Call for Jonathan toresign laughable — IBB

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61690

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012

Kidnapped Delta State high court judge Pg.11 regains freedom

BAKASSI: Final showdown •Pgs.41-43

Call for Jonathan to resign laughable — IBB •I have no link with Boko Haram, he insists •Advocates state police, says it 'll work •Urges Nigerians to support Jonathan •Security challenges 'll soon be over — Sultan Ojukwu's will to be read next month •P.14

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The necessary retreat to the starting point

WOLE MOSADOMI & ABDALLAH ELKUREBE

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I N N A — FORMER Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida yesterday described as laughable, the call by Islamic sect, Boko Haram on President Goodluck Jonathan to resign from office as condition for peace to reign in the country.

General Babangida at an interaction with newsmen at his Hill Top mansion, Minna, Niger state as part of activities to mark his 71st birthday today also declared that he had no link with Boko Haram. He challenged Nigerians to unravel those behind the Islamic sect and its origin rather than point accusing fin-

Continues on Page 5

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Mr & Mrs Edo State: A case of evolution over magic (2) •P.19

DONU KOGBARA: •P.17 C M Y K

AGREEMENT:

Mr. Reginald Ihejiahi, Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Plc; BrigadierGeneral, Nnamdi T. Okore-Affia, Director–General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC); and Mr. Fela Bank-Olemoh, Managing Director, Media Vision Ltd, at the signing of an agreement for Fidelity-NYSC Games in Abuja, yesterday.

100 days of trade unionism in Nigeria A Special Report by Owei Lakemfa — Pgs.28-54

2—Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012

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4—Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012

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Vanguard, FRID AY, A UGUST 17, 2012—5 FRIDA AUGUST

POCKET CARTOON

Call for Jonathan to resign laughable — IBB Continues from Page 1 gers at innocent citizens.

He said that there were other sensitive issues confronting the nation which were also deadly, but were being swept under the carpet.

Babangida said: “From my own observation and reading what the media write, I want to say you have not done more studies, you have not done more investigations and researches to find out the causes of this Boko Haram and even communal clashes within the Fulanis, Gwaris and other tribes in the country. Somebody should be able to tell us; somebody should be able to do a research on these and not just conclude that I and some few others are behind the Boko Haram which is not so".

Reacting to the call by Boko Haram on President Jonathan to resign, Babangida said: “The call for President Jonathan to resign is laughable and it needs no comments from me or any sensible and patriotic Nigerian. What the present situation in the country needs now is for all Nigerians to join hands with the president to move the country forward in all spheres of life in order to take its rightful place in the comity of nations”.

The former military president also threw his

weight behind the establishment of state police, pointing out that the agitation by some Nigerians for state police was in order and needs to be considered.

IBB advocates state police, says it ‘ll work He said: “The fear is unfounded. I have advocated it in the past and I think it can work and I will continue to advocate it. We should not allow the fear of 1950s on the establishment of state police to continue to haunt us because things have changed and will continue to change. If we got it wrong in the 50s, it does not mean we will still get it wrong now.”

On the recent challenge by elder statesman and Ijaw national Leader, Chief Edwin Clark asking him and other northern leaders to publicly condemn Boko Haram if he had no link with the sect, General Babangida said “I have been commenting on the Boko Haram issue and I have never hidden my disaffection against the sect and I will continue to dissociate myself from the sect.

“Chief Clark is my friend. I have known him for the past 35 years. There is a mutual respect between me and him and so, I wouldn’t

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

....LAMENT, if necessary, but do not dwell too long on your bad moments lest they rise to rule.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

When the world says, “give up”, hope whispers, try it one more time —African proverb

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N June 1985, two British mountaineers Joe Simpson and Simon Yates made the first-ever climb of the West Face of the 21,000 foot snow-covered Siula Grande mountain in Peru. It was an exceptionally tough assault - but nothing compared to what was to come. Early in the descent, Simpson fell and smashed his right knee. Yates could have abandoned him but managed to find a way of lowering him down the mountain in a series of difficult drops blinded by snow and cold. Then Simpson fell into a crevasse and Yates eventually had no choice but to cut the rope, utterly convinced that his friend was now dead.

The survival of Yates himself was extraordinary.

That Simpson somehow found a way of climbing out of the crevasse after 12 hours and then literally crawled and dragged himself six miles back to camp, going three days and nights without food or drink, and losing three stone would be the stuff of heroic fiction if it was not so true. Indeed, six operations and two years later, he was even back climbing. All because, against all the odds, he tried.

want this issue to truncate that respect and I know he will not deny me as a friend and so, that is settled,” Gen. Babangida remarked.

Gen. Babangida who clocks 71 years today said he is thankful to God for sparing his life to see today and that he is fulfilled with his current position.

“The religious book says, in whatever position you are, you should give thanks to Allah and with the position I find myself today, I give thanks to Allah and as my birthday falls into the Ramadan period, I will remain at home with my family, pray to Allah fervently without any fanfare”, Gen. Babangida said beaming with joy.

Nigeria’s insecurity challenge will soon be a thing of the past— Sultan Meanwhile, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar has reiterated that the current security challenge posed by Boko Haram will soon be a thing of the past.

The Sultan who gave the assurance when he hosted members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ to a Ramadan dinner at his Palace, yesterday, said: “We have been working very hard to bring the challenge of insecurity to an end. We have met at NIREC level and other levels. We are doing it to ensure the return of normalcy. You see that there is a lot of violence all over the country, left, right and centre. We must end these”.

He said that “as leaders, we have said so much on the situation of things “but still, some people come out to postulate that Muslims are out to destabilize the country. Government understands our stand.

Mr President has high respect for us. It is an issue I am passionate about. We are very honest and straightforward”.

On how to tackle the challenge by the Islamic sect, the Sultan said: “We have to know who are the political Boko Haram, we have to know

who are the economic Boko Haram, but we must work together in order to defeat the insurgents.”

The Sultan also commended the peace moves in Plateau State saying, “I am happy about the positive comments of Governor David Jang, especially his recent meeting with ethnic communities and the comments of Solomon Lar, which were aimed at bringing permanent peace there.”

He then called on Nigerians not to allow enemies of the people to scuttle the peace moves.

“We give extra support to this move because we believe that we need peace in Plateau. Those trying to scuttle the

moves should be condemned,” the Sultan stressed.

He called on Journalists to consider national security in their reporting. “There are other insecurity problems that are not reported by you.

Kidnapping and armed robbery are some of

them. You have always concentrated on Boko Haram. I urge you to avoid sensational headlines in consideration for national security and peace and sometimes, you create the monsters.

Be patriotic on national security,” the Sultan advised.

Jonathan’s resignation call threatens CAN

BY SONI DANIEL

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BUJA—THE call by the northern chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria for the resignation of President Goodluck Jonathan over his decision not to use force against Boko Haram, has sparked simmering crisis, which may lead to the split of the association, Vanguard investigation has revealed.

Already, indications emerged, yesterday, that following pressures from top government officials in Abuja, prominent members of CAN have distanced themselves from the call on Jonathan to quit over his soft stance on the Islamic sect’s insurgency in parts of the north.

Findings by Vanguard revealed that there were pressures ‘from above’ on the leadership of the northern CAN to recant the statement or face the wrath of the government.

CAN leadership and members benefit from the annual pilgrimage sponsored by the Federal and state governments to Jerusalem, a responsibility many Nigerians believe should be borne by individual pilgrims.

In a subtle move to appease the govern-

ment, CAN leadership quickly disowned the statement issued on Monday by the Public Relations Officer of the body, Mr. Sunday Oibe.

At a press conference in Kaduna, the Secretary of the northern CAN, Prof Daniel Babayi, denied that the association ever authorised the PRO to issue the ‘offensive’ statement asking Mr. President to stand down over his soft stance on Boko Haram.

Babayi alleged that the statement was scripted by elements who wanted to cause disaffection and divide CAN. He said: “Somebody somewhere is planning to divide CAN.” But a source close to Oibe told Vanguard, yesterday, that the PRO would not deny his statement, saying that he did so as part of his mandate to CAN. The source said: “We realise that the leadership of the northern CAN is being pressurised by some powerful persons in the Presidency to change the statement, which they authorised for issuance last Monday.

“What this means is that the northern CAN, which was not very strong in the first place, will simply die a natural death because of vested

interests.

“It is surprising that people can easily abdicate their Christian values and tell lies all in a desperate bid to satisfy certain well-placed individuals in the corridors of power,” the source lamented.

The northern CAN in the statement released to journalists by Oibe on Monday, had asked President Goodluck Jonathan to resign for failing to use force to deal decisively with Boko Haram.

Part of the statement read: “Jonathan has failed Christians and he should resign as president because by his statement, it is very clear that he is not capable of handling the danger posed by the Boko Haram insurgency.

“We therefore call on the international community to come to the aid of northern Christians because it appears that the Nigerian government has made Christians the sacrificial lamb for Boko Haram,” Oibe said.

Although Oibe has refused to join issues with the CAN scribe, sources close to him said last night that he would respond to the development at the appropriate time but did not give further explanation as to what line of action he would take.

6—Vanguard , FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012

TUC, others bemoan effects of deregulation on Nigerians

BY DOTUN IBIWOYE, BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE, NKIRUKA NNOROM & KUNLE KALEJAYE

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From left: Interior Minister, Comrade Abba Moro; Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadomen and Foreign Affairs Minister, Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru a as they departed the Presidential Villa, Abuja after a meeting. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

FG releases N300bn capital zAs Okonjo-Iweala meets fuel marketers vote over fresh queues at filling stations

BY EMMA UJAH, ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF & AMINAT AMUDA

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BUJA—THE Federal Ministry of Finance has released the third quarter capital vote of N300 billion with a view to boosting the 2012 budget implementation.

The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who disclosed this at a briefing, yesterday, also revealed that salaries of Federal Government workers were being paid between yesterday and today, to enable them enjoy the Eid- Id-Fitr holiday.

On the capital budget, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala said N704 billion has been released to date, while utilisation of the earlier N404 billion in first and second quarters stood at 65.4 per cent as at the end of July.

According to her, the N704 billion so far released represents 53 per cent of the N1. 36 trillion capital budget for 2012 and that her team was “pressing on to make funds available for a successful implementation of the 2012 budget”.

Her words, “we are here to announce the release of the third quarter capital budget of N300 billion. This d e m o n s t r a t e s government’s commitment to realising a significant level of implementation of the capital budget this year.

“In percentage term, with

this release, we have released N704 billion. If you recall, we had earlier released N404 billion and with this additional N300 billion, it brings us to N704 billion, which is about 53 per cent of the annual capital budget of Ni1.36 trillion.

“We should note that based on what we had released before, which was N404 billion, the last time we spoke to you we said utilization of that had gone up to 56 per cent and that was as at the end of June, and we are now happy to tell you that as at the end of July, utilization of the previous N404 billion is now at 65.4 per cent and on top of that we are now releasing this additional N300 billion for the third quarter”.

Some marketers blackmail FG Answering questions on emerging fuel queues in Abuja and other parts of the country occasioned by subsidy payment between the Federal Government and some fuel marketers, the minister said government has been paying verified claims and that there are no disagreements whatsoever with honest marketers.

Her words, “ we have resumed payment to the marketers. “As you know these payments come in batches and since April we have been receiving these batches and paying.

“Recall that we had a period that we had to verify all the payments that were being made. Nigerians

have said why is it that we keep paying these marketers when we believe there is non-transparency in the way that subsidy is going.

“We set up a committee headed by Mr Aig Imoukhuede which has now become a presidential committee. The president has formally inaugurated them and was asked to verify all the payments that were being made. So for a period of time these investigations were going on, so that the Ministry of Finance will be sure of the people who really deserved to be paid.

“As the verification was rounding off in April, we resumed payment to marketers and I’m happy to say that between April and August we have been paying in respect of 2012 claims. We paid about N42.66 billion to marketers and the number of marketers that were paid was 31”.

According to her, fuel marketers who have questions to answer are the ones who paid unionists to blackmail the Federal Government with a view to stampeding President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration into paying claims without verifying them.

“Of course we said we will not pay those who have query as to whether the subsidy payment they were paying were really due to them. Those under investigation or have question mark from committee were not paid”, she said.

She insisted that the administration will not accept such an arrangement as Nigerians have continued to call for a transparent subsidy administration and that no association is bigger than the nation.

She added that, “What is happening is that those who have been told that they have a case to answer have organized and decided to hold the nation to ransom.

Nigerians have said we must do the right thing and we have decided to do the right thing and we are trying to do the right thing.

Some of them (marketers) not all of them have decided to embark on what we consider as cheap blackmail of the government to have this hold on the nation by saying they are not importing fuel and they are not going to sell. But we are not going to give in to that”, she insisted.

FG open to dialogue The minister said what her team will do is to look into the cases of those who are not participating in this (blackmail) and who may have a slight infraction and talk to them, saying, “we are open to dialogue.”

Before the briefing ended, some marketers arrived the ministry for talks with the minister, particularly to reconcile their books, as according to Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, there would be a netting out between the Federal Government and the marketers with a view to ironing out all differences.

RADE Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, yesterday decried the high cost of cement and diesel as a result of the deregulation of prices, noting that a group of Nigerian businessmen are holding the country hostage and thereby making Nigerians to suffer.

Speaking during a Vanguard Conference Hall meeting on the theme: “Fuel Subsidy and the Ethical Deficiencies in Public Office in Nigeria,” the TUC’s Head, Media and Information, Mr Onyeka Chuwudi, said Nigerians are made to pay the highest price for diesel and cement along the West Coast.

In his words: “There is an ongoing gang-up against Nigerians. A whole lot of those people that used the opportunity that the subsidy has created have ganged up against Nigeria, even the Automated Gasoline Oil, AGO, (popularly called diesel) that is not under subsidy, Nigerians are made to pay the highest price in the West Coast. It is the same group of Nigerians that is holding Nigeria hostage.

“The simple truth is that in Nigeria, what we pay for a litre of diesel is higher than what citizens of other countries pay for a litre of diesel, same thing with cement. When you trace it, you cannot go beyond a certain group of people that are holding Nigeria hostage, which has also brought the people in power.”

Chuwudi said there was a correlation between the subsidy regime and the election year, saying that the election year has a lot of impact with the subsidy regime, noting that returns from the fuel subsidy may have been used for election campaign and funding of political parties.

He added that the first process of sanitizing the subsidy regime is to reveal the real data of consumption to Nigerians. He said: “The people in government should be able to tell us how much we are paying for the fuel subsidy. With this data, Nigerians will be able to know where to ask question, and who to ask.

Because there is a deliberate attempt to falsify data. The quantity of fuel consumption in Nigeria must be traced, but nobody has given that figure.

Also speaking, the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigerian, MOMAN, alleged that the Federal Government lacked the political will to remove fuel subsidy in the country, noting that efforts should be geared towards removing it.

The Executive Secretary of MOMAN, Mr. Obafemi Olawore, said there has not been enough political will to remove the subsidy, saying “if we continue to say that government is bleeding, the economy is bleeding because we are spending money on subsidy and we are not making effort to block it then there is a problem.”

Explaining the reason for the existence of fuel subsidy in the country, Olawore noted that what is produced in the country is not sufficient which is why the country resorted to the importation of premium motor spirit, PMS or petrol.

He, however, argued that the pump price of petrol cannot be isolated from the international price of crude, as “Once you buy at the international market, there is going to be a difference of what is produced and what you are told to sell.

“Whether it is right or wrong is not what am after.

What I am after is that somebody is buying the product at a particular price and therefore he has to recover his cost, if he does and he recovers fully and you tell him to sell at a lower price then there is gap and that gap is the subsidy.

The Chairman of Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria, DAPPMA, Mr. DapoAbiodun, said his association is fully in support of government’s move to deregulate and sanitise the downstream petroleum industry.

On the issue of deregulation and subsidy, we in DAPPMA support government’s move contrary to what the masses think or thought, because they accuse us that we are the beneficiaries of subsidy; we were being called criminals, the cabal. Let them remove subsidy, let your efficiency be your profit.

Although he admitted that there have been some sharp practices in the industry, he argued that the marketers were not alone in it and accused some government agencies of complicity.

“Anytime you have a regime where you buy at a price and you are being told to sell at a fixed rate and the government is paying you back, there is a guarantee, it will be abused, particularly in a country like Nigeria.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012—7

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8—Vanguard , FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012

NUJ LAGOS COUNCIL PROTESTS HARASSMENT OF JOURNALISTS

NUJ Lagos State Council led by its chairman, Mr Deji Elumoye protesting the harassment of some members in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

Members with placards marching to the Lagos State House of Assembly.

A lady photo-journalist demostrating in front of the Lagos State House of Assembly. Pix: Biodun Ogunleye.

Yet another placards being displayed by members.

Lagos journalists storm Govt House over assault on colleagues

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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KEJA—MEMBERS of the Lagos State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, yesterday, staged a peaceful demonstration to the office of Governor Babatunde Fashola at Alausa, Ikeja, to protest the incessant harassment and brutalisation of journalists in the state and warned against further uncouth acts on its members.

The protesting journalists from various media houses cutting across electronic and print were apparently, disappointed as neither the governor, nor his deputy, Mrs. Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire, personally addressed them. The governor was said to have travelled to Saudi Arabia, to perform the Umrah - lesser Hajj.

Vice-President, B Zone of NUJ, Mr. Dele Atunbi and Chairman, Lagos NUJ Council, Mr. Deji Elumoye, and other officials of the union led the peaceful protest, which took off from the Ladi Lawal Press Centre, Alausa, to the office of the overnor.

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Journalists had stormed Ladi Lawal Press Centre as early as 8 a.m. where the protest march began at 10 a.m.

Chanting solidarity songs, the protesting journalists arrived at the entrance of the State House, Ikeja, at 10. 50 a.m. and demanded to meet the governor. They were told by the security personnel at the gate that the governor was not around but assured that a representative would attend to them.

Determined to achieve their aim, the journalists sat on the floor of the entrance for several minutes, chanting solidarity songs while they waited for the government representatives to attend to them.

Irked by the 40 minutes delay under the scorching sun, the journalists blocked the entrances of the State House, preventing cars from exiting and entering the premises, just as they demanded to see a representative of the governor.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Lateef Raji, however, came later to attend to the resolute journalists.

Raji, who received the letter from Elumoye, apologised for keeping the journalists waiting. He explained that the governor was not available to attend to them as he had embarked on the Lesser Hajj.

The Special Adviser also

apologised for the brutality meted to two members of the union, Messrs Benedict Uwalaka and Tunde Ogundeyi, saying that the government could not fold its hands and watch lawabiding citizens brutalised by overzealous persons, as-

suring that the perpetrators would face the music.

He, however, charged the media to carry on their duties and responsibilities without fear, just as he assured of government’s support to protect citizens from needless assault

fromany member of the society.

Meantime, Atunbi and Elumoye said NUJ lawyers had been briefed to institute a criminal case against LASUTH, T.O.S Funeral Services and its worker, Bayo Idowu.

FG not doing enough on corruption, insecurity, says new Catholic Archbishop

BY SAM EYOBOKA & OLAYINKA LATONA

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AGOS—NEW Catholic Archbishop of Lagos Metropolitan See, His Grace Alfred Martins Adewale, yesterday, took a cursory look at the state of the Nigerian nation and gave thumbs down for the Federal Government's lack lustre handling of the security challenges and the war against corruption, declaring the Boko Haram sect as terrorists bent on destabilizing the country.

The Archbishop said: “Our government is not doing enough to deal with corruption. It needs to do much more than it is doing so far. I can immediately refer to the corruption in the

oil sector of the economy where certain individuals were indicted, taken to court and suddenly we begin to hear that the cases were not thought through before they were taken to court.

“That leaves a lot to the imagination. If the office of the Attorney General is not in the position to think out cases to the minutest detail before charging them to court, only to go there before the trial gets under way, to say there was a mistake, leaves much to the imagination,” the archbishop lamented.

He added that the agencies fighting corruption should be strengthened to fight the war to its logical conclusion.

While restraining

Christians from any form of violent attack on anybody, the archbishop threw his weight behind calls by the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, for Christians to defend themselves by whatever means whenever they come under any attack, saying that human life is sacred and must be regarded as such by anybody.

He also urged the Federal Government to urgently deal decisively with all acts of aggression against the people, while also giving thumbs up for the option of dialogue where necessary because “war has never brought about lasting peace in the history of humanity.”

In his maiden chat with

newsmen at the Church of Assumption, Falomo in Lagos, the Archbishop with his Archdiocesan Director of Social Communications, Rev. Monsignor Gabriel Osu, also used the occasion to condemn the brutalization of journalists on their legitimate assignments.

The archbishop argued that true federalism, which was the pathway to national development created by the nation’s founding fathers before the military intervened in the political process, is non-negotiable because that is the only basis for Nigeria’s aspiration to level up with other nations that began the political voyage with Nigeria but have left her behind.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012—9

Briefly Beware of 'juicy' tariff plans - NATCOMS

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AGOS—CHIEF Deolu Ogunbanjo, President, National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers, NATCOMS, has cautioned subscribers to be wary of the numerous tariff packages being offered by service providers.

Speaking in Lagos, yesterday, Ogunbanjo urged subscribers to understand the terms and conditions before opting for any tariff plan.

He said the different tariff packages being rolled out by the telecommunications operators were normal occurrences in any competitive industry.

The NATCOMS president explained that the introduction of numerous tariff packages was a welcome development as long as such offers were made with a lot of freebies attached to them.

BY OMOH GABRIEL, BUSINESS EDITOR

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HE row between the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, workers and the Federal Government arose as a result of the illegality and manipulation of the pension act to pay retiring PHCN workers.

Several of the workers were paid under the old pension scheme while the new pension was in operation, which was a gross violation of the law.

In the new power arrangement being worked out, state governments will be encouraged to partner with distribution companies. These were disclosed yesterday by the

Nnaji blames FG, PHCN workers crisis on pension manipulation zSays States 'll have stake in distribution coys Minister of Power, Prof.

Barth Nnaji at a briefing on issues in government-labour negotiation.

He said government was planning renewable energy and coal powered plant in Enugu and other parts of the country.

Renewable energy underway The minister said the management of PHCN failed in its responsibility to

fund its pension scheme, which as of today is in deficit. The management did not transfer its workers to the new pension arrangement and neither paid its 7.5 per cent contribution nor deduct that of its workers yet it was finding money to pay retiring employees of the company based on the old pension scheme.

Nnaji said government has been negotiating with workers and that while they have accepted many

PHCN revenue less than overhead He said as a sign of government’s commitment to workers the Federal Government in 2010 paid N57 billion owed to them as a result of the monetization policy. He said PHCN generates revenue that is far

Man jailed for vehicles' theft

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AGOS– A 32-year-old man was, yesterday, sentenced by an Ojo Magistrate’s Court to three years imprisonment for stealing three Mazda buses and another car.

Unemployed Sunday Oluwaseun was standing trial on a six-count charge of conspiracy and stealing at various intervals for which he pleaded guilty.

Prosecuting ASP Friday Eze told the court that the convict committed the offences last April and May. He said the convict had conspired with one Chinedu Oforbuike, 27, also an ex-prisoner to carry out the theft.

He told the court that Oluwaseun was a resident of 16, Ikotun Street, Okokomaiko, while Oforbuike resided at 8, Tapa Street, Okokomaiko.

AGOS—DR. Tunde Adetunji, a Medical Consultant at Bingham University College of Health Science, Kawu, in Nasarawa State, yesterday, cautioned people on the use of caffeine supplements.

Adetunji, a neurologist, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Lagos. He said caffeine supplements should be taken in accordance with the tolerance rate of the C M Y K

less than its overhead cost of N22 billion. He said as if this was not bad enough the workers during the negotiation demanded for salary increase which the government granted them 50 per cent pay rise in the belief that the workers would be pacified in the interest of getting electricity to Nigerians.

He said the wage bill was N7 billion before the increase. According to him, despite the paucity of funds available to PHCN, the Distribution CEOs were asked to pay the workers the new salary. He said also that the unions requested that 11,000 casuals be regularized and it was done. He said from the calculation done some PHCN workers may get two years pay and some others five years yet they are holding the country to ransom.

3 dead, 5 injured in Lagos auto-crash BOOK PRESENTATION: From left, Brigadier-General Raji Rasaki (rtd), former Military Governor of Ogun State; Oba Olufemi Ogunleye, Towulade of Akinale and Dr. Femi Okunrounmu, at the formal book presentation of ''Issues in the History of Nigerian Mass Media: Perspectives of a Veteran Journalist'' as part of activities marking the 70th birthday of Chief Soniran Sowemimo, former Ogun State Commissioner for Information, at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta, yesterday. Photo: Wumi Akinola.

Dana: Coroner recalls Obafunwa, NAMA

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH, ONOZURE DANIA & MICHAEL OLADEPO

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AGOS—THE Lagos Coroner inquest into the June 3, Dana plane crash in Lagos, yesterday, recalled Professor John Obafunwa, a pathologist and Nigerian Airspace M a n a g e m e n t

Agency,NAMA, to appear before it for re-examination.

The coroner, Mr. Oyetade Komolafe, said this as he adjourned further sitting till next week.

At the beginning of the coroner proper, Adeoye Oluyemi, a Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, official, who gave evidence on

Expert warns on caffeine supplement use

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of the terms of negotiation, they have refused to open accounts with Pension Fund Administrators to enable their benefits transferred to the PFA as required by the Pension Act. Giving insights into the deadlock between his ministry and labour over severance package, he said the Federal Government has agreed to pay the workers their entitlement based on the 2004 Pension Act even when PHCN had failed to fund its superannuation.

body. He also advised Nigerians to be mindful of the amount of caffeine they take as too much of it could be harmful.

He said: “Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant and it comes in different forms. Of course, the commonest form we know it as coffee, we have it in tea, we have it in kolanut, we have it in bitternut; these are all natural sources of caffeine.

“Not everybody tolerates them; some people de-

velop tremors of the hand when they take any of these stimulants, others could be restless, they get agitated; they could get confused.

One can have palpitations - that is one becomes sconscious of your heartbeats. All these maybe unusual for some people and when one has these agitated mood, the tendency is that one's level of concentration may be abnormal; one may misbehave; may do the wrong things without being conscious of it.”

what his team observed on the day of the crash, said he was informed by a commercial motorcyclist at 3.

45 p.m. on the day of the incident,that a plane crashed into residential buildings in the Toyin area of Iju-Ishaga, Lagos.

Oluyemi, a Zonal Head of Zone 29 of LASTMA, said he immediately rushed to the scene.

He added that when he and his men arrived at the location, traffic on Toyin Street, a nearest major road leading to the crash site, was seriously jampacked as a result of which he and his men started controlling the traffic, to pave way for emergency and rescue vehicles to enable them go to the crash site.

He said the traffic at the scene and the crowd, including sympathisers, residents and concerned citizens were so overwhelming that they could not control the situation.

BY EVELYN USMAN & RUTH CHUKWUEMEKA

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KEJA—THREE per sons died, yesterday, while five others, among them an eight-year-old girl, were injured, in the Dopemu area of Lagos when a car crushed them at the bus-stop.

The accident occurred around Tower Aluminium village on the Lagos/ Abeokuta Expressway, when a red Peugeot 406 car with number-plate BM 214 EKY, veered off its lane and rammed into the commuters, killing three on the spot.

The car eventually plunged into a ditch, according to reports.

Two of the dead victims were identified simply as Kazeem and Tope.

They were reportedly coming from a nearby sawmill where they went to buy plywood. Among the injured were two commercial motorcyclists.

A mob, according to eyewitnesses, would have lynched the driver of the car, but for the timely arrival of policemen from Dopemu Division.

When Vanguard arrived the scene, the injured had reportedly been taken to the hospital.

One of those found at the scene of the accident,

who said he escaped death, said: “ I had gone to get the prices of some materials at the Aluminium village. As I was walking towards the busstop, the vehicle just came from nowhere. I really can’t explain how I escaped. But I just found myself on the ground. At first, I thought I was dead, but when people gathered and helped me up, I discovered I was still alive.

But the story was not the same with the others.

“Three of them died on the spot because the vehicle ran over them. Another person, an apprentice at the sawmill had his hand broken. The baffling thing was that the vehicle did not stop, it kept clearing people from the road, until it landed inside the gully.

