STUDENTS' ABDUCTION SAGA: Girls yet to be rescued — Borno Govt, Principal

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62125

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

JAMB releases results; We didn't shun security meeting says only 47 candidates with Jonathan — APC Govs 8 scored 250 and above 15 •They weren't invited — Akpabio

STUDENTS' ABDUCTION SAGA:

Girls yet to be rescued — Borno Govt, Principal •Military admits error, confirms principal's report

BY NDAHI MARAMA

•Only 14 out of 129 missing students escaped— Principal M •Where are our children, parents cry to the military •We'll risk our lives and storm Sambisa forest —Community

ABUJA AFTER THE BLAST

AIDUGURI — THE Borno State Government and Principal of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, in Borno State, Mrs. Asabe Aliyu Kwarmbula have denied reports that most of the abducted girls have been rescued.

Mrs. Kwarmbula particularly denied reports credited to her that she told the Military Spokesman, Defence Headquarters, Major General Chris Olukolade that most of the girls abducted have been res Continues on page 5

COLUMNIST: Donu Kogbara

One day begins a story •P.17

•P.8

ABUJA TRAFFIC—Traffic, yesterday, as a result of military road block along Abuja-Keffi Road, near the site of the Nyanya bomb blast in Abuja. Inset: Workers trek to work as a result of the heavy traffic. Photos: Gbemiga Olamikan.

DPO raped me in detention — Salesgirl

6

Mr & Mrs

2—Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

EASTER:

Bala asks for prayers for Jonathan

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA— AS Chris tians across the country join the world to celebrate this year’s Easter, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Senator Bala Mohammed, yesterday, pleaded with residents of the territory to pray for President Goodluck Jonathan to succeed in addressing the problems confronting the country.

Bala also called on residents of the Federal Capital Territory to, in the spirit of Easter celebration, spread the gospel of love, sacrifice, tolerance and peaceful co-existence among one another.

The minister who made this call in his Easter message said the celebration called for sober reflection and sacrifice as well as emulating the exemplary life of Jesus Christ.

Bala charged residents of the Federal Capital Territory to re-dedicate themselves to the service of God and humanity to make the world a better place than we met it, adding that residents should continue to supplicate to God for peace and prosperity to reign in our dear nation especially with the current security challenges the country is facing.

He said, “As you pray for the nation, I enjoin you to also pray for its leadership, for God to continue to guide, protect and give President Goodluck Jonathan the strength and the wisdom to steer the affairs of state, so that he will judiciously implement the Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government.”

Senator Mohammed who used the occasion to further commiserate with the people that lost their loved ones and those who survived, but sustained various degrees of injury in the recent Nyanya bomb blast, assured that the FCT Administration in collaboration with the security agencies are more than ever committed to protecting the lives and property of all the residents of the Territory.

He, however, advised residents to be security conscious and always report any suspicious movement to the law enforcement agents; insisting that security is everybody’s business.

C M Y K

Nyanya blast: FCT minister meets with security chiefs •Orders reconstruction, relocationof Nyanya Park to enhance security

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA- MINISTER of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Senator Bala Mohammed, yesterday, held an emergency security meeting with FCT administrators, stakeholders, directors, security chiefs, traditional rulers in the capital territory and constituted a special committee to reconstruct, upgrade or relocate the Nyanya Mass Transit Bus Park to enhance security and free flow of traffic in the area.

This came barely four days after the unfortunate bomb explosion by members of the Boko Haram, Monday, in Nyanya, a

DEFECTED 37 PDP MEMBERS:

Ebute asks Tambuwal, INEC to declare seats vacant

suburb of the nation’s capital, Abuja, where more than one hundred persons were feared dead, with several others, injured.

Senator Bala Mohammed constituted the Committee during an emergency security meeting which he summoned to review security situation in the FCT and deliberate on the way forward, just as he also directed the Abuja Urban Mass Transit Company (AUMTCO) to deploy more mass transit luxury buses to the routes to fill the gap created by the buses damaged by the bomb blast.

The minister directed the committee to commence work immediately notwithstanding the public holidays, stressing that all hands must be on deck to ensure that normalcy returns to Nyanya as quickly as possible.

The meeting was attended by top officials of the FCT Adminis-

tration, the Commissioner of Police in FCT, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu, the six Area Council Chairmen, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Sector Commander, the Commandant of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (FCT), representative of the Nigeria Immigration, the Army and other security agencies, as well as graded traditional rulers in FCT. The committee on the reconstruction and upgrading of the Nyanya Park comprises members drawn from the Urban and Regional Planning Department of FCT, Land Department, AGIS, and the Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council.

Apart from the mandate to work out modalities for reconstructing the Park, the Committee would explore the possibility of relocating the park to a bet-

ter place to ease observed traffic bottleneck, even as the Minister explained that the reconstructed park would have necessary security features.

The minister who appealed for understanding of commuters and motorists using the Mararaba - Nyanya - Aya road to bear with the authorities as efforts were being made to upgrade the Nyanya Park and improve security and traffic flow, gave directives for enhanced security in usually crowded public places including other motor parks in the FCT. According to him, in matters of security everybody is a stakeholder and therefore security is everybody’s business.

At the meeting, a minute silence was observed in honour of victims of the Nyanya bomb blast. The meeting deliberated on many other areas that have to do with security in FCT.

A

BUJA—FORMER Senate President, Senator Ameh Ebute, yesterday, urged the Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, to as a matter of urgency declare vacant, seats of the 37 federal lawmakers who dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the opposition, All Progressives Congress, APC. Ebute who accused Tambuwal of being a mole in PDP and working for APC, alleged that his assignment of working for APC and former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu dated back to when he jettisoned the decision of PDP and cornered the position of speaker which was zoned to the South West geo-political zone of the country.

In a letter to Tambuwal made available to journalists in Abuja, the former Senate president who noted that the speaker was holding the PDP to ransom for his refusal to declare their seats vacant weeks after the judgment, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to appropriately guide Tambuwal and the leadership of the House on what to do, adding that the lawmakers’ continued stay in the house and contributing could breed anarchy and was a serious threat to the nation’s democracy.

It will be recalled that a Federal High Court in Abuja had asked the 37 former members of PDP to resign their seats at the House of Representatives for defecting to the opposition APC. The court perpetually restrained the legislators from effecting any leadership change in the assembly. The court delivered judgment in a matter brought by PDP asking that the legislators should not be allowed to take part in the activities of the assembly.

L-R: Managing Director, AfricInvest Nigeria, Mrs Abiola Ojo-Osagie; Chairman, Vigeo Holdings, Victor Osibodu; Partner, AfricInvest Tunis, Hakim Khelifa; and Chairman, Honeywell Group, Oba Otudeko, at a cocktail event to mark AfricInvest 20th anniversary in Lagos

CJN tasks new A-Court President on pressures

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA—JUSTICE Zain ab Bulkachuwa was, yesterday, sworn in as the first substantive female President of the Court of Appeal in Nigeria.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, who administered oath of office on the new PCA at the Supreme Court in Abuja, warned her to shun all forms of political pressures.

The CJN noted that Bulkachuwa’s appointment came at a critical time when the Nigerian judiciary is undergoing reforms, saying she should, therefore, strive with all diligence to restore the confidence of Nigerians in the appellate court.

The CJN said, “Today marks a

significant milestone and an indelible point in the history of the Court of Appeal as Hon. Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa is the 6th President of the Court. Since its inception in 1976 and in fact, the very first female President of the Court of Appeal.

"As I celebrate with you, let me remind you that your appointment is coming at a critical time when the Nigerian judiciary is undergoing reforms; for this reason I charge you to make all efforts to reposition the court, and ensure that confidence in the court is restored. You must strive with all diligence to ensure that you carry out your duties with all honesty, integrity and honour.

“It is pertinent at this juncture to stress that the discharge of the obligations of this venerated office must be executed with the

utmost sense of fair play, impartiality and dedication to duty.

These and nothing else are the solemn responsibilities of a judicial officer. The office of the President of the Court of Appeal is very tasking and arduous, by this, you are charged to demonstrate purposeful leadership and ensure proper coordination of all the Justices and activities of the court in order to foster greater efficiency in the dispensation of justice.

“Judicial service is a noble calling; a judicial officer’s nobility is exemplified in the personality of the judge; for in reality, the idea of citizens submitting their failings, vulnerability and frailities for determination before a human arbiter underlines the need for the exercise of the highest standard of professionalism."

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014 — 3

4—Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

ABDUCTION OF SCHOOL GIRLS:

Senators appeal to FG, WAEC

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

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BUJA—SENA TORS, yesterday, pleaded with the Federal Government and authorities of the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, to ensure that the educational aspirations of the female students of Government Girls College, Chibok, Borno State that were abducted and now released by suspected Boko Haram insurgents were not truncated.

The senators also pleaded with those holding the remaining eight female students to release them as they were innocent and had not committed any crime that could warrant such trauma they are subjected to.

Making the appeal in Abuja through Senator Magnus Abe representing Rivers South East, the senators specifically appealed to government and WAEC to find another school or centre where the girls can write their final papers elsewhere in the state or alternatively the Federal Capital Territory.

Final exams Senator Abe said government must not allow the Boko Haram sect score victory of any kind over the students by allowing them to forge ahead with the dream of acquiring education.

He said, “We call on the Federal Government and particularly, WAEC to help these girls write their final exams elsewhere. In doing so, they should provide enough security for them to write their exams and also, make sure that if need be, they can be taken out of Borno and even bring them here to Abuja to conclude the exams. The dream of these girls shouldn’t be thwarted by the Boko Haram. This is not a time for blame-game on any side but the whole nation should rise as one to ensure that the other girls in the custody of this sect are released and re-united with their parents, unharmed. We should all work with the Borno State Government to secure the release of the remaining girls. We are also parents and we plead that the dream of these girls should not be allowed to end because of this unfor-

tunate and harrowing incident.”

It will be recalled that the Boko Haram insurgents, Tuesday, abducted about 100 female students of a public school in Borno State who were writing their West African School Certificate examinations. The abducted students, according to security sources, were among the over 250 WAEC/ SSCE candidates of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in the southern part of Borno.

From left: Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State; Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State; Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State; Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State; Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State and their Kogi State counterpart, Capt. Idris Wada emerging after the security meeting chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan at the First lady's Conference Hall, State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo:Abayomi Adeshida

Nyanya blast: Residents still in shock •desert motor park •as Borno, Yobe States Peoples Assembly flays attack •9 persons still on admission in Nyanya hospital

BY VICTORIA OJEME

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ESIDENTS of Nyanya, scene of Monday's bomb blast were still reeling in shock, yesterday, when Vanguard visited the area. Many were still unable to locate their relatives, even as they called for the permanent deployment of armed security personnel to Nyanya motor park to deter future occurrence.

Both sides of the motor park were deserted, as no passenger was willing to go into the park.

Vanguard also observed that traders were few at the usual Wednesday Nyanya market, while many of those who were in the market gathered in groups to discuss the blast.

Speaking with Vanguard, yesterday, a man who identified himself as Abdullahi Shehu, said he had gone round the hospitals in FCT in search of his junior brother but cannot find him. Shehu who spoke in Hausa said, “my junior brother's name is Sanni, from Katsina State. He is a wheel barrow pusher. He came to Nyanya park very early on Monday after the morning prayers. After the explosion, up till now, I cannot locate him. I have gone to all government hospitals in FCT, I am still unable to locate him. So now we don't know what to do now.”

The Admin Manager of Heinz Intercontinental Fluz Ltd, the joint venture company operating the El-Rufai bus park, Mr. Chukwudi Innocent, lamented that passengers have deserted the park. He told Vanguard, “our passengers have run away. As I speak, people have stopped entering the park.

They prefer standing outside the gate of the park."

Innocent urged the govern-

ment to install metal and bomb detectors, as part of new security measures, saying, “government should beef up security in all the parks to safeguard the lives of the people. Parks should have bomb detectors so that thorough searching can be made."

9 persons still on admission in Nyanya hospital

Vanguard findings revealed that nine people were still on admission at the Nyanya general hospital, while one patient with severe burns was referred to Primus International Specialty Hospital from Asokoro gen-

eral hospital. Public spirited citizens were observed trooping to Nyanya general hospital to donate bags of rice and other varieties of uncooked food.

One of the medical staff was, however, overheard telling those who came with uncooked food to bring cooked food to enable the patients feed well and allow the medication to work.

Meanwhile the Borno and Yobe Peoples Forum in FCT, has joined others to condemn the attacks, urging security operatives to take every possible step to bring the perpetrators to justice. A statement by secretary of the group, Ambassador B.K.

Kaigama, described the bomb blast as heinous and unacceptable.

The statement stated “We have always said that insecurity anywhere affects the security of the entire nation. It is in this light that we are issuing this statement to demonstrate our total disgust on that dastardly act and show our solidarity with the victims of the bomb blast. We condemn this barbaric slaughter of so many innocent men, women and children. We urge security agencies to expedite their investigations, identify the culpritswhoare responsible for this heinous crime and bring them to book.”

Defection: APC applies to join in PDP’s suit

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA—THE All Progres sive Congress, APC, yesterday, asked the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court to join it as an interested party in the suit that is seeking to declare the seats of eleven senators that decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, vacant.

PDP had in the suit, prayed the high court to declare that the Senate President, David Mark, owes a legal duty by virtue of the provisions of section 68(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, to declare vacant the seats of the senators who it said defected to the APC without satisfying the mandatory conditions stipulated in section 68(1) of the Constitution.

The plaintiff contended that the lawmakers, “having been elected to the Senate on the platform of the 1st plaintiff, cannot in view of the provisions of section 68(2) of the Constitution, and having failed to meet the conditions laid down in section 68(1) (g) of the

Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, validly decamp to the APC and retain their seats.”

Consequently, it has among other things, applied for an order of mandamus directing the Senate president who it joined as the 1st defendant, to declare the seats of the eleven senators vacant, arguing that they decamped to the APC in the absence of any factionalization of the PDP. Likewise, it prayed the court to make an order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to immediately organize and conduct elections into the senatorial districts to fill the vacant seats.

Meantime, APC, yesterday, adduced reasons why it should be joined as a co-defendant in the suit. In the joinder application filed by its lawyer Chief James Ocholli, SAN, APC, told the court that the eleven senators are now its members having dumped the PDP. “The 2nd to 12th defendants are currently in the Senate under the platform of

the APC. That the justice of this suit demands that the APC be joined as a party to this suit since the 2nd to 12th defendants are registered members of the APC”, it argued.

More so, in a 13 paragraphed affidavit deposed to by one Chima Obih, APC, maintained that the applicant, being the registered political party, the 2nd to 12th defendant have decamped to and now has the seats sought to be declared vacant at the Senate.

“That the relief claimed by the plaintiff and the subject matter of the suit affect the interest of the party seeking to be joined.

That the party seeking to be joined will be affected by the outcome of this suit. That this suit cannot be effectively and finally determined without the applicant being made a party.

That I know that the party sought to be joined will not only be affected by the outcome of this suit but will also be bound by the results of the action,hence, the need for the party to be joined.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014—5

POCKET CARTOON

AWO BOOK LAUNCH—From left: Professor Agboola Gambari, Chairman of the occasion; Chief Bisi Akande, Professor Wale Adebanwi, Author; Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Governor of Osun State; Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Rev Kunle Adebiyi and Dr Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu at the public presentation of the book: "Yoruba Elite and Ethnic Politics in Nigeria, Obafemi Awolowo and Corporate Agency", by Prof Wale Adebanwi in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

My schoolgirls yet to be rescued — Principal Continues from page 1 cued, with only eight still missing.

It will be recalled that the military spokesman in Abuja told newsmen that about 80 of the abducted school girls have been rescued on Wednesday, with only eight of them missing or are still captives of the terrorists. But Mrs. Asabe Kwarmbula in an interview with journalists, yesterday, said: “The statement credited to the military spokesman was a blatant lie, I never spoke to the Defence Headquarters’ spokesman as widely reported by national and

international media”.

Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters, yesterday, retracted its statement that the girls had been rescued, saying that it depended on field reports which it had found out to be misleading. It, therefore, confirmed the statements of the school principal and Borno State Government that the girls were yet to be rescued.

Also, yesterday, parents of the missing female students cried out to the authorities to rescue their children.

I am disappointed — Principal

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Psychology fact: A person generally hates you for 3 reasons. 1: They want to be you. 2: They hate themselves. 3: They see you as a threat; love them anyway.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Happiness and the state of joy is ever lasting when it comes from within— Take Heart Quotes

U

NHAPPINESS lies in that gap between what we have now and what we think we need. But the truth is, we don’t need to acquire anything more to be content with what we already have. We don’t need anyone else’s permission to be happy. Your life is magnificent not because someone says it is, or because you have acquired something new, but because you choose to see it as such. Don’t let your happiness be held hostage. It is always yours to choose, to live and experience.

And from the experts of wisdom notes, Mack and Angel Hack comes this beautiful saying. “As soon as you stop making everyone and everything else responsible for your happiness, the happier you’ll be. If you’re unhappy now, it’s not someone else’s fault. Take full responsibility for your own unhappiness, and you will instantly gain the ability to be happier. Stop seeking in vain to arrange conditions that will make you happy.” Simply choose to appreciate the greatness that is yours in this moment, and the right conditions will start to line up around the contentment you seek.

“I am highly disappointed by the spokesman of the Defence Headquarters who told the media that I confirmed to him that 80 of my students who were abducted by terrorists have been rescued. From the official record I have, only 14 out of the 129 missing have been rescued as at today (Thursday)”.

On whether there were security operatives guarding the school before the incident, which had claimed lives of a soldier and a policeman, she said, the security operatives only came during exam hours and left after the exams, pointing out that, when the gunmen struck, no security operative was guarding the school.

Defence Headquarters, in a statement issued by its spokesman, Major General Chris Olukolade on Wednesday claimed that only eight of the 129 abducted schoolgirls were missing as others had been rescued by the military. Major-General Olukolade also claimed that the principal of the affected school confirmed that only eight students were still being held by the terrorists.

Following the announcement by the military, the parents trooped to the home of the area’s tribal chief, yesterday, demanding clarification, saying they have not heard anything from their children.

Where are our children, parents cry out

A resident of Chibok, Lawan Zanna, whose daughter was among those abducted said: “For the military which is supposed to find and rescue our children to be spread-

ing such lies shows that they have no intention of rescuing our girls. It is the highest form of insult.

They said our girls have been freed. Bring them to us because they are yet to be reunited with us."

“The feeling that the military was in pursuit of the kidnappers kept hope alive among parents,” said one resident, speaking on condition of anonymity. "But the dubious report that most of the children were now safe “has shattered that hope”, he said.

The affected parents, who were visibly angry and dejected have therefore mobilised themselves, insisting that they were prepared to sacrifice their lives and storm the Sambisa forest in search of their children, if the military would not be of help.

A resident, who spoke to the BBC Hausa service monitored by our correspondent said: “We were disappointed with the statement coming from the Defence Headquarters' spokesman that the girls were rescued.

Our children were still in the bush and if the military has failed, we will go after the insurgents even if it means sacrificing our lives”.

The update by Borno Govt

Meanwhile, Borno State Commissioner for Education, Musa Inuwa Kubo in a statement, yesterday, gave an update on the abduction of the students.

He said in the statement: “I’m right at Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, the scene of the unfortunate abduction. At the moment, we have taken custody of 30 girls. There is an increase of 16 students whose parents returned to school after they ran home on the day of the attack. We had made announcements and called on parents whose children and wards ran home. The aim is for us to take proper account of our 129 students who were at the hostel on the day of that unfortunate attack. You may recall that 14 students had earlier escaped from captivity as explained by our Governor, Kashim Shettima on Wednesday. By our records of 129 students being at the hostel at the time of that unfortunate incident, we are expecting the return of about 99 students who might be among those said to have been rescued by the Military. My self, the principal of the school, parents, other students and residents are awaiting the return of our students. We have no reason to doubt or contradict Wednesday’s announcement by the Defence Headquarters,

given the fact that the Military personnel are those leading the search and rescue operations along with civilian volunteers. We are very hopeful that perhaps, the freed students are safely with the military and being brought to us. We pray that not just all our students return in good health but also all the security agents and volunteers safely return in good health after a successful and patriotic rescue effort.

We call on parents to remain prayerful and hopeful that by the grace of God all the students will return to us in good health. On behalf of the Borno State Government, my ministry, staff and students of the affected school, parents and relations of affected students, I deeply appreciate the concern of all Nigerians and rest of the world for their solidarity and well wishes. I also thank the media for their very critical role as we look forward to overcoming this grieving experience.”

Three of the girls who escaped said they were taken to the Sambisa Forest part of Borno, an area where Boko Haram is known to have well-fortified camps. Boko Haram’s latest school attack sparked outrage and condemnation from Britain, the United States and UN chief, Ban Ki-moon.

Borno’s governor Shettima voiced outrage at the violence targeting teenage girls.

“In Islam, women and children are spared during war,” said a visibly shaken Shettima.

Defence Headquarters retracts rescue report

Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters, yesterday, disclosed that there was no need to play politics with the lives of the students of the Government Girls College, in Chibok, noting that as a result of the denial by principal and government of Borno State, it was retracting its statement on the rescue of the students.

A statement signed by Major General Chris

Olukolade said: “In the light of the denial by the principal of the school, the Defence Headquarters wishes to defer to the school principal and Governor’s statement on the number of students still missing and retract that aspect of earlier statement while the search continues.

“The controversy that has been generated around the efforts at securing the lives of the abducted students of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok is unfortunate.

“The ongoing frantic efforts of security forces along with vigilante groups including hunters working to locate and free the abducted students have continued to be keenly monitored at the Operation Centre of the Defence and Army Headquarters as regular progress reports are being received from troops on the ground.

“In this regard, a report was filed in from the field indicating that a major breakthrough had been recorded in the search.

There was no reason to doubt this official channel; hence the information was released to the public immediately.

“Surprisingly, however, the school principal, one of the sources quoted in the report has denied all that was attributed to her for whatever reasons. This is an unfortunate development indeed, yet the Defence Headquarters would not want to join issues with anyone.

“It has to be reaffirmed, however, that the report forwarded to the public on this issue was in good faith and not intended to deceive the public as is being interpreted following the denials by the school principal and Government of Borno State.

“Like all other citizens, the military is deeply concerned to ensure that the students are safe and freed alive.

“There is indeed no reason to play politics with the precious lives of the students. The number of those still missing is not the issue now as the life of every Nigerian is very precious."

6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

31 die, 160 injured in 87 Lagos auto crashes — FRSC

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AGOS — NO fewer than 31 persons died in 87 road accidents in Lagos State from January to March, the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, said yesterday in Lagos.

The Sector Commander, Mr Chidi Nkwonta, who revealed this also said 160 people were also injured in the various accidents during the period.

He said: “The command recorded 87 road crashes where a total number of 31 people lost their lives. Also during the period, no fewer than 160 people were also injured."

According to him, the command had a total number of 78 casualties in 32 crashes in January alone, 15 deaths and 63 people injured.

Nkwonta added that in February, 56 casualties were recorded in 24 crashes with 10 people killed and 46 injured.

He said: “For instance in March, we recorded 57 casualties in 31 crashes where six persons lost their lives and 51 injured."

The FRSC boss said the command inspected more than 26,365 vehicles on the highways to ensure their road-worthiness, adding that 3, 078 motorists were also cautioned.

How DPO raped me in detention —Sales girl •Says he collected N30,000 from five of them as bail bond •DPO denies rape claims, promises refund

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BY EVELYN USMAN & ESTHER ONYEGBULA.

AGOS — TROUBLE is brewing at a police division, Lagos Island following claims by a mother of two that she was raped by the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, while in detention at the station.

The 31-year-old Beninoise, identified as Idowu Akinwunmi, works as a sales girl in a restaurant on Keffi Road, in Ikoyi area of the state.

She was reportedly picked by some policemen from Onikan division, following a complaint lodged by her boss, one Mrs Pelumi Idowu, over an undisclosed reason, at about 1 am. She said she was thrown into the cell on reaching the station.

However, at about 10 pm, Akinwunmi said one Inspector Ajiduwe called her out of the cell and took her to the DPO’s office, where she alleged that the station's boss forcefully had carnal knowledge of her.

According t o her, "He, the DPO, made love to me without a condom, saying he would throw me into prison if I mention the incident to anyone."

Refund of N10,000 bail

Aside that, she also alleged that the Investigating Police Officer, IPO, collected N10,000 from her for bail before she was released.

Akinwunmi told members of the Network on Police Reform in Nigeria, NOPRIN, that she had been having severe abdominal pain since the intercourse.

Akure youths on rampage over carnival cancellation

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

KURE— YOUTHS under the aegis of Akure Youth Coalition, yesterday, went on the rampage in Akure, Ondo State capital protesting against the stoppage of their carnival by security operatives in the state.

Major roads across Akure were blocked by the riotous youths who made bonfires at major junctions to show their displeasure.

For over two hours, commercial and business activities were paralysed.

The yearly carnival, according to investigation, was re-scheduled for yesterday following the death of the traditional ruler of the town, Oba Adebiyi Adesida, last December.

Vanguard gathered that the carnival was rescheduled for yesterday but security reports did not favour convergence of

the youths.

The youths took to the streets kicking against the use of the Democracy Park in Akure, the state capital and the Akure Town hall by security operatives The timely intervention of security operatives comprising the mobile policemen and soldiers saved the situation from deteriorating as the youths destroyed vehicles and pulled down billboards.

Speaking on the violence that attended the protest, the state Police Commissioner, Isaac Eke, said the security challenges in the country was responsible for the stoppage of the carnival.

Eke told Vanguard that the state Police Command was not ready to discuss the matter because it was purely “a security matter.”

The Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade absolved the state government from the stoppage, saying it's between the security operatives and the organisers of the carnival.

The medical report Although the DPO denied raping the detainee, when NOPRIN inquired from him, he reportedly called the man who stood surety for Akinwunmi to come for a refund of the N10,000 bribe for bail they extorted from her after allegedly raping her.

NOPRIN condemns

The National Coordinator, NOPRIN, Mr Okechukwu Nwanguma who condemned the rape, said: "NOPRIN condemns the attempt by some police officers at Area A Command, Lion Building to block the victim from lodging a complaint of the rape with the Area Commander and collecting a police report to go for medical examination."

At the command level, Vanguard gathered that the state command frowned at the allegation and had commenced investigation to ascertain the DPO’s alleged culpability.

If found guilty, the DPO, said to have put in about 25 years in service, would face disciplinary action.

Already, the Command’s boss, Umar Manko, had reportedly summoned the parties involved to the command for interrogation as at 3 pm, yesterday.

Spokesperson for the command, Ngozi Braide, however, could not state whether the allegation was true or false but told Vanguard that investigation at the end of the day would prove that, adding: "It is an al-

legation and we are taking it very serious."

How I was raped — Akinwunmi

Narrating her ordeal, Akinwunmi, told Vanguard: "I was arrested because my madam told the police that I allowed one Friday, a customer pass the night in the restaurant.

Two relatives of one of the tailors employed by my madam who came on a visit were also arrested.

"I am from Cotonou in Benin Republic. I am a mother of two and I have been working for Ms Pelumi for about 10 months now.

I have done nothing to deserve this kind of treatment. Is it because I am a foreigner that I would be abused without protection? Nigerians should give me justice. I demand justice for this wrong that has been done to me.

"While at the station, I pleaded with one of the police women to allow me take my bath since I have not been allowed to do so since I was arrested and she agreed.

"On my way to the bathroom, I met the DPO for the first time.

He asked if I was Idowu and I said yes. He then asked why I chose to violate my boss’ rules and I told him it was a mistake.

"At about 10pm, one Inspector Ajiduwe took me out of the cell to the DPO, apparently for debriefing on the case.

"Immediately the Inspector left the office, the DPO started touching me. When I asked him to

•Idowu Akinwunmi, the victim stop, he said my boss said they should do anything they liked to me.

"He threatened to shoot me and send me and those arrested with me to jail, if I refused to allow him make love to me and that he would release all of us if I gave in.

"He, thereafter, took me into the inner room in his office. I began to plead with him to use a condom but he refused and forced himself on me .

"When he finished, he told me to wash myself in the bathroom which I did. After that, he sent me back to the cell, with a promise that I would be released.

"But when my relatives came to effect our bail, they paid N30,000 for five of us. As we were going, the DPO scribbled his number on a piece of paper and gave to me.

"Immediately I left, my relatives took me to the Island Maternity for the necessary medical tests."

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014 —7

Ritualist beheads two-yr-old boy, rapes mother in Ogun

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA —A SUS PECTED ritualist, yesterday, beheaded a two-year-old boy and raped his mother in a bush in Ofada town in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The suspect, Momodu Bashir Ibrahim, was said to have trailed the mother, who had her boy strapped on her back, as she went to ease herself in a bush in the area.

An eye witness told Vanguard that the victim went into a nearby bush to ease herself, not suspecting that she was being trailed.

According to the source, the suspect suddenly pounced on the woman, dragged her along with her baby into an uncompleted building and raped her.

“The suspect after raping the woman, stabbed her and killed the boy before he severed his head.

“Luckily, someone, who suspected the suspect’s movement, trailed him to the building but escaped and was able to rescue the woman with the headless body of the boy,” the

The suspect, Momodu Bashir Ibrahim. source said.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi said the suspect was arrested through the help of some community leaders after he fled the area to Ibafo

after committing the crime.

Adejobi added that further interrogation of the suspect revealed that he had sold the head of the boy to a woman in Ibadan, adding that the detectives from the state po-

lice command was on the trail of the suspected buyer and that the command had commenced investigation into the matter.

The suspect led men from the Criminal Investigation Department of the state police command to the scene and the knife with which he perpetrated the act was the only item found at the scene.

Speaking at the scene of the crime which was smeared with blood, the suspect confessed to have raped the woman, killed her son and severed his head which he said he had thrown away into the bush.

He also informed the detectives that there was a woman in Ibadan whom he was working with.

Efforts by the detectives to recover the head of the boy at the scene of the crime, as claimed by the suspect, proved abortive and an attempt to lynch him by the people of the area was prevented by the police.

It was learnt that the remains of the boy has been buried while the mother was responding to treatment in the hospital.

Suspected assassins kill 5 in Rivers community

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT — AT least five persons were allegedly shot dead in Ogbogu community, Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area, Wednesday night by suspected assassins.

Details of the killings were still hazy at press time. Community sources, however, told

Vanguard that the assassins also detonated explosives at the residence of the President General, Egi Peoples Assembly, Chief Oris Onyiri.

The incident which reportedly damaged a portion of one of the buildings in the compound also claimed a life.

A text message to the mobile phone of the state Police Commissioner, Mr Tunde

Ogunsakin, for comments on the ugly development had not been responded to at press time.

The state Police PRO, DSP Ahmad Muhammad, and his assistant, Grace Koko had also not responded to the text messages to their mobile phones for comments on the situation.

Vanguard gathered that

An electric pole fell on a tricycle (Keke Marwa) at Jakande Estate gate on Ikotun-Isolo Road, Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN.

the gunmen also reportedly shot three persons in their legs before fleeing the area. One of those killed, a source said, was from Akabuka, a community close to Ogbogu.

“They threw what sounded like grenade at the residence of Chief Onyiri. One of his relatives died from the incident,” a community source said.

An eyewitness, who did not want his name mentioned, said security men engaged the killers in a gun battle, killing one of them while others escaped.

Nobody could say the motives of the killers but a youth leader said it would not be unconnected with the tension in the area over who should represent the oil rich area during negotiations with multinational oil companies.

“You know oil companies are doing business here. And some persons feel short changed by those from the community representing the people before the oil companies. This area has been enmeshed in one form of crisis or the other over such issue,” the source said.

Vanguard gathered that at least six persons have been killed in oil rich communities in the local government within the last one year in cult related crisis.

Gunmen kill 2 Customs officers in Bauchi

BY SUZAN EDEH

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AUCHI — GUNMEN, yesterday, killed two Customs officials between Sade and Lanzai villages in Darazo Local Government Area of Bauchi State along Bauchi/ Maiduguri Federal Highway.

Security sources from the Army and the Police confirmed the incident.

In their separate accounts of the incident, the security operatives said the Customs officers were attacked on their way to an official assignment in Geidam, Yobe State.

They said the hoodlums shot one Customs official dead while his colleague was burnt inside one of the Customs vehicles.

Contacted, Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Custom Service, Bauchi, Samuel Ja’afar Gulak said their officers visited the mortuary to see the corpses of the victims, adding that after investigation they will give details of the development.

19-yr-old girl arraigned for stabbing man to death

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

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AGOS — A 19-year-old secondary school girl, Uduak Effiong, has been charged before a Lagos High Court in Igbosere, for allegedly stabbing one Eze Ossi Ajah with a pair of scissors and knife till he died.

The defendant who lives at 6, Gbadebo Street, Ijeshatedo area of Lagos, was arraigned before Justice Ebenezer Adebajo and she pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge.

At the resumed hearing, a witness, Sulaiman Olabode, told the court that witnesses who gave statements to the police were not present at the time of the incident and the weapon used by the defendant was handed over to him when he visited the scene.

Led in evidence by the prosecutor, Mrs Akin-Akinsomoju, the witness said: "The guardian of the deceased handed over the weapon to me. People who made statements to the police were not physically present at the time of the incident. I was not there when the defendant stabbed the deceased.”

8—Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

INSURGENCY: FG must be proactive, says MURIC

BY BASHIR ADEFAKA

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HE Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has condemned what it described as the protection of ministers and other high-ranking politicians by the police and other security agencies, leaving the poor masses vulnerable.

MURIC asked the Federal Government to prioritise the protection of the masses, saying that security was not only for the influential members of the society but for all law-abiding citizens.

The Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, said this in a statement in Lagos, yesterday.

According to him, the government needed to re-double its efforts at tackling terrorists.

Also, condemning last Monday’s bomb attack at Nyanya, Abuja, which killed about 100 people and injured many others, MURIC said the attack could have been avoided if security agencies had been alive to their responsibilities.

It said that there was “over concentration of security paraphernalia around ministers, highranking politicians and other influential people,” who could afford to employ private security men, but instead preferred to feed fat on the poor masses thereby “exposing them to great danger.”

We didn't shun security meeting with Jonathan— APC GOVS zThey were not invited, says Akpabio

BY BEN AGANDE

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BUJA—THE All P r o g r e s s i v e s Congress, APC, has explained the reason behind the inability of its governors to attend the expanded National Security Council, NSC, meeting at the Presidential Villa, yesterday.

The party said in a statement by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, that reports that the governors “under the aegis of the party shunned the expanded NSC meeting called by President Goodluck Jonathan to review the security situation in the country,” was false.

He said: “The truth of the

matter is that governors of APC-controlled states were given the impression that the meeting had been called off.

“On Wednesday, the Presidency called the Chief Detail of Kwara State government to say that the meeting had been called off.

On the basis of this information, which apparently got to other governors under the aegis of APC, our governors did not attend.

“Now that the meeting has been held, it is incumbent on the Presidency to launch an investigation into the source of the call to Kwara State government and what the call was meant to achieve.

“Irrespective of the totally unfounded and absolutely irresponsible allegation that

the APC is behind the escalating security situation, our party will not shy away from any serious effort to end the terrorist attacks in our country. Therefore, it is not true that our governors shunned the meeting with the President.”

Earlier reports were that the expanded NSC meeting between President Goodluck Jonathan, service chiefs and heads of security agencies and the governors of the 36 states of the federation was boycotted by governors under the aegis of the APC. Jonathan convened the meeting to review the escalating security situation in the country, in the wake of the bombing of a bus station in Nyanya and the

abduction of over 100 students from a girls’ secondary school in Borno State.

However, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State claimed that the meeting was at the instance of PDP governors, adding that APC governors were not invited.

He could not, however, explain the presence of the governors of Anambra and Ondo states who belong to All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, and Labour Party, LP, respectively.

Announcing yesterday ’s meeting, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati said the President would meet with all the governors to review the security situation in the country.

SEPLAT IN LONDON: From left— Xavier Rolet, CEO, the London Stock Exchange Group; Dr. A. B. C. Orjiako, Chairman; Austin Avuru, Chief Executive Officer, both of Seplat; Dr. Alex Ekwueme, former Vice President of Nigeria; his wife, Helen, and Dr. Yakubu Danjuma, Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, during the listing of Seplat on the London Stock Exchange, yesterday.

