2015: Northern govs unite for Presidency

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61626

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012

AGM— Fidelity Bank PLC held its 24th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos yesterday. From left: Mr. I. K Mbagwu, Executive Director; Mr. Reginald Ihejiahi, Managing Director; Chief Christopher Ezeh, Chairman and Mrs Chijioke Ugochukwu, Executive Director and Company Secretary at the meeting. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

•My integrity was never damaged — Don Jazzy •P.31

2015: Northern govs unite for Presidency •Buhari's statement treasonable — Arewa youths K •Failure to manage Nigeria’s resources embarrassing — Gov Aliyu

ADUNA – AHEAD of the 2015 elections, the 19 Northern Governors, yesterday, expressed determination to sink their differences and unite to produce the president from the region in 2015. This was the outcome of their quarterly meeting held in Kaduna.

Speaking the minds of his colleagues at the opening session of the meeting, chairman of the

Continues on Page 5

DONU KOGBARA: FCT Minister and St Vincent’s Clinic/Maternity

•P. 17

Mr & Mrs

EFCC ARRAIGNS HEMBE: Chairman House Committee on Capital Market, Hon. Herma Hembe arraigned by EFCC on two-count charge at Abuja High Court, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Nigeria not broke — Okonjo-Iweala

•P.6

FG to concession Apapa-Oshodi Road •P.14

2—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012—3

C M Y K

4—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012

Fidelity Bank’s shareholders get N4bn dividend

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

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HAREHOLDERS of Fidelity Bank Plc are to receive dividend of N4.05 billion for the bank’s operating year ended December 31, 2012. The dividend, which translates to 14 kobo per share, was approved at the 24th annual general meeting of the bank held in Lagos, yesterday.

Addressing shareholders at the meeting, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Bank, Mr. Reginald Ihejiahi, assured that the bank is working to ensure a better performance in the 2012 operating year. He also assured shareholders that the bank will continue to expand its retail business adding that in 2011, the bank established 18 new branches at target locations, in line with the expansion strategy.

Ihejiahi said: “Nigeria’s population size and natural resources combine to present varied opportunities for economic growth and demand for banking services across various population categories. Our branch expansion category reflects these opportunity clusters. Our total branch network increased from 172 in 2010 to 185 as at December 2011.

“This measured growth in

distribution points increased our capacity to distribute appropriate branded products and services as well as strengthen the linkage effects with our existing business office which has huge implication for non interest base income.”

He said the bank will continue to strengthen and increase its share of corporate business through several initiatives, adding that the bank was able to enlarge its general business and loan portfolio by funding the telecommunications, power and L-r: Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa of Kaduna State with chairman, Northern Governors Forum, infrastructure, oil and gas, processed Dr Babangida Aliyu of Niger State and Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State at the Northern Governors Forum meeting in Kaduna, yesterday. Photo: Olu Ajayi. food and agric sectors last year.

He noted: “We have maintained •As over 60 Itsekiri youths storm avenue our stand on the day, stormed the National •Shows video clip of surrender of arms by Itsekiri militants financing of Assembly venue of the pubpioneer power and lic hearing, probing the BY BEN AGANDE & i n f r a s t r u c t u r e EMMAN OVUAKPORIE empted from the Amnesty now, by tomorrow, the It- non-inclusion of Itsekiri forProgramme. sekiri youths will be includprojects through BUJA—SPECIAL He said they were ex- ed in the Amnesty pro- merly armed youths in the the completion of Adviser to President empted because of lack of gramme. In the past, I had Amnesty Programme.

N2.45 billion 10 The youths under the written to the President on megawatts power Goodluck Jonathan on Ni- proper documentations. aegis of Itsekiri National ger Delta Matters and Speaking at a public hear- the matter, that the Itsekiri plant in Marina, Youth Council, INYC, who Chairman of Amnesty Ofing on non-inclusion of Ityouths should be included Lagos, for Island arrived the complex as earPower Limited and fice, Mr Kingsley Kuku, sekiri youths in the Amnes- in the programme because ly as 10am, could not hide the syndicated yesterday, told the House ty Programme, Kuku said we have a common prob- their anger as some who N20.8 billion 128 of Representatives Commit- the only person who can lem bordering on poverty spoke to Vanguard said all kilometre natural tee on Public Petitions, that order the inclusion of the and we suffer same depri- they wanted was their gas pipeline project they should prevail on the Itsekiri youth is the Presi- vations.”

The Itsekiri youths num- rightful slot in the Amnesty for East Horizon President to include Itseki- dent. He said: “If the Presri militants that were exident gives me a directive bering over 60, earlier in the Programme.

Gas Limited.

Why we exempted Itsekiri youths from Amnesty —Kuku

A

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012—5

POCKET CARTOON

2015: Northern govs unite for Presidency Continues from Page 1 Northern Governors Forum, and Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu said the northern governors, this time around, will not allow what happened in 2011 to repeat itself in 2015 as they will unite against candidates from the south.

According to Governor Aliyu, “ we must be united more than ever to go into the 2015 elections as one entity with the aim of producing the president”. He then advised all governors and politicians in the north to remain focused and pursue issues of development rather than trivial issues that have led to the retrogression of the region in recent years.

Meanwhile, following the war of words between former head of state, and presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, General Muhammadu Buhari and the presidency over the general prediction of a bloodbath should the 2015 election be rigged, the forum admonished political leaders in the

country to be cautious about their comments on important national issues that may polarise the country.

In a communique issued after the meeting, the forum said, “ we want to caution eminent Nigerians against inflammatory statements capable of affecting our fragile unity and security. We must be concerned about the unity and development of the country in all ramifications” Chairman of the Forum, Babangida Aliyu who was asked by newsmen after he had read the communiqué to state the position of the forum on the comment credited to Gen. Mohammed Buhari had this to say: “May be those who may be too concerned have not looked at what other eminent Nigerians have been talking about. I saw one that said Nigeria is going to be Somalianized; I saw another one who has been talking like there would be war tomorrow.

So, for me, that statement should be taken on its own value do not go and do bad election.

“ I think that is the whole thing I will take there. All of us who are involved in elections, political parties, contestants and voters themselves, we must all be careful about what we say. But, again, like I said certain people in that position, certain vocabularies they use should be chosen carefully. So, both ways let's take it on our own stride and ensure that future elections are seen to be transparent and are seen to be good”, he said.

On security in the North, the communiqué reads: “The level of insecurity in the northern states is alarming. The forum resolved to intensify efforts to find lasting solutions to the problems by reaching out to all stakeholders”.

On the major economic issues affecting the northern states, the communiqué said various committees have been set up to address them accordingly.

The committees have been set up on agriculture, Textile industries and the New Nigeria Newspapers whose workers have been on strike for more than three months.

Speaking before the commencement of the meeting, Muazu Babangida Aliyu stated that the Northern governors would stake their mandates together as a united team in 2015..

He however noted that 2015 was still too far to become the main topic of discussion among serious elected leaders.

Failure to manage Nigeria’s resources embarrassing — Gov Aliyu

BY HENRY UMORU

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B U J A —

CHAIRMAN, Northern Governors’ Forum and Governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu has described as unfortunate, Nigeria’s inability to manage and effectively put in use, its abundant resources.

Speaking yesterday in Abuja at a book lunch in honour of the former Biafran Leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Governor Aliyu noted that hunger, insecurity, disunity presently being

experienced by Nigerians, among others would have vanished if development matched the level of abundant human resources.

At the launch of the book titled, ‘’Ojukwu, the Rebel I served.”he noted that late Ojukwu fought for unity and against the marginalisation of his people, adding that his stance on issues put him at a crossroad and misrepresented him as Nigeria's most misunderstood leader.

Represented by his Commissioner, Danladi Umar Abdulaheed, Governor Aliyu who

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

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HERE is a power that transforms and a Being that directs the affairs of man. He is generally referred to as the Almighty. The good book says trust the Lord with all your heart and don’t depend on your own understanding. in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.

Remember Him in all you do. The truth is no man has any other option or alternative!

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

The love, kindnesses, and value we have given authentically to others will be our remaining treasures at the end of life —Steve Brunkhorst.

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HE secret of a happy life isn’t buried in a treasure chest, it lies within your heart. A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation. The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime. But a few days later he came back to return the stone to the wise woman.

“I’ve been thinking,” he said, “I know how valuable the stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious.

Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me the stone.”

Buhari's statement treasonable — Arewa Youths

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA —THE Arewa Youth Forum yesterday slammed the former Military Head of State and 2011 Presidential candidate of Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, General Muhammadu Buhari over his prediction of a bloody revolution if 2015 election is rigged. The youths in a statement described General Buhari’s outbursts as misguided, treasonable and uncalled for.

According to the group, Nigerians must ensure that the prediction of General Buhari of imminent bloodletting does not see the light of the day as such will not only bring disunity, but has the tendency of

producing numerous widows and orphans.

In a statement signed by the group’s President, Abdulkareem Tijani, the group while calling on Nigerians to shun Buhari’s call for violence and embrace peace and unity, said, ‘’Buhari’s recent statement that in 2015, violence that will follow the election will make the 2011 violence a child’s play, is uncalled for, misguided and treasonable.

“Buhari by the statement he made before the election in 2011 precipitated the violence that followed the 2011 presidential election and till now Nigeria has not recovered from the same. ‘’We call on all Nigerians irrespective of their states and

religious back ground to see Buhari for what he truly is.. We hereby call on Nigerians to shun Buhari’s call for violence and embrace peace and unity.”

Also yesterday, the National Council for Peace and Unity stressed the need for leaders to control their anger and sentiments at all times especially at difficult periods like what Nigeria is going through at the moment.

The group in a statement signed by its Chairman and former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Engr.

Muhammed Abba-Gana, said that there was the need for Nigerians to put heads together to ensure speedy and happy resolution of all crises particularly that of insecurity.

described Chief Ojukwu as a military democrat fighting for his people, said: “I should remind you that all Ojukwu was fighting for was unity in diversity; all he was fighting for was that what belongs to Peter should be given to Peter; that is why in Nigeria, we are a peaceful country yet Nigeria is divided; Nigeria has the vast land for agriculture, yet Nigerians are hungry. Nigeria is busy putting up very beautiful structures yet we are unsecured.”

The governor who hailed the author, Uche Ezechukwu for trailing the blaze in immortalizing the late leader, said that most writers write so that they can earn a living, “but he is writing for somebody who has done his best, for people and now who has gone to the kingdom of God .’

The launch of the book, ‘Ojukwu, the rebel I served’, attracted notable Nigerians including Anambra state governor, Peter Obi who was represented by his deputy, Emeka Sibeudu; Special Adviser to the President on Inter Party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi; Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Joy Emodi; Chairman, Senate Committee on Education, Senator Uche Chukwumerije; former Central Bank Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, APGA National Chairman Sir Victor Umeh, among others.

Senator Obi who was the chairman of the book launch said that Ojukwu was a hero even in death.

6—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012

National confab: ACF may shift ground after talks with NSG

BY OKEY NDIRIBE

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President Goodluck Jonathan (right) and Vice President Namadi Sambo welcoming the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, members during interactive meeting on the security situation in the country at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Wednesday.

Nigeria not broke, says Okonjo-Iweala zAs FAAC shares monthly revenue today

BY EMMA UJAH, ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF

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BUJA — THE Coor dinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said yesterday, that Nigeria was not broke as being insinuated in some quarters.

The minister, who spoke at a meeting with House Committee on Finance, in Abuja, explained that postponing the meeting of Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC, from Tuesday and Wednesday to today, did not in anyway indicate that Nigeria is broke.

She said: “We don’t have fiscal crisis. Nigeria is solvent. We have many assets. We are liquid.”

According her, with $36.8 billion External Reserves, the nation is liquid enough to meet its obligations at home and abroad.

Okonjo-Iweala, however, admitted that federation revenue inflow experienced a delay, saying: “We have had some delays of money being disbursed for FAAC. Delays of a week or a few days. Everybody experiences delays. What do you do? You either look for another source so that you can continue your activities or you just adjust and wait until the money comes. That is what we have been doing.

"So, the fact that you wait two days does not mean we are broke and remember that we are depend-

ing on a commodity that we sell in the market.

Even as an ordinary seller, sometimes when you sell, do you get the money right away? Sometimes when you sell your customers will say give me a few days to pay and then when they come they pay the money. The people often forget that the country depends on commodities that are sold elsewhere and sometimes we have to wait for a few days. This does not amount to anything like crisis.”

She also noted that global economic outlook did not appear as bright as would have been expected but that Nigeria and many African countries have continued to experience growth.

Growth rate “The outlook globally is not one that gives a great deal of confidence. It is within this context that Nigeria must look inwards to strengthen itself, in order to be able to withstand any crisis that might come of the global outlook.

“I am happy to report that our own economy has been doing quiet well. In fact, Africa as a whole has been doing rather well, growing at better than five per cent. Any country at six and seven per cent during this crisis is doing well. Nigeria is one of those economies. Over the past few years, we have been growing at an average of about seven per cent. This is not bad at all.

“Are 100 per cent happy with this growth? The answer is no, because the

growth is not as inclusive, meaning it is not creating as many jobs and touching as many lives at the bottom of the ladder as we would like. But at least we have got to get the growth first. Then you can look at the nature and quality of this growth. So we now have the growth and that is why we are looking at and focusing on certain sectors of the economy.”

Request for foreign loans Even though the minister insisted that Nigeria was not broke, she disclosed that a request for a legislative approval for foreign loans had been submitted to the National Assembly.

Although she did not disclose the figure, Okonjo-Iweala assured that the loans were to be taken on concessionary basis, attracting only about three per cent interests.

She said the loans were necessary to boost investments in sectors of the economy requiring massive funding such as power, transport and agriculture, which would also provide jobs for millions of Nigerians, as the Federal Government targets a Gross Domestic Product, GDP, per capita of about $ 1. 452.

Tax defaulters Okonjo-Iweala disclosed that the Federal Inland Revenue had computed a N100 billion in tax default by corporate organisations in the country and that the strategy adopted to pursue

the payment of such taxes, including the arrest and prosecution of company chief executive officers, would be maintained.

She added that measures were being put in place to ensure that internally generated revenue

by MDAs were paid into the treasury rather than the affected MDAs spending such money at will, as was the case in the past.

Why salaries are delayed—Ngama Also speaking,Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama, admitted that the Integrated Payroll System Adopted by the Federal Government is partially responsible for the delay in payment of some workers’ salaries but that was a temporary experience.

The system, according to him, is necessary to eliminate ghost workers from the system and to stop payroll leakages in all Federal Government MDAs. In his remarks, Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Abdulmumini Jibril, urged the executive arm of the Federal Government to pay a closer attention to the revenue inflow from the revenue agencies, with a view to blocking every loophole.

According to him, it is not enough for revenue agencies such as Nigeria Customs Service and the Federal Inland Revenue Service to meet set annual targets, but that actual collections should interest the Ministry of Finance.

BUJA —THERE are indications that the leadership of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) which held a closed door meeting with a delegation of the National Summit Group, yesterday, may have accepted to participate in the convocation of a National Conference.

Sources close to the meeting in Abuja disclosed that the ACF leadership had very fruitful deliberations with the Nigeria Summit Group, NSG, delegation and even agreed to nominate some of their members into the National Steering Committee for the convocation of the conference.

It was, however, learnt that the ACF delegation requested to be given some time to enable the northern group consult widely among northern leaders for

the purpose of nominating their representatives into the National Steering Committee for the confab.

The leader of the NSG delegation, Mr Tony Uranta had stressed on the issue of restructuring of the federation and convening of a national conference as the main goal of its consultation with different groups in the country including the leadership of the ACF while the northern group had indicated that it neither believed there was need for a change from the present structure of the nation nor to hold a national confab.

While speaking to newsmen at Abuja, yesterday, the National Publicity Secretary of ACF, Mr Anthony Sanni, had stated that the ACF saw nothing wrong with the present structure of the federation, noting that what needed to be addressed was the attitude of Nigerians.

Disco Queen, Donna Summer dies at 63 BYBENJAMIN NJOKU

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AGOS — DONNA Summer, whom millions of fans revered as “the Queen of Disco,” has died at the age of 63 in Florida, United States.

Summer died yesterday after a battle with lung cancer.

Confirming her death, her family said in a statement that they “are at peace celebrating her extraordinary life and her continued legacy.”

The legendary superstar was publicly active as recently as last June, when she appeared as a guest panellist on Bravo’s music reality show, Platinum Hit. Summer performing in October 2011.

However, a report by TMZ, which initially broke the story, noted that those close to the singer who was known for mega-hits including “Last Dance” and “Bad Girls”revealed she had been trying to hide how sick she was. The exact nature of her illness has not yet been identified.

Reports said that Summer did not seem to be in that bad of shape two weeks ago. In fact, “we’re told she was focussed on trying to finish up an album she had been working on.”

Summer was a five-time Grammy winner who shot to superstardom in the ’70s with iconic hits like “Last

Dance,” “Hot Stuff” and “Bad Girls.”

She is survived by daughters, Brooklyn and Amanda, her grown daughters with husband, Bruce Sudano, a fellow musician whom she married in 1980, and Mimi, her eldest daughter with first husband, actor Helmuth Sommer.

In addition to her status as a pioneer in the dance music genre, Summer was a five-time Grammy Award winner, the first artist ever to score three back-to-back No. 1 double albums, and was nominated-but not chosen—for induction into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.

She continued her dominance in the ’80s with “She Works Hard for the Money” and “This Time I Know It’s for Real.”

Late Summer and her producer Giorgio Moroder defined the dance music era of the ’70s and influenced acts like Duran Duran and David Bowie to enter the genre.

Her last album, Crayons, was released in 2008.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012—7

Amuka tasks Uduaghan on security

BY EMMA ARUBI

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From left: Hon. Justice Ayo Phillips, Deputy Chancellor of Lagos West; Hon. Justice Babasola Ogunade Chancellor, Lagos West; Mrs Adejoke Adefulire- Orelope, Deputy Gov of Lagos State, special guest of honour; Rt. Rev. Peter Adebiyi, Bishop of Lagos West; his wife and Rt. Revd. A. Sowale, Bishop of Ilesha, Osun State during the openig session of the 5th Synod of Diocese of Lagos West at Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Diran Oshe.

N44m bribe scandal: Hembe arraigned, refuses to mount dock zQueries competence of EFCC charge zAs absence of 2nd accused person stalls trial

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA — TRIAL of the former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Capital Market and Other Institutions, Mr. Herman Hembe, kicked off on a dramatic note, yesterday, as the lawmaker declined to either mount the dock or enter his plea to a charge he said was grossly incompetent.

The embattled lawmaker, who was marshalled into the court room by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, at exactly 9:11 a.m, insisted that the trial court lacked the jurisdiction to okay him for trial, saying the proof of evidence tendered against him by the commission failed to disclose a primafacie criminal case capable of warranting his prosecution.

Consequently, he urged the court to firstly determine the legal propriety of the leave it granted to the EFCC on May 10 to try him and the erstwhile vice chairman of the House of Reps panel that commenced investigation into alleged rot in the Capital Market sector of the Nigerian economy, Mr. Chris Ifeanyi Azubogu, vis-avis the provision of section 154 of the Criminal

Procedure Code, CPC. Though counsel to Hembe, Mr. Jibrin Kutekpa, SAN, told the court that his client appeared in court yesterday on protest and to show respect to the judiciary, however, trial Justice Abubakar Ishaq Bello ordered the accused person to proceed to the dock to enable the court to take judicial notice of his presence in court.

“Where are the accused persons, you can’t hide them, let me see them at least to make sure they are present in court today,” the judge insisted.

Judge berates 2nd accused At this juncture, counsel to the 2nd accused person, Mr Emeka Etiaba, told the court that his client was unable to appear for trial, yesterday, saying he travelled to his village in Nnewi, Anambra State, after he got a call that a member of his family was kidnapped.

Not satisfied with the reasons adduced for the absence of the 2nd accused person, the judge said the action of the lawmaker amounted to a deliberate affront on the authority of the judicial institution.

“The business of the day is for the arraignment of the accused persons, it is not about the

EFCC but about showing respect to the institution of the judiciary. Is he not a lawmaker? If a lawmaker chose to disrespect the court what do we then expect from a layman on the street?

Except on grounds of illhealth, the 2nd accused person had no reason whatsoever not to appear in court today” the judge stated.

Hembe queries competence of EFCC charge Meanwhile, Hembe, through his counsel, condemned the absence of the 2nd accused person in court yesterday, he, however, pleaded with the court to go ahead and determine whether the totality of the proof of evidence entered against him by the anti-graft agency, disclosed any element of criminality regarding allegation that he collected monies from the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, to travel to the Dominican Republic but failed to do so.

Likewise, counsel to the 2nd accused person also challenged the leave that was granted to the EFCC to try him, insisting that the charge was grossly incompetent and ought to be dismissed.

Meantime, EFCC lawyer, Mr O. Uket, said he was served with the preliminary

objection of the accused persons on Wednesday and would need time to respond. He, however, pleaded with the court to look into the bail status of the accused persons.

EFCC refuted allegation that it did not furnish the accused persons with copies of the proof of evidence against them, saying it had as early as May 14, served them the requisite processes through the Clerk of the House of Reps.

After listening to all the parties, Justice Bello said he would consolidate the separate objections of the accused persons for hearing, though he noted that they were not ripe for hearing yesterday.

Consequently, he adjourned the case till May 28, just as he ordered the accused persons to ensure their presence in court on the next adjourned date.

According to the judge, “it is in the interest of justice to determine the issue of jurisdiction the accused persons have raised. The accused persons are to appear on the next adjourned date, they are to remain on EFCC bail pending the determination of their objections to the trial.”

Immediately the case was adjourned yesterday, Hembe, who appeared pensive throughout the proceeding, was whisked away by EFCC officials in a Coaster Bus marked Abuja-BR-739-BWR.

ARRI — PUB LISHER and Chairman, Vanguard Media Limited, Mr. Sam Amuka, yesterday charged Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State to tackle the security challenges facing the state.

He also asked the governor to explain why over N7.4 billion would be spent on clearing mountains of sand at the Asaba airport, saying Deltans need to know to be more informed on the matter.

Speaking yesterday evening as the chairman of a retreat in Warri entitled “Landmarks and Legacy ” organised by the Delta State Government in collaboration with Tas and Associates, Amuka said he accepted to attend the retreat as chairman because he was assured that the retreat

would not be a jamboree where the governor would not be asked the necessary questions agitating the minds of the people because it would amount to biting the finger that feeds them.

He charged the participants to put all their questions in writing and submit same to him or Prof. Sam Oyovbaire, Managing Partner/CEO of Tas and Associates signed or unsigned, promising that they would confront the governor with all the biting questions.

The three-day retreat would be closed to newsmen today and tomorrow with the resolutions submitted to the governor for action.

The retreat was designed to review and propose solutions to identified problems to guide the governor in the remaining part of his tenure.

Lufthansa yet to pay N2.198bn to NCAA zSays it had paid all charges to date

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BY KENNETH EHIGIATOR

AGOS — ALMOST two weeks after the Senate ordered Lufthansa Airlines to pay the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, N2.198 billion, being money representing unpaid royalties between 2009 and November 2011, the airline is yet to do so, saying it had paid all charges to date.

Royalty is money paid by foreign airlines to the Federal Government for the country’s inability to reciprocate flight operations to their countries, in line with the Bilateral Air Services Agreements, BASAs, Nigeria has with their governments, and such agreements thrive on the principle of reciprocity.

Lufthansa Airlines operates daily service to Frankfurt from Lagos, with no Nigerian carrier doing same to Germany.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Hope Uzodinma, had on May 9, 2012, directed the airline to pay the money to the NCAA, being the custodian of all royalties, of face sanctions.

But the airline in a reaction to questions put to its

media consultant, Mr. Hakeem Jimoh, in Lagos, said Lufthansa was up to date in payment of all charges expected of it by government.

The questions went thus: Has Lufthansa Airlines paid the royalty the Senate ordered it to pay into NCAA’s account?

And if it has not, when would the money be paid?

Responding in a statement issued last night, Lufthansa, aside from saying it had paid all charges to the Federal Government, added that it had never violated any Nigerian law put in place to safeguard the interest of Nigerians and would not do so.

It said its co-operation with the Ministry of Aviation was work in progress, with special focus on capacity and human resources development.

Director-General of NCAA, Dr. Harold Demuren, could not be reached on phone to ascertain what steps it was taking to recoup the money.

But his Media Assistant, Mr. Sam Adurogboye, said he was not aware of any payment by Lufthansa.

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8—Vanguard , FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012

FIDELITY BANK'S 24TH AGM HOLDS IN LAGOS MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN Fidelity Bank PLC held its 24th Annual General Meeting at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, yesterday. Joe NIGERIA BEAUTY CONTEST Akintola, Photo Editor , captured the event.