“The driver would have escaped but people around rushed there and apprehended him as he managed to come out of the vehicle.

“Some of them said he was reeking of alcohol when he was brought out.

There was another person with him in the car but nobody could say how the passenger escaped.”

Officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, also arrived the scene to control the resultant hitch in the flow of traffic.

10— Vanguard , FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

BEOKUTA—THERE seems to be an end in sight in the crisis rocking the Ogun State Chapter of the Peoples' Democratic Party, PDP, as the National Working Committee, NWC, finally recognised the state congress recently conducted by the faction loyal to former President Olusegun Obasanjo in the party.

The position of NWC was conveyed to the newly-elected state executive members led by a First Republic Senator, Chief Oladipo Odunjinrin, through a letter by the National Secretary of the party, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

Oyinlola, in the letter dated August 14, intimated the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar and Director-General of State Security Service, SSS, on the NWC position that the August 4 state congress that produced Odujinrin and 28 others was authen-

NWC recognises Obasanjo's Ogun PDP faction tic, known and acceptable to the party.

The party, however, constituted a five-member reconciliation committee led by South-West Zonal Woman Leader, Chief Nike Oluwole, with the mandate to persuade the aggrieved members of the party and to woo others who have decamped to other parties.

It would be recalled that one of the factions in the party loyal to Obasanjo was accused of conducting one-sided congress on August 4, which according to the congress committee report lacked transparency.

The committee, led by Malam Ibrahim Bamali, in its recommendation, had called for cancellation of the congress held at the local governments and state conducted by Obasanjo’s faction.

Clearing the air on the matter, the National Sec-

retary in the letter said: “this correspondence serves to notify you that a

new state executive committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has been

inaugurated. The new executive has Senator Dipo Odunjinrin”.

From left, Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria, Mrs. Oluremi Oyo; Chair of the Lagos NAWOJ, Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs & Poverty Alleviation, Lagos State, Mrs. Risikat Akiyode; Editor of Sunday Sun Newspaper, Mrs. Funke Egbemode; and Emeka Mba, the Community Affairs Manager of Coca-Cola Nigeria, during the launch of a new magazine at the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists Family Week.

Robbers raid Ekiti bank

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

A

DO-EKITI— ARMED bandits, yesterday, stormed IfakiEkiti in Ido-Osi Local Government Area of the state and robbed a first generation bank in the town.

The robbers, according to an eye-witness, were said to have invaded the bank at 12.30 p.m. in three un-

marked vehicles.

The men of the underworld were said to have arrived the town via OmuoEkiti, the boundary town between the state and Kogi State and started shooting sporadically to scare people away.

In the banking hall, they were said to have ordered the bankers and customers to lie flat and then stormed the bank’s vault.

From left, Assistant Director, Central Bank of Nigeria,CBN, Mr. Ojediran Bamidele; Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Ismail Omamegbe; Assistant Director, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, Mr. Mohammed Yakubu; Deputy Director, CBN, Mr. Duniya Yusuf; and facilitator and lecturer, Lagos Business School,LBS, Mr. Akintola Owolabi, during an Etisalat-sponsored seminar on Implementing Sustainable Business Principles, at the Lagos Business School, Lagos, Wednesday.

Briefly

JOGS old boys meet Sunday

T

HE monthly meeting of Ijebu-Ode Grammar School Old Boy Association, JOGS, 1974/79 Set, comes up on Sunday, August 19, at the school compound by 2 p.m.

A statement by President and Secretary of the association, Tola Bankole and Tola Omodeyin, said the meeting will be hosted

by President, Nigerian Dental Association, Dr. Femi Orebanjo, while members would on that day inspect the school’s project.

Farmers' Fair holds Sept 11-15

A

DO-EKITI—FOR a week, Ekiti State will play host to farmers, agro-allied industries, agriculture-driven research institutions and various other international organisations from within and outside Nigeria, in the first-ever South-West Farmers and Food Security Exhibition.

Other interesting aspects of the event scheduled to hold between September 11 and 15, include a beauty pageant and awards to be given to top government functionaries, individuals and corporate bodies in recognition of their contributions to providing food and its security for the people.

Flood: Oyo begins fresh demolitions

BY OLA AJAYI

I

BADAN—OYO State Government has continued the demolition it stopped months ago.

After the havoc caused by the August 26 flood disaster last year, the government had vowed that all structures obstructing the waterways would be pulled down but later softpedaled with Governor Abiola Ajimobi saying his government would not compound the problems of the flood victims.

Instead of all the no fewer than 200 houses marked for demolishing, only 56 were demolished with some of the affected owners of the buildings alleging that the government was not sincere as political consideration was used.

But, the government C M Y K

said in the second phase of the demolition no fewer than 40 illegal structures built on waterways would be affected.

Oyo State was listed among other states in the country that would likely be affected by flood.

According to the gover-

nor, the demolition became expedient to prevent loss of life and property as witnessed last August 26.

The exercise is being supervised by the state Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.

Gov. Ajimobi, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Miss Kafayat Adeojo, said the exercise was being carried in the overall best interest of the people of the state.

Ondo poll: PDP chieftain urges residents to vote in credible candidate

BY ADA ONWUNALI

A

KURE—A chieftain of the Peoples' Democratic Party, PDP, Mr Ayodele Lijoke, has advised the people of Ondo State to vote wisely in the October 20 election, urging them not to vote for money but for someone who

will transform the state.

In a statement, Lijoke said: ‘’The former gover nor, Dr. Olusegun Agagu constructed many bridges connecting to riverine areas in Ondo main town. The town Governor Mimiko came from, Chief Agagu constructed more than 42 streets.

Apart from the road net-

work, we still have development projects like hospitals, schools, industries.''

He urged the people of the state to vote for Agagu as the next governor of the state, adding that what the people of the state are enjoying at present were the legacies Agagu left behind.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012—11

Group faults Rivers' teachers recruitment exercise

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

P

YAM FESTIVAL: From left: Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Banking and Currency, Mr. Jones Onyeriri; Obo I of Obetiti Nguru, Eze R. A. Amadi and Deputy Speaaker, House of Representatives, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha, at the 2012 Iriji Mbaise Cultural Festival (Yam Festival) held at Itu, Ezinihitte Mbaise, Imo State.

Court orders IGP to release Ugolor

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN—AN Edo State High Court sitting in Benin, yesterday, granted bail to detained Executive Director of African Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor.

Trial judge, Justice Esther Edigin, in her ruling on a bail application by counsel to Ugolor, Mr Olayiwola Afolabi, said: “I believe this application and motion for bail has merit. I hereby order the respondents to release the applicant immediately and unconditionally pending the substantive motion on notice.

This matter is adjourned till August 23, 2012.”

It will be recalled that Ugolor was arrested by detectives from Force Headquarters, Abuja three weeks ago, in connection with the killing of Principal Private Sec-

retary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Mr Olaitan Oyerinde.

Afolabi, who argued the bail application, had contended that the Directorate of State Security, DSS, had earlier paraded the suspected killers of Oyerinde in Abuja, who were interrogated and said to have confessed to the killing of Oyerinde while on a robbery mission.

The court, which granted Ugolor bail, also or-

dered the Inspector General of Police to release Ugolor “immediately and unconditionally,” adding that his continuous detention was unconstitutional, illegal and against the provision of Section 37 (5) of the 1999 constitution.

The court further noted: “On August 13, 2012, the respondents were served with a 48-hour notice to respond, but it is observed that up till this ruling, none of the re-

Kidnapped Delta judge regains freedom ...Police arrest driver over alleged complicity

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

A

SABA—KID NAPPED Delta State High Court judge, Justice Marcel Okoh, has been released after 10 days in his captors' den.

He was released Wednesday night. How-

ever, the state police command said his driver had been arrested over alleged complicity in the kidnap of the judge.

State police command’s spokesman, Mr. Charles Muka, who confirmed the release of the judge, was silent on whether ransom was

Don't give Ibori's $15m to Delta govt — N-Delta activist

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

N

IGER Delta activ ist and former Labour Party’s candidate for Warri North constituency in Delta House of Assembly, in the 2011 general elections, Mr Adanse Felix, has said that former Governor James Ibori’s $15 million allegedly paid to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,

spondents had reacted.

I want to say with emphasis, any continuous detention of the applicant in more than a day or two, is a breach of the law.”

Afolabi, who expressed satisfaction with the ruling, commended the judiciary for its role in ensuring justice for all.

“The Nigerian judiciary has today (yesterday) proved to the world that it is the last hope of the common man."

EFCC, should not be given to the state government.

In a statement, yesterday, he called on the Federal Government to set up a special committee to manage the funds to provide infrastructures, which are seriously lacking in the state.

He said: “I support the call by some interest groups in Delta State that the money should not be given to the state

government. I plead with the Federal Government to set up a special council or committee to manage the funds to provide infrastructures which are seriously lacking in the state.

“The call by the state government to have the money in her coffers is misplaced and not in tune with the desire of the wider populace of the people of the state. What the people need is infra

paid and where he was released.

Muka said: “The judge was released last night (Wednesday). Before his release, several efforts were made to rescue him and track down the evasive armed gang preying on Deltans and Nigerians. We have his (judge) driver in custody and we have information on the hoodlums.

Efforts are on to get them.”

Abductors of the judge had jolted security operatives and the family of the judge, as they kept mute and never established any contact until after about five days of holding their victim. The kidnappers later asked for N40 million ransom.

Justice Okoh was the immediate past Director of Public Prosecution, DPP. He was sworn in as a judge in June this year and kidnapped on August 6, while on his way to work in Warri.

ORT HAR COURT— CONCERNED stakeholders have faulted Wednesday’s recruitment exercise carried out for prospective teachers in Rivers State by the state's Ministry of Education.

A rights group, Nigeria Democratic Awareness Forum, NDAF, yesterday, alleged highjack of the exercise by influential political officeholders in the state, who it claimed, moved behind the scene, noting that the situation was capable of rubbish-

ing the merit in results of the test contracted to Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB. On the group’s assessment of the exercise, Publicity Secretary of NDAF, Mr. Frank Anwusonye, said: “The Education Ministry may not admit it, but politicians have hijacked the process. They have shared a chunk of the available slots among themselves and their favoured candidates are being imposed on the ministry for automatic selection no matter how bad they performed in aptitude test.”

Bayelsa community raises alarm over oil spill

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

ENAGOA—INDI GENES of Nembe, in Nembe Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, have raised alarm over an oil spill from Shell Petroleum Development Company facility, which has caused massive damage to the environment.

Though the company blamed the spill, which occurred Wednesday at its Nembe Creek 3 flowstation on a pump failure, it, however, insisted that the spill did not impact on the environment.

Vanguard learnt that the oil company has no fewer than six flowstations and hundreds of oil

wells in Nembe Kingdom alone in the East Senatorial district of the state.

Sources from the area, told Vanguard that the natives were troubled that their source of drinking water and means of livelihood had been polluted by crude oil spill.

Chairman, Oil and Gas Committee, Nembe Kingdom, Chief Nengi James, confirmed the spill after visiting the scene. He called on Shell management to mop up the spilled crude to avoid epidemic in the area.

Also, the Bayelsa Project Officer of Environmental Rights Action, ERA, Mr Alagoa Morris, said though the spill was not much, a greater percentage may have spilled into the Brass River.

Obong of Calabar's selection in order — Kingmakers

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

C

ALABAR —KING MAKERS in the Palace of Obong of Calabar, under the umbrella of Etuboms Traditional Council, have insisted that the selection of the reigning Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Otu, met laid down procedures.

The kingmakers were reacting to a letter by a group of Creek Town Etuboms Traditional Rulers Council, who had indicated interest to withdraw from the ongoing legal tussle over the kingship dispute and had allegedly advised the current occupant of the throne, Edidem Otu, to step aside in the interest

of peace, alleging that his emergence did not follow due process.

Reacting to the letter, the kingmakers said the Western Calabar Traditional Rulers Council, which was the ruling house to produce the Obong, when the former occupant of the throne was sick, never violated any tradition, as they informed the Western Calabar, which in turn sent in four nominees for the position.

The four nominees were “Etubom Nsa Ita; Chief Anthony Ani (former Minister of Finance during Gen. Sani Abacha regime); Etubom Esien Efiok and Etubom Ekpo Otu (the sitting Obong), who were invited for screening.

12—Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012

Boko Haram: Reyenieju backs call for dialogue

W

PARADE: Suspected car snatchers paraded before Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and Director of SSS, Edo State. Photo: Barnabas Uzosike.

ARRI—THE Fed eral Government has been commended for not foreclosing the path of dialogue in the handling of the Boko Haram issue.

Reacting to comments credited to Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, that the Federal Government was ready to discuss with the religious sect, which had carried out series of bombings in the Northern part of the country, Mr. Daniel Reyenieju who represents Warri Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, said: “This is a welcome development, which must be commended by people of

good conscience and capacity for clear reasoning. But the government must show visible level of sincerity and commitment to genuine dialogue devoid of any form of intimidation and arrest once negotiation starts.”

He said that the position of the Federal Government on the issue was a mark of statesmanship characterised by honesty, courage, and correct understanding and characterisation of history.

“Whatever is happening in Nigeria with the emergence of the religious sect cannot be worse than what was experienced in the United Kingdom during the Irish crises few years ago" he added.

ACN lauds Dickson on adoption of Delta ACN to flush out impostors state coat of arms, flag, anthem W

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

ENAGOA—AC TION Congress of Nigeria, ACN, yesterday, hailed the decision of Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, to create a coat of arms, anthem and flag for the state, saying claims of secession against the state government were mischievous.

Governor Dickson, had, Wednesday, signed the bill on the state flag, coat of arms and anthem into law, noting that it was in tandem with the tenet of true federalism.

ACN, through its National Youth Leader, Mr Ebikibina Miriki, who faulted the uproar generated by the action of the state government, said the decision should have been applauded and seen as another way of giving the Ijaw nation an identity and sense of be-

longing in a true federal state.

He said: “The action of Bayelsa State Government is not at variance with what had been done by progressive states such as Lagos, Osun, Oyo and Ogun. ”We want to reaffirm our support for the state for having her own coat of arms, flag and state an-

IVERS State Gov ernment, yesterday, said that contrary to reports in the media, there was no bomb explosion at the banana plantation in Tai Local Government Area of the state.

Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, Mr David Iyofor, in a statement, yesterday, said: “We must state categorically that there was no

unjustifiable and misleading to have misconstrued an approach and development by the state government to give direction and sense of belonging to its people. It is also an avenue to express and preserve its culture and values as the people of the fourth largest ethnic nationality in the country.”

Edo DSS parades suspected car snatchers

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN—A tradi tional medical practitioner, Omote Ovie Thomas (aka Yankee), based in Owhelogbo in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State, who claimed to be a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, youth leader, was, yesterday, in Benin, paraded by Edo State Command of Directorate of State Security, DSS, for

No bomb explosion at banana plantation — Rivers govt

R

them. The controversy on the issue was mischievous and a display of ignorance.

“The step taken by the state government, having explored all constitutional provisions, showed that it was a well researched decision and not at variance with what ACN controlled states had done. It is morally

bomb explosion at or within the perimeters of the banana plantation.

“We are aware that some sort of device went off but this was some reasonable distance away from our plantation and certainly not within the perimeters of the banana farm. We want to reassure all and sundry that Rivers State remains safe, conducive and open for business.”

allegedly receiving stolen cars.

The traditional healer was among eight persons paraded by DSS for car snatching and receiving of stolen items.

Omote, was alleged to have purchased a stolen Toyota Camry Saloon car for N160, 000.

State Director of DSS, Mr. Tukur Bakori, said the suspects, one Okechukwu Okoro, Solomon Samuel Stephen Okafor and Kingsley Abava

snatched the Toyota Camry around New Benin area, Benin City earlier in the year and took it to Owhelogbo in Delta State, where they sold it to the herbalist.

The state governor, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, who witnessed the parade of the suspects, regretted that they were young men who could have been useful to the society, but had instead taken to crime, noting that the suspects had no reason to resort to crime.

A R R I — FORMER Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, candidate for House of Representatives, Dr. Veronica Ogbuagu, has said that the party was determined to flush out all Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, agents masquerading as members of ACN in Delta State.

Ogbuagu, a former Commissioner for Education in Delta State, speaking in Effurun during a meeting of ward representatives to appraise developments in the party, said it was time for the party to scout for a suitable gubernatorial

candidate devoid of ethnic sentiment for the 2015 polls, adding that it was also time to change the state Chairman of the party.

She said: "Apart from not being able to articulate a vision and get everyone to rally behind him, the state party chairman is trying to cause confusion in Delta Central after the demise of the senatorial district chairman, Sir. Atsiangbe.

She accused the state party chairman of refusing to forward the name of Senator Adegor Eferakeya to the national body after he was “unanimously voted as member of the board of trustees.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012 —13

BY NKEM EGENUKA

Obi seals 2 more houses allegedly A used by kidnappers

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA—GOVER NOR Peter Obi yesterday sealed two more houses suspected to be hideouts for suspected kidnappers in the state, vowing to demolish the houses and convert the land to government use if investigations proved that kidnappers were using them.

The two houses, a one – storey mansion with a pent house under construction belonging to one Jude Asuzu, said to be residing in Lagos and a bungalow belonging to Patrick Okoye, said to be working in Awka, are located in Nri, Anaocha Local Government area of the state.

Last week, Obi sealed Arthur Garden Hotel and its two branches in Nkpor near Onitsha after security operatives arrested four suspected kidnappers and freed two victims.

The owner of the hotel was traced to Enugu where he was arrested.

Governor Obi, with his security aides, stormed the houses at Nri at about 10.30 am following security reports that suspected kid-

C M Y K

nappers were using them for their operations.

The owners of the houses were not available during the visit, but a security guard at the one-storey mansion, Mr. Barnabas Nasamu, who lives in the large compound with his wife and child, said his boss had not returned home for the past three months.

The parents of the owner of the house were also said to be residing in Enugu

and had not come home for a long time.

Nasamu told reporters that before he was employed in January, he heard a report that some kidnappers were arrested and victims freed in the compound, saying there had not been any similar incident since he was employed.

A neighbour, who is a retired Railway staff and an uncle of the owner of the

building, Chief Christian Obidike, who came into the compound on noticing the presence of the governor and security operatives, confirmed that kidnap suspects were arrested last year in the compound by a joint police and military team, but said that no such incident had repeated.

According to him, one of the kidnap suspects was identified as a trader occupying a shop close to the compound.

....As Nkpor youths protest incessant arrests by Police that the arrest of two promiBY ENYIM ENYIM

O

NITSHA—RES TIVE youths in Nkpor community, Idemili North Local Government Area are on a warpath with the Anambra State Police Command over alleged illegal arrests of innocent youths in the area since the recent arrest of four kidnap suspects in Arthur Garden hotel, Nkpor.

The youths are protesting alleged incessant arrests of youths in the area after the arrest of the kidnap suspects alongside the owner of the

hotel, Chief Christopher Udo, and Chief Godwin Onwukwe, for alleged complicity.

It will be recalled that Governor Peter Obi recently sealed off the Arthur Garden hotel following the arrest of the kidnap suspects in the place.

At a briefing yesterday, the spokesman of Nkpor stakeholders forum, Christian Okeke, claimed the community was under siege following the arrest of two of their sons by the police.

He said: “ We are saying

nent sons of Nkpor community is not a welcome development and we are not comfortable with the stories of kidnapping and the sealing off of the hotel. We condemn any act of criminality in its entirety and we wish to state categorically that the police should intensify investigations into the matter. If the owner is culpable, he should face the wrath of the law but if not he should be released the hotel reopened because tension is currently mounting in the community.”

CCRA—NIGERIAN business community in Ghana has praised the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, on his role in protecting members from planned crackdown by the authorities in Ghana.

The National Association of Nigerian Traders, NANTS, and the Nigeria Union of Traders Association, Ghana, NUTAG, in a joint letter of commendation noted that Ekweremadu’s decision to table their petition before the ECOWAS Parliament went a long way in the decision of the Ghanaian authorities to change their mind on the issue.

In the letter jointly signed by the two bodies, they noted that if not for the intervention by Ekweremadu who is also the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, it would have been a very bad situation not just for Nigerian businesses, but also for businesses owned by other ECOWAS citizens in that country.

The letter by the Secretariat President of NANTS, Ken Ukaoha and SecretaryGeneral of NUTAG, Mr. Jasper Emenike read in part: “We write to express our sincere appreciation for the swift response and expeditious intervention of the

Nigerian traders in Ghana hail Ekweremadu ECOWAS Parliament under your distinguished leadership, over the threats, harassment and intimidation meted out by the Ghana Authorities on ECOWAS nationals living and doing business in Ghana."

Passage

P

A JOHN Ediagboya Raji, 83, is dead. He died on July 11, 2012 after a brief illness. He was a community leader and philantropist.

He is survived by two widows, 13 children and relations including Mr. Michael Ediagboya and Mr. Benard Ediagboya, SP and Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Sagamu Road Division, Ikorodu, Lagos.

Burial arrangements will be announced later.

Late Pa John Ediagboya

14—Vanguard , FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012

Ojukwu's Will out next month E

From left: Director of Social Communications, Rev. Monsignor Gabriel Osu; the new Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Martins and Mr. Tony Idigbe during the Archbishop's maiden press briefing at the Church of Assumption, Falomo, Lagos, yesterday.

BY TONY EDIKE

NUGU—THE Will left behind by the former Biafran leader, Dim C h u k w u e m e k a Odumegwu-Ojukwu will be read next month, a source close to Ojukwu’s family disclosed exclusively to Vanguard, yesterday.

It was learnt that some family members felt that one year mourning period for the late Ikemba’s widow and the Nigerian envoy to Spain, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, which according to the native customs should count from

Councillor, 3 others killed in renewed Enugu cult war zESUT VC's abductors demand N2OOm

BY TONY EDIKE

E

NUGU—NO fewer than four persons including a councillor was killed yesterday in a renewed cult war in Enugu, even as unconfirmed reports said the abductors of the Vice Chancellor of Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, Professor Cyprian Onyeji, had demanded a ransom of about N200

million as a condition for his release.

The four victims of the renewed cult war were killed at different points within Enugu capital city.

Two were killed in the morning at Adelabu and Peter Okoye streets, Uwani area of Enugu while one was killed at Onuasata in the afternoon.

The fourth, a councilor in one of the local coun-

cils of the state was shot dead in the evening at One Day Road, Awkunanaw.

The assailants used cars for the operation and were heavily armed, according to an eyewitness. The cultists resorted to using cars for their nefarious activities after the ban on motorcycles which they were using to escape after an attack.

The killings came on

the heels of the police hunt for the kidnappers of ESUT Vice Chancellor, whose official vehicle, a Hunda Accord in which he was taken away on Wednesdday was reportedly found yesterday.

Although the police did not confirm the ransom demand, they confirmed that the vehicle was recovered intact.

Sources said that the kidnappers made telephone contacts with Professor Onyeji’s family and made the ransom demand yesterday but the person who received the call could not be ascertained.

Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Enugu State Command, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu said the police were on top of the situation saying that they hade spread their dragnets for a crackdown on the abductors.

The police spokesman confirmed the killings in cult related violence, saying that the police was investigating the killings.

Ordination

S

AINT JOSEPH Cho sen Church of God, SJCCG, international will Sunday, ordain an Apostle and 36 prophets, evangelists and pastors.

A statement said St. Joseph’s Chosen Church of God (International), will be conducting an Ordination Service at the National Headquarters, Mount Zion Cathedral Complex, Benin City.

The service will be officiated by the Spiritual Leader of the Church, Apostle (Dr.) Hayford Ikponmwosa Alile, to be assisted by other top Apostles in the Church.

C M Y K

date of burial in March this year, will now count from November last year when her husband died to November this year.

This, the source said, was to give Mrs. Ojukwu an opportunity to attend to her current assignment as Nigerian envoy without wearing akwa uju (black mourning attire) especially in the foreign country where she is serving.

“Somefamilymembersfeltthat oneyearmourningperiodshould beappropriateinviewofIkemba’s status. The family has therefore decidedthattheremovalofakwa ujuby the widow should be brought forward from one year of the burial date to one year after death which is November this

year. Plans have already begun for the one year anniversary of the death which is November,” said the source.

Accordingtohim,Ojukwu’swill would be read latest next month todeterminewhoandwhoshould benefit from whatever he left behind, noting that the document which had been kept secret since Ikemba’s demise was generating a lot of interest from anxious familymembers.

Vanguard, however, gathered that despite the outward appearance of peace in Ojukwu family, trouble may be brewing if indications from the recent public notice in a national daily over the managementofsomepropertyowned

by Ojukwu Transport Limited, OTL, are anything to go by.

Workers protest non-payment them. of wages

BY GODWIN OGHRE

S

APELE—WORKERS of five contractors that supplied sharp sand to a Sapele-based Belgian bitumen company, Ragardas Nigeria Limited, near in Ogorode, Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State, are protesting non-payment of contract done, claiming the they are being owed over N20 million.

The aggrieved workers alleged that their companies, after supplying the several metric tons of sharp sand to Ragardas in accordance with the job orders, the company had reneged on the terms of contract enshrined in the job orders, by refusing to pay

One of the contractors, Betatex Engineering Ltd, told Vanguard in Sapele, yesterday, through its spokesman, Jonathan Amitaye, that the terms of payment agreed between the contractors and Ragardas which was clearly spelt out in the job orders, LPOs, was that they were to be paid on the day the contract was completed.

He alleged that over three months after the contracts had been executed, they had not been paid despite repeated demands.

When Vanguard visited the company yesterday, the terminal manager of the company, Mr Ashok, was said to be on official trip to Abuja.

Kwara Gov debunks rift with Saraki

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

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LORIN—THE Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, yesterday, dispelled rumours of a feud with his predecessor, Senator Abubakar Saraki, describing it as a lie propagated by the opposition in a futile attempt to cause disaffection between the two ahead of the 2015 elections in the state.

Ahmed, in a statement issued in Ilorin by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Dr. Muideen Akorede, stressed that the relationship between him and the former governor, rather than wane, remains cordial and strong based on their long association and a shared vision of a prosperous Kwara State.

The statement dismissed the speculated dispute as a figment of the opposition’s imagination.

“Ours is a unique partnership based on mutual respect, which grows

stronger daily due to our long history and standing commitment to making Kwara a model for other states in terms of economic growth and prosperity for the people. We are like a tagteam in which we are pulling our strengths together in a determined effort to build a greater Kwara for the benefit of prosperity. Senator Saraki is a man for whom I retain the highest regard and I am happy to state that the feeling is reciprocal”, said Ahmed who served as commissioner for seven years during Saraki’s tenure as governor.

Describing his administration as a government of continuity, the governor said the situation in Kwara was unique due to the peaceful transition from the previous administration to the current one, adding that his decision to continue the laudable programs initiated by his predecessor was an eloquent testimony to the benefits of continuity.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012—15

South-West youths fault Okupe's comments on Ikuforiji

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VISIT: From left— Mr. Segun Aina, President/Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, CIBN; Mr. Segun Agbaje, GMD/CE, GT Bank Plc and Dr. Uju Ogubunka, Registrar/CE, CIBN, during a stakeholders’ visit to the bank’s head office in Lagos.

Jonathan stresses agric devt

BY JOSEPH ERUNKE

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BUJA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has said his administration was committed to the development of the country’s agricultural sector, adding that it was high time the country stopped depending on others for its fortunes.

Represented at the 12th National Productivity Day

by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, in Abuja, President Jonathan said resourcefulness, creativity, innovation

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and hard work were the major ingredients needed to turn the country around.

He said: “It is only nations that are highly productive that can guarantee social order and economic prosperity. Countries that depend on others for their needs can never succeed.”

The President said the highpoint of the occasion, which was the conferment of National Productivity Order of Merit Award on 20 individuals and 11 organisations, reminds “us of the need to work hard to develop the economy.”

group, Congress of South-West Youth, COWSY, has faulted the call by the Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, for the resignation of the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji.

Okupe had called for Ikuforiji’s resignation based

on his pending case with Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The group, yesterday, described the call by Okupe as misguided.

COWSY said: “Every well meaning individual or group having opposing views to that of the Federal Government becomes a potential target for mudslinging and

malignant attack in the media.