BOKO HARAM: Buhari gives PDP 7-day ultimatum to retract comments zSays his idiom was misinterpreted

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

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BUJA— FORMER head of state and chieftain of All Progre-ssives Congress, APC, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), has issued a seven-day ultimatum to Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, to retract its accusation linking him with Boko Haram terrorist acts.

He said PDP should tender an unreserved public apology to him or face a legal action.

Speaking through a statement in Kaduna yesterday, Buhari said: ”I cannot sit back and allow my image, and that of my political party be smeared by falsehood in the name of politics.”

He said the widely publicised allegations made against him by PDP and its spokesperson, Olisa Metuh, to the effect that his utterances were responsible for the current state of insecurity and

terrorism bedeviling Nigeria were absolutely without basis.

He said: “To support his claim, Mr. Metuh engaged in twisted logic and outright distortions in which he said that I beckoned on my ‘supporters to go on lynching spree’ should I lose the 2011 presidential election, as a result of which ‘an unprecedented violence’ broke out claiming the lives of hundreds of innocent people.

“I take very serious exception to this grave accusation against me by the PDP Publicity Secretary. It is a false allegation aimed at tarnishing my image and reputation in the hope of destroying my political and electoral standings, and that of my party, APC, in the country.”

He said the PDP National Publicity Secretary also deliberately misquoted the interview he gave in Hausa

on May 14, 2012, in which he said the opposition was determined to fight in the 2015 elections.

He said: “I used the Hausa idiom, Kare jini, Biri jini, which is a metaphor for a very tough fight. But, like the Islamic fundamentalist toga they falsely put on me because they cannot impinge on my personal and professional integrity, PDP apologists deliberately twisted this idiom to mean I called for violence.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014 —9

Power situation to worsen as labour threatens 5 DISCOs

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

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BOOK LAUNCH: From left— Former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Segun Osoba; Executive Director Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, Dr. Tokunbo Dosumu and Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, at the launch of Yoruba Elites and Ethnic Politics in Nigeria: Obafemi Awolowo and Corporate Agency by Wale Adebanwi, in Lagos, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

EASTER: Tambuwal, Mimiko preach unity against terrorism

BY DAYO JOHNSON & EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

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BUJA—SPEAKER of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal and Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, yesterday, urged Nigerians to use the Easter celebration to unite and confront the threat of terror facing the country.

According to Tambuwal, “as we celebrate Easter, we should intensify prayers for the safe return of our girls forcefully abducted from their school in Borno State.”

In a message to commemorate this year ’s Easter issued in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, Tambuwal said the message of Jesus Christ brought salvation to the human race, as such it was incumbent on humanity to reciprocate the gesture by dedicating their lives to the service of God Almighty.

“Our dear country is in need of love, sacrifice and forgiveness. As we strive to attain these noble virtues, we must all join hands with security agencies to end the spate of killings pervading our dear nation.

“As we celebrate Easter, we should bear in mind that the nation can only rise from the grip of pain and desolation, which many are going through at the moment, if there is determination and unity of purpose.

“We in the House of

Representatives feel the pain of parents, friends and colleagues of the abducted girls.

“We are with them in these trying moments. I urge our security agencies to close ranks and brighten our homes with cheering news by ensuring that all the girls are reunited with their families.”

On his part, Governor Mimiko charged Nigerians to ask for God’s intervention in its battle against terror in the name of religion.

In his Easter message, the governor said Easter “is the appropriate time to seek

peace for the nation.”

Mimiko described Jesus Christ, whose death on the cross and resurrection is being celebrated, as the Prince of Peace capable of restoring peace to Nigeria.

The governor said: “The lesson is that we too can live a life of sacrifice for our country, especially at this time when Nigeria appears to be at the crossroads in terms of the socio-economic and ethno-religious challenges besetting her.

“Beyond the eating and drinking in the course of the celebration, we should go to

God in prayer to solicit His intervention against terror in the name of religion that is threatening the peace and corporate existence of the nation.”

Mimiko counselled Nigerians to use every instrument at their disposal to defend their country against terrorists and those who seek to dismember it in the name of religious extremism.

“This counsel becomes imperative in the light of the fact that we do not have any other country to call our own.”

Court declares Abuja ‘park-and-pay policy' illegal

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA— AN Abuja High Court presided over by Justice Peter Affen, yesterday, described as illegal the policy that mandates motorists within the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, to pay stipulated amounts to have their cars parked at specific locations within the city centres.

Justice Affen, in his judgment yesterday, held that the ‘park-and-pay’ policy was bereft of any recognisable backing of the law.

Though the court noted that the policy could have been an excellent scheme if well situated within the precinct of the law, it directed the FCT administration to forthwith

cease operation of the system for being in contravention of Nigerian laws.

The plaintiff, Sun Trust Savings and Loans Limited had sued the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and two others, accusing them of collecting illegal fees from motorists through the park and pay policy.

The plaintiff, amongst other things, urged the court to determine whether the policy of the FCT is in pursuant of any act of the National Assembly as provided by the 1999 Constitution and whether the defendants can exercise the powers to collect taxes, rates and fees without the act of the National Assembly.

Besides, the plaintiff

prayed the court to declare that the policy was ultra vires, illegal and not in pursuant to any act of the National Assembly and issue a declaration that the defendants were not constitutionally empowered to collect tax, fees and rate in the FCT. Moreover, the plaintiff sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their agents and privies from collecting taxes, fees and issuing of parking violation charges.

The plaintiff further sought the refund of N20,000 that it was compelled to pay, even as it prayed the court to compel the defendants to pay N100, 000, as exemplary damages.

HERE are strong indications that the poor power situation in the country may worsen as organised labour plans to shut no fewer than five Electricity Distribution Companies, DISCOs, over alleged unfair practices, including continued manipulation associated with increase in fixed tariff and non-metering of electricity customers.

The five DISCOs are Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC; Jos Electricity Distribution Company, JEDC; Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, PEDC; Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, IEDC, and Yola Electricity Distribution Company, YEDC. Other alleged sins of the DISCOs and the Federal Government, according to the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, are “deunionisation and casualisation of workers, underpayment of workers' remunerations, sacking of union leaders after legitimate struggle for workers’ right and under-payment of workers remunerations.

Besides NUEE, NLC in four states of Edo, Delta, Ekiti and Ondo are also at loggerheads with BEDC. Its alleged offences included refusal to deduct union dues from workers who are members of NUEE since November 2013; refusal to recall union officials back to work; refusal to pay 2013 staff productivity bonus; refusal to honour Federal Government’s agreements on payment of unpaid staff housing/ leave allowances and non-remittance of union dues deducted before takeover by management.

10— Vanguard , FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

Sanusi’s suit against FRCN adjourned for judgment

BY INNOCENTANABA

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AGOS—A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, adjourned till May 2, for judgment in the suit by suspended governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Lamido Sanusi, challenging the legality of the plans by Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, FRCN, to investigate allegations of financial recklessness leveled against him.

Trial judge, Justice James Tsoho, adjourned for judgment, after parties adopted and argued their respective addresses.

Respondents in the suit are FRCN and its Executive Secretary, Jim Obaze.

Sanisu is contending in the suit that apart from the fact that the principle of fair hearing was ignored, he had been nailed already even before the commencement of the investigation against him.

According to him, the FRCN lacked the power to carry out what he termed the wide ranging investigation into the books of CBN under him, as the probe according to him was in breach of fundamental rights to natural justice.

Lagos presents N1.7bn bond certificates to 437 retirees

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AGOS—AT least 437 Lagos State retirees from various Local Government Areas and State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, yesterday, received N1.7billion worth of retirement bond from state government being their accrued right for the past services rendered to the state.

This came as the government said it had paid about N22.7billion to 4,199 retirees who retired from the state public service from the inception of the state contributory pension scheme.

Presenting the certificates to the beneficiaries, the Director_General of the Lagos State Pension Commission, LASPEC, Mr. Rotimi Hussain, advised the retirees to be careful with the kind of businesses they went into for them to enjoy the fruit of their labour.

Easter: Lagos beefs up security ...Missing $20bn can provide 20, 000 megawatts—FASHOLA

BY MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO

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AGOS—AHEAD of the Easter celebration in Lagos, Governor Babatunde Fashola, yesterday said the state would beef up security in motor parks and other public facilities across the state.

This came barely 48 hours after a massive bomb blast rocked Nyanya bus terminus in Federal Capital Territory, FCT Abuja

claiming over 88 lives and over 200 others sustained various degrees of injuries.

Fashola, who spoke after inspecting and commissioning roads in Eti-Osa Local Government in the state, said this would help to keep the state more secured during and after the festival.

The governor however appealed to residents to be security conscious, saying “At this time, we cannot say that we are

not aware of what is happening in the country. I have met with all the security chiefs and leaders of the National Union of Transport Workers, NURTW and other stakeholders in the road transport sector in the state. We will improve security in motor parks and other public facilities in the state.'

On the spate of bombing, he urged the residents to persevere, saying “These are difficult times and they don’t last long. It is tough

and sensible people that survive.

Every family and community go through some tough time. I know that we are tough people and we will last. It isn’t enough to be tough, we have to be vigilant, sensible, love and secure ourselves.”

Meanwhile, the governor said the controversial $20 billion said to be missing from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, if recovered, could provide additional 20,000 mega watts of electricity for the country.

Fashola who spoke while commissioning Addo - kekere , Lagbasa and Ajah Badore Roads in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of the state, urged the central government to expedite action to recover the missing fund.

He said “I know that if we have $1 billion, we will have 1, 000 megawatts of electricity in the country. So that is equivalent to 20, 000 megawatts”.

‘Insurgency delaying Lagos agriculture plans’ BYOLASUNKANMIAKONI HANDING OVER: From left—Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Works and Infrastucture, Mr. Ganiyu Johnson; Governor Babatunde Fashola; Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat and the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, during the handing over of Network of Roads in Langbasha, Ajah, Eti-Osa, Lagos....yesterday. Photo by Bunmi Azeez.

Obanikoro responds to alleged media attack

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E N A T O R MusiliuObanikoro, Minister of State for Defence, yesterday said he had noted with dismay the coordinated and relentless media attacks on his person and office from a particular section of the media with deep_rooted interests in his public demonization.

In a statement by his personal Assistant, Ikenna Ezekwe, the minister said; “It is regrettable that at a time of national emergency, when total attention is required to surmount daunting security challenges, a less than patriotic clique within the media and opposition political circles have collectively chosen to demonize and distract him with spurious reports of phantom incidents.

“The unfounded but imaginatively contrived reports of the use of military personnel to intimidate political opponents, remains as described, an unfounded but deviously conceived attack on a person perceived by his political detractors to be the most formidable threat in the lead up to a round of elections.

“The reference to the Minister’s unscheduled visit to the Ilubirin site in Lagos as the act of a

meddlesome interloper, proves the point that he is a committed stakeholder.

“There is absolutely no truth in the assertion that work on the site was disrupted by the military detail that

accompanied him.

“It must be emphasized that the very serious environmental, statutory, legal, and ethical issues raised by the Minister have still not been addressed by the relevant parties.''

$3.8bn project: Legal battle over Local Content breaches intensifies

BY GODWIN ORITSE

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HE lingering litigation over a $3.8 billion Egina oil platform project between the Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics, LADOL and Samsung/Total has deepened, as the oil and gas service provider insists that it has legal rights to undertake the local content aspect of the job.

The contract awarded to Samsung Heavy Industry and LADOL by Total for the integration of a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) platform to be cited at LADOL base in Lagos, assumed litigation following alleged schemes by Samsung to exclude the indigenous firm from the juicy project.

Counsel to LADOL, Professor Fidelis Oditah (QC, SAN), had earlier sought 19 reliefs against Samsung and other defendants before Justice Chukwujekwe Aneke, of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, asking for a declaration that the contract awarded by Total to Samsung on or about 15 March 2013 was subject to the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act 2010.

In his submission at the hearing Wednesday, Oditah noted that since the Nigerian Content Act 2010 was enacted for the benefit of all Nigerians, his client being a Nigerian entity had the right to sue for local content breaches, wherein the relevant government agency failed to do so.

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AGOS—LAGOS State Government yesterday lamented that the insecurity in part of Northern Nigeria, especially the Boko Haram’s insurgence prevented its moves to acquire land in the region for its agricultural purposes.

This came as it said about 240 metric tons of vegetables worth N84 million produced and brought into Lagos perished on daily basis due to poor transportation system.

It however noted that the state had acquired 1,084 hectares of land in Osun State for oil palm processing, Agric_YES aprogramme and other agricultural purposes, while 500 hectares of land was acquired in Eggua, Ogun State for rice production.

Commissioner for Agricultural and Cooperatives, Prince Gbolahan Lawal, who spoke at the annual briefing by his ministry, said government, had received titles on the newly acquired land.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014— 11

My comments on Ondo by-election not to slight minister – REC DAYO JOHNSON

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KURE—THE Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in Ondo State, Mr. Akin Orebiyi, yesterday clarified that his comment against a serving minister over the bye-election in the state was not to denigrate his person.

Orebiyi gave the clarification in a statement he personally signed in Akure entitled; “Need for clarification.”

This came as the PDP in the state asked Orebiyi to withdraw the allegation against the minister and tender an unreserved apology.

Meanwhile, National Association of Ondo State Students, NAOSS, disagreed with the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, over the Ilaje/Eseodo by-election.

While NANS wanted the winner of the election be declared by the electoral body, NAOSS urged INEC to follow the electoral law guideline by conducting a supplementary election.

Orebiyi in the statement said that he alleged that the Minister “ was seen going round distrupting the conduct of the bye election.

He said what he meant was that “the presence of the Minister (who had been in the constituency

earlier and left before election day) led to some agitated youth mistaking one of our Supervising Resident Electoral Commissioners for the Minister and nearly lynched the said commissioner on April 6. “ I was speaking in the context of the malpractices generally perpetrated by political parties during the by election which had otherwise been commended for

its unprecedented correct logistical arrangement and timeliness by all parties lynching of a colleague of mine who was mistaken for the Minister and not to denigrate his person or imply that he was responsible for the mob action.”

But the PDP threatened that failure by the REC to apologize “will be viewed as a hostile act by your person against the

AWARD: From left, Chief Financial Officer Etisalat Nigeria, Andrew Kamp, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Matthew Willsher, Deputy National President, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Rotimi Obamuwagun and Managing Editor The Nation Newspaper, Waheed Odusile, during the NUJ presentation of the Network of Excellence Award to Etisalat Nigeria in Lagos.

Soyinka lauds Osun school reforms

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE OSOGBO – Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka has described the introduction of same school uniform for public schools children in Osun state as a right step to foster unity among

children of different faith.

Soyinka who defended the government said the school reclassification policy of the state government was meant to bring all the students together without seeing themselves differently either by religion or by sex.

I own no varsity anywhere – FAYEMI

BY GBENGAARIYIBI

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DO EKITI— GOVERNOR Kayode Fayemi, yesterday described as untrue insinuation making round that he owned a university in Ghana, even as he denied allegation that his administration had jerked up tuition fee in the State owned university-Ekiti State University.

Fayemi who made the clarification in Ado Ekiti while speaking with newsmen after attending a mass at the St Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, AdoEkiti, explained that he neither owned a University anywhere in the world nor had intention to establish one..

According to him,”I don’t have a university anywhere in the world and I don’t even intend to

interest and integrity of our Party and therefore present us with no alternative than to pursue further actions viz administrative and legal actions against you.”

Speaking through the state Secretary of PDP in the state, Chief Ibine Oyedele in a statement, challenge Orebiyi” to lay bare any evidence of whatever misdemeanor you accused the Minister of committing without hesitation, failure of which you will be regarded as just another rumour monger holding a public office.”

have one. Instead I am picking up a lecturing job at EKSU come next session. My name is important to me. I am a Catholic and as someone who takes the Holy Communion, I won’t do anything that will desecrate this state and the Catholic Church” Meantime, Former governor of Ekiti State and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate Mr Ayodele Fayose, has enjoined the people of the state to be peaceful and law abiding before during and after the June 21 governorship election According to a statement by Fayose’s spokesman, Mr Idowu Adelusi in Ado Ekiti yesterday, Fayose urged the people to ''emulate our Lord Jesus Christ in all our daily activities, saying by so doing we can have peace in our society, in our homes and in our lives.''

Soyinka spoke at the closing ceremony of the three-day All Comers Colloquium organized by the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding and the State Government on Fundamental Imperatives of cohabitation: Faith and Secularism.

The renowned literary icon contended that school children at various levels should not be made to believe that they were superior to one another for them to be able learn in a class-free environment According to Soyinka, the children should not be allowed

to discriminate among themselves because of their religious differences saying: “What they need now is an atmosphere where they can learn without distraction.

“Religion as a separation factor must be canceled. There is need for unity in the children. That is why I accept the school uniform and reclassification policy of my dear Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

We do not want our children to be conscious of their differences in the religions. There should not be variation in the school children. Nigeria is a multi religious society. There are guiding principles for the society.

We are not only speaking of cohabitation but mutual understanding and principles.''

Labour threatens FG over outstanding ex-PHCN staff benefits DAYO JOHNSON

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KURE—Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, leaders in South-west, South-South and Kwara , yesterday in Ondo State, issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government and the new investors in the power sector to resolve the pending labour issues and working condition of the workers of former Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, or face industrial action.

The ultimatum was given after

a meeting of NLC and officials of National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, in Akure.

The workers said government must address the issues raised before the expiration of the ultimatum to guarantee industrial peace and harmony in the power sector.

The meeting was held to deliberate on the issues, grievances and matters relating to the working condition of members, particularly those disengaged by the new owners.

Unions shut down FUNNAB

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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B E O K U TA — Academic and other activities were paralyzed yesterday at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State following a joint protest by the three non-academic unions over alleged illtreatment by the FUNAAB Governing Council.

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, and the National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT, in FUNAAB at about 8:00am blocked the main entrance to the university campus, preventing staff and visitors access.

The blocked gate later resulted in a heavy traffic gridlock along the Alabata Road location of FUNAAB stretching over two kilometres.

T h e protesters accused the FUNAAB Governing Council of extending the three-year period for confirmation of appointment and promotion as well as making it mandatory for the non-academic staff to sit for written examinations before being considered for promotion.

92 make first class degree at LAUTECH

BY OLAAJAYI

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BADAN—NINETYTWO out of 12,181 graduates of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology made first class grades.

This was disclosed yesterday in Ogbomoso by the Vice Chancellor of LAUTECH, Professor Adeniyi Gbadegesin when speaking as part of activities marking the 11th special convocation of the institution.

Giving further breakdown of the number of students that graduated from the institution, Prof.

Gbadegesin said, 3,202 made second class upper division; 6,300 had second class lower, 1,961 made third class and 145 graduates had ordinary pass.

12—Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

Oyegun faults Jonathan’s allegation against Kwankwaso

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN—FORMER governor of Edo State, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, yesterday, described the allegation of embezzlement of campaign funds levelled against Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State by President Goodluck Jonathan as ridiculous.

He said that rather than accuse the governor of embezzlement of campaign funds, the President should first arrest those who were involved in the pension fund saga and the alleged missing N20 billion from the Federation Account.

Oyegun, in a chat with Vanguard, said: “In politics, when you want to hang somebody, you accuse him of stealing money. But first the President should tell us who stole our N20 billion and they should ensure that all those who stole pension funds are arrested and prosecuted.

“Campaign funds are not public funds. It is a case of misplaced priority. It looks like the President is more concerned with campaign funds than with public funds. We had been told how many kilometres of road N20 billion can tar, let him punish those who are stealing public funds before talking about private campaign funds. The President’s

outburst is ridiculous,” Oyegun insisted.

On the continued violence in the North perpetrated by the Boko Haram sect, Oyegun said: “There is no way to describe what is going on in the name of Boko Haram in this country.

The Muslims are supposed to be extreme Muslims, here they are kidnapping Muslim chil-

dren, what part of their struggle for God can justify such a dastardly act.

“Secondly, how can those children be abducted and the kidnappers are not be apprehended by security forces? How many pick up vans were required to transport them? How was it that those who abducted the kids

travelled to the schools, fired shots, and abducted them, yet we did not hear of any response from any of the security agencies?

“I wonder how safe we are in this country. I am really sad for this country, none of us is safe in this country,” he said.

BRIEFING: Princewill Ejogharado-Oghara, representing the Ibori family; Nowinta Igbotako, convener; Chinelo Maureen Ugwu, member and Jude Isiayei, during a press briefing by Niger Delta Alliance for Human Rights calling on the British Government to release Chief James Ibori, former governor of Delta State, in Benin City. Photo: Barnabas Uzoskike.

Delta Bursary Board disqualifies 7,733 students

BY FESTUS AHON

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SABA—NO fewer than 7,733 students have been disqualified from the 2012/2013 Students Special Assistance Scheme, SSAS, of the Delta State Bursary and Scholarship Board.

Chairman of the board, Msgr. Buchi Aninye, who spoke on the implementation of the scheme for the year 2012/2013, explained that the 7,733 students were disqualified for reasons ranging from their state of origin to lack of evidence of their admission by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, into any institution in the country, adding that 147 students out of the 7,733 were disqualified having graduated from their various institutions of learning.

Aninye also said that “out of the 29,119 students who successfully submitted their applications, 28,597 students are tentatively qualified pending further verification by the institutions. At the end of the initial verification exercise conducted by the various institutions, the number of qualified

students was further pruned to 21, 386.

“This is because some of the students were disqualified by their institutions based on various reasons ranging from low CGDPA to lack of records of such students in the institutions.

“A website was opened for students to register on July 22, 2013 and was closed on August 15, of same year, but as a result of agitation from students, the board in its magnanimity ex-

tended the registration period by an additional one month and the site was finally closed for registration on September 15, 2013. At the close of the registration exercise, 31, 470 applications were received from 213 institutions across the country.

“The sum of N699.65million was sought for and approved by the State Executive Council, SEC, in December last year

for 28, 597 students, which was later reduced to 21,386 by painstaking verification by their various schools.

“The journey has not been easy, the board has over the period continuously and constantly received a lot of threat messages from ‘Bursary Merchants’ that had refused to graduate and that had taken the ugly act of defrauding the state government as a permanent business venture."

Angaye makes case for part-time parliamentarians

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA—A UNIVERSITY teacher, Prof. Gesiye Angaye, has described as too expensive, Nigeria’s presidential system of government.

He advocated a drastic reduction of the executive and legislative arms of government at every tier to cut costs and conserve funds for capital projects.

Prof. Angaye, a former Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning in Bayelsa

State in the Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha administration, in an interview in Yenagoa, noted that apart from the Speakers and Deputy Speakers, all other parliamentarians should be part- time members as it was in the First Republic.

This, according to Prof.

Angaye, a lecturer at the Niger Delta University, will help improve the quality of legislators as only those interested in the growth and development of the country

would volunteer to serve.

Describing the country as a case of over-governed rich, but poor nation he said: “Nigeria seems to be wasting her oil wealth on unproductive and undemocratic political structures and institutions, rather than building a wealthy nation.

“Nigeria is being over-governed with too many unviable states, local governments, too powerful central government and excessive elected and appointed political officers."

Group warns against politicizing insecurity

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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ENIN—NATIONAL Coordinator of a socio-cultural group, South- South Ideological Forum, SSIF, Mr. Goodnews Eiche, has called on Nigerians, irrespective of their political and religious affiliations, to join hands with President Goodluck Jonathan in finding solutions to the myriad of challenges facing the country instead of heating up the polity.

He warned that Nigeria as a country was bigger than any person, political party and even the government in power, saying that it was better to work together and salvage the country from the various challenges facing it.

The veteran journalist, who spoke with newsmen in Benin, Edo State, yesterday, said: “As God has made it possible for us to remain as one entity for the past years, no one should think that Nigeria will break up.”

APC chieftain lauds conduct of ward congress in Oshimili

BY TOMMY ANADUAKA

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CHIEFTAIN of All Progressives Congress Party, APC in Oshimili federal constituency of Delta State, Chief Mejulu, has commended members of the party in the area for being peacefully before, during and after the party’s ward congress.

Chief Mejulu, in an interview with newsmen, described the exercise as very peaceful and called on other political parties to emulate APC. In Oshimili-North Local Government Area, like in other wards of the constituency, where the congress was conducted smoothly, members appealed to a son of the area, Dr. Tony Azuya, to contest the position to represent them in the 2015 elections.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014 — 13

DSS arraigns three persons in P-Harcourt over cleric's abduction

A-Ibom PDP warns against threat to party's unity

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KWA Ibom State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said, yesterday, that it will not tolerate any further action by any person or group that threatens the integrity and unity of the party in the state.

State chairman of the party, Obong Paul Ekpo, who gave the warning at the inauguration of the Finance and Building Committees of the party in Uyo, condemned a recent meeting hosted by some people under the name of PDP Elders, which he said was at variance with the unity and progress of the party in the state.

Ekpo explained that no PDP Elders Forum had been formed in the state, adding that the party will not hesitate to deal decisively with those hiding under the guise of PDP Elders to cause disharmony in the party.

He said that the PDP was impressed with the leadership attributes of the state governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, which has made Akwa Ibom the most sought after destination in Nigeria.

DESOPADEC commissioner lauds training of 2,000 people

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HE Commissioner representing Ndokwa nation in Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Sir Ken Okolugbo, has commended the management of Delta State Economic Re-integration Programme for training over 2,000 people from the oil producing areas in different crafts and trades and empowering 280 others to start small scale business.

He also commended the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, for the support to the programme and DESOPADEC for sponsoring it. He gave cash gifs to the Ndokwa graduates of the programme. The event was attended by Governor Uduaghan, who gave certificates to the graduands.

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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VISIT: From left: Wife of the Rotary Foundation Trustee Chairman, Young Ja-Chung; Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State; Rotary Foundation Trustee Chairman, Dung KurnLee and Governor-elect, Rotary International District 9140, Port Harcourt, Chief Noble Eshemitan, during a coutresy visit by Rotary Foundation Trustee Chairman to the governor, in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Crude oil theft: We never indicted JTF —Delta govt D

ELTA State Government, yesterday, denied a newspaper report, quoting the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan as indicting the Joint Task Force, JTF, in crude oil theft in the Niger Delta.

The state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chike Ogeah, in a statement, said: “In the story on the second annual Oil and Gas conference in Warri, the report quoted the governor as blaming the JTF for the increasing rate of crude oil theft.

The quotes attributed to the governor on the issue are absolutely untrue.

“Dr. Uduaghan did not, at any time during his remarks at the forum, blame the security agency or any arm of the military for the spate of crude oil theft in the country. On the contrary, the governor noted that the incidence of pipeline vandalism and oil theft had reduced significantly due to the diligence of security operatives. He illustrated this with a recent incident where a naval team that apprehended some expatriates and their Nigerian accomplices was offered money. In the governor ’s words, 'you must have heard that two to three weeks ago, some people were arrested, two expatriates and some Nigerians were arrested, and what was the story? The expatriates and Nigerians tried to bribe one of the Commanders so that he would give them free passage to their boat, but that did not work so they were arrested. It shows the commit-

ment of the security agencies in dealing with this problem.

So, we have to encourage them and that is what we have been trying to do.'

Diligence of security operatives “Acknowledging that the diligence of security operatives is yielding positive results, Dr. Uduaghan said 'a lot of arrests are being made, but in moving forward, a lot still needs to be done.'

“Although he spoke ex-tempore, the full transcript of his speech showed no mention of indictment on any body or organisation. Rather, the governor harped extensively on the long term impact on the environment through the crude way oil was being illegally refined. He appealed to representatives of oil producing communities to place greater emphasis on their environment which will still continue to suffer the fall out of the criminal acts many years after oil may have dried up, See Vanguard Newspaper of April 16, 2014.

“Had Uduaghan made the statements attributed to him by the said report, it would defi-

nitely have elicited immediate response from military commanders from the JTF and the Navy who were seated beside the governor. In fact, the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command of Nigerian Navy, Rear-Admiral Samuel Ilesanmi Alade, alongside the Commandant-General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr. Ade Abolurin, who are members of the Crude Oil Anti-Theft Committee headed by Dr. Uduaghan were in the conference as resource persons.

“Given that only the said report from the mainstream media attributed the false statements to the governor, it is apparent that what we may have here is a case of inadequate capacity."

ORT HARCOURT— THE Department of State Security, DSS, yesterday, arraigned three persons before a Port Harcourt Magistrate's Court, Rivers State, for the abduction of the Dean of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Archbishop Ignatius Kattey.

The accused persons were said to have collected the sum of N10 million as ransom before the release of the archbishop.

The accused persons, facing a 17-count charge are Chibueze Nwaogba, Onyedikachi Okoro and Philip Ogbuewu.

They were alleged to have kidnapped the archbishop and his wife, Beatrice, on September 6, 2013, at Aleto-Eleme, in Eleme Local Government Area of the state.

No plea was taken, while Magistrate I. Agbesor ordered their remand in prison custody as the court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

The magistrate also ordered that the case file be sent to the state Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, for legal advice before adjourning the matter till September 1, 2014 for mention.

C M Y K

14—Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

CONFERENCE: Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu (left), with other African Ministers of Health, at their first joint conference, in Luanda, Angola, yesterday.

Community may clash with Enugu govt over chieftaincy titles

BY TONY EDIKE

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NUGU — Oduma in Anin-ri Local Government Area of Enugu State may clash with the state government over the ban on the conferment of chieftaincy titles on individuals in the state.

The people of Oduma in Enugu West senatorial district had planned to honour their representative in the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, for facilitating the construction of the N12 billion Nenwe-Oduma-Uburu Road being funded by the Federal Government.

The road project, which was flagged off in November 2013, had reached advanced stage and the people of the area, who had been experiencing nightmares passing through the road, were heaving a sigh of relief.

Also selected for conferment of chieftaincy titles at the reception slated for Saturday, April 19, 2014, at Oduma are the Minister of Works, Arc. Mike Onolememen, Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, Senator Ayogu Eze and Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Works, Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi.

However, Oduma people and their traditional rulers have vowed to go ahead with the event, saying they had no reason to listen to a government that refused to do for them what the person they were being asked not to honour had done for them.

They also insisted that “the reception was entirely a community affair and should not be polluted with dirty politics.”

Nyanya: Senate pledges CCTV cameras in FCT, motor-parks ...as Sen Adeyemi donates N2m to 48 bomb blast victims

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

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BUJA — THE Senate, yes-terday, promised to make budgetary allocation for the installation of Closed Circuit Television Cameras, CCTV, to capture movement of people in the nation’s Federal Capital territory, FCT, Abuja.

The CCTV cameras will be mounted in public places, markets and motor-parks to avoid a recurrence of last Monday’s bomb blast that claimed lives of

dozens of Nigerians.

Meanwhile, Chairman, Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Senator Smart Adeyemi, has visited victims of Nyanya bomb blast at the National Hospital and Asokoro General Hospital, all in Abuja, and made a personal donation of N2 million to be shared among 48 victims.

Senator Adeyemi also promised to ensure that the budgetary allocation for security in the FCT and the National Hospital improved to be able to monitor movements in the nation’s capital and also ca-

ter for any emergency of high magnitude.

While making a donation of N2 million each for the 48 victims receiving treatments at the two hospitals, Senator Adeyemi specifically instructed the managements of the hospitals that the money was neither for the drugs nor feeding but to be shared among the victims for them to take care of their families.

He assured the management of the National Hospital that the Senate would ensure an increase the budgetary allocation to the

hospital, so they could handle emergencies of big magnitude.

He said: “I am happy that these people are responding to treatment. I recall that years back, my committee was over-sighting the National Hospital, when we came on board, the hospital was not on the template for budgeting.

“I was one of those who pushed

....Enugu govt approves N759m for CCTV, others

BY TONY EDIKE

Nobody can change God’s plan for Nigeria NUGU — Enugu State E government, yesterday, ear—MASSOB marked N759 million for the exeBY NWABUEZE OKONKWO MASSOB’s zonal leader for An-

ONITSHA — THE Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, has berated politicians who introduced the no- go area clause in the on-going National Conference out of selfish reasons and against the wishes of the people who wanted everything about Nigeria discussed.

In a press statement signed by

ambra North, Mazi Chris Mocha, after its zonal meeting yesterday, MASSOB insisted that nobody, even President Goodluck Jonathan, could stop God’s plan for Nigeria, stressing that the country had been destined by God to break up into its natural units, of which Biafra was one..

Mocha stated that God, "hardened the heart of Pharaoh in Egypt and used it for good purpose in favour of the Israelites,"

adding that even the mighty Soviet Union with her military prowess, was broken into 15 independent sovereign nations and yet heavens did not fall.

Noting that the on-going Confab would have become the better opportunity for Nigerians to freely discuss how they intended to either live together or separate, but for selfish politicians who said the unity of the country should not be discussed.

FG reassures int’l community of safety during WEFA

BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

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HE FEDERAL Government has reassured the international community of the safety of all participants during the World Economic Forum on Africa meeting scheduled to hold in Abuja next month.

Supervising Minister of National Planning, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, who made this known at a briefing in his office yesterday, also thanked the international community for their implicit confidence in the country and its economy, adding that the govern-

ment was doing its best to protect its citizens as well as foreigners.

He noted that the security subcommittee of the local organising committee was given all the necessary attention because the country placed high premium on the security of lives and property of Nigerians.

He said: “The security sub-committee of the local organising committee is headed by the Inspector-General of police himself. That goes to show the importance we attached to the safety of the delegates coming. It is also our re-

sponsibility to ensure the safety of all Nigerians before, during and after the event.”

The Minister added that President Goodluck Jonathan had given all the necessary support for the successful hosting of the event, adding that he (the Minister) met with the Inspector-General of Police yesterday to confirm that all security arrangements were already in place.

“Nigeria is guaranteeing the security of all the delegates and we shall do our best as a nation to ensure that the event holds without hitches, he said.

cution of various projects in the state, including installation of security gadgets, at the new state secretariat complex.

State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chuks Ugwoke, who disclosed this at the end of the council’s meeting presided over

by Governor Sullivan Chime at the Government House, Enugu, said N300 million was approved for the supply and installation of Close Circuit Television, CCTV, and Access Control Systems in various offices within the new secretariat.

He said the scope of work consisted of 579 cameras, 44 network video control systems that would be installed on 264 doors with 22 controllers, adding that the contract was awarded to Prolines Vision Limited.

Ugwoke, who was accompanied to the press briefing by other commissioners, also said N213,021,419.18k was approved by the government for the construction of Asu River Bridge along, Isiogbo - Nara Road in Nkanu East Local Government Area.

He said government also approved N106,706,996 for the re-development of Emene Testing Ground and Drivers Training Institute.

Vanguard, THURSSDAY, APRIL 18, 2014—15

JAMB releases results

MEETING: From left, Acting CBN Governor, Mrs. Sarah Alade, Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Diamond Bank Plc, Dr. Alex Otti, and Chief Economic Adviser, Professor Nwanze Okidegbe, during WorldBank/IMF Spring Meeting, in Washington DC, USA

...only 47 candidates scored 250 & above

BY LAIDE AKINBOADE

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BUJA — THE Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, yesterday, said only 47 candidates scored 250 and above in the Paper Pencil Test, PPT, and Dual Based Test, DBT, modes of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, conducted across the country, last Saturday.

The Registrar/Chief Executive of JAMB, Professor Dibu Ojerinde, disclosed this in Abuja while announcing the release of the 2014 UTME results.

He said only 24 candidates scored 250 and above in the PPT, while 23 candidates scored 250 and above in the DBT. Breaking down the result of the 6th edition of the UTME on the two modes, Ojerinde disclosed that in PPT, 275,282 candidates scored below 150; 122,157, 150-159; 115,456, 160-169; 15,401 candidates scored 170-199, while 108,488 candidates scored 200-249.

He said: “In DBT, 2,471 candidates scored below 150; 2,830 scored 150-159; 3,808 scored 160-169; 6,678 candidates also scored between 170-199, while 1,309 candidates scored 200-249. ”A total of 990,179 candidates applied for PPT, while 25,325 candidates applied for DBT which amounts to

1,015,504 applicants.”

Speaking on the conduct of the exams, Professor Ojerinde said “the examination was one of the most successfully conducted exercise ever by the Board.”

He said from the two modes of exam conducted, there was a total of 36,164 invalid results; 2,494 results with-held by the board for further scrutinising, while 37,315 candidates were absent.

Also, he said 1,865 centres were used for the conduct of PPT, while 133 centres were used for DBT across the federal.