HITS 25

From left, Mr. Dim Elias Nwosu, From left, Mr Balarabe Mohammed, Director; Mrs Onome Olaolu, Executive Director; Alhaji Bashari Gumel, Executive Director and Mr. Stanley Director and Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, Lawson, Director.

Director .

Chief Christopher Ezeh, Chairman, right, and Mr. Reginald Ihejiahi, Managing Director.

From left, Mr. I. K Mbagwu, Executive Director; Mr. Reginald Ihejiahi, Managing Director; Chief Christopher Ezeh, Chairman and Mrs Chijioke From left, Mr. Augustine Okam, Director; Mr. Ichie Orazulike, Director and Mr. John Obi, Executive Director.

Ugochukwu, Executive Director and Company Secretary.

EXPLOSION ROCKS PORT HARCOURT A commercial bus exploded yesterday in Rumuokoro Roundabout, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, killing one person, and injuring three others. Our cameraman, Nwankpa Chijioke, took the photographs at the scene.

1 die, 3 others injured as explosion rocks Port Harcourt

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT— A commercial bus, exploded, yesterday, at Rumukoro Roundabout in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, killing a young man and injuring three others.

The incident, which occurred about 10.30am caused tension in the city, as people speculated it was ‘Boko Haram’ that had invaded the state.

State Police Commissioner, Mr Mohammed Indabawa, who told Vanguard at the scene of the explosion, ruled out terrorism, saying that the occupants of the vehicle, were probably going for a robbery operation when the explosion occurred.

Though he could not explain how the explosion came about, he said he was sure they were on a robbery mission because some rifles and ammunition were recovered in the bus, which burst into flames immediately after

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the explosion.

Indabawa said he will come out with a comprehensive report, after the bomb disposal unit of his command had concluded scanning of the area and thorough search of the vehicle. He assured that the state was safe, urging residents not to panic.

The explosion occurred barely 48 hours after the state Police Commissioner met with media practitioners in the state on how to protect their offices from threat of attack by terrorists.’

When reminded of the meeting coinciding with the explosion, the Police Commissioner said at the time he convened the meeting, he had no idea that an explosion could occur in any part of the state.

Governor Chibuike Amaechi, who arrived the scene later with the state Commissioner of Information, Mrs Ibim Semenitari and some top security officers also ruled out terrorism.

In his statewide address, Amaechi

aligned with the position of the Police Commissioner, that the victims were robbers.

Meantime, some eyewitnesses believed it was a terrorists' act.

According to one Emmanuel Okon, the two occupants in the bus disappeared unhurt. He said the bus got to the point where it exploded and suddenly stopped.

The occupants had to beckon on some pedestrians to assist push the vehicle, adding that he was among those they called but he refused.

According to another account, the man who died was not in the bus, he was one of those who came to assist in pushing the vehicle.

“He was pushing it when we noticed smoke under the bus and we raised alarm. Before we knew it, the next thing we heard was a bang.”

The source said the man that died was a regular face at the motor park in the area.

But he could not comment on the identity of the injured. .

Vanguard , FRIDAY, MAY I8, 2012—9

How to achieve Vision 20:2020, by experts

Briefly

Counsel's change stalls sacked workers' suit

BY UDUMA KALU & EBELE ORAKPO

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AGOS—NIGERIA must address the issues of competence, capacity and come up with a national document on enhancing training management, if it must attain its Vision 20: 2020.

Mr. Jide Adetunmbi, TBS Consulting Team Leader, at a workshop on enhancing training management in Nigeria, organised by Centre for M a n a g e m e n t Development, CMD, in Lagos, said the workshop was aimed at reviewing training practice in the country by identifying what had gone wrong, why budget was dwindling, among others and proffering the way forward.

For Dr. Kabir Usman, Director-General, CMD, training as a capacitybuilding and changeinitiative had either been relegated to the background by organisations or was not impactful on employeeperformance and productivity in Nigeria.

MWUN tasks workers on smuggled weapons

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

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AGOS—MARITIME Workers of Nigeria, MWUN, has charged workers in the sector, especially dockworkers, to be vigilant in the course of their duties and ensure that unscrupulous importers do not smuggle weapons through the ports into the country.

President-General of MWUN, Mr. Anthony Nted, who addressed maritime workers at Apapa Ports, Lagos, yesterday, as part of the union's leadership tour of ports in the country, said the security of the nation and the citizens should be the responsibility of every wellmeaning Nigerian.

Nted, who said they had toured Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt and Calabar ports with similar message, noted that dockworkers who off-load containers were in a better position to know the content of a container irrespective of the importer’s claim.

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH, ONOZURE DANIA & MICHAEL OLADEPO

I From left, Mr. Duro Kuteyi, National Vice-Chairman, NASSI; Mrs Taba Peterside, GM, Head, Listings Sales & Retention, NSE, fand Mr Olaseni Ogunsanya, Chairman of the occasion, at the Nigerian Association of Small-Scale Industrialists, NASSI,workshop on Business Opportinities & Funding for SMES in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye

FG doctors to join striking colleagues in Lagos

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE & CHIOMA OBINNA

I

KEJA—THE face–off between the Lagos State Government and sacked 788 doctors, yesterday, took a dramatic turn, as doctors in federal hospitals in Lagos, said

they will today embark on an indefinite solidarity strike.

The federal hospital doctors called on the National Assembly to urgently wade into the crisis between the Lagos State Government and the

sacked doctors for speedy resolution of same to prevent further loss of lives.

Patients who may want to go to federal healthcare centres and hospitals may have to go elsewhere to get treatment, as the strike

Fashola renews call for state police

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

I

KEJA—LAGOS State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, yesterday, renewed the call for the creation of state police.

Speaking on “Options and Strategies for Restructuring the Nigeria Police Force,” at a public hearing on Police Reform in Nigeria, in Lagos, Fashola said: “The opposition to the establishment of state

police structures in Nigeria has largely been driven by an exaggerated, misleading and unfounded precedent focusing on the abuse of state police through political interference and manipulation.”

He noted, however, that “upgrading the existing police system as the central law enforcement institution in the country cannot occur in isolation.

It must be part of an overarching restructuring of the total law e n f o r c e m e n t

Lagosians tasked on constitution amendment

BY EBUN SESSOU

I

KEJA—CHAIRMAN, House Committee on Information, Strategy, Security and Publicity, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Segun Olulade, has urged Lagosians to take advantage of the on-going National Assembly ’s constitutional amendment process to articulate their yearnings and aspirations and contribute to the process of constitutional making in the country.

The House had last week,

set up an eight-man committee, headed by Majority Leader, Mr Ajibayo Adeyeye, to articulate the position of the state for the constitutional review.

Olulade, who also implored Lagosians to be ready to contribute their memoranda to the committee added that the committee will ensure that all stakeholders and interest groups were adequately consulted to enhance their participation at the public hearing being proposed by the committee.

infrastructure, including a reform of the criminaljustice system insulated from politics.

“It is, therefore, with total conviction that I believe that there is a need for the establishment of state police. If we say we are practising true federalism, then each constituent part of the federation such as the states, municipalities and federal government all have their autonomy for their daily affairs, while issues like international affairs, common currency, defence and other unifying interests are vested in the Federal Government.”

will affect admission of new patients into all the hospitals in Lagos.

The hospitals include; Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH; National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi; Federal Medical Centre, EbuteMeta; Federal Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, among others.

The striking doctors under the umbrella body of Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, Lagos State Branch, said the indefinite strike was necessitated by the failure of the state government to recall the sacked doctors under its employment.

At a briefing, in Lagos, President of Association of Resident Doctors, ARD, Branch of Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH- ARD, an affiliate of NMA, Dr. Adetunji Adenekan, said all emergency units will be locked, clinic will not hold and no new patients will be admitted, explaining that only patients on admission will be attended to.

KEJA—FOUR years after 63 workers of Unilever Plc were sacked, their expectation for the commencement of the case, yesterday, before an Ikeja High Court, Lagos, was dashed, due to change of counsel.

The matter is before Justice A. Emeya. At the hearing, yesterday, a new counsel who replaced their old lawyer, informed the court that he had just taken over of the case and needed to study the case file as well as amend the claims earlier filed by the claimants.

The workers, who dragged the company to court were relived of their duties on December 3, 2008, following which they approached the court, praying same to declare their sack, illegal.

According to the new counsel, efforts by the Office of the Public Defender of Lagos State Ministry of Justice to resolve the issues relating to the claimant’s employment failed, which led to the court action.

The workers are praying the court to order the defendant to pay them N300 million as compensation for exemplary and aggravated damages, for the unlawful termination of their employments.

They also want the court to grant them N900 million, being their outstanding entitlements as salaries, allowances and redundancy benefits due to them from November 2008 till period of judgment entered in their favour by the court.

Police kill bank robbery suspect

BY EVELYN USMAN

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AGOS—A member of a five-man robbery gang which specialised in attacking bank customers, was, yesterday, killed during a gun battle with policemen on Commercial Road, Apapa, Lagos.

This came as three Beninoise were arrested for allegedly kidnapping a four-year-old boy in Morogbo, near Badagry.

It was gathered that the gunmen, who rode on

three motorcycles, stormed the area at noon, and reportedly dispossessed their victims of cash and other valuables.

They were about snatching a vehicle from a motorist who attempted to flee the scene when a team of policemen on patrol swooped on them.

On sighting the policemen, the robbers reportedly opened fire on them. In the process, two of the robbers were shot.

The robbers, it was

gathered, escaped with one of their injured colleagues, leaving the other to his fate.

One locally-made double barrel pistol with five live cartridges and a Honda motorcycle, according to spokesman for the Lagos Police Command, Joseph Jaiyeoba, were recovered from the dead suspect. He said the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, for investigation.

C M Y K

10—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012

Call Buhari to order, cleric tells Jonathan

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

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From left, Mr Alberto Terzi, Strategic Logistic Manager, Nigerian Breweries Plc; Mr Robbert Mooij, Head Logistics, and Mrs Pamela Mooij, at the pre annual general meeting of Nigerian Breweries Plc, at Lekki, Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

DO-EKITI— CATHOLIC Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Most Rev. Felix Ajakaye, has challenged President Goodluck Jonathan to call the former Head of State, General Mohammadu Buhari (rtd), who recently threatened that the country would be bloody if the 2015 election was rigged, to order.

Ajakaye argued that the statement credited to the former Head of State was provocative and unguided and must be checked, noting that the former Head of State was

800 Ogun residents queue for Forster children

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA—THE Ogun State Government, yesterday, painted a gloomy picture of the procreative abilities of its citizens, saying no fewer than 800 couples have applied for adoption of motherless babies in the state.

In another breath, the government admitted that 124,000 of the 4.3 million residents of the state are living with HIV/AIDS, even as the government said it ‘rescued ‘no fewer than 72 lunatics and destitute from the streets of Abeokuta, the state capital, within a year.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka and his Women Affairs and Social Development counterpart, Elizabeth Sonubi, reeled out the figures while giving their report cards in the past year.

According to the Health Commissioner: “The prevalence rate of the deadly virus in the state is 3.1 per cent year,” which he said had made his ministry to embark on a number of HIV/AIDS control programmes.

The commissioner said the government had trained 186 international conductors to help in the area of prevention of HIV/ AIDS and that 35 HIV/ AIDS counselling centres and 31 prevention of mother-to- child treatment sites were created in the state to prevent the spread of the disease.

According to Soyinka

the ministry in collaboration with the Justice counterpart had concluded plans on a bill to effect the transformation of the State Action Committee on AIDS (SACA) from a committee to a full-fledged agency.

He said the government had also paid N50 million counterpart fund for Ogun SACA to become effective for the World Bank Credit.

Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Elizabeth Sonubi, said the state rescued ‘no fewer than 72 lunatics and destitute from the streets of Abeokuta within a year.

According to Sonubi, a recreation centre had to

be converted to a temporary site for the lunatics and destitute, towards creating a conducive environment for the psychiatric expert to take care of them effectively.

On the adoption of

It's honourable to reinstate Salami — Aregbesola

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

O

S O G B O — GOVERNOR Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to tow the path of honour by immediately reinstating

I resigned ministerial job to serve Ondo people — Mimiko

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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KURE—ONDO State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, has revealed that his resignation as Minister of Housing in the former President Olusegun O b a s a n j o ’ s administration without a specific political party to contest the governorship of Ondo State was borne out of his determination to make a difference in the lives of the people of the state.

The Governor, who stated this while declaring open the 28th annual national convention of Lions Club International where he

babies in the state, Sonubi said the state had only 75 abandoned babies at Stella Obasanjo Children’s Home and that, 11 had been given out to some couples before the 800 application came in.

in the habit of threatening the nation as he similarly threatened the nation that he would make g o v e r n m e n t ungovernable for the president if the election of 2011 was rigged.

Speaking with newsmen in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday, he said" “Nigeria belongs to all of us, we have no other place to go and we should watch our utterances, no matter our status. ''We are in a very trying time and we need to be prayerful and work our prayers; we need to be positive and concrete in our thoughts and work our thoughts. ''The former Head of State ought to have been invited by security agencies for questioning if we are in other climes. I don’t know what our security agents are still waiting for. No matter whose ox is gored, if another person had made such a statement, they will say he is planning something against the country.

“But, for making such a statement I will say that seems to be his character

was honoured with the Melvin Jones award, noted that he took the risk in the best interest of the masses of the state.

Dr Mimiko added that the mission was to make self sacrifice for the people, having suffered so long in the midst of plenty, expressing joy that the decision had made great impact on the lives of the people in the last three years.

According to him, the purpose of leadership is to render service to the people, noting that the philosophy of his administration and that of the Lions Club shared similarities in many areas.

the suspended President of the Appeal Court, Justice Ayo Salami.

The governor made this call while delivering a speech at the launch of three books in his honour, titled: The Divine Road to Justice, The Power-Force of Destiny and The Spirit of Mandate, at the Centre for Black Culture and I n t e r n a t i o n a l Understanding, Osogbo.

The governor said after the resolution of the matter by the National Judicial Commission, NJC, justice must be done by the President, noting that the suspension of Salami was erroneous and ill-advised.

He said: “So, if NJC ordered the suspension of Salami and it has also resolved to recall him, if our President will want to be seen as a man who believes in the rule of law, Justice Ayo salami should be reinstated without further delay.”

Aregbesola, while commenting on the books, said ''they are documented reminiscences of the prevailing tempestuous atmosphere of the happenings in Osun State during the 2007 general election and the three and a half years of legal battles to reclaim the stolen mandate.''

VC, others sued for alleged detention

BY ONOZURE DANIA

A

B E O K U TA — A senior lecturer at Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, UNAAB, Mr. Gregory Obayomi, has dragged the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olaiya Balogun and four others, before an Ogun State High Court, demanding N5 million for his alleged unlawful

detention.

Other defendants in the suit are Mr. Bolarinwa Peters, Mr. Dekola Adewusi, Mr. Nelson Nwannama and one Inspector Michael Olajide.

The plaintiff is also seeking for a declaration that the acts of the defendants arresting him at UNAAB and his detention at Obantoko Police Station, Abeokuta were unlawful.

and we should not allow him and others to be saying that anymore, the laws are there. It was the same Buhari who said he was going to make the country ungovernable if the elections were rigged in 2011. But, again, it is because of the government we have, if we have a government that is very decisive, we would not be having such negative and destructive utterances from people. ''If a leader is decisive, something will have to be done, so that a leader is not decisive now they are trading words; we should not allow Buhari to ruin Nigeria because he wants to rule at all cost.”

Briefly

Glo rocks Ibadan

I

BADAN, the political headquarters of SouthWest, is set to come alive as leading telecommunications outfit, Globacom, rocks the city with its entertaining programme Glo Laffta Fest on Sunday.

The show holds at Casa Lucio House of Luxury, British American Tobacco Way, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

In a statement by the M a r k e t i n g Communications Department of Globacom, top-rated Nigerian artistes led by comedian Gbenga Adeyinka entertain the people.

Ositelu dies at 91

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NR. Prophetess Victoria Olufunmilayo Ositelu (nee Bamtefa), popularly known as “Mama Nurse,” is died, aged 91.

A former state registered nurse, Victoria, wife of the late Dr. Josiah Olunowo Ositelu, founder and first Primate of The Church of the Lord (Aladura) Worldwide, died on March 27.

According to Revd Ayo Ositelu, the head of the Ositelu family, “Mama Nurse, who is survived by children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, was a devout christian and compassionate Godfearing Nigerian..

Her body will be laid to rest in Ogere, Ogun State, on Saturday, May 26.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012—11

Bloated wage bill: 13 Bayelsa civil servants get bail

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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VISIT: Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan (middle), World Bank's Director, Finance and Private Sector Development, African Region, Mr.Gaiv Tata and Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr. Kenneth Okpara, during a courtesy call on the governor by the World Bank team, at Government House, Asaba, yesterday.

Fire outbreaks: 13 killed in Delta ...N2bn property lost, N12bn salvaged

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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SABA—NO fewer than 15 persons lost their lives in various fire incidents in Delta State, while property worth over N12 billion was rescued, state Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Tony Nwaka, has said.

Mr. Nwaka, in an interview with newsmen in Asaba, yesterday, said the state government had established a ‘combined quick response scheme,’ aimed at providing an enabling environment for public and private sector to be involved in the fight against fire incidents in the state.

He said that 13 persons lost their lives in fire incidents in the state last year while 11 persons were rescued, adding, “The office of the

State Fire Services, which is an arm of the Bureau, attended to 385 fire calls and four false calls.”

He lamented that despite the spirited efforts

of the fire officers, about N2 billion property were lost to fire.

“The state government had given relief materials and other grants through the State Emer-

Nigeria records 12, 000 VVF annually, medical experts reveal

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

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ALABAR—THE increasing rate of Vesico Vaginal Fistula, VVF, has become a source of worry to medical experts in the country, who said that there are 12, 000 new cases of the scourge every year.

Meanwhile, experts have said it would take the next 15 years or more to clear the backlog of VVF cases, even if there

are no fresh infections in Nigeria.

Speaking at a workshop for journalists in Ogoja, Cross River State, yesterday, Dr. Mohammed Bashir, a fistula doctor in Zamfara State, who delivered a talk on managing a VVF centre, said the fact that a sudden lull in the number of patients at a centre, who turn up for repairs soon result in an astronomical increase, meant that the disease would take time

Ex-militants threaten violence over non-inclusion in amnesty programme

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN—FRESH cri sis is brewing in the Niger Delta, as over 200 exmilitants in the region, who earlier accepted the amnesty granted by the Federal Government, have condemned the alleged noninclusion of many of them in the amnesty training programme.

They have threatened to go back to the creeks if urgent steps were not taken

gency Relief Agency, SERA, to different communities confronted with various natural or manmade disasters including communal crises across the state,” he added.

to include them in the programme.

They complained that they complied with the 2009 Federal Government’s amnesty proclamation and submitted their arms and were issued certificates, but unfortunately “we have not been incorporated into the Amnesty Programme.”

The leader of the group, representing Edo State and ex-militant General Abiodu Edah (aka Karibu) and the National Secretary, Tam

Odogwu, appealed to the National Assembly, during their protest in Benin City, Edo State, yesterday, to prevail on the Federal Government to fulfill its promises to avoid renewed violence in the region.

Kabiru said: “The State Security Services, SSS, Director and the Joint Task Force, JTF, came to my community to disarm me and my boys. But we have not been included in the amnesty programme.”

to be eradicated.

The disease, experts said, had been in the country for long and awareness on its treatment was being created, though those suffering from the ailment in the hinterlands are unaware of its cure and would continue to live with it for a long time.

Bashir explained that some women may be carrying the disease for 20 or more years and for reasons of stigmatisation or lack of information on its treatment, they will continue to suffer in silence, stressing that much still needed to be done to sensitise the womenfolk, especially those in the rural areas, about the existence of VVF repair centres in the cities.

He added that the lack of a national data on fistula infection, had made it difficult to conclude whether the disease was decreasing or increasing, though more clients were turning up on daily basis nationwide at fistula centres for repairs. He appealed to women who have contacted the disease to feel free to go for cure.

ENAGOA—A FED ERAL High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, yesterday, granted bail to 13 senior civil servants charged to court by the Bayelsa State Government in connection with the bloated wage bill of the state.

The suspects, made up of staff of the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB and the State Treasury, have been in police custody since their arrest last month.

Trial judge, Justice R. Aikwai, who admitted the accused to bail, ad-

journed further hearing till June 21.

The court held that the said offences, for which the accused were charged, were bailable.

Each accused person was granted bail in the sum of N1million and a surety, who must be a senior civil servant resident in the state.

According to the court, each surety must have a landed property in the state. The court also ordered counsel to the accused persons to file a written application that the applicants would not interfere with the case as the investigation in the case was still on-going.

Pay 13% derivation directly to communities—Urhobo youths

BY EMMA ARUBI & AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE

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ARRI—THE Urhobo Youth Assembly, UYA, has called for direct allocation of the 13 per cent derivation fund to oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta.

UYA, in a protest letter to Delta State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, yesterday, noted that the funds were not getting to the host communities, whom they were meant for.

UYA President, Mr. Jude Akpore and Mr. Frank Onogagamue, Secretary, in the letter, argued that it was unconstitutional to route the funds through a third party, lamenting that the politics linked with the disbursement of the funds through the respective state governments and the Houses of Assembly was unfair.

The group accused the Delta State House of Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriation of intentionally removing projects earmarked for the area.

Otota of Okere-Urhobo tasks Warri residents on peace, unity

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HE Otota of OkereUrhobo Kingdom in Warri, Delta State, Chief Wilson Eboh, has called for the peace and unity among residents of Warri, irrespective of ethnic nationality.

The Otota made the call when members of the Warri Rebirth Initiative, WRI, visited the Okere-Urhobo people on the demise of their royal father, Okumagba I, Chief Benjamin Okumagba, at his residence in Warri.

Chief Eboh said brotherly love should be allowed to continue, and that whatever might have happened in the past should be put behind for the people to live together as one in Warri.

Eboh noted that the coming together of the Itsekiri, Urhobo and Ijaw in Warri was not by accident but divine and urged the three ethnic groups to live together as one, adding that same will encourage outsiders to join hands with them to develop the area.

In a condolence letter

read by the chairman of WRI, Mr. Kes Agbosa, he eulogized the late Orosuen for living a life worthy of emulation.

Ijiekhuamhen passes on

M

R. Fredrick Ijiekhuamhen, former Chairman, Igueben Local Government Area, Edo State, is dead, aged 56.

He was also former Special Asistant to former Governor Oserhiemen Osunbor from 2008 to 2009 and a member of Edo State Oil and Gas Commission. He died on May 12, 2012.

Late F. Ijiekhuamhen

12—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012

Okotie-Eboh charges leaders on insecurity ARRI—NIGERIAN W political leaders have been urged to unite behind

President Goodluck Jonathan and ensure that the problem of security in some parts of the country was brought to an end soon.

Son of the first republic Minister of Finance, Mr. Emmanuel Okotie-Eboh, noted in Warri, Delta State, yesterday, that if different party leaders could come together at a birthday lecture, then they could speak against insecurity threatening the unity of the country.

Okotie-Eboh, Chairman of Itsekiri Cultural Renaissance, said if personalities such as General T. Y. Danjuma, Gen. Jeremiah Useni, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Senator Ken Nnamani and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari could attend the birthday lecture of Chairman and Publisher of Leadership Newspapers Group, Sam Nda-Isaiah, “then there is no time to put blame at the doorstep of one political party but all parties should share in the blame of why there is insecurity in our country.”

Soldiers allegedly beat driver to death in Edo HEARING OF ITSEKIRI PETITION ON AMNESTY: From right, Chairman House Committee on Public Petition, Mr. Uzor Azubike; Mr. Hassan Sali and Mr. Daniel Reyenieju, during the Public Petition Hearing on the non-inclusion of former armed Itsekiri youths in the Post-Amnesty Programme, at National Assembly. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan.

Court dissolves Edo LG Caretaker C'ttees

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE ENIN—EDO State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has called on security agencies in the state to investigate the alleged looting of council funds and property by transition chairmen, following their sack by a state High Court sitting in Ekpoma.

The court had, in the suit by Mr. Tony Okoigene against the Edo State governor and others, set aside the resolution of the Edo State House of Assembly of June 1, 2011 which extended the tenure of the local government area chairmen, among others.

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Louis Odion, who confirmed the court’s judgment, said that the state government would appeal against same.

Similarly, transition

B

caretaker committee chairman, Mrs. Stella Okoro, who was accused of impropriety, has challenged PDP and Mr. Okharedia Ihimekpen to substantiate their allegations, adding, “they should first find out from the council, my overhead and salary before making the allegation. They are just doing this to blackmail the council.”