“It is contemptuous for anybody to suggest that the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly should resign, when the law is explicit on the fact that a person standing trial in court should be presumed innocent until when proven guilty by a competent and independent law court.”

FCTA demolishes Mpape shanties

BY FAVOUR NNBUGWU

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BUJA—FEDERAL Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, yesterday, commenced the demolition of illegal structures in Mpape districts and its market.

FCTA had said it will demolish 10,288 houses in the area.

The demolition squad had a combined team of security men, comprising the Army, Police, members of Nigeria Se-

curity and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, and other security operatives, providing security.

The market was completely reduced to rubble.

Mrs. Nkiruka Ugonna, one of those whose property was pulled down, said the Bwari Area Council had assured them that the area would not be demolished by FCTA based on the understanding the council

claimed it had with the FCT administration to stay action on the matter.

Usman Maiwada, a kiosk owner, said the sudden arrival of FCTA’s bulldozers to pull their structures was not in the best interest of the traders and government.

Maiwada, who spoke in Hausa, said the government should be concerned about the welfare of its people rather than subject them to

more hardship, especially when the people are struggling to survive in a country where jobs and social amenities are lacking.

The rowdy situation led to serious traffic jam on the single lane road into the area.

While the officials involved in the demolition refused to speak to newsmen, a source said the administration was compelled to begin the demolition because of security concern.

16—Vanguard, FRIDAY FRIDAY,, AUGUST 17, 2012

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Sweet & SOUR

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012 — 17

Donu Kogbara

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FEW days before the Olympics ended, when it had become depressingly obvious that Nigeria wasn’t going to win a single medal, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the Sports Minister, addressed journalists in London and told them that: “We shall not attempt any excuses or indulge in any unproductive blame game. Rather than see this as a failure, we must see it as an opportunity to rebuild. When other countries found themselves in this kind of situation in the past, they used the galvanizing power of disappointment to get down to work…

“At the Atlanta 1996 Olympics, Team Great Britain won only one gold medal. Returning home, the right questions were asked and the necessary actions were taken.

Four years later in Sydney, they returned with 11 gold.

In Beijing four years ago, they returned with 1 9 … To d a y, they are able to look back and say they have moved from ‘zeroes to heroes’. This is our chance. We can also do it…”.

Abdullahi went on to talk about the important lessons he had learned and the ways in which Nigerian athletes can be enabled to do better in future.

I really like the sound of this Minister. He is highly articulate. He comes across as a positive, practical

Olympic medals...Nigerian athletes could not pick any at the London 2012 outing

Olympic observations gentleman who possesses a dynamic Can-Do mindset. He has good ideas. He appears to be sincerely committed to change and excellence.

And though he was only appointed two months, so cannot be held responsible for our pathetic performance in London - which is clearly the result of many years of negligence - he still adopted a humble and apologetic tone when he was explaining the factors that led Team Nigeria to embarrass us internationally; and it’s very rare for senior government officials to speak the way he spoke. Most have absolutely no sense of shame when things go horribly wrong.

So more grease to Abdullahi’s capable elbow.

May he receive the cooperation he deserves when he is attempting to upgrade our sporting facilities and provide talented youngsters with the

What angered me most was the fact that much smaller and much poorer Black countries like Jamaica and Uganda managed to put in spectacular performances and win a few medals

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training and inspiration they desperately need. Britons managed to bag 29 golds this time around. Considering that Nigeria is more than twice the size of the UK in population terms, let us pray that a glorious day will come when we will win more than twice the number of medals.

Let us also pray that a day will come when athletes who have Nigerian ancestors will choose to run, jump or whatever for Nigeria rather than for foreign teams.

What angered me most was the fact that much smaller and much poorer Black countries like Jamaica and Uganda managed to put in spectacular performances and win a few medals. We like to see ourselves as the giants of Africa and the Black world in general. But we’re looking pretty pygmy-ish at the moment.

Able bodied athletes Tunde, a Nigerian guy I know, is so furious with our able-bodied athletes that he has sarcastically expressed the view that “even if they had competed against disabled athletes in the Paralympics, they would still have lost!”

No offence intended to the brave individuals who participate in sporting events despite physical challenges like being wheelchair-bound.

The Paralympics will start on August 29 and represent the tri-

umph of the human spirit over adversity. My sister and I have applied for tickets and look forward to being part of the action, if only as admiring spectators.

The Vanguard readers who frequently accuse me of being too pro-British may be happy to hear that most aspects of the Opening Ceremony, which was organised by a British film director called Danny Boyle, left me stone cold.

Irritatingly chaotic ending A lot of people have praised Boyle lavishly for putting on a “truly amazing” show; and it was certainly original and contained some entertaining and moving moments. But I found the whole thing irritatingly chaotic overall. I must have a militaristic streak because I much preferred the disciplined, dazzling, structured synchronizations that the Chinese delivered at the beginning of the Beijing Olympics. Now that’s what I call truly amazing.

However - no vex, Vanguard Anglophobes! -I want to be “too pro-British” yet again and warmly acknowledge the efforts of those members of the White British Establishment who have gone out of their way to create a tolerant, vibrantly multi-cultural society in which Black people are increasingly welcomed and rewarded.

It was heart-warming to see so many Black Britons being

invited to play key roles during the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Racism is fading fast in the United Kingdom.

And I’m thankful to the Oyinbo liberals who decided some time ago that the elimination of racism should become their sacred moral mission.

Frankly, I often receive respectful treatment in the UK and shoddy treatment in Nigeria. So you can understand why I don’t agree with “patriots” who doggedly insist that home is always the best option for every Nigerian!

Whenever I watched the Olympic events that were totally dominated by Black runners, I asked myself whether Blacks are naturally faster on their feet than Whites. Or is there another reason why the Whites can’t keep up on this level?

I would also like to know why Blacks don’t swim competitively, even when they come from riverine areas and have been totally at home in water since birth.

Responses to: donzol2002@yahoo.co.uk or to 0802 747 6458 (texts only).

PLEASE KINDLY NOTE THAT UNLESS YOU SPECIFICALLY REQUEST ANONYMITY, YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE PUBLISHED IN VANGUARD, WITH YOUR NAMES AND NUMBERS OR EMAIL ADDRESSES ATTACHED.

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012 HE much anticipated London Olympics of July 27 and August 12, 2012 has come and gone. Nigeria sent a contingent of 116 athletes and officials. We participated in the eight sports, where we are supposed to enjoy some comparative advantage — athletics, boxing, weightlifting, wrestling, table tennis, canoeing, basketball and taekwondo.

Nigeria spent more than N2.5 billion to participate in the Games, but our athletes came back without a single medal in a competition where less fancied countries with much smaller contingents recorded resounding successes. Of the three African giants in sports — South Africa, Egypt and Nigeria — only the latter went home empty handed. In the Beijing Games of 2008, we were able to win at least silver and two bronze medals. London Olympics was a great come-down from the 1996 Atlanta edition, where we scored two gold, silver and two bronze medals.

It is said that those who fail to plan are planning to fail. That summarises the London Olympics disaster, where all our medal hopefuls flopped.

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Our great Olympic fflop lop The most evident cause of the general decline in our sports is that no president has seen the enormous potential of sports as an invaluable employer of talented youth, thriving business, tourism and projector of the image of a nation in the international arena. Sports is treated as one of those areas where politicians from favoured parts of the country are sent to enjoy federal allocation. This informs the high turnover in the number of sports ministers, most of whom have never been tested as administrators, proprietors, athletes or philanthropists.

As usual, the Federal Government has reacted to this unfortunate outing by ordering an overhaul of our sports. This is the umpteenth time this is happening.

Almost every new administration has

either set up panels to compose new documents for sports development or carry out “overhauls” which, rather than create impetus for positive change only worsen systemic disorientation.

We recommend a total rejig of the National Sports Commission (NSC) to make it more business-like and resultoriented. The NSC board membership should be thrown open for election for a term of four years renewable only based on performance. That way, sports administrators will be goal-oriented.

Only a democratically elected Board will create conditions to attract private participation or at least massive corporate social responsibility investment in sports.

To get back to reckoning, we must start now to prepare for Rio 2016 Summer Olympics.

We must remove deadwoods, put the right people on the job and give them the fund.

We must find out the magic behind the surging emergence of countries like Jamaica, with which we used to rub shoulders in athletics, but which has now overshadowed the USA in the fast sprints.

OPINION

BY VALENTINE OBIENYEM

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N response to his piece entitled: "Anambra: The celebration of mediocrity" by Mr. Chudi Offodile, I forewarned readers that I would descend to his subjective level. I did. Perhaps happy that with my response, and thinking that the Governor may be coming closer to responding to him in person, he issued forth another vitriolic entitled: "Peter Obi: Integrity issues". He even descended lower and called his Governor unprintable names. It was the same Governor he told the world was the best thing to happen to Anambra State when he was seeking the Senatorial seat through the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA. In reacting, I will again write what I consider a fitting response. It may not be in terms of innate literary qualities, but a deserving counterpoint to a noisy, hollow piece deployed to seek attention and relevance.

Simply because he insinuated that Obi was a mediocre and I went all out to prove him wrong, he mistook that for comparison between him and the Governor. Did you read his piece and saw how he lifted himself to nineth heaven in the belief that he and Obi were being compared? How can we compare substance and shadow or bridled horses and unbridled horses?

Since this controversy stoked by Offodile started, my greatest happiness is that the Governor has so far resisted any form of temptation to cross swords with him. Obi’s action reminds us of Buddha who was once pelted with foul words by a simpleton.

Buddha’s response: “My child, if somebody gives you something you do not need, what will you say to him?” The simpleton said he would advise him to keep his things. Obi has not accepted what Offodile has been desperately trying to give him, so let Offodile keep them.

From the way he has written, it is easy to decipher his motive.

When Mallam Nasir El-Rufai told obvious lies against Obi, the Governor was compelled to reply, simply because his copious use of statistics had the tendency to mislead even the enlightened that he was telling the truth. It is not beyond Offodile to think

Still on Chudi Offodile that by writing diatribes against Obi, he will be forced to reply him and thereafter create the impression that he is so important that the Governor replied to his piece. After all, there is joy and a certain sense of importance in men of worth replying to peoples viewpoints. Many years ago, Dionysius was taken a prisoner by a famous man called Artaphernes. “Can you be cheerful under this circumstance?” Dionysius was asked. He answered: “For when should I be more cheerful than now that I am about to converse with Artaphernes?” Such is the nature of some men.

Do you imagine how Offodile would have felt if the Governor had taken the trouble to reply him? Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu once told me the story of a friend of his father and a popular politician who, one day, accompanied them to a dinner with the then GovernorGeneral of Nigeria. While walking towards the gathering, the politician turned to the Governor-General and said: “I cannot take it from you! I mean I cannot take it…!” Later it was discovered that he wanted to let the people feel that he was strong and could challenge the Governor- General. This is exactly what Offodile is doing.

I am constrained to say the foregoing because I do not understand the motive behind what Offodile does. Even when Obi would not reply him, he is happy replying to those he suspect, albeit wrongly, are prompted by Obi. Reading him, one will inevitably conclude that his write-up suffers from empty analysis, irrelevant interpolations, laughable analogies, rhetorical tricks, with viewpoints falling upon one another in contradictory confusion.

I do not want to dwell on his rubbish, but let a sentence surfeit for example. “I do not consider myself superior to Obi.” If he means what he said, then it means he must be something lower than the mediocre he equated the Governor

with.

Look at how he pretended that he was being persecuted by the Governor’s media team. This is a case of a man dangerously close to confusion. Obi, as far back as we can pry into his life, has not said any foul words about anybody, it is not in his character. When most Nigerians, especially concerned Anambrarians, were condemning the nonsense El-Rufai wrote about Anambra, people like Offodile celebrated him and even went on to grant El-Rufai’s piece some measure of literary sanctity. When we responded to his lies, he branded it waste of public funds on the part of government.

If you read inbetween the lines, you will easily notice that the entire write-up was a tissue of lies. Maturity must have taken flight from Offodile for him to write what he said was bad grammar from Governor Obi. Consider what he wrote as the spoken words of the Governor: “Of the five people who have been given this award (Sun Man of the Year) before now, four of them {is} from Anambra State”. This was in 2008. What a lie from a master lie-teller! Obi was Sun Man of the Year, 2007 and not 2008. The award which started in 2003 was first won by Chief Mike Adenuga in 2003; Prof Charles Soludo (2004); Dr. Oby Ezekwesili (2005); Mallam Nuhu Ribadu (2006) and Governors Peter Obi and Rotimi Amaechi in 2007. Before him, two people from Anambra won it. So he could not have said, as Offodile wrote, that four people from Anambra had won it before him.

If proficiency in English is the measure of intelligence, all native English men would be supremely intelligent. What this shows is that Offodile does not understand what integrity means. He probably mistakes speaking what is called Queens English to effective expression of oneself. With this, one can gauge the depth of Offodile’s logic. *Mr. Obienyem wrote from Awka, Anambra State.

Vanguard, FRIDAY FRIDAY,, AUGUST 17, 2012 — 19

, UP to this point, I have focused mostofmyattentiononextremistideologues and the instigators of violence andsocialdiscord.That’sbecausethese happen to be the most urgent challengeswearefacingatthistime—and the perpetrators are very visible.

In many respects though, extremists and terrorists are less insidious than are the ordinary citizens who believe inpoliticalmagic: Inwhatcanbecalled “socialsleight-of-hand”.

One way or the other, the various armedinsurgencieswillbeovercome.

Farmoretaskingandthreateningare the intellectual and psychological insurgencies, which deny the legitimacyoftheNigerianstatebecauseofgovernment’simperfections(“State”and “Government”arenotthesame).

It is the adherents of this fatalistic perception of Nigeria, who provide a

politicalandsocialenvironmentthatis conduciveforthearmedinsurgencies.

There is no perfect state; and there is no perfect political leader, whether hebeheadofstate,minister,governor, commissioner,localgovernmentchairmanorcouncilor.Itistheimperfections of leaders and institutions that make evolutionpreferabletomagic.Notonly are“thebeautifulones”yetunborn,as the Ghanaian novelist, Ayi Kwei Armah, would put it, but they are also unconceivedand,inreality,unconceivable. Messiah’s exist only in the spiritual realm. In temporal politics, deliverance is gradual and, as I have said, often painful; and deliverers don’t arrive on white horses with thundering hoovesorswoopdownfromtheheavens on silver clouds. The growth of nations occur, not as radical leaps and bounds, but as gradually diminishing

UUTH: From grief to growth

BY TONY NYONG

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HE University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, UUTH, is one of the few hospitals in the country that offers very practical, dynamic and diverse portfolio and stands the chance of becoming the best in the nearest future. The hospital is rising at double digits, and is providing worldclass medical services, unique international environment, with exceptionally dedicated and experienced personnel, a radical departure from the conventional experiences of tales about hospitals.

The last two years of the health institution has witnessed an unprecedented level of infrastructure development under the leadership of the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Etete Peters, who has ensured that the landscape, indeed the entire territory, of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital has been radically altered and transformed.

"By 2020, we will improve our quality services, establish new specialties, including Neurosurgical, Endoscopy and Telemedicine. We will set up an institute of radiology with ultra modern diagnostic facilities. We will expand and upgrade our laboratory services in a defined structure with state of the art equipment," he said.

That represents the vision statement of the Hospital carefully set by the man of the moment, and undoubtedly the glow from that fire will truly light the hospital. Peters is taking the University Hospital several notches higher, implementing a veritable developmental agenda that, with it geostrategic significance, stands the hospital out as a destination.

The University of Uyo Teaching Hospital was no news many years ago, but today every thing points to the fact that the hospital is a success story, it would soon become the attraction of the entire nation.

Contrary to conventional wisdom, Prof.

Peters is doing everything to his credit to tear down barriers, change direction and shape the medical industry, bringing with

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,

imperfections—averagedoutinpolitical time. The Chinese, for instance, learned this the hard way, during the GreatLeapForward.

We should give ourselves time.

That’s what the Ghanaians did. Armah’s novel, The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born, is a metaphor of postindependence corruption, set largely in the last days of the Nkrumah administration. But in the late 1960s, when Armah was writing, Nkrumah had long been overthrown. Yet Ghana was mired deeper in corruption in 1968, than anyone living under Nkrumahwouldeverhaveimagined.Nigeriahasnever,initshistory,descended to the depth to which Ghana plunged under K.A. Busia.

Ghana’s resurgence was gradual,

him his extensive experience of so many years in the medical profession.

As a tertiary health institution with a mandate to provide tertiary medical services, training for various cadres of health workers and research, the Hospital has remained focused, purposeful, recording remarkable milestones in many areas. The Dental Department of the hospital is as old as the ‘ Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital’ Uyo. In the last two years of the hospital, however, the department has metamorphosed from a one cubicle setting, with a ‘barber’s chair’ to modern dental office with a digital dental chair that can be compared to any other in any part of the globe. The department has moved from obscurity to limelight, using the existing structures and equipment acquired by Prof Peters to become a onestop dental institution in Nigeria.

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notinstantaneous.ItbeganwithColonel Ignatius Kuto Acheampong’s removal of the corrupt and inept Busia administration—a foundation on whichFlightLt.GeraldRawlingsbuilt after his brutal execution of Acheampong and two other former heads of state.

Seeninhistoricalperspective,therefore,Ghana’ssmooth,one-daytransition from the Presidency of the late John Evans Atta Mills to that of John Dramani, was hardly a “piece of cake”—asCharlesTaylorsaid,famously, during his rebel days in Liberia.

Like Ghana, Edo State has a turbulent political past. The journey from Ambrose Ali to Adams Oshiomhole has been no easy walk. Endemic corruption,intrigueandviolence(includingassassination)havebeenrecurring political themes—albeit with varying intensities. Nor has the journey ended for Edo State. Last May, for example, an Oshiomhole aide was assassinated;andtheballotingtookplaceunder conditions which can only be described as a military occupation of the state. Nevertheless, the election was peacefulandtheoutcomeprescient.

With Oshiomhole’s landslide victory(inballotinggenerallyadjudgedfree and fair), Edo joins a growing phalanx of progressive states, with Lagos andRiverssettingthepace,whichare pointing our nation in a refreshingly differentdirection—towardsnewstan-

,

Edo State: A case of evolution over magic (2)

With Oshiomhole’s landslide victory , Edo joins a growing phalanx of progressive states which are pointing our nation in a refreshingly different direction—towards new standards of leadership and governance

ental cases that were flown abroad for solutions now find their way to the teaching hospital and perfect treatment are offered. The increasing number of patients attending the dental clinic daily testifies to the fact that much is taking place at the clinic. According to Dr. E. E. Ekanem: "We turn ‘Draculas’ to human beings and children with ugly duckling syndrome are made perfect looking homosapiens, courtesy of the wonderful Dental Laboratory we operate here".

Besides beautification of the oral cavity, doing away with the unsightly smokers stains and calculus to giving one either a TV smile by the specially trained Dental Therapist are also available.

Laboratory services: The medical microbiology laboratory started at the ground floor of the administrative block with the initial capacity of serving as secondary health facility. When the hospital became a teaching hospital, there was need to expand the laboratory to meet up with the increasing number of patients that required the services of the laboratory.

Peters is taking the University Hospital several notches higher, implementing a veritable developmental agenda that, with it geostrategic significance, stands the hospital out as a destination

,

The laboratory was then moved to the first floor of the same building where a larger space was allocated in order to accommodate newer equipment which the hospital has provided. Part of the laboratory (mycobacteriology), is in a separate building behind the general store building of the hospital.

The laboratory in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology is organised into various laboratories, including bacteriology/mycology laboratory, parasitology laboratory, media production laboratory, mycobacterium laboratory, immunology laboratory.

The bacteriology laboratory now boast of highly efficient sputum and stool benches, urine benches, wound benches, urogenital benches, blood culture benches and serology benches, all providing routine and specialised microbiology investigations, diagnostic services and training for residents doctors primarily in the department as well as other residents doctors on rotation from other clinical departments. The first ever transfusion medicine training workshop in Nigeria was held in this hospital that is fast becoming a destination for the world, now collaborating with renowned and world class health institutions, mostly in the USA and Europe. Creative, receptive, and incurable optimist are the words, that best describe Prof. Peters, the Chief Medical Director of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital , a man with the magic wand, a

dards of leadership and governance.

This is apparent, not only in Oshiomhole’s judicious use of the state’s resources during his first term, and in hisstyleofgovernance—strikinglysimilar to that of Governor Chibuike RotimeAmaechiofRiversState—butalso inpost-electionpolitics.

I am particularly pleased with the posture of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the party to which I belong. Although the gubernatorial candidate, General Charles Airhiavbere, has, of his own volition, filedapetitionwiththeelectionTribunal, the party is not supporting him.

Infact,boththeStateChairman,Dan Orbih, and the candidate for Deputy Governor, Johnson Abolagba, have opted out of the litigation. In doing so, they too are pointing us in a new direction—awayfromthe“attempted court-room coup,” which is another formofpoliticalmagic.Anaggrieved candidate is, of course, entitled to his day in court. Otherwise Rivers State wouldcertainlybeindirestraits—since the Supreme Court gave Governor Amaechihisfirstterm.

What I’m referring to, is the boring tradition of perennial and pointless post-election litigation, which CelestineOmehiaofRiversStateandafew othersexemplify.

Concluded.

soft-spoken and avid leader, who believes in hard work, despite the effects of government’s bureaucratic bottlenecks.

In the last two years of his administration, Peters has transformed the Teaching Hospital to some extra-ordinary institution of a sort. There has been increase in bed capacity from 250 to about 700, the establishment of radiology at the accident and emergency unit, and the installation of X-ray machine for diagnosis.

I

nfrastructural development is one area that has greatly changed the aesthetics of the hospital. Peters has made success in the completion of Surgical Out-Patients/ NHIS Block, completion of the Orthopaedic Block, completion of department for mental health block, and the completion and equipping of two-storey Medical Block. The rehabilitation of internal roads, completion and renovation of the main administrative block are all projects, carefully undertaken by the Peters administration. The construction of onestorey Amenity Block, supply and installation of Orthopaedic Medical Equipment, construction and supply of electricity and the completion of Chapel building for a decent place of worship for the staff are all part of the uncommon transformation story.

Peters has provided superb example in the area of general administration, making giant strides through the establishment of First Bank Cash Centre and engagement of Sterling Bank in the daily collection of revenue at various pay-points, the computerization of Health Information Management Service, introduction of call meals for officers on call duties to enhance their efficiency.

Peters has succeeded in making the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital the envy of the nation. When the Minister for Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu visited the health institution, he said: “I am delighted at the level of infrastructural development I have seen, the conducive working environment, the commitment and good management of the Chief Medical Director.”

20—Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012 — 21

African Circle receives 12 specialised trucks to curb pollution

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By GODFREY BIVBERE

S part of efforts to effectively control solid waste pollution from ships and operations in the nation’s ports, management of African Circle Pollution Management Limited (ACPML) has taken delivery of 12 specialised trucks from overseas.

The delivery of the 12 trucks was sequel to its earlier acquisition of another set of vehicles equipped with facilities to compress waste loaded into the rear compartments.

The trucks which have specialised components were formally unveiled at Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Control Tower, Tin Can Island Port (TCIP), Apapa, Lagos.

Port Manager, TCIP, Apapa, Lagos, Mr. Efioita Okon Ephraim, who formally unveiled the trucks lauded the management of ACPML for acquisition of additional trucks and other equipment to enhance its work in the port.

According to Ephraim, the acquisition of the vehicles would go a long way in meeting the terms of the agreement it signed with the Federal Government through NPA. He noted that the new trucks were improvements over the previous ones in view of the nature of the work they are expected to do in the port environments.

The Port Manger expressed delight that the strides ACPML have recorded over the years had helped Nigeria to meet the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) conventions and guidelines on safety and environment.

From left: Financial Secretary, Lubricant Producers Association of Nigeria (LUPAN) Mr. Emma Osagie, General Manager,Operations Dozzy, Mr. Isiguzo Isaac, Representative the Director, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) Mr. O.A Ayodele and Executive Secretary, Lubricant Producers Association of Nigeria (LUPAN) Mr. Emeka Obidike, during a courtesy visit to the Director Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Lagos.

FG to revamp Warri Refinery, redouble crude oil production

By AUSTIN OGWUDA

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HE Group Executive Director, Refinery and Petro-Chemical of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Tony Ogbuigwe said yesterday in Asaba

that NNPC was ready to strengthen and carry out aggressive maintenance of Warri refinery in its effort to double production of crude oil in the country.

Ogbuigwe who was on a courtesy visit to the Delta State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan also disclosed

Resourcery, Checkpoint forum tasks govt on IT security

By PRINCE OSUAGWU & KOYINSOLA ADELEYE

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T the end of a one week data security workshop for the public sector in Abuja, organised by one of the

164.80

-1.20

2,445.00

+4.00

20.33

+0.01

114.31 94.45

+2.61 +1.02

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

154.83 243.0831 191.2615 159.241 1.9688 0.2707 232.5246 24.3477 41.2836 25.6941

155.33 243.8681 191.8791 159.7552 1.9752 0.2807 233.2755 24.4267 41.4169 25.7771

155.83 244.6531 192.4968 160.2695 1.9816 0.2907 234.0264 24.5058 41.5502 25.86

CBN Exchange rate as at 16/08/2012 C M Y K

leading Systems Integrator in West Africa, Resourcery Plc and its counterparts Check Point Software Technologies, the Federal Government learned that she was supposed to take the IT security issue as seriously as the national security.

The Data security enlightenment session brought together IT and Data security managers from about ten governmental agencies.

Speaking on the importance of the week long program, Mr Bisike Uba, Business Solution Manager, (Enterprise Network Infrastructure) Resourcery, noted that the essence of the program was to enlighten IT managers in government agencies on the need to protect sensitive data or information in their organisation. This has become imperative owing to current physical security challenges in the country.

According to Uba, Data security in the public sector is a task that cannot be handled with levity. Government agencies like EFCC, NNPC, CBN, Galaxy and their likes cannot afford to have their data compromised either from within or from an outside source.

“Our task as an organization is to provide them with globally proven problem solving technological solutions

because we have gone beyond just Information Technology.”

“In this age of smartphones and other technological devices proliferated all over the place, there is a need for IT managers in government agencies to access and filter what information is available to who or certain cadre of employees. There is a clear need to ensure that employees and visitors alike cannot just bring in media devices like flash drives or hard drives to copy confidential information from the organization’s system without appropriate checks in place.” he added.

Speaking for Check Point, Rommy Okonkwo, Sales Manager Nigeria and West Africa, made reference to a study recently conducted by Check Point which found out that the number of personal mobile devices connecting to the corporate network has more than doubled in the past two years…, with nearly half of such devices storing sensitive data. The report, he said, revealed 71 per cent of businesses believe mobile devices have caused an increase in security incidents which has led to significant concerns about the loss and privacy of sensitive information stored on employee devices which he noted include corporate email, customer data and network login credentials.

that his organization was ready to stimulate local capacity and generate 120,000, noting that NNPC has a master-plan to establish a Petrochemical industry in Koko as well as develop the Koko port to decongest the Lagos ports.

He therefore appealed to the State government to partner with the Corporation in achieving its set goals.

Responding, Governor Uduaghan said “ we are building a State that would look beyond oil for sustenance and since investment in the gas sector was viable, we shall partner with NNPC to ensure the successful take-off of the Gas, Petrochemical and Fertilizer plants in our State”.

The governor however enjoined NNPC to work closely with oil producing states in order to eliminate unnecessary frictions.

“Always liaise with the state government when involving groups and communities in the production activities of your organization so that we can guide you properly to avoid conflicts and disruptions”, governor Uduaghan advised.

In a related development, Governor Uduaghan, had while receiving the General Officer Commanding 2nd Division, GOC, Major-General M. Abubakar on Tuesday on a courtesy visit also commended the Army for assisting in crime control.

According to him, “I want to commend the Nigeria Army for its contribution towards the reduction of crime in the state. For now, there is great reduction in piracy, kidnapping, illegal oil bunkering, armed robbery, among others. I attribute this to the army and other security operatives in the State”.

22—Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012

Operators counsel investors on portfolio diversification

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

F

OLLOWING the protracted bearish trend in the capital market, stockbrokers have reiterated the need for investors to diversify their risk to include equities and other asset classes to cushion the effect of any crash.

