had known the Abiola family and indeed was the personal physician and friend to the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola.

He was very very close to the family.

Under cross-examination he said he had not trained as a ballistician, but he described what he observed as a doctor. He did say that the Police took away the spent bullet by force and said they needed it for investigation. The Police were picking and choosing what they wanted him to write in his statement.

He had made many statements, about four, but he is surprised that he is shown only one.

He testified that he had met the Appellant before, and indeed he facilitated his visit to Late Chief M.K.O. Abiola when he was in detention at Aso Rock

The case of the Prosecution is that the Appellant conspired with another to murder and allegedly did murder Alhaja Kudirat Abiola on June 4, 1996, along Lagos-Ibadan expressway opposite Cargo Vision, Ikeja Area of Lagos State

One Dr. Ogunbanjo, informed him that the victims were in Eko Hospital.

He went there and saw the deceased and a consultant who advices an urgent surgery. Two neurosurgeons agreed to work together. Alhaja Kudirat Abiola was still unconscious and bleeding. , She was operated on and a special bullet that was not commonly seen was extracted from her skull. The operation lasted about two to three hours. She suffered a cardiac arrest. She appeared stabilized, but she suffered another cardiac arrest and she passed on.

A post mortem examination was performed on her body by one Dr. Alimi, who issued a report. He took part in moving the body to her house for burial. He made statement to the Police.

He told Police that it was a 5th Columnist in the Government that killed the deceased, going by the look of the bullet. The Police took the bullet away and never released it to them after the post mortem examination. He had told

,

Villa. He was not shown Exhibit "A1" before he came to court. It was his first time of seeing the document since he made it.

PW2 is Barbarnas Jabila alias Sgt.Rogers.He is a soldier of the rank of a Sergeant. He worked with the strike force in the Presidential villa in Abuja, before joining the Nigeria Army on the ih of January 1987, and trained as a parachooter Antitank Commander, Strike Security Force, an antiterrist outfit and attended a special course in North Korea. He knows the Appellant as the Chief Security Officer to Late General Sanni Abacha. Rabo Lawal was the officer in charge of Mobile Police in the Presidental villa. The Appellant used to send him and Rabo Lawal on assignment, and Rabo Lawal used to lead them when on assignment. His duty is to provide security as assigned by the Appellant as Special Anti- terrorist outfit and other special assignments. One Lateef Shofolahan used to give them information.

He knows the deceased, and the Appellant gave them order to elimnate her because she was doing some bad things against the state. When she came back from Burkina Faso, the Appellant gave them the order to move in and provided logisitics that they should stay at Dodan Barrack.

O/C Mopol took them to Alhaji Lati who in turn took them to Abiola’s home.

That Alhaji Lati gave them information that the deceased would soon move out.

As soon as the deceased came out, he opened fire. That one Rabo Lawal gave money to Lateef Shofolahand to give them. The date in which he opened fire on the deceased was the 4th of June 1996.

He returned the arm to the Appellant through his orderly Karo who confirmed receipt. The gun looked like MP5.

He was shocked that the secret leaked.

It was not supposed to leak, as he was doing his job. The Appellant told him to keep quiet and that he should deny everything. At that time, Abacha had died.

On the day of the incident, they drove a 504 station wagon given to them by Dodan Barracks. The deceased was in a while Mercedes Benz. As she drove out of her premise, they trailed the Mercedes Benz to one round about, where the people in the Mercedes Benz dropped one small girl. The vehicle moved towards Alausa Secretariat and they trailed it until they got to an express road. They went closer and he opened fire at the car directly. After that he told Katako to drive him back to Dodan Baracks,

Foreign posting Under cross-examination, he did testify that all he had said in examinationin-chief concerning the alleged involvement of the Appellant were things he was told to say by the Federal Government and the Lagos State Government.

And that there are certain things which the Lagos State Government does not know.

The Attorney General of Lagos State, Yemi Osibanjo and the Solicitor General of Lagos State, and many others of Lagos State visited him when the case was being investigated by the SIP. The SS facilitated the visits of SSS because he was in their cell. He was given a promise by the authorities for agreeing to be a witness in this case. He was promised a house, job for himself and his Wife, security for his family and a foreign posting. His wife was moved to Abuja from Jaji where she was given an initial monthly allowance of N15,OOO, but later increased to N20,OOO. The money got to her through SSS. Anytime the authorities visited him in the SSS cell where he was detained, they gave him money. Chief Bola Ige gave him N100,OOO.00. his handset and link was given to him by the Attorney General of Lagos State. He agreed to testify against the Appellant as part of his duties to the State. In 2005, inspite of the promises which the State made, he was being paid half salary. The promises

Continues on page 55

V V V ANGU ARD, WEDNEW SD AY, JUL Y 1 7, 2 0 1 3 —55 ANGUARD, SDA 01

Why Appeal Cour t freed Al-Mustapha & Co Continues from page 54

Major Hamza Al-Mustapha being received by a large crowd in Kano

statement in Abuja. He is aware that his statement was later translated into English Language, but he does not know who did the transaltion. However, he signed it after the English transaltion was read to him and he said yes. He does not know if he wrote Cherokee jeep, bur he did not ride a Cherokee jeep.It was a daybefore the day of the incident that they used a grand Cherokee jeep. He was offered promises inCross cluding the gift of a house-in 1999 examination around September or October. These th Exhibit A2 - his statement of 29 of promises were made by officials he was September 1999 was produced by him with.