On exhibits recovered from centres during the exams, Ojerinde said this year witnessed a decrease in candidates’ desperation and incidences of malpractice.

He, however, said over a dozen handsets, irregular answer sheets, among others, were found on candidates.

Ojerinde, however, disclosed that a medical doctor who sat for the exam for his wife was caught in Jigawa State, adding that he would be reported to the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA. He said candidates should check their results on-line via the Board’s website: www.jambresult.com, using their registration numbers.

Nyanya blast: House leader, female Reps visit survivors led by the House Leader, The House Leader

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

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BUJA — FEMALE lawmakers in the House of Representatives,

Mulikat Akande-Adeola, yesterday, visited victims of last Monday's bomb blast at Nyanya, an Abuja suburb.

and her colleagues during the visit, made some cash donations of undisclosed amount to each of the victims of

NNPC injects 293m litres of petrol into market

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

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HE NIGERIAN National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and its downstream subsidiary, the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company, PPMC, have injected 293, 326, 011 litres of premium motor spirit, otherwise called petrol, into filling stations across the country .

The Corporation explained this was part of measures put in place to ensure a hitch free Easter celebration across the nation.

It said besides this figure, major and independent marketers were sched-

uled to supply additional 142,913,189 litres into the system.

The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the NNPC, Mr. Ohi Alegbe, stated that the NNPC, Major Marketers Association of Nigeria,

MOMAN, Nigeria Independent Petroleum Company, NIPCO, and all other importers of petroleum products were trucking out petrol from their various marine and inland depots to stabilise the situation.

the blast as well as patients, who caught their sympathy within the Intensive Care Units of the hospital.

Vanguard recalls that the Speaker of the House, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, had on Tuesday, visited the hospital to show solidarity with the victims, having donated blood at the National Blood Transfusion Centre the previous day.

Members were visibly touched by the testimony of one of the survivors, Mr. Gabriel Thank-God from Kogi State, who told the female lawmakers that his survival was purely an act of God.

....Police on high alert nationwide

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

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BUJA — FOLLOWING recent security breaches, bombings and abductions by the Boko Haram terrorist group in several parts of the country, the Police High Command, in Abuja, has ordered its formations across the country to ensure water tight security in churches and other places of worship during Easter.

The directive, according to Police sources, was coming on the heels of intelligence reports indicating that Boko Haram terrorists were still bent on perpetuating further havoc, similar to the motor park bombing at Nyanya, on the outskirts of Abuja, but this time at places of worship.

C M Y K

16—Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

NTI to commence degree programme

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ADUNA — DR. Aminu Sharehu, the Director-General of the National Teachers’ Institute, NTI, yesterday, said the institute would soon commence degree programmes for teachers.

Sharehu said this during the nationwide matriculation and orientation ceremony of the Nigeria Certificate in Education, NCE, Post Graduate Diploma in Education, PGDE, and Advanced Diploma in Education, ADE, students in Kaduna.

He said the institute had got an approval from all the necessary bodies and would affiliate with other universities to begin teaching degree programmes in various fields of education.

Lagos gives deadline on communication masts

BY EMEKAAGINAM

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AGOS — THE Lagos State Government has given owners of communications masts made of hollow-pipes until April, 30, 2014 to replace them with galvanized steel masts.

The General Manager, Urban Furniture Regulatory Unit (UFRU), Mr. Joe Igbokwe, issued

the deadline Tuesday in Lagos after the early morning rainstorm last Sunday that , pulled down several communication masts, which destroyed buildings and cars worth billions of Naira.

He said that after the April 30 deadlines, the UFRU would commence dismantling and evacuation of all hollow-pipe masts in the state,

while their owners would take full responsibility for the cost of such dismantling and evacuation.

The areas mostly affected, according to him, were Gbagada, Ojuelegba, Kirikiri in Apapa, Apapa-Oshodi Express Way, Ilupeju, Ikorodu, Ikoyi, Surulere, and Alaba International Market.

MTN, Visafone, Reltel, Dia-

Benue govt accused of insensitivity over teachers' 7-month strike

BY PETER DURU

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AKURDI — AP PARENTLY miffed by the alleged inability of the Benue State Government to resolve its crisis with primary school teachers in the last seven months of their strike action, the Network for Concerned Parents, NCP, yesterday, accused the government of insensitivity to the plight of parents and their children in the state.

In a statement yesterday in Makurdi, the state capital, the acting Chairman of NCP, Mr. John Aondugu said “the prolonged industrial action by the aggrieved teachers is taking its toll on the lives of innocent children in public primary schools in the state. ”This goes a long way to show that our leaders have suddenly forgotten the responsibilities they owe the upcoming generations. ”It is inexcusable for a government to shut down primary schools for close to seven months over disputes with teachers and we are all carrying on as if all is well with our state. ”It is a clear demonstration of arrogance, and outright insensitivity to the plight of our children and wards who have been at the receiving end of this show of strength by the gov

SUMMIT: From left, Mr. Knut Ulvmoen, Group Executive, Dangote Industries Limited; Dr. Oba Otudeko, Chairman, Honeywell Group, and Dr. Joseph Odumodu, DG, Standard Organisation of Nigeria, SON, during the Oyo State Economic Summit, in Ibadan, Oyo State,.

Zamfara to boost industrial activities with N1bn loan facility

BY SALISU MARADUN

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USAU — BUSINESSES may soon start booming again in Zamfara State as the state government had concluded arrangements to disburse N1 billion loan to Small and Medium Scale Industrialists, SMSI, in the state soon.

State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari,

made this known in Gusau, the state capital, yesterday, while officially declaring open, the Eighth Zamfara State Domestic Trade Fair.

Yari, who was represented on the occasion by the Commissioner of Commerce, Mines and Industries, Alhaji Hassan Muhammad Zurmi, explained that the purpose of organising such trade fairs was not only to provide a

Plateau poultry farmers cry over excess harvest of eggs

BY MARIE-THERESE NANLONG

J

OS — POULTRY farmers in Plateau State have raised alarm over excess eggs and poor patronage and appealed to Grand Cereal and Oil Mills Ltd, producers of Vital feeds to come to their aid.

State Chairman of Poultry Farmers’ Association of Nigeria, Mr. Julius Gusan, who sought the intervention of the company in mopping up the excess eggs, said lack of patronage was affecting their businesses.

Gusan, who spoke during a visit to the company, yesterday, said the step would significantly reduce the glut and put poultry farmers back on their feet.

Responding, the Managing Director of Grand Cereals and Oil Mills Limited, Mr. Layi Oyatoki asked the farmers to create adequate awareness to enhance the consumption of eggs and other poultry products in the state.

Oyatoki also said that his company had concluded plans to buy some of the excess eggs in the state and distribute same to schools in Plateau and Kano states.

forum for the conduct of business, but also to draw the attention of investors to the enormous potentials that were available in various parts of the state.

mond Bank, Union Bank, Addoser Microfinance Bank, Africa Finance Corporation, Brain & Brace Security and 13 other unknown operators that were detected immediately after the windstorm, according to him were affected. Igbokwe noted that although the affected MTN mast was made with galvanized steel, it was erected on the top of a building and not properly fitted.

“After we must have removed all hollow-pipe masts in the state, their owners must replace them with galvanised steel masts, if they so wish to do so.”, he said.

He also warned all operators using towers and masts to comply with the Lagos State infrastructure laws, or be prepared to face the wrath of the law.

Even though no life was lost during the latest incident, the torrential rainfall, accompanied by heavy windstorms brought down trees and mostly hollow-pipe masts belonging to telecommunications companies and banks.

Igbokwe, while giving details of the damage said the havoc would have been more, if not for the timely intervention of UFRU in sensitizsing mast owners.

According to him, the agency had in the past dismantled several masts belonging to banks and insurance companies that were threats to lives and property in the state.

Narrating the incident further, he said that the windstorm was so severe that it pulled down roof tops, trees, houses, electric poles, and sign-posts worth billions of naira. Attributing the damage to the weakness of hollow-pipe masts.

Igbokwe said that most banks and insurance companies had refused to obey the laws of the state, which seek to save life and property of people of Lagos.

Easter: FRSC sets up 3 mobile courts, deploys 300 officers in Kwara

I

LORIN — AHEAD of the Easter celebration, the FRSC in Kwara, yesterday, said it had deployed 300 personnel and set up three mobile courts.

The Sector Commander, Mrs. Mary Wakawa, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Ilorin that the personnel were already in the 16 council areas.

Wakawa also said the courts were located in each of the three senatorial districts of the state to try erring motorists during the period.

According to the Sector Commander, 10 operational vehicles and ambulances have

also been provided.

She added that four rescue centres were already in place in Ilorin, Offa, Jebba-Ogbomosho road as well as OmuAran- Eruku Road, Wakawa said the command was collaborating with the Kwara Traffic Management Agency, the police, NSCDC and the State Security Service to ensure an accident-free celebration.

She warned motorists against drunk driving, excessive speed and over-loading while directing members of the public to dial 122, 08077690801 or 08077690548 in case of emergency

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014 —17

One day begins a story

A

foreign girlfriend told me last week that she never ceases to marvel at the docility of the average Nigerian. To illustrate her point, she talked about a recent experience at one of our airports.

Shortly after she arrived to catch a flight that was supposed to take off at around 11am, it was announced that the flight had been postponed until 1pm.

She was irritated by this hiccup because it would disrupt her plans. She was heading to Abuja to attend an important work meeting that had been scheduled for 4pm and had hoped to have lunch with a colleague beforehand.

The two-hour delay meant that the lunch would have to be cancelled, but since it wasn’t crucial, she decided to grit her teeth and quietly tolerate the delay.

At 1pm, another announcement notified passengers that the flight had been “slightly delayed” and would now leave at 2pm. My friend started to

hind her and said that she had noticed that she was the only passenger who had made a fuss during the long delay period and wondered why others had not joined her in complaining bitterly.

“We are used to it,” said the Nigerian woman, shrugging.

This type of reaction is very normal here. Whether we are facing seriously toxic dysfunctions that cost lives or relatively minor inconveniences, Nigerians have a habit of shrugging philosophically (or bovinely, to use a less flattering word).

Form of entertainment

will never be a revolution in this country, a) because we are so willing to put up with poor service, bad governance, corruption, etc, and b) because the only major miscreants who get into trouble are those who are disliked by their superiors.

Our leaders victimise their enemies for personal rather than ethical reasons, allow their cronies to get away with massive misdemeanours and take us for granted because they think that we are too lazy or too daft or too risk-averse to get off our backsides and get around to saying “NO” to their shenanigans.

And I used to share the wide-

•President Goodluck Jonathan

Even when we whinge about companies that are ripping us off or making us uncomfortable and whinge about public servants who are stealing us blind or simply failing to perform efficiently, it’s just whingeing for whingeing’s sake.

I would even go so far as to say that our whingeing is nothing more than a form of entertainment – something we do to pass the time when we are socialising.

Sometimes, we have a jolly good laugh about ministers,

,

Our leaders victimise their enemies for personal rather than ethical reasons, allow their cronies to get away with massive misdemeanours and take us for granted because we are too risk-averse to saying “NO” to their shenanigans

panic at this stage because if any further delays ensued, she would miss her 4pm meeting.

So she anxiously cornered some employees of the airline and asked them whether 2pm was the final-final deadline.

They assured her that it was.

However, at 2pm, another postponement was announced. And my friend went ballistic. She started to berate airline staff for deceiving her and ruining her day and was further enraged when they barely apologised.

The flight was eventually called at 4.15.

While she was queuing up to board the plane, still seething, she turned to a Nigerian woman who was standing be-

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governors, etc, who think that they are pulling the wool over our eyes. Sometimes, we even make excuses for them because they come from our geopolitical zone or seem charismatic or whatever. Often, we show up to cheer when they make public appearances.

There is no real commitment to rejecting the status quo. We aren’t sufficiently outraged by misconduct. We don’t insist on change. We don’t put our feet down and say that guilty parties MUST be jailed /sacked/ boycotted. In this sense, most of us are part of the criminal conspiracy that is holding Nigeria back.

It is often said – by foreigners and Nigerians alike – that there

Nyanya motorpark bomb blast: Handiwork of suicide bombers? spread view that Nigerians would never rebel against the authorities for more than five minutes. But I’ve changed my mind.

I used to be sure that no Nigerian would be able to stomach the idea of suicide bombing. But suicide bombings are, alas, now taking place regularly. And it has gradually dawned on me that anything can happen anywhere at any time.

Who would have guessed that a few un-armed, placardwaving ordinary citizens could drive Viktor Yanukovych, the now-ex President of Ukraine, into exile?

Or that the mighty Ghadafi – who successfully ruled Libya with an iron fist for decades and gave powerful Western governments huge headaches - would wind up being dragged off his throne and assassinated in a dirty ditch like a dog?

In other words, one day begins a story. And a new story can start unexpectedly.

Just because something has never happened before doesn’t mean it can’t happen tomorrow or at some point in the nottoo-distant future. Just because a ruling class looks secure at the moment doesn’t mean that it will always be secure.

I urge President Goodluck Jonathan to ignore those who encourage him to be complacent and transform himself into a reforming hero who cannot be toppled.

Responses to: donzol2002@yahoo.co.uk or to 0802 747 6458 OR 0811 675 9752 (texts only).

PLEASE KINDLY NOTE THAT UNLESS YOU REQUEST ANONYMITY, YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE PUBLISHED, WITH YOUR NAMES AND CONTACT DETAILS ATTACHED.

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2013 ABUJA is threatened by its fame as the place where all the opportunities are, especially for making quick money. Hundreds of thousands of Nigeria have their eyes set on Abuja. They have heard that once there, they can make something for themselves. Whether it is a myth or not, there is little anyone can do that would convince those with their minds made up that relocating to Abuja was the panacea to their personal challenges. They have examples that testify to the abilities of Abuja to cure all cares.

Before their eyes they have seen village upstarts step into Abuja in some political role and return as lords. Nobody can tell them that being in Abuja would not change their lives similarly. Abuja would continue to draw people in their droves.

In the midst of the conflicts tearing the North East, North West and North Central into shreds, Abuja appears an oasis of peace. Where else would those hunted in their own homes go? Its central location to the action spots in the North is re-

Abuja – Here We Come! ducing the city to a huge refugee camp.

Even when peace returns to the crisis areas, those who relocate to Abuja rarely leave.

The authorities are barely noticing. They built Abuja for their comfort with the assumption that its high cost of living would shield it from the poor, the masses, the ones governments only remember at election time. They have managed to find their way to Abuja, some to behold its wonders others to seek survival. Economic refugees are boosting Abuja’s population. They believe it is the place to harness the opportunities.

Many arrive in Abuja without any plans rather than doing anything to survive. The

city’s rising crime is a result of the arrival of many jobless people who must survive.

Government should have anticipated long ago that its policies would result in migrations to Abuja, which the people see as where to make a living. The abandonment of many economic posts across the nation has created an exodus to Abuja.

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Bala Mohammed in complaining about the numbers that relocate to Abuja daily sounded as if he was blaming the ordinary people for crises that have lingered for years and displaced them from their homes. Job seekers, and others hunting for opportunities, would go where they think their needs would be met.

The influx into Abuja is in its infancy, fueled by insecurity elsewhere. It would continue for as long as other places are unsafe. The authorities can only keep Abuja for themselves, when they cater for the needs of the masses through “smaller Abuja” of opportunities in other parts of Nigeria.

OPINION

BY GAB EJUWA

I

T was simply natural that angry reactions had trailed the initiation of the National conference recently, coming as to did from the Itsekiri nationals all over the country, who had felt and rightly too, that they were being willy-nilly exorcised from the Nigerian nation, an insalubrious development that assumes dilating significance and irony when the commander in Chief happens to be a fellow delta who must here been living and interacting with the Itsekiri on a daily basis in the past to the surprise of Nigerians the Ijow have over to people representing and no one ogori and itsekiri .

Understandably on March 8 the Itsekiri had protested their exclusion from the conference threatening secession if the situation was not redressed immediately.

High profile Itsekiri Chief and amazon Chief Rita lori Ogbebor said our exclusion from the confab is the last straw and we are {therefore} prepared to go out of Nigeria. Another Itsekiri youth leader, Mr. Alex Eyengho, decried the exclusion of his people from the conference as further proof of the systemic and systematized marginalisation of his ethnic group by the federal, state and local governments. The Iwere Development Association (IDA), the umbrella body of the Itsekiri nation had given the federal, Delta and Edo State Governments as well as south - south leaders 48 hours to reverse the monumental madness. It is pertinent to note that according to all the Itsekiri individuals and corporate group that had

National conference and Itsekiris exclusion brouhaha reacted to this potentially- explosive issue, the auspicious development was not really surprising, since the subjugation and marginalization of the Itsekiri people has been the stark reality of the Nigerian sociopsychology for a long time now, even though in actual fact the Itsekiri nation has been in existence for over 700 years, a fact even underscored by the fact that an illustrious Itsekiri called Chief Dore Numa was one of the advisers of Frederick lugard, the colonial Chieftain who represented the Olu of Warri on the Amalgamation term.

Although the exclusion had come and gone the after-effects are still very much unfortunate and rankle which is why it is crucial, with the benefit of hindsight now, to do a flashback and reappraise the political faux pas and see whether there are pertinent lessons we could learn which would help us as Nigerians in our noble quest to strive to live together and come to terms with our personal and ethnic individualities, note least of which is our cultural diversity.

First and foremost, the stark fact that such in illustrious ethnic group could be missing from a supposedly national record attests eloquently to the fact that we as a people do not have a sharpened or augmented sense of farness and egalitarianism. In plain language, it means that we are naturally crooked and devious and that if

we have any piety at all, it is rather superficial. In a country where there are churches and mosques almost in every street corner, it is a big shame that we strive to manipulate people and records to our unfair advantage.

Furthermore, this embarrassing exclusion draws an unusually-big question mark on the efficiency of our communal memory not less so our record keeping mentality or rather, the lack of it.

It goes without saying that if a little job of vetting, editing and accreditation had been one on the original list in the office of the secretary to the federal Government, the howling anomaly for such.

It was-would have been discovered and corrected before the whole process viral. It simply implies that our lofty secretariat on the rock had simply, gone to sleep on duty not any less implicated right in the confine s of our highest offices is the depth of focus and vision we accord to our development concepts and imperatives. One, ordinarily, would have thought that any developmental idea or impetus which our leaders, or rather rulers, would foist on us as country would have been heartily ruminated upon thought through and perfected. There is certainly no evidence to even infer that the national confab did go through the process quality brainstorming and review. The evidence

tilts heavily in favour of a conference that had been just a momentary brainwave, unflatteringly compounded by a play-it-by ear mindset an unsavory implication of desultoriness and perfunctorness in the marbled chambers.

Perhaps the most devastating import of this exclusion saga certainly is the degree of the collective depreciation and atrophy the mined of the big chief and his minions have attained sequestered as they are from quotidian reality by a rocky enclave that might have been sited on a metaphorical Olympus Granted that mistakes are normal in the human plane it is well night in conceivable that an army of government operatives and bangers on would all fail to identify and correct a simple perhaps typographical error, in spite of intimidating CV's and degree of comfort perhaps that was even the problem: the whole presidency having become so sedentarily comfortable corpulent and intellectually longuid that they could not lift even a lone finger to do legitimate work.

And that, I think, is the diacritical moral of the whole exclusion saga. The concrete and physical act of exclusion of an ethnic group from national consciousness and reckoning parallels piquantly the metaphorical dialectical Oynamics and politics of exclusion (from wealth distribution) of and sustained all through the years by the power elites and pimps, whether of military or civilian persuasion Apprehended through this larger metaphorical prism it. *Mr. Ejuwa, a journalist, from Lagos.

wrote

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014— —19

T

HE challenge of having regular and constant electric power supply in Nigeria has remained with us for decades and running. The darkness that was sporadic in the 1980s have become a way of life in the '20s and there seems to be no hope for a respite. Before 1999, we had no clear figure in the public domain of what our production of electric power was. OBJ, from 1999, invested so much in order to increase production, but supply continued to drop.

The late President Umaru Yar'Adua announced in 2011 that our power generation ability was just under six mega watts, and that it will be increased to eight mega watts and then 10 mega watts, and so on. GEJ came with the transformation agenda in the power sector, but our story has remained largely the same. The demon in the power sector refused to be cast out. Efforts and power play to exorcise this demon cost Prof Barth Nnaji his job as the Minister for Power in 2012, and since that time, it has been one story or the other, lies, deceits, and games and counter games, all aimed at the pockets of Nigerians

in the name of chasing darkness from our economy.

We produce power through mainly a combination of hydroelectric power generation, gas turbines, power plants and others. We heard in the past that power generation dropped either because there was not enough water in the dams, or that gas supply was low, or that the plants required revamping, or turn around maintenance.

There was a time a reptile in the power plant caused low output of power and we took that story.

Apart from the paucity of dams, the absence of gas to power generation plants is a key problem, yet there is so much ado about distribution. All the DISCOs created are jostling to make money from power that was never there in the first place. Can the DISCOs distribute what they do not have? No. So they now get involved in all kinds of devices to access money from Nigerians.

Their first lie was about the prepaid meter. We were told, at first, that the meters were free, but it is no longer so.Today, it depends on where you live, and how close you are to the powers in charge.

The price ranges from N20,000 to N30,000 where they have it,

The challenges of power generation are obviously more than that of power distribution; all energy should have been channeled into generation

and in some places, you will not find it even after paying! You must clear your bills before you get the prepaid meter, and how are these bills arrived at ? Since 2013, electricity officials no longer read meters in most villages in the South East and in cities, that I know. When meters broke down, they do not repair it, because it is to their advantage. So they visit the house and assess what they imagine it should consume, and slam the monthly bill.

The assessed bill in one terrible fraud, because it is based on what income they are targeting in that area. We understand that they first deduct the total expected revenue from prepaid meters, and the balance is apportioned to houses based on a set of criteria as monthly bills. Where you need them to attend to some issues in your area or residence, you pay for their transport, pay for the materials, from poles to parts, and pay for the labor and something for ‘pure water’. Where new parts

Micah Ekpe, 50 years after

BY SAM EKPE

I

T is said that greatness is of three types – the one somebody is born into, like Royalty, the one that is entrusted on without one necessarily working for it and the greatness one achieves by dint of hardwork.

Micah Okoye Ndibe Ekpe, Ezenwa 1 of Enugwu Ukwu na Umunri belongs to the last category as he rose from a very humble beginning to become the PresidentGeneral of the entire Enugwu Ukwu community in the former Northern Region of Nigeria.

In Uruekwo, one of the 18 villages in Enugwu Ukwu, Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, the name Micah Ekpe is highly revered, recognised and appreciated for good and noble deeds and famed philanthropy. Your father was a good man, he did this or that for me, he assisted us in one project or another, or he led us well, was a ready and willing response to any of his children by the generality of Enugwu Ukwu people and beyond who had any association with him.

These testimonies are evidenced by the statement by Albert Paye: “What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us, but what we have done for others and the word remains and is immortal”. The tremendous goodwill that reverberated from his memory has been the leading and guiding light for all his children, opening doors of opportunities for them. After all the Holy Book says in Proverbs 20 v 7: “The Righteous is working in his integrity, happy are his sons after him”.

Micah Okoye Ndibe Ekpe was born in 1914. As the first son, he had the responsibility to assist his parents in their farm work and also cater for his younger ones. He was privileged to be sent to Central School Abagana for his primary school education, a rare opportunity in those days.

Soon after his primary education, the

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problem of what to do to sustain his parents and siblings arose and he had to locate to Agbani to participate in palm oil trade which seemed a thriving business in those days. He joined his brothers, friends and associates in Agbani, including John Nwokedi and Obed Okonkwo who were already pioneers in the business and resident there.

Micah was still doing business at Agbani when a fortuitous circumstance arose. One of his relations Ekwenugwo Okenwa who was then resident in Kano had died from an attack of meningitis. The mother of the deceased due to a very high regard for Micah’s trustworthiness and honesty confided that it was only Micah that she could trust to travel to Kano and evacuate her late son’s property home Micah did just that. While in Kano for this emergency assignment, he saw business opportunity in the ancient city and stayed back soon after the funeral to extend the frontiers of the palm oil trading business. He then formed a company which supplied palm oil to a Kano-based soap factory, Niger Soap Factory, owned by some Lebanese nationals.

Supply of palm oil transported by train from Enugu and Agbani through his suppliers Obed Okonkwo, John Nwokedi, Michael Okafor (Dogo) and Augustine Ujuagu, all of blessed memory, to the Kano Soap Factory became his main business.

Micah’s status in business grew tremendously and he bought and built houses in Kano, Nguru and Enugu. He also, as a natural leader of men, organised the Enugwu Ukwu community in Kano in particular and the entire Northern Nigeria generally towards development projects at home. His residence at No.37 Aba Road, Sabon Gari Kano, became the first port of call by any visiting Enugwu Ukwu indigenes to the North. In the 10 laws of leadership articulated by Bill Newmer, Micah combined vision, wisdom, development of friendships, courage, humility, executive capacity and

were installed, after a while they disappear, and they tell you it was stolen. The question then is who can steal from a transformer except those knowledgeable and skilled in such equipment handling?

Terrible people.

In some villages in the South East like in Uhualla, Obibi Ochasi in Orlu Local Government Area, they have not seen light since August 2013 because they were slammed with a bill of over N2 milion.How many people there use power to generate a bill of that magnitude? Their hope for electric power supply may be sometime in 2015 because some poles that supply power to them were brought down recently by rain storms, thereby complicating their case. And this is the situation all over the place in the South East.

Now the DISCOs seem to have been licensed to reap where they did not sow. They have just come out with the fixed tariff scheme, where every user must pay N750 as fixed fee, plus the consumption, and this is the same consumption that is based on assessment. Yet, we pay to carry or transport them to our locations whenever there was a fault to be repaired or so. In a locality with just one million users, the DISCO will rake in N750 million per month on the fixed fee only; and for doing what? Some of the DISCOs have announced 100

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BY CLEMENT UDEGBE

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The lies and deceit in electricity supply

Micah combined vision, wisdom, development of friendships, courage, humility, executive capacity and inspirational power, to offer leadership to the Igbos in Kano

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inspirational power, to offer leadership to the Igbos in Kano. He rose to become the President of the defunct Enugwu Ukwu Patriotic Union, EPU, Kano branch and later President-General of the Union in the entire Northern Region of Nigeria, positions he held until his voluntary relocation to Enugu in 1953. On his leaving the North, he was succeeded in his Kano branch seat by Chief A. N. Onwudinjo and the Northern Region portfolio by Chief F.G.N. Okoye both of blessed memory.

H

e, along with the late Okonkwo (Okonkwo Kano) and others led the Igbos resident in Kano in their self-defence during the Kano Riots of 1953. It was after this ugly episode that he relocated with his family to Enugu capital of Eastern Nigerian, naming his then three months old son Chukwudozie (may the Lord settle the problem between the Igbos and their Northern hosts).

Micah’s decision to leave Kano and return to the East after the 1953 Kano Riots is very historic and of great significance. This was the first move by an industrious Igbo businessman to abandon his thriving business in Northern Nigeria to return to safety in Eastern Nigeria. This movement has remained a recurrent feature in the life of Igbos resident in the Northern part of Nigeria. The pertinent question asked then in 1953 and still being asked today in 2014, more than 50 years after, is why should Nigerian citizens not be free to live and

percent increment of the fixed fee from N750 per user to N1500 per user. They are targeting N1.5 billion monthly from their every one million users. This exploitation must stop. In our own area of Festac Town, they supply light for about five hours per day, towards the last three days of every month, in preparation for their monthly bills distribution.

Once the bills go round and people start to pay, they take their light till the next month. This has been on now for almost one year, and is now a stale game for us.

The Federal Government seems to be on the backfoot over power, when they laid more emphasis on distribution than generation. The challenges of power generation are obviously more than that of power distribution; all energy should have been channeled into generation. In our situation, I estimate that constant power supply will become a reality by 2019. Government should therefore begin to encourage the use of wind mills which generate much power and are more environmental friendly than the generating sets with their attendant pollution of the environment. The use of wind mills have been very successful in Europe and America, and ought to be introduced here in Nigeria. *Mr. Udegbe, a legal practitioner, wrote from Lagos.

practise their trade in every part of the country they call their own? If this matter is not satisfactorily addressed, will it not be advisable that Nigeria should be a Confederation of six geo-political regions instead of the so-called Federation in which many of her citizens are massacred on regular basis. It is very clear that the Nigerian Federation as presently constituted is just not working. There is so much hatred, bitterness, religious intolerance, malice, ill-will, ethnic jingoism, mutual suspicion and mistrust among the constituent ethnic groups in the country.

This time that President Jonathan has convoked a National Conference is very opportune to discuss this nagging problem which has stunted the growth and development of Nigeria in the past 100 years. On his return to his No.23 Udi Road, Asata Enugu, he engaged in some businesses, including transport and cement sales supplied by Nigerian Cement Company, NIGERCEM, Nkalagu of which he was a shareholder.

As an ardent Christian, Micah worshipped his creator to the best of his ability, assisting in the growth and development of the Anglican Faith in Enugwu Ukwu. He served as the Treasurer of Immanuel Anglican Church Enugwu Ukwu until his death. Soon after the 1962 general return in Enugwu Ukwu, his illness deteriorated and on July 6, 1963, this excellent specimen of humanity, this philanthropist per excellence, this trail blazer in human development, with monumental achievements packed within his 49 years of life passed on.

He is survived by seven sons, five daughters, many grand and great grand children all contributing their quota to the country’s social, political and economic development.

To live in the minds of those we leave behind is not to die.

*Mr. Ekpe, a media consultant, wrote from Abuja.

C M Y K

20 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

SOUTHERN KADUNA VERSUS FULANI HERDSMEN:

When a ceasefire ignites anger

BY LUKA BINNIYAT, Kaduna

T

HE atmosphere in the main hall of the State House Kaduna that Tuesday was that of an uneasy calm. Reason? Traditional rulers, socio-cultural groups and community leaders from Southern Kaduna and their Fulani counterparts were seated in the hall awaiting the arrival of the Committee on Peace and Security led by Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIGP, Michael Zoukumor. The Committee was set up to douse the animosity between the feuding groups following series of gory encounters that left in their trail the loss of several lives and property in the affected communities.

From all indications, it appeared that the Committee had given the two warring camps a few hours notice to converge for the meeting. Vanguard Features, VF, gathered that many of those in

filtered into Southern Kaduna, many of the indigenes rebuffed it as an unpopular venture.

As the two groups reconvened the next day at the same venue to continue the deliberations, a coalition of seven Southern Kaduna groups, including the powerful youth wing of SOKAPU, convened a press conference to reject the Zoukumor- brokered peace agreement.

The Coalition which was led by Zakari Sokfa, a lawyer and former Kaduna State Commissioner of Justice, included the leader of Southern Kaduna Tribal Development Associations, Dr. Bonnat Zwahu; Southern Kaduna Lawyer’s Association, cochaired by Messrs Francis Kozah and Reuben James. The Gurara Forum which has almost 10,000 online face-book members and prides itself as “Southern Kaduna 24 hour online- parliament”, was at the press conference. Also in attendance were

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The on-going assaults on our communities are carefully planned and executed with heartless viciousness

attendance did not have an inkling of what the agenda would be. But after about three hours of waiting and with no assurance of when the committee members would arrive, some prominent indigenes of Southern Kaduna, including their traditional rulers, decided to leave the venue. They argued that it would be risky to travel late in the night.

When members of the Committee eventually arrived, DIG Zoukumor apologised profusely for coming rather late. But by this time, only a handful of those who came from Southern Kaduna were still in the hall.

A document was soon produced for deliberations on a “ceasefire”. The document also contained recommendations on ways of achieving an enduring peace between the two camps.

Dr. Ephraim Goje, President of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union, SOKAPU, led the Southern Kaduna delegates, while Alh. Ahmadu Suleiman, Chairman of Mayyeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, Kaduna State chapter, led the Fulani groups.

When news of the peace move C M Y K

Southern Kaduna Women Forum and Southern Kaduna Farmers Association.

They all came to express their resentment over the initiative of Zoukumor. They questioned the propriety of the agreement, arguing that native communities of Southern Kaduna that had come under the siege of alleged Fulani herdsmen, did not provoke the Fulani, and that it would be unfair to treat the two sides as

*When anger rules the land

l-r : National chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Ahmadu Suleiman with national president, Southern Kaduna People's Union (SOKAPU), Dr. Ephraim Goje and the deputy inspector-general of police, Mr. Michael Zuokumor at the peace and reconciliation meeting between leaders of the two groups in Kaduna. Photo: Olu Ajayi.

having equal blames for the violence. They went further to say that any Fulani man that could come out openly to represent the herdsmen, knows who the killers are, and should be apprehended for questioning and prosecution.

“We are aware of the meeting yesterday; that meeting dragged on because people waited and waited and the meeting did not take place. The key stakeholders – the traditional rulers, our community leaders waited and were all humiliated after waiting for three hours. So they left. And somebody would now come up and say they held a meeting. And that SOKAPU president was there, and the Fulani were there.

“Are they telling us that the Fulani that were there, who purportedly signed a cease fire, have agreed that they are the ones that have been killing our people?

Those Fulani that signed the agreement, are they the ones killing our people? If they agree that they are the ones killing our people, did they explain why they are doing so? Because we never attacked them,” Bonnat said. “ Government says ‘warring’ parties. That is not true! There is nothing like warring parties.

We are not at war with the Fulani. The Fulani are at war with us. Therefore the questions of signing any ‘ceasefire’ does not arise. It is just another round of politics as far as we are concerned.

You don’t call a whole community of people and their respectable, first class chiefs to a meeting and keep them for hours, you frustrate them and they had to leave.

If anybody says he has signed a peace document, in as much as we crave and insist on peace, we don’t believe in what they signed.

Now, if the Fulani that purportedly signed such a document agreed that they have been attacking our people, then we demand that government should start taking legal proceedings immediately by arresting and prosecuting those that massacred our defenseless men, women, and children in their hundreds.

Where was the DIG when they were killing our people? So this issue is beyond anybody coming to Kaduna and getting people to sign a document to say that we have achieved peace in Kaduna.

We are still feeling very vulnerable, and this has not given us any assurance for our safety,” he added.

Recalling past incidents, the coalition leader, Mr. Sokfa, said: “While we note that since the early 1980s there have been sporadic attacks on the peoples of Southern Kaduna, the present state of generalised warfare and genocidal attacks intensified from 2011 following the presidential elections that engulfed about 10 Northern states.

“The main characteristic of the on-going assaults on our communities is that they are carefully planned, organised and executed with heartless viciousness and on an incremental basis. Between 1981 and 2010, there were just 16 incidents of such attacks.

Law abiding communities However, between 2011 and 2014, over a period of just four years, 37 such attacks have been launched against our hospitable, accommodating, peaceful and law-abiding communities by Fulani herdsmen and marauders.

These planned, systematic and coordinated attacks have claimed the lives of over 4,000 innocent Southern Kaduna people, bona fide citizens of Nigeria,” Sokfa lamented.

He added that: “The Southern Kaduna peoples have at different fora and occasions cried out to both Federal and state governments for protection, petitioned the government and security agencies, participated in peace and reconciliation meetings and other numerous peace initiatives with a view to bringing an end to this wicked agenda aimed at wiping out the people of Southern Kaduna and indeed the people of the Middle Belt as a whole, all to no avail. The Southern Kaduna people have repeatedly drawn attention to the vicious wars being waged against them with the aim of taking over their rich and fertile God-given ancestral lands.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014 — 21

Ecowas central banks seek uniform computation of bad loans

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

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From left: Head, Corporate Services Division (NSE), Mr. Bola Adeeko; United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. James F. Entwistle; Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema; and United States Consul General, Mr. Jeffery Hawkins on a courtesy visit to the NSE in Lagos.

NAC plans N6.3bn credit purchase scheme for locally made vehicles “Developing Sustainable Relationship with our Clients”. he National Automo The Fund, according to him, tive Council of Nige will be in form of a credit purria, NAC, said it is chase scheme that will allow floating a N6.3 billion Fund to Nigerians to purchase new support the purchase of vehicles and pay on installMade-in-Nigeria vehicles at ment over a specific period of the take off of the new auto time (between 36 to 48 month policy in June. period).