The Chief Executive

Officer, Trust Yield Securities Limited, Alhaji Rasheed Yussuff, observed that the value of return on investment accruing to a particular investor was a function of his risk appetite, coupled with his willingness to diversify his portfolio.

He however, emphasized that in doing that, investors should stick to

professional advice in making investment decision to avoid having their fingers burnt.

He noted that an investor ’s specific peculiarity would determine the type of portfolio that would be structured for him by his brokers. “When we say portfolio, it is portfolio of investment. If you come to me and say you have N10 million you want to

be invested, I should be able to sit you down and find out what your objectives are. With that, I can advice you to invest 20 per cent in Treasury bill, so that if you have an urgent need, you might not need to dispose your entire portfolio. I might say, ‘another 30 per cent should go to equities, another 10 per cent should go into property,’

and on and on like that so that I can distribute your money among various investment possibilities that are available to reflect your expectation, he stated.

“The same portfolio that will be suit you if you are a retiree, will not suit another person who just graduated from university or somebody that is about to get married. All these will determine the kind of portfolio that will be structured for you,” he added.

The Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company, Mr. Bismark, observed that the key to successful investment lies in buying shares of companies with good track record and also spreading the risk across various sectors.

He said, “Key is buying good businesses and holding them; Locking-in and avoiding ‘wildcatting’ will lead to long-term gain.

Investors should select winners in different sectors and create a diversified portfolio.

Investing in companies with strong cash flow is also important.

“This is clearly a difficult investing environment but a good mix of both debt and equity investment is a winning formula. We believe the short end of the yield curve is the superior position.”

He further stated that timing the market may be easy in theory, but is difficult in practice, advising that investors should rather concentrate on building quality stocks.

NAHCO pledges improved performance in second half

BY PETER EGWUATU

T

Executive Director, Risk Management, UBA Plc, Mr. Emmanuel Nnorom (left); GMD/CEO, United Bank for Africa Plc, Mr. Phillips Oduoza; Benin Republic President, Dr. Boni Yayi (2nd right); Managing Director, UBA Benin, Mrs Gwen Abiola-Oloke and Beninese Minister for Development Mr. Marcel de Souza after a meeting with the UBA Group Executives at the Presidential Palace in Cotonou, Benin Republic.

FSDH gets GCR ‘A+/A1’ rating for credit quality, protection

BY MICHAEL EBOH & RITA OBODOECHINA

F

IRST Securities Discount House, FSDH, has been rated ‘A+/A1’ by an international rating agency, Global Credit Rating Company, GCR, for its high credit quality and long term strong protection factors.

FSDH was also given a rating outlook of ‘Stable’ at the conclusion of its recent rating exercise.

According to a statement by FSDH, in the rating, GCR is affirming that FSDH belongs to the investment grade category in its sub-sector of the banking industry,

and has a high credit quality with very strong protection factors in the long term.

The statement further noted that GCR is also confirming that in the short term, FSDH belongs to the high grade category, and has very high certainty of timely payment with excellent liquidity factors supported by good fundamental protection factors and minor risk factors.

Commenting on the rating, Managing Director, FSDH Group, Mr Rilwan Belo-Osagie, said ratings are supported by FSDH’s long operational history, strong brand acceptance, solid ownership profile,

strong capital base, good liquidity profile, strong asset quality, good market position and the experience and stability of its management team.

He stated that in the course of the exercise, GCR recognized that despite reduced earnings and profitability resulting from reduced activity in the securities trading market and the challenges of the operating environment, its outlook has consistently remained stable.

He disclosed that the company will continue to do its best to ensure adequate reward for shareholder ’s.

Belo-Osagie said the

company paid its shareholders a dividend of N698.7 million or 25 kobo per share for the financial year ended December 31, 2011, following a profit after tax of N2.75 billion.

The company’s 2011 financial statement showed that the group recorded total asset of N77.1 billion, while its shareholders’ funds stood at N19.2 billion in 2011, up by 12.3 per cent from N17.1 billion recorded in the previous year.

It recorded profit after tax of N2.75 billion, down from N3.1 billion recorded in 2010, while its earnings per share dropped to 94 kobo, 15 kobo less than N1.09 in 2010.

HE Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO Aviance) has explained that its second half financials looks promising giving the expected returns from its investment.

The Management of NAHCO Aviance stated that it is thrilled by the investments in its warehouse which have capacity for cargo regional hub, and is poised to translate them into improved performance and higher returns as the industry moves into high activity season in the second half of the year.

NAHCO , in a statement, said, “ The company ’s subsidiary, Nahco Energy and Power Ltd has been prequalified for the privatization of the country’s Power sector, while the Nahco FTZ Nigeria Ltd is expected to stimulate economic activities at the nation’s airports.

The company also disclosed that it has mapped out strategies for growing its income base in the next half year after a plunge in its profit occasioned by

operational disruptions in the first part of the fiscal year.

Management of the company said, “Though, the first quarter of the year is usually the lowest season in the Aviation industry, the company lost about 30 days to strikes in its Cargo Operations due to disagreements between licensed cargo agents and Customs Service as well as with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria. Parts of the Cargo Section, which is the company’s revenue basket, were also shut down early in the year to accommodate the construction of the new warehouse.”

Commenting further, the company said, “In the last two years, there have been massive investments in facilities and equipment. So far, $40 million has been spent on the company’s u l t r a m o d e r n warehouse and fleets of Ground Support Equipment totaling 325. The company also responded to the heightened security challenge by investing in bomb/explosive detection machines and CCTV surveillance system.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012—23

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

T

he Federal Government has committed the sum of N460 million for the implementation of the national cassava value chain programme programme, aimed at maximizing cassava industrial potentials.

Meanwhile, the Lagos state government has assured graduates of course I and II of its Agricultural Youth Empowerment Scheme, AGRIC -YES, that their empowerment fund would be ready soon for disbursement as its being delay as a result of due process.

On the cassava value chain programme, Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adeshina, disclosed the amount at the flag off of cassava value chain programme in Lagos held at Lagos State Agricultural Training Institute, Araga, Epe. The programme which came under National Agricultural Transformation Agenda, ATA, saw the distribution of 25,000 cassava bundles to benefitting registered crop farmers in the state. About 200 out of 34,000 registered crop farmers received their cassava bundles at ceremony.

The flag-off was the second in the series of the intervention under the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme.

The industrial uses along the value chain include: High Quality Cassava Floue, HQCF, for the replacement of up to 20 percent wheat flour in bread with cassava.

Native and modified starches for industrial uses to

FG releases N460M for cassava value chain prog * Distributes 25,000 cassava bundles to crop farmers in Lagos replace corn starch imports.

Dried chips for support and livestock feed production as well as external demand of cassava for industrial use such as large ethanol production Sweeteners- High Fructose Cassava Syrup, HFCS: for sugar requirement for soft drink bottlers and juice manufacturers in Nigeria estimated at 200,000 tons of sugar per annum. A replacement of half of this by

HFCS from cassava would create a 10,0000 ton demand.

Fuel Ethanol, E10,policy in Nigeria; the policy of blending gasoline with 10 percent ethanol that represents a potential 1billion litres per annum market of fuel ethanol and, assuming 50 percent of feedstock comes from cassava, a new raw material requirement of 1.7 million tons of dried chips is required.

Addressing the elated

beneficiaries during the week , Adeshina, represented by Dr. Odeyemi Julious, a Regional Director, South West, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, explained that the exercise, which is being done in collaboration with other states of the federation, aimed at enhancing yield of various crops that the nation has comparative advantage and ultimately their production.

“N460 million has been committed for the

implementation of the programme and attention is being given to the whole value chain of the various enterprises with cassava as a major focal point.” He stated.

Adeshina, said that various transformational plans of the ministry is to stop all importation of agricultural produce that could be produced locally.

He disclosed that about N635 billion was spent for the importation of wheat into the country on a yearly basis.

“This present administration, is poised at improving the efficiency of willing farmers towards enhancing food production as well as ensure food security.

“Importation is a challenge to the economy, food security, job creation and national security. Therefore, there is no going back on ensuring food security in the country.”

The minister however, commended the effort of Lagos state government in improving the agricultural sector in the state.

In his address, state Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Mr Gbolahan Lawal, described the intervention as a welcome development at the right time.

According to him:” This occasion is another effort of the state to revamp the agricultural sector with the Strategic Programme for Accelerated Agricultural Growth, SPAAG, which has the six “INS”, Incentives, Inputs, Innovation, Information, Infrastructure and Institutions, as its major thrust.

Ondo State throws weight behind FG’s GES … disburses N45m to Fadama lll beneficiaries

By JIMOH BABATUNDE

A

S Ondo state Government disbursed N45 million to fadama communities under Fadama lll programme, the state commissioner for Agriculture, Egnr. Ademola Olorunfunmi has given his nod to the Growth Enhancement Support scheme under Federal Government’s Agriculture Transformation Agenda.

Speaking ahead of the distribution of the fund to the 9th set of beneficiaries of the scheme in his office on Monday, he said that the present challenges being experienced by farmers are inevitable since the scheme is new and quite different from what they had been used to in the past.

“The genesis of the program is based on research that less than 11% of farmers get the

fertilizers procured every year. This only the first year of the program and we know that there are hiccups which will be over come.”

Olorunfumi disclosed that as a support of the laudable initiative of the Agriculture Minister, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, that the Ondo state government has paid over three hundred Naira (N300,000,000) million as their payment.

“This is a demonstration of our avowed commitment in actualising our lofty objective in the agricultural sector of the state. ‘’Our Governor is committed to fulfilling its obligation through supporting all the externally-founded projects in the state financially and with the required political will,” Speaking on agriculture financing and supports to farmers in the state, Olorunfumi disclosed that the

state government has given out loans to about over 2000 farmers.

“We have given out over N700million, under IFAD, ADP, FADAMA ; we have given out grants of over half a billion since inception of this government.

“The IFAD, ADP and Fadama are special projects that are community based, and this government has been paying its counter part funding to the World bank, Africa Development Bank and the Federal government. I glad to say that in all of these we have always been top.”

The Agriculture commissioner added that “For the third year running in Fadama project, the World Bank has declared the state as the best performing state in the Fadama project. This are judged largely in terms of the prompt payment of counter part fund; the appropriate

management of the scheme and achievement of the deliverables. These are items that are clearly stated.”

He added that the state had earlier disbursed about N290

million under the Fadama project, “these are money that go to cooperatives, the people form cooperatives, determine what they want and we provide the technical evaluation and pay this money to their account and monitor and this has developed over 4000 rural families.

NDE trains 80 youths in modern agriculture

T

he National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has commenced training of 80 unemployed youths in Anambra on modern agricultural techniques as part of its efforts to reduce unemployment in the state.

The state Coordinator of NDE, Mr Mike Mbata, who declared the workshop open in Awka , explained that it was under the Rural Agricultural Development and Training Scheme (RADTS).

Mbata said that RADTS was one of the empowerment

programmes of the directorate aimed at addressing the current unemployment situation in the country.

He noted that joblessness had resulted in various crimes in the society, adding: “the attendant consequences had brought in frustration and anti-social practices inimical to law and order.

“Some youths resort to all forms of criminality, trafficking in drugs, armed robbery, kidnapping, destruction of lives and property, prostitution and child trafficking,” he said.

24— Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012

Freight ffor or war der orw arder derss seek int’l cer tif ication certif tification T

HE Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria has said that it has concluded plans to enable its members get diploma certificates at the International Federation of Freight Forwarding.

Mr Alban Igwe, the council's Director of Education and Research, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

Igwe said that the council was in consultation with several schools in Nigeria, through which its members could be trained.

According to him, some of the schools are the Federal University of Technology, Yola; the Federal University of Technology, Owerri; the Benue State University; the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron; and the Nigeria Institute of Transport Technology, Zaria.

He said that the council had submitted its proposal to the international body and would be defending this in October in Los Angeles, United States.

Igwe said that the

council, with the assistance of experts from Singapore and Nigeria, had drawn up a curriculum of international standard to help the council achieve its aims.

He reiterated that the certificate was necessary to enable the council members practise freight forwarding anywhere in the world.

"The era we are now is one in which you cannot do freight forwarding business without education.

"You need sufficient knowledge, even in information technology, and if our members have the international certificate, it will help enlarge their horizon.

"Our freight forwarders would be able to practise freight forwarding anywhere in the world — be it in Nigeria, USA, France or elsewhere," he said.

He said that time was running out on those in the freight forwarding business who do not have the required certificates.

Igwe added that a school certificate was no longer enough for a freight forwarder to do business competitively.

MEETING — From right: Presidnt of Rockfeller Foundation, Ms. Judith Rodine, Finance Minister, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Minister of Agriculture, Prof. Adewunmi Adeshina after a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan,Tuesday at the State House in Abuja. PHOTO: STATE HOUSE.

AfDB to support Free Trade Area by 2017

BY DANIEL GUMM

A

F R I C A N Development Bank (AfDB) has pledged support in the implementation of the physical infrastructure needed for the establishment of the Continental Free Trade Area by 2017.

World power gency mee ting powerss weigh emer emergency meeting on food prices

F

RANCE, the United States and G20 President, Mexico will hold a conference call at the end of this month to discuss whether an emergency international meeting is required to tackle soaring grain prices caused by the worst US drought in half a century.

A French agriculture ministry official said the call would decide whether to convene the first meeting of the G20's Rapid Response Forum.

The body was created last year to promote early discussion among decision-makers about abnormal market conditions with the aim of avoiding unilateral action.

"If the situation requires it, a meeting of the Rapid Response Forum could be called as soon as the start of September," the official said, adding that the forum could hold its discussions in person or by a conference call.

"The aim is to talk about the situation and avoid measures like export embargoes which would be damaging for everyone," he said.

Benchmark Chicago corn climbed to an alltime high recently after the US Department of Agriculture cut its production estimate by 17 per cent, intensifying fears the world is headed for a repeat of the 2008 food price crisis.

The conference call will discuss a report on agricultural prices requested by France last month and compiled by the Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS).

This system, created last year under France's Presidency of the G20, is designed to share information on crop prices with a view to averting a repeat of the 2007-08 food crisis.

France currently presides both the forum and the AMIS system, which is based at the UN

Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Rome. The United States will take over the reins in October.

"France...and the United States remain attentive to any new fact that could justify a meeting of the Rapid Response Forum," French Agricultural Minister Stephane Le Foll said in a statement.

The forum has no power to impose binding decisions on member states but it is hoped that discussion can discourage countries from taking unilateral action.

Russia banned grain exports for almost a year after a severe drought two years ago and weather problems this year have fueled market rumours it could resort to export curbs again.

However, French officials have said that Russia has given reassuring indicators in contacts through the AMIS system.

Addressing the NEPAD Heads of State and other government officials during the African Union summit held recently in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, AfDB President, Kaberuka re-echoed the call of the African countries for the development of traderelated infrastructure and productive capacity building programmes.

The call includes support for putting in place an enabling policy and legal framework so as to contribute specifically to the boosting of intra-African trade."

Kaberuka said he was confident that intraAfrican trade and Africa exports to the rest of the world could grow very fast if existing efforts were scaled up to improve the continent's physical infrastructure which continues to u n d e r m i n e competitiveness and trade growth.

"Efforts to address physical infrastructure should also consider soft infrastructure constraints such as regulatory barriers, restrictive regulations on movement of goods and people, poor logistics services and of late, challenges in accessing trade finance, he said.

Kaberuka noted that soft infrastructure constraints can be as pervasive as tariffs at the border, and can easily nullify the

competitiveness and efficiency gains derived from investments in physical infrastructure.

He, however, decried the financial crisis that led to businesses in at least a third of African countries paying a premium of about 10 per cent on trade loans on top of cash collateral requirements. "These developments threaten to undermine trade at a time when African exports are fueling growth across the continent," he said.

He noted that the bank had responded to the trade finance crunch by establishing a $1bn temporary trade finance initiative (TFI) in 2009.

"The initiative has thrown a lifeline to hundreds of businesses across Africa, saving thousands of jobs and generating millions of dollars in revenue for firms and their

governments, the bank has gone a step further and is establishing a full-fledged in-house Trade Finance Programme, and is collaborating with other development partners on ways to counter the ongoing turbulence in the financial markets, and to minimise damage to Africa's trading capabilities", said Kaberuka.

He called for innovative ways to finance Africa's growing infrastructure requirements.

Citing the low returns of about 1.4% on instruments such as US Treasury bills, he said that investors and sovereign wealth funds would be looking for more appealing investments such as infrastructure in Africa, provided security and good returns are assured.

FAO cuts global rice output forecas or 20 12 orecastt ffor 201

T

HE United Nations’ food agency cut its 2012 global rice production forecast but said supply would still outstrip demand and that there was no increased risk of a food crisis as long as countries do not resort to export bans.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said on Monday it had cut its outlook for rice

paddy production this year by 7.8 million tonnes to 724.5 million tonnes, due mainly to below-average monsoon rains in India.

That is still higher than levels reached in 2011, FAO said in its Rice Market Monitor.

On a milled basis, it translates into 483.1 million tonnes, above an expected utilisation of 474 million tonnes in 2012/13.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012 — 25

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26—Vanguard , FRIDAY FRIDAY,, AUGUST 17, 2012

*Benue State Deputy Governor, Chief Steven Lawani, addressing the feuding communities

*Some relics of the crisis

BACK AGAIN AT WAR-GATE:

Fresh communal clash in Benue leaves 10 dead

BY PETER DURU, Makurdi

J

UST when efforts of the Benue State government to ensure peace in some troubled hinterlands of the state was paying off, an unanticipated explosive communal conflict erupted few days ago at a southern district of the state, an area that is renowned for its serenity and tranquility. No fewer than 10 persons were feared dead with property worth millions of naira destroyed in a bloodbath that ensued between the inhabitants of Ojantele and Ijegwu communities in Otukpo and Obi local government areas of the state.

Vanguard Metro gathered from an eyewitness that fighting erupted between the bordering communities last week following renewed dispute over a piece of land adjoining the warring neighbours. According to our source, houses, huts and economic trees were not spared by the warring communities leading to the displacement of close to 120, 000 inhabitants of the affected communities who are fleeing from the crisis.

It was also reliably gathered that among those who lost loved ones in the conflict was the Benue State Commissioner of Finance, Mr. Omadachi Oklobia, whose cousins were reportedly slaughtered in the ensuing fighting.

Lawmakers call for Police intervention: Reacting to the renewed conflict at its sitting on Wednesday, the Benue State House of Assembly, in a motion called on the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Christopher Katso to dispatch officers and men to the crisis zone in order to restore law and order in the communities.

Raising an issue of urgent importance at the floor of the House, Mr. Baba Ode, representing Otukpo/Akpa constituency, intimated the House that he received a phone call from an anonymous caller intimating him that fighting had erupted between his constituents and the neighbouring Ijegwu community in Obi Local Government Area.

Receipt of text messages Ode said that thereafter he received text messages from relations who informed him of the escalation of the crisis leading to the death of his close associates and friends adding that as at Tuesday night, not less than six deaths had been recorded in the crisis. He lamented that the brotherly communities had in the last 10 years intermittently engaged each other in fracas despite efforts to find lasting solution to the dispute.

He said: “The problem we have in this country is that whenever

there is a crisis anywhere and devastated by the rampaging peace is restored, everyone goes Obi youths, and made available home with no efforts put in to en- to Vanguard Metro, the parasure that permanent peace is re- mount ruler condemned the unstore in the affected area. That is warranted attack on his subjects. exactly the situation The paramount ruler we have found ourpointed accusing finselves in this particgers on some promiular case”. The lawnent personalities in maker urged the UnpreObi local government House to compel the and specifically finpared, our surveyor general of gered the Council the state to carry out people could chairman for leading a proper demarcation the onslaught against of the boundaries of not defend his people. the affected commu- themselves He said: “Our peonities as remedy to ple in Otobi woke up and in the the dispute. in the morning of In his reaction, Mr. process a Tuesday, August 7, Nick Eworo repre- good number 2012 to find out that a senting Obi constitularge portion of our ency, called on the of them susfarmland at Otobistate government to tained variAkangwu had been dust up the report of cleared and freshly the panel of enquiry ous degrees planted with palm set up in 1996 to in- of injuries. and orange trees. vestigate the crisis When the Otobi peoSome were with a view to findple got to the land the ing lasting solution to abducted and following morning to the crisis. observe and report to Royal father ap- taken away the elders and relevant peals to Governor, by the armed authorities, a large President: Meannumber of Ijegwu youths of while, in a letter of youths emerged from protest, written to the Ijegwu the surrounding bushBenue State goveres with guns, cutlassnor and copied to the es, bows and arrows Senate President and and other dangerous other relevant perweapons to attack sonalities and agencies by the them. Unprepared, our people clan head of Aagboko, Chief could not defend themselves and Anmo Ejoga, whose domain was in the process a good number of

Fri Metro

15/8/2012

them sustained various degrees of injuries. Some were abducted and taken away by the armed youths of Ijegwu”.

Ejoga added that some of the abductees later escaped while others were also rescued by men of the combined security outfit christened “Operation Zenda”, while those not so lucky were slaughtered by their captors.

The paramount ruler who recalled the history of the area, regretted that the ownership of the parcel of land in question had never been in dispute since it rightfully belongs to his people who had never ceased to cultivate on it since the existence of the state.

B

ut in a swift reaction, the caretaker Chairman of Obi local government, Ode Opila debunked the allegation that he led the onslaught and bloodbath in the area. He said: “It’s all lies. I have no hand in the crisis, all I did was to ensure peace between the feuding parties. The allegation is targeted at demeaning my personality and reputation, it is just unfortunate because I am innocent of the allegation. I sincerely advise that we find a way of settling this dispute instead of resorting to name calling and pointing accusing fingers at innocent persons.”

Govt to set up commission of inquiry: Meanwhile the Benue State government has promised to set up a commission of enquiry into the crisis. Benue State Deputy Governor, Chief Steven Lawani who gave the promise when he led top government functionaries of the state to the crisis zone, said the state government would immediately move to embark on a proper demarcation of the boundaries of the feuding communities in order to restore lasting peace in the area.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012—27

Front view of the Olumo Rock tourist complex

OLUMO ROCK: Egbas’ shelter, fortress

BY JIMOH BABATUNDE

I

magine blasting a rock and instead of the normal powder eruption, what you have is pus and blood gushing out. That is one of the mysteries associated with the Olumo Rock in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Olumo Rock is a massive outcrop of granite rocks of primitive formation from which Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, derived its name. The highest point on the Olumo rock is about 137 meters from the base of the rock.

Another mystery surrounding the rock is the existence of a tree of over 200 years old which still grows there. “This tree neither withers nor sheds its leaves throughout the year.

It flourishes throughout the seasons, whether dry or rainy season,” it was reported.

Olumo rock is an historical monument, which served as a shelter and fortress to the Egba people during the Yoruba Intercity wars. By 1830, the main body of the Egbas had already settled at the site of the Olumo and the refuge provided by the rock marked the end of their wanderings and struggles for existence.

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Since then, they regard the Olumo Rock as their protection shrine and they make annual sacrifices to its deity.

People from all walks of life still go there for divine consultations.

During a tour of various sections of the rock recently, the tour guide disclosed that the Alake of Egbaland, being the paramount ruler of the Egba, offers sacrifices in the shrine on behalf of the people and prays for the whole country and the entire Egba people, as well as for the tourists that

visit the rock.

To the Egbas, Olumo Rock stands not only as a monument of faith in unity but also a source of strength and unfailing protection and sustenance from the Supreme Being who led their ancestors through the perplexities of life safely to Abeokuta.

Olumo Rock, today, is a world class tourist destination that stands as the only one of its kind in Africa and presumably the world. The centre consists of a fast food joint, museum, and a giant tele-

scope to view Abeokuta, a fountain of atonement, a recreational park, and an amphitheatre among others.

From the gate with the inscription ‘Olumo Rock Tourist Complex,’ tourists will not lose sight of the heavy duty escalator and a glass elevator running the different levels of the rock alongside the old stairway for visitors who love climbing.

Climbing the rock could be extremely challenging, most especially for the aged, the installation of this facility has

greatly helped to attract more visitors to Olumo Rock, but the fun still lies in using the old stairway.

As we make our way to the top of the rock, it leaves many breathless and ready to take a break to rest on the benches under the trees growing from the rock and enjoy some clean breeze. The journey continues with climbs on irregularly sized rocks through a narrow corridor that leads to the top of the rock.

All along the way, we catch sights of carvings in the rock, cowry-studded statues and the ancient abode of the priestesses who lived in huts on the rock. It was amazing to note that the rock is naturally surrounded by caves, one of which is about 20 feet long and 25 feet wide.

These caves have slab-like stones, which appear to have served as seats used by the ancient dwellers. It probably was used as a hall by the dwellers.

Another cave, some 20 meters long and 17 meters wide, seemed to be a dwelling place. It has five in-built rooms with a long corridor, a sitting room, kitchen and a store.

At the east end is another big cave, built with mud walls into outer and inner chambers. This is used as a shrine by the devotees of Orisa-Igun, God of longevity. Orisa Igun is celebrated annually during which goats, rams and other animals are sacrificed. The ceremonies last for 30 days.

There were also points with holes on the floor where the Egba warriors were said to have hidden their wives and children during inter tribal wars.

There are holes dug on the floor which were said to have provided a devise for grinding pepper.

At the summit of the rock, tourists have the opportunity of having a panoramic view of the city from atop the rock.

The old St. Peters Cathedral, the Ogun River, the city ’s beautiful central mosque, the Alake’s palace and many others, can be sighted from the top of the rock.

Leboku festival to boost tourism, agriculture

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

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ALABAR——IN a bid to continue its lead ership position in tourism development in the country, the Cross River State Government is using the Leboku International New Yam Festival to boost the state’s tourism initiative as well as promote agricultural cultivation in the state.

The Cross River State Gov-

ernment had in 2005 promoted the Ugep New Yam Festival to the international standard and christened it Leboku International New Yam Festival which attracts personalities from all walks of life including international organizations to the state.

Speaking while addressing journalists on the activities marking this year’s festival, Special Adviser to Governor Liyel Imoke on Events Management, Mr. Totsman Etoty said that the annual

Leboku Festival has encouraged farming in the area.

Etoty said, “‘Leboku has encouraged people to go back to farming which was once the mainstay of the nation’s economy. You can see that today in Yakurr communities, young men and women are heavily involved in farming, particularly with government’s motivations which include cars and other tangible prizes.”

According to him, the festival, which has remained one

of the major tourist events in the state, has brought tangible benefits to the Yakurr and Cross River State people in general.

“You would observe that influx of visitors to the city impacts positively on economic life of the people. All ‘eatables’ sold by the local people by the road-side are bought, cost of living also improves because there is no how you get visitors and you don’t get or learn one or two things from them.

28 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012

ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF TRADE UNIONISM IN NIGERIA failed 1950 Mercantile workers strike led by the bold trade unionist and later lawyer, Nduka Eze. Goodluck was a strong and decisive labour leader who would not sell out nor buckle under pressure. When during the 1964 general strike, Prime Minister Tafawa-Balewa issued threats to labour leaders and went on to sack workers enmasse, Goodluck at a rally on June 10, 1964 told the affected workers: “The dismissal notices you have received are so many scraps of paper. You can keep them as souvenirs to show your children and remind them that today is a turning point in the history of this country.” As part of the conditions to end that strike, Government withdrew the sack letters and pledged not to victimize any worker who participated in it.

Successful trade union organiser

Labour shutdown at the Tin Can Island port in Lagos

The Military distrusted Labour under Wahab Goodluck This is the fifth edition of the serial on OWEI LAKEMFA's latest work: "One hundred years of trade unionism in Nigeria". The fourth part was published yesterday.

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To break Goodluck’s resolve and break opposition to dictatorial military rule, the Gowon regime seized and detained him without trial for fifteen months. Rather than break him, the detention strengthen Goodluck who returned to ressume his leadership role

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UGUSTINE Bamidele Da nia, one of the affected workers explains why “Suddenly, they stopped beating us. We never knew what was happening. Without knowing that it was Lt. Colonel Gowon who had just arrived from Dodan Barracks.

They told us to put on our dresses that the Head of State would like to talk to us. Then they took us to a big hall. Gowon asked us who is the leader of the group.

Comrade Goodluck came out.