Officials of Lagos State Ministry of and the Government official. That if Justice visited him many times in AbuKatako said it was a Cherokee jeep they ja while he was detained, including the rode on that date, he would be surprised. Under cross examination, PW2 Attorney General and Solicitor General testified that he justified his involve- of Lagos State. The Federal Attorney ment in the murder of the deceased. He General Bola Ige visited him. He was said what he was told by the authority. given a house in Jos. They said that they The authorities promised not to bring would take care of him and his family.

Promises were made to him before he them to court, but they reneged.

PW3-Mohammed Abdul alias Katako, wrote his statement. Thethpromises were a soldier who joined the Nigerian Army made to him on the 18 of September in 1998. In 1996, he was told by Late (the witness cried that this stage). His Ibrahim Abacha that there are some statement of the 19 of September was th people coming from Abuja to Lagos, as a result of the promises of the 18 of September. whom he should drive. Hear him: He said that on the 4th of June 1996, “Between January and June 1996, he had his first marriage at Azare in when they came, so we went to NationBauchi State. al Theatre, that was where I saw Alhajj Under cross-examination, he said that Lati, the 3,d Defendant, we went to Ikeja with him and went back to his house in he was in his village at Azare on the Surulere, and we left him there and left fateful day.

PW4 - Ahmed Fari Yusuf, was a police the next day. Rogers said we should go officer, now retired after 35 years of servto Ikeja to the same house we went with ice. He retired as Commissioner of PoLati. Mercedes car came out of the house, Rogers said we should follow the lice in charge of Budget Section, Nigeria Police on October 1, 2009.

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Exhibit A2 - his statement of September 29, 1999 was produced by him and the Government official. That if Katako said it was a Cherokee jeep they rode on that date, he would be surprised

car. He stopped somewher e and dropped somebody and continued to lagos-Ibadan Expressway around seven-up. Rogers said I should drive close to the car and he fired and then said I should drive back to Dodan Barracks".

That the house they went to, he was later informed was late Chief M.K.O. Abiola's house. There were about 3 or 4 people in the Mercedes Benz car. They dropped a woman on the way. That when they got back to Dodan Barracks, Roger told people "we got am" but he did not know who was being refferd to.

Later on he heard that it was the deceased. The people with whom we went were Skongama Bello and Late Samaila Shaibu.

Under Cross examinations, he said the shooting took place after the toll gate on the way going to Lagos. He made a

,

He last served at the Police Force Headquarters, Louis Edet House, Area II, Garki, Abuja.

In 1999, he was in Abuja Force Headquarters. Between September December 1999, he was in Force C1D Area 10, Abuja. ‘-’Between SeptemberDecember 1999, he was in Force CID Area 10, Abuja as Assistant C.O.P. He knew the Appellant in September 1999, as he was brought to the Force C1D in connection with an alleged offence by the then SIP, which offence was for the alleged murder of Alhaja Kudirat, the burning of Guardian House and’attempted murder of Alex Ibru.

When he was brought, he was cautioned and he made a statement in his own handwriting. He witnessed the first statement made by him. Exhibit A-3 statement made on the 23rd of Septem-

ber 1999.

After Exhibit A-3, he is aware that the Appellant was further interrogated by SIP detailed to carry out investigation and that he made a further statement.

That one Lateef Shofolahan also made a statement on the 21st of September 1999 in his own handwriting.

After, there was a trial within trial for twelve months, he disappeared into thin air and was never cross-examined (from records).

He tendered statements of the ac-

,

His statement of September 29th 1999 was made during the S.I.P, and that was the time that they discussed what they would give him. The statement was a response to the promise. During the S.I.P, and SSS officer prostrated to him and said he would be told to go and on the way he would be killed.

He was afraid and cooperated.

Under cross-examination, he said on the 4th of June 1996, he was in Lagos.

He heard about the deceased assassination in the news. He heard it on .the radio in Abuja. He also heard the news on that day he was in Lagos.

In his statement of 27th May, 1999, Exhibit DI-1 he said he was in Abuja.

He said he told one Okoloba that it is not the schedule of duty of the Appellant to issue out arms and ammunition as they have armourer. The Armourere registers your name and give you the arm and ammunition. He testified that as a government official his role was to carry out what he was told, not to make findings. He cannot remeber what he said but he did what they wanted him to do.

persecuted and theY,pave keep him in detention.

He was Chief Security Officer to the former head of state General Sanni Abacha since the lih of November 1993.

His career is that of Intelligence for Nigeria. What has to do with intelligence management for the Army and for the country is where he belongs. His primary and secondary assignments begin and end with: (1) Security to the late head of State and Commander-in-Chief (2) Security to members of the first family and (3) Their property and seat of government The various panels he faced from 21st October 1998 include : (1)CHQ Panel on the investigation of the personal belongings of culprit of 1997, initiated by the office of CJS in the presidency- He was cleared and returned to Enugu-He was in fact commended.

2. Panel chaired by Major General Yusuf from Arm of Coat, who investigated the allegation fro gun running and he was cleared.

(3) Allegation for Abacha’s personal properties of which he was cleared.