PDP, in a statement by Mr. Ihimepen, Director

of Publicity, said the call on the security agents became important to protect the councils’ property. He called on the council workers and National Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, to protect government property The party said that it was drawing the attention of the public to the action by yet-to-be-identified persons of looting councils funds and prop-

Orubebe attributes delay on E-West Road to paucity of funds

BY MITAIRE IKPEN

A

BUJA—MINIS TER of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, has attributed the slow pace of work on the East-West Road, transversing the Niger Delta

region, to poor releases of funds to the Ministry for the project, which he said will be completed by December 2014.

Presenting his ministry’s stewardship, yesterday in Abuja, at the ongoing Ministerial Platform to mark this year’s

Dickson signs revised 2012 budget of the Assembly on April 23, N238bn into law this year for consideraBY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

ENAGOA—GOV ERNOR Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, has signed the revised 2012 budget of N238 billion into law.

At a brief ceremony at Government House, Yenagoa, Dickson, said the new budget will

erty, following a court judgment of May 16, 2012 declaring the local government councils caretaker committees in the state, illegal. ”Information is also rife that the sacked Caretaker Committee members and some staffers of the councils especially in Esan West Local Government Area are involved in this act of looting both funds and material items."

make way for massive construction work in the various sectors of the state.

Dickson had withdrawn an earlier budget proposal sent to the Assembly by the immediate past administration to give way for the new budget.

A proposal of about N217bn was forwarded to

tion, a process that took the House, 23 days to pass.

Dickson thanked the Speaker, Mr. Kombowei Benson and the House for the speedy passage of the Appropriation Bill.

He said the journey of restoration had commenced with the signing of the budget into law and called on the lawmakers to join in the process of rebuilding the state.

National Democracy Day, Orubebe expressed concern that paucity of funds may delay the actualisation of the master plan for the region.

He noted that his ministry’s major achievement remains sustained peace and security in the region, which had boosted the nation’s oil production capacity from pre-amnesty level of 700,000 bpd to 2,600,000 bpd.

Orubebe explained that the East-West Road project, which his ministry inherited from the Ministry of Works in 2009 at 10 percent completion, lacked the requisite designs, hence more fund was expended on redesigning the road. He was optimistic that the project, which was now 50 per cent done, under his Ministry will be completed before December 2014.

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE ENIN—SOL DIERS from the Nigerian Army School of Supply and Transport (S & T) Ugbowo, Benin, Edo State, have allegedly beaten a bus driver, Isaac Onaiwu, 48, to death.

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Elder brother of the deceased, Mr. Matthew Onaiwu, who spoke to journalists in Benin, yesterday, said his late brother, who operated a campus shuttle bus between the University of Benin and Ring Road, on Tuesday, collided with a car belonging to an Army Lieutenant.

Vanguard , FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012—13

Nigeria, India top global maternal deaths — UN I

NDIA and Nigeria together accounted for a third of the deaths of pregnant women globally in 2010, latest UN figures said, even as maternal deaths declined by nearly half in the past two decades due to improvement in health systems and increased female education.

Globally, an estimated 287,000 women died in pregnancy and childbirth in 2010, a decline of 47 per cent from levels in 1990, with Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia accounting for 85 per cent of the those maternal deaths, according to a report on trends in maternal mortality between 1990 to 2010 released by UN Population Fund (UNFPA), World Health Organisation, UN Children‘s Fund and the World Bank.

At the country level, India and Nigeria accounted for a third of global maternal deaths, with India at 19 per cent (56,000) and Nigeria at 14 per cent (40,000).

The global Maternal Mortality Rate, MMR, in 2010 was 210 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, down from 400 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 1990.

Another eight countries , Democratic Republic of the Congo (15,000), Pakistan (12,000), Sudan (10,000), Indonesia (9,600), Ethiopia (9,000), Tanzania (8,500), Bangladesh (7,200) and Afghanistan (6,400) , account for the nearly 40 per cent of the global maternal deaths.

The report said every two minutes a woman dies of pregnancy-related complications like severe bleeding after child birth, infections, high blood pressure during pregnancy and unsafe abortion.

However, there has been some progress in providing improved health care to pregnant women which has resulted in deaths being cut by half over the past two decades, the report added.

"In addition to improvement in health systems, other factors outside the health sector such as increased female education and increased physical accessibility to health facilities could be contributory factors,” it said.

The Millennium Development Goals report of 2011 indicates that improvement in the past two decades is also due to the proportion of deliveries

attended by skilled health personnel in developing regions rising from 55 per cent in 1990 to 65 per cent in 2009.

Similarly, the proportion of women who were attended to by skilled health-care personnel at least once during pregnancy increased from 64 per cent to 81 per cent, while the proportion of women aged 15-49 years who use any method of

contraception also increased from 52 per cent to 61 per c e n t .

More recently, the rapid roll-out of antiretroviral therapy in sub-Saharan Africa to HIV-positive women, from 10 per cent in 2000 to 55 per cent in 2010, improves the chances of surviving the additional demands of pregnancy.

"Improvement in the coverage of these healthcare interventions over the

past two decades may have contributed to improved outcomes.

However, disparities exist, within and across regions,” the report said, adding that Eastern Asia, which experienced the greatest MMR decline, has a contraceptive prevalence rate of 84 per cent as opposed to only 22 per cent in sub-Saharan Africa, the region with one of the lowest MMR d e c l i n e s .

Oko poly disowns female robbery suspect paraded by SSS

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA—THE Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State yesterday said the female suspect paraded by the State Security Service, SSS, along with eight others over alleged robbery was not a student of the institution.

23-year-old Miss Blessing Orji was arrested with her boyfriend in a hotel in Awka during which she told officials of SSS that she was an accounting student of Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Public Relations Officer, PRO, of the Polytechnic, Mr. Obini Onuchukwu, in a statement, said from the school records, Miss Blessing Orji, who was one of the paraded suspects and who claimed to be a student of the institution, was never a student of the polytechnic..

According to Onuchukwu, the accountancy department of the Polytechnic where the suspect claimed she belonged had gone through the records and discovered that the suspect was never a student in that department.

The PRO stated that students of the Polytechnic were currently preparing for the first semester examination, adding that the said Orji was probably paid to tarnish the image of the polytechnic.

He said the report was not only misleading but also unfortunate, regretting that such reports could present the polytechnic in bad light.

He said: “The Federal Polytechnic Oko because of the tremendous transformation witnessed in the last two years remained one of the most sought institutions by students.

FG handling of foreign airlines: Nigerians express appreciation New Chairman, Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, Engr Mustafa Balarabe Shehu and Minister of Works, Arc Mike Onolememen during a visit.

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

Lawyers protest in Aba, call O for transfer of judge zSay she treated them with disdain

BY ANAYO OKOLI

A

BA—LAWYERS in Aba, Abia State, yesterday, called for transfer of Justice Theresa Uzokwe for treating them with levity. Not even the intervention of the Acting Chief Judge, Justice Shedrack Nwanosike, could stop the lawyers’ protest.

The lawyers accused the Judge of not according lawyers respect, alleging that she treated them with disdain. For example, they alleged that on more than two occasions, she had punished lawyers whose cell phones rang unknowingly in the court.

In one instance, they alleged that Justice Uzokwe stood a lawyer up for two hours behind the dock as a punishment in the presence of litigants because his cell phone rang, while in another case she was said to have asked an elderly lawyer to kneel down for the same offence.

Yet in another case, she

was said to have directed her police orderly to smash the phone of a lawyer, in spite of appeals from Chairman of Aba branch of NBA, Mr. Charles Eduzor.

On the strength of these allegations, the lawyers on

Monday picketed High Court 2 which she presides over, and in a resolution that preceded the picketing, Aba NBA called on the NJC to either retire or remove Uzokwe as a Judge of High Court of Abia State.

W E R R I —MORE Nigerians have expressed happiness over the way the Federal Government stood its ground in tackling the annoying exploitation and maltreatment of its citizens by foreign airlines and embassies.

Speaking to Vanguard, the Vice Chairman, Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, Imo State Chapter, Comrade Evarestus Emeka, described the Federal Government’s intervention as commendable, timely

and a sure proof that it was no longer business as usual.

He was particularly happy with the Minister of State 1 for Foreign Affairs, and Minister of Aviation, Prof (Mrs.) Viola Onwuiliri and Mrs. Stella Oduah, respectively, for setting the tone of the current crusade.

“A situation where Nigerians are exploited and dehumanized is very humiliating. The long wait at foreign embassies, as well as the puerile reasons given to deny Nigerians deserved visas, is equally condemnable,” Emeka said.

14—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012

Nwobu-Alor dismisses expulsion from APGA

BY MOSES NOSIKE

S

PECIAL Adviser to Governor Peter Obi on Parks and Markets in Anambra State, Chief Nwobu-Alor, has described his expulsion from APGA by Victor Umeh as illegal, vexatious, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.

According to him, the so called state executive of APGA is not elected by congress as required by constitution, but handpicked and installed

by Victor Umeh. He added that the party’s constitution statedthat the executive was elected through ward local government and state congresses, saying for the past seven years, no ward, local government or state

congress had been held, which meant that state executive of APGA did not exist.

He said: “It therefore has no powers whatsoever to sanction or expel any party member.

“Umeh simply ordered his illegal cronies to call a press conference and announce my expulsion to the world in order to impugn my integreity and that of Anambra State Governor".

“I and my two colleagues are still members of APGA and will continue to be members until Victor Umeh is removed and the party restructured.” Therefore, the talk of expulsion by an illegal gang is a misnomer and a joke of the year," he said.

Sen Okonkwo tasks S-East govs on development

S

ENATOR Annie Okonkwo has charged governors of the South East to initiate a regional developmental agenda that will make the zone envy of Nigerians.

Okonkwo, in a statement by his Media Adviser, and Coordinator, Congress for Igbo Renaissance, Mr. Collins Ugwu, bemoaned unequal number of states in the regions, a situation he believe had left an irreparable economic and political trauma in the South East geopolitical zone.

“Now, our governors should rise to the occasion with one accord and give us a deliverable ideapacked regional blueprint, that will command acceptance and guarantee rapid transformation of our landscape for good,” said Senator Okonkwo, who

represented Anambra State in the sixth Senate.

On why a South East blueprint should be the best, he noted that “our renowned experts in all fields of endeavour and industry are the consultants others pursue to hire locally and internationally.

“The political will to harness their global talents for a transformative turn around is the major key, not the costs,” he said.

Emphasizing the need for urgency, the Senator cautioned that “as our people once again return home in droves from unjust displacements in their places of abode and trade, especially from the north, our balm of hope for them must be visible in action, since rehearsed lyrics of apologies will certainly not be music to their ears.

Daily Times: Forum slams AGF

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

S

OUTH East Forum for Justice and Economic Empowerment, SEFJEE, has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to call the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, Alhaji Mohammed Adoke to order, over his position on the privatization of Daily Times of Nigeria.

It also alleged that the AGF had misled the Federal Government and the general public on the sale of Daily Times of Nigeria to Anosike brothers.

In a statement by its Executive Secretary, Mr Desmond Okere, the forum condemned the decision of the Justice Minister to institute criminal proceedings against the Anosike brothers and their company Folio Communications against the order of the Inspector General of Police.

According to him, “we are quite aware that the case which the AGF instituted against the Anosikes and Filio Communications Limited has been dismissed in court because the AGF cannot muster enough facts to prosecute the case.

LAUNCH—From left: Mr James Awoniyi, Member, Cassava Value Chain Office; Mrs Folusho Olaniyan, MD/CEO UTC Nigeria Plc; Dr Paul Orhii, DG, NAFDAC; and Mr Niyi Alabi, HR Manager, Nigeria Brewerias Plc during the launch of cassava-based bread by UTC Nigeria Plc in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

S-East PDP blasts Buhari zWants him to guard utterances

BY TONY EDIKE

E

NUGU—THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, South East zone, yesterday, joined other Nigerians in condemning recent comments by former military head of state, Gen Muhammadu Buhari, in which he threatened bloodshed if the 2015 elections were rigged, saying his statement was “incendiary and bereft of patriotic intent.”

A statement by the National Vice Chairman of PDP in the zone, Col Austin Akobundu (rtd), applauded the prompt response from the Presidency and the party to Gen Buhari’s unfortunate outbursts.

It also commended President Goodluck Jonathan for showing restraint against the heckling of opposition politicians aimed at distracting him from prosecuting his transformation a g e n d a .

The party said Gen Buhari’s unwarranted and provocative statement was capable of inciting more violence in a country already racked by serious security c h a l l e n g e s .

The statement read: “We in the South East have good reason to be apprehensive anytime political leaders try to stoke up sectarian violence through inflammatory speech. Given our bitter experience, those who employ violence to serve political ends are nev-

er caught in the crossfire.

“Their victims, regrettably, have mainly been south easterners, youth corps members, church worshippers, business people or innocent bystanders. . "We call on our political leaders to guard their utterances and eliminate the rhetoric of violence from their repertoire, so that

peace will reign. We need peace for development and p r o g r e s s .

“The South East PDP leader advised General Buhari to continue to lend his voice to matters of national importance but should do so with the measured tact of an elder statesman.

“Politics apart, it is impolitic for a person of his state-

ly standing and someone who has fought for the unity of this country to descend into the arena of tendentious demagogy.”

The party, however, noted that since the 2011 elections were over, everyone must now join hands with the man who won the popular vote, President Jonathan, to move the country forward.

FG to concession Apapa-Oshodi expressway

BY GODWIN ORITSE

T

HERE are indications that the Federal Government may have decided to concession the Apapa-Oshodi expressway following failed attempts to ensure the road is free of traffic gridlock.

The decision to concession the road leading to the ports in Lagos was as a result of the cost of repair and maintenance, while the concession option was the only viable one for government .

Vanguard gathered that paucity of funds which has crippled the rehabilitation of the failed Apapa–Oshodi expressway was also another reason which the government considered.

The Federal Government at a time considered alternative funding options for the project and it has narrowed it down to concessioning.

Vanguard confirmed from sources close to the Ministry of Works that the whole stretch from Apapa to Oshodi and the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, would be handed over to the private sector.

The source also hinted that government is worried about the state of the road and that the on-going rehabilitation has been slowed down.

“It was the Minister of Works who brought the idea of alternative funding for the project and it was tabled at the Federal Exec-

utive Council, FEC, meeting which has sailed through”, the source added.

He also hinted that government is however, still at a loss as to how to go about it, since the rehabilitation work is already being funded by it.

According to him, bringing a concessionaire at this point may pose some problems.

He, however, specifically stated that it would be executed through a Public Private Partnership, PPP, arrangement, details of which are still being worked out.

Already, construction giant, Julius Berger has commenced work on the road which would be handed over to a private firm for proper management

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012—15

Armed Forces ready for any crisis —Minister

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

A

BUJA—DEFENCE Minister, Dr. Bello Mohammed, said, yesterday, that the Armed Forces were in a state of combat readiness needed to surmount all issues of insecurity, internal or external. He said government has ensured this by funding the requirements of the different arms of the military.

Speaking at the ministerial platform organised by the Ministry of Information and Communication in Abuja, the minister noted that the state of combat readiness was achieved following the repairs and upgrading of a number of Armoured Fighting Vehicles and Armoured Personnel Carriers for the Nigerian Army.

He also said the acquisitions of the warship, NNS Thunder, and a number of Shaldag Fast Patrol Boats for the Navy, in addition to existing weaponry for the two services, had made them combat-ready.

The minister said the F7Ni Supersonic Jet fighter had been acquired by the Nigeria Air Force, even as M-35-Helicopters had been retrofitted, while Super Puma Helicopters and Alpha-jets had undergone upgrading and re-inducted.

Mohammed said: “We (Ministry of Defence) have also refurbished some of our C-130H Aircraft in the NAF inventory.”

He noted that the ministry placed great emphasis on the welfare of personnel of the armed forces.

Conduct council polls, Reps urge 25 govs z‘Caretaker c'ttee unconstitutional’

BY BEN AGANDE

A

BUJA—HOUSE of Representatives, yesterday, called on the governors of the 25 states where caretaker chairmen run the affairs of local governments, to put measures in place to conduct elections into the councils.

This, according to the Reps, is to ensure that all local government chairmen are duly elected.

However, a prayer that allocations to such local governments be suspended was rejected as members argued that such action would be unconstitutional.

Sponsor of the motion, Friday Itulah, noted that local governments in 25 states of the federation “are run by state government illegally in the name of caretaker committees.”

He listed the states to include: Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Yobe and Zamfara states.

According to Itulah, the system of appointing caretaker committees to head local government is alien to, and in violation of Section 7 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

He said: “If this is not checked, it may bring the country to a lawless state.”

In his contribution, Ahmed Nasir noted that the appointment of caretaker chairmen to run the affairs of local councils “is a clear violation of the constitution of Nigeria.

The caretakers are not representatives of the

people; there is no way we can have development in the local government areas if they are under

A

BUJA—FEDERAL Government has reviewed road projects and remunerations paid road consultants in the country, with a view to prioritising projects and saving money.

Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja when he received in his office the executive management of Nigerian

Society of Engineers, NSE, led by its President, Engr.

Mustapha Shehu.

Onolememen told the engineers that the decision to prioritise and review consultants’ remuneration was reached at the Federal Executive Council meeting.

He said: “The matter was discussed by the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting where we took the decision. It is not just about paying engineers for idle

appointing caretaker chairmen, “the states are in breach of section seven of the constitution. The

intention of having local government areas is to ensure that governance gets to the grassroots.”

AGM: From left— Mrs Chioma Madubuko, Company Secretary; Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chairman, and Engr. Abdulahi Sule, Managing Director, all of Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, at the company's 6th Annual General Meeting in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

Nigeria to put man in space by 2015

BY LAIDE AKINBOADE

A

BUJA—MINISTER of Science and Technology, Prof. Ita Bassey, said yesterday that Nigeria would by 2015 put its first set of astronauts in space.

He also said technology transfer agreements between Nigerian entrepreneurs and their technical partners abroad saved Nigeria over N16 billion between May 2011 and March 2012.

Bassey, who spoke at the 2012 ministerial platform, One Year Score Card, organised by Ministry of Information in Abuja, said training of the first set of astronauts to be sent to space would soon commence.

On savings from

FG reviews projects, consultancy remunerations

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

caretaker.”

The minority Whip of the House, Samson Osagie, said by

time. We are even saying that we do not want to create that kind of down time in our projects any more ”There are certain criteria that will henceforth drive our projects and topmost on the criteria is the prioritisation of projects based on availability of funds. We will nolonger spread the little funds on many projects that may not be active for more than two months and then have 10 months of down time.”

technology transfer agreements, the minister said: “The highest amount of money that was saved was in September 2011 with over N5.3 billion followed

by N3.8 billion. The lowest amount was N89.8 million in August 2011.

“Nigeria shall vigorously pursue the attainment of space capabilities as an essential tool for the socioeconomic development and enhancement of the quality of life of its people.

“20 technologies are transferred on weekly basis

through training for establishments of small medium enterprises. These include, instant pounded yam flour, fruit juice production, cassava products (chips, adhesives, starch, flour), instant fufu flour, baking and confectioneries.”

... as FG trains 1m youths

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU & PRISCILLA BADUGU

A

BUJA—AS part of efforts to restore the country’s industrial sector to its glorious days, the Federal Government has concluded plans to train one million youths through the National Industrial Revolution Plan, NIRP, to create employment, wealth and reduce poverty.

Disclosing this, yesterday, at the National Industrial Skills Development, NISD, Forum organised by the Industrial Training Fund, ITF, and the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Development Agency, SMEDAN, in Abuja, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, said the NIRP and NISD projects were part of his ministry’s plans to carry out a complete turnaround of the country’s industrial fortunes.

According to him, no nation can truly be industrialised without

adequate skilled manpower.

He said the action plan would ensure that one million Nigerian youths were trained every year in different areas of skills acquisition.

Aganga said: “I am not blaming anybody but the

available indices and what other countries like Brazil, South Africa and the Asian Tigers have done with less potentials show that a lot of things had been wrong with our approach and policies in the past.”

APGA ratifies expulsion of Obi's SA, 2 others

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

A

BUJA—NATIONAL leadership of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, has ratified the expulsion of NwobuAlor, Special Adviser to Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, and two others, saying the state chapter of the party followed due process to reach the decision.

APGA’s National Publicity Secretary, Benard Akoma, in a statement issued in Abuja, said: “Contrary to denials by Nwobu-Alor that he was not properly intimated by the disciplinary panel

investigating any allegations against him, the National Executive has it on good authority that due process was properly followed by the state chapter, including the serving of the affected members with invitation letters, personally.

“This fact is confirmed by the presence of the other two accused members of the party before the panel to defend themselves.

“The refusal of NwobuAlor to respond to the invitation of the party was just one more piece of evidence of his disdain and insubordination.”

C M Y K

16—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012

Sharia: Zamfara rehabilitates amputees

BY SAMINU IBRAHIM

G

USAU—ZAMFARA State Government has rehabilitated two men whose hands were amputated under the Sharia law about 12 years ago.

The amputees are Bello Buba, who reportedly stole a cow, and Mallam Lawali Isa, who confessed that he stole a set of bicycles.

The first victim of the Sharia Law, Buba, has been given N500,000 to start cow rearing business, while Isa is now a cement distributor in Gusau, courtesy of the state government.

Former Governor of the state, Senator Ahmed Yerima, whose administration introduced the law, facilitated their rehabilitation by the government, following persistent complaints by the victims.

Bauchi distributes 210 tricycles

BY SUZAN EDEH

B

AUCHI—AS part of its efforts to reduce the rate of unemployment in Bauchi State, the government has distributed 210 tricycles on loan to members of tricycle and Achaba riders (commercial motorcyclists) associations across the 20 local government areas in the state.

Governor Isa Yuguda, while commissioning the tricycles,yesterday,attheStyer Nigeria Company Limited in Bauchi,saidthatthefirstbatch of 293 tricycles distributed last year on loan in the 20 local government areas of the state had been liquidated by their beneficiaries.

FCTA plans 5,000 housing units

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

A

BUJA—FEDERAL Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, has disclosed plans to construct about 5,000 affordable mass housing units before the end of the year.

Minister of State for the FCT, Oloye Akinjide, made this known, yesterday, at the Ministerial Platform organised by the Ministry of Information in Abuja to commemorate the one year in office of President Goodluck Jonathan.

VISIT: From left— Mr. Sunday Adepoju, Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives Committe on Rules and Business; Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman, Minister of National Planning; Mr. Mulikat Akande-Adeola, House Leader, and Alhaji Abdulahi Yola, Solicitor-General, during the minister's visit to the National Assembly, Wednesday.

Explosions rock primary schools in Kano

BY ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD

K

ANO—MULTIPLE explosions rocked two primary schools in Kano State, yesterday, night resulting in the destruction of two units of classroom blocks.

The affected schools include the Ja’in located at Kumbotso Local Government and Hotoron Arewa in Nasarawa Local Area in the municipality.

Security sources told Vanguard: “The explosions went off simultaneously around 7.30pm.”

Vanguard further gathered that the attackers of Hotoro Arewa Primary School came on a motorcycle and threw explosives into a new storey building due for commissioning soon.

The explosion blew off the roof.

The source further explained that the attack triggered pandemonium and forced night life to a halt as people scampered for safety.

However, at Ja’in Primary School located at the heart of Industrial Estate Phase 2, few vehicles parked within the premises of the school had their windscreen blown off, while the roofing of a unit of classroom was shattered.

The midweek attack on the Islamiyya and prowestern educational institution is the first of such attack in the city since Kano came under attack on January 20. No group has yet claimed

responsibility for the attacks. Security agencies said that “investigations have commenced to unravel the perpetrators.”

Confirming the incident in a telephone interview with Vanguard, the Joint Task Force, JTF,

Spokesman in the state, Lt. Iweha Ikediche, said: “Some Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, went off within the premises of two primary schools last night.

Counter terrorism personnel were deployed to the scene for

necessary action.”

On his part, the Deputy Public Relations Officer of Kano State Police Command, Magaji Majia said: “A portion of a building was substantially damaged, while few cars parked within the premises of

Ja’in Primary School lost their wind shields.

“The anti-bomb disposal unit personnel recovered and defused four IEDs abandoned at the scene of the incident,” while calling on the general public to remain calm.

Benue, Borno record 616,396 HIV/AIDS cases, 2,384 TB, 158 lepers

BY PETER DURU & NDAHI MARAMA

M

AKURDI—BENUE and Borno states have expressed alarm over the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the areas put at 616,396. Benue State Government made this known a s t h e Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi, Dr. Mathias Oyigeya, asked the Federal Government to establish more hospitals to handle the issue in the state, while Borno State blamed the high incidence of the disease on the past administrations’ lack of interest in combating its spread.