He explained everything. Gowon was unhappy. He said we were innocent, harmless workers. The incident he said, is an embarrassment to his regime. He asked us to go to the hospital and gave us some money. I don’t know how much others were given. I remember they gave me two pounds to take a taxi to any hospital for treatment.” Although Goodluck had confronted armed policemen and soldiers before particularly during the 1964 general strike, this was the closest he came to death in the hands of armed men.

Goodluck, born on July 11, 1923 came from a polygamous home. His father had five wives while his mother alone had six children. His father, an itinerant

trader was a Moslem who wanted his children educated both in Western and Islamic education.

Goodluck said of his childhood: “I can remember very well we attended an Arabic school. We all carried our wooden slates to school and wrote with black ink.

We were taught to read and write the Arabic alphabets and to learn by heart, portions of the Koran. Some of the teachers or Alfas were vicious. They beat us with snaky whips or sometimes with knotted twine tied to a cane.

And when you were unable to recite portions of the Koran, by Jove, you would have it on your head or back.”

Demobilisation of the military Goodluck attended Lagos High School, Tokunboh, then the CMS Grammar School, Lagos where he passed out in December 1944. He wanted to join the army after school but was unsuccessful because the Second WorId War was ending and the British government was thinking of demobilisation. On January 17, 1945, he joined the Post and Telegraphs (P&T) as an accounts clerk. In 1948, he and some rad-

ical P&T workers participated in a one-day strike. Goodluck, Akanbi Giwa, later a Major in the Nigeria Army and John Mmaha, a UAC staff on secondment were arrested and charged for obstructing Henry Fajemirokun, a P&T clerical staff from Ile-Oluji.

The threesome had called Fajemirokun, who was to found the successful Henry Stephens Group of Companies, a “Black leg in white trousers”.

Seven days imprisonment Although Goodluck, Giwa and Mmaha were defended by young bright lawyers like Frederick Rotimi Williams, Bode Thomas and Remi Fani-Kayode, they were found guilty of the offence and sentenced to seven days imprisonment or to a fine of ten shillings. They paid the fine.

Goodluck was to say later “That was the first baptism we had as trade unionists and it decided my future.”

He then went to work in a timber company in Sapele, taught at Abbot College, old Bendel State and returned to Lagos to work as a columnist in The Statesman. His career as a full time unionist began when he was appointed on a salary of two pounds monthly as secretary of the West African Soap Company (now Lever Brothers) Union. The union had been decimated by the

Goodluck has been the best and most successful trade union organizer in Nigerian Labour history. Apart from having been president of the central labour organization, the Nigeria Trade Union Congress, NTUC, from 1963 to 1975, he was General Secretary of numerous workers unions including UAC, CMS Bookshop, Dorman Long, University of Lagos, Ikeja Asbestos, Nigeria Enamels, Flour Mills and the Public Works Department, PWD. When the four labour centres in the country voluntarily merged into one centre, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in December 1975, he was elected its national president and presided until the military regime which would brook no opposition banned the NLC in 1976.

When in 1977, the military restructured the 721 workers unions into into forty two large industrial unions, half of them were led

by Goodluck protégées while one of them, Alhaji Hassan Adebayo Sunmonu was elected the founding president of the new Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, at its inaugural conference on February 28, 1978.

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oodluck, a bespectacled radical was one of the founders and Vice Chairmen of the left-leaning Socialist Workers and Farmers Party, SWAFP. The party was established in December 1963 by the NTUC and the Nigeria Youth Congress, NYC. He contested in the 1964/65 elections as a SWAFP candidate in the Lagos constituency. With the ban on political parties by the military, Goodluck channelled the energies of the socialist cadres in SWAFP into the trade union movement. He gave them basic trade union education at the Patrice Lumumba Labour College, Yaba and told them, as he was wont to “You go to the field and Continues on page 29

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17 , 2012 — 29

CONFIRMED: Peter, P-Square expecting baby no.2

BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

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FTER debunking story of her being pregnant with his second baby, Peter Okoye of P-Square has finally admitted that Lola Omotayo, mother of his first child, Cameron, is truly pregnant for him again.

He made this confession on social network, Twitter, the same forum where he denied her second pregnancy rumour few months ago.

“So happy!!! We are expecting another child!. Thank God for the gift of life,” Peter tweeted, confirming the rumour.

It would be recalled that Peter, whose first son with same Lola, Cameron, will turn 4 next month, denied the news of Lola being pregnant with his second child. He made the denial via Twitter on April 16, a day after popular micro-blogger, Linda Ikeji posted the story on her blogging site.

According to the story, Peter and Lola were said to have been spotted leaving the Palms Shopping Mall in Lekki, Lagos with Lola wearing a boubou top.

‘Just because she wore a boubou top doesn’t mean she’s pregnant.

Next time I will ask her to wear a sexy tight dress to the mall…lol’, Peter Psquare announced via micro-blogging site Twitter.

Also denying the story of her pregnancy, was the twins’ media rep Bayo Adetu, who said ‘It’s funny how people will just say things. Lola is not pregnant, she wore a boubou which covers the entire body and makes one look fat. If she was pregnant, it will be a thing of joy to announce .’

•Chris Okoti and ex-wife, Stephanie Henshaw

CHRIS OKOTIE REPLIES EX-WIFE:

I will never accept you back

BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

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•Peter okoye and lola

OLLOWING an outburst by Stephannie, about why her marriage to the Pastor crashed, Chris Okotie for the first time since their breakup, tongue-lashed his ex-wife, referring to her as a ‘Jezebel’.

According to reports, Pastor Chris openly spoke against Stephannie during sermon on Sunday, August 12.

During the sermon, he was said to have been bitter as he related ‘his experience in the hands’ of Stephannie. He verbally attacked her, thereafter comparing her to Jezebel in the Bible. Pastor Chris said he was free to judge her, as he kept saying that ‘he suffered much in her hands’, but failed to say what exactly was her offence.

He was also quoted to have said she is free to say whatever she likes about him, and if she likes, she could go to CNN Continues on page 31

INSIDE

I got married at 21 to escape girls C M Y K

Crop tops

Wedding bells for Elfreda Edewor?

Blackberry curve 9220:

My mother pinged from village

30—Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012—31

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32 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012

Damiete Charles-Granville shines at Miss World

BY OPEOLUWANI AKINTAYO

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igeria’s representative at the 2012 Miss World beauty pageant, Damiete CharlesGranville, has failed to make the top 10 Miss World Top Model finalist.

However, she, alongside 46 other contestants, made the ‘Top model fashion show’, a smaller event in the Miss World pageant.

Damiete who is already in China, will be slugging it out with other top models at the main event of the Top Model fashion show to hold inside Dongsheng Fitness Center Stadium, Ordos, Inner Mongolia, China on Saturday, August 18, 2012.

Organizers say that the lucky participants will be adorned in garments by Chinese luxury cashmere label, ERDOS 1436. The collection of the show has been overseen by fashion authority and Creative Director of the brand, Graeme Black.

M.I, Omawunmi to host Headies 2012

BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

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HE duo, M.I and Omawunmi have been selected as the host of this year’s edition of The Headies- a musical awards event.

The announcement was made by the Executive producer of the awards, Ayo Animashaun.

According to him, the two hiphop acts who are one of the biggest in the country at the moment, are to hold the 7th edition of the event in line with the award’s tradition of selecting talented and inspiring entertainers as anchors.

‘It’s a very important year for us at The Headies, and for the Nigerian music industry in general‘, Animashaun, who founded the awards in 2006 says. ’And we found in M.I and Omawumi, two great entertainers who are very passionate about the awards, passionate about their work, passionate about the music business and a great source of inspiration to young, up and coming artistes, because of their peculiar stories, climbing up‘.

30-year old Omawumi came second in the West Africa Idol, in 2007. And because of her success at the Idol competition, her story has been a success story and steady growth in the music industry till date. In 2008, she made debut with ‘In the music’ . The success of that single, won her the ‘Next Rated’ prize at The Headies in 2009.

The award came with a brand new KIA Optima. She has also dropped other singles like Bottom Belle and others.

M.I, born and bred in Jos, equally has a challenging story of rising from grass to grace.

The Chocolate City rapper is a multiple award winner at The Headies, with his prizes including Best Rap Album and Revelation of the Year (both in 2009).

He has won a total of 9 HeadC M Y K

•Charles-Damiete

ies, starting from his first surprise win in 2008.

‘I won my first Headies when no one knew who I was’ M.I says. ‘It was a big leap for me and my career and I can say the same for a lot of my colleagues. Several years after, I’m excited to be here, performing in a very important capacity, along with my very good friend, Omawumi’.

‘You know one of the things over the years that has been traditionally so great about the Headies awards is the fact that they do two things very well.

They merge the aspirational aspect of entertainment with its inspirational aspect. You take us to the villages, we meet people where they don’t really have water we’ve done that. At the same time you take people to Brazil. A young person can look and be inspired and also aspire too,’ he concluded.

Movie of the week

Synopsis

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arty, Gloria and Melman are still fighting to get home to their beloved Big Apple. Their journey takes them through Europe, where they find the perfect cover: a traveling circus, which they reinvent - Madagascar style.

R a t i n g/scary rating: 2.5 e

•Violenc ontent rating: 1.5 c •Sexual- rating: 1.5 y •Profanit ohol rating: 1.5 lc /a s g ru g: 2.

•D ime ratin lm.

T y il fi •Fam y il ood fam A very g

Movie Schedule In the Cupboard: 1:00pm, 6:00pm.

That’s my Boy: 10:50am, 4:00pm, 6:15pm, 10:20pm.

Total Recall: 10:50am, 1:10pm, 3:30pm, 5:50pm, 8:10pm, 10:30pm.

Amazing Spiderman 3D: 7:50pm.

Madagascar: 1:30pm.

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, SEC, ABUJA In the Cupboard: 12:20pm, 2:20pm, 4:20pm, 6:10pm, 8:10pm.

That’s my Boy: 11:50am, 2:10pm, 4:30pm, 6:50pm, 7:10pm.

Total Recall: 11:20am, 1:40pm, 4:10pm, 6:40pm, 9:00pm.

Mirror Mirror:12:10pm, 2:35pm, 4:50pm, 8:25pm.Amazing Spiderman: 11:00am, 5:50pm, 8:40pm.

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, CEDDI PLAZA, ABUJA That’s my Boy: 11:30am, 4:10pm.

In the Cupboard: 1:00pm, 4:30pm.

Total Recall: 1:50pm, 6:30pm, 7:00pm.

Amazing Spiderman: 6:20pm, 7:10pm.

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURT In the Cupboard:12:40pm, 2:45pm, 4:40pm, 8:50pm.

That’s my Boy: 12:30pm, 3:10pm, 5:40pm, 8:10pm.

Total Recall: 1:00pm, 3:20pm, 6:00pm, 8:40pm.

Mirror Mirror: 12:10pm, 4:30pm, 7:00pm, 9:15pm.

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, UYO That’s my Boy: 12:20pm, 2:30pm, 4:40pm, 7:00pm.

In the Cupboard: 5:10pm, 7:05pm.

Amazing Spiderman: 4:00pm, 6:40pm.

OZONE CINEMA, YABA

•M.I with Omawunmi

I will never accept you back Continues from page 30 or BBC but he would never accept her back into his life. Since their divorce, Pastor Chris was also said to have taken back the gift of two cars, a Benz S Class and a BMW X6 he bought for her during their four years marriage. It would be recalled that in June this year, Pastor Chris Okotie, who is also the head of Household of God Church, Lagos, announced his marriage break-up to his second wife, Stephannie Henshaw.

The glamorous marriage between him and his beautiful wife crashed less than four years after their big wedding. In a dramatic announcement after a moving ministration, he told his church their differences were irreconcilable and that they had divorced.

“Stephanie and I are no longer married. We have separated. You can see she’s not in church today. It’s due to irreconcilable differences and you should please respect our wishes at this time because there is no going back.”

In the Cupboard: 10:00am, 2:15pm.

That’s my Boy: 12:55pm, 9:15pm.

Total Recall: 1:35pm, 3:55pm, 6:15pm, 8:30pm.

Madagascar 3: 10:50am, 12:45pm.

GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS, LEKKI In the Cupboard: 10:30am, 2:15pm, 6:20pm.

That’s my Boy: 12:45pm, 3:10pm, 5:35pm, 8:00pm.

Total Recall: 1:10pm, 3:50pm, 6:10pm, 8:40pm, 11:10pm.

Amazing Spiderman: 4:50pm.

GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURT In the Cupboard: 2:15pm, 6:00pm, 11:00pm.

That’s my Boy: 12:00pm, 7:50pm, 10:05pm.

Total Recall: 10:00am, 4:10pm, 6:30pm, 8:40pm.

Amazing Spiderman: 2:00pm.

GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS, ENUGU In the Cupboard: 12:10pm, 3:40pm, 7:10pm.

Total Recall: 10:10am, 12:45pm, 3:20pm, 5:55pm, 8:30pm.

Mirror Mirror: 3:00pm.

Amazing Spiderman:10:20am, 3:00pm, 7:40pm.

Lara Obembe Business Development Left wing, 4th Floor, Domino House, 17a, Commercial Avenue, Sabo, Yaba.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012—33

Olulade bags ‘Most Promising Lawmaker of the Year’ Award

By EBUN SESSOU agos lawmaker and the Chairman of the State House of Assembly Committee on Information, Strategy and Security, Hon. Segun Olulade was on Saturday, 11 August, 2012 awarded as ‘The Most Promising Lawmaker of the Year 2012’.

The Award ceremony tagged; Movietainment Achievement & Corporate Awards (MACA 2012) was organized by Movietainment Magazine in conjunction with Shadvic Realities Communications for key players in entertainment, politics and social development sectors.

Commending the organisers of the awards, he said, it is an avenue to appreciate and encourage those in the entertainment industry and other areas of endeavour.

“For me, it is good to be awarded as ‘The Most Promising Lawmaker of The Year 2012. For them to have given me the award, it shows I must be doing something they appreciate.’

On what the government can do to help the entertainment sector, Olulade, who is representing Epe Constituency II, said that there are so many things the government can do to help the industry, the major problem of the industry, he said, is the issue of piracy, which he said the state government is looking into.

“Some artistes visited the Lagos State House of Assembly and we are working with them to ensure piracy becomes a thing of the past, once that is achieved, we know everything would be fine, he assured.

“Nollywood will continue to move forward. We shouldn’t always rely on the government in all things. We must rise to the occasion, the movie industry has contributed to our socio-cultural development in Nigeria and there is nothing the government will do for the sector that will be too much, we have a lot to do and I believe we will get there,’ he said.

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Not taking the credits all by himself Desmond said he didn’t produce the movie all by himself. The project was co-produced with Caroline Danjuma, a former actress, singer and a respected figure in the industry. “I met Caroline Danjuma and we both agreed to produce the movie having seen the uniqueness and the power of the script” he added

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andsome Nollywood super star, Desmond Elliot is a guy who has come a long way in the movie industry and no one can question the fact that the tall, dark and handsome dude has done right by himself, not only by appearing in more than 200 movies but also by shaping himself into a veritable brand, establishments knock themselves over to associate with. Though currently, working in Sierra Leone the Glo Ambassador is lighting up cinemas across Africa from this Friday August 17th with his latest movie ‘In The Cupboard’ The movie which features a powerful cast including Ini Edo, Uti Nwachukwu, Alex Ekubo, Biola Segun Williams and the upcoming comedian, Bishop, among many others, was actually shot last year, mostly in choice locations around Lekki and environs. A suave lady who is really coming into her element, Kehinde Olorunyomi wrote the story with a little tinkering from Desmond himself. “Kehinde wrote the story but while she was doing the script we shared ideas from time to time” said Desmond.

Before making its berth in cinemas across Africa, starting from tomorrow, the movie premiere was done in the United States of America. According to the director, Desmond, it was taken around five states in the United States of America. Namely; New York, New Jersey, Atlanta, Minnesota and Texas.

“It is meant to hit African cinemas, including Ghana, Kenya and South Africa, from Friday August 17th and then Silverbird Lagos, Porthacourt, Enugu, Abuja and Genesis Cinemas in Lagos and Porthacourt. It will be showing in 16 centres at the same time all over Africa same day. It is a well-planned arrangement and I can beat my chest that movie lovers are in for great a treat” enthused the obviously elated actor/producer/director.

“In the Cupboard” according to Desmond should have been “Skeletons in the Cupboard” but for good effect they had decided to go with “In the Cupboard”. The movie is a drama about a dysfunctional, longseparated family which had to come back from their various destinations abroad upon the death of their father. During the reading of the deceased’s will a startling revelation comes up and changes everything among the siblings.

Their lives are never the same as they come face to face with certain realities of life that may very well make or break them.

Talking on the message the movie is trying to pass on to the society, Desmond explained that the whole idea is to foster family ties and bring to fore why it is important for family to stick together. “These days it is so disheartening to see brothers and sisters at each other ’s throats over issues of land, property and other things. This movie just goes to show family are meant to stick together” On what he is doing in Sierra Leone: “ Currently I am shooting a movie called “Reflections” and this one is way bigger and it has a mixed cast and crew of Nigerians, Sierra Leonians and Americans. Though we have a rich cast but I am banking on the story to sell the film which is built around the Sierra Leonian story; going deep into Sierra Leonian history with a little bit on liberation of Sierra Leone” reported the actor who is shooting, directing and producing the film

Djinne launches online singing competition

Star Quest, Da Heritage, Chuks Morientez signed on!

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By FLORENCE AMAGIYA

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HUKWUDI Ubido Daniel a.k.a Morientez is indeed a natural talent, born and bred in Lagos, a graduate of University of Benin, popularly known as UNIBEN. This handsome dude started his career professionally as an artiste after winning some accolades. He won the MTN/ SOUNDCITY Campus Blast in 2007, his band Da Heritage came second runner up in 2008, Star Quest competition and he also became the 2010, GLO Rock and Rule Winner, Edo state chapter.

Morientez after winning all these awards recorded a song with M.I in 2009 making him the first act to do so in the southsouth region. Chuks also emerged as semi-finalist in the GLO NAIJA SINGSin 2010.

Chuks a.k.a Morientez is currently signed to SUNKYTONES, a record label owned by the Hot shot record producer Sunky of Styl Plus and has a new single titled ‘Hot bad girl’.

C M Y K

By Florence Amagiya ultiple Award winning artistes Djinne in collaboration with Iroking, Dear Artiste & Kayzee Mota have launched an online singing competition to help boost the career of emerging new acts. This competition has been designed to provide leverage for these new artistes by offering free song writing/development, music production, (including mixing and mastering), CD jacket designed by Ace Graphics designer, MOTA Design Studios and CD production, all totaling about a million naira.

According to Djinne, this has been put together to not only give back to society and appreciate the support of the young ones who have been inspired by his music, but also a chance to really help upcoming artistes who might be financially incapable of launching their careers.

• Chuks Morientez

34—Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012

Growing up y growing up wasn’t so different from other teenage person of my time who wanted to be appreciated by his parents, especially having to do the right things to gain their approval. In those days, there were few options in sports other than football. After going to school the next thing for the kids of those days is football.

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Childhood Memories One thing I really loved to do that didn’t go down well with my parents was my involvement in football. In those days, no parents wanted their children to play football unlike what obtains today. I came from a family of five boys and all of us were into football and my dad never approved it. In fact he forbade us to play football but my love for the sport would not allow me to quit the game. Out of the five of us I was the one that was most dogged and committed to playing football and it got me on the wrong side of my parents. So many times I got flogged for this. Beside football I don’t think my had any other reason to beat me but luckily for me, my elder brother was in support and he encouraged me to go on.

I got married at 21 to ward-off girls — Steven Keshi Stephen Okechukwu Keshi needs no introduction. His, is a name that has found a way into almost every household in the country. If you did not know him as one of the most talented footballers Nigeria has ever had and the captain of the Super Eagles for several years no doubt his name must have come across your path as the current manager of our national football team. Uncharacteristically, in this interview the tactician let Hi Groove into his private world, including his tastes in fashion, women and more! Enjoy

my size and height also contributed but I believe having a commanding presence contributed most.

Daily Routine start my day with the morning devotion after which I take my bath. As a player when I was in the camp,

I

One thing I tried not to do is to over labour myself. I also try as much as possible to put smiles on my face no matter the situation and live a positive life rather than being negative

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How I coped Then, I used to sneak out of the house, to play football.

Sometimes I had to take my mom’s money to buy the Felele kind of ball which was in vogue then. And because of its soft nature, when it burst, I would run back to the house and take my mom’s money again and buy another one. For me then, I didn’t see it as stealing but just borrowing from her, which I knew I would pay back someday (laughs). But when she asked, I would tell her I used it to buy ball and she would be very angry with me and said the money I took would serve as my allowance for that week. For my dad, no explanation would be enough as he would beat me mercilessly. But the most important thing is the fact that I was able to achieve my goal of becoming an international footballer How the name ‘big BOSS’ originated Big Boss was given to me by Nigerian journalists and that was during my playing days as the Super Eagles captain.

Then, as a captain my dream was always to win and get results in every match that we played. And each time, I gathered my team-mates on the need for us to do better and succeed, it appeared as if I were acting as a coach C M Y K

how they came up with the name ‘Big Boss’. Then, as a captain, I was very vocal the way I talked and also, I had a commanding presence which was good at determining what needed to be done and getting it done. And the good thing is that my team mates respected me. I think that was what prompted it. People say

,

By KATE OBODO

Hi GROOVE

I woke up as early as 5.am to prepare for training, so as not to be late for training. Because if you got to the training late there was a certain amount of money that we were meant to pay; it could be in pounds, dollars or in naira but it was substantial enough to get you not to want to be late next time. It was good practice that instils discipline and I still abide by that philosophy up till date.

Secret of my looks at age 50 One thing I tried not to do is to over labour myself. I also try as much as possible to put smiles on my face no matter the situation and live a positive life rather than being negative. I also relax myself very well and sleep early.

and a boss. And when journalists came to our camp and saw the way I was directing affairs of the team, they got surprised and thought I had a hierarchical commanding structure. One

day, one of the journalists revealed to me that I always appear more like the boss each time I talk to my teammates and that the players respect me a lot. That was

Fashion and style It is nice to have good fashion sense and style, but I don’t dress to follow fashion trends or traditions. For me, simplicity is what drives me most when it comes to fashion. Though, when I was growing •Keshi up, I was crazier about suits, blazers, ties etc but now, I like the African attires, like Guinea brocade and other traditional wears.

For suits, I wear them once in a blue moon; I wear them most when I want to go for a television programme. I also wear jeans, T. shirt and long sleeves.

I wear tracksuits only when I’m in the camp. I also like good and quality perfumes.

Mood and dressing My mood does not change the way I dress. I dress as

•Continues on page 33

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012—35

I got married at 21 to ward-off girls — Steven Keshi •Continues on page 32 the occasion demands.

Priciest fashion Item Prices are not what matters to me when buying clothes but the quality of the clothes. I don’t go crazy especially to impress people and buy the most expensive clothes just to impress.

Shoes and Jewellery I like good shoes that are of genuine quality.

Like I said earlier on, I don’t wear clothes or shoes to impress people neither do I buy shoes too expensive to impress some persons. Even if I am paid 1 billion dollars I can’t pay like $1000 for a pair of shoes. For me, it is madness. I’m not a crazy type when it comes to fashion but I like fashion.

When it comes to Jewellery, I don’t wear it instead I wear my Rosary. It is not because I am a Catholic but because I find it better than Jewellery. I have beautiful ones that I bought abroad including the handmade which serves as my bracelets.

words and since then, it has been wonderful with my wife, though tough.

But marrying somebody you truly love, is a good thing, really she is truly a God-sent to me. So far the marriage has fetched us five children, two boys and three girls.

Meeting his wife Yes, it was love at first sight. My wife and I didn’t date for long, before we got married.

When I saw her, I knew she was my wife. I told her that she was my girl and I wanted to marry her, she was so surprised but later accepted, then we fell seriously in love and we still are till today. In fact, she is more like a sister to me now and has been the rock behind me and everything I do.

Coping with Super Eagles’ job without family who are in the USA

Me and women Fortunately for me, I got married at the age of 21 in 1983 when my wife was 20 years old. Then I was just being made the captain of the team, I believe that limited my dating different girls.

And because of the decision I took of marrying early, I lost some of my friends.

They were not happy with my decision but it didn’t bother me because it was what I wanted.

Though as a footballer you have many admirers, for me, that is all it is.

C M Y K

Outside coaching I don’t go clubbing, I did that when I was a footballer, but if I’m in Nigeria I like watching African movies. When I’m in the USA I watch foreign movies, but I like reading a lot, especially inspirational books that reflects on our day to day life.

Best meal/fruits I like any good and tasty African foods but I don’t have a specific one at heart. My favourite fruits are mango and orange.

With suits, brown shoes can be difficult to pair; unlike black shoes. Everything just has to be properly coordinated! Here are tips on how best to ensemble your brown shoes with a suit.

Tip 1: Nay to black suits!

A black suit simply won’t look right. This doesn’t matter whether the shoes look dark enough to pass for black. Brown shoes look best with tan and beige suits, and some shades of navy. A brown suit can also work, but the combination would appear too extreme.

Tip 2: Match belt closely Ensure your belt matches the shoes as closely as possible.

This is important with brown because variance among hues can be very striking.

Tip 3: Consider occasion Because most people consider black more serious than brown, brown shoes might be more appropriate for less formal occasions. Another point to consider is whether the shoes have laces or not; laced shoes are generally dressier than slip-ons or loafers.

Tip 4: Shirt, tie ideas To increase formality, pair brown shoes with bolder shirts and ties. Note however that anything will look better than a blue and white striped shirt with a dark blue tie.

Smoke/drinking I have never smoked but I take alcohol. But I drink more of red wine.

My decision to marry @ 21 My decision to marry at a very tender age was influenced by a coach in the then New Nigerian Bank Football Club, who told me that I could be a better player, if I could get a wife or somebody I could hook up with or else I would get carried away by the way girls flocked around me. He said I would not last long in my football career if I continued with girls around me all the time. I thought it wise and I took to his

It is tough but my wife and I talk everyday. I just got back from the States two weeks ago.

But we have never been apart before expect when Nigeria called me in 2009 to assist Bonferer Jo, that was when I started going outside without my family.

•Keshi

36 — Vanguard, FRIDAY , AUGUST 17, 2012

THE HAIR SERIES I employ graduates in my salon

— Mrs Franca Agboola A

C M Y K

relationship with all of them.

Stylists are another challenge because you employ them and some of them don’t easily key in into the vision that we have.

They go left when at times one is going right. At the end of the day you might get a clash of opinions. I have to count myself lucky because I have good hands. Though we give the orientation, we have laid off almost 10 of them since we stared. My case is a little different because I am here most of the time. Another challenge is the environment because there is a lot of competition in this business.

Our Unique Selling Point is that we are knowledgeable in what we are doing. I have been in it since my secondary school days and I have come a long way and it is not really a problem for me. Another challenge is regular power supply; though we have it regular in this area and I think it is part of the challenges most people in areas where it is not regular face. Sometimes, we use the generating set.

How did you get into the salon business?

It has been my personal interest from secondary school.

You know some people are scared of hair and they can’t really touch someone’s hair but it was different for me as I loved to work on peoples hair.

Even when I got to service, I continued. I even got an award as the most industrious youth corps member in Anambra State in 2002. I started making money from fellow corpers by doing their hair.

Is hair salon business lucrative?

Salon is 100 % lucrative because it is a business that does not accommodate credit facility. It is not like every other business where people owe. Before you go into a beauty saloon to do your hair you must have your money in your pocket; so whatever you do you get paid for it. As a business person, I will not allow anybody to come into my salon to do hair on credit.

Meanwhile people in my environment are well to do

and most of them are exposed, so we find it very easy to deal with them.

Which categories of customers give you most problems to deal with?

I discovered that the elderly are most difficult to deal with when it comes to customer services. We have a lot of landlord’s wives and women who are much older than me.

The easiest sect of customers to do business with is the students and the younger ones. They always have money and they cope with us.

If you were not a hair dresser, what else would you have got into?

I will do something that is my field and that is water production; I cannot produce water but I can do water treatment. I have not ruled it out completely.

Can you compare Salons in Nigeria with those in developed countries?