This means that no one else irrespective of rank, position or situation, should use another soldier’s rifle. That is Mili-

He testified that he was arrested in October 1998, under an allegation that he was keeping the property of General Abacha

cused persons which were all admitted after trial within trial and objections for their admissibility failed.

On the 23rd of November 2010, PW4 was absent from Court, when trial was to have continued and the case was adjourned to the 20th of December 2010 (page 1060 of the Record of Appeal).

After series of adjournments, the Court foreclosed the prosecution on the 14th of March 2011.

On the 4th of July 2011, the Appellant Major Hamza AI Mustapha testified on his behalf as DWl. He testified that he was arrested in October 1998, under an allegation that he was keeping the property of General Abacha. When they could not establish anything against him, they changed the allegation to gun running from Libya, then to overthrowing of the government of Abdulsalam Abubakar. it was changed to securing the property of the culprit of 1997 and later when all there were cleared, he was alleged to plan coup plotting to remove Abdulsalam Abubakar from government. He was cleared and when the government handed over to General Obasanjo, this created yet another allegation under a script called YAKASI says Prison Note.

He was investigated by the Police, and later to the Homicide case that brought him to Court on the 14th of October 1999.

That Yakasi prison note was a script written by the Government of General Abdulsalam Abubakar in order to continue to keep him in detention having been cleared by numerous panels he established in 1998 and 1999. He was further subjected to interrogations and investigations by reason of that prison note of Lieutenant Colonel Yakasi, because of the events that happened from the murder of General Abacha to the murder of Late M.K.O. Abiola, and the subsequent event that happened right in his presence in the presidency. For fear of him divulging these, he has been

,

tary Law. The Armourer is the officer in the arm who has the custody and control of weapons.

Military officers or non commission officers are only authorized to move from one location to the other or between one town to the other as military pass. By this, every movement must be on the basis of the data provided in that form.

Any movement without that pass or the content and the authority and stamp in that pass is considered iliegal and is punishable by military law.

On the PASS, it contains the name of the officer, or the non- commission officer who is authorized to go on pass, his initials, rank, his service number, purpose for which the pass is issued, jurisdiction for the pass, location that the pass is intended, the nearest military formation to that location that the person is authorized to go to and the nearest police military formation, it also bears the signature and name of the authorizing officer, that is the commanding officer and the stamp of the unit.

It bears a note underneath that says if in the likely event of any is the C.S.O. who has a secretariat headed by a S.S.S officer called the 5LO (i.e Security Liaising Officer). There is also an administrative officer from services in the country. Then there is the office of the 2nd in command, who is from the Army Military Intelligence with his own staff. The department had four different branches, first was Intelligence wing, The strike force” came to being in 1995.

The National Security and Joint Intelligence Bureau came up with the idea of a small force that was to protect the seat of government, and it is comprised of 75 serving personnel from all agencies in the country.

He had unfettered access to PRS, Council of State, the Executive Council by virtue of his schedule of duties.

To be continued tomorrow

56—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

Chemical substance suspected to be acid, found where the protesters were during the Grassroot Development Initiative protest, yesterday, at the Omagwa International Airport over the visit of some Northern Governors to Rivers State. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke

RIVERS CRISIS: Four govs stoned at P-Harcourt Airport Continues from Page 5

The commissioner who spoke after the governors had left said some of the cars in the convoy of the governors were pelted with stones by the protesters. She said it was not true that the governors were held hostage by the protesters, adding that Governor Amaechi got to the airport and had to wait for his colleagues “What happened at the airport was worrisome.

Amaechi waited for all his colleagues; they were not held hostage. The bus carrying the commissioners was damaged and some other vehicles were smashed by the protesters”, she said.

Tukur sues for peace, exonerates PDP leaders Pleading with warring members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to sheathe their swords and embrace peace in the overall interest of the state, Tukur said the legislators must avoid overheating the polity by their actions as democracy cannot thrive in an atmosphere of violence and anarchy.

According to him, PDP was a united political family under one big umbrella and no true member of this united family will like to pull down the family’s political structure and existence.

Exonerating the party leadership from the crises, he said, “it is the

desire of the PDP that peace returns immediately to the Rivers State House of Assembly in particular and the state in general”.

Also, ahead of the Special National Convention of the party, Tukur declared that he had not anointed any aspirant for any of the positions, adding that the convention would be transparent, free, credible and fair.

I remain authentic Speaker – Bipi

Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the Presidential dinner in honour of delegates to the Abuja+12 African Union (AU) Special Summit on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Abuja on Monday night, Hon Bipi said contrary to reports that only five members of the Rivers Assembly installed him, he was duly elected by 23 members after Dan-Amachree was impeached.

His words: “It is not contestable; I remain the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly because I have not been impeached. A motion for impeachment was placed on the Speaker and I emerged as the Speaker and I have not been impeached.” According to him, the House of Assembly was properly constituted and a quorum of the House was formed before he was elected. ”How would it be five?

We formed a quorum. It was a full house and I was duly elected. It was over 23 lawmakers,” he said.

He denied reports that he punched one of his colleagues in the House, saying he was being framed by the Rivers State Government. ”I want to thank God Almighty for making it possible for me to serve my people once more. But the only regrettable thing is the governor coming to the hallowed chamber to supervise the beating of my honourable colleagues. It is so sad, governor of a state bringing down all the security apparatus in the Government House including his ADC and CSO, beating duly-elected honourable members in the hallowed chamber. It is so degrading and embarrassing,” he said.