Mr. Lukman Mamudu, DiMamudu disclosed that the rector, NAC, made the disclo- fund for the scheme will be sure at the Stanbic IBTC pulled from an already existBank’s 2014 Haulage and Lo- ing N2.5 billion Fund set aside gistics conference, tagged two years ago by the Federal Government for purchase of made-in-Nigeria vehicles.

He added that another N3.8 billion will -5.05 187.10 come from a similar Fund established 2,965.00 +14.00 some years ago to support vehicle purchase 16.89 +0.33 by military and paramilitary, adding that the 35 percent levy to be imposed on import109.60 +0.24 ers of new vehicles will also feed into the 103.71 -0.04 credit purchase scheme.

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING “So, at the end of the day, we will probably DOLLAR 154.73 155.23 155.73 have about N6.3 bilPOUNDS 258.6621 259.498 260.3338 lion. But if you look at EURO 213.5119 214.2019 214.8918 the quantum of veSWISS 175.5303 176.0976 176.6648 hicles that people will YEN 1.5184 1.5234 1.5283 want to buy, that CFA 0.3077 0.3177 0.3277 money is really not WAUA 239.0183 239.7906 240.563 RENMINBI 24.8653 24.9461 25.0269 much, but it is someRIYAL 41.2569 41.3903 41.5236 thing to start with,” he KRONA 28.5923 28.6847 28.7771 said.

SDR 239.522 240.296 241.07 He noted that similar project embarked CBN Exchange rate as at 17/04/2014 upon in the past did

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

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not enjoy patronage from the banks and other Nigerians because of unavailability of made-in-Nigeria vehicles, adding that the new policy will make it possible for vehicles to be manufactured in Nigeria.

“The whole idea is to make it convenient for Nigerians to own new vehicles. So, the scheme actually aims to make it possible for Nigerian to own vehicles installmentally. That is, you buy vehicle and pay over a specific period of time say 36 months, 48 months.” he stated.

He explained that the fund will be extended to interested parties possibly at single digit interest rate.

In his words, “It is not as if there are no credit purchase schemes in existence at the moment. There are, but the fact is that they are too expensive. We are talking about 21 to 22 percent interest charges.

For the purpose of the credit scheme, we are hoping to make ours about 10 percent maximum, if possible single digit.

“To do that, we hope to partner with local and international banks. By the time we provide our own fund at zero interest, and they provide theirs, by the time we add everything together, we will probably come out with 10 or eight percent interest rate.”

Alternatively, he said that NAC also planned “to get our funds together, give it to a

bank as a form of guarantee so that they can leverage on it and give it to Nigerians to purchase locally made vehicles at single digit interest rate.”

Affirming readiness by Nigerians to patronize locally made vehicles, Mamudu said, “Nigerians buy second hand vehicles because they don’t have bulk money to buy brand new vehicles. We even have a model that if a car costs N2 million and you have N1 million, you will be able to deposit the N1 million in the scheme and if the initial payment is N500, 000, the remaining N500,000 can be deposited in an interest yielding savings.”

He noted that some automobile companies are ready to roll out their first set of made-in-Nigeria vehicles by the end of April, citing Stallion Motors as example.

anks within the West African sub-region will soon have a uniform format for computing bad loans.

This was part of the decision taken at the meeting of the Committee of central bank Governors under the West African Monetary Zone held in January.

According to the January Economic report of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), “The 30th meeting of the Committee of Governors (COG) of WAMZ was held. Major highlights of decisions taken by the Committee of Governors include: The computation of non-performing loans (NPLs) across the zone should be standardized based on Basel core principles reporting templates to ensure a uniform reporting format across member states; The COG directed that the extent to which member states have implemented the recommendations of the roadmap of the ECOWAS Monetary Cooperation Programme (EMCP) should also be reported at the next meeting; Accepted the proposal on the fast-track approach where two countries (Nigeria and Ghana) would drive the single currency programme by going into the monetary union before other member countries would follow; and It approved the report of the College of Supervisors of the WAMZ (CSWAMZ) and directed the college to undertake a study on “Dollarization in the Zone” as well as a “Gap analysis on prudential guidelines in the Zone”.

Meanwhile, Acting Governor of the CBN, Mrs Sarah Alade, has called for cooperation among African central banks to address the problem of unemployment on the continent.

Alade made this call while addressing the caucus meeting of African Central Bank Governors on Industrialization For Inclusiveness and Transformative Development in Africa, held in Abuja. She said, “One major issue in Africa is whether the attention of central banks should focus on price stability and financial stability only or should Central Banks in the region be concerned about developmental goals.

Although the focus on price and financial stability has served us well in containing inflation and deepening the financial sector, it has not been able to bring down unemployment or achieve inclusive growth on the continent.”

This has led to many social problems and general restiveness. As Central Banks, we must find a way to work together to solve this problem, suggesting developmental role must be part of the agenda of Central Banks on the African continents.

22—Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

CIS to engage FG on policy formulation, implementation

By PETER EGWUATU

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HE Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, CIS, has concluded plans to engage the Federal Government on policy formulation and implementation towards enhancing the Nigerian capital market and the economy in general.

CIS President, Mr. Ariyo Olushekun, said “The institute as part of efforts to take its rightful place in charting a new course for our country has resolved to take a more active role in influencing economic policy by organising annual national workshops, with the forthcoming events being the third in its series. This workshop will help contribute immensely to the transformation, not only of the capital market, but the national economy as a whole.”

He disclosed that the workshop is designed to bring together key players in both the public and private sectors of the Nigerian economy to brainstorm, and generate ideas, which will serve as useful input to the national budget and enhance the quality of the policy making process.

Olushekun, stressed that the workshop will assist government agencies to track budget performance and show case best practices in service delivery. “The workshop will present an avenue to influence government policies thereby ensuring the growth and development of the key

sectors of the Nigerian economy, he added.

The Chairman of the Organising Committee for the 3rdCIS national workshop, Mr. Albert Okumagba, said “The workshop, which will hold from Wednesday, 23rdApril to Friday, 25thApril, 2014 will focus on Trade and Investment, Power and Agriculture sectors. These sectors, we believe, are critical sectors that hold strategic importance to boosting the economy in gen-

eral.”

While answering questions on the impact of its previous workshops, Okumagba said “We had engaged relevant authorities to ensure that resolutions at the workshop are implemented. We played major role in the passage of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON Bill. The CIS contributed significantly to the establishment of AMCON. Also the amended investment guidelines for Pen-

Forte Oil grows profits by 108% in 3 months sion Fund Asset by the Penccom are also part of the CIS’s effort.”

On why agriculture and power is also a focus of the workshop, he said “Agriculture and power are very important sectors that cannot be ignored. The sectors have not been properly explored.

We can never over focus on these sectors. We will not stop until we achieve our objectives."

From left: Head of Marketing and PR, Susan Rotimi; Chief Operating Officer, Kofi Abunu; Operations Manager, Alase Funmi, and Cashier, Christiana Ogbonna, all of Chicken Republic, at the launch of Chicken Republic Easter Pick ‘n’ Mix Promo in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele

Seplat promises steady dividend payment

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

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EPLAT Plc has promised a steady dividend payment policy that will see the company paying dividend twice or more in a given financial year.

The Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Austin Avuru, gave the assurance at Facts behind dual listing f the company’s shares at the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, and London Stock Exchange, LSE. Seplat had on Monday listed 534 million ordinary shares of 50kobo each at N576 per share following a successful initial public offer earlier in the year.

The listing, according to the NSE, had boosted the NSE capitalisation by $1.9 billion.

Addressing stockbrokers at the listing, Avuru said that dividend is expected to be paid as inter-

im and final at November and June each year respectively.

He added that core dividend would be grown progressively, with a ‘top up’ (special dividend) to be given based on the earnings and cash available ‘given known and anticipated acquisitions’.

He noted that since its inception three years ago, Seplat had consistently paid dividend, adding “we aim to strike a balance between retaining sufficient cash in business to finance organic growth acquisitions opportunities and rewarding shareholders.”

He stated that the company is poised to maximize production and cash flow from operated assets, saying that it targets oil production from OMLs 4, 38, 41 to reach 85 Mbopd by 2016, and 100 percent oil reserves replacement year-on-year.

According to him, Seplat

would exploit domestic gas market, increasing demand for gas and rising prices to grow gas sales capacity up to 300MMcfd (million metric cubit feet per day) by 2017.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Oscar Onyema, CEO, NSE, said: “Today, we celebrate many milestones with this listing, Seplat becomes the first Nigerian company listed on the main market of the LSE and the first pure play upstream listing on the NSE. This is also the first IPO since the market crash of 2008. It exemplifies your leadership and commitment to support and promote Nigeria. The recent rebasing of the Nigerian GDP further highlighted the low market cap of listed companies-to-GDP ratio, and your listing today will boost the NSE’s market capitalisation by $1.9billion, bringing the ratio to 15.86 percent."

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

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orte Oil Plc has an nounced 108 percent growth in profit after tax for the first quarter ending March 31, 2014.

Highlights of the results filed with the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, showed that profit for the period grew to N1.1 billion compared with N530 million recorded in corresponding period of 2013.

Similarly, the profit before income tax rose by 101 percent to N1.26 billion from N633 million in equivalent period of 2013.

Also, the revenue grew to N34.8 billion compared to N26.6 billion posted in the same period in 2013, representing 31 percent increase, while the gross margin increased by 72 percent to N4.6 billion as against N2.7 billion in first quarter of 2013.

Operational highlights showed that Forte Oil achieved a year-to-date, YTD, growth of 37.67 percent in share price from N92.87 to N148.99.

The company said in a statement that revenue growth was attributable to increase in sales of fuels, such as Premium Motor Spirit (PMS; petrol), Automotive Gas Oil (AGO; diesel) and Aviation Fuel.

“Power generation also contributed 7.42 percent and 44.13 percent to the group’s revenue and profit-after-tax respectively as Forte Oil’s diversification strategy continues to yield positive income streams,” the statement added.

Transcorp records N3.77bn profit in Q1

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RANSNATIONAL Cor poration of Nigeria Plc, Transcorp has recorded a Profit before Tax, PBT, of N3.77 billion for the first quarter ended March 31, 2014, which represents 187 percent increase from the corresponding period in 2013.

The results showed that gross earnings for the Group stood at N11.15 billion, which represents 152 percent growth from Q1 2013 results of N4.42billon. Group PBT for the period stood at N3.77 billion, representing 187 percent increase on PBT of N1.31billion achieved for Q1 2013. Group Profit after Tax, PAT, grew by 278 percent from N834 million in Q1 2013 to N3.15 billion for period under

review.

Other performance indicators show that total assets for the Group grew by 16 percent from N149.64 billion for full year 2013 to N173.61 billion for the first quarter ended 31 March 2014.

Commenting on the results, the President and Chief Executive Officer, Transcorp, Mr. Obinna Ufudo, said: ‘Our first quarter results are in line with our expectations as we continue to deliver on key diversification milestones in all our strategic businesses. A significant portion of our current profits is attributed to improved performance in our power and hospitality businesses recorded from the beginning of the year’.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014 — 23

BY JIMOH BABATUNDE with agency reports

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LAM Farms located in Nasarawa State has been upgraded to a Staple Crop Processing Zone (SCPZ) bringing the number of such zones in the country to 15. The SCPZs currently being established across the country, are expected to process the raw produce produced by farmers into finished foods and other economic products.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, disclosed this during the week during an assessment visit to the farms located in Rukubi Village of Doma Local government area of the state. Adesina said the government will partner with other development partners to Ogun State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Ronke Sokefun (middle); From left: President, provide basic infrastructure to Ogun State All Farmers Association, Chief Segun Dasaolu (left): State Director, Federal Ministhose communities with a view try of Agriculture, Mr. Muyiwa Akinsola, Special Adviser to The Governor on Agriculture, Mr. to attracting more investment.

Wale Ogunyomade and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Eng. Lanre Bisiriyu.

“Today, is one of my happiest days as a Minister of Agriculture because of what I have seen here; the farm has the capacity to create more jobs.This single farm has employed 950 workers already and also has the capacity to produce 72,000 tonnes of paddy rice, which tells you that Nigeria can emerge the Thailand in Government’s revolutionary step According to him, this particular farm Africa. towards attaining self-sufficiency in rice produces 72,000 tonnes of Paddy rice; He added “I have, therefore, declared by 2015 was attainable. you can also see the that this farm becomes one of our staple “Today offers greater hope towards combined harvesters already crops processing zones and we will our journey to attaining rice sufficiency, harvesting. The agricultural transformapartner with other development partners the areas cultivated at a time is 3,000 tion has boosted the Gross Domestic to build infrastructure to attract bigger hectares twice a year, including both wet Product with N340 billion, as evident investment. “The infrastructure and dry seasons.” in the recent GDP rebasing, where the development will benefit the community He noted that the farm cultivated two agriculture sector recorded appreciable and people around the farm and other varieties of rice, the faro 44 and 52 vari- impact. In 2012, we produced 1.4 potential investors too.” eties, hybrid and in-breed variety that million tonnes of rice and it was 2.94 The minister said that the Federal thrive better in swampy environment. million tonnes of additional paddy last year; it translates to 1.9 million tonnes of rice when milled.

“This has pruned down our 2.3 million tonnes record HE United Kingdom of presently imported farmers registered under the Among the key findings of the Department for Internarice, which draws us Federal Ministry of Agriculture study include 98% of farmers tional Development (DFIDcloser to selfand Rural Development’s Growth showing pleasure with the UKAID) has endorsed the sufficiency. Today, it is Enhancement Support scheme scheme; 94% of farmers found it Federal Ministry of Agriculture not just the large mills (GES) in the Federal Capital Tereasy to access inputs, and Rural Development’s Growth that are doing this job; ritory (FCT), 98% of who gave particularly when compared to Enhancement Support (GES) the small mills around overwhelming support for the pre-GES period and 77% of the scheme. the country are scheme. farmers surveyed stating that The endorsement is contained contributing to the A total of 533 farmers were inputs received under GES in the report of a study, the sufficiency. surveyed, out of which 320 were scheme improved their crop subject of a pilot publication titled “We can conveniently male and 213 female. 62 farmers yields.

“FCT Farmers’ Report Card”. boast of about 4,200 not registered under GES (32 Other findings show that 56% The study was conducted by the small mills in Abakaliki women and 30 men) were also of the farmers found it difficult to Federal Public Administration and several other surveyed. To gain further insight make complaints to FMARD on Reform Programme Nigeria places across the into the GES experience and poor services, just as some (FEPAR), a programme being country as at today.” related issues, the study equally farmers from the focus group implemented by a consortium In the same vein, Mr held discussions with officials of discussions complained that the led by Atos Consulting UK and Mukul Mathur, the the Department of Fertiliser, redemption process began late sponsored by the United Managing Director of Federal Ministry of Agriculture and inputs did not arrive in time Kingdom Department for Olam Farms, said the and Rural Development for the planting season.

International Development company had invested (FMARD), State office of the Some farmers also complained (DFID-UKAID).

72 million dollars into Ministry in Gwagwalada, the that it took a long time to collect The objective of the pilot study the farm.

International Fertiliser inputs at some of the redemption carried out between 16 He said that the Development Centre IFDC) centres, in some cases between December 2013 and 20 January company’s resolve to Cellulant, the consultant that three days with 70% of the 2014 was to identify gaps and embark on the developed the electronic platform farmers saying that they were not issues in service delivery investment was to used by farmers to access given any information on how experienced by farmers support the Federal subsidised inputs through cell long they had to wait in the registered under the scheme Government’s efforts in phones (e-wallet), and the centres before collecting their began in 2012/2013. The its rice sufficiency Fertiliser Suppliers Association inputs. respondents in the study were move. of Nigeria (FEPSAN).

FG upgrades Olam Farms to staple crop processing zone

Government’s GES scheme gets UKAid endorsement

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Ogun govt urges farmers to register for GES scheme

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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HE OgunGovt State government has urged farmers in the state to register for Growth Enhancement Support (GES) Scheme of the Federal Government in order to partake from its immense benefits.

The government which which said the scheme was capable of enhancing farmers’ productivity, income and quality of life , added that the registered farmers could have access to inputs such as seedlings and fertilizer at subsidized rates.

State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Ronke Sokefun stated this during the flag off of the 2014 edition of the scheme at the Eweje Farm Institute in Odeda Local Government area of the State.

She urged registered farmers who had benefited from the scheme in the past but had not done the needful to do so , saying that there would be priority crops under the 2014, maize and rice.

According to her, the 2014 edition in the state is being flagged off in the second quarter of the year to enable as many farmers as possible to enjoy maximally from inherent benefits.

Commodity roll-out “This year’s commodity rollout will be executed concurrently by starting with the generic, which involves maize or rice seed with fertilizer within a period of six-eight weeks while other commodity roll-out will last for two weeks each in a quick succession” she said. Meanwhile , the State Director for the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Muyiwa Akinsola has recalled that the GES scheme was introduced in 2011 to transform small scale farmers from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture.

Akinsola noted that there was provision for both small and large scale farmers to improve on their practices so as to increase agricultural produce in the country.

Delivering his goodwill message, President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), in Ogun State Chief Segun Dasaolu appreciated both the Federal and State Governments for subsidizing cost of seedlings and fertilizer.

24 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

Nigeria lacks consistent, coordinated tourism marketing —Ngozi Ngoka

NGOZI Ngoka, the CEO, Zigona Travel is passionate about the travel trade business . As the Publicity Secretary of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), she believes that the internet can’t take the place of a travel agent. In this interview, she talks about the travel trade business in this country and other issues relating to tourism.

Excerpts:

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N the challenges of marketing Nigeria as a leisure destination Before you can market a product, the product first of all, needs to be properly packaged and branded. We need to develop a strong, recognized and consistent brand and image for Nigeria before we can promote it as a Tourist Destination.

The Nigerian Brand should be based on our values and build upon what makes us different or our unique selling point. Another challenge we face is that we do not currently have a coordinated and consistent approach to positioning and promoting Nigeria as a destination.

Although we have quite a few tourism initiatives in Nigeria, some of which have evolved without any planning, we need to be aware that effective destination management relies on an iterative and continual planning process that integrates tourism into our country’s social, economic and environmental aspirations. Policies need to be put in place to harness all the Tourism initiatives.

We currently have, our hotels

are not properly rated and strict standards are not enforced. Our airports and transportation systems need to also be standardized. Strategic planning

national and state levels in order to provide a framework for tourism development and management in Nigeria. In doing this, we should identify the different tourism stakeholders and understand the linkages between decision making and government institutions and the tourism plans at the national, state and local government levels.

We also have to consider other relevant plans such as economic development, infrastructure,

why you should use a travel agent but the bottom line is that travel agents know much more than you can possibly learn after a few hours of looking for deals on the web.

We are better connected and have access to benefits you can’t possibly get on line; and the best part is that travel agents provide you with a safety net during your trip that you simply can’t get by booking on line. If you ever had an emergency while on a trip, one can only hope that you made

,

Ngozi

for tourism must be developed and should align and integrate with national and state policy and plans. When all these measures are adequately addressed, we can then talk about marketing.

On in-bound travel into Nigeria Nigerian inbound tourism is mostly skewed towards business travelers. Lately, however, the Abuja and Calabar carnivals are beginning to attract visitors from outside the country. But these are just a little fraction of our Tourism potential as a country. We need to look at other areas such as Religious and Cultural institutions and see how we can secure and improve on their locations in order to attract more tourists.

On Nigeria participation at travel fairs I think that Nigeria should suspend further participation in any Tourism expo outside our shores until we have improved upon what we have to showcase to the outside world. We need to channel our resources towards creating and sustaining our own brand before we showcase it to the outside world.

Home grown trade shows like Akwaaba Travel Market, which is held yearly in Nigeria should’ also be encouraged so that they are able to bring Tourism buyers into the country.

On what the country needs to develop the tourism industry We need to develop on our existing Tourism Policy at the

I think that Nigeria should suspend further participation in any tourism expo outside our shores until we have improved upon what we have to showcase to the outside world environment, sport, culture and of course, transport, tourism involves a complex interaction between all these sectors Furthermore, strong public / private sector partnerships are essential to providing the tourism industry with the opportunity to influence and inform tourism policy and planning and also provide the certainty needed to encourage investment in the sector.

I am pretty confident however, that the current leadership at the Ministry of culture and Tourism are on top of all these as we are already seeing some changes.

On the relevancies of travel agents in age of ICT There are several good reasons

,

your travel plans through your travel agent.

To be honest, not everyone needs a travel agent these days.

If you need a cheap flight and accommodation and don’t really care much about comfort, you can easily find that on line.

If you are flying in premium class (or private jet); staying in 4 or 5 star accommodation, planning complicated itineraries with multiple stops, planning complex airline routings or taking any trips using guides/ drivers or local experts, any trip to a destination where you do not already know, or any cultural travel or safaris, you would be making a costly mistake not to use a travel agent.

Eko Signature hotel, a boost to Lagos state policies —Fashola

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OVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has said the newly commissioned Eko Signature, part of the Eko Hotels and Suites in Victoria Island, represents a vote of confidence in the policies and programme of the state government.

Speaking with journalists after commissioning the 166 rooms addition to the Eko Hotels and Suites, Fashola said the new outfit represents a vote of confidence in the policies and the programme that the State Government has implemented towards ensuring that businesses thrive.

“From my part, it represents the vote of confidence in the policies and the programmes that the government in the state has implemented towards ensuring that businesses thrive

here, polices of efficiency, service delivery, access to justice, protection of citizens rights, proprietary and personal and I think that security of life and property”.

He explained that as a deliberate policy, the State created for the first time a Ministry of Tourism because of its belief that it is a sector that has not been fully and appropriately measured and its potentials have not really come on stream.

“As the transport assets improves, tourism is all about destination, if you can’t get there, there is no tourism so as the transport assets that we are building road, rail and ferry increase in sufficient quantity, we would see the full impact of these but also as a government we are helping to harmonise

the payment of operational cost, levies, business taxes in a way that it is easy and conducive for businesses.”

“The message that is coming to me is that the rates are

reasonable but the administrative processes for paying them are proving some challenge.

We have harmonized that as a government”, Fashola stated

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State (middle) with the Chairman, Eko Hotels, Mr. Richard Herb (left) at the commissioning of Eko Signature Eko Signature, a part of the Eko Hotels and Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014 — 25

26—Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

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BY IYABO AINA AND JULIET EBIRIM

INGER and songwriter, Harrysong has done several hit songs including the Tribute to Nelson Mandela song which was named the most downloaded caller tune in a single day. In this interview, he talks about his musical career, love life,relationship with Kcee and many more.

Tell us about yourself?

My name is Harrison Tare Okiri, a.k.a Harrysong, Mr. Song . I’m from Delta state, an Ijaw man and I’m the only child of my parents. I’m a singer and a song writer.

How did you start music as a career?

I can’t really say because I grew up knowing that music is what I’ll be doing.

My mum was a choir mistress, she also plays the piano so the passion has been there right from my childhood. And I believe music is something I have to do to be fulfilled and successful .

Professionally, I started doing music Continues on page 27

I’m bald and not ashamed — Charly Boy

‘Knocking on Heaven’s Door’ comes to town

Card, ATM & Mobile Expo 2014 to boost cashless Nigeria

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014—27

Synopsis Presently, I don’t have any woman in my life —Harrysong Continues from page 26 seven years ago,when I just came to Lagos. I started hustling, going to studio to record and going to clubs to play for people. Then I met Kcee at O’jez Club. He was the one who introduced me to a lot of people who I worked with. It was only two years ago that I began enjoying what I am doing.

How did your relationship with Kcee start?

Kcee is my brother and my friend, and we’ve been together for like seven to eight years now. Like I said earlier, I met him at O’jez in Surulere , when he came to watch me perform at the club . So that day, after watching me performed, they (KCPresh), sprayed money on me and encouraged me. I was a nobody before he met me. He and his friends used to come there to watch me perform .So one day, I decided to approach them and they put me through and that is how we became very close .

But don’t you think people will conclude that you are trying to take the place of Presh?

Yes, I’ve had questions like that, but I’ve been ‘Harrysong’ all this while. That I’m trying to take the place of Presh is not true, because Presh and Harrysong are two different people. By being different, I mean in terms of my music, sound, the kind of message I preach and so on. I preach love, life and unity, even my name is different, so it will never happen.

There was a rumor recently that you were sued to court by your former record label boss, Kelvin Luciano , can you clear the air on that ?

Yes, I think I also heard that about six months ago and it wasn’t true and now it has come online again, maybe one blogger must have brought it up.

But to clear the air, my term with Question mark Entertainment ended before I was signed into Five Star Entertainment.

Five star entertainment Also, there was no misunderstanding between me and Kelvin and we are like brothers.

How was your growing up like?

It wasn’t too much fun growing up with my step-mum but it was very beautiful growing up with my grandmum. Growing up with my step-mum was horrible and tough for me, because my mum died when I was fourteen years old.

How did you get to do the Nelson Mandela Tribute song which is used as an MTN caller tune?

Yeah , the Mandela song for caller tune on MTN is one of the biggest caller tunes on the MTN platform, and it’s a blessing to me. I was inspired by the story of Mandela to do that song and I did that song to honour Mandela.

How has the experience been like working with MTN? It’s been fun because many things

The movie HEAVEN IS FOR REAL and KNOCKING ON HEAVEN’S DOOR are releasing on Friday, attached are the art work.

Synopsis for Knocking on Heaven’s Door: When Debbie Manuels, the beautiful, sensational, gospel singer sang, the world stood still.... However when her obsessive husband sang, her world fell apart. In her search for inner peace and freedom is a man on the outside, a sexy alcoholic, with no fear for God or man waiting to rescue...... One wrong step and everything Debbie’s ever stood for will come crashing down......

Starring in the movie are Ini Edo, Majid Michael, Wale Ojo and is produced by Emem Isong.

TOP MOVIES OF THE WEEK SINGLE MOM’S CLUB NOAH ABOUT LAST NIGHT ROBOCOP RIDE ALONG

Exhibition Schedule from APRIL, 18 — APRIL, 24 2014 SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, VICTORIA ISLAND Heaven is for Real : 12:00pm,4:20pm,8:40pm Knocking on Heaven’s Door : 2:00pm,6:20pm The Single Moms Club : 11:00am,6:45pm Noah : 11:15am,6:40pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, IKEJA Heaven is for Real : 11:00am,8:40pm Knocking on Heaven’s Door :12:50pm,6:30pm, The Single Moms Club : 6:10pm,9:00pm Noah : 1;25pm,8:50pm Render to Caeser : 8:50pm Ride Along :4:20pm The Nut Job : 2:30pm,4:45pm Robocop : 2:30pm

were just laid down for you on a Platter of gold and recently MTN sponsored all my expenses and trip to the recent Grammy, so it’s been fun.

About your love life?

I believe in a good relationship and I believe in love because I know it’s a beautiful thing. But what I’m up to now is my music and my career. Also, I love my fans because I know they are the ones who made me what I am today.

Presently, I don’t have any woman in my life and I look forward to the day I will find the right woman.

Challenges before stardom?

A lot of challenges have come my way, like people not believing in me because I was not there yet , but I still thank God today for who and where I am.

How do you handle your female admirers?

I try as much as I can to reciprocate a lot, because it feels good when women appreciate your songs and what you are doing. It makes your songs sell. So, personally, I make my female fans feel good with me and my music.

What’s the secret of your fame and popularity?

The secret is hard work and I have people who believe and support me financially. I also have a platform that backs me up.

Which song launched you into limelight?

I think the biggest song that is very popular to people and which also launched me into limelight is ‘Better Pikin’ and ‘Mandela’s song’.

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, SEC Heaven is for Real : 1:10pm,3:10pm,5:10pm7:10pm,9:10pm Knocking on Heaven’s Door : 1:00pm,3:20pm,5:40pm,8:00pm The Single Moms Club : 7:05pm Noah : 6:10pm Render to Caesar : 1:40pm,6:20pm Ride Along : 2:35pm About last night : 12:00pm,2:20pm,4:30pm,6:40pm,9:00pm Robocop : 11:20am,4:00pm,8:40pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS CEDDI PLAZA , ABUJA Heaven is for Real : 12:40pm,2:40pm,4:40pm,6:40pm Knocking on Heaven’s Door : 2:25pm,6:35pm,8:50pm The Single Moms Club : 7:05pm, Noah : 2:30pm About last night : 8:40pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURT Heaven is for Real : 12:10pm2:20pm,4:30pm,6:40pm,8:50pm Knocking on Heaven’s Door : 2:10pm,6:40pm,9:00pm The Single Moms Club : 6:35pm Noah : 11:30am Render to Caeser : 4:20pm,8:40pm, When dreams fall apart : 11:50pm,4:35pm About last night : 12:10pm,4:30pm Paranoia : 8:50pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, WARRI Knocking on Heaven Door : 6:30pm The Single Moms Club : 3:50pm,8:45pm The Nut Job : 11:00pm,2:45pm, About last night : 6:30pm Robocop : 1:40pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, UYO Heaven is for Real : 12:05pm,2:25pm,4:40pm,6:55pm Knocking on Heaven’s Door : 2:15pm,8:30pm Shaadi ke side effects : 6:00pm Render to Caeser : 11:40am,2:05pm,4:25pm,6:45pm About last night : 12:00pm,4:30pm Jai Ho : 3:40pm Robocop: 11:35am, 2:00pm,4:20pm,6:40pm The Best Man Holiday : 1:10pm,6:35pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, LAGOS Heaven is for Real : 10:10am,2:15pm,6:20pm, Knocking on Heaven’s Door : 12;15pm, The Single Moms Club : 12:10pm,4:10pm,6:20pm, FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, IBADAN Heaven is for Real : 6:40pm,8:40pm Knocking on Heaven’s Door : 12:45pm,4:30pm The Single Moms Club : 1:10pm,3:20pm,7:50pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, CALABAR Heaven is for Real : 2:10pm,6:20pm,8:20pm Knocking on Heaven’s Door : 12;00pm,4:10pm The Single Moms Club : 5:05pm,7:10pm,8:50pm

28— Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

Stories By AYO ONIKOYI

I’m bald and not ashamed — Charly Boy

By IYABO AINA

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opular controversial musician and presenter ,Charles Chukwuemeka Oputa known by fans as Charley boy, is on the news again.

Charly Boy as we all know, has been a head turner, starting from his outlandish outfits to his multiple piercings and tattoos, to his female alter ego, and has always been one person who is known to make a statement with his style.

Recently, his pictures surfaced online without his dreadlocks, which everybody have come to know him with, as most of his fans were all shocked at his sudden new look .

The power-bike lover recently wrote an article on his website about his new look which he called “Bald Boldness” in which he revealed how he felt the moment he realised he was hairless saying “I was skeptical initially, afraid to look in the mirror after chopping off the locks but now, I feel confident, strong, beautiful, above all, powerful, more than ever before, ready to take on this new world with all that comes with it. I feel younger than I felt 35yrs ago.

He then finished off by writing “I’m bald and not ashamed; my boldness is in your face, no hairs! I feel youthful again, beyond before, tastier, sweeter, more active, more potent, more loving and more giving. The Boy in The Charly has again come to life, one of fun and desire.”

I don’t have worthy siblings/family — Tonto V

OLATILE and controversial Nollywood diva, Tonto Dikeh’s wild streak is becoming strongly legendary and it doesn’t look like the actress has any shortcoming about it. There seems to be nothing the actress can’t talk about.

Last Friday, when the whole world was celebrating the World Siblings Day, posting family pictures in joyful mood on several social media, Tonto took a different turn saying she has neither worthy siblings nor family to celebrate.

“National siblings day,I am my own family/Sibling.. For those of you with worthy siblings/family, don’t forget to show them love today and continually”, she posted on Instagram.

Later on, she posted a picture of her housemaid, known as Onyinye, whom she has celebrated severally, and praised her as her closest family.

British- Nigerian singer Kim Wonder debuts ‘There Was A Boy’ remix

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*Majid Michel

*Ini Edo

*Desmond Elliot

*Adesuwa Etomi

‘Knocking on Heaven’s Door’ comes to town T

HE much-awaited top of the range movie ‘Knocking on Heaven’s Door’ will finally be premièred today, Friday, April 18,at the Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island, Lagos.

A production of Achievas Entertainment in conjunction with Royal Arts Academy , ‘Knocking On Heaven’s Door ’ brings to grim reality an emotional exposé on domestic violence, betrayal, passion, faith and love.

It is an emotional story of Debbie, a beautiful singer with a heavenly voice, married to the handsome and charismatic Moses. She is the envy of many. Debbie however harbours a dark secret that she tries to keep hidden within the confines of her perfect world; she is being physically and emotionally abused by Moses and the strain of it threatens to break her.

Can she be saved by a knight in shining

armour, Tom, or will she be consumed by the machinations of Brenda, Moses’ scorned lover who will stop at nothing to see that she extracts her pound of flesh?

Set in a church community and woven in the tapestry of *Emem Isong music and song, ‘Knocking on Heaven’s Door ’ promises to be an unforgettable story, showcasing the amazing talent that abounds in Nigeria.

Starring Majid Michel, Ini Edo-Ehiagwina, Blossom Chukwujekwu, Adesuwa Etomi, Robert Peters, Lelee Byoma, Steve Onu (aka Yaw of Wazobia) and featuring singer, Evaezi. The movie is produced by Emem Isong & Ini EdoEhiagwina and directed by Desmond Elliot.

Costuming by Jerry Obodo of Swanky Signatures.

IGERIAN singer and songwriter, Kim Wonder has released the remix version of her terrific single to mark her entry into the Nigerian music scene.

The remix of the single titled ‘There Was A Boy’, is a mid-tempo groovy number. Produced in South Africa and Features Veezo. It showcases Kim’s soothing and silky vocals as she woos her loverboy.

The international songstress who was recently on a media tour in the cities of Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa, is also working on a forthcoming project slated for release later in the year.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014 — 29 Story By JULIET EBIRIM

NIGERIAN IDOL JUDGES SPEAK! THE biggest reality show running right now is the Nigerian Idol which has entered the ‘make or mar stage. Now that the eventual top 12 have been selected, the die is now cast for a journey that may decide the next Nigerian superstar of the mic.

The top 12 who made it through the boot camp will be officially unveiled on Saturday, April 19th but just before the excitement really starts, here are the feelings of the three judges, Dede Mabiaku, Darey Art Alade and Nneka Egbuna on the top 12 who have made it and those who have had to go home because their luck could not hold.

I am not satisfied with the viewers’ votes —Nneka Egbuna H

Idol, but it’s very American based. So, I would bring in more African vibes, make it more Nigerian, traditional, cultural and colourful. There should be more traditional music, though, I think that’s coming up.

Personally, I will invest more time in the contestants. The coaches and judges should invest more time in the contestants,encouraging and supporting them. I’m happy about the live band music that is coming up. I just want it to be more real.

Based on your experience on this show, how do you see the future of the Nigerian youths?

I think some of them are very good and Are you satisfied with the viewers’ votes?

Frankly speaking, I’m not. Unfortunately, it has courageous. They have a lot of talents that need nothing to do with talents any more. It’s almost as to be nurtured in the right way. There should be more institutions investing in the youths, if it’s based on connection. The more connected you are, the more votes you get. I think with time, creating platforms for them to be creative. Our job on earth is to be creative and if that is things will change. blocked, it becomes a distraction. Distraction If you were opportuned to change anything leads to stagnation. So we need to stop standing about the show, what would that be? in our own way by not being creative.

I’ll make it more African – It’s called Nigerian OW were you picked to be a judge on the show?

I was approached through a friend that was supposed to handle my public relations and that was it.

Were you working on any project when you were approached to join the show?

I’m a singer and songwriter. They probably thought that it was going to be good to have an international artiste who is Nigerian on board. I also think it’s a way to give back to the country by supporting these talents.

I try not to have favourites — Dare Art Alade A

RE you satisfied with the Nigerian audience voting system?

I can’t do anything about it, whether I’m satisfied or not. My opinion about it has no bearing whatsoever on the outcome. We’ve done our own part which is to separate the chaff from the wheat. The audience are the real judges now, they determine who drops and who stays.

If you had the power to change anything about the show, what would that be?

With everything, there is always room for improvement. The organisers are doing the best that they can.

Any challenges with the contestants and co-judges?

We are one big happy family, though we have different opinions, but we disagree to agree.

How do you feel

when your favourite act is dropped?