Yes, one can comfortably compare Salons in Nigeria with those abroad. I travel abroad at least two, three times a year and when I go I do a

,

ll her life, Mrs. Franca Aricha Agboola has dreamt of making people beautiful. Today, she is the proprietor of one of Lagos’ biggest beauty parlours. The Ogoja, Cross River State born lady is a graduate of Industrial Chemistry from the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, former University of Technology. After getting married in December of 2004, the mother of three kid started her own business 2006, doing all kinds of beauty treatments as well as selling products. Excerpts:Which advise do you have to share with somebody who wants to start saloon business in Nigeria?

First and foremost, before you start any business in Nigeria you must have a certain amount of capital and the technical know-how of what you want to go into. The knowledge is very important because if you don’t have the knowledge of what you want to do, the people that run your business may end up ruining your business for you. Though you might employ others, those you employ may not have exactly, the type of vision you have. Again, you have to get the personal drive to do it because without it there is no way the business will succeed.

It is important. However, when all these things are there and there is no money, one cannot succeed but it is important that you know the business just as the capital is equally important.

What are the challenges salon businesses face in Nigeria?

The major one is that one has to deal with a lot of customers involving people from all walks of life such as bankers, lawyers, doctors, elderly and the young girls. When you are dealing with such categories of people, you have to come down to their level and flow so that you can offer their desired services. Some people may come with a certain mindset and if care is not taken you run into problems with them. No matter the categories of customers we have, I try to maintain a very good

Salon is 100 % lucrative because it is a business that does not accommodate credit facility. It is not like every other business where people owe

lot of hair there. When you talk about African styles we are better than them because it is our style which we know better.

They are excited when they see what we do.

As a married woman, how do you balance your house chores and the salon business?

My husband is a very caring, loving and considerate person. He cooperates and tries to see that he supports me in all aspects particularly in the business. My children are very independent as I have taught them from a very young age and so they can cope at all times. I take off days (Mondays and Wednesday within the week to take care of the home. I cook the food

,

and clean up the house and do some things the person helping me cannot really do.

I also close early so that I can meet up with what is happening in the house.

What is your staff like?

I have a banker and we have 2 graduates who are trainees in make up. They are many who are educated but still want to get that vocational training. I really don’t look at where they are coming from; rather we change them and make them better. The people are doing very well in their different areas of endeavours.

What determines different styles in women?

Hair styles depend on the body type and the shape of the head. If the person is short

and slim, I will prefer something straight and flat. I will rather prefer curly and long hair for those that are short and slim.

Those who have come of school and don’t have a means of livelihood should learn something and get a vocation.

Right now I am enjoying the thing I learnt in the secondary school though the certificate is a plus as it gives an edge in the business. Younger people should be encouraged to have a trade in Nigeria.

How do you relax?

I like to go out a lot with my family. In Nigeria I like to relax at home and read newspapers. I read a lot.

What can you say about men who ask their wife to shave their hair due to economic reason?

I don’t think it is good for a man to tell her wife to shave off her hair for economic reasons. There are many hair dos one can do without having to spend a fortune. The woman’s hair is really her beauty.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012 — 37

Hair Media Announces Hairdressers Conference

H

air Media, producers of African Hair TV Show, the first television program dedicated to the hair industry in Nigeria; and African Hair & Beauty Magazine, a leading Hair industry magazine in West Africa, have announced their 2012 Hairdressers Conference and Exhibition in Nigeria.

Announcing this in Lagos this week, Hair Media representative Mr. Anthony Smith said Hair Media has the pedigree to take the Nigerian hair industry to international standards. He revealed that the conference, which expects participants from every country in West Africa including Ghana, Cote D’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra-Leon and the Gambia, will highlight the business angle of hairdressing as well as

professionalism, effectiveness and efficiency and motivation.

Also on the agenda are customer service, hygiene, awards, display of the latest hair products, entertainment and refreshments. Assuring participants that the various segments would be handled by seasoned and up to date professionals, Mr. Smith stressed the need to take Nigerian hairdressing to international standard by providing an interactive forum for hairdressers to make hairdressing a delightful and enviable occupation. He said such a conference, which is the first of its kind, would bring hairdressers closer to the manufacturers, distributors, and Media, properly educate hairdressers on the use of hair care products, discover new opportunities, launch new hairstyles and products as

foster new banking relationships. The various segments will be handled by competent, up-to-date professionals.

Should Nigeria go to the next Olympics?

T

he Minister in charge of Nigerian sports, Bolaji Abdulahi, was

referred to by Lagos State governor Babatunde Raji Fashola as “the only Sports

Minister” he had ever known “ who actually understands sports”

Don’t blame Nigerians therefore, for believing him when he exhibited so much optimism about the chances of team Nigeria beating its last

Nigeria’s Men basketball team-The Redeemers

performances in the one-infour-years event in London this year. In lavish ceremonies in which the youthful minister complained about inadequate funding compared with funding of sports in relatively advanced nations, he nevertheless assured that all that could be done had been done.

It would be a chicken and egg argument, if one were to be entered into about whose responsibility it is to ensure athletes are adequately prepared for international competitions to which Nigeria is subscribed. What is beyond any sort of argument is that there was not, and with all kinds of scandals brewing underneath it all and athletes being paid to shut up, the question is how, if Nigeria cannot subsidize all kinds of essential goods and services to her citizens, can she afford to keep staging all these jamborees in the name of sports.

In a country whose so called leaders have become famous for bleeding it dry, perhaps it is better, for the avoidance of doubt, for the funds put into sponsoring jamborees for competitions to be put into the building of sports infrastructure and resources here at home.

Enough is enough.

C M Y K

38—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012—39 With PRINCE OSUAGWU princeosuagwu@gmail.com

Blackberry curve 9220:

My mother pinged from village W

HEN Research In Motion, RIM, makers of the Blackberry smartphone, introduced the new Blackberry curve 9220 in Nigeria recently, I made inquiries and bought one. It was meant to be my back-up working tool due to its simplicity and the flexibility of the key pad.

On getting home my old mother who was on visit saw it and passed some comments which I clearly understood “maybe, I am the only one who will not use the Blackberry”. I didn’t need to be told twice, I relinquished the device after setting it up for her. Few days after, she left my house and to my greatest shock, a beep came into my phone and it was a ping from my mum, “ar don reach o”.

It was a relief actually but at the same time a wonder how an almost 80 year old woman managed to ping.

I think the device made it easy for her due to some of the key features including , sleek design and the new dedicated BBM shortcut key. Besides these, the device spots FM Radio and offers a powerful social experience with everything the user needs to stay connected, including Facebook for BlackBerry and Twit-

ter for BlackBerry apps as well as social feeds.

It is supported by the BlackBerry 7.1 Operating System, OS. Designed for easy usage, the new Curve models, including the 9320 model, offer outstanding combination of features and apps to help the user stay connected to the people and information that matter most to them.

The new Social Feeds 2.0 app, allows the user to post updates to multiple social networks simultaneously and capture updates from news sources (RSS), social apps and instant messaging all in one consolidated view.

A built-in FM radio that does not use data services, allows the user to tune into favourite local stations while an integrated camera which supports video recording, takes pictures that can also be tagged with their location. This is with the aid of the smartphone’s built-in GPS For a smartphone meant to specifically break the barrier between the haves and the have-not entry level users, it has a long battery life with up to 7 hours of talk time or up

to 28 hours of FM radio listening or music playback.

With headphones, music playback is rated at up to 30 hours on the BlackBerry Curve 9320 built-in Wi-Fi connectivity . Without exaggeration, this device the market-leading BlackBerry messaging and social-centric features.

Waldi Wepener, Regional Director for East, West and

By Koyinsola Adeleye Central Africa at Research In Motion who introduced the device to journalist said that “BlackBerry Curve ONE of the leading providers of Digital smartphones have been extremely popular in Nigeria, imaging solutions, Panabiz International offering affordable access to BBM and other popular Limited, has introduced one of its new social networks. The new compact and stylish products, the Canon BlackBerry Curve models offer improved battery life imagePROGRAFinto the market. product and a truly unique messaging and social networking is a large format printer range with experience that will appeal especially to Nigerian cusoptional MFP capabilities that tomers who want allows for more efficient to upgrade to a printing and scanning of smartphone large format technical for the first documents for design and time, or existengineering professionals. ing BlackBerCanon imagePROGRAF ry Curve cusprinters according to tomers lookPanabiz, are optimized for ing for a step use by professionals in a up in speed variety of different markets and functionincluding Computer•Blackberryality.”

Aided Design (CAD); curve-9220 Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC); Geographical Information System (GIS) and other technical document professional areas to produce large technical documents or posters in colour for Graphics artists.

The software utilities that are included are highly valuable to users in the retail signage industry as well as general office environments.

With its ability to quickly print technical documents up to 2400 x 1200 dots-perinch (dpi) with precise lines makes the product an added advantage for That is why when a short, comic marketsuch as video blogging short organizations that rely on speed and ing campaign video, tagged Vconnect feoriginal videos. accuracy to stay relevant in a competitive The mass appeal that YouTube verbroke the YouTube chart recently attractmarket. ing over 2 million viewers in just one week, brought into video viewing has Introducing the product to the media it aroused the interest of mobile geeks in also made it a platform to rate a recently, officials of Panabiz said that Nigeria who are calling for reviews of the video content, meaning that a because Canon LUCIA EX pigment ink, video that lacks real character, video’s technical production mechanics in offers outstanding print quality, order to enlighten and educate young Nipowerful message, suspense and professionals can achieve high quality gerian video makers. colourful texture, would become and performance in such printing The VConnect Fever video, accessed an island to itself because the applications as color or monochrome more people that watched a through the link (https://www.youtube.com/ photography, industrial design and /watch?V=WJuo3s09ma4 ) a promotional video, demonstrates how high-quality poster production. musical video for VConnect, one of interesting the video content is.

An additional notable feature in the Nigeria’s local search engines. The video new imagePROGRAF models is a builtis a comic action in which two humorin color calibration function which ous characters gate crashed into the compensates for color variations caused studios of a Nigerian music producer, by factors such as age and environmental OJB Jezreel, who was in company of affects. another top video director, DJ Tee. Before OJB Jezreel and DJ Tee could have them thrown out, they started a pidginrap demonstrating that all their accessories were purchased searching through VConnect.

The video, according to the company’s General Manager Mr. Deepankar Rustagi, was conceptualized to further connect the users of search engine to the brand and reinforce its varied offerings to prospective users, especially the teeming youth as well as SME’s who make use of the portal to connect with r customers. anon printe •The new c

VConnect Fever video sets new record on YouTube …attracts over 2 million views in a week Y

ouTube, a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees, debuted in 2005 and altered the entertainment landscape, especially creating a new model for video distribution and viewing.

The new media platform uses Adobe Flash Video and HTML5 to display a wide variety of user-generated video content, including movie clips, TV clips, music videos, asas amateur content

•Vconnect video C M Y K

Panabiz shows stuff with new Canon image printer, imagePROGRAF

40— VANGUARD, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012 ODAY possibly marks the end of the most blessed month of fasting, a period of absolute devotion, of nearness to Allah, of favour and blessings, of forgiveness and righteousness, of abstinence from food and drink, and materialism, of tahjuds and divine Powers, of Charity and kindness.

We thank Allah for witnessing the end of the period with wholesome benefits insha-Allah.

As we prepare for the celebration, it should be noted that it is solely observed with the intention to thank Allah for bestowing us the grace of fasting, it is necessary to take a witnessing the month and sharing light meal at least to show you from the mercies therein and have completed your fasting giving the endurance to abstain period. oneself from the luxuries of the As you go to the prayer materialistic world. We have ground, recite the following to cleansed our minds, bodies and affirm your love for Allah, souls during the fasting period, it express your gratitude towards is appropriate we celebrate the him and praise him. Say: “Allahu spiritual achievements with full Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Laa Ilaaha energy and gaiety.

Illallaah Wallaahu Akbar, Allahu ‘Eid-il-Fitr’ has a unique set of Akbar, Wa lillaahil prayers offered in a different Hamd.”meaning: God is the manner than usual greatest, God is the greatest, congregational Jumat prayers. there is no god except Allah, and After an early bath, (ghusl) Allah is the greatest. HE is the Muslims are enjoined to wear greatest. To HIM belongs all new clothes and gather at praises.” praying ground close to them for the eid prayers. Light food is emember to offer your recommended before you set out Zakatul-Fitr before you set for the eid. This is necessary after out for eid. Details of this were going through a whole 29 days of published yesterday on our daily

T

Tel: 08098097290 email: isholaism@yahoo.co.uk

Eid-il-Mubarak!

,

R

Ramadan Talk. According to a release sent by The Muslim Congress, TMC which elucidates on Zakatul-Fitr, it is payable anytime before the ‘Eid-ul-Fitr prayer. The Prophet (SAW) urged Muslims to pay this charity in the month of Ramadan, because it helps the poor and needy, takes

care of their needs in the month of Ramadan and also makes it possible for them to celebrate the ‘Eid festival with other Muslims, and also meant to expiate (Kaffarah) for defects and mistakes a person may have done during this blessed month of Ramadan.

All these rites, devotion, and charity are more important than the elaborate and extravagant celebrations. But the fun and frolic environment cannot be missed even after the rites are over

Gawat: We're ready for negotiation— Imams Say Boko Haram not representing Muslims

T

HE Council of Imams and Alfas in Eti-Osa, Lagos state has declared that the activities of the Boko Haram sect do not represent the teachings of Islam just as the Baba Adini of the area, Alhaji AbdulYekeen Olawale Bakare described the recent demand by the sect that President Jonathan must accept Islam as balderdash.

Alhaji Bakare stated this at the special Prayer held for the missing ace Presenter, Alhaji Aremu Gawat and Press conference on the state of the nation organised by the Council of Imams and Alfas in Eti-Osa, Lagos state.

The prayer which took about two hours in the form ofrecitationoftheHolyQuran and other recitations for the safereturnofAlhajiGawatwas led by the chairman of the council, Alhaji Abdul-Barri Yossuff Afini.

The group which described the mysterious disappearance of Gawat as a test from Almighty Allah appealed to his captors to have a rethink and release him forthwith. “We appeal to any person or group of persons that may be connected to the disappearance of Alhaji Gawat to make available means of negotiation. Life is give and take. We are ready for negotiation, whatever it is, nothing from heaven is too heavy for the earth. We are sure the society is very much ready to forgive you, if he (Gawat) can be released, we shall go by your terms. Take it as a promise from Imams and it shall be fulfilled. Please release Alhaji Gawat now.”

Reacting to the state of insecurity in the country, Alhaji Afini who also C M Y K

condemned the incessant killings and destruction of property in the northern part of the country said the act is alien to Islam. He stated: “some people might be behind it using Islam to actualise their selfish goals and giving it religious colouration.

"Islam emphasises that if anyone kills a soul, it is as if he had killed a whole nation and whoever saves a soul would have saved a whole nation. So, anybody doing

anything contrary cannot be said to be representing Islam,“ he stated.

The Baba Adini of Eti-Osa, Alhaji Abdul-Yekeen Bakare also condemned the sect’s demand that President Jonathan should become a Muslim saying that it is balderdash. “It is rubbish.

Every one has the right to practice any religion of his choice. Islam says there is no compulsion in religion and nobody should be forced to accept Islam. The

prophet thought us to preach to people with wisdom and notbycoercingthemtoaccept Islam."

Alhaji Bakare who noted that the sect does not in any way represent Islam or Muslims in the country urged all Muslims to be security conscious in their environment while also urging the security agents to do more in unraveling the whereabouts of Alhaji Gawat.

From Left: Alh Moshood Alamorieda, Chief Imam Alaguntan C'Mosque, Alh Barri Yussuf Afini, Chairman COI, Eti-Osa and Chief Imam of Olomu C'Mosque, Alh Yisa Olowo, Chief Imam Ikate C' Mosque and V-Chairman Eti-Osa, COI and Alh Abdul Lateef Balogun, Chief Imam, Okeira-Nla C'Mosque all in Eti-Osa LG during a Press Briefing and Special Prayer held for Alh Aremu Gawat at Olomu/Ajiran Central Mosque recently.

Members of Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria, FOMWAN, Eti-Osa Branch at the Press Conference and Special Prayer held for Alhaji Aremu Gawat. Pix shows Alhaja Mulikat Abeni Calfos, Ameerah (middle) and other members of the branch executives.

,

The amount of Zakat Al-Fitr was fixed by the Prophet (SAW).

It is about 5 pounds of wheat, flour, barley, dates or raisins.

Some jurists also allow paying cash to the poor and needy. The head of the household must pay this amount on behalf of all the members or the dependant, males or females, adults or children.

It is interesting to know that Muslims are at liberty to pay Zakat-ul-Fitri with foodstuff or in monetary equivalent (cash).

According to Luqman AbdurRaheem, the Ameer, The Muslim Congress, those willing to use monetary equivalent of foodstuff could find below the 2012 Survey of Zakat & Sadaqat Foundation as compiled by the group but for residents in Lagos because prices are not the same at different parts of the country.

RICE N420, BEANS N630, MAIZE N280, GUINEA CORN N280, GARRI N280, MILLET N350, WHEAT N420.

All these rites, devotion, and charity are more important than the elaborate and extravagant celebrations. But the fun and frolic environment cannot be missed even after the rites are over. The Eid-prayers are followed by feast and gettogether among loved ones.

Eid-il-Mubarak!

NASFAT Iftar with the Media

From left: Alhaji Abu Salami, Alhaji Ayinde Shoagbe, and Alhaji Mikail Sarumoh, GM, NTA, Ilorin during an Iftar with the Media organised by NASFAT in Ikeja, recently.

From left: Alhaji Mikail Banji Sarumoh, General Manager, NTA Ilorin, Alhaji Biyi Bamgbose, PR Sec, NASFAT, and Hajia Aminat Muhammed, NTA Channel 10 during an Iftar with the Media organised by NASFAT in Ikeja, recently.

Islamic Group doles out food items to 400 widows As part of its effort to compliment the government in the area of reducing poverty and making life more meaningful for the citizens, the Jama’at Ta’awunil Muslimeen Society of Nigeria has donated food items to no fewer than 400 widows as part of its charity programme during the month of Ramadan.

The food items

distributed to widows were rice, maize, wheat, grains, beans as well as cash donation to the widows.

Speaking during the distribution of the food items to the widows at its headquarters in Iwo, Osun State, the National President of the group, Sheikh Dawood Imran Molasan said the initiative was geared towards impacting on the members of society.

Vanguard anguard,, YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

GEMINI; Both your mood and element of luck are as friendly as you would want them to be. Thus success may come the harder way today. Protect your finances.

CANCER; Many will look up to you both for practical assistance and leadership direction thus, you must not ball-up under pressure. Try to reason with your spouse.

LEO; Diplomacy may become very important today as development within your working arena calls for both maturity and cleverness. Be family minded today.

VIRGO; No matter how helpful friends were yesterday it is important you don’t dance to discordant tunes from any quarter today; gamble not with matters-ofthe-heart.

LIBRA; Many people are under pressure today but, if you do away with sentiment and give priority attention to money making, your finances will be better for your efforts. Don’t allow misunderstanding within your family circle go out of hands.

FRID A Y, AUGUST 17, 2012 — 41 FRIDA

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

I

F there is any com modity that is scarce today, that thing is time. It is on account of this that many of us leave undone what ought to have been done. It is for this reason too

woman without something occupying him/her now? Virtually, every one of us is busy doing one thing or the other, but that many of us leave undone what the issue is: what are leave tasking duties could lead to our you busy doing? to our own detri- promotion.

Think about it!

If I may ask you, ment. It is for this reason also that we who is that man/

TERROR MUDA

Where is the man with the time...?

in “Never say goodbye”

By Lanre Kehinde

SCORPIO; To be on the safer side it is imperative you respect the law and it’s enforcement agents. Some people are trying to deceive you for an obvious reason.

SAGITTARIUS; Early part of the day may bring you good opportunity but for you not to lose it you must exhibit maturity. Protect both your money and source of income.

CAPRICORN; Others will step on your nerves yet it not the best for you to over-react today. It is good to prove reliable but your secrets must remain intact.

AQUARIUS; This may not be the best of days as there will be a few challenges within your working arena. If you rely on luck today, you would be disappointed.

PISCES; You will need to watch what you tell others, especially those friends you don’t know too well. Be more loving but refuse to gamble with love

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

ARIES; If care is not taken what you have gained yesterday may be lost due to your care-free attitude within your base of operation. Avoid deceit today.

TAURUS; You would fare better if you prepare your mind for possible confrontation from unexpected quarters. Don’t promise more than you can actually deliver.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat tr ological datee and place of bir th ttoo the As Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

Who do you think I am?

Dear Joshua, I have been following your write-ups for a long time you can not believe and to be sincere you are good.

Now I wan you to analyse my star and tell me my horoscopic personality. More in to your pen.

Mumuni, Delta.

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Dear Mumuni, What you will find here under will prove useful if you take them seriously and utilise them ANALYSIS OF YOUR HOROSCOPE DATA/PLANETARY PLACEMENT Spiritual Neptune as the only Planet at home when you were born pointed to you as a person with great deal of spiritual energy you can tap at will, especially if you are conscious of it’s presence in your inner-self.

But then, with majority of (five) planets placed in the Cardinal Zodiacal constellations you are equally an ambitious person who will desire worldly honour and prominence, and luckily for you, you were endowed with abilities to achieve your ambition.

Prominence of Mutable quality and Air Element in this chart are indications of a person with higher pitch of intelligence who can adapt to so many situations without being stressed unnecessarily. And GREAT LEADERSHIP QUALITY is present here. Although you are a Lady, with nothing-less than SEVENTY PERCENT of PUSH-FULL INFLUENCE in your Horoscope you can unexpectedly become aggressive, especially when issue of freedom is to the fore. Beside 70% of PUSH-FULL INFLUENCE in you, mighty Sun (an indicator of your inner-self) with Uranus (a great freedom lover) conjoined in SAGITTARIUS ( another freedom loving Star Sign) all these are pointers to greater love of freedom in your deeper-inner-self. And whoever is trying to curtail such unnecessarily may unexpectedly court trouble, because you will resist such. With your natal Sun (your conscious self) and Moon/Stellium (your emotional state/ sub-conscious self) placed in Sagittarius and Libra respectively, you are mainly a Sagittarian and partly Libran and that is to say basic characteristics of the two Star signs are highly pronounced in your inner-self.

Commen3

by Lawrence Akapa

42—Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012—43

Timelines •October 20, 2012 •ICJ rules in favour of Cameroon in dispute between Nigeria and Cameroon •July 16, 2006, Nigeria and Cameroon sign agreement to transfer ownership of Bakassi to Cameroon the Green Tree Agreement •August 14, 2008, Nigerian flag is taken down as it transfers territory to Cameroon

•President Goodluck Jonathan

BAKASSI:

Final showdown WITH days running out for Nigeria to initiate a possible reversal of its surrender of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon, aggrieved indigenes of the former Bakassi commence a subtle rebellion

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

A

FTER October 10, 2012 every issue concerning the once disputed Bakassi Peninsula should technically come to a halt. That day would mark the tenth anniversary of the judgment of the International Court of Justice in the dispute between Cameroon and Nigeria over ownership of Bakassi. The ICJ sitting in The Hague, Netherlands had on October 10, 2002 ruled in favour of Cameroon throwing out the claims of Nigeria at the end of what many on the Nigeria saw as a not too diligent prosecution of its claim of ownership by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

By October 10, 2012 the ten year window allowed for appeals to the judgment of the ICJ would have expired. The Obasanjo administration did

not bother to exhaust that option as it proceeded four years later to sign the Green Tree Agreement, GTA, with Cameroon transferring ownership of the peninsula to Nigeria’s eastern but historically not too friendly francophone neighbour.

With weeks running out for an appeal, going by the provisions of international law, stakeholders in the area are expressing some little hope that the present administration could initiate moves to reverse the handover.

Expectations of a reversal Any appeal, however, is expected to get to the court six months before deliberations.

Expectations of a reversal are, however, laced with doubts.

The significance of Nigeria’s assent to the Green Tree Agreement is acceptance of the

judgment of the ICJ. It was expected that agreement would be ratified by the National Assembly for it to be implemented in the country but that was not the case as the Obasanjo administration used fiat to undermine the powers and constitutional provisions.

The preceding administrations to Obasanjo were, however, not as submissive. The General Sani Abacha regime in its time made sure that no inch of the country was tampered with, especially

by The Cameroons. To strengthen the position of Bakassi within the Nigerian federation, Abacha created a distinct local government area for the Bakassi people.

Remarkably, even though the area has been physically ceded to Cameroon, the local government is still listed in the Nigerian constitution. The loss of Bakassi Peninsula has also led to bad fortunes for Cross

River State as it has led to the delisting of the state from the league of oil producing states in the country. With that loss is also the loss of the expected royalty and goodwill from oil producing companies that would have accrued to the people of the peninsula.

Compounding the situation of Akwa Ibom State is the recent judgment of the Supreme Court conferring ownership of the disputed 76 oil wells between the state and Akwa Ibom State to the later. However, following the ICJ verdict, the Greentree Agreement between the two countries was signed on June 12, 2006 in Greentree, New York, United States under the watchful eyes of representatives of the United Nations, Germany, United Kingdom and the United States.

The agreement preceded the handover which was done two years later in a ceremony in Archibong town in Bakassi, then in Cross River State.

flag, with the rising sun as its symbol, in Abana, headquarters of Bakasssi before they were dislodged by the Nigerian government.

Upon ceding of the oil-rich territory to Cameroon, the international community and the Federal Government promised to ensure that the displaced people were resettled and even assured them that they would not lose the benefits accruing from the resources obtainable in the peninsula. That assurance was, however, soon undermined when the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC and the National Boundary Commission, in a border demarcation exercise transferred 76 oil wells previously accredited to Cross River to the neighbouring Akwa Ibom State.

Temporary triumph

The action led to the Cross River State Government mounting a challenge at the Supreme Court which was recently decided in favour of Akwa Ibom State.

Handover Throughout Reacting to the ceremony judgment, Governor history, Liyel Imoke said: “As a While the injured wronged but lawceremony took abiding people, we had place in Bakassi, people hoped for justice. But the actual have had that was not to be. This handover of title documents was to resort to judgment is merely a temporary triumph of done at the arms in falsehood.

I have P r e g r i n o , confidence in the Governor’s Lodge their selfultimate victory of ‘good Calabar, amidst defence over evil’ because as a water-tight famous philosopher, security. Although where William Cullen Bryant a militant group, peaceful once said, truth crushed Bakassi Freedom negotiations to earth shall rise Fighters, had again.” threatened to fail Addressing journalists ensure that the at the Council of Chiefs exercise did not chambers, Calabar, take place, but the Paramount Ruler of leader of the Bakassi and Chairman group, Tony Ene, died in a mysterious motor State Council of Chiefs, His accident few days to the Royal Majesty, Etinyin Etim handover. Ene and his group Okon Edet alongside had even hoisted the Bakassi Continues from page 45

44—Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012

BAKASSI: Final showdown Continues from page 45 command of the country was watching the unfolding events in Bakassi and will respond to it appropriately. It also claimed that the Cameroon government had replied to the arrest and subsequent release of three of their soldiers as well as its plan to take back its ancestral land through a website in French that they were ready for Nigeria.

Maiden broadcast Meanwhile in a maiden broadcast, the CommanderGeneral, Ekpe Ekpenyong Oku, said: “Please for the umpteenth time, we plead with our people to leave Abana now.

The fight is going to be thickest and fiercest now that our brothers from the North and East have fully arrived. Bakassi we hail thee.”

He added: “No sea movement so that you don’t have cause to regret. There shall be no movement of boats from Ikang or Marina beach to Cameroon on these two days.

Be warned.”

Oku called “on men of

*Bakassi Paramount Ruler, Etinyin Etim Okon Edet goodwill, individual, human rights organizations and the indigenous people of Bakassi to join hands in resisting and fighting the present international conspiracy.”

Earlier in a statement made available to newsmen in Calabar, Oku had revealed that arrangements have been concluded with some international liberation groups

to assist the Bakassi natives in the battle ahead. He said: “Ours will be a classical story of the elephant and the ant. The elephant will soon be driven frantic with ants all over its enormous bulk. The elephant will be so harassed and will find no respite and will dash itself against a tree trunk.