Statistics The Commissioner for Health in Benue State, Dr. Orduen Abunku, said there were 600,000 cases of HIV/AIDS in the area, while his Borno State counterpart, Dr. Salma Kolo, put the figure at 16,396, with 2,384 others suffering from tuberculosis, and 158

were leprosy patients.

The Medical Director who spoke to newsmen, yesterday, in Makurdi, said the call for establishment of more hospitals became necessary in view of the high burden of infectious diseases like HIV/ AIDS, Hepatitis, tuberculosis, among others, which he said were more pronounced

across Benue State.

Oyigeya lamented that the state lagged behind in the establishment of health institutions, noting that many states with lesser population of HIV/AIDS cases than Benue had more than two or three Federal Government health institutions. He said one federal hospital was not enough for the

population of the state.

He said: “Benue has 4.6 million people and Edo, for instance, has 3.2 million. Whereas Edo has three federal hospitals, two teaching hospitals and a psychiatric hospital, Benue bears the heaviest disease burden in the country, apart from hepatitis, tuberculosis, among others. So we deserve a federal infectious disease hospital.”

Plateau can't win war against media the reaction of the passed through worst times — LP the Jang government’s publicists, he under

BY TAYE OBATERU

J

OS—SPOKESMAN of the Labour Party in Plateau State, Mr. Sylvanus Namang, has described as unfortunate the strained relationship between journalists and the state government blaming it on what he called “f u n d a m e n t a l parochialism” of the administration, saying the state government “cannot win the war.”

Reacting to the threatened boycott of coverage of government activities by journalists and

said other sectors of the state had faced worst times under the administration.

Namang faulted the attitude of those in government who think the state media alone can give adequate publicity to government’s activities.

He said it was unheard of, even under military administrations, that a governor would be shielded from journalists for about five years as had been alleged, saying the current face-off was unnecessary and avoidable.

He said: “Other strata of the state’s economy have

administration. Once he has got to this kind of trouble with the press, it is clear that the man has failed and there is no way he can win the war.”

Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, in the state had, Monday, resolved to boycott the state government’s activities over her inability to end the protracted crises in the state which had increasingly exposed journalists to danger in the course of their duties, among other issues.

Sweet & SOUR

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012 — 17

Donu Kogbara

FCTminister and St Vincent’s Clinic/Maternity

S

T Vincent’s Clinic/Ma ternity in Kubwa, Abuja, is run by Catholic nuns - the Daughters of Charity. The essential work these selfless reverend sisters are doing is under threat because the building they occupy is due to be demolished to make way for a light railway line.

The Daughters of Charity came into the Archdiocese of Abuja exactly 16 years ago – in May 1996 – and immediately started to provide free mobile services to occupants of remote villages who could not access or afford healthcare.

In addition to immunizing children and pregnant women, they dished out free food to the hungry. And when impressed local chiefs asked them to establish a more comprehensive facility plus jobs for the unemployed, the nuns gladly complied and have gone from strength to strength. The Hospital they built was built with Government approval and its staff have not violated any rules or broken any laws and are developing an HIV Recourses Enhancement Against Aids and Malnutrition programme

Daughters of Charity clinics and maternity at Kubwa, Abuja

FCT minister, Bala Mohammed as an acknowledgement that their contribution to society is important. And they have, for over four years, been begging FCT to assist them in either of the following ways:

,

Can someone please explain why Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Ministers have been coldly ignoring numerous entreaties from these resourceful philanthropists and their many advocates since 2008?

,

in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health.

So can someone please tell me why Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Ministers have been coldly ignoring numerous entreaties from these resourceful philanthropists and their many advocates since 2008? Letter after letter has been written to no avail. The Daughters of Charity are not opposed to the rail line. They just want fair treatment as well

a) by building another hospital for them before the existing structure is bulldozed, so they can transfer to a new location without disrupting their services to the sick or b) by providing them with another plot of land, adequate compensation and sufficient time, so they can build another hospital for themselves before the existing structure is bulldozed.

In a normal country, such

An expatriate whose company has funded some of the nuns’activities told me that: “It is devastating to see the authorities’complete lack of interest in the imminent demolition of Kubwa Hospital, which is a very rare example of a bona fide organisation delivering services to the poor, using every donation with transparent accountability.

“The Nigerian nuns are superb healthcare professionals and the willingness of international organisations to help in the development of this project over the years has been due to their excellent reputation and sound allocation of resources.”

When I spoke to Sister Brenda, who heads the disabled children’s unit, she said

that her main worry is their patients - 77,771 at the last count - who will suffer. Many are critically ill. One wonders why the Daughters of Charity’s pleas have fallen on deaf ears and why no information about the proposed demolition date has been forthcoming.

The nuns are hurt by this silence and have no idea how much time they have left. All they know is that a positive intervention from the FCT Minister will be warmly welcomed.

Mobile police were recently deployed to the site, so it’s possible that the axe will soon fall. I will be monitoring the situation closely and will let you know what happens.

Watch this space and text me if you want to make a donation to the Daughters of Charity.

Stop breeding!

reasonable requests from such dedicated servants of God and mankind would be taken seriously. But this is Nigeria, a country in which it is easier for bad people to thrive than for good people to be appreciated and encouraged!

L

et me also sorrowfully note that most of our leaders are, despite paying lip service to poverty alleviation initiatives, not sincerely interested in the welfare of the poor, even though many of them came from extremely poor backgrounds and should therefore feel especially sympathetic towards those they left behind at the bottom of the ladder.

The Daughters of Charity have hitherto been largely supported by foreign individuals and organisations such as ambassadors’ wives, the Irish Government and Julius Berger and it would be nice if we Nigerians could make more of an effort to encourage these wonderful women.

I

AM sure the Daughters of Charity share the Pope’s view that contraception is sinful and will be appalled by this segment of today’s column.

Even though I was born a Catholic and will always try to live like one, I find it impossible to agree with the Vatican’s stance on birth control.

I believe that people should not have big families, even when they are rich, partly because the world is overpopulated and partly because it is very difficult to be an attentive parent when your attentions have to be thinly spread.

And I was very irritated when I read, in recent newspaper reports, that the Government is not ready to nag Nigerian women to have fewer children.

Our birth rate per woman is 5.7. Britain’s, meanwhile, is less than 2. Imagine a situation in which relatively wealthy women in the West

are having much fewer children than financially challenged women in Africa! It doesn’t make sense.

According to the Minister of State for Health, Mohammed Ali Pate (who has an overly relaxed attitude towards reproduction issues, in my opinion), “Africa’s population is about one billion now and will be two billion by 2015…”

How on earth are all these extra mouths going to be fed on a continent that is not exactly famed for handling economic challenges efficiently and ethically?

Responses to: donzol2002@yahoo.co.uk or to 0802 747 6458 (texts only). PLEASE KINDLY NOTE THAT UNLESS YOU SPECIFICALLY REQUEST ANONYMITY, YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE PUBLISHED IN VANGUARD, WITH YOUR NAMES AND NUMBERS OR EMAIL ADDRESSES ATTACHED.

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012 XACTLY what does the National Assembly do? Nigerians should ask again following the latest revelations that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, deployed 2,000 untrained, yet armed operatives.

More baffling is that the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Anti-Corruption, Victor Lar, tried to defend the new and more dangerous version of the war on narcotics, which has at least cost one life.

Lar said NDLEA had not been allocated any funds for training in the past four years.

The agency, he said, was using weapons that belong to the Civil War era. None of these is a reason for the illegal deployment of untrained, armed operatives.

They are not only a danger to the society, but it is doubtful if they would not harm themselves. Last October, one such untrained NDLEA operative allegedly killed Joseph Chia in Taraku, Benue State.

The incident brought NDLEA to focus.

Section 80 of the Constitution invests the National Assembly with powers over the nation’s money. The powers include allocation of the funds. The National

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Drug war gets more dangerous Assembly, by its admission, allocates money without consciousness of the implications of its decisions.

Its committees that cater for different aspects of national life are supposed to draw attention to the importance of specific items on the budget. NDLEA got approvals for travels, entertainment, furnishing of offices, purchase of cars and none for training and arms.

We have no reason to doubt Lar ’s revelations. We also have every reason to blame the National Assembly for failing in its duties, as it has done in many areas, while putting up the officious face of studious performance. NDLEA, on its part, played silently in the conspiracy.

At regular intervals, it celebrated arrests of drug suspects, creating the perfect picture of an organisation with honed efficiency. How did it expect to make a scratch on the war on narcotics with untrained personnel? Did it realise the dangers of arming untrained operatives?

Unfortunately, the same Senate Committee that never knew the importance of training, and presided over its omission in NDLEA’s budget would investigate the infraction. Is it expected to indict itself?

Would it pay for the consequences of its inaction and the loss of life in Taraku?

Where was Lar, the Committee Chairman, when NDLEA’s budget was passed without funds for training? When did he know the agency had only two airport scanners and ancient arms? Should individuals, who deny responsibility for the consequences of their leadership, still bug Nigerians with excuses, expecting they would cover their failure?

The Senate should not ask a failed committee to investigate itself; otherwise, it sets out to underscore the futility of the investigation.

OPINION

BY TOCHUKWU EZUKANMA

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OOD leadership is not a function of age. The world has known great and outstanding leaders in different age brackets. Ronald Reagan was 69 years old when he became the President of the United States of America. He remained president until he was 77 years old. Winston Churchill first became the British Prime Minister at the age of 65. His second stint as prime minister started when he was 77 years old. At the other extreme, Theodore Roosevelt became the president of the United States of America at the age of was 43, John Kennedy at 43, and that greatest phenomenon of the 21 Century, Barack Obama, at 46.

The failure of leadership in Nigeria is indisputable. As Nigerians grope for answers for this unmitigated failure in leadership, some blame it on the domination of power by obscurantist and retrograde old guards. They argue that if the youths can supplant these old guards, they will make better leaders, and can unrecognisably transform Nigerian.

While youthfulness is magnificent, it is not a necessary prerequisite for good leadership. Up until that point where it becomes associated with senility and other forms of mental and physical impairments, old age does not impede leadership capabilities. Secondly, thus far, the Nigerian youths in positions of power have not, in anyway, distinguished themselves as leaders. Like the old guards, they are greedy, arrogant and scornful of the masses. They are world renowned for their incompetence, political intolerance, financial dishonesty and theft of public fund The word youth lacks a precise definition. It becomes even harder to define in the context of political leadership. The Nigerian constitution stipulates a minimum age of 30 years for running for a legislative office, and 35 for the office of the governor. Therefore, the most youthful politically leaders in this country must, at the least, be in their 30s. These included the likes of Orji Uzo Kalu, Chimaroke Nnamani and Demeji

The misplaced hope in Nigerian youths Bankole who came to power still in their 30s.

Incidentally, none of these men differentiated himself for his selflessness commitment to service of the people and responsiveness to the legitimate aspirations of the people. Like the older leaders, they all pandered to this unconscionable system of ours that engenders the stupendous wealth of an elite few and consigns the majority of Nigerians to desperate, gateless poverty. In their scorn for the masses and studied indifferent to the increasing economic plights of Nigerians, none of them advanced a more equitable distribution of the state or national resources. In no way was their leadership marked by high morals and/or elevated ethics. Were they not all later indicted by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) for corrupt practices?

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ore than any of these youthful rulers, Dimeji Bankole riveted the attention of the country. Like most Nigerians, I was very impressed by the then emergent Speaker of the House of Representatives. Youthful, erudite and with a superb diction, he seemed a paragon of the new breed of young leaders that Nigerians longed for: a veritable president material; something of a future Nigerian John Kennedy or Barack Obama.

He has style, a style that is unique and uncomplicated. His sartorial taste of light colored traditional outfit is plain, unadorned, yet dignifying. With an impressive height, stately gait and a ready smile that reveals his gap teeth, he looked every inch debonair and cultivated - almost regal. No one in recent memory held sway of the House of Representatives from the Speaker’s dais with such confidence, dignity and class.

Once in office, he started off as though he was to live up to the massive hope reposed on him by the Nigerian people. He roused

the House to action and it seemed poised to live up to new standards of probity and responsibility. It subjected the 2008 budget to unprecedented scrutiny and forced the presidency to revise the budget. It started investigations into the corrupt activities in the power sector and other government agencies.

Suddenly, the Bankole led House ran out of vigor; it relapsed into business as usual. Then, nothing was heard of the investigations. No report was issued and no one was indicted, how much more of being prosecuted. Obviously, no moral or ethical revolution had taken place in the House. It was all a hoax - mere trumpery by a bunch of venal politicians with their own hidden agenda. The House remained a bastion of corruption and the epicenter of all our moral and ethical maladies.

As Demji Bankole left office, series of scandals swirled around him. In an egregious act of irresponsibility, he refused to honor an initiation, for questioning, from the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC). The youthful, dashy Speaker of the House was ready to flee from the law. It was at the end of a protracted stand off with law enforcement officials that he surrendered to the EFCC. Are we not forced to wonder about the kind of humanity our political leaders represent? If common criminals can honour invitations, for questioning, from the police and other law enforcement agencies, why do our “Honourables” and “Excellencies” behave like socio paths that lack moral restraint and any sense of responsibility to the society? They run and hide from the law and jump bail. To run from the law, hide from the law or jump bail is an act of unfathomable stupidity, utmost recklessness and unpardonable disdain for the law. Do we unwittingly hitch our stars with reprobates or is the re something about Nigerian politics that turns decent people into incorrigibly bad men and women? *Mr. Ezukanma, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012 — 19

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E often do not fully appreciate the water a stream provides, until the rains have subsided and the streambed is drying.

So it is with other essential resources, some of which we tend to undervalue and even relegate to the junk-heap of unwanted possessions.

This, unfortunately, is the fate that has befallen land-based telephone lines, which ought to have been the foundation of our domestic communications system.

Instead, we reportedly have lost more than 25 percent of our overland transmission capacity and are precariously dependent on battery powered cellular phones—which were never designed to serve as a primary communication system.

I own more than one cellular phone; and, like most other Nigerians, I never leave home without one or two of them.

Within the house, a mobile phone is always nearby.

This though, hardly renders me any less concerned over Nigeria’s reliance on a wireless telephone system—a predicament whose pitfalls were pointed out in a recent Vanguard interview.

What intrigued me, is that the interviewee was Banji Oyewunmi, Managing Director at Hayes Meridian Group, a London-based firm that actually sells wireless communications systems and equipment.

“In all seriousness,” Oyewunmi conceded to Franklin Alli, “ you can’t have everything wireless.

Everything can’t be via satellite.

What we are saying, is that we can’t do without landlines…”

Oyewunmi, whose company is staging a Wireless Telecommunication Exposition at the Shehu Musa Yar ’ Adua Centre in Abuja in June (4th and 5th), advised that every Nigerian

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household should have “at least one landline”.

Landlines, he observed, are not only more reliable but they are also cheaper and faster. “There is so much you can do through land lines,” he advised, “that you can’t do through wireless”.

No one, least of all myself—and certainly not Oyewunmi!--is suggesting that cellular phones be scrapped. Nor am I giving a “thumbs-down” to the instrument itself or contending that the system has failed.

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uite to the contrary, there is a lot to say in favour of the mobile phone. As a politician, I am naturally conscious of communication democracy. The fact that almost anyone can afford a “cell-phone,” makes the system inherently democratic.

I’ve not seen any statistics and

Why Salami should not be reinstated

BY HAMISU SHUAIBU

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AST week’s decision of the National Judicial Council (NJC) to recall the suspended President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami, has continued to generate mixed reactions.

Not only did the NJC which found Salami guilty of misconduct reverse itself in the most absurd manner, the recent recommendation is likely to put President Jonathan in a very unpleasant spot. While many people insist that Jonathan should adopt the recommendation and reinstate Salami as a matter of procedure, others urge restraint based on the issues that brought about his suspension last August.

Prior to Justice Salami’s suspension, the feud between him and the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu, had engendered bad blood and a deep division among the nation’s topmost judicial officers. The Justices had, through the instrumentality of the NJC, sought an administrative resolution of the quarrel, the process that eventually found Salami guilty of misconduct, suspended him from office and recommended to the President that he should be compulsorily retired. Not only was Salami serving the suspension accordingly at that time, Jonathan had acted to ensure that the vacancy created by his exit was filled in acting capacity.

However, at its meeting in Abuja last week, the members had voted in favour of recalling Justice Salami who has been on suspension since last August and unanimously agreed that a letter be written to President Goodluck Jonathan to reinstate him. Though Salami’s conduct as a senior judicial officer had in the months before that action, generated so much controversy, Jonathan’s action was always going to be dressed up in political colours.

Justice Salami is alleged to have engaged in telephone calls with politicians to influence the outcome of election petitions in Osun and Ekiti states where Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Segun Oni, both of whom belong to the President’s party, contested. It was not surprising therefore, when members of opposition parties alleged, unreasonably, that Jonathan had a personal score to settle with Justice Salami. To suggest therefore that the President’s decision in the issue is influenced by ulterior motives is to be uncharitable, to say the least.

Salami’s ill-mannered tirades against Katsina-Alu over the Sokoto governorship case was unbecoming of a top judicial officer, and even before the NJC stepped in last August, many were already wondering what his future held in the judiciary. Every effort to settle the debacle was made, including a soft-landing offered by the Justice Ibrahim Auta Panel which asked Salami to apologise within one week to the former CJN, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu, and recommended that the NJC only issue him a letter of warning thereafter. Salami had refused to oblige, rather he had evaded service by the NJC Executive Secretary, Halilu Danladi, and gone to court before the expiration of the deadline for the apology.

When eventually the NJC hammer fell, President Jonathan had no choice than to approve the appointment of Justice Dalhatu Adamu to act as the President of the Court of Appeal. Relying on section 238(4) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, the President had acted on the recommendations of the NJC in a letter dated 18th August, 2011, that Justice Salami be compulsorily retired for misconduct in accordance with the provisions of Section 292 (1) (a) (i) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, and Rule 1 (1) of the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of

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Land lines: We must return to basics

The fact remains though, that Nigeria’s rush to adopt mobile phone technology was largely privately driven. We put the communications cart ahead the horse. The government should have lead by example

I doubt we have any because for us that is normal but I believe that the mass distributions of mobile phones have also helped reduce road accidents by making it possible for individuals to communicate with family and friends and transact business without travelling.

Still another advantage is the role mass communication plays in promoting trade and social cohesion. Unlike land lines, which can be expensive, cellphones are readily available, without the greasing of administrative palms.

The fact remains though, that Nigeria’s rush to adopt mobile phone technology was largely privately driven. We put the communications cart ahead the horse. The government should have lead by example.

Wireless communication is intended to augment conventional land-based systems—not replace them.

People who have travelled widely can confirm that in the same countries that manufacture cellular phones, every home has at least one landline.

It should be the same here. The reasons are not difficult to fathom. In fact, the shortcomings and limitations of wireless systems should be obvious to anyone who owns and uses a mobile phone.

First, satellite-based wireless systems are vulnerable to the vagaries of space weather: Sudden and sometimes cataclysmic changes in the space environment. An example is the coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that follow violent solar flares.

These eruptions send streams of

For sure, President Jonathan has the discretion to either act on or discountenance the latest recommendation of the National Judicial Commission, in the light of the plethora of allegations and controversies surrounding Salami

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Nigeria.

Though this action elicited stringent criticism from certain quarters, many tended to agree that the President’s decision was a constitutional duty he had no choice than to perform. If many faulted the actions of the National Judicial Council (NJC) leading to Salami’s suspension, the latest decision to recall him—in spite of the grievous allegations on which he was found guilty-- is downright ridiculous. The question is, should the President sweep all these under the carpet? No, he must exercise restraint.

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esides, there are several cases involving Salami which are pending in different courts, including those triggered by Justice Salami himself shortly after the NJC Committee’s verdict against him in which the President himself, through the Attorney General of the Federation, is a defendant. The cases will definitely be jeopardised by any hasty action.

Such statements for his reinstatement, coming from supposedly enlightened quarters, is hardly guided by the provisions of the Nigerian constitution which the President swore to protect and uphold when he took the Oath of office on 29th of May, 2011, or for that matter, Jonathan’s personal antecedents as a

charged particles plowing into the magnetic fields surrounding the Earth. The interaction of high-speed particles with our planet’s magnetic field lines create electrical disturbances that can interfere with radiowave transmission.

The occasional result is that, during an emergency situation, when time is a serious factor, your call will fail to connect and the screen will flash “connection error” or “no network coverage”.

Space weather, of course, is not the only source of interference.

Other factors include problems with the satellite itself, terrestrial weather conditions--such as heavy rain and associated electrical storms— administrative shortcomings and technological failure. I won’t even go into the power related issues. That is for another column.

At the personal level, the maintenance of cellular phones is costly and time consuming.

Batteries have to be charged every few hours; and any small mishap can put your phone out of action. Alas, there is the incessant quest for “credit”.

In addition, radio waves will not pass through metal. So if an emergency develops, and you are in metallic surroundings, receiving and sending calls become problematic.

I think it’s time the government takes a closer look at the issue.

Just like how sanitation and IGR show how organised a government can be, the provision of basic amenities direct to the people’s doorsteps speaks volumes, devoid of network interruptions.

stickler for the rule of law. President Jonathan has not only restrained himself from commenting on the Salami/NJC issue, he has been true to his policy of not interfering, directly or indirectly, in the affairs of the other two distinct arms of government, all of which the Nigerian Constitution guarantees their distinct, separate powers.

The doctrine of separation of powers precludes the President from interfering with the process that resulted in Salami's suspension but he clearly has discretion in appointments and reinstatements, especially as this one involves misconduct.

Opinions may differ on this issue but the provisions of the constitution must prevail against sentiments and other exigencies.

Therefore the President’s decision on the recent recommendation must not be interpreted from the narrow standpoint of personal interests, but from its wider implications for the nation. The NBA and others that have risen in strong support of Salami should therefore be restrained from the unnecessary haste and undue inflammation of passion.

So what should the President do in the circumstances? For sure, President Jonathan has the discretion to either act on or discountenance the latest recommendation of the National Judicial Commission, in the light of the plethora of allegations and controversies surrounding Salami. Every right-thinking Nigerian expects that he exercises restraint; he must not be stampeded into taking a precipitate action that may be faulted in future. He should therefore stay action on the NJC recommendation until the determination of the cases that are pending in court.

Granted that the constitution provides for separation of powers among the three arms of government, the President who is vested with the power to make the final appointment must be guided by the national interest in arriving at a decision.

As it is, Salami’s recall will ultimately do the judiciary more harm than good, and portray the nation’s name in bad light. *Mr. Shuaibu, a policy analyst, wrote from Abuja.

20

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Vanguard, FRID AY, MA Y 18, 2012 FRIDA MAY

LG, company in face-off over business premises

BY KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

I

Chi-Chi Stop Over Bar during the seal off. considering the effect on the neighbourhood. ‘’You failed to address the issues raised that will create friendly environment for the benefit of other residents in the neighbourhood. It is important to highlight some of these issues to refresh our memory. In the first case, we complained verbally to you that your customers park their vehicles indiscriminately along 71 Road, thereby causing avoidable traffic and also that your business

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N line with the efforts of the Lagos State Government to bring sanity to the environment, the Amuwo-Odifin Local Government Councilhas begun moves to ensure that Festival Town popularly called FESTAC, where the council secretariat is located, is given a face-lift. The Town which was referred to as ‘’small London’’ in its early days because of its beauty, is fast becoming a slum due to the growth of illegal structures that have taken over the open spaces and green areas. In the same vein, frontages of residential houses have been turned into shops while containers have taken over the walkways. All these make the entire community look like a market place.

The Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area says it is time to begin to address the decadence and lawlessness in Festac. Consequently, the Council has commenced sealing off shops and structures that are believed to have contravened town planning laws and regulations as well as environmental sanitation laws.

While some residents of the sprawling neighbourhood applauded the Council for its efforts to restore the lost glory of Festac, others saw the action as an opportunity by the local government to victimize its perceived enemies. According to this group, some offenders are used as sacred cows in the ongoing sanitization exercise.

One of the places sealed by the Council is now generating heat between the Council and members of Resident Associations in Festac. The place is called Chi-Chi Stop Over Bar and Restaurant located at 71 Road, 7th Avenue. The Restaurant which is owned by one Mrs. Irene Bamgbose Daniels was sealed off by the Council on the 17th of March 2012 for allegedly not complying with the conditions of the Council, after several cautions/ notices had been served on her.

A letter from the Chairman, Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area to the proprietress of the Restaurant dated on March 22, 2012 gave reasons why the Council sealed off the premises.