IGP quizzes Amaechi’s ADC, others

Aftermath of ongoing investigations into the bloody fracas that ensued in the Rivers State House of Assembly last week in which a Police officer was seen on television manhandling a lawmaker, the office of the Inspector-General of Police has summoned and quizzed the Aide De Camp (ADC) to Governor Amaechi and his Escort Commander.

Both officers who had earlier appeared before the DIG Philemon Leha

(DIG Operations) panel constituted by the IGP, to say all they knew about the fracas, were however left to go back to Port Harcourt to resume duties pending the decisions that will be taken by the Police High Command after interrogation.

Vanguard gathered that an interim report of the outcome of Police investigation may be ready by weekend.

Already, Chairman of the panel, DIG Leha arrived in Abuja to brief the IGP and the management team of the progress in the investigations so far, while the Commissioner of Police, Anti-Fraud Unit and the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Special Anti Robbery Squad, DCP Chris Ezike were left behind to continue with other aspects of the investigations.

Vanguard’s investigations’ revealed that certain unbecoming action as captured by television stations while the fracas was going on, was said to have been occasioned by the need to protect Governor Amaechi when it became obvious that some people who mobilized thugs to the House were shouting instructions that Amaechi should be shot.

One source said the Police officers could not believe that in their presence, a member of the House of Assembly was dishing out orders to his thugs to shoot the governor of a state hence the reflex action to pounce on the member before a monumental harm was done.

Meanwhile, Vanguard learnt that Police authorities in Rivers State displayed professionalism and utmost caution in bringing about orderliness at the Port Harcourt International Airport yesterday when supporters of Governor Amaechi and those of the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike both converged to welcome both personalities.

Vanguard gathered that when Governor Amaechi chose to receive the four northern governors who had come to pay him solidarity visit at the airport, at a time Wike's supporters were expected to arrive the airport to partake in a scheduled PDP function in the state, the Police had to ensure that hell was not let loose.

Sources said Governor

Amaechi was persuaded by prominent citizens to reschedule his meeting with the four governors at the Government House to avoid a confrontation between supporters of the governor and those of Wike. It was gathered that Wike was expected in the state to open an office of the PDP built by the Obuah faction of the party.

Stop using the police to settle political disputes —ACF, Northern elders

Meanwhile, the ACF and NEF have called on President Jonathan to order an immediate cessation of hostilities in Rivers and stop using the police to settle political disputes.

Briefing newsmen yesterday in Kaduna, spokesman of the groups, Professor Ango Abdullahi, said: "The shameful and disturbing abuse of power and rule of law in Rivers State are signs that Nigeria is descending into anarchy and lawlessness rarely seen in our history.

“The hands of the Presidency are clearly visible in all these events that appear to draw inspiration from the ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan to stay in power in 2015.

The most recent development in River State represents a new low in the shameful conduct of political office holders at the highest levels, and they should be condemned by all Nigerians.’’

“The crisis in Rivers State is a sad reminder of our experience in the Western Nigeria crisis of 1963. We call on President Goodluck Jonathan to order an immediate cessation of hostilities in Rivers State and stop using the Nigeria Police to settle his political disputes. The Police must not be dragged into the internal crisis of the President’s party. The governor and people of Rivers State and indeed, all citizens of Nigeria, deserve the full protection of the law and their rights to live in peace under the state-guaranteed security.’’

Amaechi’s panel ‘ll pre-empt Senate report – Rivers PDP faction Picking holes in the setting up of a judicial commission of inquiry by the state government to

look into the crisis, the Felix Obuah-led faction of PDP, in a statement by his media aide, Mr Jerry Needam, said that the action of the state government was to pre-empt the decision of the Senate Committee, which would soon submit its report.

“Governor Rotimi Amaechi can’t be a judge in his case. Amaechi is a principal suspect in the matter. Above all, the matter is before the Senate. The Senate will give their report on Wednesday. His action is to preempt the decision of the Senate Committee on States and Local Governments. It is a shame that Amaechi will go this length in his desperate quest for power,” Obuah said.

Attack on govs barbaric – Hon Peterside A member of the House of Representatives, yesterday described as barbaric, the hiring of thugs by desperate politicians to harrass Northern governors who were in Port Harcourt to pay a solidarity visit to Amaechi.

This was contained in a statement issued yesterday by Dakuku Peterside, Chairman House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) and representative of the Andoni/Opobo-Nkoro Federal Constituency of Rivers State.

He asked: “When did we degenerate to this Hobbesian and primitive state? Those who are fanning this ember of discord must be ready to reap the whirlwind."

Nigerian community in US commend Amaechi The Nigerian Community in the United States has commended the embattled Governor of Rivers State Rotimi Amechi for what they described as “his extra-ordinary courage” over the raging crisis in the state. They also commended the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar for promptly sending a strong team to the state to ascertain the role played by his men during the crisis.

In a statement signed by its representative, B o n a v e n t u r e Ezekwenna, the community, stated that they were watching with keen interest "the ugly and dangerous mutiny resulting in physical fights among state lawmakers in Rivers State House of Assembly."