“Throughout history, injured

people have had to resort to arms in their self-defence where peaceful negotiations fail. Bakassi people are no exception. Our right to selfdetermination is imminent; some will die, but some will leave to reap from our labours,” he stated.

Though tempers are high, but

what will happen to the Bakassi people who have lost their ancestral land including deity now wandering in the wilderness after ten years of the ICJ judgment, will the international community fulfill the promise as they made or will the people decide to shape their destiny? Time will tell.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012—45

BAKASSI: Final showdown Continues from page 43 Chairman of Bakassi Local Government Area, Dr. Ekpo Bassey, and leaders of thought from the area in a text entitled, “Nigerians, be our witness” said that they have decided to take their destiny in their hands.

He recalled that the ICJ gave its judgment without giving the people the opportunity to participate in the events that led to that and that on June 12, 2006, then President Olusegun Obasanjo signed the Greentree Agreement which was watched by the UN and other super powers, an action he said “trampled upon our collective right as a people as expressly guaranteed by the UN charters on human rights.”

According to the monarch such rights include nationality and sovereignty, right to participate in the cultural life of community, right to selfdetermination among others, adding, “as a peace loving people and having been assured that our rights will not be infringed and will not be subjected to inhuman and degrading treatments by our beloved country, we accepted the movement from our ancestral home which was supposed to be stressed free, but it was not and is still not.”

Disseminating information

*President Paul Biya of Cameroon

Greentree agreement He alleged that the ICJ and Greentree Agreement entered into by the two countries had been breached by the Cameroonian authority, saying that the fishermen from the state were not being allowed access to the peninsula for fishing as they were being harassed, molested and killed by the Cameroonian gendarmes.”

Etinyin Okon-Edet regretted that the Bakassi people have lost their identity, face the problem of integration with the host communities, lost valuable assets in form of houses, palaces, household property as a result of the displacement without compensation.

As a sound of warning to the federal government, he said: “This is to inform all Nigerians that the youths of the area are already restive and I as the paramount ruler cannot stop them from resisting now what they consider an unfair treatment by the ICJ, the UN and Nigeria which ignored the human cost of their action. With total abandonment by Nigeria, the youths threaten to go back to the creeks to render the entire Gulf of Guinea inaccessible to oil and marine exploration activities in collaboration with their Niger Delta compatriots and their Northern sympathizers.

“They have threatened that

million were reported to have lost their lives.

“Is it not ironical that we could fight for years to keep the country together and for one moment a territory in that area where the war was fought will be given away in such a Greentree Agreement? Worst still, it was the same leader who fought the war as a commander, latter commander-in-chief of the country that still handed a territory of the country to another?” However, last week, a group, the Bakassi Self Determination Front hoisted its Blue-White-Red liberation flag dotted with stars at Dayspring which was supposed to be the resettlement camp for the displaced and also set up a radio station.

The station which allegedly started test-run transmission, Monday, August 6, 2012, at 12 noon and operates on 4.2 MHz and 5.2MHz Short Wave band disseminated information on activities on goings-on at the ceded Peninsula.

*Bakassi self determination front flag before October 10, 2012, they will take back their Bakassi in whatever means possible if urgent steps are not taken by federal government to redress the above. Nigerians should bear me witness that I have tried my best over the period from the day of ICJ judgment till today to maintain peace and order. This battle is going to be worldwide. God has told us clearly that he is going to intervene in this matter.”

The Cross River State Community, University of

Calabar through their chairman, Dr. Patrick Egaga, described the ICJ judgment as “colonial, biased and harmful to the international image and security of Nigeria, more so when the so called judgment did not take into consideration the rights of the people of Bakassi to self-determination.”

He also condemned the Supreme Court judgment that decided ownership of 76 oil wells between the state and Akwa Ibom in favour of the

The group before then had issued a two week ultimatum to its people living within the ceded territory to vacate or be crushed even as it had warned latter saying that it was a against movement on the sea travesty of justice and called for on Saturday August 11 and immediate reversal in the Sunday 12, 2012.

It was alleged that the group interest of peace.

Also speaking in an interview had in a text message to the in Calabar, the State Security member representing Bakassi/ Calabar South/ Adviser, Mr. Rekpene A k p a b u y o Bassey, said the constituency in security of the House of country’s territorial Representatives, waters was a source Hon. Essien Ayi, of worry since it was told him: “This is Though bare at the moment as your constituency, a result of the ICJ tempers are there shall be no judgment. Bassey high, but movement of boats wondered why the from Ikang beach or what will Nigeria Government Marina beach to happen to that fought civil war Cameroon on for three years to the Bakassi Saturday, August 11 retain the country’s people who and Sunday, August unity against the 12, 2012. Announce have lost Biafra Republic to your their declared by the late constituents, major Ikemba of Nnewi, ancestral takeover events will Dim Odumegwu land occur that will take Ojukwu, could swiftly the world, for those including hand over part of the who dance for the same territory to deity now society must learn another country wandering in to know when the within hours in what d r u m m i n g the was referred to as demands a new Green Tree wilderness dance.

Agreement. after ten “Those who used He said: “I am years of the to come from worried that the flank Usakedet by bush in the Gulf of Guinea ICJ track to Akwa and makes us vulnerable judgment Archibong town to external attacks. must not move on The security of the those days please. territorial waters in God will definitely the whole of that flank be on the throne is open. Anybody anytime on these would be right to days. We hope you express unhappiness will save your people.” over the fact that for three years The group claimed that a we fought a civil war because Cameroon radio monitored in one part of the country had Yaounde said the military high decided to secede from Nigeria *Continues on page 44 and in that war about one

46—Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012

T

O many Nigerians, the 2012 Olympic period was a nightmare, if not a season of despair while the super powers - USA, China, Russia and Britain were busy hauling medals of all sorts, Gold, Silver and Bronze, Nigeria was busy counting its losses. Perhaps, the recent event would be the worst setback suffered by Nigerian athletes because no single medal was won. Many people are of the opinion that Nigeria needed such a shock to understand the concept of proper preparation for any world event. One could easily imagine the agony of those fine athletes who were chosen to represent their country, but later to become what one reporter described as “Olympic flops”.

Personally, I believe that the dismal failure of all the athletes would not be put on the individuals who represented this great country, but rather, on the system that produced them. The shame of a country in the recent Olympics should now be an experience to any deserving nation.

What many would admit is that Nigerians, especially their leaders, always believe in reaping without investing in human, physical and financial resources.

Some years ago, Nigerian athletes in field events and boxing were major threats at Commonwealth and Olympic games.

Illusion in London Our female jumpers had once captured the gold medal; our football team once won the Olympic gold; our long jumpers (both female and male) had been adorned with both silver and bronze medals while our boxers had won silver and bronze medals in past Olympics; our Relay teams were always sure of gold, silver or bronze medals. These illustrious tales turned to illusion in London 2012. What could have been imagined as the shame of the ‘Black Race‘ was eminently reversed by the golden men and women of the USA and the West Indies who are of African descent. One hopes the present leadership will not miss the point on unnecessary investments on sports development to meet future expectations of adequate rewards.

At the same period, while our black brothers were winning medals in London,

07059197616

The necessary retreat to the starting point members of the Boko Haram sect were busy killing and maiming their fellow Nigerians through physical attacks and ‘suicide bombs‘. It is remarkable that during the period of insecurity, the American Secretary of State, Mrs. Hilary Clinton had time to visit Nigeria where she made some useful suggestions on Internal Security. The first time the golden lady visited us, she lamented on the sorry tale of a giant oil producer becoming a net importer of refined oil product. No leader then took her seriously until last year when it was discovered that the country had spent about N2 trillion on subsidies on imported petroleum products. If we had been a listening nation, the country would have been spared such a sad loss of valuable amount of money used in importing the products that abound locally.

This time, by the happy reaction and cheerful exposition of the President and members of his government to Hilary Clinton‘s visit, it is assumed that something better would come out from her advice. To many analysts, her advice is on good governance when she was reported to have said that, “We really believe that the future for Nigeria is limitless but the most important task that you face, as you have said, is making sure

that there are better opportunities for all Nigerians, South, East, West, every young boy and girl to have chance to fulfill his God given potential”. The gospel of giving every opportunity to everybody throughout the country is the right recipe for peace and prosperity. However, this concept requires common sense politics, sensible economics and good administration in a corrupt free enviroment. It must be admitted that what we have now under a party which is addicted to a policy of “winning at all cost”, “and winners take all” is not the ideal.

This calls for a drastic change of attitude by party leaders at both federal and state levels.

It is reasonable to expect that where opportunity is given to every citizen to fulfill his endowment, the national income should be shared equitably. For example, the “oil money” which should be the engine of growth of the national economy is shared in such a way that is neither economically justifiable nor politically satisfactory.

National revenue is at present shared with the Federal Government having over 52% of the total, leaving the remaining part to States and Local governments. The situation is that both states and local government run to Abuja every month to

Sen A de tunmbi: The stat e Ade detunmbi: state POLITICAL ocat e advocat ocate ENCOUNTER police adv

BY HENRY UMORU

T

HE Senate is on recess but for Senator Olubunmi Ayodeji Adetunmbi it means almost nothing considering the ongoing discourse on what could be referred to as his pet project.

With many of his colleagues holidaying in different resort centres across the world, Senator Adetunmbi has found his time at home occupied by the increasingly contentious debate on the structure of the country’s federalism.

One of the issues of that twisted federalism is the Nigerian Police, a behemoth that is as twisted as Nigeria’s ill-defined federalism.

The 57 year old senator representing Ekiti North on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN is also the ViceChairman of the Senate Committee on Interior as well as a member of the Committees on National Planning, Public Accounts, National Identity and Population, Cooperation and Integration in Africa and NEPAD. Even though police affairs are not on his brief in the committees, Senator

Adetunmbi has not been deterred in his advocacy on police issues. He is presently engaged in a mobilization for the amendment of the constitution to allow the creation of State Police.

What is his motivation on this?

"This is a unique opportunity for Nigeria to address some of the historical imbalances in the federalism that we are practicing especially as it affects key institution of a state of which the police is a major one,” the Ekiti senator told a group of newsmen during an interactive session in his office in the National Assembly complex recently.

"There is no way you can have a state that is running a classical model of government with an executive, judicial and legislative arm of government and you are saying for some reasons we are yet to build consensus on to say such states are not in a position to police their territories.

Don’t forget that justice systems operate on the basis of value chain and the starting point in the justice value chain is policing,” he submitted.

Sustaining his argument with examples of other countries with success stories of state policing, Senator Adetunmbi said “the

*Adetunmbi UK indeed has territorial police forces that carry out the police duties in defined jurisdictions that make up the United Kingdom. There are separate police authorities for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

collect what they described as inadequate allocation. This sharing formula does not recognize the concept of federalism on which the country should be firmly based. Each area should be able to manage its resources to the best of its ability.

As for the petroleum resources which the Federal Government as at present places under its firm control, I have stated in this column several times that that principle should be reversed to allow the oil producing areas to have a say. This means that the government agency dealing with production and sales should be jointly owned by the Federal Government, Oil Producing areas and other States in the country, and the revenue shared in accordance with the agreed percentage of shareholding. This looks a neater arrangement than the provision of increasing revenue to oil producing states (in PIB) from the profits of oil producing companies.

T

he higher percentage of shares to oil producing areas would solve the future problems of fighting for the control of what is normally regarded as our oil.

This arrangement would make the monthly journey to Abuja not a journey to share the booty by the Federal Government, but for a meeting of shareholders of petroleum resources.

The message so far has been on going back to the starting point to review false steps on federalism, to re-emphasize the important features and re-plan the way to peace and prosperity. If the steps towards peace and prosperity of the nation are too wide for a single party to handle as it is evident now, the road to a genuine national government is wide open to a visionary leader to follow.

Over the years, I have canvassed that the agenda for a truly constituted national government could be economic and political reconstruction to reflect true Federalism, suitable reform of the judiciary and complete overhaul of the electoral processes.The present Boko Haram insurgency should be taken as a national issue and brought to a satisfactory end.

Delay may be a dangerous game.

Sms only 07059197616

respectively. Most of the day- to- day policing of London is the responsibility of 33 borough operational command units(BOCUs) under the coordinating authority of the Metropolitan Police Service.”

Continuing, he said: “In India, the states have their independent police forces headed by a director general of police and in fact about 30% of the Indian federal Police service are recruited from the state forces. Pakistan has 1 Federal and 4 provincial police organizations with clearly defined jurisdictions and sets of offences that they cover.”

Closer home in Africa, he adds:“Ethiopia’s federal Police is responsible for investigating federal crimes and the state police has the power to investigate crimes limited to their jurisdictions and co-operate with the federal police on a need arise basis.”

Senator Adetunmbi dismisses insinuations that Nigerians are not ripe or have the required awareness for the establishment of State police.

“I don’t agree at all that there is an awareness issue. The question that is before us is one of efficiency and effectiveness. Is the federal police as it is presently constituted a better law enforcement agency in my community in Ekiti than a police that is resident and has

Continues on page 45

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012—47

OBASANJO: Where are his friends?

Continues from page 44 seem to have abandoned their erstwhile political godfather.

They were loudly absent at the recent book launch by their political godfather held in Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library hall in Oke-Mosan Abeokuta.

Arguably, Obasanjo is the most celebrated Nigerian leader, who at the same time paraded an array of benevolent politicians during and shortly after he exited the most plum job in the country in 2007. Penultimate Tuesday, it became obvious that Obasanjo, who was honoured for his meritorious service as head of state and President of Nigeria might have been abandoned.

It was a day that a book titled: “Olusegun Obasanjo: Passing the Torch” written on his personality and achievements by a prominent personality, Ambassador Albert Omotayo, was launched. His usual ‘ Chief launchers’ were no where to be found and the few ones who showed interest sent representatives.

Attendance: The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, who was invited by Obasanjo, could not come in person. She sent a representative in the person of the Minister for Water Resources; Sarah Ochekpe. Governors of Kebbi, Kaduna and Katsina states also sent representatives.

The Kebbi governor sent his deputy, Aliyu Khalil, his Kaduna counterpart sent the state Chairman of the PDP, Nuhu Audu while their counterpart from Katsina sent his AttorneyGeneral.

Attorney general Even the host governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State was also represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Shuaib Salisu. Surprisingly, ex-governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke drove himself to the venue early and waited till the end of the programme.

Chairman, Dangote Group of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; foremost businessman, Oba Otudeko; Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo; Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade; National Secretary of the PDP, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel all sent representatives.

The ultra-modern 700-capacity hall was scanty with journalists, ushers and security operatives constituting a sizeable number of the population.

Those who personally attended Obasanjo’s latest show were former Head of the Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan and Proprietor of Afe Babalola University, AdoEkiti and legal luminary, Chief Afe Babalola, who chaired the

occasion.

Also in attendance were PDP chieftain, Chief Ebenezer Babatope and former Minister of Defence, Mr. Adetokunbo Kayode.

Reactions to the low turn-out of dignitaries Chief Afe Babalola, who chaired the occasion, fired the first salvo when he expressed his disappointment over the scanty audience, adding that, he had expected the hall would be packed in honour of the great Nigerian leader.

According to him, what happened today might mean one of these; may be Baba decided to celebrate it in low-key or people did not get the information about this.

“As a matter of fact, the decision to accept to be chairman of this occasion was not one that came easy for me. I have been turning down all invitations. However, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCON is a man for whom I have tremendous respect and admiration and from whom I enjoy a measure of goodwill,” he said.

Corroborating Babalola on the perceived boycott of the event by Obasanjo’s political associates, former head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan said, “ Chief Obasanjo can be likened to biblical prophet who is never honoured in his own country and among his own people (Mathew Chapter 13 verse 57 and mark Chapter 6 verse 4) “Chief Obasanjo is acknowledged and respected worldwide for his achievements and leadership qualities. But, it has not been the case at home.

What I am saying therefore is that we must learn to celebrate our heroes rather than pull them down.

“Other countries that we think are better than our country also have their bad sides which they cover. It is only when we celebrate our heroes that emerging leaders can see them more as guiding lights and the heroes can work harder to achieve more for the country.”

Obasanjo, however, felt indifferent to the complaint as he maintained sealed lips throughout the five-hour programme.

Tributes to Obasanjo Dame Patience Jonathan, who was represented by Ochekpe, described Obasanjo as an enigma and urged researchers to work on other notable personalities.

According to her, “Obasanjo has devoted his life to the service of the nation and humanity. He is a patriot who is still actively engaged in peace mediation efforts and advisory initiatives. It is important for all Nigerians especially the youth, who we will hand over to eventually, to have a good understanding of their socio-political antecedents.”

Wikileaks: Britain battle Ecuador over Assange HUGO ODIOGOR AND UDUMA KALU WITH AGENCY REPORTS

D

IPLOMATIC face off between Britain and Ecuador reached a crescendo yesterday when London threatened to withdraw the diplomatic status of the South American nation that said it has granted political asylum to the founder of Wikileaks web site, Mr. Julian Assange, who is wanted in Sweden to stand trial for alleged sex crimes.

Britain has said it is determined to extradite him to Sweden, where he is accused of rape and sexual assault, but the 41 year old Australian fears that he will ultimately be sent to the United States which is furious that his WikiLeaks website has leaked hundreds of thousands of secret U.S. diplomatic and military cables.

Ecuador’s decision deepened the political dispute with Britain, which said it was “disappointed” with the ruling which sets the stage for possible further confrontation between the two countries.

Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino Patino said Ecuador feared for the safety of the Australian, who had lodged an asylum request with President Rafael Correa, a self-declared enemy of “corrupt” media and U.S. “imperialism”.”Ecuador has decided to grant political asylum to Julian Assange following the request sent to the President,” Patino told a news conference in Quito. Patino said Assange’s extradition to a third country without proper guarantees was probable, and that legal evidence showed he would not get a fair trial if eventually transferred to the United States.

“This is a sovereign decision protected by international law. It makes no sense to surmise that this implies a breaking of relations with Britain,” Patino added.A former British ambassador to Moscow, Tony Brenton, told the BBC that the British government may have over reached itself by threatening to revoke the diplomatic status of Ecuador as other countries could exploit that action against Britain. He said: “I think the Foreign Office have slightly overreached themselves here.”

Diplomatic and Consular Premises Act he Australian has been in the embassy for eight weeks since losing a legal battle to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he has been accused of rape and sexual assault by two WikiLeaks supporters.

A Foreign Office spokesman said earlier.Britain has said it could use a little-known piece of legislation from 1987, introduced in the wake of the shooting of a British police officer outside the Libyan embassy in London, to strip Ecuador’s embassy of its diplomatic status.

T

•David Cameron

•Obama “I’ve lived, worked and travelled in places with proper dictatorships and nowhere have I seen violations of the Vienna convention to this extent,” said Farhan Rasheed, 42, a historian said. “Here we have a government which claims to be a government of law and justice, stretching and possibly about to break a serious binding international agreement.” “If we live in a world where governments can arbitrarily revoke immunity and go into embassies then the life of our diplomats and their ability to conduct normal business in places like Moscow where I was and North Korea becomes close to impossible.”

Diplomatic seige eporters said outside the Ecuadorean embassy near London’s famed Harrods department store, supporters relayed the announcement about his asylum request over a loudspeaker to cheers and clapping from protesters who had gathered outside the building.

But the red-brick embassy building, has come under tight surveillance, with three police officers manning the entrance and several others patrolling around the premises of the building.

Assange has little chance of leaving the Ecuadorean embassy in London without being arrested. There has been speculation he could travel to an airport in a diplomatic car, be smuggled out in a diplomatic bag, or even be appointed an Ecuadorean diplomat to give him immunity.Swedish prosecutors have not yet charged Assange, but they have moved forward with their investigations and they believe they have a case to take to trial. Assange fears Sweden could send him on to the United States, where he believes authorities want to punish him for publishing thousands of secret U.S. diplomatic cables on

R

•Rafael Correaa

•Assange

WikiLeaks in 2010 in a major embarrassment for Washington.

The unfolding scenario is a play back of the 1989 drama in Panama when deposed president Manuel Noriega ran to the Holy See, the diplomatic mission of Vatican City to seek protection from the United States which wanted him to stand trial in Florida for drug related crimes.

The US military besieged the Holy See where they mounted loudspeakers to play heavy metal rock and project pornograpic pictures on giant scenes, to the displeasure of Vatican. Already the supporters of Assange proested and shouted solidarity of the man they see as a symbol of free speech. : “The people united will never be defeated!”, waving Ecuadorian flags and holding posters showing Assange’s head, reading “no extradition”.

A Reuters reporter saw at least three protesters being dragged away by police before the decision was announced after tussles with police.

It was unclear how long Assange could stay in the small embassy - housed on the ground floor of an apartment block.

Profile of Assange

J

ULIAN Paul Assange, born 3 July 1971, is an editor, activist, political talk show host computer programmer, publisher, and journalist from Australia. He is best known as the editor-in-chief and founder of WikiLeaks, a media website which has published information from whistleblowers.

Founded in June 2006, WikiLeaks on 28 November 2010, began releasing some of the 251,000 American diplomatic cables in their possession, of which over 53 percent are listed as unclassified, 40 percent are “Confidential” and just over six percent are classified “Secret”.

48—Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012

A-Ibom to revamp Mary Slessor Hospital

Nigeria faces imminent disintegration if...—Fasehun

H

O

OPE has finally come the way of residents of neighbouring communities of the historical Mary Slessor Hospital in Itu as the Akwa Ibom State Government has indicated its readiness to give a face lift to the facility which has been in a deplorable state for decades.

The state’s Commissioner for Housing and Urban Renewal, Mr. Emmanuel Enoidem, stated this in Itu shortly after inspecting the state of the hospital built by missionaries in 1905.

The commissioner said he was at Itu on the order of Governor Godswill Akpabio who he said was poised to change the story of Itu people by restoring the lost glory of the hospital.

Enoidem, who was conducted round the hospital by the medical superintendent, Dr. Idio and the council secretary of Itu, Mr. Mfon Awa, also said the state government was prepared to construct the access road to the hospital which is currently in a bad shape.

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

AWARENESS ON NIGERIA NATIONAL SYMBOLS: From left: Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri; Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Mr. Dameshi Luka and the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Nasarawa State, Mrs. Victoria Monde, during the one-day roundtable awareness on Nigeria national symbols by NOA, held in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

ODUA Peoples Congress, OPC, had said that recent events in the country were pointers to an imminent disintegration, urging the Federal Government to do something immediately to save the country from collapse.

The group has also accused the leadership of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, of operating discriminatory monetary policy, with the on-going

Araye lauds Uduaghan, Omare over flood control

C

BRIEFING: From left: Mr. Andrew Abah, Project Manager, Pelican Breed; Mr. Paul Sambo, MD/CEO and Mr. Joel Musa, Chief Operating Officer, at the press briefing announcing the Chelsea FC Million Man Ground Party and Gala night, in Lagos. Photo by Lamidi Bamidele.

HAIRMAN of Ode-Itsekiri Community Development Committee, CDC, Ebobo Araye, has commended Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State and Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Frank Omare, for the ongoing de-flooding exercise in Warri and its environs.

He made the commendation in Warri, saying Governor Uduaghan was indeed committed to the

L

OKOJA—MINIS TER of Police Affairs, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade (rtd), yesterday, said that the survival and development of any nation was tied to its security.

Olubolade at Lokoja, Kogi State, during a security council summit organised by Kogi State Police Community Relations Committee, PCRC, said the on-going Nigeria Police reform, which among other issues, places emphasis on community policing, training and retraining of the police to be better equipped, was aimed at fighting crime and terrorism.

Represented by Braide Lauren, the minister noted that the nation was currently passing through a trying period in its life and called on Nigerians to fight criminals and terrorism through community policing.

Noting that the Federal Government had ap-

proved a number of measures aimed at improving the effectiveness of the Police, including a national policy framework for community policing, he called on all and sundry to accord security and information sharing the seriousness they deserved, adding that collaboration was what was currently needed to fight criminals in the country.

Kogi State Deputy Governor, Mr. Yomi Awoniyi, who said a secured environment was crucial to peace and development, noted that the state government was determined to use every legitimate means to combat crime.

Awoniyi, who said that the state government aside its commitment to stamping out crime had initiated several measures

aimed at strengthening the effective performances of security personnel in the state, lauded the role played by community policing in the society, adding that since criminals live in the midst of the people and in the society, their nefarious activities can only be checked when people volunteer necessary information to security agencies.

NIIA brainstorms on ICJ's ruling over Bakassi

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

C

ALABAR —NIGE RIAN Institute of International Affairs, NIIA, is to organise a stakeholders' conference to discuss Bakassi, 10 years after International Court of Justice, ICJ, judgment, which ceded the oil-rich peninsula to Cameroon and its implication.

Director General of

NIIA, Prof. Bola Akinterinwa, in a letter inviting stakeholders, particularly Cross River State Government and prominent sons of Bakassi, noted that 10 years after the judgment, there had been strong agitations among Nigerians, especially among the inhabitants of Bakassi.

The discussion, tagged 12th Brainstorming Session, with the theme Bakassi Peninsula: Ten

years of ICJ Ruling and Prolegomena to Resultant Problems, is expected to examine issues and developments in the area and suggest the way forward.

The letter noted that there was a significant issue that was neglected by the ICJ, which was the right to self-determination for Bakassi inhabitants, a universal right that was enshrined in the United Nations, UN, Charter as well as in Charter of the African Union.

welfare of the people.

He noted that the ongoing de-flooding exercise in Warri and its environs by the state government was already yielding results as the flooding situation in the affected areas has reduced.

He charged residents of Warri and its environs to always keep their environments and drainages clean to ensure free flow of water whenever it rains.

Court orders Akeredolu to pay N4m over billboards

No security, no devt, says Police A Affairs Minister

BY BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO

cashless economy in Lagos, without extending same to other parts of the country.

President of OPC, Dr. Frederich Fasehun, who addressed newsmen in Lagos, raised alarm that the unresolved problems of Boko Haram; the threat of the group to President Goodluck Jonathan; corruption and the economicy policy of CBN under the leadership of Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi were issues that are capable of breaking up a country.

N Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure, the state capital yesterday ordered the state’s candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, to pay the sum of N4.3 million to the Registrar of the court being payment for his numerous billboards erected all over the state.

Mr Akeredolu had filed a suit challenging, amongst other things, the constitutionality or otherwise of the Ondo State Signage and Advertisement Agency (OSSAA) Law, 2011. He had also filed a motion for interlocutory injunction restrain-

ing OSSAA from carrying out its duties as empowered by the law pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The matter had been adjourned by the presiding judge, Justice Olusegun Odusola to Thursday, August 16, 2012 for the hearing of the motion for interlocutory injunction.

However, before the hearing date, Akeredolu had gone ahead to erect billboards all over the state for his election campaign, a development which made OSSAA to issue Demand Notice for the payment of the sum of N4.3million being amount payable on the said billboards.

Pa Eguaikhide passes on @ 104

P

A Vincent Eguaikhide of Ukhuse Osi in Owan West Local Government Area, Edo State, is dead, aged 104.

His remains will depart the Specialist Hospital, Benin City, today for his home town, Ukhuse Osi, for Christian wake keep.

Prayers will be held for the deceased tomorrow at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Uzebba, followed by interment at his

home town, Ukhuse.

He is survived by children, grandchildren and other relations.

Late Pa Eguaikhide

Vanguard, FRIDAY FRIDAY,, AUGUST 17, 2012 —49

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50—V anguard, FRID AY , A UGUST 17, 2012 FRIDA AUGUST 50—Vanguard

South African police massacre striking minners S

OUTH African riot police opened fire on striking miners armed with machetes and sticks at Lonmin’s Marikana platinum mine on Thursday, killing at least a dozen men in the deadliest episode of a week of union violence.

Heavily armed officers backed by armored vehicles were laying out barbed wire barricades when they were outflanked by some of the estimated 3,000 miners massed on a rocky outcrop near the mine, 100 km (60 miles) northwest of Johannesburg.

Police opened fire with automatic weapons on a group of men who burst out from behind a vehicle. The volley of bullets threw up clouds of dust, which cleared to reveal at least seven bodies ly-

the mine, Lonmin’s flagship platinum plant, which was forced to shut down on Tuesday because of the union unrest. There has been no confirmation the death toll.