According to the letter which was made available to Vanguard Metro, the Council stated thus: ‘’It is pertinent to remind you of our several warnings in the manner you run your shop at 71 Road which clearly demonstrates an abuse of the environment where you carry out your business operations without

Your customers park their v e h i c l e s indiscriminately along 71 Road, thereby causing avoidable traffic; also your business outlet lacks parking space

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outlet lacks parking space. ‘’We also complained verbally to you that your method of disposing of refuse generated at your business premises causes environmental hazards and no efforts have been made by you to find lasting solution to it, just as we complained verbally to you that the blaring of music from your business premises causes noise within the neighbourhood. ‘’We further complained verbally to you that your hours of operations last beyond the approved time of 10 pm. We pointed out that residents within the neighbourhood are not pleased with this practice of closing late

which allows for strangers loitering the area. We have therefore resolved that before your business premises will be reopened, the issues raised must be addressed satisfactorily. Your early address of these issues will determine how soon your business premises will be reopened’’, the letter which was signed by the Executive Chairman of the Council, Comrade Ayodele Adewale noted.

But rising to the defence of the embattled Mrs Daniels, the Community One Residents Association, a branch of Festac Town Residents Association FTRA the residents denied claims by the Council that the Mrs Daniels’s bar constituted a nuisance to them. A letter signed by Dr. Alex Edoh and Mr. Toye Adewopo, Chairman

and Secretary of the Association respectively which stated thus: ‘’We Community One Residents Association under the aegis of FTRA hereby state that after the executive members of the association met with members of Community One on the problem between Chi-Chi Stop Over Bar and Restaurant and Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area, the residents want the Restaurant reopened because the proprietress of the outfit has been very cooperative.

The residents claimed that her presence had been giving them security because she engaged OPC members as security in her business premises. They stated that “since the seal up of the place, the residents have been exposed to fear of attack by the men of the underworld”. Ac-

cording to them she engaged the services of Man-O-War men to help control traffic in the area. “Furthermore, from our investigation during our meeting, we have no doubt that she will abide by all rules and regulations of the local government. We have gone further to confirm from the PSP operators in charge of the area that Chi-Chi has been dsposing of her refuse through them and has been regular. ‘’We have undertaken to put men to monitor her operations and we will not hesitate to report to the Council if she defaults in any way. We hereby appeal to you to temper justice with mercy by reopening the place, considering that she had complied with stated conditions by you. She is a first offender and she has served enough punishment for whatever she may have done. Any further torture will amount to killing a rat with an axe’’, the residents said.

Mrs. Daniels told Vanguard Metro that she has complied with all conditions as demanded by the Council, She however alleged that some unidentified people came and opened her business premises a day after it was sealed and carted away a file containing all the receipts she had obtained from Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area. padlock was not broken but opened its key which was not in her custody, adding that of all files kept together in the same place, it was only the one containing local government receipts was stolen away.

Tanker inferno: When 38 poultry chickens, 17 houses paid the price

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HE National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed that no human life was lost but 38 poultry birds were killed and 17 houses destroyed during a massive inferno that occurred on Saturday afternoon when a petrol tanker fell and spilled petrol along Kaduna-Abuja Expressway.

The incident which also affected a mosque, at Gangari Village of Niger State, was caused by the tanker driver’s attempt to escape a collision with another long vehicle but fell down before spilling petrol in the area.

Before the fire outbreak, rescue officers and volunteers were mobilized to the scene where they warned residents and motorists to move away, as

they evacuated the old and the weak.

Meanwhile after the recent windstorm that pulled down a church killing twenty two worshippers leaving many others injured in Adamgbe, Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State, the National Emergency Management Agency has delivered relief assistance to families of those that lost their lives and medicaments for the affected persons receiving treatment.

Similarly, the agency has also delivered building materials to assist in the rehabilitation of the St Finbarr Catholic Church and COCIN headquarters that were affected by separate bomb blasts in Jos, Plateau State and assorted medicament for the treatment of those injured in

the incidences.

Director General NEMA Alhaji Muhammad Sani Sidi who presented the relief materials to the Benue State Governor Mr Gabriel Suswan at the premises of the damaged church said the items also included building materials to assist in the rehabilitation of the building.

He commiserated with the affected community and said the items were approved to provide succour in complementing the initials response of the state government to enable their quick recovery from the disaster. He also commended the state government for its response to the incidence before contacting the federal for the additional support.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012 — 21

CITN urges FG to appoint competent hand as FIRS chairman

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HE Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) has urged the Federal Government to appoint a competent hand to head the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). The President of the institute, Mr Sunday Jegede, gave the advice in Lagos following the retirement of Mrs Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, as the chairman on April 9. Jegede advised that a tax professional with proven records should be appointed as chairman of the FIRS According to Jegede, the advice became necessary because FIRS is vital to the transformation agenda of the government. He said that the headship of a revenue body is a sensitive post which should not be manned by a mediocre. Jegede said that the usefulness of taxation as a tool for economic transformation could not

be over emphasised, particularly when the resources needed for development projects were inadequate.

“It is necessary to reduce, if not eradicate, our over-dependence on oil revenue, as the country’s dependence on oil revenue has worsened. So there is the need to appoint a tax professional

with passion to grow the country through formidable tax system. As far as the appointment of FIRS chairman is concerned, the law says someone with relevant qualifications and the only relevant qualification to taxation is from CITN. “If you go to Ministry of Justice, who

will be Minister of Justice is a lawyer, you can never put an accountant or engineer there. So, the only relevant qualification to FIRS chairmanship is someone who knows the terrain and intricacies of tax system. Nigeria should borrow a leaf from developed countries,” he said.

Fashola seeks revival of textile industries

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OVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State on Wednesday called for the revival of the nation’s textile industries to boost job creation and expansion of the economy. Speaking at the Third Renaissance Capital Pan-African Conference in Lagos, Fashola lamented that the textile sector, which used to be an important component of the economy, was now comatose.

He said the sector was too important to be ignored and called for appropriate government and private interventions to revamp it. “The textile sector of the Nigerian economy used to account for a large number of workers and was successfully run in the past. I know Lagos had at least two of them while Kano had many.

Unfortunately, only a very few of them are still around. If we revive these textile industries, it would help a great deal to boost our economy,” he said.

Fashola suggested investment in new technology, nothing that employment of obsolete technology was partially responsible for the near collapse of the sector. The governor also urged investment in training and capacity building of workers, stating that it was central to the successful running of the textile sector.

Speaking on the investment opportunities offered by the state, Fashola said the government had opened opportunities for investors in critical sectors under its private-public partnership development model. He said the state had put in place an enabling environment to guarantee investments in housing, energy, health, aviation, transportation and others sectors. Earlier, Mrs Yvonne Ike, Chief Executive Officer, Renaissance Capital, West Africa, noted that Nigeria, as one of the fastest growing economies in the world, had many investment opportunities. She called on investors to key into some of the opportunities and invest in the critical sectors of the nation’s economy.

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From left: Ashveer Seeboruth, Financial Services Commission of Mauritius (FSC); Shaka Braimah, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); Clairette Ah-Hen, FSC; Arunma Oteh, Director-General, SEC Nigeria and Tunde Kamali, SEC at the International Organisation of Securities Commission (IOSCO) annual conference in Beijing, China.

Govts seek cement price reduction before adoption of concrete pavements

BY FRANKLIN ALLI

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HE Federal, Lagos and Ogun State Governments have requested Cement Manufacturers Association (CMAN) to further bring down the prices of cement in the market if they are to key into the use of concrete pavements technology being canvassed by the Association for the construction of road projects in the country instead of using asphalt.

CMAN comprises Dangote Cement PLC, Lafarge WAPCO Nigeria PLC, including Cement Company of Northern Nigeria, Askaka Cement and United Cement Company UniCem, Calabar.

Keynote speaker, Robert Rodden, Director of Technical Services and Product Development, American, Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA), said concrete pavements is now the new construction reality globally because of its economic advantages over asphalt pavements. “US, Peru, China, Spain , Bolivia, Chile including Ecuador, Pakistan, Indonesia, Mexico, etc, are among countries that have adopted concrete pavements for their infrastructures. In Africa, it’s only Kenya and South Africa,” he said.

In their separate positions on the occasion of CMAN/Businesssday National conference on Exploring Cement -based option for sustainable

road consumption in Nigeria, government spokespersons said tthat the cost of concrete roads is higher than asphalt pavements.

Said the Minister of Works, Arch Mike Onolememen:“It is well known that the while the design life of concrete roads is between 35 to 50 years as against 20-25 years for flexible asphalt pavement, the cost of concrete roads is considerably high. On the other hand, flexible asphalt pavement lend themselves more easily to stage construction and also initial cost of construction is lower than concrete pavement but requires more frequent maintenance,” Similarly, Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, said that considering the volume of roads construction going on in the state, we are therefore interest in all viable approaches and technology that are not only cost effective but will make our roads durable and stand the test time. Let me state that our administration has commenced a massive road construction and rehabilitation throughout the length and breadth of the state. For this reason, any technology that will make construction of roads in the state cheaper and better will be fully embraced and supported by this administration.”

His counterparts, Lagos State

Governor, Babatunde Fashola represented by Dr. Femi Hamzat, Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure said that concrete pavements is already in use in the state “but not at the level we would like it to be.” He cited for instance, the Cancer Treatment Centre at Badagry was built of 800 concrete pavements.

177.10

-1.30

2,280.00

+12.00

20.81

+0.41

109.85

-1.60

92.58

-1. 40

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING CFA 0.2839 KRONER 26.5083 EURO 197.0569 POUNDS 246.6537 RIYAL 41.2489 SDR 235.8711 FRANC 163.9813 DOLLAR 154.7 WAUA 236.412 YEN 1.9213 RENMINBI 24.4673

0.2939 26.594 197.6938 247.4509 41.3823 236.6335 164.5113 155.2 237.1761 1.9275 24.5468

0.3039 26.6797 198.3307 248.2481 41.5156 237.3958 165.0413 155.7 237.9402 1.9337 24.6263

CBN Exchange rate as at 17/05/2012

22 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012

ASHON blames continuous stock market crises on trust deficit

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

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HE President of As sociation of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), Mr. Emeka Mmadubuike, has said that low participation arising from lack of trust still constitute a major snag to the reviv-

al of the capital market.

Mmadubuike who made the assertion in a chat with Vanguard, in Lagos, averred that a situation where those that have in one way or the other contributed to the downfall of capital market go unpunished is sending wrong signal to the investing public,

alleging that this development has kept the market on its knees since 2008.

He observed that knowledge base of participants in the capital market is key in determining their level of participation as well as their understanding of some key initiatives of

the regulators being undertaken to turn around the market.

He said, “One of the things that fuel distrust among micro-investors is that nobody is held responsible for misdeeds in the market.

If people know that there is a process in place that ensures that

anybody that commits any form of infraction is punished, it will improve their trust level.

If people know that there is also a process in place that ensures that they will recoup part of their loses in event of similar crash that took place in 2008, and those that led them to that path will be punished, it will also improve their trust.”

According to him, the number of locals taking part in day-to-day running of the market is as important as the integrity of operators.

“Most markets we want to benchmark ourselves with have large number of their local investors participating in the market. In Nigerian

Stock Exchange, we have less than one million Nigerians that are actively involved in the market. The regulators should continue to build on investors’ education with a view to increasing local investors’ participation in the market,” he stressed.

He opined\ that developing of more products do not hold the solution to the lingering stock market crises, saying, “the more sophisticated a product gets, the more investors loose confidence and trust in it.”

The ASHON boss maintained that efforts should be concentrated in deepening the existing products, rather than multiplying them.

SEC signs MoU with Mauritius

BY OLAYEMI FOFAH

Deputy President, Alhaji Remi Bello, representing the President, Mr. Goodie Ibru (right) presenting the prospectus of the 2012 Lagos International Trade Fair to the Vice President and Chairman Trade Promotion Board, Mr. Babatunde Ruwase (2nd right), past president, Asiwaju Solomon Onafowokan, Hon. Life Vice President, Mrs. Margaret Adeleke and the Director General, Mr. Muda Yusuf in Lagos.

BRIPAN tasks financial regulators on impact of global meltdown

BY INNOCENT ANABA

B

U S I N E S S R e c o v e r y Insolvency Practitioners Association of Nigeria, BRIPAN, has tasked regulators in Nigeria’s financial sector to effectively deploy strategies that will help drive the growth of the country’s capital, money market and financial sectors, in general.

President of BRIPAN, Chief Anthony Idigbe, who stated this at a press briefing in Lagos, as part of activities to herald the a s s o c i a t i o n ’ s international workshop scheduled for June 7 – 8 as well as it fellowship workshop, slated for May 29-30 in Lagos, advocated the creation of a well-articulated regulatory regime saying it will help mitigate the impact of the global economic meltdown in the country.

According to him, if this was not done, Nigeria will be worst hit by the economy Tsuanmi as being witnessed in some European countries, despite the assurances of the government.

He said if Nigeria was proactive in putting in place a regulatory regime as shown in other economies, the projected economic melt down might not have much impact on the nation’s economy.

He added that “BRIPAN has consistently be reaching out to all government institution such as Asset Management Company of Nigeria, AMCON, which deals with banking insolvency, other institutions such as Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC; Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC; Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN and Federal

Ministry of Justice, which is very pivotal to the issue of our own legislative agenda.

“If some of Nigeria companies that are becoming multi nationals today should have a challenge and they are not bank, will there be AMCON or is there an instrument by which there will be an intervention to save the factory and jobs.

“AMCON is progress so far, but there is still a lot to be done. That is why we are pushing this agenda for progress in insolvency in Nigeria beyond where we are today.”

Idigbe said the workshop, with the theme: “Insolvency and Economic Development Particularly in an Emerging Economy,” will be attended by policy makers, regulators and private practitioners in Nigeria and Africa to share insolvency and

restructuring reform experiences and challenges in their region.

T

HE Securities and E x c h a n g e Commission (SEC) and the Financial Services Commission of Mauritius has signed a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost information sharing and capacity building.

According to a statement by SEC, the MOU which was signed at the ongoing IOSCO annual conference in Beijing, China is a

Morgan Stanley cuts stake in KPN to 4.93%

I

NVESTMENT bank Morgan Stanley has cut its stake in KPN, the Dutch telecoms group that Mexican Carlos Slim, the world’s richest person, has targeted as a long-term investment and a stepping stone into Europe.

Morgan Stanley emerged as a major KPN shareholder last week, holding 10.01 percent and raising speculation another bidder might be building a stake in KPN, of which Slim’s America Movil (AMXL.MX) holds 4.8 percent.

Dutch market regulator AFM said on Wednesday the stake was now 4.93 percent, reducing the chance a rival bidder is

building a stake analysts said Morgan Stanley could have been holding the shares on behalf of clients and for trading purposes.

America Movil wants to raise its stake in KPN, which has been struggling to raise sales and profit, to around 28 percent and plans a tender offer worth around 2.6 billion euros ($3.3 billion) later this month or in June.

Investors need to report stakes to the regulator when they rise above or fall below 5 percent or multiples of 5 percent, barring exceptions for clearing houses and market makers.

veritable regulatory tool used by securities regulators to ensure effective regulation and strengthening regulatory cooperation between the two jurisdictions.

SEC also stated that “the signing of the bilateral MoU with Mauritius brings to nine the number of MoUs so far entered into by the Commission with other jurisdictions includes China, Ghana, India, Kenya, Malaysia, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda.”

It said, the two jurisdictions stand to mutually benefit from the collaborative agreement especially in the areas of combating cross border financial crimes, increased attraction of investments enhanced profile.

“The Organization also encourages members to enter into bilateral memoranda of understanding to foster strong cooperation as this is in line with the foregoing that IOSCO initiated a mandatory M u l t i l a t e r a l Memorandum of Understanding (MMoU) ten years ago for its members to enhance cross border cooperation, information sharing and capacity building.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012 — 23

24—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012

Anya faults CBN on Cashlite Lagos

By CHINEDU IBEABUCHI

F

OUNDING DG, Nigeria Economic Summit Group, Prof. Anya O. Anya has faulted the choice of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, for choosing using Lagos for the pilot scheme of the cashless policy, saying the state is too big for a pilot scheme.

Speaking during the Cashless Lagos Fair 2012 in Lagos, he expressed fear that the policy might face poor government implementation, a factor which has been a usual syndrome of government policies over the years.

He said, “I am quite frightened that this project is starting in Lagos. Lagos is almost 60 per cent of the Nigerian economy. If Lagos is used as a pilot survey, almost the whole economy is covered, thereby posing further unseen challenges. A smaller state should have been used to test run this policy.

“On the successful implementation of the cashlite Lagos, My worry lies in the level of implementation of government policies. Over the last 50 years, Nigeria has experienced good policies.

UBA e-banking boss to sensitise businessmen on cashless initiative

H

EAD, Electronic Banking, United Bank for Africa Plc, Mr. Yinka Adedeji, is to sensitise businessmen on the benefits of adopting the cashless initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. Adedeji, who will be guest speaker at the monthly meeting of Jericho Businessmen Club, scheduled to hold May 19, 2012, is expected to present a paper titled: “Impact of and leveraging on the CBN cashless initiative.”

According to a statement by Mr. Kunle Oyewole, Social, Publicity and Welfare Secretary of the group, Adedeji will enlighten members of the group and other stakeholders in the business community on the opportunities in the policy, ways to benefit from it and the role the policy will play in the growth and development of the Nigerian economy.

Oyewole urged members to take advantage of the opportunity presented by the enlightenment campaign, which is expected to precede its meeting in Lagos, to expand their knowledge base on the cashless initiative.

From left: Executive Director, South South/Retail Banking, Skye Bank Plc, Mrs Ibiye Ekong; Executive Director, Commercial Banking/Public Sector, Mr. Gbenga Ademulegun; Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Kehinde DurosinmiEtti; and Executive Director,Corporate/Investment Banking, Mr. Timothy Oguntayo, at the bank’s pre Annual General Meeting press briefing, in Lagos.

Countries should focus on structural reforms —World Bank Stories by BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

A

ll countries need to focus on structural reforms to drive future economic growth, says Robert Zoellick, World Bank President.

“All countries – developed and developing – need to focus on the structural reforms – the microeconomic policies – that will drive future

growth”, he said at the 14th Annual Global Private Equity Conference of the International Finance Corporation.

Explaining the importance of structural changes to the recovery of the global economy, Zoellick said, “Structural changes are essential to enhance productivity, competition, and innovation for developed and developing countries –

whether it’s so that Europe can restore its economic performance, or China can avoid the so-called “middle income trap” and meet its challenges in the coming decades. Structural reforms are important for the United States, too. In practical terms – and for investors like you – what does structural reform mean?

It means strengthening the fundamentals of productive

Expert calls for guidelines on audit quality

C

hairman Audit Committee Institute (ACI), Mr. Christian Ekeigwe has called for introduction of audit guidelines as part of measures to improve audit quality in the country.

“Regulators, particularly the Financial Reporting Council, should pay attention to audit - quality. This should include issuing audit quality guidelines and inspection of audit quality in auditing firms and internal audit departments of companies”, he said in Lagos on Tuesday.

He spoke at the 1st annual national conference on audit quality assurance organised by the Institute and Center for Audit Quality.

Ekeigwe noted that “Failures in critical aspects of auditing have been partly blamed for the recent financial reporting scandals

and corporate collapse.

“This conference will look at how to strengthen audit quality factors such as audit judgment, skill sets, audit governance and key roles of the Audit Committees and regulators in audit oversight, the impact of technology incompetence on the quality of audits, the limits of rules and incentives for impelling audit quality and, finally, give insights into nuanced economics of audit quality for a developing capital market.

“The conference will benefit all financial reporting stakeholders and people in audit management/ leadership whose governance and professional choices tangentially or directly determine audit quality and ultimately the integrity of financial reporting.”

He called for improved audit quality saying that, “Improved audit quality will yield more reliable financial information for the markets.

“Given this significance, I believe that intelligent regulatory efforts aimed at entrenching high quality in audits will serve he market better.

Regulators, particularly the Financial Reporting Council, should pay attention to audit quality.

“Smart incentives and vigorous enforcement regime will also help. But above all, given the developmental stage of our society, the first step should be in educating the market participants (auditors, regulators, investors, accounting scholars and audit professionals) in audit quality.

supply-side growth in all sectors – agriculture, manufacturing, services.

It means investing in infrastructure – especially through public private partnerships.

It means private sector development – the engine of innovation and job growth: markets; investment; small and medium-sized businesses; as well as focusing on jobs training and skills.

It means expanding markets – through both the hardware and software of trade: regional integration; ports and infrastructure; lowering the costs of formal, informal, or logistics barriers.

At the same time, structural reform means investing in green growth and energy efficiency – because “growing dirty, cleaning up later” is not a viable option.

Environmental degradation cannot be the price for shortterm growth.

Structural reform also means investing in human capital: Efficient and affordable safety nets – because only 1 out of every 5 people in the poorest countries has any form of social protection; Basic financial services – because more than half the world’s poor, almost 2.4 billion people, are “unbanked”; Basic nutrition and health – because without these essentials, people cannot begin to achieve their potential; and Quality education, connected to training, which leads to better jobs, more innovation, and greater gains for all.

Investing in people means tapping the energies and genius of all: young people, the elderly, and not least girls and women – an under-realized source of growth everywhere.”

Vanguard FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012 — 25

Vice President receives Japanese trade delegation T

HE Vice-President, Arc. Mohammed Namadi Sambo has said that Nigeria has over eighty five million (85 million) hectares of arable land yet to be cultivated.

The Vice-President stated this on Tuesday, May 15, in his office during a courtesy visit by a high-powered trade delegation from Japan, led by the Nigerian Ambassador to Japan, Ambassador Godwin N. Agbo.

"We have over 85 million hectares of land that is yet to be harnessed," he noted.

The Vice-President stated that the administration was seeing agriculture not as a programme, but as a busi-

ness that would create jobs to the teeming unemployed.

"We have placed great importance in the area of agricultural development, which we intend to develop as a business, previously in this country Agriculture is considered as government programme, but now agriculture is considered a business."

Vice-President Sambo used the opportunity to invite the Japanese delegation to invest in the huge potentials that abound in the agricultural sector. He also enumerated several areas of opportunities for Japanese businesses to tap into, which included the power sector, the transport sector, oil and gas,

CONFERENCE — From left: Mr. Clifford Sacks, CEO, Africa,Renaissance Capital; Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Special Guest and Yvonne Ike, CEO West Africa, Renaissance Capital, during the third annual Pan-Africa 1:1 Investors Conference, organised by Renaissance Capital, in Lagos.

PHOTO: Bunmi Azeez. petrochemicals, finance, etc.

He noted that Nigeria had put in place measures that would safeguard the business con-

Nigeria to produce hybrid rice seed, distribute modern rice mills “The major complaint of

N

IGERIA will soon begin hybrid rice seed production with the help of China. The African country will also release 100 modern integrated mills imported from China across various states, said Nigeria's Minister of State for Agriculture.

Nigeria is a top rice importer and is aiming to reduce its dependency on rice imports by encouraging farmers to grow high-yielding rice varieties. The minister said that the government has started negotiations with China over hybrid rice seed production, saying hybrid rice seeds will be available for growing this year, before the tenure of the current government ends.

The minister also revealed that over 60 rice varieties have been released by the govern-

ment and they are popular among the farmers.

He added that the Seed Association of Nigeria (SEEDAN) has been provided with loans to produce 15,000 tons of certified seeds for this year 's planting season.

According to the minister, SEEDAN has been mandated to provide around 70,000 tons of the certified seeds by 2014 to be used for planting in over 1.5 million hectares of land.

Locals believe that one of the reasons Nigerians prefer imported rice is because of the low-quality domestic processing, which makes rice smell bad and cannot remove stones. Many millers have said earlier that they do not have sufficient funds to compete against Indian rice millers.

The Minister of State for Agriculture said,

urban dwellers who consume the bulk of improved rice against the locally produced rice was on the quality of the latter.” He added that the Ministry will import 100 modern integrated mills from China and distribute those across 26 states of Nigeria. “These mills will be distributed to all states of the federation with clusters of paddy producers around the mills to supply paddy of pure rice varieties.”

The move to import 100 r ice mills is a quantum jump from last year’s announcement by Nigeria’s food minister that the country will import 12 rice milling plants from China. The food minister had said earlier, “Nigeria has become a floodgate for food imports.” The nation spends about $2 billion each year on rice imports.

— Culled from http:// oryza.com.

ACTIS CEO BREAKFAST — From left: Bola Adeeko, Chief of Staff/Head of Corporate Division, Nigerian Stock Exchange; Ngozi Edozien, CEO, Actis West Africa; Oscar Onyema, CEO, Nigerian Stock Exchange; Taba Peterside, General Manager/Head, Listings Sales & Retention, Nigerian Stock Exchange and Michael Chu’di Ejekam, Director for Real Estate, Actis West Africa, at the Actis CEO Breakfast Series Roundtable, in Lagos.

cerns of all investors. He also promised them that there were incentives that would further boost their confidence, when they invest in the country.