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013 — 57

58 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

Trayvon Mar tin: Protests spread to 100 cities in US, UK P

ROTESTS over the ac quittal of George Zimmerman in the death of Trayvon Martin will continue all summer – starting with vigils in 100 cities on Saturday, followed by marches in Florida, and Washington, D.C., the Rev. Al Sharpton announced Tuesday is has also spread to the UK. “Florida will be the battleground of a new civil rights movement,” Sharpton said during a news conference with other clergy outside the Justice Department headquarters.

“We are not having a two- or three-day anger fit,” said Sharpton,who is president of the National Action Network and also hosts a show on MSNBC. “This is a movement for social justice.”

Meanwhile, one of the six female jurors who ac-

A female protester carrying a banner quitted the Florida neighbourhood watch leader George Zimmerman of murdering Trayvon Martin has revealed that three of the panel originally

wanted to convict him.

The middle-aged woman, who is white and has grown-up children, said she and her fellow jurors believed that Martin, an

dead. A spokesman for Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood called the interim government Morsi was ousted on 3 July in what many have said was a military coup. The army said it was fulfilling the demands of the people after mass antiMorsi protests.

The swearing-in ceremony was shown live on state television. Gen Sisi already held the defence portfolio, but now also becomes interim prime minister. Moham-

med Ibrahim, who had been appointed interior minister by Morsi, keeps his post.

Nabil Fahmy becomes foreign minister and Sherif Ismail is the interim oil minister. Mounir

unarmed black 17-yearold, threw the first punch in the fatal confrontation, leaving Zimmerman in fear of his life. That, she said, was the determining

Egypt’s interim cabinet sworn in A new interim Egyp tian government has been sworn in, with army chief Gen Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who led the ousting of Mohammed Morsi, becoming deputy PM as well as defence minister.

Hazem al-Beblawi is the new PM, under the interim President Adly Mansour.

The swearing in followed another night of violence between security forces and Morsi supporters that left seven

Fakhry Abdel Nour, a Christian, is the interim trade and industry minister. There are three women ministers, including Maha el-Rabat, who takes the health portfolio.

brate his 95th birthday on July 18.

The United Nations in 2010 had declared the Nobel peace laureate’s birthday as Mandela

demonstrators gathered outside the U.S. Embassy in London to “draw attention to the inherent racism in the American system” and “demand justice for Trayvon Martin,” according to a Facebook event page.

The rally was organized by two British leftist groups, the Left Activist Solidarity Network, a network of socialists, communists and anarchists, and Stand Against Fascism, an anti-fascist group. On Tuesday, the National African Caribbean Forum, an African cultural association, says it’s planning a second demonstration at the embassy. Staffers at the embassy in London told U.S. News they were unaware of the protests.

Rallies and vigils have been held by Martin supporters in major cities since a Florida jury found Zimmerman not guilty on Saturday night. They have been mostly peaceful, though 14 people were arrested Monday night in Los Angeles after a gathering descended into chaos with some people throwing rocks, attacking people and clashing with police, NBCLosAngeles.com reported.

Italian Senate VP calls black minister “ Orangutan”

A

fresh storm over rac ism has broken out in Italy after a top senator likened the country’s first ever black cabinet minister to an orangutan.

Cecile Kyenge, Italian born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been targetted with racial slurs since her appointment as integration minister in April.

World set to mark Mandela’s bir thday T

HE critically ill antiapartheid hero Nelson Mandela may still be confined to his Pretoria hospital bed even as the world prepares to cele-

factor in why the three changed their minds.

The woman, with her face blacked out and identified only as juror B-37, insisted that justice had been served. “George Zimmerman is a man whose heart was in the right place, but just got displaced by the vandalism in the neighbourhood and wanting to catch these people so badly that he went above and beyond what he really should have done,” she told CNN’s Anderson Cooper on Monday night.

“It just went terribly wrong,” she said. “Things just got out of hand. I think he’s guilty of not using good judgment.”

Sharpton said the nationwide action has two goals: urging the Justice Department to move forward with a civil-rights probe of Zimmerman and repealing “Stand Your Ground” self-defense laws that some say made it difficult to win a conviction in the case.

Spontaneous marches of varying sizes took place in cities including San Francisco, Chicago, Washington, Atlanta and Philadelphia. Monday afternoon,

Day to encourage people across the world to do good deeds.

According to News.com.au, a campaign in memory of Mandela’s 67 years of political activism is being organized where volunteers will spend 67 minutes on hundreds of

community upliftment projects, a minute dedicated for every year of his activism.

The inauguration of the Nelson Mandela Legacy Bridge is also scheduled at the icon’s birth village, Mvezo, in the rural Eastern Cape province tomorrow.

Roberto Calderoli, vice president of Italy’s Senate and a member of the antiimmigration Northern League party, made the remarks at a political rally in the northern town of Treviglio on Saturday.

“I love animals - bears and wolves, as everyone knows - but when I see the pictures of Kyenge I cannot but think of, even if I’m not saying she is one, the features of an orangutan,” Caldero said.

According to local media reports, he added that Kyenge’s success encouraged “illegal immigrants” to come to Italy, and that she should

Cecile Kyenge be a minister “in her own country”. Kyenge is campaigning to make it easier for immigrants to gain citizenship, and she backs a law that would automatically make anyone born on Italian soil a citizen.