I try not to have favourites, that way, I don’t get heartbroken. You can’t get heartbroken if you don’t fall in love. That doesn’t mean that we don’t have some form of attachment with some of them, but I try to keep the distance so I don’t get too involved. That way, I don’t miss them too much. It’s always sad to see them go, but it’s not the end of the world. I never won the reality show that I participated in. I was a finalist, but where is the winner, today? So, when these contestants are evicted along the line, they should just count their blessings and use the experience they’ve gained on the show in the outside world.

You recently lashed out at a contestant, don’t you think you

Some lost out because the pressure got to them — Dede Mabiaku

W

HAT’s your experience so far on Nigerian Idol?

It’s been quite amazing and interesting. I’m impressed to see the level of talents we have. During the elimination stages, it became very difficult for us, because many of them were very good. It hurts me that most of them, due to the pressure they were going through could not really express themselves. A few of them lost out because the pressure got to them, though it could happen to anybody. So far, it’s been a great experience. Lots of interesting scenarios, interesting people and interesting deliveries. I love the one family experience in the production crew.

How’s your relationship with your co-judges?

For the first time in the history of Nigerian Reality TV Talent Show, we have three seasoned performers as judges. The three of us, interestingly have our

different views about things. Nneka might come up with her subtlety and want to be Mother Theresa; Dare might come with his basic get-down-on-it attitude of the modern trend and I might come with my own view of wanting it to be strictly professional.

At the end, we have three people who are trying to help these children nurture themselves the right way.

I would say the contestants are very lucky to have us rub off on them. It’s obvious that we (the three of us) care about ourselves. I have known Dare since he was a kid, he’s someone I have taken care of in the past, so working with him is interesting. It’s a blessing to have two people who are like blood relatives, share the same table with me and I’m impressed with what they have to offer to the world. It’s a table of three judges who have mutual respect, love and understanding for one another.

reacted harshly?

Did you expect me to say, “That was good performance, you can do better next time”. I’m here to tell them the truth and the truth is bitter. Sometimes, one needs to be harsh in order to help them. You are not being harsh because you want to bring them down. If you are too nice to them, they tend to think they are the best and that will ultimately lead to their downfall. The contestant had a terrible performance and it’s also annoying because you know that person can do better. So you begin to wonder what happened to the person’s talent, knowing fully well that the person has just two or three minutes to make an impression.

30 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

With PRINCE OSUAGWU princeosuagwu@gmail.com 08050498513

Card, ATM & Mobile Expo 2014 to boost cashless Nigeria IT goes without saying that the days of carrying cash around in Nigeria will soon become ancient history. Our economy is fast becoming a bona fide citizen of today’s cashless world. The Automated Teller Machines, ATMs, have replaced cash-carrying travelling bags, and Mobile money has taken the place of brown envelopes, spelling a new form of convenience and safety for users.

BY JULIET EBIRIM T is with this cashless revolution in mind that Intermarc Consulting and the Coalition for epayment in Nigeria have concluded arrangements to host Card, ATM & Mobile Expo 2014. The event is scheduled to take place at the new expo center of the Eko-Hotel and Towers, Victoria Island, Lagos from June 17-19, 2014.

The forthcoming event is the 14th edition as the first edition took place in Lagos in 2001. The theme for this year is “Financial Inclusion: A better future for Africa starts here”. This is coming at the time when the adoption of electronic payment has been on the upswing in most parts of Africa.

For instance, the Central Bank of Nigeria has been implementing the pilot phase of the cashless policy in line with the Nigeria Financial Inclusion

I

Strategy as contained in the payment vision 2020. These has therefore been emphasis on how the unbanked can be brought into the mainstream of the financial system in different parts of Africa.

The effect has been driven by governments and financial Institutions as well as donor organizations in different part of Africa.

But beyond the theories of modernisation, access to finance and innovation, payment technologies need to start impacting on the real sector of electronic growth such as Manufacturing, Education, Oil& Gas, Aviation, Health, Agriculture, Transportation etc in a way that will help boost efficiency and profitability as well as create gains for the macro economy.

This is the focus of Card, ATM and Mobile Expo 2014 and to achieve the objective, over 50 companies, including banks, Card companies from the local

and international payment community have thrown their weight behind the event. The companies will be participating as sponsors and exhibitors at this event.

Noble among them are Zenith Bank, Diamond Bank, SecureID Limited, First Bank, Chams Group, Visa International, EcoBank, Altech West Africa, Skye Bank and Union Bank.

Other international Exhibitors include HPS, S2M, Vanstone China, Shenzhen Takecere China, Network International Dubai, SIBS International Portugal, Iveri Payments South Africa, BITS South Africa etc.

Government agencies that have also put their weight as partners on this event are CBN, LAMATA, NIMC, NIBSS, NITDA and LASRRA. The 2014 edition of Card, ATM & Mobile Expo promises to live up to its reputation as the biggest card exhibition in Africa. The event also features VIP Cocktail to welcome all guests on the 17th June 2014, while it closes with the ebusiness industry awards dinner on the 19th June 2014.

Why People want ‘Blind watch’ even though they can see

BY LAJU ARENYEKA

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T is amazing that over 1000 people have pre-ordered the not yet released, Bradley Timepiece designed for blind people, but what is even more shocking is that only about 2 percent of those people are blind.

The watch, named after Bradley Snyder, a Paralympian gold medallist who lost his sight in Afghanistan, is already proving to be a tech design trail blazer not for the visually impaired but for the rest of the world. The watch has a stark, circular titanium face. There are no hands. There are no numbers. Around a groove in the centre a ball-bearing rotates to mark the minutes.

Around the edge of the watch, another ball bearing rotates to tell the hours. The watch is now among the favourites in the 76 nominations for the Designs of

the Year contest at London’s Design Museum.

Designer Hyungsoo Kim, was in a class at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2011 when a neighbouring student asked his visually impaired classmate asked about the time.

The student had a watch that could tell the time, but only by pressing a button that would make it speak out loud. Doing so

in a classroom could be disruptive, so instead, Kim became his wristwatch.

This was where he got the inspiration to build a wristwatch for the blind that can be used by fashion oriented, non-braille literate, visually impaired people to tell the time without any difficulty. He obviously did a good job of it, because even those not in the target market love it!

MTN One World: Browse abroad, feel at home

BY ETOP EKANEM

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ICTURE this: It’s the holiday season and you’re having the time of your life in a luxurious location outside the country. You want to tweet to your friends back home and tell them about your awesome experience, so you pick up your smart phone.

Suddenly, a text message alert dampens your holiday spirit.

Your data usage has expired, it reads. And you simply want to fly back home, and give your service provider a piece of your mind!

With stiff competition among telecoms operators, tariffs are gradually crashing as operators continue to give incentives to woo subscribers.

However, many operators are not extending this reduction in data charges to tourist, business men and women, holiday makers, government functionaries and other people who travel abroad. As result of the high charges by operators, many travellers rarely have access to the internet using their mobile phones while roaming. To avoid these charges, therefore, they intentionally switch off their data connection, thus avoid exchanging emails, multimedia messages, surfing the Internet, chatting, uploading and downloading

information.

The MTN one world package helps put to rest the minds of travellers like you.

With this new tariff, subscribers can browse in nineteen different countries at the same rates with which they browse at home. While many operators are shying away from resolving the high rates of data roaming charges or coming up with a better alternative, only a few are trying to ensure that their medium and high value customers still have access to the internet through their mobile phones while roaming.

One of such telecommunication operator is MTN. This is evident its recent launch of Browse like Home when you Roam with “MTN One World”.

The MTN One World is a new data roaming tariff where MTN prepaid and post-paid subscribers, who travel out of the country, have access to the internet on their mobile phones and send text messages, paying a standard home rate of 5kobo per kilobyte and N4 per SMS, as if they were in Nigeria. This service is available in any of 19 MTN operating countries namely: Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, South Africa, Liberia, Cote D’Ivoire, Uganda, Congo, Rwanda, Guinea C o n a k r y, Zambia, Iran, S u d a n , G u i n e a Bissau, Cyprus, Swaziland, Ye m e n , Afghanistan a n d Botswana.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014 —31

32 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

a leaf from this was fashion designer Zizi Cardow, who also did a headgear atop her satin tangy gear.

Nip and tuck Tang Crossover diva Ayo Adesanya has never been a size zero, and she makes apologies about it. The big mama jammer made a veritable statement and turned a head or three at the award ceremony.

It might not have been smart or sleek, but her sweet matronly dress gave her the gracious look which she clearly desired, with the bright colour bringing out her impeccable complexion while the not too nice bits were kept out of sight. Her accessories- navy blue- were also not out of place for the look she was trying to achieve.

Tangy!

T takes only the brave of heart to step out in bright, in-your-face tangerines and reds, but catch a cue from these divas:

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Lacy Tang Forget about the hair, which is downright tacky. Kate Henshaw can get away with a lot, and she certainly does in the slinky tang number she wore to the African Magic Viewers’ Choice Award (AMVCA) this year. Apart from the obvious fact that lace is red hot right now, her accessories are just right.

Tang with a twist For Tinseltown queen Funlola Aofiyebi Raimi, tang was with a twist at the same event.

A vision for those women who want to be fashionable without compromising their Moslem ideals, her figure skimming (mind you, not hugging) num-

ber for the AMVCA was topped by her iconic headgear

for a stunning look that has become her style. Borrowing

Barely Tang By far the most ravishing tangy look of the evening had to be that of Ezinne Akudo who also did lace but without the fuss. Her sleeveless, sim-

plicity personified number was accessorized with simple gold, except for the dramatic necklace with totally sealed the look. And unlike Kate she had the right hair too- long weaves with a centre parting and all swept back! Copy-able.

A sprinkle of Tang Award winner and Jenifa producer Funke Akindele was the personification of class that evening with her cream, classic evening dress with toned down, tangy leaves. If you love the colour but not brave

Be passionate on your job, Fashola aide’s tasks ne

By OLASUNKANMI AKONI

T

HE Lagos State Government in her effort to achieving higher productivity and perfection in the service organised an induction programme to train its newly employed 1,775 teachers.

In the history of this administration, it is the first time, the government would be conducting a Unified Formal Induction Training for newly employed in the education sector. This demonstrated the state government’s commitment to the training of teachers to improve the teaching and learning in the schools.

Participants who are spread across the six Education Districts are grouped in batches to ease the induction programme held at the Public Service Staff Development Centre, Magodo. The Special Adviser on Eko Project, Ms

Ronke Azees noted that the new teachers must be passionate without which according to her they cannot survive especially with the Teachers Competency Framework.

She reiterated that all attention was on them because of the huge government’s investment involved in their employment.

Competent teachers Mrs. Azees also advised that they should make friends with teachers mentors in their schools and they must take responsibility for their own learning by sponsoring themselves to conferences, workshops and consulting the internet, this according to her would expose them to great opportunities available in the state.

The Permanent Secretary, Teachers Establishment and Pensions Office (TEPO) Mr. Nurudeen Ojora-Adejiyan while welcoming the new entrants into the noble profession noted that the exercise “reinforces the government’ resolve to build competent teachers who will help to move the state forward in its bid to attain excellence”.

He further stated that “a total of 1,775 teachers of different subjects who were employed in 2013 must undergo a fiveday -Induction Training to be conducted by PSSDC” The Director General PSSDC, Mrs. Olubunmi Fabamwo while giving insight into the programme content listed: Teaching, a reputable profession, personal branding, history, structure and function of the state civil service, vision and mission. Presentation skills and classroom management, Public

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

— 33

CONVICTING WIFE KILLER, AROWOLO:

That it may not be in Vain OMESTIC violence has taken a big hit, in Nigeria, in recent times.

Various non-governmental organizations have accessed funds both locally and internationally with which they are working probono, as well as looking after victims of the scourge and their children.

Various state governments have passed laws against domestic violence, including Lagos, where one out of six Nigerians live. Like other laws in the country, application, rather than the existence of the law, is usually the aspect that constitutes issues. Confidence in existing regulations is therefore low, with the law enforcement fingered as standing between victims and the course of justice.

Course of justice

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Crossover diva Ayo Adesanya has never been a size zero, and she makes apologies about it

,

enough to go the whole hog, simply do a sprinkle like Funke did.

That is the reason why every battered woman in Nigeria (Statistics say there are one out of four) hailed the conviction of Mr. Akolade Arowolo, who has become an icon for the abusive Nigerian man. The story of the Arowolos elicited drama from the very first instant it hit the airwaves: They were young, they were married, they were religious (Pentecostal Christians), they were middle class and they were educated. They were, as it were, Mr. and Mrs. Jones- they could have been anyone. The story was of a narcissistic predator masquerading as husband, father and church worker who secretly often indulged

in extramarital affairs and less secretly, regularly gave his wife a spanking.

Her reaction was classic. She accepted her abuse stoically, desperate to live a regular life even when the circumstances of her home life were hardly regular. She faced her job squarely and lied if and when she was confronted with the evidence of her abuse.

Their marriage, even before disaster struck, had become public domain within their existing spheres. There were public confrontations and private heartbreaks. Friends, neighbours, church elders, family had been given good cause to intervene in issues that ought otherwise to be private.

They became desensitized; anaesthetized. She became, any longer, not another human being with flesh covering her bones and blood coursing through her veins, not an individual who can feel physical and emotional pain but the hapless spouse of an inverterate bully who got what was coming to her. .

When Justice Lateefa Okunnu of Lagos State pronounced the guilty verdict, however, a landmark had finally been reached. Domestic violence is an issue all over the world, including the civilized world, but in a country such as ours where impunity mars most aspects of our national life, no man had ever been convicted of killing his wife, though not for want of trying. And though reports of domestic killings fill the country’s police stations, they rarely make news. If anything, reports of women killing men in domestic situations are more likely to be newsworthy, and to be torchlighted by

law enforcement. Where there is no deterrent, the scourge has thrived.

Late Mrs. Arowolo’s reaction to her own abuse brings to the fore the deep seated social contribution to the impunity of domestic violence. From the social worker who feels unempowered to do the job the law empowers her to do, to the police officer who is reluctant to handcuff an abuser, often because he is himself one.

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If anything, reports of women killing men in domestic situations are more likely to be newsworthy, and to be torchlighted by law enforcement. Where there is no deterrent, the scourge has thrived

There are also the co-workers/ church members who shy away from reporting clear signs of abuse from fear of being tagged ‘busybodies’. Of course there are always the ‘supportive’ in-laws, who would prefer their ‘son’ to be ‘the man’and in charge of his busi-

wly inducted teachers Service Rules among others as some of the courses.

At the end of the programme, according to Mrs. Fabamwo, participants must be able to situate Teaching as a reputable profession among recognised professions, and explain the vision and mission of Lagos state government with a view to use education as a tool for its realisation.

She therefore, enjoined the new teachers to be ready to add value to other people as according to her “Bricks, mortars and classrooms don’t teach, competent, discipline and dedicated teachers are the brains behind successful story in education development”.

She also mentioned that PSSDC had to work with academia through colleges of education and involve other stakeholders to facilitate learning in the course in other to achieve a robust learn-

Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Mrs Florence Oguntuase (left), Director General, Public Service Staff Development Centre (PSSDC), Mrs. Olubunmi Fabamwo: Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye and Special Adviser on Education, Fatai Olukoga, during the induction of newly employed teachers into Lagos State Teaching Service

ing.

The induction programme was commended by both the All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) as they promised to sup-

ness, no matter whose lips are busted, as it were.

Convicting one man is not good enough. We cannot afford, as a nation, to apply to the Arowolo affair our infamous short memory. It is important for every domestic abuser to, upon raising his hand to do some damage, remember that there will be consequence. Attaining other similar convictions will set the ball rolling in this direction.

port and work with the state to achieve effective performance and greater tomorrow. The induction programme which kicked of on Monday March 31st is expected to end on Friday May 2nd 2014.

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It is not surprising that the Arowolo case became all but political as it progressed. The parents of the victim as well as the rest of her family was interested not only in seeing the case to a logical conclusion but also in seeing justice done, which in this case they believed to be a conviction of the accused. Numerous NGO’s and government itself also wanted to see justice done. A conviction was all too easy.

Far too easy, particularly as the circumstances of the homicide was extremely complex, and difficult to prove beyond reasonable doubt. The observer comes away with a sneaky feeling that the conviction was achieved not on technical but on political and emotional grounds. This presents easy grounds for a successful appeal, which is what is likely to happen.

But it is early days yet.

Still it is crucial for systems to develop for the proper execution of domestic violence cases, even before they result in fatality.

34 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

A perfomance during the opening day(Inset) The Footprints of David in action

Potpourri of cultural displays as race to Artistic Decathlon opens

BY JAPHET ALAKAM

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T was a potpourri of cultural performances and display of the rich cultural heritage of the Yoruba nation as people from different states of the South West gathered at the Freedom Park, Lagos venue for the official opening of The 2014 Lagos Black Heritage Festival week.

Declaring the festival open, the Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola who was represented by commissioner for Tourism and Inter Governmental Affairs, Disu Halloway said that the state has packaged a very rich package for the 20l4 festival, enjoined all fun loving people of Lagos to come out and enjoy themselves during the week long event.

Masquerade parade The festival which kicked off with a masquerade parade and tour of the exhibition hall will end on Easter Monday with the Lagos carnival.

The entire area of the freedom park was filled with people from all walks of life as they came to have a glimpse of what the festival will be like and they were not disappointed as they were entertained by the different Masquerade dance and other cultural performances.

The day kicked off with a wonderful display by the Footprints of David who entertained the crowd with different dance steps to the admiration of the audience.

They were later joined by the Eko Brass Band, a group of young men who exhibited their

mastery of musical instruments as they thrilled the audience with jazz and other related music.

They were followed by other groups from Ogun state, Oyo state , Badagry, Egunla masquerade, amalgamation of Brazilian dance group and others. It was indeed a beauty to watch as the different groups danced around with their music.

Thereafter the Eko Brass Band led the entourage to the Kongi Harvest gallery exhibition hall where the works of the children that participated in the Vision of the Child, painting competition sponsored by Diamond Bank were displayed. As Noble Laureate Prof Wole Soyinka

described it, “as a mini Artistic Decathlon, tailored to the capabilities of the children exposition through brush and paint, poetry and prose, that seeks out, and gives pride of attention

to the often unheard questions and aspirations of creative minors”. And with the theme, The Rule of Law and The Law of Impunity they were able to express their vision through the

interpretation of the given theme.

The paintings touched on many aspects of the ills in the society.

To many, one would ordinarily say what does the children know about corruption, rule of law and impunity, but through the works on display, one will see the creative ingenuity of the children especially as regards to the theme on how Nigerians abuse the law in many ways. Some of the works include, Nigerian constitution tied with a rope indicating that it is under bondage while other books like Insecurity, corruption, Boko Haram etc were open. Another piece a judge who refused to sent her son to jail. Another one a Police officer collecting bribe from a bus driver, another a traffic warden who allows a military man to pass, but stops the ordinary man while another shows where a poor man who had gun in his car was jailed while a senator’s son who had cocaine in his car was let go.

Speaking about the works, Halloway said, “ when Prof Soyinka introduced the topic, we were somehow asking how will the children understand it, but with what we have seen here, I am impressed. They have actually demonstrated that they know what the topic is all about. As the parents are doing all sorts of impunity the children are actually observing and that they have interpreted in many ways.”

Jossy Nkwocha’s new book for presentation

I

GBO HERITAGE Pub lishers is set to release a new book written by Dr. Jossy Nkwocha, entitled, 'NGOR: Historical, Cultural, Political, and Socio-Economic Analyses.'

The 120-page book is billed for public presentation on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2014, at Ngor Centre, in Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State.

The book is a well-researched documentation of the hidden history and sociological perspectives of NGOR, an ancient kingdom and ancestral headquarters of Ngor-Okplala people of Imo State, Nigeria, whose people are proud and selfesteemed. And they usually introduce themselves as “Nwa Ngor ezeOgboro,” meaning “prince or princess of the Ngor royal dynasty!"

Jossy Nkwocha, former General

Editor of Newswatch magazine and author of the book, said the Ngor book unveiled 500-year history of the community, the

land-related wars, the coming of Christianity and western education.

A major highlight of the book is its 13-point blue-print for political and economic rejuvenation and development of the community, which got lost in recent times.

Dance, workshops headline International Jazz Day

By PRISCA SAM-DURU

AZZ music lovers are ups for

J

sizzling dance performances and musical concerts which are part of activities lined up for the celebration of the 2014 International Dance and Jazz Day to take place at the AGIP recital Hall of the MUSON Center, Lagos.

Powered by Inspiro Production and organised by the Public Affairs Section of the United States Consulate General in Lagos, in collaboration with the MUSON Center, the event which comes up April 30, 2014 from 4 - 7 pm also features a workshop aimed at increasing jazz and dance appreciation in Nigeria.

International Jazz Day proclaimed by the UNESCO is observed yearly around the world on April 30 to celebrate the virtues of jazz as an educational tool, and a force for peace, unity and dialogue among people.

The International Dance day, April 29, 2014 is also known as World Dance Day

and celebrated through promotions by the International Dance Council. The day was introduced in 1982 by the International Dance Committee of the UNESCO International Theatre Institute. The annually observed World Dance Day is to create an understanding of the importance of dance among the general public. Its goal is also to persuade governments all over the world to provide a proper place for dance in all systems of education.

Coming at a time when the youths' attention has been captured by Hip hop music which has been bastardised with poor and offensive lyrics, the celebration is expected to highlight the beauty and inspiring nature of Jazz music.

And based on this, a brief background on jazz in the U.S.as well as some influential jazz musicians in American history will be given by the US Consul General, Jeffrey Hawkins. Issues bothering on youth and music development in relation to the genre as tool for cultural diplomacy

and international understanding, would also be addressed by Hawkins.

The event will also feature workshops and performances by the 2013 OneBeat Program Alumnus Biodun Kuti, Dr. Sheyi Kehinde a lecturer at the Department of Creative Arts, University of Lagos; Sarah Boulos, Executive Director of Society of Performing Arts in Nigeria (SPAN); students from the SPAN Academy of Jazz and students of the MUSON Center Music School.

Apart from performance by his OneBeat band, Biodun Kuti is billed to give guests insight into his OneBeat experience. His performances will feature collaborations with other international musicians and artists on the U.S. Program.

To make this year’s International Dance and Jazz Day memorable, the show is expected to end with a jam session by musicians, music students and dancers, as well as the audience.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014 — 35

36—Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

I N Stop engaging S governors, concentrate, I delegate tells Jonathan D PAGE 38 E

NATIONAL CONFERENCE: We can't keep losing PAGE 37 our territories

The changing phases of Nigeria PAGE 38

PDP, APC must unite to crush Boko Haram — Okonkwo DEPUTY National Chairman (South) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Annie Okonkwo spoke to some reporters in Lagos on burning national issues such as the challenges in the APC and how the party can win forthcoming elections, the National Conference, why the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and APC must join forces to fight Boko Haram and insecurity instead of trading accusations.

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

Insecurity situation Today, we are talking about our GDP, economy, how can we boost our economy when some parts of the country are in disarray? So, it is something that I think we must come together and fight once and for all.

Don’t you think your party needs to work with the ruling PDP to solve the problem?

The insecurity situation in the country is what everybody must put hands together and solve.

Whether you are APC or PDP, no party is happy with the way Boko Haram is terrorising Nigerians.

You don’t know who is next. Boko Haram doesn’t spare people whether they are Muslims or Christians. So, we must unite to fight the insurgents.

On APC’s perceived double speak on the National Conference APC as a party decided that C M Y K

Internal democracy

•Okonkwo: Boko Haram doesnt spare people they are not going to be involved but that does not mean that the states are not going to send their representatives to the conference.

APC as a party believes that the conference is a waste of time because previous conferences were not implemented.

Now, a lot of issues are coming up. Some delegates are saying that the outcome should be subjected to a referendum and that it should not be sent to the National Assembly. Some people also see it as Jonathan’s political strategy to win the minds of the people ahead of the 2015 general election.

Political strategy Personally, I am not against the conference but my concern is for the outcome to be implemented.

As a person, I believe that Nigerians should sit down and talk. I support it but my concern is that after this talk, what do we do with it? I am also afraid that

there might not be any useful thing that would come out of it.

So, is the APC right in boycotting the national conference?

As a political party and the major opposition party, it is better for APC to stay aside and watch but that does not mean that the governors would not send their representatives to the conference because they are not representing APC, they are representing the states.

On how the National Assembly can make the outcome of the National Conference yield results The National Assembly has nothing to do because the truth of the matter is that if there is any amendment the people want, it goes through constitutional amendment and there is a procedure for amending the constitution, which is very rigorous. It is not just for the National Assembly to amend it; they don’t have all the powers to do that. It would still have to go to the states. One of the best

things that can happen is if it is subjected to a referendum.

On whether APC can produce a formidable candidate that can challenge President Jonathan in 2015 APC is working towards that.

Nobody can predict what is going

,

ON accusations and counteraccusation between PDP and APC over insecurity in the country.

Boko Haram is the worst thing that has happened to this country and we must do something about it. Sometimes, I get baffled that: why can’t we as a nation go in and smoke them out once and for all? Whatever we can do to smoke all the Boko Haram out, let us do it and know that nobody talk about Boko Haram anymore.

The truth of the matter is that sometimes, I wonder how people for so many years would continue to hold the nation on hostage.

When there was Biafran war, within 30 months, the war ended and everybody came together and we became one.

Nigerians came together to fight the civil war, so why can’t we come together and fight Boko Haram once and for all? It is so embarrassing and it is not good for our nation.

Ezennia Ogbuehi, sidelined some members of the committee assigned by the party to conduct the congress and conducted the congress without following due process and guidelines of the congress. Honestly, I was disappointed.

The party promised to operate on internal democracy and that equal opportunities would be given to all members of the party but most of the aspirants were not allowed to participate in the congress. I believe it is something that should not to be allowed to happen in our party because Nigerians see APC as the only alternative party that can transform the country.

Nigerians are really looking forward to APC as a party that is going to bring true change.

I want us to use this opportunity to call on all our party faithful wherever they are to imbibe true democratic principles and subject themselves to internal democracy.

That is the only way we can build a solid party that Nigerians would have confidence in but if we continue to do what other political parties are doing, it is not going to augur well for us.

I was excited when the party came out openly on the pages of national dailies to state the process of the congresses. The guidelines are very transparent and it shows that the party is ready to imbibe internal democracy.

But what happened during the congress especially in Anambra State was undemocratic.

Whether you are APC or PDP, no party is happy with the way Boko Haram is terrorising Nigerians

to happen in 2015 but I can assure Nigerians that APC’s convention will produce a presidential candidate that Nigerians would accept. APC will produce a candidate that has the people at heart, a candidate that will transform the country.

APC will dislodge PDP in 2015.

On his assessment of the ongoing congresses of the APC I am not happy over what happened during the ward congress especially in Anambra State. The state congress committee chairman, Chief

,

Someone who was appointed as the chairman of the congress committee messed up the whole process and despite the party guidelines and good intentions, the congress committee chairman acted contrary Today, it is on record that all Anambarians are highly disappointed in the chairman of the congress committee, who completely ignored the party’s guidelines and started perpetuating what he was not

Continues on page 37

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014—37

Confab should address ethnic minority issues in Nigeria —Ntufam Okey •Says we can’t keep losing territories to foreign countries DR. Ntufam Joe Okey, a German-trained medical doctor and politician, contested for the governorship of Cross River State in 1990 but lost. He is a delegate to the on going National Conference representing Ejagham ethnic nationality of Cross State. In this chat, he, among other things, canvasses for the creation of Ogoja State.

BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

Y

OU spoke so passionately about Bakassi and the Ejagham people during the plenary session, could you tell us more?

The Ejagham nationality is the second largest ethnic minority in Cross River State spreading from Western Cameroon, down to Bakassi, otherwise called Mbakassi. The entire Western Cameroon originally belonged to Nigeria and by a dint of ill luck and selfish interest of some Nigerians, our forefathers of old, the entire Western Cameroon which was made up of entirely Ejagham people, got sold out through a silly plebiscite to the Cameroonians for fear that if the

dialect is spoken in 10. So, I am pleading that Nigeria should stop selling her territory indiscriminately to other nations.

Are there other issues?

Another issue is about one state that is yet to be created in Nigeria. In the days of Zik of Africa, our revered leader, then in Nigeria, we had 12 provinces.

Ogoja was one of those old provinces that housed Abakaliki Division, Afikpo Division, Ikom Division and Ogoja Division itself and Obubara Division. But whereas Afikpo, Abakaliki have now translated into Ebonyi State, Ogoja has not been transformed into a state.

There was a time we had a terminology called COR states; the “C” meaning Calabar, “O”

,

Even Bakassi just yesterday also got sold out to the Cameroonians and the people you find there are mostly the Ejagham people of Cross River State and I can’t understand why we continue to lose Nigerian territory to other nations like the Cameroonians

Ejagham people in Cameroon were to come and join the Ejagham people in Nigeria, they might form a majority and threaten other ethnic majorities like the Igbo, for instance. They now came up with that plebiscite where the people now decided whether or not to stay in Cameroon or Nigeria.

They accepted to remain with the Cameroonians where today with the connivance of the francophone regime, they decided to administer that country, refused to develop that area. Up till today, the whole of Western Cameroon that belongs to this ethnic minority of the Ejagham people has remained totally undeveloped.

Even Bakassi just yesterday also got sold out to the Cameroonians and the people you find there are mostly the Ejagham people of Cross River State and I can’t understand why we continue to lose Nigerian territory to other nations like the Cameroonians.

In Cross River State today, the Ejagham people like I said form the second largest ethnic group in terms of dialect. After the Efiks, it is the second most widely spoken dialect in Cross River State. Out of the 18 local government areas we have in Cross River State, the Ejagham

,

meaning Ogoja, “R” meaning Rivers. Whereas Rivers State has now been realized and even subdivided into Rivers State and Bayelsa State, Cross River, the “C” has now been divided into Cross River State and Akwa Ibom

State, but Ogoja has remained undivided. So, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Zik of Africa, before he died, regretted that Ogoja State could not be created in his life time and that he had wished Ogoja to be created as a parting gift to him before he died. But that was never realized. So, I want to believe that a committee responsible for state creation should address that issue.

I would plead with the committee to consider the creation of Ogoja State in the interest of fairness because Ogoja cannot continue to remain like that without a state.

His take on President Goodluck Jonathan’s inaugural speech The speech is so nice but my contention is that it is still in a booklet. They should put it in a compendium and circulate it among secondary school pupils to create the impact of that kind of speech which could be likened to a speech delivered by Martin Luther King of old.

Another thing which I hadn’t time to say is the joblessness of our youths, which is responsible for the restiveness among our youths today.

In time past, the system of education was a bit better with a lot of emphasis on trade and technical schools and those technical schools churned out a lot of youths especially those who

*Ntufam Okey:Religion should not divide us were hardworking into doing jobs of their own thereby reducing unemployment in the system.

If Nigeria were to go back to the era when a lot of emphasis was laid on trade or technical schools, polytechnics, I am not saying that the university education should be abandoned, it will create a wider and broader spectrum for our youths to learn trades and become self employed and that will help to reduce restiveness among the youths. In countries like Germany where I spent a lot of years, this system of education is very pronounced.

On whether the conference can tackle the controversial issues of ethnicity and religion.

It is true that religion has been on the front burner of discussions at the conference but I believe in the secularity of religion in Nigeria. People should be

allowed to worship whomever they want; it should not be reason for us to be so divided among ourselves. I sincerely believe that with the kind of discussions we have been having, we can overcome these problems. If we solve the problem of unemployment like I have said, establish trade schools, creating jobs for our youths, it will be one way of killing restiveness.

There is no way anybody can stop you and I from practicing any kind of religion that we want as long as we respect the integrity of these religion and agree here that religion should not divide us.

I am not a pessimist, I believe that as Nigerians comport themselves overseas, we could do the same thing here given the same kind of environment where there is no discrimination among the ethnic groups.

Insurgency: Why we must intervene — Delegate S POKESPERSON of Project Nigeria (Nigeria Consensus Group of eminent political leaders in the country) and a delegate of the Pronational Conference Organisation (PRONACO) to the National Conference, Comrade Olawale Okunniyi, has advised the National Conference to raise a strategic intervention team to explore the possibility of isolating issues generating bloodletting and other forms of militancy across the country.

Okunniyi, while condemning the bomb blast, which claimed several lives in the early hours of Monday at Nyanya, Abuja on the floor of the Conference on Tuesday, said it was high time the Conference lived up to its real essence which is to negotiate and neutralise

*Okunniyi political discontent throwing up violence and bloodletting in the country.

He said since all shade of interests, mandates and diverse experiences, which can empathise with issues bordering on insurgency and

militancy are represented at the confab it may be instructive and expedient for the conference to help negotiate the end of the bloodletting and violence in the country.

His words: “Time is of essence, the country by what we have witnessed so far is at war with itself.

T"he country is sitting on a keg of gun powder. The issues propelling insurgency and militancy in our land are purely political and economic in nature and therefore require more political solutions than military. ”The ongoing National Conference is expected to serve as a political clearing house and conflict management mechanism for the country and therefore should be utilised most dynamically to negotiate and secure national stability

and constitutional sanity for the country as it is evident that this is the best government can do given the present circumstance.”

Okunniyi said the conference must be process-led and people-driven to achieve political stability and credible constitution for the agitated peoples of Nigeria.

“This confab certainly needs every support and ample time to save the country from its deep rooted animosity and present precipice,’’ he said, adding that if the ongoing confab fails to arrest the growing tension and horrendous bloodletting among political parties and diverse interests in the country before the 2015 elections, the country may be forced into a most explosive season of all times,

38—Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

I

GREW up in the dramatic 1940s in a little mining town of Jos, now the prosperous capital of Plateau State (before the advent of jackals and the murderous gang of the 1990s and the first decade of the twenty-first century. ) Jos, though still commercially vibrant and more populated, is different from that serene place of my youthful days.

Jos in the colonial days had its own apartheid with Europeans predominating; there was the European Hospital, European dwelling areas, European Club. There were also the Clerks‘ Quarters (for Southern Civil Servants) and also, the Native Area (dominated by Northerners and Southerners of lower ranks.

The problems of today could be traced to the total neglect of the indigenes of Jos who had no access to education or any type of social services. They were not considered part of the emerging Jos metropolis of the decades before the 1950s.

The present problem of Jos could be traced to the rise in political fortunes of the indigenes, especially after the creation of Plateau State. The indigenes could not afford to see the capital of their state being dominated politically and economically by ‘foreigners‘ - Hausa/Fulani and Southerners. Even the Jos North Local Government Council, heavily dominated by ‘foreigners‘ had to be forced to accept an indigene as its chairman (against democratic principle). The indigenes seem to be in a hurry to redress the heinous crimes (mistakes) of the past.

The unsolved problem of Jos and Plateau State is how to resolve the legitimate political rights of the indigenes and the democratic rights of those described as ‘foreigners‘ who are great contributors to the economy, and have resided there for a very long time.

The example of Jos is a salient reminder of the crucial problems between indigenes and others in many parts of the country today.

It may be asked what rights Nigerians have in places of their domicile outside

The changing phases of Nigeria the areas of their birth. In those my pal days, it was possible for non indigenes to enjoy full political rights without any discrimination. In the 1930s, Lagos had an Ijaw (Ernest Ikoli) as the Member of the Legislative Council and Dr. Azikiwe represented Lagos in the old Legislative Council in 1947 and Western House of Assembly in 1951. Mazi Mbonu Ojike was a popular Deputy Mayor of Lagos in the 1950s. In Enugu, Mallam Umaru Altine was once elected as the Mayor.

In the North, many Southerners enjoyed free scholarships in secondary schools.

But these were good old days before the creation of states and the present 36 states‘ structure. It is admirable that Lagos State maintains a dignified liberal stance in the provision and distribution of social services and amenities.

In some parts of the country, especially the Northern and Southern parts, nonindigenes (foreigners) are settled in various designated areas (Sabongari) where social services are not well provided and democratic rights often restricted. Many of these designated areas are often over-crowded and diseaseridden.

Perhaps, the most embarrassing phase of Nigeria's development is the coexistence of the rich and the poor within

the same environment. Often, the rich could afford the necessary gadgets of modern life while the poor found it difficult to live well. Many times, such noticeable incompatibility in the standards of living had been a cause of envy and its disastrous consequences of stealing, arson and community riots.