Arc Sambo used the occasion to express Nigeria's sympathy over the unfortunate disaster caused by last year's Tsunami, in that country, while also appreciating the confidence that Japan had placed on Nigeria. He said this confidence had boosted the cordial relations existing between the two countries. He thanked the country for the assistance they have been rendering to Nigeria through the Japan Inter-

national Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Ambassador Godwin Agbo stated that the trade delegation was in Nigeria to tap into the huge potentials in different sectors of the country's economy. He said that the 32-member delegation was drawn from 23 companies, which included, The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd, Marubeni Corporation, Sanyo Foods, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Middle East FZA, and Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd, among several others.

Ambassador Agbo, further stated that the visit was in line with Presi-

dent Jonathan's drive for Foreign Direct Investment as enunciated in the Transformation Agenda.

In his remarks, the Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Ryuichi Shoji, said that Japan was ready to partner Nigeria in realising her Transformation Agenda, adding that the country sees great opportunities in the Nigerian economy.

Present at the occasion were the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Engr. Mustapha Bello and other top government functionaries.

East Asian powers agree on trade pact talks C

HINA, Japan and South Korea agreed at a summit recently to launch negotiations for a three-way free trade pact they said could help fend off global economic chills, but the talks are expected to be long and difficult because of decades of rivalry.

The three nations are major traders, and together accounted for 19.6 per cent of global gross domestic product and 18.5 per cent of exports in 2010, according to a feasibility study issued by their governments last year on the trade pact.

“North-east Asia is the most economically vibrant region in the world,” Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao told reporters after talks in Beijing with Japanese Prime Minister, Yoshihiko Noda and South Korean President, Lee Myung-bak.

“The establishment of an FTA will unleash the economic vitality of our region and give a strong boost to eco-

nomic integration in east Asia.”

China is the biggest trade partner of Japan and South Korea. A free trade treaty could lift China’s GDP by up to 2.9 per cent, Japan’s by 0.5 per cent, and South Korea’s by 3.1 per cent, the official Xinhua news said in a commentar y, without citing the basis for its estimates.

But agreeing on a fully-fledged pact, which has been on the table for a decade, will not be easy.

The three northeast Asian neighbours are divided by political distrust, trade barriers, and diverging investment policies, as well as region-wide worries about China’s expanding economic and military power.

The proposed treaty must also vie for attention with the United States’ push for a broader Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade liberalisation initiative that has drawn in nine countries, with Japan also expressing interest. Ch i na and South

Korea are not part of those negotiations yet.

At the summit in Beijing, the three leaders also agreed a threeway investment treaty — a stepping stone to the bigger and much more contentious goal of a free trade deal — said Xinhua.

China’s Ministry of Commerce said on its website that the (www.mofcom.gov.cn) investment agreement will help smoothen tax, dispute resolution and other issues among the three nations.

“Japan, South Korea and China play an important role in the global economic recovery,” said South Korea’s President Lee. “When the economy is in crisis, it’s more pressing to set up a free trade zone,” he told a business meeting that took place parallel to the leaders’ summit.

Intra-regional trade and investment levels between China, Japan and South Korea were “much lower ” than levels in the European Union or across the North American Free Trade Agreement area.

26—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012

Lagos commissions 20,000 tons capacity per year rice mill, others zCreates about 50,000 agric jobs

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

B

ARELY 24 hours that Pres ident Goodluck Jonathan set up an agricultural transformation implementation council charged with the responsibility of creating additional 20 million metric tons of food into the nation’s domestic food supply by the year 2015.

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State on Tuesday, led federal delegation to the official kick off of rice processing factory, with capacity to produce 20,000 metric tonnes of rice per annum in Imota, Ikorodu Local Government Area of the state as part of effort to boost domestic food production as well as ensure food security by 2015.

Fashola, accompanied by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Buka Tijani, also commissioned Poultry Estate, Erikorodo with 10,000 birds capacity mechanized broiler house, 2,000 birds per day processing capacity plant and 1.5T per hour feed mill. 22.19 kilometre network of farm access roads in Ikorodu Fish Farm Estate and nine other locations in the state with counterpart fund from the state government and World

Bank Assisted Commercial Agric Development Project, CADP. Fashola commissioning the three projects which are all located in Ikorodu, said his administration is consciously building a sustainable economy around agriculture, and is ready to collaborate with the Federal Government, World Bank and the private sector in further raising the bar.

“We are building a sustainable economy around agriculture in Lagos, and we are determined to do more, collaborating with the Federal Government and the World Bank,”

Fashola said, adding that it was high time jobless youths key into the government’s vision by engaging in sustainable and productive ventures in farm estates around Lagos.”

Specifically, he said there was no room for ‘area boys’ in Lagos, stressing “the youths must roll up their sleeves and get to work.”

“Let me use this opportunity to talk to our youths especially those who tag themselves s area boys that it is time to stop miscreancy in Lagos. The time for money without work is over.

“Our youths must roll up their

sleeves and work in the farms we are creating. They should go to the farm to support the economic development of the state and the country and we are ready to lead the way and support them “he said.

He stressed that Nigeria could achieve self sufficiency in food production and stop importation with the right investment in agriculture, urging governments at all levels to give agriculture the priority it deserved.

While stressing that the mill would significantly boost rice production, Fashola said the state planned to expand its

The 20,000 metric tonnes rice processing factory built by the Lagos State Government and commissioned by the Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) in Ikorodu, Lagos

rice production of the present 250 hectares of rice land annually to about 500 hectares.

He appealed to the the Federal Government to help the state in its quest for increased production by allocating to it farmland around Ogun River Basin.

Earlier, Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adeshina, represented by Tijani, commended the Lagos State Government for building the rice mill, saying it would enhance the production of rice in the country.

Tijani, disclosed that Nigeria’s need for rice which sadly is largely supported with importation, will hit five million metric tons by 2015.

He said the Federal Government would continue to collaborate with states, especially Lagos in boosting rice production capacity and ensure total local sufficiency by 2015.

The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Prince Gbolahan Lawal, giving an insight into the rice mill, first of its kind in southwest Nigeria, said the mill was built with Korean technology to the highest operational standards to process 20,000 tons of paddy rice per annum, with additional 10,000 ton storage facility and 45,000 ton capacity storage for finished rice.

‘We lack adequate data on farmers in Delta’

BY JIMOH BABATUNDE

D

ELTA state commis sioner for Agriculture, Barrister Misan Ukubeyinje, has said that agriculture is central to the administration of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, but said lack of accurate data on farmers in the state is a major challenge.

Ukubeyinje explained that the ministry is struggling to have accurate data on agriculture in the state as that will assist them in service delivery.

During an interview in Lagos, Ukubeyinje said “even though we have registration of farmers, we have not been able to have the right registration of farmers and farms.

“He said to the governor, agriculture is central to his administration’s goal of building an economy without oil, “the policy of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan is to develop the rural area through agriculture and that they are currently working on aquaculture and the traditional

•Barrister Misan Ukubeyinje crops where they have comparative advantage.

“Cassava is one of the crops, we are working on that seriously and we are working with Federal government on that.

We are working on how to improve on the processing and packaging as well as other value chains.”

While explaining that the government has set aside huge sum of money for massive food pro-

duction, he said “We plan to achieve this by ensuring that farmers operate in clusters so that mechanisation can be effective and we are able to reach them whenever we want to.

Ukubeyinje added “we want to ensure that rice and cassava production go beyond consumption stage into commercialisation because we have the terrain and potentials.”

“We have a vision for rice production in the state, we have a policy that we have charged each local government to produce rice, we have a policy that ask them to acquire 25 hectare of land for rice cultivation and the government just accepted the committee we raised on that.”

He said that though Delta was not among the states in the country ranked by the Federal Government as rice producing states, it had the potential to produce the commodity in large quantity to feed its people.

The Agriculture commissioner said on the production side of the sector that they are open

to partnering with the private sector as they are currently working with the Bank of Industry in terms of Feed mills as well as Obasanjo Farms on poultry.

“On our relationship with obasanjo farms, we have a company, OFN/Delta, it is a large scale farm that can take care of the poultry needs of the state, it can take care of the feed mills and other out growers need, and it is an equity arrangement.

Speaking on small holder farmers in the state , Ukubeyinje said they are aware of the role the small holder farmers play in the food security of the nation and that inform the provision of loans and agro inputs to them.

“We just distributed N1b loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria to small scale farmers and the lowest amount they got was N500, 000. We are aware of the role of the small holder farmers and we cannot abandon them.”

He added “the important thing about peasant farming is

that we will be able to feed ourselves, this will reduce hunger.”

The state commissioner for Agriculture explained that the need to support its small holder farmers informed why they will still go ahead to supply them with fertilizer, despite the Federal government program on the e-wallet .

“The complain of fertilizer diversion is from the Federal government, the minister who did the research said the diversion was from them who buy and sell to us, we have told them that the e wallet thing will not get to our farmers on time, so we still need to cater for our farmer if we don’t do that we will be blamed for whatever happens.”

He said the administration’s policies and programs have gone a long way in reducing anger and violence in the state as many of the youths are empowered farmers through the Youth Empowerment through Agriculture (YETA), and the Songhai Delta project.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012 — 27

28 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012

W

ITH several visits to Dubai in the last few years attending the Arabian Travel Market, the opportunity for safari trip had not presented itself until recently when the Emirates Airline provided it as part of the tour packaged for a trip to watch Arsenal football club in London.

BRIEFING xpectedly, the three of us (Jimoh, Tunji and Ajanaku) were at the lobby when the tour guide from Arabian Adventure arrived. “I am Yamen. I am here to pick you for the tour. Please lets go”, with this he ushered us into a Toyota four wheel car for the journey that took about 45 minutes.

As we left behind the crowds and chaos of the city, our tour guide, Yamen, took pleasure in

E

•Tourists watching the falcon display at the desert (Inset) vehicles doing the dune bashing

Taking lesson on falconry at the desert A visit to Dubai is not complete for most people without a safari tour where a mysterious desert beckons tourists for a magical evening out. Jimoh Babatunde joined other tourists to experience how the sun descends into the horizon around the enchanting show of falconry.. telling us about political issues back in his native country of Syria and world politics. Just as he also informed us that the Arabian Adventure company is owned by the UAE government and sponsor by Emirates and that informed why it is the only tour company allowed to do drone drive, so as to guarantee safety of tourists.

Arriving at the gate of the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, deep in the heart of the desert, the tyres of the Toyota Land Cruiser had to be deflated. There were other vehicles parked for the same purpose.

TREASURE e alighted from the vehicle to the warm, breezy afternoon sun to watch the falcon show. Lots of tourists were seated under canopies erected in the open field about to participate in a falcon hunt or learn about the history of these magnificent birds, and even experience a little of what life was like for the Bedouin.

And when a middle aged man came to the scene with a falcon bird with a bag stripped round his neck, he immediately became the point of focus as he takes the tourists on the history of falcon which is the national emblem of United Arab

W

Emirate.

He said falconry is an age old tradition for the people of this region, especially for the Bedouin.

The falcons themselves are beautiful birds of prey with an impressive capacity to learn and to trust their handlers.

“Three things to know about

,

GETTING STARTED The journey from London Heathrow to Dubai would have been stressful having to travel immediately after watching Arsenal and Norwich match live at the Emirates stadium but for the opportunity to fly An Airbus A380.

Stepping into the Business class located at the upper deck of the aircraft at Heathrow, I was not prepared for the flying experience awaiting me.

The A380 offers a flying experience no other aircraft in the sky can match, and redefines the meaning of comfort for all passengers – whether they are premium customers in first and business class, or leisure travellers in the economy cabin.

The manufacturer of the Airbus has gone to great lengths to make long-haul flying aboard the A380 feel more natural for its passengers – with broader seats, more personal storage, better head room and wider stairs and aisles.

The Emirates’ A380 offers 14 flat-bed First Class Private Suites with electrically operated doors and 76 fully-flat mini-pods in Business Class all with aisle access - on the upper deck. Downstairs, there are 427 comfortable contoured seats in Economy Class, spread across four separate cabins.

I soon slept after the delicious meal on board to enjoy the Business Class seats that convert into a flat bed at the touch of a button. Using the touchscreen controller, you can adjust your seat to suit your own preferences and comfort.

Each seat extends to form a flat bed up to 79 inches long.

Arriving Dubai refreshed, we were checked into the hotel where we had some hours of sleep before the safari tour billed for 3pm. “ Jimoh, Please you are the team leader now. Make sure you are at the lobby 15 minutes before the time. It will be worthwhile experience.” That was Liz Opalka of the Emirates Airline.

captured could not have been more than five minutes.

The falconry show not only showcases the majestic bird of prey, but also the beauty of the desert making for multiple photo opportunities.

With the falcon show over, over 45 Toyata jeeps, each taking not less than three

It is insulting to the falcons if you offer them small prey, such as a mouse or rabbit

a falcon if you want them to hunt. One, is the falcon needs to be hungry. They will never hunt if they are full. Second, it is insulting to the falcons if you offer them small prey, such as a mouse or rabbit. These birds can, and have, taken down animals as large as an oryx.

Lastly, a falcon will never chase it’s prey if it is still and most animals know this, so they remain motionless hiding in the desert grass.”

It wasn’t long before the prey was brought fro the bag and the falcon soon began her hunt.

Between the time the falcon was released and the prey was

,

tourists, were on ground for the thrilling journey - over towering sand dunes, and through the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, deep in the heart of the desert.

The Arabian roller coaster ride known as dune bashing (desert driving) was interesting as we shriek and laugh with excitement as the car goes up and down the dunes.

As the sun descends into the horizon, the vehicles stop to allow tourists to take sunset photographs, while standing on top of the fading desert dunes.

We then head to the campsite

where a convoy of camels awaits our arrival for short camel rides. As the sun casts its glow over the soft sands, lanterns come to life in the distance, signaling a traditional welcome After returning from the camel ride, we moved into the camp relaxing on low cushions in traditional Bedouin tents to enjoy an Arabian BBQ (barbeque/barbecue) buffet dinner and dessert beside a blazing bonfire with traditional cups of coffee and dates, underneath the pitch-black night sky.

Before we head back to Dubai, we were entertained by the dancing of a belly dancer to traditional Arabic music in company of a friend from New Zealand we met on the trip.

Heading back to Dubai, we had discussion on the economic benefit of the tour to the Dubai government and its people taking into consideration that Nigeria has a huge potentials in tourism that are not being utilized .

“Did you see the number of tourists from different parts of the world there? Don’t forget that we were told that over forty five jeeps with at least three people were with us this evening. There are three session per day.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012 — 29

30 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012

Software piracy costs Nigeria N82b yearly ….as Autodesk plans campaign to curb scourge

BY PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

S

OFTWARE pira cy in Nigeria has been estimated to cost the country’s economy $513million about (N82,080billion) annually, as Autodesk Africa announce plans to curb software piracy in Nigeria.

Autodesk Africa is a 3D designer in engineering, and entertainment software.

Autodesk said recently that it will launch an amnesty period for users of pirated software to move over to legal versions of AutoCAD and related software products, Whilst offering them the opportunity to approach local Autodesk channel partners to purchase legal copies without fear of legal action.

In addition, Autodesk said it’s making legal AutoCAD-family software available from as little as N31,840 ($199) until 15 July 2012, a massive 89

percent discount when compared to pricing in the USA. However, in recent research conducted by the Business Software Alliance (BSA), most Autodesk customers in Africa would prefer to buy licensed software, but often don’t know where to find it. As a result, they resort to pirated copies which don’t carry any of the benefits associated with buying valid licensed software, including after sales support and regular upgrades.

“The key to changing a region’s mindset about software piracy is to make the legitimate product more accessible and affordable to local customers”, says Richard Smedley-Williams, Sales Director of Autodesk Africa’s distribution partner, WorldsView Technologies.

According to him, “Not only has the price of our software been drastically reduced, we have also

made great progress in improving the convenience to our customers, who can now purchase genuine Autodesk software from 27 Autodesk approved partners throughout Nigeria,” he added.

To supplement the growth in the number of

channel partners, Autodesk is also running an awareness campaign on the benefits of using licensed software, such as support, proper updates, and access to other services such as the ability to use the licensed copy in the office and on a home PC.

Golden Penny rewards distributors nationwide

G

OLDEN Penny Pasta and Golden Noodles Nigeria Ltd; has rewarded her various distributors all over the country with cash and cars.

They were rewarded during the company’s 2012 edition of their annual customers forum with the theme; ‘The Food Basket’ in Abuja. In his keynote address, Mr. Ed Jackson, Chief Operating Officer Flour Mills of Nig. Plc, the parent Company, praised the customers for their support for the

brands and their business.

He expressed delight and gratitude at the loyalty of customers over the years and assured them of more innovative products in the coming years that will ensure growth in the consumer base.

Yiannis Katsichtis, GM/Director Golden Pasta, stated that the company was willing to further strengthen her partnership with the distributors towards achieving the vision of the company.

LASG to promote local products in 2012 Eko Expo

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

L

AGOS State Gov ernment has concluded plans to promote made in Nigeria goods and market the Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ) to more foreign investors at the forthcoming 2012 Eko Expo.

Special Adviser to Governor on Commerce and Industry, Mr. Oluseye Oladejo, said that the Expo is billed to hold from August 3rd -11th this year at the Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ).

“Over 80 exhibitors participated last year in the Expo and the enthusiasm displayed by investors further re-invigorated the need for the government to sustain the momentum with yet another Expo for this year to further reflect the desire of the state government to attract investment that will complement its deliberate programme of infrastructural turnaround and well grounded development in the state.

“The state is replete with a high concentration of SMEs and as a responsive government, we are committed to the creation of the right and enabling environment for them to thrive and expand.

“The growth of SMEs will definitely create more jobs for the citizenry and promote micro-economic stability of the state. This continued existence and optimal capacity utilization guarantees the stimulation of indigenous entrepreneurship, development of local technology, mobilization and utilization of domestic savings, production of intermediate products for use by large scale industries and existence of healthy competition that would in turn enhance proper resource utilization”, he added.

FCTA, Canadian partner on capacity building The FCT Administration and the Canadian firm are to provide a cellular training programme to build vocational capacity for the youths in Abuja.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012 —31

DON JJAZZY AZZY FIN ALL FINALL ALLYY BREAKS SILENCE ‘My integrity was never damaged’ •says MAVIN is bracing up to flood the market

Since his shocking break-up with his erstwhile partner, and co-owner of Mo’ Hits,Dapo Oyebanjo a.k.a D’banj, prolific music producer, Don Jazzy whose real names are Collins Edjereh has maintained sealed lips until last week when he floated a new record label called Mavin Records. The label parades the brightest and the best acts from the defunct Mo’hits including Wande Coal, Dr Sid, The Prince and the new entrant, Tiwa Savage. In this interview, Don Jazzy reacts to series of rumours and speculations that trailed his over-piblicised break up with D’banj. Members of his new label also share their dreams and expectations as far as Mavin Records is concerned.

OGBONNA AMADI, Entertainment Editor

•Don Jazzy

What is MAVIN all about and what inspired it?

T is spelt MAVIN Records and not Marvin.

If you check the dictionary it simply refers to somebody that is a genius or a champion, a sensation, hotshot, superstar, wizkid or whatever . So basically, we decided to call the company that name because we are all geniuses in our different

I

fields coming together in a record company.

How much would you say the event of the past few weeks have helped in the emergence of Mavin Records.

Basically, we do not believe in channeling our energies towards what has happened in the past. But

Continues on page 33

•D’Prince A col- l e c tion of costumes worn by the late king of Pop, Michael Jackson is going on a global tour starting next month ahead of an auction in Beverly Hills in December.

•Dr Sid •Wande Coal

Meanwhile the exhibition, which opens in Santiago, Chile, today, will include one of the singer ’s signature crystal-covered gloves, a military-style jacket he wore for the Soul Train awards in 1989 and a silver spandex leotard Jackson wore during his Bad tour in 1987.

A helmet wired with

Michael Jackson’s clothes begins world tour today battery powered lights that Jackson wore for the 2001 special concert at New York’s Madison Square Garden that marked his 30 years as a solo entertainer will also go on display.

The 50-100 costumes to

Continues on page 33

INSIDE

'Most of the things said about MO’HIT Records were untrue'

Married but Single ready to hit the big screen

Samsung releases new Galaxt Tab2 series

32—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18 , 2012

'Most of the things said about MO’HIT Records were untrue' F

ROM MO’HITS to MAVIN and the addition of new people and basically we will keep moving. So, obviously when you are moving you hope to move from point A to point B so we got to a point we stop we change gas, we refill and we are still going to get to point B at the end of the day.

Are you surprised about the loyalty of Wande Coal, D’Prince and DR. SID. Am I surprised? No, I don’t see any reason I should be surprised. I’m not surprised , there is no need for me to be surprised just like I have said nothing has changed, we are still the people that we are, we are still ourselves as we dey before, na so we dey, we still dey here , and there is no cause or time to doubt any body’s loyalty.

You have a new addition to the boys, Tiwa Savage, what’s the attraction? Is she the female artiste you have always wanted on board in Mo Hits?

I have been talking about a female artiste for a long time and Tiwa Savage and I have been talking about adding a female artiste to MO’HIT Records for long time now. It’s not that we didn’t know we will end up together at some point.

We knew from day one that she came into this country that this is going to happen and because at that point she was not ready.

Obviously, she can’t wait and I have to encourage her to go ahead and make some things for herself and which she did wonderfully as an artiste. Now there is room for an addition and so we will continue from where we left off.

Now let’s talk about MAVIN what is special about it and what are we expecting?

Basically, I will say that we have all seen that situations can change like the way people perceived you, the way people accept your music, the way people talk about you and whatever. So, we know now that we need to do all work harder, gather more momentum to create C M Y K

more music and stuffs so everybody is basically gingered, everybody is more fired up now to work and we don’t see anything stopping us as we are basically just going to put all our energy.

Now in MAVIN Records everybody is concentrating on the work and we intend to put out as much as many tracks and albums as possible. Trust me, I’m going to flood the market.

What I thought is perhaps MAVIN will introduce one artiste, one album but you are coming out with a collective album?

It’s not like it’s a group. You can tell everybody here is an individual artiste and successful on his or her own.

I must say everybody have at least one to three singles already in the past so we basically just want to bring them out. I didn’t take part in this album I only produced

Who are you looking up to as the cash cow?

Everybody. Basically, the record label is not built in a way one person supposed to be the leader. Everybody is giving equal opportunity to grow and it all depends on how the crowd sees you.

People have their opinions about what they like and stuffs like that so how you appeal to your fans will determine how they take you but we intend to put more push and more backing into everybody even the new people that we will add tomorrow.

There were so many insinuations about life in MO’HITS, that life was regimented such that when someone talks others keep quiet, how democratic is MAVIN going to be this time around?

A lot of stuffs that you guys have heard about MO’HIT Records trust me, they are really wrong, but I wouldn’t talk about MO’HIT

•Don Jazzy

the album. We were like this is Mavin Records everybody, please meet us; this is what we are for now. Individual album is going to follow any moment from now and there is no time to wait at all .

(Cut in) There no single before the release of this album?

No, there is no self formula at the moment so like I said I don’t really like to give people that publicity stunts of he his coming or anticipating.

When you see it, you see it, when you see it, you take it.

Will Don Jazzy be a sole artiste on MAVIN Records or an in- house producer and the CEO? I’m not going to say I’m never going to be an artiste but I don’t see it any time soon.

Records because we are talking about MAVIN Records and moving forward now and I will say we would try as much as possible to communicate a lot of the truth to you guys before people insinuate all sorts of stuff like in the last three months I have seen different kinds of interviews and blogs and whatever that people have written and they say that they spoke to me. Like I was reading a blog the other day and I saw Exclusive Phone Interview by Don Jazzy bla bla bla and they wrote like a full conversation. The person said this and I said this and that I said this and the truth is I have not had such interview with anyone.

I have not spoken to any reporter this year.

Could that be true?

Yes, they are not quoting anybody they were quoting themselves may be they have one imaginary Don Jazzy they were talking to or the other because the Jazzy they quoted is not me, I really do not speak to anybody regarding any situation or any issues, I have not put out any press statement saying whatever on this issue so people just really assumed. They were quoting themselves.

Jazzy what lesson would you say you have learnt from your past experiences that may likely help you in this new movement?

DON: They are not

lessons that are new.

Change, like they say is the only constant thing in life and I have just confirmed again that really things happen, relationship ends, good things must come to an end they say, one will just try much as possible to see that good things that we have last for long but sometimes they do happen we just pray GOD to help us live as long as possible to see more of the good things than having the good things to end and then because I have already known there is nothing much to say now about that past. Really, my entire mind is focused on moving ahead.