Syria mediators ‘killed by pro-regime militiamen’

A Nelson Mandela

T least six mediators have been killed by pro-government militiamen in the Syrian province of Homs, reports say.

The men were reportedly trying to broker talks between Sunni Muslims

and members of the minority Alawite sect in the area when they were shot dead.

Two of the men were retired military officers, and another was an imam, according to a UK-based

activist group.

President Bashar al-Assad’s government is dominated by Alawites, while the uprising has been predominantly Sunni.

A video posted online by the UK-based Syrian

Observatory for Human Rights purports to show the bodies of the six men and names them.

The Observatory said they were trying to set up talks in an area where fighting erupted last week.

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013 — 59

History, as President Jonathan opens NFF Headquarters A

NEW chapter is crafted in Nigeria football history as President Goodluck Jonathan (GCFR) will on Thursday inaugurate the brand-new Football House, headquarters of the Nigeria Football Federation.

The ceremony at the gorgeous facility inside the Package B of the National Stadium, Abuja will mark the first time that the Nigeria Football Federation, founded in 1945 as Nigeria Football Association, will be having a permanent home.

The footballgoverning body had operated from various structures both in Lagos and Abuja over the decades, but never before now a permanent home of its own.

Football-loving President Jonathan will be joined at the epoch occasion by Honourable Minister of Sports and Chairman, National Sports Commission, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi and a number of other cabinet ministers, with NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari and some of his Executive Committee members and management to receive them.

Sports Minister, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi performed the sodturning ceremony for the Football House on February 21, 2012, and the supervising architects have boldly proclaimed that the project has been successfully completed without any variation in specification or budget.

The 27-room facility also boasts a penthouse which is to serve as the NFF President’s Office, as well as several meeting rooms. It sits majestically beside the FIFA Technical Centre and the FIFA Football Turf.

NFF President Aminu Maigari said on Tuesday: “We are looking forward very much to receiving His

•President Jonathan Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GCFR) at the inauguration of the NFF Headquarters. This epoch-making event once again underscores

•Alhaji Maigari our President’s keen love for, and interest in football and the Nigeria youth, which he has always demonstrated. ”The NFF and the entire Nigeria football is grateful to His Excellency

for approving the project, and we also commend the Honourable Minister of Sports for his tremendous support to ensure the completion of the project.”

UAE‘s coach fears Eaglets’ firepower Ahead of the August 26 Official Draw of the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup to be held Fairmont Bab Al Bahr hotel in Abu Dhabi, coach Rashid Amir of the host country, United Arab Emirates is not relishing the prospect of being grouped along with the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria in the preliminary stage.

Nigeria is among a pool 24 strong countries including Brazil, and that has qualified for the 15th edition of the global youth fiesta and Amir has tipped the Golden Eaglets as one of the favourites.

“Despite the difficulty of the task that lies ahead, we would like to reach the semi-finals, ” Amir recently told the FIFA’s website, adding that the coach Manu Garba(MFR)-tutored

Golden Eaglets would be hard to beat: “They’re (Nigeria) one of the best teams at this year’s tournament, with very physically strong players.

And we can’t forget Brazil, who will be one of the favourites.”

Incidentally, the Golden Eaglets have the best record in the annals of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup Championship with three titles and three runners ups medals.

They are closely followed

by Brazil with three titles and two runner ups.

Cup holders, Mexico along with Ghana (who missed out of this year’s event following their failure at the African elimination in April) have won the tournament twice.

Golden Eaglets head to Calabar for closed-camping ..As Lagunju, Ugbade expect stiff shirt contest

T

HE Nigeria F o o t b a l l Federation(NFF) has finalized arrangement for the Golden Eaglets to resume their closed camping in Calabar next week after concluding the twoweek screening exercise of new players at the NFF/ FIFA Goal Pr o j e c t Centre in Abuja on Friday.

Senator Liyel Imoke (CON), the Executive Governor of Cross River State, last week sanctioned the return of the Golden Eaglets to Calabar to fine tune their preparations for the forthcoming 2013 FIFA World Cup in the United Arab Emirates as the NFF is leaving no stone unturned in the quest for the team’s successful outing.

Tayo Egbaiyelo, the Golden Eaglets’ Team Secretary, informed that a pool of players from the squad that nearly conquered the continent at the 10th African Under-17 Championship in April with their

counterparts picked from the screening exercise and officials are due in Calabar on Monday, July 22 to continue their build-up for the championship to be held between October 17 to November 8.

In a related development, members of the Golden Eaglets’ crew are enthusiastic about building a formidable squad that would make Nigerians proud at the 2013 World Cup following a well successful screening exercise.

Coach Siji Lagungu, Technical Officer at the NFF who is charged with the responsibility of organising the screening, said he was happy with the quality of players spotted since it would boost competition for shirts amongst the players.

Golden Eaglets' player contests the ball against a Guinean opponent in Calabar.

Nigeria won 4-0.

Drogba is like a father to me — Lukaku R OMELU Lukaku wants to become a Chelsea legend — just like his buddy Didier Drogba. And the 6ft 3in striker is aiming to do it super fast with the help of

the man he sees as a father figure.

Lukaku — already dubbed the new Drogba — said: “Didier ’s a legend. Now it’s up to me to do the same as he did.

“And I want to achieve that as fast as possible.”

Lukaku is confident he can emulate the great man — especially as he has the 35-year-old’s backing.