The changing phases of Nigeria have brought many political and economic challenges that have risen over the years. The problems arising from ethnic and religious matters, especially in some Northern parts where churches had been burnt and worshippers brutally killed are rampant. Also, in many parts of the country, boundary disputes, especially in the South, had caused destruction of villages and forceful displacement of people. Many people believe, and justifiably so, that the deficient structure of the country as regards to states created could be responsible.

It is generally recognized that the vast development of the country in many phases has not been matched by the increase in latent ability to solve the emerging problems. The official reaction to any untoward event is to set up a committee of enquiry, the report of which is cleverly kept in a secret locker.

Since perpetrators of evil deeds are not afraid of immediate reprisal and they

would continue in their wanton destruction of life and property. It is often suggested that an official proactive hard stance against immunity of the few bad citizens would go a long way in solving many problems.

The most terrible aspect of Nigerian development is the growth of insurgency arising from religious intolerance which has not been properly confronted. There is another aspect to insurgency which points to poverty caused by mass unemployment. It appears that the daring exploits of the Boko Haram murderous gang is quite beyond the widest imagination of simple religious fanatics – there are signs of expertise.

We may be looking towards the rank of unemployed graduates, dismissed police and army officers and educated political thugs.

The new phase of the country‘s development appears to be based on violent insurgency, political instability, unemployment, armed robbery, kidnapping and ritual and political killings.

The mood of today is the call for a radical change to meet a more serious challenge to the continuous existence of the country. The country needs at the moment statesmen, not crafty politicians; wise people, and not shallow thinkers; a coalition of parties, and not a spineless single party.

The other day, there was a destructive bomb blast at Nyanya, Abuja (the capital city). That event was followed by the abduction of 200 girls from a college in Borno State – a state under the state of Emergency.

From those halcyon years of principled politics, ethnic harmony and religious understanding, times have changed for worse, leaving in their trails, vestiges of bitterness and surges of violence. This is not the time for politics but consensus in the country. It is not a time to welcome political defectors but the right time to deny the nation against the common foe – insurgency in the North East.

PDP, APC must unite to crush Boko Haram — Okonkwo Continues from page 36 told to do by the party.

I think it is a lesson and we cannot continue like that. I think this is an opportunity for the party to really look into the state and see that the problem is resolved. What happened in the last election in Anambra is all about disunity and we must make sure that APC is united in all states to be able to confront the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015 and the only way to do that is to build a solid foundation.

On how the party leadership can build a solid foundation for the APC APC is a very big party and there is no doubt that there is going to be some elements who are not ready to abide by the principles of internal democracy but the party should rise up and identify those elements. The good news is that APC has a vision and the party constitution is very clear. They must realise that it is very important that for the party to grow, there must be true internal democracy.

On comments that APC cannot truly be an alternative to PDP because it was built on faulty foundation and is now a dumping ground for people who were rejected in the ruling

PDP, who they accept without screening and scrutiny First of all, you should understand that there is freedom of association, so, there is no question of screening somebody to be a member of a party. The constitution gives you the right to belong to anywhere you want.

A member of the party cannot

stop anyone from being a member of a party and nobody can also suspend anybody unless you go against the constitution or guidelines of the party. And again, the party cannot say that people who want to join the party should not join, but the most important thing is that there is a principle and constitution of the party. I believe the only way the

party can be strengthened is when the party works with the constitution and manifesto of the party, especially during the party ’s congresses and convention. I am happy the way APC put up their guidelines, which shows that for you to aspire as executive in the ward you will have to pay at least N2,000 to show a commitment.

Confab: Stop engaging governors, concentrate, delegate tells Jonathan •Governors must respect Jonathan — Awuse

BY HENRY UMORU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

T

HERE was a mild drama on Wednesday at the National Conference when President of the Court of Appeal and a delegate representing Katsina State, Justice Mamman Nasir urged President Goodluck Jonathan to see himself as a leader, who should swallow insults and stop engaging state governors in war of words.

Justice Nasir, raising a motion of national interest, advised the President to concentrate and

focus on how to address the current security challenge in the country rather than answering the governors who insult him.

Speaking shortly after the commencement of the session , Justice Nasir, who urged the governors to stop abusing the President, said that the President must show leadership and avoid engaging in tirade with governors, adding that both the President and the governors should join forces and find an end to killings and other security

c h a l l e n g e s .

Noting that the growing killings and bombings in the country called for a synergy between the President, the governors and other leaders, he said: “What we are witnessing in the country at the moment does not call for verbal attacks between our President and governors.

He should show leadership, he should focus on the security challenge facing our dear country”.

Objecting to what the elder statesman said, Chief

What that means is that anybody who comes and pays that N2,000 has procured the right to participate in the congress and any attempt by member or some members of the party not to allow the person to participate is undemocratic and that is exactly what has happened in Anambra State and I condemn it with all sincerity of purpose.

Sergeant Awuse, a delegate representing the South-South geo- political zone, said the President cannot sit and watch some governors abuse him publicly and argued that not responding to criticisms from governors would send a wrong message to the public.

He said: “It is wrong for governors to be abusing the President.

Everybody has some madness in him, the President is a human being, he cannot continue to keep quiet and watch the governors abuse him.

He needs to respond to these unguarded utterances.

Governors should show respect to the President. No governor would tolerate that from council chairmen.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY , APRIL 18 18,, 2014 —39

Confronting hypertensive heart diseases

BY CHIOMA OBINNA & GABRIEL OLAWALE

H

OW often do you check your blood pressure? Do you know that High Blood Pressure, HBP, could lead to what experts call Hypertensive heart disease? Beware! Hypertensive heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death associated with high blood pressure.

According to experts, it refers to a group of disorders that includes heart failure, ischemic heart disease, hypertensive heart disease, and left ventricular hypertrophy.

Reports have shown that the cause of hypertensive heart disease is chronically elevated blood pressure, BP; however, the causes of elevated BP are diverse.

Essential hypertension Essential hypertension accounts for 90 percent of cases of hypertension in adults.

Secondary causes of hypertension account for the remaining 10 percent of cases of chronically elevated BP. According to the Framingham Study, hypertension accounts for about one quarter of heart failure cases. In the elderly population, as many as 68 percent of heart failure cases are attributed to hypertension.

Again, community-based studies have demonstrated that hypertension may contribute to the development of heart failure in as many as 50-60 percent of patients. In patients with hypertension, the risk of heart failure is increased by 2-fold in men and by 3-fold in women.

However, heart disease can be improved or even prevented by making certain lifestyle changes.

Identifying the symptoms of Hypertensive heart disease is also key in managing the disorder.

Symptoms of the disease vary depending on the severity of the condition and progression of the disease. You may experience no symptoms or your symptoms may be obvious. When blood flow through the heart is poor, a common symptom that results is chest pain. Other symptoms include tightness or pressure in the chest, shortness of breath, and fatigue. It is also common to feel pain in the neck, back, arms, or shoulders. You may also have a cough or lose your appetite. Foot or ankle swelling can be a sign of heart failure.

Experts say you need emergency care if your heart is suddenly beating rapidly or irregularly. Regular physical examinations will indicate whether you suffer from high

blood pressure. If you do have high blood pressure, you should take extra care to look out for symptoms of heart disease.

Tips to improve your heart health: Smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease, especially atherosclerosis.

Control your blood pressure: Optimal blood pressure is less than 120 systolic and 80 diastolic, as measured in millimeters of mercury.

Check your cholesterol: Ask your doctor for a baseline cholesterol test.

Keep diabetes under control: Tight blood sugar control can help reduce the risk of heart disease.

Get moving: Exercise helps you achieve and maintain a healthy weight and control diabetes, elevated cholesterol and high blood pressure — all risk factors

for heart disease. Eat healthy foods: A heart-healthy diet based on fruits, vegetables and whole grains and low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium — can help you control your weight, blood pressure and cholesterol.

Maintain a healthy weight: Being overweight increases your risk of heart disease. Manage stress: Reduce stress as much as possible.

Practice good hygiene habits: Staying away from other people when they are sick and regularly washing your hands can not only prevent heart infections but also can help prevent viral or bacterial infections that can put stress on your heart if you already have heart disease. In addition to healthy lifestyle changes, remember the importance of regular medical checkups. Early detection and treatment can set the stage for a lifetime of better heart health.

• Optimal blood pressure is less than 120 systolic and 80 diastolic.

Malaria society, Church partner against malaria

BY GABRIEL OLAWALE

A

S the world will next week mark this year ’s World Malaria Day, experts have advised Nigerians to change their perception about malaria even as they maintained that the disease remains a major public problem in Nigeria. Meanwhile, Malaria Society of Nigeria, MSN, and the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Lagos Archdiocese,recently conducted free malaria, hypertension and diabetes tests for residents of Agege area of Lagos.

Statistics available have shown that malaria accounts for over 60 percent outpatient visits and 30 percent hospital admissions in Nigeria.

Speaking at the event, President, Malaria Society of Nigeria, Dr John Puddicombe explained that malaria is an infectious disease caused by the parasite of genius Plasmodium.

Puddicombe who spoke at the free malaria screening and drugs/ Insecticide Treated Nets distribution organised in partnership with the Methodist Church of Nigeria for residents Agege area of Lagos, however added that the country is winning the war against malaria.

Puddicombe explained that the free screening exercise was to ensure that people are free from malaria and other diseases. He further explained that the inclusion of other silent killer diseases such as diabetes and

hypertension was due to the high burden of the diseases in Nigeria.

“Malaria, Hypertension and Diabetes remain the silent killers and have no respect for any gender and if proper measures are not taking on time, which is early diagnosis, the damages they may cause may go beyond amendment. Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to Vanguard could not hold back their joy as they confessed that before the exrecise they were not having money to purchase drugs for malaria.

Mrs. Bukola Saliu, 54, said:“I was full of joy to have benefited from the free medical screening even though, I initially do not want to attend since I was not a member of the church. But to my greatest surprise, I was attended to.”

‘Why people should donate blood voluntarily’

BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA

H

EALTH professionals last week explained the rationale on why people should donate blood voluntarily. The experts who were at a Blood Donor Drive organised by the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee, LSBTC, also condemned activities of commercial blood donors in the country, warning that, such activities could put the lives of the patients in grave danger.

A Health Educator, Mrs. Temitope Balogun who noted that research has shown that having excessive blood in the body could be dangerous to the individual, said safe blood saves lives and improves health.

According to her, blood transfusion is needed for women with complications of pregnancy, such as ectopic pregnancies and haemorrhage before, during or after childbirth; children with severe anaemia often resulting from malaria or malnutrition; people with severe trauma following accidents; and many surgical and cancer patients and auto crash victims.

Balogun who spoke at the Skills Acquisition Centre, Isheri Olowo Ira, Ojodu area of Lagos, noted that there is constant need for regular blood supply because blood can be stored for only a limited time before use adding that, "regular blood donations by a sufficient number of healthy people is needed to ensure that safe blood will be available whenever and wherever it is needed," she stated.

Encouraging the students of the centre to cultivate the culture of donating blood, she stated that "blood is the most precious gift that anyone can give to another person."

• Sleeping under insecticide treated nets helps prevent malaria.

40 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 CAPRICORN; Take your health more seriously than before. However that is not to say you have to ignore your responsibilities at work. Respect your senior colleagues AQUARIUS; The influence looks more favourable to you now. You will certainly become more enterprising to the betterment of your cause. Right now nobody can ignore you.

PISCES; Those of you who are more observant within your base of operation will have more to gain. Prepare to take good advice from the veterans within your base.

ARIES; Although your personal ideas are very reliable and capable of bringing success, you will need to be as co-operative as possible to achieve your desire.

TAURUS; It is important you take your sources of making money very seriously. Both hard work and element of luck will work favourably for you.

By Richard Eromosele

Of wisdom and riches

W

HAT is the rela tionship between wisdom and riches? You may be wondering? But let me help to clear your doubt: Who is the richest man or woman on earth today? Is it the man or woman who is

the most physically strong? What actually constitutes riches? Are there no rich fools?

Of truth, wisdom is needed to make decisions that could en-

TERROR MUDA

able one to be rich. But that also depends on the type of riches.

There are material riches, riches in children, riches in the profession, etc.

in “Never say goodbye”

The holy writ says wisdom is profitable in all. In other words, wisdom can only enhance your achievement. If you have been rich without wisdom, don’t you think you will be super rich with it?

Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

GEMINI; Placement of the Moon will encourage you to become a little bit aggressive; here is a day when your leadership ability will assist many.

CANCER; The Moon’s placement can force agitation on the minds of some of you but if keep your head above the cloudy atmosphere you will not have anything to fear.

LEO; Young-at-heart Librans may be greatly excited today and for the next few weeks; if you take good decision on your love life you will enjoy it.

VIRGO; Here is an ambitious day for many of you. The more practical you are about your reasonable desire the better for your cause. Be more family minded.

LIBRA; Good luck will knock at your door. Although it is good to plan ahead, you have to take advantage of now that presented good opportunities.

SCORPIO; Keeping both your personal and other people secrets will do you lots of good today. Then tomorrow is your big day; prepare yourself accordingly.

SAGITTARIUS; Here is a day when your closeness to the influential people can be source of assistance to both yourself in particular and your group in general. And then your love life is getting better. Exhibit loving maturity.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

Good health for me?

Dear Joshua, I have never gone through any major sickness since I was born but it is always good to know, especially as people are saying that those that do not fall-sick often can die the very first time such happen. Can they be right? Please tell me about my financial prospects.

Ronke, Benin.

Dear Ronke, They are wrong. And you have no cause to fear. Actually my findings here pointed to your hard beginning-health wise. If you ask your parents they would tell you much than you think you know about yourself.

Leo and Scorpio that hosted your natal Sun and Moon are members of few strongest Star signs available (when talking of health/life and death). Thus you are well endowed.

Although as both the Sun and Moon were at loggerheads when you were born you must have gone through some tough times health-wise, especially when you were younger, very great ability of Scorpio to survive and good aspects the planets enjoyed during your birth hour are indications of good health for you. And as your age advances so also your health will continue to improve.

Then concentration of many heavenly bodies in health related Virgo is another pointers to good health. However that is not to say you will go through adulthood life without any health related challenges but when they come you have what it takes to survive and be back on the road to sound health.

What to watch out for include TOOTHACHE, the chest/ back, stomach and at very advanced age may come circulatory system related challenge. Being a female Scorpio born person always pay good attention to gynaecological related ailments and fever is common in this part of the world.

But then all ailments mentioned here are mere warnings (although to be taken seriously) nothing fatalistic please!!!!

YOUR FINANCE Although you can be generous, kind and loving you are not the extravagant type. Thus you are reliable and can make success of your family purse. You are practical analyst with respect for your family dignity, therefore putting aside money for raining days comes natural to you.

Occasionally you think that money don’t come as faster as desired by you but it comes eventually after a few lesson.

Luckily for you Libra that hosted your natal planet of desire (Mars) is money and partnership/marrige related. Thus money will find it way into your life either personally or via joint efforts between you and your husband.

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014—41

TREBLE CHANCE Cardiff Everton Hull Newcastle West Ham Morton Ayr Utd Montrose Histon

v Stoke v Man Utd v Arsenal v Swansea l v Crystal P. v Dundee v Dunfermline v Clyde v Solihull M

Guest Forecaster BA YO BAY

AKINW AMIDE AKINWAMIDE

NAP: 20 - 28 - 36 CHART PLUS : English Football 2013/2014 Season and the CHART, up for 3-times. That by Fixtures Saturday September7,2013; Fixtures Saturday December7,2013; Fixtures Saturday April19,2014. With the multiplication of 1,2,3 respectively. KEY:5,13,19. Simply have the Date-Matches-Played multiplied, as that multiplication made subtracted the KEY for a sure draw automatically. Research and presentation by Bayo Akinwamide.

08035317164.

Facebook: bayodusports@yahoo.com WEEK 08- Fixtures Saturday September7,2013. That’s 7x1=7-5=2banker. Checked for Week08 matches played Saturday September7,2013, Napped-2 .

WEEK21- Fixtures Saturday December7,2013. That’s 7x2=14-13=1banker. Checked for Week21 matches played Saturday December7,2013, Napped-1 .

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NAP:14,16,30,38. NAP:13,22,38. NAP:4,15,31.

NAP:20,32,38. NAP:20, 28,36.

FOUR HOMES

HIBERNIAN – 49 – AWAY [B] RECORD, KEEP-IT! <> Scotland and HIBERNIAN 2013/2015, guaranteed perfection for 4-times. That by the multiplication of 4,3,2,1 used respectively. By simple appearance of Hibernian on away game Coupon No.49, made Jackpot. Simply have the 2nd letter LATE by left –angle and 3rd letter by right-angle as fraction made multiplied, and TIPS subtracted, that multiplication made subtracted “49” for a distinctive draw automatically. Research and presentation by Bayo Akinwamide.

08035317164.

1X 3 X 6 X 9 FOUR AWAYS PAIR 8 X 11 X 19 X 31 X 37 PERMUTATION 32 2X 4X5X 7 X AVOID 10 X 12 38 TIPS RISKY 15X17X 23 41 CREDIT Malaga Almeria Bishop's S. Stalybridge Oxford C. Histon Barrow Montrose

EXCELLENT 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3

Cardiff Everton Hull Newcastle West Ham Dumbarton Morton Ayr Utd.

7 7 7 5 5 5 5 5

WEEK 06-2013/2014 – Fixtures Saturday August24,2013 appeared Hibernian at an away game Coupon No.49 with Kilmarnock as match. That’s I-O =915=6x4=24-49=25banker. [Void though, Colchester (1) Carlisle (1)] WEEK 35-2013/2014 – Fixtures Saturday March15,2014 appeared Hibernian at an away game Coupon No.49 with Partick as match. That’s A-I =1-9=8x3=2449=25banker. Checked for Week35 matches played Saturday March15,2014, Napped-25.

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X-RAY OF THE DRAWS WEEK 40 Barclays Premier League 1 Aston V. 2 Cardiff 3 Chelsea 4 Everton 5 Hull 6 Man City 7 Newcastle 8 Norwich 9 Tottenham 10 West Ham

v Southpton 1 v Stoke XX v Sunderland 1 v Man Utd XX v Arsenal XX v West Brom 1 v Swansea XX v Liverpool 2 v Fulham 1 v Crystal P. XX

Scottish Championship 11Cowdenbeath 12 Dumbarton 13 Falkirk 14 Hamilton 15 Morton

v Livingston 2 v Queen O Sth XX v Raith 1 v Alloa 1 v Dundee XX

Scottish Division One 16 Airdrie 17 Ayr Utd 18 Forfar 19 Stenh'semr 20 Stranraer

v East Fife 1 v DunfermlineXX v Arbroath 1 v Rangers 2 v Brechin 1

Scottish Division Two 21 Annan 22Berwick 23 Montrose 24 Peterhead 25 Stirling A

v Queens Pk 1 v E. Stirling 1 v Clyde XX v Albion R. 1 v Elgin 1

English Conference North 26 Barrow 27 Guiseley 28 Histon 29 Leamington 30 N. Ferriby 31 Oxford C. 32 Stalybridge 33 Telford 34 Vauxhall M. 35 Worcester

v Bradford PA XX v Colwyn Bay 1 v Solihull M. XX v Boston U. 1 v Harrogate 1 v Hednesford XX v Gainsboro XX v Gloucester 1 v Workington 1 v Brackley 2

English Conference South 36 Bishop's S. 37 Concord R. 38 Fanboro 39 Gosport B. 40 Hayes 41 Staines 42 Tonbridge 43 Whitehawk

v Sutton Utd. XX v Dover 2 v Maidenhead 1 v Bath City XX v Boreham W. 2 v Chemsford 1 v Bromley XX v Dorchester 1

44 Almeria 45 Atl Madrid 46 Barcelona 47 Levante 48 Malaga 49 Osasuna

v Celta Vigo XX v Elche 1 v Ath Bilbao 1 v Getafe 1 v Villarreal XX v Valencia 2

2 10 36 39

VA La Liga Spanish BB BBV

Revised Pairs 2 x 4, 5 x10 26 x 28,44 x 48

42— VANGUARD,

FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014 LTHOUGH the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) is representing Muslims’ interest at the conference, as affirmed

by Prof. Dawud Noibi, the Executive Secretary, Muslim Ummah of Southwest Nigeria (MUSWEN); Facing the Kaaba provides this platform for Muslim individuals who do not have the opportunity to be at the conference to express their views on issues affecting Islam in the country.

As the delegates settle for business at the conference, some Muslims have reminded their delegates to consider the issue of undue discrimination •Want Hijab, Sharia discussed, ‘Oro’ curfew banned against the use of hijab, or any form of persecution. marriageable age and Sharia The unity of the country howas critical for discussion at the ever, should not be comproconfab. Others suggests that mised.” restrictions in some areas (especially in the South west) by the traditionalists through There should be ‘oro’ masqurades should be freedom of worship discussed.

— Imam Yusuf

A

Confab: What Muslim delegates should do — Clerics (2)

BY ADERONKE ADEYERI

Unity of the Ummah is important — Prof. Balogun

P

rofessor Kamaldeen Ba logun, a lecturer at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, department of Religious Studies said the presence of Muslim representatives should be for the unity of the country, adding that whatever decision reached should be for the unity of the Ummah and the country in general.

“The Muslim representatives at the national conference have their agenda. It is not in our power to decide or

•Prof. Balogun dictate what they should discuss since they are there by the grace of Allah for our own good. But be that as it may, they should try and contribute meaningfully to the confab and ensure that all decisions reached are in the best

•Moroof interest of Islam. This is because one cannot deny the fact that Nigeria is a multireligious country even though we claim to be a secular state.” “Every religion should be allowed to practice their faith without hindrance

Dr. Tajudeen Yusuf, a lecturer at Department of Insurance, University of Lagos, Akoka opined that Muslim delegates should fight for legislation against contemptuous treatment of Muslims in the country.

“I want our representatives at the on going confab to fight for a legislation that will stop the treatment Muslims as second class citizen. There should be freedom of worship in all ramifications. Muslims should be allowed to dress, greet and worship in a way that conforms with the religion.”

“At times, when we have outdoor programmes and

We must reclaim the lost glory of Islam — Prof. Kamaldeen Balogun T

HE grand mufti of Egbaland, Professor Kamaldeen Balogun has called on all Muslims world-over especially the Alumni of the Ogun State-owned university, Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye to wake up to their responsibility, propagate Islam and their alma-matar in order to reclaim its lost glory.

The professor from the department of Religious studies of the university gave the charge at the 9th Annual Get-together of the varsity’s Muslim Alumni (OOUMA) in a lecture tagged “Re-awakening the sleeping giant: strategies for the Muslim held in Abeokuta recently .

nent secretary of the ministry of finance who was the chairman of the occasion, Alh. Thaoban Adekunle Adegbite said the theme for the occasion was timely and appropriate considering the prevailing situation in the country. “This theme can be described as timely, apt and appropriate having taking cognizance of happenings around us in today’s contemporary world especially in our dear country Nigeria. It is very sad that since independence, Ni-

geria is yet to get out of the political and socio-economic impasses we find ourselves over these years.”.

He went further to appreciate the planning committee for giving Muslims faithful another opportunity to come together as a big family and also enjoined Muslims to exhibit positive leadership traits. “I commend the efforts of the organizing committee under the chairmanship of Alh. Abd Fattah Odusanya for giving the

Muslim faithful this rare opportunity to come together to think about the future and work together for the progress of our fatherland. As Muslims, we must not sit idle, we must show competence and good character , integrity, flexibility, intellectual versatility , objectivity, self confidence, positive attitude towards others by showing respect and being open minded amongst others.’’

The President of the association, Barrister Abdul Kareem

some non Muslims see us sitting on the mat or when we segregate where brothers sit from that of the sisters, they see us as uncivilised group of people. This is not fair in our own father-land,” he said.

Our leaders must be fair and just — Maroof

Adebesin Moroof, a civil servant in Abeokuta, Ogun state said Muslim delegates should emphasise on equality of Muslims with their counterparts in all socio-political endeavours adding that the loapsidedness in arrangment of state affairs and appointments are some of the injustices in the country.

“It is our prayer that Muslim delegates at the confab will try to ensure that the spiritual strength in them will keep them sailing through. I want them to emphasise on equality. They should condemn the murder of all Christians in the north by Boko Haram, not because they are Christians, but because they are human beings – creatures of God. As Muslim delegates, they should come against the exploitation of religion and religious sentiments. The delegates should work towards suggesting laws that will stop stereotype, stigmatization and dehumanization of one another.”

“I disagree with the use of religion as a political decoy and as a distraction from the critical things that bedevile our nation,” he said.

Adekola during his opening speech said the theme for the get-together is not only topical but a germane issue in the society. “I believe it is our sole responsibility as Ambassadors of Islam to create opportunities to have better understanding of the Islamic values and norms which will make our deen to be more developed and more enduring”.

The barrister expressed gratitude to the vice chancellor of the great university, Alh. Saburi Adejimi Adesanya who was represented by the bursar of the University, Alh. Mukaila Tonade, the chairman for the occasion and other dignitaries at the occasion.

Living for Islam ‘’I want us to understand those who built the foundation we are building upon were not up to 12. The reason they achieved their goal was because they fought, determined and struggled for a cause they believed in. They lived their lives for Islam” However, the retired perma-

New Executives of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Muslim Alumni.

Members of Olabisi Onabanjo University Muslim Alumni (OOUMA) at the ge together held in Abeokuta.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014 —

43

We need free legal aids to assist Muslim inmates —Muharam Sisters

By JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA

M

USLIM lawyers across the country have been urged to partner prison ministries so as to help indigent inmates access justice free of charge, rather than remain in incarceration indefinitely.

The President, Muharam Sisters, Sekinat Yusuf who made the appeal during the group’s maiden Islamic lecture held in Lagos, said the inability to render free legal aid remained a major setback to Muharam Sisters’ mission towards helping inmates to access justice.

“Annually, we spend over N15million in rehabilitating and re-orienting inmates in Lagos State including areas such as health, education and welfare. During Ramadan ev-

ery year, we spend over N5million in feeding inmates.

“Now, what we are in dire need of lawyers to assist us with free legal aid so as to help most of these inmates access justice and probably regain freedom.

This is important because nearly 60 per cent of inmates in the state are Muslims”, Sekinat said.

Worship of Allah Stressing that every act of service to humanity was an act of worship to Allah, guest speaker at the event, Ustaz Abdul Hakeem Abdul Lateef, Chief Imam, Lagos State House of Assembly, urged Muslims to live for Allah and do all he has commanded, without craving earthly re-

wards.

National Women Leader, Jamatul Islamiya Society, Alhaja Ramdat Fehintola Okunola and Chief Missioner, Ansarudeen Society of Nigeria, Alhaji Sheikh Abdul Rahman Ahmad, advocated the need for all, especially other Muslim women, to emulate the work of Muharam Sisters, adding that women had from time immemorial played prominent roles in the history of Islam.

Since its seven years of existence, the group has donated Oxygen Concentrator to Ibeju-Lekki Health Centre, rehabilitated hospital wards, donated an incubator, built a skill acquisition centre, computer section and skill education centre at Ikoyi prison, among other laudable projects.

From Left; Fadilatu Sheikh Al-Khalifa Muhydeen ABD.Yekeen Mustapha,Sultan Ballo Of Yoruba Land with Alhaji Al-Khalifa Dr.ABD.Hameed Afolabi;Chairman Isobatu Qodiriyyah Agbado Zone And Alh.Kamaldeen Adisa Balogun Founder/Proprietor Nurul Yekeen Islammiy.During the Maolud Nabiyy Celebration and Award of Nurul Yekeen Islammiy held at Ladipo Avenue,Off Iju Road Station Bus Stop,Iju Ishaga Lagos State.

PHOTO BY AKEEM SALAU

Alhaji Al-Khalifa Dr.ABD.Hameed Afolabi;Chairman Isobatu Qodiriyyah Agbado Zone And Alh.Kamaldeen Adisa Balogun Founder/Proprietor Nurul Yekeen Islammiy .During the Maolud Nabiyy Celebration and Award of Nurul Yekeen Islammiy held at Ladipo Avenue,Off Iju Road Station Bus Stop,Iju Ishaga Lagos State. PHOTO BY AKEEM SALAU

UTME: Nigerian Muslim students commend JAMB

T

HE Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, MSSN, Lagos State Area Unit has commended the Joint Admission Matriculation Board following the successful conduct of this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination conducted on the 12th April, 2014.

The society gave the commendation in a statement signed by its President, Kaamil Kalejaiye after the conduct of the exams nationwide.

The youth-based organisation whose members are mostly students said the whole exercise was hitch free to a large extent.

Kalejaiye said, “I must sincerely commend the registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, Professor Dibu Ojerinde for the wonderful job he is doing and for following the global trend by conducting the second of its kind Computer Based Test - CBT for prospective higher institution candidates in Nigeria” About one million candidates sat for the annual examination last week when the Paper Pencil Test (PPT) and the Dual Based Testing (DBT) exams were conducted with more waiting to write the CBT next month. However, the society advised the examination body

to put things in proper perspective before the conduct of the CBT exam by providing necessary materials needed for the exam and to sensitize the candidates on how and what the CBT system requires.

“As students society, part of our focal area is training. We conduct a Pre-UTME training

for our members which includes the PPT and CBT and I must confess it wasn’t an easy task” said Kalejaiye.

Kalejaiye also thanked President Jonathan for endorsing the idea saying it’s a good move in the right direction to develop our education system.

Ogun turbans Sheikh Salaudeen as Grand Chief Imam

A

LL is set for the turbaning of Fadhilat Sheik Abdulrazaq Ishola Salaudeen as the Grand chief Imam of Ijebu land.

The occasion which will take place tomorrow Saturday, April 19 will be graced by eminent Muslims within and outside the state.

The installation of Sheikh Salaudeen who was until now the Noibul-imam became necessary after the demise of substantive chief imam, Sheik Hamzat Olawunmi Sal•Ishola isu, a.k.a. (Alejulehun) new Palace of the Awujale of last October.

The event which holds at the Ijebuland starts at 10am.

A cross section of the awardee with Alhaji Kamaldeen Adisa Balogun (3rd left) during the Maolud Nabiyy celebration and award of Nurul Yekeen Islammiy, at Ladipo Avenue,Iju Ishaga Lagos State.PHOTOS: AKEEM SALAU.

Alhaja Modinat Keshinro (4th right), widow with some members of staff of AIICO Insurance Plc at the 8th day Fidau prayer for late Alhaji Shuaib Keshinro, a former Agency Manager at AIICO Ikeja office in his residence in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

44—Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

US endorses Nigerian shrimps export

Learn from APC, CRPP tells PDP

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN—THE Coalition of Registered Political Parties, CRPP, in Edo State, has admonished the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state to learn

BY IFEYINWA OBI

N

IGERIA’S effort of boosting her nonoil sector, particularly for export, is expected to enjoy a boost with the recertification by the United States of America, USA, of Nigeria to export shrimps.

This is just as the Federal Government has denied banning the importation of frozen fish.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, said that the recertification came about through the ministry ’s drive at registering Nigeria’s abundant shrimp resources and the fish species under the Marine Stewardship Council.

Adesina also noted that the Federal Government had not banned the importation of frozen fish in Nigeria, but was enforcing strict control on prohibition of farmed fish.

from what it described as the democratic manner the congresses of All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state were conducted.

The CRPP, in statement by its chairman, Dr. Samson Isibor, said that even though

there were complaints by some APC members in some areas, “the leadership of the party did not impose any ward or local government chairman on the people.

“People lined up and voted for candidates of their choice and that is what

IBORI: UK, FG accused of selective war on corruption

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN— A group, Niger Delta Alliance for Human Rights, yesterday, in Benin, Edo State, accused the British and Federal Governments of waging selective war against corruption.

The group’s spokesman, Nowinta Igbotaki, told newsmen that there was no evidence against the former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, to warrant his trial in London.

It wondered why the Metropolitan Police would charge the former governor to court when they had no evidence to prosecute him, adding that the trial judge, Anthony Pitts, was reported to have said that his court was starved of evidence.

Noting that it was disturbed that the “Ibori’s case had exposed the

politicisation of the war on corruption and money laundering,” it added that perceived enemies were portrayed as corrupt.

The group wondered why

Jonathan to kick off $16bn Delta EPZ project

BY EMMA AMAIZE

W

ARRI— PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan is to visit Delta State in the next few weeks to perform the ground-breaking ceremony of the $16 billion Export Processing Zone, EPZ, in Ogidigben, Ugborodo, Warri South West Local Government Area.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, who announced this during a visit to the project site, yesterday, said the EPZ will comprise a gas processing, fertilizer and petro-chemical plants.

He said the project, a

Osanebi lauds Uduaghan, seeks support

BY SIMON ADEWALE

T

HE Chief Whip of Delta State House of Assembly and chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Friday Osanebi, has

lauded Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan on his developmental strides, adding that the governor deserved the award bestowed on him recently

by Vanguard Newspapers.

Britain should insist on the trial of Ibori, while it is patronising a Nigerian government that had pardoned others accused of similar crimes.

Osanebi sought the cooperation of his colleagues and the Ndokwa people he represents in the House to make him succeed in the task and responsibility reposed on him.

public-private partnership, will immensely transform the economy of the country.

The governor said the initial site for the project was abandoned because of the

shallow waterways, adding “this was a swampy place. It had been reclaimed and clearing is being done now

by Julius Berger, which is handling the project.”

Orubebe advocates unity

F

ORMER Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, has stressed the need for Deltans to unite to move the state forward.

The Ijaw-born politician, who is aspiring to become Delta State governor in 2015, spoke to members of Urhobo Peoples Integrity Organisation, UPIO, during his consultative visit to the organisation in Ekpan.

He said God has a reason for bringing the various ethnic nationalities in Delta State together, adding that with unity of Deltans “there is nothing that we will ask

from the Federal Government that will not be given to us.”

Orubebe said he will consolidate and improve on the achievements of the current governor if given the mandate to govern Delta State in 2015.

In his remarks, Dr. Ebeneze Okorodudu, Chairman of UPIO, who turned 50 years on the day of Elder Orubebe’s consultative visit, commended former minister for addressing issues that bothers on his (Orubebe) vision for the state and the interests of the Urhobo people in the state.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

democracy is all about.”

Also reacting, the member representing Oredo federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Rasaq Bello-Osagie, urged those aggrieved over the conduct of the congresses to seek redress through the committee set up by the party, saying that anyone who is sincere about the growth of the party will ensure that crisis was avoided.

CRPP commended Governor Adams Oshiomhole for allowing party members choose their executives, adding that the governor had demonstrated that he was a true democrat by ensuring that the congresses were credible.

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

On bomb attacks

S

TOPPING Boko Haram means steady electricity for security cameras to work and capture footage.

Unfortunately, there is no electricity to power the cameras 24/7. No lesson was learned when it happened in Kano.— Mrs Ifeoma Ayambuba, Businesswoman.

P

R E S I D E N T G o o d l u c k Jonathan is on top of the situation. May God console the families that lost their loved ones at the Abuja bomb blast and grant eternal rest to those that lost their lives in Jesus name, amen.— Mr. Nwosu Leonard, Businessman.

W

HAT are all these bombings in the North about? I see this thing getting out of hand and it really has to stop.

I see no reason why a poor fellow, probably somebody who is looking for his daily bread, should end up being bombed.— Ms. Kubura Aremu, Model.

P

R E S I D E N T G o o d l u c k Jonathan should declare state of emergency in Nigeria and arrest all those suspected to be the brain behind this madness. They think that they can bomb and kill their way to the presidency.— Mr. Udoh Wilson, Clergy.

H

OW do you want the security forces to fight when they are not being paid very well?

They are not getting equipment to fight back.

If it were you would you fight like that? So let our government provide better incentives for them.— Ms. Alice Udoyoh, Student.

W

HAT I can say is that there has been poor response and irresponsible leadership in this country.

Otherwise, no good leader will be talking of 2015 election when many people are being killed by the Boko Haram insurgents.— Ms. Blessing Ezeokoye, Student.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014 — 45

Steer clear of Niger Delta, ex-militant leader warns Boko Haram

Etsako monarch backs Ikhazoboh for Senate

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

E

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ENIN—THE Okumagbe of Weppa Wanno in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, HRH George Eghabor, has thrown his weight behind the senatorial aspiration of Mr. Bobby Ikhazoboh, just as he assured him of the support of the entire kingdom.