60 congolese die in mine accident

A

Thousands of South African miners being watched by the police ing on the ground, Reuters television footage showed.

It was not clear whether the police were fired upon. They appeared to

be on edge and with rifles pointing forwards immediately before the incident. Reuters photographs showed spears and clubs lying near the

bodies.

The SAPA domestic news agency said one of its reporters had counted 18 bodies near a squatter camp close to

Indian lawmakers scrap special seats for women Service,Executive Edi- cal visibility, having proBY VICTORIA OJEME

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bill seeking to re serve a third of all seats in the Indian National parliament and State Assemblies for women is languishing, due to hostility to it from male politicians. The Bill sent to the national parliament by the Executive as learnt, among others seek to reserve a third of parliamentary seats for women at both the national and state legislature. A renowned journalist of the IndoAsian News

tor-News Narayan Swamy, who responded to Vanguard enquiries stated that the Bill is intended to bring the number of Indian women in politics at par with the national population.

According to him, “government’s attempt to bring forward a bill reserving a third of all seats in national parliament and state assemblies has met with some stiff resistance from a section of male politicians. The bill is also expected to provide a platform for Indian women to push their agenda, improve on their politi-

duced female prime ministers in the past, in a largely male dominated political arena.

Findings by Vanguard however revealed that, inspite of the temporary set back, women politicians still have a lot to cheer, going by the fact that four political parties including the Congress Party( one of Indian’s biggest political party) are headed by women, a clear departure from what obtains in Nigeria at the moment where women are subordinated to small roles as women leader in the hierarchy of political party administration.

Standard Chartered sued in U.S. over Lebanon bombing

T

HE estates of the vic tims of the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut sued Standard Chartered seeking compensation over the bank’s concealment of Iran-linked transactions.

The civil lawsuit, filed in U.S. district court in Manhattan, said the bombing victims obtained a $2.6 billion judgment in compensatory damages against Iran in 2007. The court document said the plaintiffs include representatives of the estates of the 241 U.S. servicemen killed in the attack in the Lebanese capital, relatives and heirs and bombing

World platinum prices leapt as much as $30 an ounce - more than 2 percent - to a six-day high as the extent of the violence became apparent in the country with 80 percent of known reserves.

survivors.

Standard Chartered spokeswoman Julie Gibson said the bank’s policy is not to discuss pending litigation.

Standard Chartered Bank and its New York branch are identified as the defendants in the lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages and punitive damages.

The bank on Tuesday agreed to pay $340 million to New York State’s financial regulator to settle allegations that it concealed Iran-linked transactions worth a total of $250 billion.

Wednesday’s lawsuit on

behalf of the bombing victims said “those unlawful actions are part and parcel of Iran’s longstanding, determined efforts to evade collection of the judgment, and other judgments.”

•Singh

T least 60 miners were killed when a shaft collapsed in a remote part of northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where local armed groups complicated rescue efforts, officials said yesterday.

The local miners were digging for gold in shafts up to 100 meters (109 yards) underground when the accident occurred on Monday in Mambasa territory in Orientale Province, said Simon Pierre Bolombo, the provincial head of mines.

He said the collapse had been caused by a landslide. “It was deep in the forest, there was a landslide, at least 60 people have been killed,” Bolombo told Reuters by telephone from the town of Bunia in northeast Congo.

Congo’s minister of mines, Martin Kabwelulu, told Reuters the workers were there illegally and that their shafts were deeper than the 30-metre (32-yard) limit required by the mining code for small-scale mining. Hundreds of thousands of people in eastern Congo make a living in non-industrial mines, where safety precautions are almost nonexistent and accidents are common. The area where the mine is situated is currently in the hands of a local rebel group - known as Mai Mai Morgan - which will likely hamper any rescue efforts, Bolombo said.

“The mine is controlled by the rebels … There’s almost total insecurity, it’s difficult for us to reach,” he added.

APRA insists on positive image for Africa

BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

W

ORRIED by the negative portrayal of Africa in Western media public relation practitioners in the continent have outlined measures to counter the continued bias on the black.

The event entitled: “Rising Africa and the Role of the Media” was aimed at bringing together relevant stakeholders in information management to make critical inputs in the projection of a positive image for Africa, in line with the vision of APRA. In his keynote address,

the Secretary General of the association, Mr. Yomi Badejo-Okusanya said that Africa is often stereotyped by the western media as a destination of corruption, underdevelopment and a home of failures, positing that Africa with unfolding trends has become the frontier of global economy.

It is in realization of this fact, he said that APRA decided to take up the challenge of bridging the gap, by becoming the mouth voice and mouth piece of African continent.

The APRA scribe said that the association was not unaware of the numerous

challenges Africa has to overcome as it rise, which he said had continued to plague her as a continent, placing her in a very unfavourable position globally.

Okusanya argued that Africa’s ability to identify these challenges and surmount them will form a major part of her history and go a long way to establish a unique identity by which Africans can begin to consciously build the future that they seek.

He disclosed that the association had taken the initiative to critically assess the situation of the continent and identify immedi-

Music star, Koffi Olomide, jailed 3 months for assault

K

OFFI Olomide, one of Africa’s most popular singers, has been given a three-month suspended prison sentence for assaulting his produce r .

The rumba star, 56, was arrested after a fracas on Wednesday at a hotel in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Re-

public of Congo.

Correspondents say the courtroom was packed to see the star, who leads the Quartier Latin band.

Olomide this year denied charges of raping three of his dancers in France. The altercation with his producer, Diego Lubaki, was over a debt of 3,000 euros ($3,680,

£2,345), the court heard. ’Door damaged’ Mr Lubaki said he wanted to drop the charges, but the judge continued the trial. ”He wanted to withdraw charges in favour of social peace and peace between him and the one he calls his ‘big brother’,”

one of his lawyers is quoted by the AFP news agency as saying.

The court convicted Olomide of assault and battery but acquitted him of malicious destruction to property, after the hotel room door was damaged in the fight.

Vanguard, FRIDAY FRIDAY,, AUGUST 17, 2012 — 51

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52—Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012

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Vanguard , FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012—53

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‘Okupe, Benue govt before EFCC over N600m contract fund’

BY PETER DURU

M

AKURDI—AS the appointment of Dr. Doyin Okupe as Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs continues to raise dust, Vanguard has reliably gathered that the aide allegedly has a pending case of about N600 million contract money with the Benue State Government at Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Vanguard’s investigations at the Benue State Ministry of Works and Transport revealed that the presidential aide had in 2004 through his company, Messrs Value Trust Investments Ltd., allegedly secured a contract valued N2.303 billion for the construction of 230km of rural roads across the state.

Contract breakdown

According to a source, the contract terms specified that the contract was to span 18 months, while the sum of N619 million, representing 30 percent of the total contract sum, was paid to the firm as initial mobilisation fee.

He explained that upon the receipt of the fee, the

contractor moved to site, while more money was said to have been released to him as the work progressed.

The source said: “The total amount that was paid to him was N886.8m as at July 17, 2006. But at that point the contract was abandoned and all entreaties to ensure that they returned to site proved abortive.

“Supervisors of the job had no option but to value the execution of the contract and it was discovered that the total value of work done at the time was N195.7 mil-

T has been a rewarding 29-day spiritual activity: a period of recompense, a period of closeness to Allah, a period of illumination by the Glorious Qur’an, a period of re-direction of destinies and possibilities, of charity, of divine blessings. It is indeed a memorable period.

Having passed through this spiritual exercise, we are no doubt a better being.

It is time to celebrate, but an important part of the celebration is to express warm wishes to your neighbours and invite them for a meal.

One could choose to celebrate it with the poor to make them happy.

At this point, it is important to remember one of our cardinal responsibilities this month— Zakatul-Fitr. It is obligatory at this time we are bidding farewell to Ramadan. That is why the suffix fitr is attached to it— to commemorate the occasion of breaking the fast.

For the umpteenth time, a man has to pay on behalf of himself and his wife— even if she is wealthy on

EFCC

“The contract was awarded by the George Akume administration, and whatever transpired between key actors of that gov-

ernment and the contractor I cannot tell because so many stories were told at the time.

“But the fact is that the contractor was long ago dragged to EFCC by the current administration, so the anti-graft agency could help the state government recover tax payers’ money.

But till date, we have not heard anything on the issue.”

Some of the rural roads earmarked for construction then were UniagricGbamjiba, Ayatti-Zai and Aliade-Barike Ito roads.

... as PDP clears Okupe, faults ACN's in Abuja, noted that as his Senior Special Assistcall for sack terday, Okupe had no case with ant (Public Affairs), a posiBY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA—NATIONAL leadership of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, faulted Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, on the appointment of Dr. Doyin Okupe as Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, stressing that President Goodluck Jonathan was at liberty to appoint anyone into positions without permission from anybody.

PDP, in a statement by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Binta Garba, yes-

Goodbye Ramadan!

I

lion. When it became obvious that the contractor was not ready to continue with the work, efforts were intensified to recover tax payers’ money from him.

“But at the end of the day, what was recovered was only N55.2 million, which was an advanced payment guarantee that was lodged into a bank.

her own— and his children and parents, if they are poor, and his daughter, if she is married but the marriage has not yet been consummated.

If his son is rich, he does not have to give ZakatulFitr on his behalf. A man has to give Zakatul-Fitr on behalf of a divorced wife, whose divorce process (Talaaq) is not yet concluded (i.e., she is still in the ‘iddah of a first or second talaaq). But not in the case of one whose divorce is finalised.

A son does not have to give Zakatul-Fitr on behalf of a poor father’s wife, because he is not obliged to spend on her. A Muslim traveller is also enjoined to pay his Zakat where he spends the last two days of Ramadan. If a person dies before Maghrib, on the last day of Ramadan, ZakatulFitr would not be obligatory upon him even if he fasted all the other days of the month. But if a child is born after Maghrib, it would be obligatory to pay ZakatulFitr on his or her behalf.

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The statement said: “We wish to make it abundantly clear that President Jonathan, under the Presidential System we currently operate, is at liberty to appoint any deserving Nigerian to any position at anytime without recourse to anyone, least of all a selfserving opposition group.

“In the last one week, we had noticed the vitriolic attacks on the person of Okupe, who was recently appointed by the President

tion most reasonable Nigerians agree he is capable of handling effectively.

“We had noted the copious references by ACN through its spokesman, Mr. Lai Mohammed, to the purported unwholesome acts in the execution of some projects in Benue and Imo states several years ago.

“It is our opinion that issues of contracts are basically civil issues between contracting parties and certainly most contract documents contain clauses for dispute resolutions.”

It should be given on one of the foodstuffs which are commonly consumed in the society. The popular measurement of it is four handfuls on behalf of one person. If it has to be given in money, although this is not encouraged but the societal demands and circumstances sometimes call for it, it has to be well-calculated that the appropriate money equivalent is given in accordance with the existing price of the desired foodstuff in the market; and at the right time too, to meet the immediate need and purpose for which it was given. I had tried to explain this on this column a few days ago.

In essence, the rationale behind it is to make others happy during the festive period; it purifies the fasting Muslim from any shortcoming during the fast.

And since every Muslim needs this, it is therefore obligatory on him whether rich or poor to pay ZakatulFitr.

The Prophet (SAW) said: “Make them (i.e. the poor and destitute) rich on the day of `Eid-ul-Fitri. The Qur’an says: “The Zakah are only for the Fuqaraaì (poor), and the Masaakeen (the needy) and those employed to collect (the funds); and for to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (towards Islam); and to free the captives; and for those in debt;

and for Allah’s Cause, and for the wayfarer (a traveller who is cut off from everything); a duty imposed by Allah. And Allah is AllKnower, All-Wise” (Q9:60).

Before I end, I seek forgiveness over my inability to touch other areas you would have wished, as well as my inability to reply to all mails, text messages, calls and comments. May Allah forgive us all and accept this as an act of worshipping HIM. I also wish to remind us that we can keep the spirit of Ramadan alive every day for the next 11 months Insha Allah. On behalf of the Publisher, the Editor, and the Muslim community in Vanguard Media Limited, we wish you all Eid-il-Mubarak.

Prayer of the day Allahuma ijhal siyyami fihi bil istijabah, ijhali li maa tar’dohu, Yaa Ilaahi, ga’sheeni bihi rahmatihi, war’zuqni fihi taofiqah, bihaqi sayyidinna Muhammadin, wa alihi, wa ashabihi ajmahin.

Amin.

(O Allah, on this day, make my fasts worthy of acceptance, make it to be what pleases You. Our Lord, cover me with your mercy, grant me in it success and protection, for the sake of our leader, Muhammad, and his family and all his companions.

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. Amen.)

54— Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012

Wenger: It hurts selling Van Persie to United A

RSENAL boss Ar sene Wenger has admitted that he would have rather seen Robin van Persie join bigspending Paris SaintGermain than Premier League ‘enemies’ Manchester United.

An £24million deal was agreed on Wednesday that sees Arsenal break with precedent to sell

one of their prize assets to bitter rivals United for the first time in Wenger’s 16-year reign.

Arsenal’s hand was forced last month when the 29-year-old revealed that he would not sign a new deal at the club, meaning that they had to offload their captain or lose him for free next

We’ll be deadliest in Europe, says Fergie

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IR Alex Ferguson has claimed Manchester United will possess arguably Europe’s most fearsome strikeforce with the arrival of Robin van Persie.

Van Persie arrived at

•Ferguson

London St Pancras train station on Thursday morning before setting off to Manchester to complete his medical.

He should be ready to make his Manchester United debut at Everton on Monday.

Ferguson has spoken about the new-look attacking options of Van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez, and the comparisons with the 1999 set of Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke, Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

summer.

But despite sanctioning the sale, Wenger has admitted that he is disappointed that the Dutchman will be wearing the shirt of the club that he has battled against for so many years.

‘To strengthen an enemy is the other negative point of this loss,’ Wenger told Eurosport’s parent station TF1. ‘We wanted to avoid it but we couldn’t. Honestly, I’d rather sell him abroad, to Paris Saint-Germain for example.

‘Manchester United know him and know his qualities. He’s really an exceptional player, believe me.’

Wenger, however, is optimistic that Arsenal can cope with the departure of Van Persie as they prepare for the new Premier League season.

‘Van Persie is a great player so it’s always sad to lose such a player.

But we must consider the economic reality and the will of the player,’ he added.

•Wenger

Muamba could be offered Bolton role

B

OLTON boss Owen Coyle says the club are open to offering Fabrice Muamba a role at the Reebok Stadium following the midfielder’s retirement.

Muamba, 24, announced his decision to call time on his playing career receiving medical advice from doctors.

“If he wants to come in and have a look at the coaching side of things then

Chelsea target EPL crown — Mikel N

IGERIA midfield er, Mikel Obi has revealed that winning the English Premier League title this season will be the top target of his club Chelsea.

‘The Blues’ lost 3-2 to league kings Manchester City in last weekend’s Community Shield to usher in the new English Premier League campaign.

Mikel told MTNFootball.com that being league champions again would be top of the London club’s wish-list in the new season after they clinched a first-ever UEFA Champions League title and an FA Cup winners’ medal.

Last season, Chelsea finished a disappointing sixth on the EPL table, well outside the Top Four they have been used to.

“I would have loved to win the Community Shield, but it was not to be. We played well against City and we showed that we are ready to challenge for titles this season,” said Mikel.

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we are only too happy to help him with that,” said the Bolton manager.

“We are very much a family club and we only want to help the people with us.”

Coyle added: “He knows it is an open door here and if he wants to come in every day I would love to have him here every day.

We love him to bits, he knows that and he knows the feeling we have for him and that will never change.

“Ultimately it is up to

•Muamba Fabrice what route he decides to go down. We would welcome him with open arms in terms of what we can do getting him on that road.”

Liverpool to Newcastle:

£17m and Carrol’s yours!

L

Pix from left Mr. Andrew Abah, Project Manager, Pelican Breed (left); Mr. Paul Sambo, MD/CEO and Mr. Joel Musa, Chief Operating Officer at the press briefing announcing the Chelsea FC Million Man Ground Party and Gala night held in Lagos over the weekend. Photo by Lamidi Bamidele

Modric jets into Madrid L

UKA Modric had a medical in Spain on Thursday after Real Madrid closed in on a deal to sign him from Tottenham.

The latest offer for the Croatia midfielder to be turned down by Spurs was for £38million, comprising £30m in cash with the remainder in add-ons over the length of Modric’s contract.

On the move: Luka Modric is set to sign for Real Madrid this weekend Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has been adamant he will not accept less than £40m and is also unhappy with the percentage of the money Jose Mourinho’s Spanish champions are proposing to pay in addons.

IVERPOOL have told Newcastle that they will have to stump up £17million in cash if they want to bring Andy Carroll back to Tyneside this summer. New Reds boss Brendan Rodgers is prepared to offload the England striker, but only if the club can recuperate a sizeable chunk of the £35m they paid for him in January 2011.Newcastle Chronicle sources are told that Liverpool are not prepared to let Carroll leave on loan, but they are prepared to take a loss on the 23-year-old to offload him.

Rodgers has brought in

Fabio Borini from Roma to compete with Luis Suarez for a starting place, and with the Northern Irishman likely to play with just one up front, Carroll’s firstteam opportunities will be limited.

We need one more player — Pardew

N

•Modric

•Carrol

EWCASTLE boss Alan Pardew is satisfied with the way the transfer window has gone so far but another player would be “the icing on the cake”.

The Magpies confirmed their fourth new signing of the summer today in midfielder Vurnon Anita, the 23-year-old Holland international joining from Ajax on a five-year contract.

That follows the arrivals of midfielders Romain Amalfitano and Gael Bigirimana and defender Curtis Good, and Pardew this afternoon said he would “not mind” if trading were to now cease, particularly given the key players he has so far managed to hang on to.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012 — 55

Menas skipper h rat e Eagles high Pompey get nod to skipper,, Coac Coach rate star artt season M P ENAS of Niger Skipper Nousse Naazou, has declared his admiration for the playing pattern of the Super Eagles team that confront-

ed his side last Wednesday in Niamey, Niger Republic, even as his Coach, Frederic Acosta confessed that the Eagles forced his side to play

defensive for the better part of the match.

Naazou, who plays for Etoile Du Sahel of Tunisia, said the standard of the Nigerian team was so

Mr. Anthony Ezediunor, GM-Corporate Strategies/HR, Afrab-Chem, Mr. Raji Kabiru, Mkt. Mgr, Olumide Oyedeji and Mr. John Faniran at the press briefing on the Olumide Oyedeji basketball camp 2012 in Lagos. Photo by Sylva Eleanya.

Olumide Oyedeji basketball camp for Osun, Lagos, Oyo

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HE first leg of the 2012 Olumide Oyedeji basketball camp will begin in Oshogbo, Osun State from August 27 to 31, organisers have announced.

Speaking at a pre-event press briefing in Lagos Thursday, national team captain, Olumide Oyedeji said the camp will also be held in Lagos from September 3rd to 8th and Ibadan in Oyo State from

10th to 15th September.

He disclosed that over 1000 kids of between ages 4 and 12 will be involved in the camp and Lagos alone was expected to attract the biggest chunk of this number.

‘Imo marathon’ defrauds Nigerian Olympian Continues from B/P sending them monies running into thousands of Dollars being registration fees for some athletes in Europe and also for other expenses.

It dawn on her that she and the athletes had been defrauded. when she could not hear from the faceless organisers of the phantom Imo Marathon “These guys came to

me in Spain and told me that there is a marathon coming up in Owerri. I cross checked with people in Imo and they did confirm that there was indeed a marathon coming up.

However, a few days to the ‘ race’ Alozie was sent a letter informing her that the event had been postponed till July 20 and when July 20 came, there was no in-

dication that there was any race coming up.

“I requested they return the 100 dollars per athlete registration fee.

But it became clear to me that we have been cleaned out.

“Initially, the athletes were disturbing me for a refund. But I made it plain to them that I had been a victim of ‘419’ and thankfully they understood,” said Alozie

Eagles fir st timer se xcit eK eshi firs timers ex cite Keshi Continues from B/P turning to town aboard an Asky airliner that is expected to touch down in Abuja by 9am. Head Coach Stephen Keshi, has also clarified news making the rounds that the team will be going on break, declaring that such a decision has not been taken even as he praised players who had their first international experience and still did so well in the encounter against the Menas of Niger.

Among the players who had their first cap for the national team on

Wednesday are Sunshine Stars Kwambe Solomon, Benjamin Francis of Heartland of Owerri, Solomon Jabason of Akwa United, Niger Tornadoes Sibi Gwar, Sani Sanusi of Gombe United, Umar Zango of Kano Pillars and midfield showman, Philip Asuquo of Shooting Stars of Ibadan. “I must say the entire team did well though we did not win the match, because of wasted opportunities but those that impressed me the more are the players who have never played for the national team before and turned out very

well against Niger in an away game. That is why I wonder when some people say the Nigerian league lacks talents, there are lot of them hidden there waiting to be discovered but I must congratulate those who have so far proved themselves against a tough side like Niger ”, he said.

Keshi said he will continue to groom his homebased side even as he spreads his tentacles for fresh talents. “It’s a continuous process, because we want the best for the Super Eagles”.

high that it was difficult to believe that there was addition of foreign based players in the team. “Your team was very good and quicker on the ball and they have given us what to expect when we play Guinea in the Nations Cup qualifier in September”, he said.

On his part, Acosta, who was playing his last game as Caretaker Coach of the Menas before Ivorien Francoise Zahoui takes over the Niger side, agreed with the media that his side had their back to the wall for the better part of the game but noted that it had to be so because they were preparing for a qualifier and were playing against a very experienced side like Nigeria. ”It’s a good preparation match for us in Niger and we could not have had a better one. Kudos to the Nigerians they gave a lot to chew over and when we play Guinea in the Nations Cup qualifier, it will show”, he declared.

ORTSMOUTH have been given the goahead to start the new League One season while in administration.

Pompey manager Michael Appleton will embark on a transfer spree over the next 48 hours.

Portsmouth’s future remains uncertain after former owner Balram Chainrai withdrew his offer to buy the club, but the Pompey Supporters’ Trust remain hopeful of completing a takeover.

Pompey face another 10-point deduction but the Football League say that will not come into effect until the club exits administration, meaning they will begin the npower League One season on zero.

A League spokesman said: “Given the ongoing dialogue between the administrator and the Supporters’ Trust, the board has given its

consent to Portsmouth beginning the new season in administration.

“The club will start on zero points, with the conditions of membership announced at the board’s previous meeting - including a 10point deduction - not coming into effect unless and until the club exits administration.”

•Kanu

D’Tigers had only six weeks to prepare Continues from B/P

riedly assembled team.

“We did our best under the circumstances. You do not expect a team that was assembled under six weeks to outplay a team like Lithuania, the 5th ranked team in the world.”

The Nigerian captain dismissed insinuations that D’Tigers fell in their second game because they underrated Lithuania whom they beat in Venezuela during the Olympic qualifiers. “We didn’t underrate them,” he started, questioning, “how can you underrate number 5 in the world?

Olympics is a different ball game.”

Although he admitted their qualification for the

Olympics gave them confidence, he said they did not allow that get into their heads. “Our qualification for the Olympics gave us hope and the confidence that we could do it. But people should not forget the fact that we only prepared for six weeks. The Spanish team that contested the gold medal with the USA has been together since the World Junior championship in 1999. You can’t toy with such a team,”Olumide said.

Against the US, Olumide said the team suffered from the absence of their point guard a situation he likened to “a car without a driver,” saying, “everybody knew we could not beat

them but injuries and the absence of our point guard worsened our quest for any meaningful performance.”

He called for continuity and urged the Nigeria Basketball Federation to ensure the present squad is kept together because he foresaw a bright future for the team.

“It’s the duty of the NBBF to ensure the players are jealously kept together. Most of them are still young and can still serve the country for another five or more years. The boys are good and with adequate preparation, the sky will be their limit,” Olumide said.

Shun fire brigade approach Continues from B/P strongly looked into and overhauled. We should also stop this our last minute preparation towards various championships as it cannot work,” the former military president advised.

Gen. Babangida described the outing as unfortunate especially with the resources, sports personnel and talents that

abound in the country adding, however, that Nigeria can still reclaim its lost glory in sports if necessary steps were taken. “ We have the people; we have the talents, the facilities are there and what we need to do is to upgrade them to world standard. It is on record that we have done well and ruled the world in sports before and we can

still do it with adequate preparations” IBB remarked.

He said with the recent dismal outing, the country, especially, the sports administrators and other stakeholders must have learnt bitter lessons pointing out that the only path to success in anything, especially sports is good preparation saying, “The best time to start that preparation is now.”

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VANGUARD, FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012

‘Imo marathon’ defrauds Nigerian Olympian

BY BEN EFE

F

RAUDSTERS parad ing themselves as Imo State government officials have conned former Nigerian Olym-

London 2012 Olympics fall out:

pian, Gloria Alozie and a score of European athletes into parting with their money, in the name of participating in a phantom Imo Marathon.

Alozie who won a 100m hurdles silver for Nigeria at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, dis-

closed that she was approached by some individuals who claim to represent the Imo State government in Valencia, Spain with the proposal of hosting the Imo Marathon in May 2012. According to her, after

Continues on Page 55

Do away with fire brigade approach — IBB Eagles first timers excite Keshi

BY WOLE MOSADOMI, Minna

T

HE dismal outing of the country in the just concluded London 2012 Olympics has continued to attract comments from well meaning Nigerians. Former military president Gen. Ibrahim Babangida has also joined in the fray and called not only for the immediate overhaul of the sports administration in the country but also insisted that preparation for the 2016 Games in Brazil should begin immediately.

Answering questions from sports writers in his Hill Top mansion, Minna yesterday, Gen. Babangida said, it was disappointing that the country ended without any medal at the just concluded Olympics in London.

“I think the sports administration needs to be

Continues on Page 55 TODAY'S

…Team returns

T

HE Super Eagles will return to Abuja, the Federal Capital Friday, after a gritty goalless draw against Niger Republic national side on Wednesday in Niamey.

The team will be re

ILL-PREPARED:Nigerian weightlifter, Felix Ekpo was a victim of shoddy preparations at the London Games.

Photo: AFP

Continues on Page 55

D’Tigers had only six weeks to prepare — Oyedeji

BY JACOB AJOM

C

APTAIN of the na tional male basketball team D’Tigers, Olu-

mide Oyedeji has defended the performance of the team at the just concluded London 2012 Olympics, insisting that

the team should be commended for standing up among the best in the world.

Speaking Thursday in

Lagos, Olumide said that D’Tigers, as the national team is called was just a six week old, hur

Continues on Page 55

•Keshi

PUZZLES YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS: 1 Location (4) 4 Task (3) 6 Banner (4) 8 Orb (6) 9 Sudden (6) 10 Equipment (3) 12 Matelial (5) 14 Started (5) 15 Keen (5) 18 Promise (6) 20 Astonished (6) 24 Observed (5) 26 Pry (5) 28 Artless (5) 30 Crafty (3) 32 Condition (6) 33 Lure (6) 34 Stupefy (4) 35 Hill (3) 36 Valley (4)

DOWN: 2 Student (5) 3 Handled (7) 4 Scoff (4) 5 Boast (4) 6 Smithy (5) 7 Pacify (7) 11 Freeze (3) 12 Headgear (3) 13 Crone (3) 16 Information (3) 17 Rodent (3) 19 Mild (7) 21 Males (3) 22 Adjusted (7) 23 Owing (3) 25 Lubricate (3) 27 Frequently (5) 29 Spoken (5) 30 Chair (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Risky 7, Demur 8, Ready 10, Loath 12, Ill 13, Siren 15, Haggled 17, Leered 19, Ban 20, Devised 23, Seem 25, Drop 26, Radical 30, Rid 31, Tomato 34, Cabinet 37, Carol 38, Ton 39, Debar 40, Foxed 41, Trend 42, Alley.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 1, Eerie 2, Ruler 3, Ironed 4, Kith 5, Reigned 6, Idler 9, All 11, Habitat 13, Slash 14, Refer 16, Gas 18, Derided 21, Drear 22,

Spool 24, Mariner 27, Din 28, Locate 29, Baton 32, Marry 33, Total 35, Box 36, Tell.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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