The Belgian, 20, added:

“He’s one of my best friends. He had the role of father figure to me when I was at Chelsea with him. “After training we would talk for an hour or so.''

60 — VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

Suarez n amed i n Reds’ t our squad L IVERPOOL have included unsettled striker Luis Suarez in their 28-man squad to tour the Far East and Australia.

Suarez - who will miss the start of the season as he completes a 10-game ban for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic in April - has said several times that he is unhappy in England.

However, his club have stressed the Uruguay international is not for sale and have named the 26-year-old in their touring party although he is not due to link up with his teammates until mid-way through the trip.

Suarez, defender Sebastian Coates and goalkeeper Pepe Reina

Continues from BP Tuesday morning with only Godfrey Oboabona exempted by the coaching crew because he had had a hectic schedule with his club, Sunshine Stars. He will join his teammates on Wednesday morning, as the players battle for the 20 slots that the

have been given an extended break by manager Brendan Rodgers following their involvement in the Confederations Cup in Brazil.

The rest of the squad, which will fly out on today, includes new signings Luis Alberto, Iago Aspas, Kolo Toure and Simon Mignolet as well as captain Steven Gerrard.

to be the Police Machine team”, CSP Frank Mba who is the deputy Force Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police Force said yesterday on our hotline.

He was asked about the investigation of the alleged match fixing by the amateur teams during their play offs.

“The Police Machine team are actually topping their Nationwide League in Abuja and cannot be said to be involved in this basketful of goals.

All the same, the Police have initiated investigation on our own without waiting for anyone.

But our investigation is limited because there are

D

AVID BECKHAM last night revealed he is on the brink of announcing details on owning an MLS team.Beckham has looked at a franchise in Florida and last month visited stadiums accompanied by billionaire Marcelo Claure.

He is set to make an announcement soon, saying: “I’ve made a few decisions pretty quickly. It will be in a few months maybe.”

P

ARIS Saint-Germain are set to unveil Edinson Cavani as the latest addition to their French title-winning squad today.

Cavani, 26, will join the club in a Ligue 1 record Đ64 million deal from Napoli, just over a week

after PSG had said they were confident the switch would soon be completed.

Monaco paid a reported 60 million to sign Radamel Falcao from Atletico Madrid earlier this summer, having earlier established a new top-flight record fee by

Keshi coach will take to Abidjan for the match.

Also on Monday evening, FC Braga of Portugal defence ace, Elderson Echejile, was at the team’s Bolton White Apartmentabode to wish his mates and the coaching crew a good outing in Abidjan.

certain technical areas we cannot go into. Our Inspector General, M. D. Abubakar is a passionate sports man and was highly involved in football. He talks, sleeps and dreams football and as such has directed the DIG and Commissioner of Police in the zone to look into the matter. We really want to understand what happened because we are very uncomfortable with the scoreline. We want to also see if all the people in the Police team are police men. If they are, it makes it easy for discipline. It is possible that as a rag-tag team, they can recruit people from here and there. For the IGP, anyone involved in bringing the beautiful game of football into disrepute will not go un-

Echejile came in at dinner time and went straight to see Keshi, before spending sometimes with most of his mates. “It’s to encourage them to excel when they play the Ivorians and I believe they can defeat them right there in Abdjan”, he said smiling.

punished’’, Mba said.

Asked if the Police have been contacted by the Nigeria Football Federation to investigate the scandal, Mba could not confirm.

Plateau United Feeders and Police Machine figured they needed a big win in the final round at an amateur tournament to outdo the other and earn promotion to Nigeria’s professional football leagues.

Plateau United scored a whopping 79 goals to nil against Akurba FC while Police Machines scored yet another cricket score of 76 – 0 over Bubayaro FC. The Nigeria Football Federation termed the scores ‘’mind-boggling’’ while promising to bring the offenders to book.

•Beckham

Taiw o aiwo

•Suarez

PSG t o un veil Ca vani t oda odayy

IG Continues from BP

Beckham set to announce plans on owning MLS team

paying Đ45 million for James Rodriguez.

PSG, however, will trump their rivals with the signing of Cavani, who is set be presented to the media at a press conference at 4pm local time.

The Uruguay international forward arrived in Paris on Monday and was met at Charles De Gaulle airport by his agent, Pierpaolo Triulzi, and PSG deputy sporting director Olivier Letang.

•Cavani

Minister Continues from BP leagues as from next season. This was one of the outcomes of the meeting the Minister had with the Board members of the NFF, the League Management Company (LMC) and the Nigerian Women League. The meeting focused on the state of the leagues.

A visibly angry Abdullahi said at the meeting, “ this has to stop. We cannot behave

Continues from BP

The 28-year-old defender played six seasons at Olympique Marseille between 2005 and 2011 before joining Italian giants AC Milan.

French fiscal authorities say the player did not pay income taxes in 2008 and 2009 as well as property taxes in 2011 on his 900m2 home, which they say will be auctioned at Đ200,000, three times lower than its market value.

In a statement released on Tuesday in Marseille,

the tax office said Taiwo, who recently joined Turkish side Bursaspor, owes Đ1,025,000 in taxes, but can apply through his lawyer for instalment or delayed payment if he is not financially fit to settle at the moment.

The onetime terrific left back earns Đ2 million per annum.