Ikhazobor, a former Commissioner for Transport in the state in the Chief Lucky Igbinedion administration, is contesting the Edo North senatorial race on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. He was at the palace of the traditional ruler in Agenebode to formally intimate him of his decision to contest the Edo North senatorial election on the PDP platform in 2015.

Receiving him and his entourage, the Okumagbe described Ikhazoboh’s visit to the palace as comparable to the home coming of a great son, adding that the entire kingdom was ready and willing to give all the support to enable him actualise his senatorial ambition.

2015: Why Orubebe should step down—Oputu

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S the race for Governor Emmanuel Udughan’s successor heats up in Delta State, a former leader in the state and member of Waterways Security Committee, Mr. Aroni Oputu, has asked former Niger Delta Affiars Minister, Elder Godsday Orubebe, to withdraw from the race In a statement, yesterday, Oputu said he will work against Orubebe’s governorship ambition.

He said: “He should step-down on his ambition because I don’t think it will be possible for him to even win primaries let alone the general election.”

Oputu noted that by the 2015 governorship zoning formula, it was supposed to be the turn of Delta North senatorial district to produce the next governor of the state.

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INSPECTION: From left: Chief Government Ekpemupolo; Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State and the Secretary to the Delta State Government, Mr. Ovuzorie Macaulay, when the governor visited the ongoing University of Marine Technology project in Kurute community in Warri South Local Government Area of the state.

Oil theft: JTF seizes vessel, arrests crewmen in Bayelsa T

HE Joint Task Force, JTF, in the Niger Delta, Operation Pulo Shield, yesterday, said it had seized a vessel laden with 1,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil.

According to a statement by Lt.-Col Mustapha Anka, Media Coordinator of the JTF in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, the crew members of the vessel are being interrogated.

The 25,000 tonne capacity vessel, named MV Flora, and eight crew were intercepted by JTF’s Gun Boat Company along Lagosgbene Obi creek in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The media coordinator said that the new Commander of

JTF, Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Atawe, who assumed duties on March 8, has intensified the war against oil theft.

“Since Maj.-Gen. Atawe took over of Command of the Joint Task Force Operation Pulo Shield, seven vessels and barges have been intercepted and arrested for illegal oil bunkering activities.

“Also, 85 illegal distillery camps were destroyed while 196 suspects were arrested, and are presently at various stages of prosecution by the prosecuting agencies,” Anka stated.

He said also that a patrol team of the JTF had destroyed four wooden boats filled with

stolen crude oil along Bodo Creek in Rivers State.

“A suspect was arrested while attempting to load crude oil into a Cotonuo boat from a Shell pipeline. The suspect was handed over to the JTF for a preliminary investigation before being handed over for prosecution.

“In a similar operation, the Maritime Component of the JTF Nigeria Navy Ship also intercepted and destroyed four wooden boats, one welding machine, 3,000 drums and 15 pits filled with suspected stolen crude in the Niger Delta region,’’ he added.

Party chieftain calls for review of APC LG congress in Delta

BY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI—A CHIEFTAIN of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Delta State, Mr. Amaechi Ogbonna, has appealed to the national leadership of the party to review the recent local government congress held in the state.

Alleging that congress was marred with irregularities and manipulations, Ogbonna said the ward and council congress should be reviewed for the purpose of strengthening internal democracy of the party.

According to him, “the peo-

ple have totally rejected the congress held so far in the state and are calling on the leadership of the party to look into it with a view of conducting a fresh one for the purpose of transparency. The principle of internal democracy has to be respected.”

In another development, a chieftain of the party in the state, Mr Lawson Emakpo has called on members of the party vote a credible person as state chairman of the party in the forthcoming state congress.

Emakpo insisted that the party needed a credible person

with good pedigree to wrest power from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2015 elections, stressing the need for the party to vote Chief Adolo Okotie-Eboh as its state chairman.

Noting that Okotie-Eboh was the only committed and tested person with a good track record to pilot the affairs of the party at the state level, he charged members of the party to be mindful of imposition of a candidate that could destabilise the party.

X - M I L I TA N T leader, Preye Ekpebide, has warned Boko Haram insurgents to limit their operations to the North-East part of the country, as they were not welcomed to the Niger Delta, so as not to provoke the wrath of the former fighters.

Ekpebide said that the ex-militants had watched with dismay and were keenly strategising to ensure that the bombings and killings taking place in the North do not happen in the South-South.

He spoke in Bomadi, Delta State, while reacting to Monday’s Abuja motor park bombing, which claimed over 70 lives. He called on President Goodluck Jonathan to apply maximum force and declare war on the Islamic sect.

He noted that to stamp out the Boko Haram sect from Abuja and the three North-eastern states, the Federal Government needs to fight them from their root in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, before it escalates to a national calamity.

Olotu dies at 103

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ETIRED Deputy Commissioner of Police, Pa Joshua Olotu, aged 103, is dead. He died on March 31, 2014.

Until his death, he was the Okpako Orere (eldest man) of Iwhreko community.

The late Pa Olotu will be buried on May 23, 2014 at Olotu Street, Iwhreko, Ughelli, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.

He is survived by seven children, 23 grand children and 11 great grand children.

Late Pa Joshua Olotu

46— Vanguard , FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

Ekiti guber polls: OYC drums support for Fayemi

BY NKIRIKA NNOROM

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HANAEZE Youth Council, OYC, has called on all qualified voters in Ekiti State to re-elect Governor Kayode Fayemi in next June’s gubernatorial election.

The group in a statement signed by the President and Secretary, Board of Trustees, BoT, Prince Francis Oji and Mazi Okwu Okwu, respectively, said Fayemi’s re-election was necessary for continuation of accountability and good governance in the state.

It declared that positive events, activities, social development, service delivery and populist governance being currently experienced in Ekiti State were a testimonial of Fayemi's grassroots-based governance, genuine humanitarian concerns and political sagacity.

The group said: “We may have nothing to do with politics, but we capitalise most on tradition and legacy standing with men and women of rare breed and honour building tomorrow today.''

“In view of this, we are moved to, not only support Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State on his reelection bid, but to, embrace his political culture making ways for political alternative to barbaric and ignoble roles and policies of the present day political class.''

Enugu justice ministry sets up referral centre for rape victims

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NUGU—ENUGU State Ministry of Justice has set up a referral centre for counseling rape victims due to the rising cases of sexual abuse of minors.

The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Anthony Ani (SAN), announced this in an interview yesterday in Enugu.

Ani said rape victims would be counseled by professionals at the centre, adding that the ministry was collaborating with the Department for I n t e r n a t i o n a l Development, DFID, and Women’s Aid Collective, an NGO to assist rape victims.

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Imo outlaws collection of illegal tolls O

WERRI—IMO State government has outlawed the collection of illegal tolls from motorists in the state by unauthorised toll collectors.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN learnt that motorists, mainly heavy duty trucks plying roads in Imo were usually harassed by illegal toll collectors who demand huge amount from the drivers.

This is contained in a statement issued by Mrs Ngozi

Ukaegbu, Public Relations Officer in the Ministry of Transport and Tourism, in Owerri.

The statement stated that government had not appointed any person or group to collect tolls on its behalf.

It warned unscrupulous persons who harass and extort money from motorists traveling across the state to desist forthwith.

The statement quoted the Supervising Commissioner for

Transport and Tourism, Prof. Okee Okoro as warning that anybody caught in the act will be severely dealt with.

“The state government has never appointed anybody or group to be collecting such exorbitant tolls from motorists.

“In a situation where tolls needed to be paid, government will approve of it and at the same time issue relevant receipts,” it stated.

It expressed regrets that the

fake operatives demanded N30,000 tolls from motorists for offence not approved by the government.

It stated that it recovered keys of vehicles and other vehicles parts seized from motorists by some culprits.

The statement urged motorists to come and claim their respective vehicle parts with proof of ownership from the ministry.

Maritime workers demand tougher action against Boko Haram

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

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PROMO: From left— Acting Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willsher; one of the Top 10 Winners , Muhammad Salisu Abdullahi; Director Business Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Lucas Dada; and Director, Enterprise Development Centre, Pan-Atlantic University, Peter Bankole; at the Etisalat EasyBusiness Millionaire Hunt Grand Finale, held in Lagos.

Imo Assembly condemns Nyanya bombing

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI—IMO State House of Assembly has condemned the devastating bomb blast at Nyanya Motor Park, Abuja, which claimed scores of lives and left several others wounded.

The condemnation followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by the member representing Isiala Mbano constituency in the Assembly, Chief Simeon Iwunze.

Iwunze, whose motion was based on urgent national importance, said the act was dastardly and condemnable.

He lamented the spate of senseless killings in the North East geo-political zone and the abduction of secondary school girls in the area.

After chronicling other despicable acts perpetrated by members of Boko Haram Islamic terrorists, Chief Iwunze, however, expressed confidence in the ability of the Federal Government to contain the situation.

Supporting the motion, the ranking member from Ikeduru state constituency, Chief Sam Daddy Anyanwu, called for thorough investigation into

the incidents, with a view to bringing the perpetrators and their sponsors to justice.

Contributing also, the representative of Ezinihitte Mbaise state constituency, Dr. Obioma Ekennia, called on

the Federal Government to declare total state of emergency in the north eastern states, stressing that this could help restore normalcy and peace in the troubled areas.

Dismissed policeman charged for killing Gov Orji's son's aide

BY ANAYO OKOLI

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MUAHIA—A 29-yearold dismissed police man, Tijani Oseni was yesterday arraigned before an Umuahia Chief Magistrate Court for the killing of John Ndubuka, the late former Personal Assistant to Mr. Chinedu Orji, the first son of Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State.

Oseni was arraigned by the Commissioner of Police through Police Prosecutor, Mrs. Esther Wosu, on one-count charge of shooting late John Ndubuka with AK 47 rifle, an offence punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 80, Vol. 3 Laws of Abia State 2005.

The charge, No. U/135C/2014, read: “That you Tijani Oseni ‘m’ on February 15, 2014, at Old Umuahia Main Market in Umuahia North Magisterial District, without lawful excuse, killed one John Ndubuka ‘m’ by shooting him with AK 47 rifle and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 80, Vol. 3 Laws of Abia State 2005".

After the charge was read out, the presiding Magistrate, Mr. John Ukpai, ordered that the case file and other exhibits relating to the matter be transferred the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, for further action.

He adjourned the matter to May 12, 2014, for report of compliance to the order.

ARITIME Workers of Nigeria, MWUN, has condemned the increasing insecurity in the country, which had led to wanton destruction of hundreds of lives and property, the latest being last Monday’s Nyanya Motor Park, Abuja, bombing by suspected Boko Haram terrorists.

MWUN lamented yesterday that as if Nyanya carnage was not bad enough, more than 100 female students were abducted from Government Girls Secondary School, GGSS, in Bornu, Bornu State, barely 24 hours later, with their where about yet unknown.

President-General of MWUN, Tony Emmanuel Nted, recalled in a chat with Vanguard that on February 25, 2014, no fewer than 43 students of Federal Government College, FGC, Buni, Yadi, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State were murdered, while over 25 others abducted during the senselessness killing had simply disappeared till today without trace.

He said: “These killings are not only callous, barbaric and senseless, they also have no justification whatsoever.

“The Federal Government must take a stiffer stance on Boko Haram and any other insurgent group that had apparently declared war on the Nigerian nation; they must not be handled with kid-glove.

“From all intent and purpose, these people have declared war and the government must respond appropriately. The security agencies should re-jig their operational methods. We cannot continue like this. Enough is enough.

“All decent and right thinking Nigerians must rise up against these enemies and provide useful information that will help to root out these pigs. They are not fit to live among normal human beings.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014â&#x20AC;&#x201D;47

SIGNING: From left, Dr. Adesegun Akin-Olugbade, Executive Director & General Counsel, Africa Finance Corporation, AFC; ENGAGEMENT: From left; Alhaji Ladi Ogunneye, father of the groom; Alhaja Kudirat Ms Cristina Duarte, Minister of Economy and Finance, Cape Mohammed, mother of the bride; the couple, Mr. and Mrs. Oluwaseyi Ogunneye; Alhaja Verde, and Andrew Alli, President/CEO, AFC, at the signing of Lara Ogunneye, mother of the groom, and Alhaji Lai Mohammed, father of the bride, at Cape Verde's membership of AFC agreement, in Cape Verde. the traditional engagement between former Miss Moturayo Mohammed and Mr. Oluwaseye Ogunneye, at Ikeja GRA, Lagos. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor

CONFERENCE: From left, Mr. Felix Awogu, General Manager, SuperSport; Mrs. Chioma Afe, Marketing Manager, DStv, and Mr. Martin Mabutho, General Manager, Marketing and Sales, MultiChoice Nigeria, VISIT: From left, Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh; during the MultiChoice World Cup press conference, at Federal Palace Executive Director, Toyota (Nigeria) Limited, Mr. Kunle Ade-Ojo; Director of ProHotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi curement, Major General Tukur Buratai, and Principal General Staff Officer to CDS, Air Commodore James Gwani, during a recent courtesy visit to the Chief of Defence Staff, in Abuja.

INDUCTION: Popular actress and honoree, Clarion Chukwurah, Nollywood star; Ngozi Nwosu, actress, and another actor, Jibola Dabo, during Chukwurahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s induction into the 1960 Group Hall of Fame, at Prince of Anthony Hotel, Anthony Village, Lagos.

AWARENESS: Cross-section of participants, during the annual IREDE Foundation Child amputee awareness walk, tagged, 'Out On A Limb,' in Lagos. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye

DONATION: From left, Deputy Missioner (Lagos State) Zumratul Islamiyyah Society, Sheikh Jamiu Balogun; representative of the Lagos State Commissioner of Education, Mr. Mudasiru Raji; Representative of the Elepe of Epe, Chief Aniola Tobun; Pastor Godman Akinlabi & wife, of the Elevation Church, Lekki, and the headmistress of Zumratul Islamiyyah Primary School I, Epe, during the donation of ten classrooms to the school by Elevation Church.

MARKET: From left, Mrs. Adeola Azeez, Deputy Country Representative, Deutsche Bank and WIMBIZ Founding Trustee; Mrs. Nkechi Obi, Executive Vice Chairman, Techno Oil Limited; Ms. Osayi Alile, WIMBIZ Chairperson, and Mrs. Yemisi Ayeni, Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Closed Pension Fund Administrator Ltd/ WIMBIZ Executive Council member, during the WIMBIZ 4th Annual Market Place, in Lagos.

COMMEMORATION: From left, Engr. Tayo Bamgbose-Martins, Permanent Secretary, Office of Infrastructure; Engr. Ganiyu Johnson, Special Adviser to Governor Babatunde Fashola on Works and Infrastructure, and Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, Commisioner for Works and Infrastructure, during the 2014 press briefing in commemoration of the 3rd year of the second term in office of Governor Fashola,

by Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos State. Photo: Bunmi Azeez C M Y K

48—Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

Kwara demolishes two llegal petrol stations in Ilorin

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LORIN —THE Kwara State Government, yesterday demolished two petrol stations within Ilorin metropolis for building without approval.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the demolition was carried out by the state Town Planning and Development Authority, KTPDA. One of the stations was situated on a waterway near the Kuntu Bridge, while the other was directly opposite the Alawonla Compound, Okelele.

Executive Secretary of KTPDA, Mr Raimi Adeoti, who led the demolition team, said the owners of the structures built illegally without approval.

Adeoti said the structures would hamper the free flow of water and endanger the lives of people living around the area, adding that KTPDA took the action to save lives and property.

The scribe warned that the authority would continue to destroy illegal structures, especially those on roads to allow free flow of traffic.

He said: “It is dangerous to build on side walks. Government is determined to enforce town planning regulations to save lives and property.”

Adeoti added that the authority had marked some structures for demolition and given the owners adequate notice to remove them for contravening town planning law.

Ilorin residents call for end to poor electricity supply I

LORIN — RESIDENTS of Ilorin and its environs, yesterday, called for an end to the poor electricity supply to the area as it had affected their social and economic activities.

The residents, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in separate interviews, expressed concern that the recent constant power outage experienced in the areas was crippling their businesses.

Mr Mobolade Aransiola, a resident of Fate Area of Ilorin, told NAN that because of the situation, he had been spending N500 daily to fuel his generator at home to do his work.

He described the inability to do his normal work “a night mare.”

A welder, who operates at AgboOba area of Ilorin, Mr Olaniyi Agboola, also described the situation as highly frustrating.

He said: “My job depends basically on electricity, and since we have been experiencing poor

power supply my business has suffered seriously for lack of patronage. I have taken to Okada business, for now, to meet the needs of my family.”

Mr Jimoh Joseph, Director of Jay Jay Winners Yoghurt, an Ilorin-based company, lamented that the cost of production had increased lately due to the poor power supply in the area.

“My company is presently running at a loss as the cost of production of my product is getting higher. I spend more money on diesel to power my generator which also requires regular servicing,” he said.

Alhaji Femi Ayedun, the Executive Director of KAS Frozen Store in Asa Dam Road, Ilorin, said that the irregular power supply in the town had taken a toll on his business as he now had to use diesel to power his generator.

“My business requires steady and regular supply of electricity;

unfortunately the situation is horrible here. We have, however, resorted to generating power through other means both in my office and home.

“I buy about 30 litres of fuel every day to ensure that my family is in good condition,” he said Mr Oladepo Amola, the Public Relations Officer of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company IBEDC, Challenge Business Unit, confirmed the poor electricity supply.

According to him, the situation is not peculiar to Ilorin and its environs as the entire state is affected.

He explained that the problem was caused by the damage done to about 25 electricity poles in the Asa Dam Industrial Layout area.

He, however, gave the assurance that the problem would be solved soon, and appealed to consumers to show understanding.

From left: Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, President and Member of SURE- P, Muhammed Garba; Chairman, SURE-P, Gen. Martin Luther Agwai; Boxing champion, Bash Ali; and member of SURE-P Board, Mrs. Halima Alfa during Bash Ali's visit to the SURE-P office in Abuja.

Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

EASTER: NSCDC deploys 250 personnel to churches in Sokoto

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OKOTO —THE Ni geria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Sokoto State has deployed 250 personnel to churches and other public buildings to ensure hitch-free Easter celebrations in the state.

The Corps Commandant in the state, Alhaji Aliyu Yamel, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, yesterday. ”This is to effectively provide security before, during and after the festivity in the state,” Yamel said.

He assured the public that adequate security measures had been put in place to forestall any eventuality during the period.

"Already, operational order on how to provide security in all the places of worship had been issued to the officers deployed for that purpose,” he said He explained that officers in all the 23 local government areas had also been mobilised to provide security in their various jurisdictions.

He said the command would collaborate with other security agencies to sustain the peace being enjoyed in the state.

He called on the public to cooperate with the command.

Contestants reject Kwara PDP executive election result I

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

LORIN — THE protracted crisis in the Kwara State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is yet to be resolved as candidates in the just concluded election into the state executive of the party have rejected the results.

The candidates rejected the outcome of the election, conducted by Chief Barnabas Gemade- led electoral committee, shortly after it was announced, Wednesday, citing several cases of irregularities in the process.

The aggrieved contestants

made this known in a statement, yesterday, in Ilorin, capital of Kwara State.

Speaking under the aegis of the Freedom Group, they said of the 800 delegates that participated in the election, only 550 votes were collated and wondered what happened to the other 250 voters.

The statement signed by the group's spokesman, Chief Lanre Ogundeji. stated: ”Whereas more than 800 delegates were accredited, just about 550 votes were recorded for all candidates who contested the chairmanship seat. What happened to the balance of about 250 votes of

accredited delegates? ”Hon. Gabriel Olatunji, who contested to be vice chairman, Kwara North senatorial district, was scored zero, but the candidate voted for himself and had many supporters who voted for him at the Congress. ”In summary, the Freedom Group is convinced that the results declared at the end of the Congress do not reflect the choice of the delegates who went through a rigorous screening and accreditation process.”

Earlier, the party claimed that it has elected its new executives under the chairman-

ship of a legal practitioner, Mr Iyiola Oyedepo.

The state congress which produced the present executives started on Tuesday at Michael Imoudu Institute of Labour Studies, Ajase-Ipo Road, Ilorin and did not end until the wee hours of Wednesday.

The Returning Officer in the election, Senator Gemade, described the poll as free and fair, adding that Oyedepo polled a total of 375 votes to defeat his closest rival, Chief Bode Ojomu who scored 255 votes while Alhaji Mariam Alhasan scored 19 votes.\ Gemade was assisted by Mrs Rita Ezeani, Chief Mike

Ahubuche and Nasiru Faruk from the PDP national headquarters, Abuja.

The post of the Deputy Chairman of the party went to Abdulkadir Manko Attahiru while Hassan Rasaq became the new Secretary.

All the posts were keenly contested, except for the post of Vice Chairman (South) and Assistant Treasurer which were won unopposed by Chief Gbenle Adeyemi and Julius Ore respectively.

Moreover, Mr Bolaji Raji, Alhaji Nma Mohammed and Abiola Moshood were elected as Assistant Secretaries for South, North and Central respectively.

V anguard Vanguard anguard,, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014 — 49

NEWS ON BRIEFS

Algerians cast votes in presidential poll

FG assures Nigerians of citizens' safety in Ukraine HUGO ODIOGOR, with Agency Report

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HE Federal Govern ment has assured Nigerians that its citizens in Ukraine will not come into any harm as the European country comes on collision cause with its pro-Russian compatriots demanding for greater autonomy.

The Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs Alhaji Ahmed Ali Gulak stated yesterday that the Federal Government is following the development in Ukraine where there are many young Nigerian students and footballers, athletes who sojourn in the former Soviet Republic.

According to the statement issued in Abuja, Alhaji Gulak said Nigerians should not entertain fears about the situation in Ukraine where some Nigerians are either studying or

•Putin plying their trade as sports men and women.

He said the Nigeria’s diplomatic missions in Russia and Kiev are monitoring the situations and the appropriate actions would be taken depending on the way the events shape up.

According to Gulak, ‘’We are looking forward to a diplomatic resolution of the conflict and we believe that today’s meeting in Vienna would lead to de-escalation

of tension in Ukraine’’.

Meanwhile, Ukraine is hoping to placate Russia and calm hostilities with its neighbor even as the U.S. prepares a new round of sanctions to punish Moscow for what it regards as fomenting unrest.

The carrot-stick strategy emerged as diplomats from Ukraine, the U.S., the European Union and Russia met yesterday for the first time over the burgeoning

crisis that threatens to roil the new government in Kiev.

It also comes as Russia hones a strategy of its own: Push the West as far as possible without provoking crippling sanctions against its financial and energy sectors or a military confrontation with NATO. “I think we still have a chance to de-escalate the situation using the diplomatic means,” Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Deshchytsia, told reporters.

Deshchytsia said the diplomatic discussions also must be tempered with efforts “to look for a more concrete and adequate response to Russia’s plans and actions.”

Putin yesterday denied claims that Russian special forces were fomenting unrest in eastern Ukraine. He called the Ukrainian government’s effort to quash the uprising a “crime.”

•••Brags about Russia’s gas to Europe

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USSIAN President Vladimir Putin said yesterday that it would not be possible for Europe, which is trying to cut its reliance on Russian energy, to completely stop buying Russian gas.

Putin also said that the transit via Ukraine is the most dangerous element in Europe’s gas supply system, and that he was hopeful a deal could be reached with Ukraine on gas supplies.

Russia meets around 30 percent of Europe’s natural gas needs. Moscow’s actions in Ukraine have spurred attempts by the continent to reduce its dependency on oil and gas supplies from the former Cold War foe.

“Of course, everyone is taking care about supply diversification. There, in Europe, they talk about increasing independence from the Russian supplier,” said Putin.

“It’s just like we begin to talk and take action towards independence from our consumers,” he added. Russia has made ef-

forts to forge closer ties with Asia.

Reuters calculations suggest Europe’s efforts could slash imports from Russia by around 45 billion cubic meters (bcm) by 2020, worth $18 billion a year, equivalent to a quarter of what Russia currently supplies. “We sell gas in

European countries which have around 30-35 percent of their gas balance covered by supplies from Russia. Can they stop buying Russian gas? In my opinion it is impossible,” he said during an hours-long televised question and answer session

Search for Malaysia jet refocuses on drone scans of sea floor

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OOTAGE taken by a deep-sea drone should determine sooner than previously thought whether a remote stretch of the Indian Ocean is the final resting place of a

missing Malaysian jetliner, Australian search authorities said yesterday.

After the U.S. Navy robot submarine Bluefin-21 completed its first full scan of the seabed some 2,000

km (1,240 miles) west of the Australian city of Perth, authorities said they had reduced the search area based on further analysis of what they believe may be signals from the plane’s black box.

Survivor of wrecked S/Korean ship recounts ordeal

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URVIVORS of the fer ry that sank off the coast of South Korea told

harrowing tales of confusion and desperation as

Rescue workers revive some of the survivors

people slid along the floor of the sharply listing ship, colliding with one another, or found themselves trapped in cabins by a wall of water. Rescued passengers said that immediately after they heard a booming noise, the ship began listing and they heard an announcement over the ship’s PA system telling the passengers to stay in place.

“The baggage was falling out, and we were say-

ing ‘What’s going on?’ But the announcement told us to stay where we were, so we did,” one rescued student told MBC News, a Korean news agency.

“The ship began tilting all of a sudden, and then people started skidding down from above,” rescued passenger Young-Ja Shin told SBS News.

“There was a railing, so I held onto it, but I then got hit by one of the falling people and we got pushed down to the bottom.”

A

LGERIANS have started casting their votes in presidential elections that are likely to lead to Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s fourth mandate, despite wide expections of a low turnout and amid calls for a boycott with the opposition warning of rigged results.

More than 260,000 police have been deployed to protect the 50,000 polling booths opening on Thursday across Africa’s largest country. Around 23 million Algerians have registered on the electoral roll as eligible voters in Algeria and abroad to choose between the six contesting candidates.

Bouteflika, 77, who is seeking to extend his 15-year rule despite chronic health problems, is the firm favourite. He has appeared only rarely on television in recent months, looking frail, after suffering a mini-stroke last year which confined him to hospital in France for three months.

Putin links Crimea annexation to NATO enlargement

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RESIDENT Vladimir Putin yesterday said Russia had been forced to respond to NATO enlargement and that its annexation of Crimea, home to its Black Sea Fleet, was partly influenced by the Western military alliance’s expansion into eastern Europe.

Putin said Moscow will respond if the United States moves ahead with plans to base elements of a missile defense shield in eastern Europe, accusing Washington of fuelling a Cold War-style arms race. “When the infrastructure of a military bloc is moving toward our borders, it causes us some concerns and questions.

We need to take some steps in response,” Putin said in a televised call-in with the nation.

“Our decision on Crimea was partly due to ... considerations that if we do nothing, then at some point, guided by the same principles, NATO will drag Ukraine in and they will say: ‘It doesn’t have anything to do with you.’”

Putin accused the military bloc of 28 nations of seeking to squeeze Russia out of its historic stomping ground in the Black Sea region, where Russian warships are based in the Tsarist-era city of Sevastopol.

“NATO ships would have ended up in the city of Russian navy glory, Sevastopol,” Putin said.

Putin said Moscow wants to continue talks with Washington over its objections to U.S. missile defense plans, but would take all steps necessary to ensure its security.

S/Sudan on brink of famine, says UN chief

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HE UN has given warning that up to a million people could face famine in conflict-torn South Sudan unless there is immediate action, with rebels taking control of oil rich areas and threatening the capital, Juba.

Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary general, said on Wednesday that “life and death’’ issues were facing the world’s newest nation: “fighting, malnutrition and dire humanitarian conditions”.

He said “millions are going hungry today’’ and the UN was seeing extremely high levels of malnutrition among hundreds of thousands of people displaced by the conflict, especially women and children.

South Sudan has been swept by violence since December, when fighting broke out between troops loyal to the president, Salva Kiir, and his former deputy Riek Machar.

India goes to poll to choose next parliament

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ILLIONS of Indians have cast their ballots in country’s biggest day of general election to choose the next parliament, with the ruling Congress party struggling to hold ground against the Hindu nationalist opposition Bharatya Janta Party.

More than 65 percent of the nearly 200 million eligible voters turned up on Thursday to exercise their franchise, with eastern West Bengal state registering about 80 percent voting, while about 67 percent came out to vote in southern Karnataka state - home to India’s software hub.

C M Y K

50—Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014 — 51

52—Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

The different colours of money

BY EDO UKPONG

I

DO not know how many peo ple out there know of a community in Ondo State known as Ilara Mokin. What I know is that neither myself nor the other members of the touring party that visited Ilara Mokin from April 46, 2014 would have had any business undertaking a four-hour drive from Lagos to Ilara Mokin but for its magnificent golf course (Mokin Smokin Hills).

For many months now, there has been talk in the air especially in the Nigerian golfing community about a new world class golf course ‘near Akure’. Given the typical golfer’s notorious inclination for fanciful description of not only his golfing prowess but familiarity with international golf courses, I was initially dismissive of excitable utterances like ‘The only championship course in Nigeria!’ ‘Finer than all the golf courses I have played in Spain!’ and so on!

The increase in not only the decibel level but the number of golfers making these claims prompted the touring party aforementioned.

At this juncture, let me state and quite emphatically too that this piece is not about golf. In the context of the times we live in Nigeria, that will be an insensitive and meaningless elitist literary venture. But before making my point, I need to finish with the touring party.

Ilara Mokin also boasts a private university, Elizade University, so the touring party was told.

Having been so pleasantly surprised with the quality of the golf course and its awesome scenic beauty, we were curious to see

judgement perhaps based on popular (mis)perception.

From my limited interaction with his kith and kin who populate the workforce in the golf resort, guest house and university, his people will obviously have a more befitting nomenclature for Chief Ade-Ojo and given the talent of the Yoruba for flowery adulation, the translation into English will obviously lose some colour but hopefully not the translucent essence.

Now to the main point of this piece. Our touring party was led by the captain of Ikoyi Club Golf section, Ted Iwere and consisted of very fine exposed gentlemen, distinguished professionals and wealthy businessmen. In addition, they all see themselves as patriotic Nigerians. Beholding the golf course and university were, therefore, very thought provoking as is perhaps to be expected from a group of that colouration.

Scientific accuracy The investments Chief Ade-Ojo has made and sited in his ancestral community would evidently albeit without scientific accuracy cost several billions of Naira. You do not need to be an investment guru to know that there are more profitable ways to invest that kind of money. That kind of money deployed as a political godfather will certainly yield quicker and much greater financial returns. And if an ego massage is the motivation, one could buy an English premier league football club!

Also, clearly no bank funding would have been involved, as

,

Most of the wealthy in Nigeria have made their money by exploiting their people. The same people they profess to love and represent when it is time for politics or sharing the national cake

what the university will look like so we undertook a tour.

Again we were pleasantly surprised by a large well laid out university campus with very impressive robust facilities including high rise faculty buildings, modern sports facilities, staff and student quarters all connected with well paved roads!

Both the golf resort and Elizade University are owned by Chief Michael Ade-Ojo. Ordinarily and without the benefit of seeing the investments in the golf resort and university, my categorization of Chief Ade-Ojo would have been as a wealthy car dealer albeit self made.

This piece is also not about Chief Ade-Ojo so I will not bother about coming up with a more appropriate nomenclature. However, my categorization as a car dealer is clearly an unfitting mis-

,

most credit analysts would have laughed off any such requests.

Our touring party had long healthy debates and general rubbing of the minds and a few facts are given.

Chief Ade-Ojo is not the wealthiest Nigerian, neither is he the first to found a university or build a golf resort. What we were most impressed about was that these investments have evidently not been made for personal gain.

Apart from putting Ilara Mokin on the world map, it is in the future that the full impact of those investments will manifest and the fortunes of that community have been positively affected forever.

Obviously comparisons with other men of means cannot be avoided and that is indeed the essence of this piece. My late father was a great fan of my opinion pieces but was always uncom-

ourlessness.

I have made several trips to Oguta since my first visit, I have had no interest in beholding the edifice again and there is no other evidence of the impact of Chief Nzeribe’s wealth in his ancestral Map of Ondo State community. Chief Nzeribe is not the only wealthy man with that colour of money.

I never had the privilege of visiting Alhaji Mai fortable with my practice of using Deribe’s house but legend has it real people as examples and adthat it was something to behold. vised against what he considered Unfortunately for Nigeria the as being unnecessarily provocanumber of wealthy men with that tive. colour of money far outstrips My memory fails me as to those of the translucent variety. whether I ever categorically And perhaps therein lies a mapromised to heed that advice. jor cause of our social dislocation Many years ago I was in another and mass poverty. touring party and we happened Our wealthy people create povto be guests, though not of, but at erty by the way they spend their the mansion quarters of Chief money.

Buying expensive overArthur Nzeribe. The sheer opupriced assets abroad, leaving the lence and majesty left me awemoney in foreign banks for forstruck for long afterwards but I eign access and mindless luxury had since stopped thinking about it.

For some reason that experience came back to me during my visit to Ilara Mokin. The idea of having two tennis courts with spectator stands, Olympic-size swimming pool, private luxury suites for up to fifty guests, acres and acres of lush green lawns and gardens along with a long stretch of private approach road lined by geometrically spaced trees as in Chief Nzeribe’s edifice is no doubt also an appealing way of enjoying ones money.

The colour of that money though is not transluscent, its colour is different and of the kind that dazzles into opaqueness and ultimately tarnishes into distasteful col-

in the midst of grinding poverty have certainly not helped the course of national development which is meaningless without the personal development of a greater number of people.

Yet most of the wealthy in Nigeria have made their money by exploiting their people. The same people they profess to love and represent when it is time for politics or sharing the national cake.

Asari Dokubo is a newly created man of means. Shockingly he has invested and built a university in another country! The same people that complain that Ijaw oil money is being unfairly used to develop other parts of Nigeria are developing other parts of the world with the same Ijaw oil money!

There is, however, no irony, because that colour of money is for self development. All the warmongering and divisive rhetoric are just tactics for self development. Their people are mere pawns!

Chief Ade-Ojo is by no means the only wealthy businessman who has been practical in his exhibition of love for his community and humanity in general— love that will manifest in communal transformation. However many wealthy people claim to be philanthropists and whilst that is commendable, it is solid investments and not philanthropy alone that will transform communities – a badly needed component of national development.

Ukpong, is a Legal Practitioner.

Vanguard , FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014— 53

AWO BOOK LAUNCH: You’re trivialising national security, Yoruba leaders tell PDP

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

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A G O S — EMINENT Yoruba leaders yesterday berated the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for linking the recent bomb blast in Abuja to the All Progressives Congress, APC, noting that issues of national security should not be trivialised on the altar of politics.

They also argued that, had the leadership class in Nigeria placed the people beyond personal interest like the late Premier of defunct western region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the spate of terrorist activities in the northern part of the country would not have been prevalent.

This was disclosed in Lagos at a book launch convened by the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation in conjunction with Afenifere Renewal Group.

The book, which was titled: Yoruba Elites and Ethnic Politics in Nigeria: Obafemi Awolowo and Corporate Agency, was written by Prof Wale Adebanwi.

Those at the event include; Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, Lagos State governor, Mr. Babtunde Fashola, who was represented by Rev Tunji Adebiyi, Ogun State governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa Ekiti State governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi, represented by Commissioner for Regional Integration Mr. Funminiyi Afuye, former governors of Lagos and Ogun respectively, Chief Lateef Jakande, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Chief Olusegun Osoba.

Others include; Prof Ibrahim Gambari, Chief Bisi Akande, Chief Olaniwun Ajayi, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Wale Oshun, Chief Ayo Fasanmi, Chief Jimi Agbaje, among others.

Security now a political football —PDP In his remarks, Gambari, who chaired the forum, said: ‘’It would be absurd and they should stop the blame game. Whether it is APC or PDP, or whatever,

the security of this nation is far too important to become a political football, one accusing the other. It should be stopped immediately because they are trivialising the lives of Nigerians who were cut short as a result of this mindless killings. ‘’Sometimes we forget that we are part of the world. Sometimes we think we are so exceptional that it cannot happen here. We think that global terrorism manifesting elsewhere in Afghanistan, Iraq, cannot happen here. At the same time, we should be able to use exceptionalism to address the challenges of terrorism and the security situation in our country.