GROOVE Extra

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18 , 2012—33

Married but Single ready ‘My integrity was never damaged’ to hit the big screen Continues from page 31

basically to put up your energy to transform our Ffuture. We wouldn’t say we don’t have the memories of things that has happened but we just pray to God that as we are moving forward that such situations never occur again and we just pray for the best.

T

HE much talked about movie, “Married but Single” produced by Kalejaiye Adeboye Paul (KAP) is bound to take movie buffs by storm as it premieres on Sunday, June 3, at the Silverbird Galleria, on the Lagos Island.

The movie inspired by the book (Married but Living Single) authored by the resident pastor of KICC Pastor Femi Faseru was recently described by the producer as “a film of all ages.”

Kalejaiye, speaking in a chit chat session with Toolz on the ‘Afternoon drive’ at the Beat 99.9 Fm said “I call it a film of all ages because it is a movie that portrays the family, a film that talks about our neglect of the home front, battery, it emphasize the need for the society to go back to the basics.

When I say basics, if you look at the ills of the society, it’s rooted in the family upbringing, how do we bring up our Children and youths?

What time do we have for our homes and how well do we cater for our homes” The 51 year old Bachelors of Arts and Education graduate with two Masters Degrees in Public Administration and Business Administration from the Lagos State University hinted that the movie dwells on a more concentrated career rather than the home. According to him “it talks about a blend between our career and the family. The film brings to memory the colossal collapse of the family values, to remind us of how we (The African Society) was in the beginning and how did we come of age?

Meanwhile, after the premiere, the film is expected

What have you been able to put in place to ensure that what happened in the past does not repeat itself?

We can’t really say what happened, we can’t really put a hand on what went wrong so there is nothing one can do. Individually, we will just have to do our best and keep praying that it doesn’t happen again. It’s not that anyone planned it, it happened and it just happened , so we are not in any position to say it’s not going to happen again. Nobody is God? Do you in any way feel demystified about what happened, because the impression of the people out there is that you are invulnerable, not penetrable?

Demystified! I don’t really get it

to commence showing at various cinema houses , including Silverbird( Lagos, Abuja and Portharcourt),City mall, Genesis deluxe and Ozone from June 5.

Starring the likes of Funke Akindele, Joseph Benjamin, Joke Silva, Tina Mba, K alejaiye Adeboye Paul (KAP),Femi Brainard, Kiki Omeli amongst others,

‘Married but Single” directed

by Tunde Olaoye revolves around Mike(Joseph Benjamin ) an entrepreneur who is happily married to Kate (Funke Akindele) who is the creative director of an advertising agency owned by an overbearing boss Joke Silva. She is so much engrossed with her career and winning the biggest brands for her company.

Michael Jackson’s clothes begins world tour today Continues from page 31 be exhibited were designed

by Jackson’s long-time Los Angeles-based collaborators, Dennis Tompkins and Michael Bush, who spent 25 years creating his stage and personal clothes.

The exhibition has been organised by celebrity auctioneer Darren Julien.

She said clothing created by the late King of Pop’s long-time designers will be exhibited in South America, Europe and Asia.

The items were mostly C M Y K

gifted back to Tompkins and Bush by the singer, and many are signed by him, auctioneer said.

Julien said exhibition of clothing created by the late King of Pop’s long-time designers opens today at the Museo de la Moda in Santiago, Chile and will tour cities in Europe and Asia, including China and Japan, ahead of the auction in Beverly Hills on December 2.

A portion of the proceeds will go to the charities

Guide Dogs of America and the Nathan Adelson Hospice in Las Vegas. It features items such as Jackson’s Captain EO shirt, the black spandex outfit from his Scream video and the breakaway suit he wore during his BAD tour in the late 1980s.

Jackson died aged 50 in June 2009 in Los Angeles from an overdose of the anesthetic propofol and sedatives. His personal doctor is currently serving a four year jail term for involuntary manslaughte

(Cut in) There is this notion about Don Jazzy being somebody that is invulnerable, cannot give in, (so to say)?

Demystified? I don’t really think my integrity or my person has been damaged in any way, I believe that once you cannot hide the light, a gold fish has no hiding place. Whatever you are is like time will tell who you are. I can’t really say that people who think that they know who I am know who I am, just like some people that want to assume they know who I am by what they read or what they want to hear. I’m not in any position to start convincing you or anyone to believe otherwise or believe anything. I just believe that at the end of the day God will vindicate all of us and you will see who we are.

What do you think will change in your transition from MO’HITS to MAVIN? It has been a moving trend from MO’HITS to MAVIN, the only thing that has changed is the name

Michael Jackson’s clothes begins world tour today A collection of costumes worn by the late king of Pop, Michael Jackson is going on a global tour starting next month ahead of an auction in Beverly Hills in December.

Meanwhile the exhibition, which opens in Santiago, Chile, today, will include one of the singer’s signature crystalcovered gloves, a militarystyle jacket he wore for the Soul Train awards in 1989 and a silver spandex leotard Jackson wore during his Bad tour in 1987.

A helmet wired with battery powered lights that Jackson wore for the 2001 special concert at New York’s Madison Square Garden that marked his 30 years as a solo entertainer will also go on display.

The 50-100 costumes to be exhibited were designed by Jackson’s long-time Los Angeles-based collaborators, Dennis Tompkins and Michael Bush, who spent 25 years creating his stage and personal clothes.

The exhibition has been organised by celebrity auctioneer Darren Julien.

She said clothing created by the late King of Pop’s long-time designers will be exhibited in South America, Europe and Asia.

The items were mostly gifted back to Tompkins and Bush by the singer, and many are signed by him, auctioneer said.

Julien said exhibition of clothing created by the late King of Pop’s longtime designers opens today at the Museo de la Moda in Santiago, Chile and will tour cities in Europe and Asia, including China and Japan, ahead of the auction in Beverly Hills on December 2.

A portion of the proceeds will go to the charities Guide Dogs of America and the Nathan Adelson Hospice in Las Vegas. It features items such as Jackson’s Captain EO shirt, the black spandex outfit from his Scream video and the breakaway suit he wore during his BAD tour in the late 1980s.

Jackson died aged 50 in June 2009 in Los Angeles from an overdose of the anesthetic propofol and sedatives. His personal doctor is currently serving a four year jail term for involuntary manslaughte

34 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012 — 35

36 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012 — 37

GROOVE EXTRA

Mavin family speaks!

SAVAGE

‘MAVIN offers lots of freedom’

I feel honoured to be part of MAVIN You are the latest person to join MAVIN’s records how does it feel? t feels great. It feels like an honor, definitely a privilege and I know it was many girls dream to be the first lady under this label so I definitely feel like, I have been blessed by God. At the point you had the collabo, did you know you were going to be on the label?

No I didn’t know, it’s just that Jazzy and I have always been friends from long, like he said before he’s always there to give me advice and when he heard my song he actually liked the song and we decided it will be a great for him to do the song.

So what are we expecting?

Well, my album, I have been working on it for a while now so it getting ready to be done I just have a couple of more songs to do we are hoping to put the album out very soon more videos and just TIWA SAVAGE she’s building that name?

So how soon is your new album going to drop?

My new album, yea, my first ever album we are hoping within the next month or two that soon we are just putting the finishing touches to it.

I

‘I tried to intervene before the rift went haywire’ Tell me about SOLAR PLEXUS what is it all about? hen we decided to do Solar Plexus it was just in the midst of all this problem and stuff so we didn’t want to be going front and back with the press or having interviews that will start to create insinuations, so we decided to channel all our energy into creating an album, so we all came together and created the album SOLAR PLEXUS which is out now.

I heard the title was from your dad?

Yes, we were in the studio the other day and we were having like a discussion. It was me, Wande, Don Jazzy and Dr. SID in the studio.It was a little discussion when our dad came in and like always he was giving us advice, so in the midst of our discussion he used the word solar plexus that this thing going on now has to do with Solar Plexus and we just picked it, and it was like wow!

As expected DR. SID did a research on the word and it really fitted into the idea behind the album.

And we were all like we should use that name as the title of album and I think it has been accepted and it truly explained the whole event that has happened.

It’s funny, its crazy that everybody seemed to like the name SOLAR

W

PLEXUS. When the crisis broke out how did you feel about it all?

It’s natural that I’m going to be partial in the sense that it has to do with my brother and obviously when I see that someone was trying to put my brother in a corner or in a nasty position obviously I will react naturally.

I really appreciate the the way the whole story went because I believe we all tried our best to make and hold the label together but for one individual to feel otherwise it wasn’t a good thing to hear. I tried to settle the rift before it went haywire but it did not work out.

Will you in any way blame Don Jazzy?

I wouldn’t blame him because I know he was only trying to help us all to be on point and relevant but the other party was not willing to compromise issues and he made us to wonder if he knew what he was doing because we all started all these things together and we believed in growing together.)I thi8nk we should just leave the past and let the whole thing flow naturally. We are happy the way we are now,

D’PRINCE

There were so many insinuations about the side you will go when the crisis broke but here you are in MAVIN. What informed your decision? t’s a new movement and at the end of the day I realized the only person that has helped me grow to this point in terms of my music and everything is Don Jazzy.

So I think this time he has it better than ever and the future is bright for me and I want everybody to accept the new record label I have moved to.

When the crisis broke out, how much did it affect you as a person?

Well at the end of the day the only constant thing in life is change so you have to always change to the next level. I always try as much as possible to develop myself and fit into the next thing that is happening.

(Cuts in)In the heat of the crisis you released three singles and one of the singles was even produced by a producer outside Mo Hits.

Yea, because I’m not trying to eliminate myself, not really because at the end of the day I took direction and the concept from Don Jazzy first. He even listened to the song and told me it’s a great song and told

I

WANDE COAL

38—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, MAY 18 , 2012

me it will be part of my singles. Jay Sleek produced it the Private Trip was produced by Jay Sleek. Go Low and Be Long You Saw Me were produced by Don Jazzy. They were all good songs that’s why we put it on the singles.

In MAVIN, is it possible you have other producers on your songs?

Yea, because Don jazzy is bringing in more producers, he will sign more producers and we will get to work with different people. Don Jazzy is not going to be the only producer. It’s going to be like in the past that I worked with other producers like Q- beat on the song Kiss your hand with R2B in Ghana, yea as long as it’s a good song.

‘Everyone in MAVIN is doing well’ What difference have you seen from your movement from MO’HITS to MAVIN? othing much, MAVIN is a movement. It’s a collective of young talented people, it’s the same ethics, principles we held and practised in MO’HITS which made it to work, I mean everybody working together.

What has changed in terms of the structure?

In terms of structure nothing has changed, still the same way we communicate, the same way we bring ideas to the table. Someone will bring an idea and we all look at it.

In the heat of the crisis, you broke the silence and it’s like DON Jazzy or nobody?

No, the truth of the matter is, I meant that statement because there is a lot of people’s perception of who Don Jazzy is and his person.

Some people have started downplaying and insulting his person and I took offence because as someone who knows how we worked and how things were put together and how we created music, he’s the driving force,

N

everyone is free as never before.

Could it be that you, your brother and others failed to see the big picture that D’banj saw?

PRINCE: That same picture can be achieved better with your family you understand what I’m saying. You can’t just leave and say you want to go and achieve a big picture without the people you started with the small picture, I when it was like a passportsized picture. Now you want to fly alone without the people who helped you to start and develop the small picture. We all dream of the big picture but at least it will be done the right way and not a shaky way. This is my family and they are the one I’m with you understand.

DR. SID

he is the creative mind.

We come up with ideas but he is the one that sees how all the ideas come together to make the music and drive the brand the way it needs to be driven. So, I was offended at people down playing that though I understand that it’s their perception they don’t really know or have the information that is why I came out and said you know

what? Don Jazzy is the most important piece of MO’HITs Records and without him a lot of things will not come to be done. Like myself, I used to be a rapper but Don Jazzy came and told me ‘’see come I don’t want you to rap, this is want I want you to do.”

At first, I was skeptical at the beginning because of the way and the change Don Jazzy made on me and my kind of music hence the title of my album Turning Point, because I assumed I had to make that turning point from been a rapper to doing more singing and being more of an entertainer which is pretty much of what I enjoy to do.

So you being on this side is more like showing gratitude?

SID: No, it’s not about being on this side Don Jazzy is my friend, regardless of music, we hang out, we chill together at least we still party together aside the music thing and all that but I mean knowing the kind of human being that he is, it’s kind of hard to think otherwise.

There are too many stuffs going on though we don’t want to focus on the past but on the future.

GROOVE EXTRA

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18 , 2012—39

Zmirage gathers int’l writers, actors for Wole Soyinka T

HE organizers of the annual Project WS (Wole Soyinka), an international cultural exchange programme are already planning big for this year’s edition.

With the theme: “WS78-The Mind of a Patriot” the programme is now richer in terms of content as Zmirage Multimedia (Nigeria and UK) and Global NewHaven (Nigeria and USA) are poised to host about 78 senior secondary school students from all over Nigeria and the Diaspora in July to compete in an essay competition.

This year also, the programme will hold in London, Lagos, Abeokuta and Akure respectively.

Unlike last year, this year’s outing will equally host actors from the United States who will be joined by two notable Nigerian actors to stage the play “Home” written by Samm Art Williams and directed by Professor Segun Ojewuyi, Head of Directing at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale Illinois, USA. The Nigerian actors will be selected via an audition which will be conducted soon by the organizers together with their partners.

The lucky students will enjoy the privilege of visiting tourist sites such as Olumo Rock, Idanre Hills and office of the Governors of Ogun and Ondo States, respectively.

Also, there will be an advocacy lecture to be delivered by Robert Fox, a Professor of English and African Studies at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Illinois, USA, and entitled “From Tigritude to Transcendence: The conscience and conscientiousness of Wole Soyinka.”

Interestingly, in 2010, the event featured a galaxy of scholars, writers and professional performing artistes from the United States.

Zmirage Multimedia took the participants on a tour of Europe, Africa and Caribbean countries for an exchange programme.

Corporate bodies and institutions already lending support to the project this year include; Ogun State Government, Ondo State Government who have equally been with them since the first edition of the laudable project in 2010, Coca Cola and foremost family friendly company UAC Foods.

,

BENJAMIN NJOKU

Unlike last year, this year’s outing will equally host actors from the United States who will be joined by two notable Nigerian actors to stage the play “Home”

,

Organisers disclosed that winners of the essay competition will go home with laptop computers, desktop computers, scholarships ranging from N250, 000 (two hundred and fifty thousand Naira) to N100, 000 (one hundred thousand Naira) and lots of other prizes and souvenirs.

While the WS78 International Cultural Exchange takes place in Nigeria from July 13 to 17, the London leg of the programme comes up between July 28 and 29.

Tyson Beckford

40 — VANGUARD, FRIDAY, MAY 18 , 2012 With PRINCE OSUAGWU princeosuagwu@gmail.com

Easy ways to discover, install top BB Apps that make life easy F

OR the US market and even the emerging market of Africa, Blackberry seems to be the number-one smartphone platform and the craze for blackberry increases as Research In Motion, RIM, owners of the product, keeps producing newer models.

Ironically, many people do not know that BlackBerries had apps years before the iPhone came into Steve Jobs’s sub conscious mind.

What BlackBerries have never had, though, is an easy way to discover and install those apps.

Some of them are available on BlackBerry App World, which can be downloaded onto any Berry by sending the mobile browser to www.blackberry.com/ appworld. Some of them are available through the independent store GetJar, at getjar.com.

Some are only downloadable from developers’ Web sites.

So the user needs to do a bit more digging to find great BlackBerry apps than the user of, iPhone or Android apps.

Having said that, there are also some very good and important, free apps for almost every recent BlackBerry which help the user in every day life. Some of them include:

AP Mobile News 2.5.5

This is the Associated Press app on blackberry.

Just like its counterpart on other mobile platforms, this news program gives you complete, flexible access to local, national and international news. In addition to giving you upto-the-minute news, the latest version of this app lets you send stories to Facebook or your friends, read stories off-line, or watch news videos.

If you’re looking for multiple news sources, try Viigo below, but AP can satisfy any needy news junkie. This app can be downloaded via bb.apnews.com.

BBNotePad 1.1.2

BBNotePad is a big step up from the built-in BlackBerry notepad. It features three different font sizes, allows you to save a file as .txt so you can open it directly on your computer, and lets you send memos or notes using Bluetooth to other handheld devices.

Download BBNotePad by using the link http:// krzysztow.com/BBNotePad/ #downloadm.

for serious stock enthusiasts, but Bloomberg is one the best free business apps. It provides news, stock quotes, company descriptions, a customized list of stocks, and market trends. It’s also pretty easy to use, considering

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rides BOLT, a fast, highquality browser that downloads pages which actually look like desktop Web pages. BOLT comes with all the browser usuals, such as bookmarks and an RSS reader, but its most important attribute is desktop fidelity - pages look really good in this browser, even including some Flash content. It’s a huge step up from the BlackBerry browser.

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transforms the BlackBerry into a miniature version of the Facebook desktop site, sans add-in apps. The Highlights feature works like the news feed, letting you view recent status updates, photo uploads, comments, and wall posts without having to dive into the app’s various menu icons. You can upload or tag photos, check out photos, and add comments to photos or news items. This is a strong, successful transformation of Facebook into a useful mobile app. Facebook is available in BlackBerry App World.

$2.8 million Leica is world’s most expensive camera

W

E’VE seen our share of expensive cameras. The Phantom v1610, for instance, is capable of shooting 1 million frames per second — a feat that will cost you $100,000.

But that’s a veritable bargain compared to this 1923 Leica camera that just sold at auction for 2.16 million euros ($2.8 million), an absolute record.

German camera-maker Leica is one of the most famous names in high-quality cameras. A new Leica can run you as much as $31,700. But this 1923 0-series Leica is a piece of camera history, one from the first batch of 31 cameras the company ever created. Only about 12 are known to still exist; fewer still are in such a pristine condition. That means this camera can command top dollar — or, in this case, top euro.

The camera was purchased by an anonymous European buyer. In 2007, a similar Leica 0-series sold for $430,000; in 2011 one sold for $1.7 million. Given the rapid increase of price in these cameras, we think we’ll keep using Instagram to take our hipster-quality photos, thank you very much.

•Culled from yahoo news

•World most expensive camera

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012 — 41

BUHARI: Power is transient — Buba Galadima ter Buhari *Wh *Whyy the theyy are af after

A

LHAJI Buba Galadima, is one of the egg heads of the North and close associate of ex-military Head of State and National Leader of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd). He spoke in a telephone interview on issues arising from the "bloody and baboon” warning given by Buhari during an interaction with a delegtion of CPC from Niger State last Monday. Buhari had been quoted as saying that “God willing by 2015, something will happen. They either conduct a free and fair election or they go a very disgraceful way. If what happens in 2011 should again happen in 2015, by the grace of God, ‘the dog and the baboon would all be soaked in blood.’ Buhari’s assertion was quickly followed by sharp denunciations from the presidency and the retooled publicity machine of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The presidency in its reaction through Dr. Rueben Abati had ridiculed what it saw as Buhari’s descent from statesman to regional chauvinist and a blood thirst individual desperate for power.

Dr Abati also poked at Buhari’s past drawing attention to past assertions by one of Buhari’s present associates, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai where the later had claimed that Buhari was unelectable. The presidency also made insinuations of Buhari’s perceived inflexibility as a military ruler saying that he was removed from office on account of his obstinacy.

The PDP also that same Tuesday speaking through Chief Olisa Metuh, the national publicity secretary of the party at a hastily arranged press conference in Abuja also lampooned what it described as Buhari’s desperation for power which it claimed the former leader would not mind acheiveing even in a pool of blood. The party also sought to draw attention to perciveed infrastructures of the Buhari junta, notably the famous 53 suitcases passed through customs during a nationwide currency exchange in 1984 that demanded the search of all things coming into the country.

The exchange continued on Wednesday with the opposition rallying behind Buhari. The CPC formally defended its national leader on Thursday with a robust denunciation of the allegations from the presidency and its own condemnation of the President. Buhari was further shored up by the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN which through a press statement by its national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed charged the PDP and the presidency of running away from the issues raised by Buhari. In the midst of the exchanges, Vanguard sought a telephone interview with the National Secretary of the CPC, Alhaji Galadima who remarkably, is one of the closest associates of the General as Buhari is famously hailed among the Northern intelligentsia. He spoke on reasons why Buhari is now in the eye of the storm. Excerpts:

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, should be commended for havPOLITICAL EDITOR ing the courage to tell those in authority that they should behave well.

HERE are specula Let them go and pick him as t i o n s their mentors are now advising about the imminent arrest them to. If Obasanjo cannot of General Buhari and yourarrest Buhari I want Jonathan self. Do you feel it? to do it if he can try it because They have not yet done that, they are hiring people all over but we learnt that is what they the North to be talking for them are planning to do, but nobody because they can pay them has arrested me. money.

What of the General?

Not yet.

Who is being hired?

Go and listen to VOA Why do you have the fear and you will hear them. Why that they want to arrest you? are they jittery, why are they jitWe have our feelers that they tery? Is it wrong to say let’s do are hyping all these issues to the correct thing? I challenge lead to our arrest and they have Jonathan and his group to pubalways been trying to do that lish the Lemu report which they and that is why they are accussaid indicted Buhari. Why are ing us. they afraid to publish a white Why are they picking on paper because it indicted them the General? as having been responsible for They are picking on the Genthe election violence. I dare eral because it is him they are them if they are honest people afraid of and because once you and I dare PDP if they are hontake away rigging they are est people, let them conduct a gone, but they have forgotten free and fair election and let’s that their master, Obasanjo was see whether they will win one the first to talk of ‘do or die’. councilor?

‘Do or die’ means blood, if you Who do they think that they don’t do what I want I will kill are that they will threaten peoyou, that is what he said. ple? Power is transient! Where The issue is very simple, if is pharaoh? you are not a thief why should The man is jeopardizing the you be afraid if they say whofate of Nigeria. The man should ever steals should be killed? choose between PDP and the That is why they are afraid. It nation. If we don’t remove PDP is not the first time. General the way they are going we will said he was quoting Prof. Ango never have Nigeria.

Abdullahi who said that there They can arrest anybody they are three Boko Harams: the want to arrest we are not afraid original one, the one that is now *Galadima: If they want they can even kill us are we the first to die? of arrest after all Buhari himperpetrated by criminals that The press is not being fair to Nigeria should do better by do- that led to the Nigerian civil self was in detention for four are now raiding homes and markets, and government itself. the country because what Gen- ing what is right to avoid what war, the baseline was election years. Me I have been charged Was it not Jonathan who said eral said was that it was the is happening in other countries. rigging that led us into that civil with treason. It will add to their that there are Boko Harams in malpractices that led to the post Is he not being patriotic when war. Are you saying that some- problem. Let them try it if they his government? Didn’t Azazi election violence of 2011 and he gives people free consultan- body of Buhari’s stature can- can threaten us. If they want say so? So, why are they that in other countries of the cy? This is a man who fought not warn those in authority that they can even kill us are we the first threatening General Buhari world this injustice leads to civil in the Congo because of elec- there is no need for the coun- to die?

That is what they want to do betry to go into this? Why are we when he was quoting some- war, it leads to killing of inno- tion malpractises. cause these guys have no culture of cent people and that therefore body?

Whatsoever was the thing miss-reading things? The man running a plural society like Nigeria.

T

42 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012

POL SNIPES EBINO TOPSY-TURVY:

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLIIICAL EDITOR

A

S the Students Affairs Officer at the University of Lagos in the mid seventies, Mr. Ebenezer Babatope may have once lamented the limitations on him that stopped him from sharing his progressive ideas beyond the confines of the university.

He, was subsequently to be thrust to national limelight when he was detained by the General Yakubu Gowon military dictatorship on account of his writings expressed through a campus magazine. His propeople leanings well articulated in speech and in his writings would of course have perturbed any of the military regimes of that era.

It was as such not surprising that one way or the other that Ebino Topsy as he was known was axed from the university for reasons hushed-hushed around then because of his ideological bearings. The decision of the Obasanjo dictatorship was of course not surprising. The same junta was about that time also orchestrating some unpopular measures that were to lead to the nationwide clamour against the administration recorded in history as the Ali Must Go riots.

Banished from the university administration he won the confidence of Chief Obafemi Awolowo to whom many other ideologically inclined progressives across the country were also gravitating to.

When the Obasanjo military regime lifted the ban on partisan politics, Babatope was to come into national acclaim as the national organizing secretary/

The movements of an ideological icon

director of organisation of the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN. As the national organizing secretary of a party that many ideological youths saw as the only light in the cesspool of an ideologically bankrupt political system, he became a sort of icon to many youthful lads across the country.

Youths across the country who could not decipher the elderly political ruminations of Papa Awolowo inclined themselves towards the frontward lucid articulations and posturing of Babatope.