Taiwo was not present at the tax office and was not represented by a lawyer. He is yet to respond to the charges.

as if we live in a jungle.

Every kobo owed the players must be paid.

Players must have proper contracts.” He made these comments against the background of a news report about the FCT Queens of Abuja players who are owed 18months salaries and who, according to the report, have resorted to begging to make ends meet.

Dilichukwu Onyedinma, the Chairperson of the Nigerian Women League and who incidentally is also Chairperson of the FCT Queens, explained while making a presentation at the meeting that the players had not been paid because of bureaucratic bottleneck.

She however stated that the FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed had approved the salaries of the players but didn’t know why they had not been paid.

Onyedinma disclosed that though the Nigerian Women League faced many challenges, it is

making steady but slow progress. “ For the first time ever we have started the first Women Premier League in Nigeria,” she said.

Nduka Irabor, the Chairman of the League Management Company, stated that the LMC is putting systems in place to ensure that clubs pay sufficient attention to the welfare of footballers. “ I have pictures of the living condition of some of our footballers, it is shameful and makes mockery of the professional league. It is no wonder that our players keep going overseas to seek greener pastures.”

He however stated that the LMC was considering several measures to improve the welfare of footballers including implementing a minimum wage. “By the rules, no club should pay a footballer less than a hundred thousand Naira.''

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013 — 61

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62 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013 — 63

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VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

Taiw o indict ed in aiwo France F

ORMER Nigeria international Taiwo Taye has been indicted in France on tax fraud charges and a Marseille court has begun a judicial procedure to seize his Đ600,000 mansion based in Allauch, a French commune situated east of Marseille.

Continues on Page 60

Football scandal:

IG steps in

Minister warns NFF to pay players’ salaries or...

M

•Police deny Yola Police Machine

BY TONY UBANI

A

S the world waits on Nigeria to unravel the culprits behind the ridiculous 79 -0 and 67 -0 scorelines recorded in two matches of the amateur League playoffs, the Nigeria Police have brought a new twist to the whole drama by distancing themselves from one of the Clubs – Police Machine FC which beat Bubayaro FC 67 – 0.

“The team that is involved in that fantasy scoreline is not Police Machine Team. The Police Machine team is a brand name for the Police team. The one you

people are referring as Police Machine team are Police FC from Yola. It is

a rag-tag team in the state and cannot be said Continues on Page 60

M. D. Abubakar — IG

INISTER of Sports and Chairman of the National Sports Commission, NSC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi yesterday

Keshi to Eagles: Abidjan will be war S

•Keshi

UPER Eagles boss, S t e p h e n Okechukwu Keshi has demanded total concentration from his players ahead of the final leg CHAN qualifier against Cote D’Ivoire in Abdjan on July 27, noting that the match will be like war against the West African neigbhours.

Speaking before training commenced on

•Taiwo

Tuesday morning at the FIFA Goal Project site in Abuja, Keshi who started his foreign career in Cote D’ Ivoire, said the people are passionate about football and they will do anything to defeat Nigeria, hence the need to forget the 41 win in Kaduna and concentrate on the return leg. “The win in Kaduna is history and if you have been following the

media you will see that they have been making remarks that they can also beat us well. We must be ready for their antics and forget the past”.

The team is training at the Goal Project because the Ivorians had already informed CAF that the return leg will be played on artificial turf. Twenty three players trained on Continues on Page 60

directed the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, to ensure that all football clubs participating in various football leagues in the country pay the backlogs of salaries owed players.

According to him, teams that are unable or unwilling to pay should be barred from participating in the

Continues on Page 60

•Bolaji Abdullahi

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Twine (5) 5 Toil (6) 8 Glue (5) 10 Powerful (6) 11 Shoot (4) 14 Lethargic (6) 15 Vanity (7) 18 Born (3) 19 Pen-point (3) 21 Close (4) 23 Send (5) 24 Hem (4) 27 Delve (3) 29 Morass (3) 31 Suspected (7) 32 Teemed (6) 34 Carry (4) 35 Simply (6) 38 Deposit (5) 39 Revoke (6) 40 Sidled (5)

DOWN 2 Court (3) 3 Address (3) 4 Brown (3) 5 Went (4) 6 Infertile (6) 7 Boat-part (6) 9 Sullied (7) 12 Particle (3) 13 Sword (4) 16 Monster (4) 17 Shy (5) 20 Intolerant (7) 22 Spindle (4) 24 Meal (6) 25 Adjoin (4) 26 Sullen (6) 28 Reviled (6) 30 Obtain 33 Valley (4) 36 Era (3) 37 Untruth (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Record 5, Arid 8, Vesta 9, Fun 10, Vain 11, Hill 12, Asked 13, Stream 16, Last 18, Spur 20, Ant 22, Lei 23, Try 24, Pith 25, Atop 28, Nought 30, Scorn 32, Look 33, Oust 34, Eel 35, Refit 36, Mien 37, Prison.

How to Play Sudoku

DOWN: 1, Refuse 2, Confront 3, Reveal 4, Sensation 5, Atheist 6, Raid 7, Dolt 8, Via 14, Maladroit 15, Buy 17, Set 19, Progress 20, Aid 21, Thicken 26, Poster 27, Stolen 29, Slim 30, Sore 31, Nut.

TWO WEEKS TO LIVE

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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