The first starting point is that we should not say this thing is happening in the North East, so it is not our business. Well, terrorist groups do not discriminate in terms of regions and ethnicity. It is a challenge that we must all be concerned.’’ ‘’If we think that the security of our country is the business of the police and the Army, then we are making a big mistake. It has to be everybody's business.’’

Military solution alone not best approach —Tinubu Similarly, Aregbesola, who presented the book on behalf of Tinubu said, ‘’I am not sure that the federal government is fighting security. I have serious doubts about that. Guns and military approach alone can not solve the problem of insecurity.

Building a nation where the people must come first just like Awolowo did is a another approach to the issue. That was what Awolowo represented and that approach is possible.

Awolowo said that freedom for all should be the cardinal objective of any state and government.’’

He further said, ‘’let us remind ourselves that, despite all the constraints, Awolowo never abandoned the search for cross-ethnic, pan-Nigerian alliance building to defeat the dominant forces which have made it difficult for Nigeria to live up to her potential. Chief Awolowo was a nationalist per excellence and sought a

more perfect workable union for Nigeria.’’

PDP scribe should be condemned —Osoba Also speaking Osoba said, ‘’the PPD is accusing my party of being behind the killings in Abuja. Those who died died are Nigerians. Can we be killing ourselves? I think we should condemn in certain terms the trivialising of the issue by the Publicity Secretary of the PDP.’’

Enough of these killings, NSCIA, HRW tell insurgents BYABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

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HE Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, yesterday lamented the death of scores of Nigerians at the Nyanya bus terminus, Abuja after it was bombed in the early hours of Monday, urging those behind the act to halt the killings.

The call from the council was coming as the international body, Human Rights Watch, HRW, regretted what it called, “escalating violence across five states in central Nigeria, which has killed more than 1,000 people since December 2013.”

HRW attributed the communal killings and bombings to “the failure of Nigerian authorities to investigate the attacks or bring those responsible to justice, adding that it is likely to exacerbate the cycle of violence in the conflict-prone north central region.”

In a statement by NSCIA, by its Chairman, Media Committee, Alhaji Femi Abass, it queried: “How long will these lamentations and condemnations continue in a country that is supposed to be guided by law is the capital question for now. We have a three tier government to which the citizenry look for protection and necessary provision of social amenities.”

54 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

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as Mr. Olaosun Babatunde Olayinka, and Mrs. Olaosun Motunrayo Folasade, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Oladipo Babatunde Olayinka and Mrs. Oladipo Motunrayo Folasade.

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014 —55

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RE-UNION:

UNILAG Muslim alumni honour Sultan, Aregbesola

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LL is set for the 6th University of Lagos Muslim Alumni re-union luncheon, where the Sultan of Sokoto, and President of the Nigerian Council for Islamic Affairs, His Eminence, Sa’ad Abubakar and Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State will be honoured as outstanding Muslims.

The event, which holds on Sunday April 20 at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, will bring together a cream of Muslim elites all over the country, especially those who graduated from the University of Lagos since the institution was established over 50 years ago.

The theme of this year’s programme is Political Stability, a Necessity for Economic Development, to be delivered by Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki, former Governor of Kwara State.

The Chairman, media sub-committee of the event, Mr. Abdur Razaq Asaju, said the re union will also be used to unveil a number of development and philanthropic projects the alumni is embarking on for the benefit of the university.

GKS holds conference

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HE annual conference of the Laity of God’s Kingdom Society, GKS, Church of The Living God, holds tomorrow.

Chairman of the Laity, Bro. Emmanuel Ogidi, will address the conference on the theme Be Yea Steadfast.

It will be preceded by the youths and women fellowships’ conference today. Other groups like Urhobo National, Isoko National, the Lawyers and Engineers Forum will also meet today.

The events will be declared open by Chairman of the Executive Board of the Church, Bro. Godwin Ifeacho.

Events of the conferences will come to a close on Sunday with a special thanksgiving service at GKS service hall, Salem City, Warri, Delta State.

56 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

deploy security forces to restore order in Wukari town. She told her colleagues that the town was currently besieged by invading terrorists, which has led to a 24hour curfew that has put enormous pressure on the social and economic live of the people.

Jakanda said: “Right now Wukari is under siege and there is a 24 hour curfew in the place. People cannot come out from their house and they do not have food. It is an invasion that the people are experiencing now and the invaders came in their thousands and are killing and maiming innocent people,” she said.

Committee work Debates on insecurity over, attention of the delegates was shifted to the work of the committees. Contributing, a delegate from Sokoto State, Alhaji Muhammed Maigari Dingyadi, who faulted the committees’ work plan, said that four days will not be enough for the plenary to fully discuss the reports of the 20 committees.

For Abubakar Gigiwa, time for the secretariat to prepare its report should be reduced and added to

*Delegates at the National Conference

We may ask for extension — Kutigi •Conference to dissolve into committees Tuesday

BY HENRY UMORU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

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FTER four weeks of plenary sessions the National Conference will dissolve into committee sessions next week Tuesday when they return from the Easter break. This was one of the decisions delegates took yesterday before adjourning.

It came on day that the Chairman of the National Conference, Justice Idris Kutigi, said that they might ask for extension of time to enable them do justice to the gamut of issues before them. The conference was handed a three-month timeline

starting today and ending on Monday, delegates will move straight into committee sessions to deliberate on crucial issues aimed at addressing the problems especially certain imbalances affecting the Nigerian polity.

Also yesterday, before the adjournment, the Work Plan, a document stating the activities of the Conference and the timeframe attached to such activities, was adopted by delegates for implementation pending any alteration based on necessity.

Work plan: According to the Work Plan, Committee work

,

Right now Wukari is under siege and there is a 24 hour curfew in the place.

People cannot come out from their house and they do not have food

upon inauguration last month and the delegates have used up one month already with much ground uncovered.

The list of 20 Standing Committees and their chairmen, co-chairmen and deputy chairmen was announced on Wednesday and made available to all the delegates. Five of the committees are headed by two cochairmen while the remaining 15 are headed by a chairman each and a deputy chairman.

It is expected that on their return from the Easter Holidays

,

would begin on Tuesday, April 22 after the Easter break and end on Wednesday, April 30.

Speaking yesterday, Justice Kutigi informed the delegates that the National Judicial Institute and 10 meeting rooms at Sheraton Hotels and Towers will be used as venues by the committees.

Kutigi, who prior to motion for adjournment by former Governor of Akwa Ibom State and a delegate representing former governors, Obong Victor Attah, informed the house that

the conference will also break off for the World Economic Forum between May 7-9, assured that the conference may request for extra days subject to the government approval when the need arises.

Commends govts, security agencies over rescued students Delegates also agreed to commend the Federal Government, security agencies and the people of Borno State for rescuing a good number of the 100 female students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, who were abducted by insurgents, on Monday. Leading the debate at the plenary session under a matter of urgent national importance, a delegate representing the Civil Society Orgsnisation, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), who stressed the need for delegates to commend the Federal Government and security forces as well as members of the civilian Joint Task Force in Borno for securing the release of 129 of the girls kidnapped by suspected Boko Haram terrorists, said: “This morning we read that majority of the girls have been released.

The armed forces and people of Borno State have rescued the children. I am urging this House to commend the efforts of the armed forces and the people of Borno in rescuing majority of these girls while calling for the

*Kutigi intensification of efforts for the release of the remaining eight girls”.

Seconding the motion, a delegate representing the Elder statesmen category, Iyom Josephine Anenih, explained that progress made at rescuing the girls which was supported by the civilian JTF clearly justified calls for concerted efforts by the local leaders to help checkmate the insurgents.

Checkmating insurgents Delegates who spoke hailed the motion and it was agreed that the secretariat should convey their commendation to the Federal Government. Despite the resolution to commend the Federal Government some of the delegates still desired more action to ensure safety of lives and property.

Restoring order in Wukari In her contribution, former Minister of Water Resources and a delegate representing Taraba State, Dr. Mrs. Salome Jakanda, made an emotional appeal for the conference to ask the Federal Government to immediately

the time for committees’ work as that would give enough time for proper job to be done, adding that some adjustments on the committee composition be made in line with the complaints.

Let’s keep to timeframe – ABC Nwosu In his contribution, former Minister of Health and a d e l e g a t e representing Anambra State, Prof. ABC Nwosu, suggested that delegates should respect the time frame allocated for the conference and should not give the impression to the public that all they wanted was an extension of time for selfish reasons. He said that he would not subscribe to any request for the extension of time of the conference because such move would be misconstrued by members of the public that the delegates were seeking extension for pecuniary interest.

He however urged delegates to work very hard within the limits of the time and deliver its report as scheduled.

Saving the conference from a repeat of Wednesday ’s proceedings, Justice Kutigi had to call the conference to order and appealed to delegates to go for the committee work first and that the issue of time frame can be handled when the need arises. He added that the work plan for the conference was prepared and given to the secretariat at the commencement of sitting and urged that efforts should be made to stick to it.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014—57

STORIES BY GBENGA ARIYIBI & DAPO AKINREFON

No one can steal my mandate — Fayemi

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KITI State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has urged those planning to rig the June 21 elections in the state to have a re-think because he will not allow anyone to steal his mandate again.

Speaking at a campaign rally at Epe, Moba Local Government, Fayemi told the people not to be scared of the antics of vote-riggers because the people’s votes would be adequately protected.

“Don’t let anyone scare you. We will protect our votes. No one can steal my mandate,” he said.

He said if re-elected, his primary focus during his second term in office will be creation of jobs through partnership with private investors to establish industries in the state, adding that his administration had put in place a conducive environment for investors. He said “We have constructed roads.

We have put in place social amenities to make Ekiti conducive for investors.

If we did not do all that we have done, it would have been difficult for any investor to come in. We have also restored peace to Ekiti.

Atmosphere of violence It would have been difficult for any investor to do business in an atmosphere of violence. You know it used to be one day, one trouble in Ekiti State, but Ekiti now enjoys peace.”

Fayemi noted that his government had employed teachers and civil servants and also created jobs through agencies such as the State Traffic Management Agency (EKSTMA), Peace Corps and Volunteer Corps, adding that there are still many unemployed youth for whom jobs must be provided. ”Government cannot provide jobs for everyone, but we will partner investors to establish industries to stem the tide of unemployment and make poverty a thing of the past in Ekiti State. This will be the focus during my second term in office.”

In Osan, the governor urged the people to be wary of electoral robbers who still lurk around.

He stressed the need for them to defend their votes and not underestimate those he referred to as “vote-riggers”.

The governor said most of the projects executed by his government in the town had never been done before.

He listed such projects to include road construction, renovation of the palace, construction of a town hall, payment of stipend to elderly

L-R: Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu; wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; Governor Kayode Fayemi; and Onisan of Isan Kingdom, Oba Sunday Ajiboye, during the JKF Re-Election Campaign Rallies, at Isan-Ekiti, in Oye Local Government Area citizens, among others.

He gave assurance that the ongoing road project in the town would soon be extended to Osan/ Ora boundary.

I don’t own university in Ghana—Fayemi

Also yesterday, Fayemi has described as untrue allegations that he owns a university in Ghana. He equally denied that his administration has jerked up tuition fees at the Ekiti State

University.

Fayemi made the clarification in Ado Ekiti in an interview with newsmen after attending a mass at the St Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Ado- Ekiti. He explained that he neither owns a University anywhere in the world nor has intention to establish one.

His words: “I don’t have a university anywhere in the world and I don’t even intend to have one. Instead I am picking up a

lecturing job at EKSU come next session. My name is important to me. I am a Catholic and as someone who takes the Holy Communion, I won’t do anything that will desecrate this state and the Catholic Church.”

Speaking further on the claim that government has increased tuition fees at Ekiti State University the Governor said the rumour is a clear ignorance on the part of the peddlers who do not know that the school

management does not review fees in the middle of an academic session. Fayemi added that rather than increase school fees, the university management is planning a downward review of tuition fees in some departments.

On alleged non-payment of pension and gratuity, he said the non completion of some processes by some pensioners is responsible for the delay in payment of gratuity to some category of pensioners, stressing that government does not owe pension, rather it has increased pension by six per cent in order to help the pensioners meet the economic realities of the present time.

Earlier in his sermon, Revd Father Pius Adelusi called for a free and fair poll in the forthcoming governorship election in the state, saying that this is the only way to improve on the development currently being experienced.

Adelusi stressed that though some politicians may dole out crumbs to the people, real development comes from a government put in place by the people.

While lamenting the various tragedies befalling the country, the clergyman urged Nigerians not to lose hope but increase their prayers for its redemption.

PDP: Former envoy, speaker, 7 others eye running mate slot

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

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O fewer than nine members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State have signified their interest to be running mate to former Governor of the State, Mr Ayo Fayose in the June 21 governorship election.

Among the people showing interests in the PDP deputy governorship ticket include former Nigeria’s envoy to Canada, Amb Dare Bejide and former Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon Femi Bamisile Other are former university don, Dr Kunle Afolayan, former commissioner in the state teaching service, Mrs Sade Akinrinmola, former Chairman of Ikere Local Government, Alhaji Tajudeen Adejumo ,Mrs Ogundare Olakiitan, Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmed Ayodele and Mr Idowu Richard.

Vanguard reliably gathered that the aspirants, yesterday, appeared before the Chairman of the screening committee

*Fayose and ex-governorship aspirant of the party, Mr Ranti A k e r e l e .

The exercise was held at Akerele’s residence in Adebayo area of Ado Ekiti where the aspirants were seen clutching their curricula vitae among other vital documents.

All the aspirants are from the

South Senatorial District of the state,with six of them coming from Ikere Local Government area.

The zone comprises six local councils namely: Gbonyin, Ikere, Ekiti Southwest, Ekiti East, Emure and Ise/Orun While in government, Fayose had picked Surveyor Abiodun

Aluko, a native of Ikere as his deputy for the 2003 governorship race, which they won. But due to political bickering, the duo of Fayose and Aluko fell apart and this paved the way for Mr Dele Omoyemi, a bank chief executive from the same Ikere, to emerge the deputy governor.

Fayose had during a peace meeting with another leading governorship aspirant, Prince Dayo Adeyeye in Ado Ekiti, recently, said he would allow the party to play active part in the emergence of his deputy. Fayose pointed out that he won’t be bothered if the deputy governorship candidate emerged from any of the camps in the PDP, saying “ I am ready to work with anybody as long as he is qualified and if he is a member of our party. I am now a leader in the PDP and I owe it a duty to see all members as one regardless of whom they see as their leader,” Fayose said

58 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

‘Usain Bale’ hailed in Spain A

day after Wednes day night’s Copa del Rey final between Real Madrid and Barcelona which saw Gareth Bale score a stunning winning goal in the 84th minute, Spanish press rose in unison and hailed the Welshman .

Marca celebrate Madrid’s victory with a ‘campeones’ headline as the Spanish newspaper hail Bale for his ‘run of a lifetime’ against the Catalan giants as the former Tottenham star cemented is status as a Galactico.

The Madrid paper also touches on the fact that Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has now equaled Jose Mourinho’s record of winning League Cup in England, Spain and Italy.

Marca also include a brilliant graphic of Bale’s stunning solo run as they write, 58 metres in eight seconds and a nutmeg on Pinto to score the goal’.

Elsewhere, AS lead

with an image of Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas lifting the Copa del Rey trophy after ‘Bale decides the final’ against Barca.

Mundo Deportivo predictably take a different angle as they focus on Barca’s failing, using pictures of Lionel Messie, Neymar and Gerard Martino at the final whistle.

The Catalan newspaper reports on Barca’s ‘tragic week’ after the La Liga champions suffer their third defeat in a row.

Mundo Deportivo also hits out at an ‘absent’ Messi as the Argentinian failed to make an impact on the match.

AMAZING GOAL . . . Real Madrid’s forward Gareth Bale (C) scores a spectacular goal against FC Barcelona during their Spanish Copa del Rey (King’s Cup) final “Clasico” match at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia on April

Argentina criticises Messi, casts doubt over Martino T

HE Argentine press has expressed its concern about Leo Messi’s form at such an important

time for Barcelona. After not showing up in the cup final against Real Madrid, ‘Clarín’ printed “Let’s hope he’s saving himself” on its front cover. With one eye

Man City draw a disaster — Fernandinho M

•Fernandinho

ANCHESTER City midfielder Fernandinho yesterday described his side’s 2-2 draw at home to the Premier League’s bottom club Sunderland as “a complete disaster”.

“It’s a very disappointing result,” said the Brazilian. “The whole team is disappointed about the result, especially in the way we played. The result was a complete disaster for us.”

City were bidding to trim Liverpool’s advantage at the top of the table to four points in Wednesday’s game, but the draw left them six points off the pace, albeit with another game in hand still to come.

Fernandinho put City in front in the second minute against Sunderland, but the hosts needed an 88th-minute equaliser from Samir Nasri af-

ter Connor Wickham’s late brace threatened to give the visitors a shock win.

Having lost their previous game 3-2 at Liverpool, City’s form appears to be deserting them at just the wrong moment, but Fernandinho believes his side will bounce back when they host West Bromwich Albion on Monday.

“Our focus has to be on West Brom on Monday, and that will be a massive match for us,” he said.

“It’s really very hard, after the bad result against Liverpool. But we have to keep our head up and now need to look to West Brom here at home.

“We believe we can win the title. Chelsea and Liverpool have four games and they may drop some points. We think we can still win the title.”

on the coming World Cup in Brazil, the Argentines are hoping their star player will be back to his best for the tournament in June.

The Argentina press also focussed on ‘El Tata’ Martino. ‘La Capital’ newspaper labelled BarcelonaŽs performance at the Mestalla a “fiasco”, while ‘La Nación’ wrote: “It’s more than a defeat for Barça”. In its digital version, ‘Clarín’

cast serious doubt over the future of the former Newell’s Old Boys boss, which seems to have been decided already and does not seem to lie at Barcelona.

The Barça manager has not had a good season.

The Catalan side only has La Liga left to fight for and things are not going too well in the domestic competition as well.

•Messi

TOSHACK : Neymar is not as good as Bale

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ORMER Real Madrid manager John Toshack believes that Gareth Bale is a step above

Brazilian star Neymar.

The Welshman saw his compatriot Bale score a wonder goal in last

HEADER . . . Barcelona’s forward Neymar da Silva Santos Junior (Top) goes for a header

Wednesday night’s Copa del Rey final to earn Real Madrid a 2-1 win victory over their rivals and their first piece of silverware of the season.

Bale’s effort has been hailed throughout Spanish media as one of the greatest goals in the competition, and has well and truly endeared himself to the Madrid faithful following his world-record move to Los Blancos.

Toshack is not surprised

by Bale’s performances in Spain this season and he feels that the former Spurs man is better than Barcelona’s big summer signing Neymar.

“Neymar is not a football at the level of Bale and all of the problems he has had off the field have not helped at all,” said Toshack.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014 — 59

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08053068728

What I would ask Keshi on Tuesday •If I were in NFF

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N Tuesday, Stephen Keshi will face the Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF. He is expected to submit a provisional list of players for the 2014 Brazil World Cup to the federation and thereafter answer some questions from members and defend the list.

I have said a lot on this before. I expect that Keshi be given a free hand on technical matters but I also expect Keshi to be sincere about his selection and not give in to external influences.

In the first place, every coach at the World Cup would want to do well. So, I wonder why a coach would not pick the best that would produce results for him and his country. But I continue to harp on sincerity because I know that sometimes sentiments overwhelm some people. I also know that Keshi wants to win. He knows that his contract may not be renewed. That appears not to worry him going by the offers I understand are coming his way with a huge one coming from South Africa. And doing well in Brazil will enhance his marketability or value as the case may be. He is, therefore, condemned to do well in Brazil. And I think that he may get good results.

The questions I expect members of the Technical Committee to ask Keshi are not only on the list. If I were them, I would want to know how he plans to conduct the training camp. I would want to know what he will need in camp. I would want to know about the practice matches he has lined up. There should always be warm-up matches against local sides. I would want to know about the facilities in the camp. Will there be swimming pools, tennis or volleyball courts for certain exercises outside soccer pitches? Are there gym facilities?

I would want to know the plan to hire a special physiotherapist for the duration of the training up to the competition in Brazil. Every player gets a massage from time to time. I would want to know about a gym instructor for the early days in camp when we would need gym work. It is not all aspects of weight or fitness training that footballers do.

Those that can cause muscle tears are avoided. Not all footballers know this. An instructor could, therefore, be hired for few days of gym work. What about field facilities and equipment?. There are

Team work matters in team sports...team work is not about players and coaches alone... officials are also part of the team

,

equipment for free kicks, attacking and defensive runs and for different drills. I would want to know what Keshi would want the technical committee to supply him or assist him with. I would want to know about many details from training to nutrition, relaxation and enforcement of camp rules or code of conduct. If I were a member of the Technical Committee, I would make Keshi and his crew to see us as partners in progress, as true brothers, a family.

I would make them open up on problems so that we can tackle them as a team. Team work matters in team sports. And team work is not about players and coaches alone. The officials are also part of the team. In Nigeria, there is always apathy. Even when they publicly pledge to work together they still fight coldly. Sometimes it explodes. We don’t need that on the road to Brazil.

Chelsea close in on 42.5m euro A Diego Costa C HELSEA are close to clinching the 42.5 million euro signing of Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa.

Representatives of the Londoners have held a series of meetings with Costa’s camp over the last month and further talks are planned around the Champions League semi-final first-leg clash between the two teams.

Chelsea have indicated in discussions that they are willing to pay 42.5m euro for the striker, although a significant portion of the transfer fee includes agents’ fees.

The Europa League champions are also prepared to more than triple the wages of Costa, who is believed to earn around 61,000 euro -a-week at the Estadio Vicente Calderon.

The west Londoners are keen to tie up the deal before the end of the season and ahead of Costa departing for the World Cup, where he is expected to be an integral member of the Spain squad trying to defend their 2010 crown.

•Diego Costa Atletico coach Diego Simeone cleared the way on Tuesday for Costa to leave by admitting that his side were powerless to stop him being sold to a club of Chelsea’s financial might.

“It will depend on [Costa] and what he thinks is the

best for his future,” Simeone told AS. “I will support any decision he makes. It’s natural that Chelsea are interested in him.

That makes me happy because my aim and that of my coaching staff is to see our players improve.

N unnamed German Bundesliga club and another club from Italy are hot on the chase of ex-Nigeria U20 striker Olanrewaju Kayode, who has made a success of his first season in Israel.

“Kayode has two offers, one from a Bundesliga club and another from Italy,” a top source i n f o r m e d AfricanFootball.com “This is a reward to how well he has performed in only his first season in Israel.”

The former Asec Mimosas of Abidjan star signed a short-term deal with his Israeli club, which will run out next month.

Kayode scored 11 goals and provided eight assists to ensure Maccabi Netanya win promotion to the Israeli top flight with several rounds of matches still to be played.

And only on Wednesday, he scored a goal and created another for Maccabi Netanya to

Lagos Swan Cup 2014: Team SWAN calls up Ogazi, Alao, Obi, Awogu

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HEAD of the Lagos SWAN Cup 2014, the technical committee in conjunction with the Team SWAN Coaching crew after weeks of scouting and deliberation has released a provisional list of players that will take on the Nollywood All Stars at the novelty match to herald the official opening ceremony of the SWAN

Cup 2014.

A Shortlist of 34 players has been submitted to the coaching crew but this list will be pruned down to 18 players and 4 officials. The game which will last 50 minutes with 25 minutes both halves will be 11 a side and each team will be made

up of male and female players, with an unlimited number of substitutions.

Top on the list is long standing captain Paul Ogazi, the Mastersports duo of Ejiro Omonode and AIPS Africa President Mitchell Obi, also invited to camp is Brilafm Boss Larry Izamoje, Hotsports MD Taye Ige, Supersport GM Felix Awogu, among others.

I would want to know from Keshi who will be going to watch matches of opponents and report to him their observations and suggestions. I would want to know who is in charge of statistical/tactical half time analyses and how they plan to work. This is not common in Nigeria but it is important in modern football. They record matches and quickly analyse opponents’ runs, their weak links and areas of strength. These they read well and pass on points to the coaches at half time and other times. They are also key in match reviews for the purposes of corrections and strategy. I would want Keshi to tell us everything that he needs to make our Eagles succeed. I would also formally inform the team through Keshi what the bonuses and allowances will be for the World Cup. And if I were Keshi, I will be very sincere to the federation. I will defend the list, listen to them, consider their advice and bare my heart to them. I will not conceal any misgivings, bitterness and fears.

I will thank the federation for the support so far and ask for more especially in the areas I mentioned above.

For now, the coaches are not moving as I expected.

Iran is in South Africa. Who will be going there or who is already there? Where will Bosnia play friendly matches and who will be there? Same with Argentina. Logistics, team preparation, motivation, medicals etc. I will table everything before the federation and make them have confidence in their team. I will then go ahead with my plans but appreciating the fact that I may not get all I request from them. It is normal as I might not have also satisfied them in all areas. But I will go on to squeeze a lot into the training that may not be more than two weeks. The time is short and there will be no time for distractions.

This is Easter period. Peace should reign and bring forth results. Today is Good Friday. He was crucified today. But will rise on Sunday. May we share in His love. May God grant us the grace to love Him daily more and more and stay away from sin. May God grant us the wisdom to realise that He is for all in sports and that our opponents also pray to Him and that we shall reap what we sow. Calvary Greetings to you all. Happy Easter in advance.

German, Italian clubs chase Kayode qualify for the final of the Israeli FA Cup, the State Cup. The team’s qualification

to the cup final means they will feature in next season’s UEFA Europa League.

NBBF congratulates Chinenye “Chiney” Ogwumike

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HE Nigeria B a s k e t b a l l Federation,NBBF has congratulated NigerianAmerican basketball star, Chinenye Ogwumike,who was picked first overall by the Connecticut Sun in the 2014 WNBA Draft.

Chinenye,who replicated her older sister Nneka’s stellar career in Stanford, joins her stand-out sibling in the WNBA and both typify the relentless and resilient Nigerian spirit.

President of the NBBF, Tijjani Umar said that “The NBBF is particularly

excited with the huge interest both Chinenye and Nneka have in helping to develop especially women’s basketball in Nigeria for which discussions opened when Chinenye was in Nigeria for her internship last year.

The federation wishes both girls a successful career in the WNBA and thanks their family for encouraging and supporting them to maintain regular touch with and give back to their Nigerian roots,”he stressed.

Ogbe-Ijoh hosts Okubor Peace Cup final

A

LL road leads to Ogbe-Ijoh, headquarters of Warri South West Local Government Area for the final of Okubor Peace Cup competition.

According to the spokesman of the Organizing committee, the football competition is to further sustain the existing peace and unity in the riverine areas, adding that it is because Dr. Festus G. Okubor, Chief of Staff Government

House has so much passion for youths of Ijaw nation and Delta State in general hence youths of Ijaw have decided to organize a peace cup for him to enhance the peace and unity in the Ijaw nation.

The statement further added that tournament winners of the tournament will take home a giant trophy including other benefits while the runners up will cart home a silver cup .

60 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

African athletes converge on Okpekpe for training A

THLETES from some Africa countries and Northern Nigeria are currently in the hilly and mountainous community of Okpekpe for training ahead of the 2nd edition of Okpekpe ten kilometres road race.

The race billed to take place on May 3, has already registered over 5 thousand Athletes across the world. A visit by our reporter to the hilly community, showed some of the athletes were seen training ahead of the event.

An athlete who simply gave his name as Usman from Kano state said he missed the first edition of Okpekpe road race, hence he decided to spend a week in the community to train and get himself familiar with the road .

“I’m here to train ahead of the May 3, race. I came all the way from Kano.

Insha Allah, am training morning and evening. I will stay for a week, then travel back to prepare for the D-day.

“As you can see right now, we are six from Kano, a friend from Ethiopia training ahead of the 10 kilometres road race.

“Mr. Journalist, one thing you must understand here is that, the money involve can turn my life around, so we are coming for business not for jamboree,” Usman said.

An athlete from Kenya told our reporter at Apana that eight of them are already on ground in Auchi for the race.

Though, the Kenyan athlete refused to mention his name, but said that they were already on ground for training and will remain so until the competition.

Balogun Continues from BP Dusseldorf, has revealed that in two weeks time he should be fit to run like a footballer.

Speaking from his German base on progress made so far regarding his recovery after getting injured in the international friendly against Mexico last month in Atlanta, USA, Balogun said his recovery has been phenomenal thanks to the support of his

Abraka Turf Easter Polo gallops off with funfair

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EGINNING from today, the annual Abraka International Polo Tournament will gallop off at the serene Abraka Turf and Country Club in Delta State.

It has been so every Easter period since the private country club opened for business to high-end clientele that includes families, vacation seekers, campers, as well as corporate groups.

Already, there is excitement in the air as defending champions, Ashbert Raiders are

looking forward to conquering all oppositions that include the team from Cowdray Park and Ham Polo Clubs in the UK. Two other teams from the home front here are also going to be part of the rush for the much coveted Patron’s Trophy and other mouthwatering prizes.

To u r n a m e n t Coordinator, Adaeze Igwe, during the week confirmed the presence of some top foreign players who are going to add value to this year’s edition.

Akintunde wins NPUGA bye-election

T

•Moses

Moses set for bumper bonus S

UPER Eagles forward, Victor Moses is set to earn a bumper bonus at the end of the season, but only if Liverpool win the Premier League title.

The Nigeria international forward who joined the Reds on loan from Chelsea last summer stands to benefit from a bonus clause inserted in his loan agreement, which could guarantee him at least £250,000.

Pundits are however of the opinion that the figure is meagre compared to what players in other title German.

“As I speak with you, I just came back from the gym”, he told Super Eagles Media Officer; Ben Alaiya.

He continues: “And it didn’t just start now. I have been going through the routine and should be doing bike next week.

The medics have said that I should take it a step at a time and hopefully I should be doing ‘Cross Trainer ’ next week, which should prepare me for running in two weeks time”, he said.

contending clubs stand to gain if their employers emerge victorious.

Most players had not bothered to negotiate proper sums, as the Reds chances of winning the league at

the start of the season were very remote.

But against the odds, Liverpool appear set to win their first League title in 24 years, a feat that will inject up to £100m into the finances of the club.

NFF

for all hands to be on deck towards achieving the task of qualifying for the AWC to be hosted in Namibia “We have a very Herculean task ahead of us,only three teams will qualify to represent Africa at the next FIFA women senior world in Canada. Countries like South Africa,Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Ghana and other up coming countries are not lying low.”

Continues from BP

Addressing the players after training on Wednesday, NFF Director of Competition, Sanusi Mohammed warned the players that they cannot afford to be complacent with the AWC qualifiers which will also serve as the World Cup qualifier.

“I have been mandated by the Federation to address you on the need

Ancelotti Continues from BP maximum level,” Ancelotti told reporters after the game.

“We performed very well for a huge part of the game. I think we deserved it.

“All the players delivered tonight.

Ronaldo’s injury was an additional motivation for us.”

He said the trophy will serve as a tonic for the club which is still in contention for the La Liga title. “It’s normal that this trophy gives us more confidence going into the final part of the season.”

Real Madrid were without Cristiano Ronaldo, while Barcelona were without Gerard Pique.

HE Nigerian Private University Games Association (Npuga) bye-election held at Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State ended in grand style as Akintunde Akinola and Mrs. Lade Aloba were elected president and vice president respectively.

They will be in office till December 2015 when another election will hold.

Other elected members of the executive are David Ayeni from Babcock University as

Ambrose Continues from BP will do well and take it game by game, then we will see where it would take us.”.

On his second season in Scotland with Celtic, Ambrose said, “It has been a wonderful and great experience for me since I came to Scot-

Susic Continues from BP newcomers are capable of upsetting any side, considering the team’s quality of attacking talent like Manchester City ’s Edin Dzeko, Roma’s Miralem Pjanic, former Hoffenheim midfielder, Zvjezdan Misimovic and VFB Stuttgart’s Vedad Ibesivic.

“Argentina is by far the best team in our group and they should finish

secretary general; Emmanuel Okon from Wesley University of Science and Technology, Ondo (WUSTO) as assistant secretary general; Tajudeen Ojesanya from Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), Ikeji Arakeji as Treasurer; Alh. Ganiyu Adedokun from Fountain University, Oshogbo as financial secretary; Sunday Omobhude from Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo as publicity secretary, and Ayowole Patunola from Bowen University, Iwo, internal auditor.

land,” adding that the Scottish league has made him a better player.

Efe Ambrose is one of the Super Eagles players sure of a place in Nigeria’s squad for the Mundial. He was part of the squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa in 2013.

first. Our target is to join them in the next round,” Susic was quoted by the Associated Press.

“I think our chances are very realistic, because at this moment, both Nigeria and Iran are not better teams than us. I fully expect that we pass into the second round,” he concluded.

Bosnia was defeated 20 by Egypt in its last international friendly, played in Innsbruck, Austria on March 5.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014 — 61

C M Y K

62 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014 — 63

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014

We deserve the Copa del Rey — Ancelotti

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HE manager of Real Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti has claimed that the Los Blancos ‘deserved’ to win the Copa del Rey. Goals from Argentine, Angel Di Maria and Welshman, Gareth Bale gave Madrid a 2-1 win over Barcelona.

“We played at our

•Ancelotti

2014 W/Cup

Ambrose: Eagles will stop Messi C

WINNER: Efe Ambrose vows to stop Messi

FREE 8 pages of Sports Vanguard inside

ELTIC star Efe Ambrose has backed the Super Eagles to shine at Brazil 2014, saying the African champions will stop top stars like Lionel Messi of Argentina on their way to glory.

In an interview with Africanfootball.com, Ambrose who has helped Celtic to another Scottish league title says Argentina star, Messi is a familiar foe, having faced the Barcelona player in the UEFA Champions League. “It makes no difference, it is the same player whether for club or country. Nigeria have a lot of good defenders

who can stop Messi and any other striker in the world.”

The Celtic strongman would not say which

round the Eagles would get to at the World Cup. “I can’t say precisely, but by God’s grace we •Continues on Page 60

•Continues on Page 60

NFF tasks Falcons on AWC, W/Cup tickets

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HE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has told the Super Falcons to brace up for enormous tasks of qualifying for the African Women Championship (AWC) in Namibia and the World Cup in Canada.

•Continues on Page 60

...Susic tips Argentina, Bosnia for second round

B

O S N I A Herzegovina coach Saffet Susic has tipped his side to qualify for the second round of the 2014 World Cup alongside

favourites Argentina ahead of Nigeria and Iran.

The 59-year old feels his World Cup •Continues on Page 60

Balogun runs in two weeks

A

•Susic

S the monitoring of national team players continues ahead of the Brazil 2014 World Cup, the only

injured player of the team, Leon Aderemi Balogun of German side, Fortuna •Continues on Page 60

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Take (6) 5 Record (4) 8 Staid (5) 9 Beverage (3) 10 Flat (4) 11 Existence (4) 12 Map-book (5) 13 Mend (6) 16 Observed (4) 18 Resound (4) 20 Seed-case (3) 22 Fixed (3) 23 Parched (3) 24 Pit (4) 25 Excuse (4) 28 Hung (6) 30 Respond (5) 32 Foundation (4) 33 Domesticated (4) 34 Loiter (3) 35 Number (5) 36 Expired (4) 37 Atelier (6)

DOWN 1 Dress (6) 2 Support (8) 3 Summary (6) 4 Satisfied (9) 5 Postponed (7) 6 Flag (4) 7 Gang (4) 8 Ocean (3) 14 Revered (9) 15 Timid (3) 17 Fish (3) 19 Maimed (8) 20 Hog (3) 21 Erased (7) 26 Passionate (6) 27 Slowly (6) 29 Generated (40 30 Ascended (4) 31 Brown (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 3, Water 9, Amazed 10, Winter 11, Doped 12, Open 15, Once 17, Resided 20, God 21, Digit 23, Form 25, Mist 26, Eager 28, Act 30, Diverse 33, Stop 35, Data 36, Wedge 38, Azalea 39, Eyelet 40, Trade.

DOWN: 1, Major 2, Hades 3, Wed 4, Adored 5, Ewer 6, Rid 7, Sting 8, Greed 13, Perfect 14, Nitre 16, Contest 18, Dived 19, Vim 22, Tired 24, Mat 27, Ringed 28, Assay 29, Total 31, Rally 32, Earth 34, Bear 36, Wet 37, Eye.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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