Indeed, as a few disgruntled elements such as Chief Akin Omoboriowo, Prince Olu Mafo, Chief Sunday Afolabi among others moved away from the fellowship of the disciples of Awolowo, Babatope, however, further entrenched himself.

Babatope excelled by all considerations in his duties and proved to be more than a match for the conservative ideologues paraded by the ruling National Party of Nigeria, NPN. The progressive thoughts enunciated by the Awoist camp and the retorts of the Uba Ahmed

A Rep and his comedy of errors

BY NDAHI MARAMA

I

T was a comedy of errors last Monday when a delegation of the House of Representatives paid a courtesy call on Governor Kashim Shetimma in Maiduguri.

Such occasions when National Assembly members make official visits to governors are usually laced in merriment, exchange of gifts and banter especially when a federal legislator from the home state is in the delegation.

The visit of the House Committee on Health was especially so last Monday, but it turned out a major disaster for a member of the House from Borno State. In fact, it is a day that Rep. Abdu Mshilia would for a long time rue on account of the dismay he raised among all in the Government House that day.

Mshelia on that day simply could not remember his governor ’s name when the

delegation got round to introducing themselves to their host.

Mshelia who represents Askira –Uba/ Hawul Federal Constituency was to add to his fault when he addressed one of the governor’s former rivals now serving the governor as “Your Excellency.”

The memorable drama ensued when he forgot to pronounce the correct names of the state’s number one citizen in the presence of his visiting colleagues in the House of Representatives Technical Committee on Health.

Mshelia, a pharmacy graduate from Bulgaria University entered the political terrain during former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff’s tenure when he served as a member of the Borno State House of Assembly representing Hawul state constituency.

He worsened his case when he addressed the Chief of Staff to Governor Kashim, Alhaji Abu Kyari as “Your Excellency” - a

title that state governors normally reserve for themselves and their deputies within the Government House.

It was even more embarrassing on that day given that the Chief of Staff, Kyari had aspired to the office of governor before he threw in

led conservative school were perhaps platforms upon which ideological pillars for the social political transformation of the country would have been laid. But no, the military incursion in December 1983 cut it off. hrown into jail for nothing other than his ideological bearing, Babatope came out with his integrity and ideological identity unscathed.

He preserved in his inclinations towards Awoism and had a frontal roll in the burial in 1986 of the man that was hailed as the best President Nigeria

T

the towel and backed Shetimma.

Was Mshelia trying to revive Kyari’s gubernatorial aspiration? No, a desperate Kyari repeatedly said if not in words, then by his immediate rejection of the title ascribed to him by the House member.

Expressing his disappointment, Governor Shetimma said: “I will not recognize my own brother who is a House of

*Gov Shetimma and Rep Mshelia after the meeting

never had.

After the death of Awolowo, Babatope’s identity has, however, increasingly confused his followers. His comfortable participation in the Sani Abacha regime may have been forgiven as a slip, but his long suffering struggles for satisfaction and status in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP would surely unnerve disciples of Ebino Topsy of old.

Given his personal integrity and continued enunciation of progressive ideas, it is no surprise that the leaders of the PDP have continued to fence him from high positions. His bid to be the national secretary of the PDP understandably caused the party elders to cringe last March.

Obasanjo, the same Obasanjo who saw his exit from the University of Lagos more than thirty years ago, saw to it that not only was he denied the position, but according to some reports lost it at the point of tears.

Last week the apogee of Babatope’s ideological convolutions reached its apogee when he dragged the spirit of the sage, Pa Awolowo into the PDP’s difficult task to upstage Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Edo State.

Our dear Babatope at a press conference in Benin last weekend said:“This state is very crucial to us for the fact that Papa Awolowo died with the belief that it was the people of old Bendel that gave him the political credibility as a leader in the country.”

The prayer of many ideological soul mates of the beloved Ebino Topsy is that the PDP and its challenges would not finish the credibility of Ebino Topsy of yore!

Representative member from my state who is too jittery and cannot even remember the correct pronunciation of my names as his governor of the same political party”.

Shettima was even more irked due to the fact that the leader of the House Committee on Health who is from the Southeast, Rep Patrick Osadwu and a member of the ANPP could correctly pronounce his names, while his own kinsman, had to almost bite his tongue to call the governor.

The Courtesy call paid on Governor Shettima by members of the House of Representative Technical Committee on Health was to intimate the governor on their investigative mission to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.

Even as the lawmaker ’s departed on that day, the governor was still in shock over the foibles of the House member.

“Honourable Abdu, it is still surprising that you cannot pronounce or mention in full the correct names of your own governor, not to even express yourself in a simple sentence”.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012 —

43

CHAMPION MAN OF THE YEAR:

It is order for more work — Oshiomhole

Fewer federating units

Linking the leadership failure in the country with the system of government being practiced, he said Nigeria needs fewer federating units to function effectively.

“Nigeria can not function well under the existing 36 states . We need fewer federating units that have power for security, good education and infrastructural development. We can do well by reverting to six geo-political zones for good governance,” he suggested.

,

F

OR Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, the just held Champion Newspapers’ Man of The Year Ceremony, would remain a milestone in his political career, given that his nearly four-year stewardship in Edo earned him the Newspaper’s Man of the Year award.

The event which took place at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Lagos, last Tuesday was an occasion to celebrate Oshiomhole, who made a remarkable transition from labour leader to a politician.

Despite commencing two hours behind schedule, the forum attracted political heavyweights, former diplomats, industry captains, traditional rulers among others.

Amid musical interludes by an Edo cultural group, the ceremony commenced with an opening prayer at 7: am.

In his opening remarks, Anyoku, who chaired the event, expressed satisfaction on the manner of leadership Oshiomhole is exhibiting in Edo, but regretted that such leadership is absent in most other areas of leadership in the country.

Anyoku said“I am delighted to be here for the eminently deserved award for Comrade Oshiomhole. I congratulate Champion Newspapers for the award on a deserving awardee.

I first came in contact with him when we both served in committee for the bidding of UN seat for Nigeria.

"Oshiomhole has made himself a charismatic and celebrated union leader. He has made huge impact on the lives of Edo people.

We are faced in this country with a situation that calls for leadership qualities which Adams represents and has shown.”

He also regretted the prevailing corruption, especially the revelations from the House of Representatives probe of the fuel subsidy regime.

Also reechoing Anyoku’s tone, the Guest Speaker, Esele, situated the leadership crisis in the country on the failure to learn from the mistakes that led to the 30-month Nigerian civil war.

Esele, whose speech was intermittently interrupted by applause from the audience, said, “Nigeria has a long history of bad leadership especially at the federal level since independence. No leader has emerged at the national level, who has become an epitome of all the overwhelming desires of all Nigerians, it is because no leader has been able to straddle

My fight against the godfather started from his decision to veto what an elected governor had promised to the people of the state

,

all the interests and desires of the majority of the citizenry across the geographical divide that would enable such a leader stand as a symbol of the Nigerian state. What we have rather had are leaders at the regional levels, because they were able to grapple with the immediate interests of their societies.

There was a relationship between the society and the leaders, which built trust , confidence and sometimes reverence for the leadership allowing them latitude to function effectively.”

Despite these lamentations, the trade unionist expressed optimism that the nation, could still produce leaders, that would epitomise the overwhelming yearning of Nigerians.

An order to work more

Coming in the heels of Esele’s speech, was Oshiomhole’s citation and his acceptance remarks, which turned out to be

*Chief Tom Ikimi, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Governor Adams Oshiomole, and Mr. Raji Fashola, Governor of Lagos State. the high point of the occasion.

The governor, who appreciated the honour given him, described the award as a marching order to continue to apply the resources of Edo state to reflect on the living conditions of Edo people. “ when people start to appreciate your good work, it is an invitation to do more. I would not have been able to achieve moderate progress in the infrastructural renewal in the state if not that the leadership of Action Congress of Nigeria gave me a free hand to work. They accommodated a level of rascality from me and I believe that we need a level of rascality to make dramatic change in the country,” he stated cknowledging Anyaoku for chairing the event, he commended the elderstatesman for staying away from politics and showing that it is

A

ROLL CALL THOSE in attendance were, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola; former Commonwealth Secretary General, Chief Emaka Anyoku; Amb George Obiozor, exgovernor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba; former Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Tom Ikimi; President Silverbird Group, Mr Ben Murray-Bruce; Sen Domingo Obende, and President-General of Trade Union Congress, TUC, Comrade Peter Esele Others were:Representative of the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba,N’Edo Uku Akpolokplolo Chief David Edebiri; Sen Ehigie Uzamere, Chairman Nosak Group, Mr. Tony Ogunbor; Chairman Zinox Technologies, Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh, Eze Igbo of Lagos, Igwe Hyacinth Ohazulike, Igwe of Mbaukwu, Igwe Peter Anugwu, among others.

possible for an elder to be a role model, rather not competing for a small Akara, (Beans Cake).

“Many people who read my comments on Edo State or who read about our state from time to time wondered why I am fighting the Godfathers. To start with, I

,

BY CHARLES KUMOLU& GBENGA OKE

As governor, I was compelled to go to Abuja and invited to a private living room of a man whose name has never appeared in the ballot paper and he had to interrogate me on why I wanted to build more schools

,

think to even use the word God is even wrong, the actual word should be the devil father because there is nothing godly in their acts.

"Some felt I am insulting elders, but I have no difficulty respecting elders, where I have difficulty is that whereas I respect the age of these people that are holding our dear state down but I have no respect for the age of their ideas.

It is the same thing that explains the paradox of a rich country whose people are being pauperised and it the same thing that explains why fewer people are buying jets and more people are getting poorer. Unless we reverse it, there are no miracles.

If we are to have a sustainable development, the starting point is to get rid of those forces that have held the country down and opposed its progress,”he maintained.

Elaborating further, Oshiomhole said, “my fight against the godfather started

from his decision to veto what an elected governor had promised to the people of the state.

"As governor, I was compelled to go to Abuja and invited to a private living room of a man whose name has never appeared in the ballot paper and he had to interrogate me on why I wanted to build more schools, he was not convinced and he deleted the vote for mass transit, for education and other capital projects including security votes, with people like that in the corridors of power, there is no way this country can move forward.

“So I made up my mind that we will not only fight the godfather but we will defeat him in the interest of the people of Edo state. I believe 95 % of Edo people are appreciative of what we are doing because they have been denied these developments over the years. While we are busy mobilizing the people of Edo state, they are busy holding meetings with INEC officials, doing secret negotiations.”

In addition, he said, “My last message is to Abuja. I believe President Goodluck Jonathan has committed himself to one man one vote and I will like to encourage him to know that the business is not over, some of the old men around him do not believe in the slogan, while they are preaching one man one vote, the godfather in Edo is talking of the presidency’s support, that they will re-capture, not win.

"How will the presidency help them to re-capture? Are they coming to vote in Edo state? I know this president will not allow anybody to behave as if Edo state is a retirement benefit on account of his services to his party.

“To do that is to make a great mistake but in any event, our people are absolutely ready. I expect Abuja to publicly deny that Abuja is not going to support anybody contrary to the claim of the godfather,” he said.

44 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012

O

FTEN, in a moment of despair, I would like to forget some salient factors in the history of Nigeria.

Many times, the situation of the `Nigeria Question` would be so overwhelming in my mind that I would forget that I am a Nigerian and would want to leave the country for a while.

A times, I would not want to be reminded of what would happen in 2015 as prophesied by some political pundits in the USA or their oracle consultants in Nigeria. It is all well that the defeated presidential candidate in the last election, General Mohammadu Buhari has warned the country of the possibility of a political revolution if things remain (electoral processes) unchanged. The fervent hope is for the rain of a social revolution to fall and not the torrents of a bloody revolution.

As it is often remarked, Nigeria is a very lucky country among those politically contrived nations of the world in the 20th century, and perhaps, would still remain politically stable and economically prosperous during the celebration of one hundred years of the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Provinces.

In 1914, the British imperialist, Lord Lugard effected the union of both the Northern and the Southern parts of the country under the name of Nigeria, presumably coined by his fiancée.

Before the amalgamation, British troops had conquered in 1902, the Sokoto Caliphate founded by a religious Jihadist, Shehu Usman Dan Fodio (1754 – 1814) and had between 1902 and 1906 brought Oyo and Ijebu territories under British Sovereignty.

It is assumed by progressive historians that the amalgamation was to provide good

BY LAJA THOMAS

E

LEVEN days to the end of the first year of his second tenure, Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State has presented his scorecard to the state's indigenes resident in Lagos. It was an interactive session with executives and members of different town unions, women groups, youth associations and other critical stakeholders in the Abia State project to intimate them on the activities of government since he came into office five years ago.

The governor was represented by his Chief Economic Adviser, Chief Chijoke Nwakodo, who also doubled as the chairman of the occasion. State Liason Officer in Lagos, Chief Felix Azuh, Special Adviser on Diaspora, Chief Kingsley Megwara and Special Adviser on Public Relations whose office organized the forum, Barrister James Okpara, were also present.

Nwakodo said Orji could not come for the event because he went to Adamawa State to be with the PDP national chairman and PDP governors. And the previous day he attended the

AMALGAMATION OF 1914:

Was it a mistake? administration and encourage internal trade throughout the country of diverse nations and a large market.

The post amalgamation period witnessed movements of people throughout the country with heavier traffic towards the North. There was also expanded trade culminating in the movement of goods from south to north and north to south.

Politically and economically, things appeared normal until the introduction of the Legislative Council which brought together representatives from the north and the southern parts of the country. Except for Lagos and Calabar which had elected representatives, selection by British officials was the vogue in other areas.

It is a pity that it was in Northern Nigeria that the question of the amalgamation of the 1914 was raised in the 1950s.

The late Prime Minister of Nigeria, Sir Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was reported in 1952 in a speech in the Northern House of Assembly, Kaduna, that `the Southern people who are swarming into this region daily in large numbers are really intruders.

We don`t want them and they

are not welcome here in the North. Since the amalgamation in 1914, the British Government has been trying to make Nigeria into one country, but the Nigerian people are different in every way including religion, custom, language and aspiration. The fact that we`re all Africans might have misguided the British Government. We here in the North, take it that `Nigerian unity` is not for us`.

The McPherson Constitution which brought the different parts of Nigeria into political discourse also portrayed the fragile nature of the political entity of the country. After the alleged maltreatments of Northern legislators in 1953 on Independence motion by the late Chief Anthony Enahoro of the West, the Sardauna of Sokoto and the leader of the Northern People`s Congress (NPC) was quoted as saying, `the mistake of 1914 has come to light`.

He elaborated further that, `Lord Lugard and the amalgamation were far from popular among us at that time.

There were agitations in favour of seccessions; we should set up on our own. We should cease to have any more to do with the

Southern people. We should take our own way`. Many analysts believe, and justifiably too, that the seed of political instability was planted out of the mindset of the two most important political leaders of the North at that time.

It should be realized that since the 1950s and even after Independence in 1960, the North (taken as one entity) had benefitted immensely from the Amalgamation of 1914 in terms of political power and the share of the national cake According to a British writer John Pender in his book, `AHMADU BELLO – Sadauna of Sokoto, `the problems facing the NPC government of Tafawa Balewa were many.

In 1961, only 400 out of the 41,000 Federal Civil servants were Northerners (with about 30 in senior posts); only two of the Northerners were in the Department of Customs and Excise; in the Army, there was a large number in the lower ranks but about ten (10) were commissioned officers". owever, through political sagacity and administrative efficiency, the face of the North is more than visible in every facet of the Nigerian national life today.

From those halcyon days of British political ingenuity of 1914 to the present turbulent period of Boko Haram insurgency in the North, kidnapping and armed robberies in the South and deepening poverty all over the country, events have changed dramatically leaving vestiges of political bitterness, ethnic terrorism and religious intolerance.

It is amazing how the incompetence of the present leaders could be blamed on events which happened about one hundred years ago. It is to the present political leadership of the country (under the age of

H

Day Gov Orji presented scorecard to Abians in Lagos burial of Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Ihejirika's father-in-law. Ihejirika is a proud son of Abia State.

At the packed interactive event held at Ojez Place inside the National Stadium, Surulere, the government presented a comprehensive side show of some of various projects executed across the state by the Ochendo administration.

As the screen came alive and the slides began to roll, Megwara provided further explanations and shed more light on what the people were being shown.

Earlier, Okpara had told the gathering that the reason for the interactive session was for the indigenes to be adequately informed about the development back home instead of depending on rumours, which he said had become the trademark of some politicians in the state, who were no longer relevant in the scheme of things. He emphasized that all that they were about to see were

*Gov. Orji done and executed by the T A Orji administration without borrowing a kobo, an announcement that was greeted by a rapturous clapping.

“It is important that we let all of you, our brothers who are the executives of your town unions know what is going on at home. We live in a global village where information travels very fast. And where some failed politicians have made it a trademark to peddle and sponsor rumours against the government. We felt you should see things for yourself and form your own judgment or opinion. But the important thing I want you to know is that the administration of Ochendo has done what you are about to see without borrowing a kobo from anywhere.

After you have seen these things, you are free to ask question and air your observations”, he stated.

sixty years) to show more interest in the history of economic and political development of the country in order to understand the present predicament of the nation.

In sympathy with those patriotic Nigerians who are clamoring for a change from the present position for a more radical stance, it is necessary to present an over view or a panoramatic scenery of today`s Nigeria. t is a country of a population of about 160 million people with about 70% of the populace living on less than 1US$ i.e.

(N250) per day; it is one of the 20 poorest countries of the world with large scale unemployment and the rate of poverty generally spread throughout the country but highly marked in the North.

Compared with other developing countries, its rate of inflation is over ten percent and its bank lending rate is over twenty percent to the real economy. Also, it is a country with political instability and economic uncertainty, but with potentials of a great country based on abundant natural and human resources.

Of all premonitions and dark clouds in 2015, I found General T. Y. Danjuma`s warning of `Somalisation` of Nigeria as the most serious. Somalia operated a unitary government under a military dictatorship. When the leader was overthrown (Siad Barre), the country descended into anarchy and has never recovered till today.

Could Nigeria avoid similar experience by evolving a sensible politics and common sense economics? Why not negotiate for a genuinely National Government to bring out the most capable Nigerians of all political shades and ideas?

I

Sms only 07059197616

Megwara explained the rationale behind the move by the government to relocate the Umuahia Main Market.

According to him, the status of Umuahia as a state capital is of much concern to the governor.

And his plan is to transform it from a glorified town to a commendable state capital that all Abians can be proud of.

“The governor, Chief T A Orji wants to make sure that if you come into Umuahia, you’d know that you’re in a first class city, and therefore, government is trying to move the market. That market is in the centre of the city in Umuahia, it is actually an eyesore and unbefitting of a capital. So, that market is now being moved to somewhere closer to Uzoaku.

Looking at the slide as it rolled by, Megwara said “A lot of you going to Aba know the old Ururuka Road – that road is now passable; it used to be a death trap. There is the old Express Road by Sam Eke – and that one has been abandoned for over 20 years, and the Government of Abia State picked it up, and that’s how it looks like right now Continues on page 45

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012 —

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HAT have been your challenges in the National Assembly?

I left the House more than four years ago, May 2007. So my experience in the Senate versus the House of Representatives, first, the challenges are different.

When I was in the House of Representatives, we were not facing for example, this issue of oil subsidy, Boko Haram, perhaps the biggest problem we faced at that time was the attempt by the then president to subvert the constitution by his attempt to have a third time for himself.

Issues like Boko Haram are not issues that you can talk about as freely as you wish because security problems are not the issue any one can talk about flippantly.

The whole issue is just shrouded in a crowd of the unknown.As we are talking right now, nobody can say clearly who are the brains behind Boko Haram, even the issue of subsidy, it’s just being defrocked, that is stark naked for us to see what is beneath it. So for that reason, there has been a measure of caution.

In fact, before the issue of Boko Haram was discussed for the very first time by the Senate, if you watched the proceeding that day, you will see that the Senate President first called for an executive session and we were warned, and I believe correctly, that this was not a matter people can just plan to play to the gallery because if you misspeak in that kind of place, you might become the target of death. You remember that the man former President Obasanjo visited to try to negotiate was killed within 24 hours and when we had the debate on Boko Baram, some of our loved ones called me and said Prof., this is not the matter to blow grammar on and I don’t blame them.

Discretion, they say is the better part of valour especially when you don’t know the enemy about

FUEL SUBSIDY REPORT:

Nigerians mus ak e mustt ttak ake action — Prof Adeyeye SENATOR Olusola Adeyeye representing Osun Central Senatorial District, Osun State is not a green horn in Nigerian politics. The former member of the House of Representatives came into national prominence through his activities as a member of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) during late General Sanni Abacha's government. He was among those who were behind Radio Kudirat that the pro-democracy activists were using to diseminate information then. In this interview with Journalists in Osogbo, Senator Adeyeye spoke on a number of issues. Excerpts: whom you are going to be talking about.

Again, When you look at the character of the Senate anywhere in the world, the Senate usually comprises of people who are older than those of the other chamber. I don’t call the House of Representatives the lower chamber because the two chambers are actually co-equal.

The Senate cannot pass any law without the House of

enjoyed it because we knew that we must surely win when it comes to joint session.

However, in the Senate you are older, senators also tend to be less emotional. For example, often times in the House of Reps when I would speak, people will clap and I will enjoy their applauds.

You cannot afford that in the Senate, it’s not allowed. So the style is different, the procedure is partly different and the

,

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

It’s up to the executive to prosecute, it’s also up to the citizenry to bring appropriate pressure on the political process to ensure that no one can be a sacred cow in this matter Representatives and if there is a deadlock between the House and the Senate, I can assure you there will be a joint session in which the House will always win because in a joint session, it will be one-man, one-woman vote.

That is why the state itself is careful not to precipitate a situation where there would be conflict in the House of Representatives.

In fact, when we were in the House of Representatives, we

,

tradition is different despite the fact that even when you look at the rules of the Senate and the House, they are almost the same. ow, as for the challenges we are facing, the issue of fuel subsidy came because there was a motion by Senator Bukola Saraki to look at the fact that the budget of our republic voted N245 billion a year for oil subsidy and that from investigation we were spending four or five times that amount.

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Day Gov Orji presented scorecard to Abians in Lagos Continues from page 44

“This is a federal road in Arochukwu. What is happening now in all the states, our own included, is that you wait for the Federal Government and they are not coming, and you know that your people are directly suffering from all the hardship that comes from deplorable road condition. The government of Abia State is doing that road. This is the new state secretariat. For the first time in the history of the state, the government has brought all its employees under one roof.

“The government has built 255

45

health centres located in the three senatorial districts of Abia State, to enable the people enjoy healthcare services.

“This is the new Government House – the Government thought it was necessary to build a new Government House. This is the conference centre. Before we left home, to come here (Lagos), Ihejirika’s mother was being buried, and there was not even a single space of hotel room in that place. The Nigerian Medical Association, the other day wanted to hold their annual convention, they were looking for a place. The International Conference Centre will make us

able to attract international events. About 6,000 people would be able to sit comfortably in that hall when completed.

Our governor has vowed to ensure it is ready before December.

“The diagnostic centre the governor has brought to our state has made it possible for our brothers and sisters who would be travelling to India, or Pakistan or Saudi Arabia to seek sophisticated healthcare. They are now being done in Abia State.

We’ve just brought in the machines and brought the doctors too. This is the one in Umuahia, another one is in Aba.

*Adeyeye I happened to be one of the principal co-sponsors of that motion, was debated and in the end referred to a committee to look into it. It so happened that the House of Reps later brought the same motion and we couldn’t go into action because right now all that you are seeing is what have come from the House of Reps when in fact the Senate had also met on the same issue.

We read in the newspaper, some explanations from the chairman of the committee on Petroleum on why the Senate has not come out with its own findings. He said they were trying to be sure that everything is sorted out. I am convinced that it is too late for anyone to try to hide anything, I believe nothing will be hidden, now I don’t want to prejudge what the outcome of the Senate finding would be but they may find the same thing that the House of Rep has found, there might be slight differences.

Now, as a Nigeria citizen, I am It took a lot to bring these things in”, he explained among other things.

“This is the new Osisioma Roundabout; it used to be a terrible place. There also is the new Osisioma Motor Park – we’ve decided to bring all the motor parks together and have it organised.

“What used to be an erratic power flow, a terrible power system in Abia State is now being corrected. We now have an Umuahia where you don’t need a stabiliser any more to power your air conditioner, and can stay two, three days now without PHCN cutting your light. A lot of people thought it was PHCN but the Abia State Government put in N1.2 billion to assist PHCN in what we have in Umuahia and the surrounding area

free to comment on what the National Assembly has found. I have no reason to doubt the integrity of those in the House of Representatives who are in that committee. In any case, how can it be that between one year and the next, the amount that was spent on subsidy was curtipled?

Is it because the number of cars and on that account the volume of petrol consumed was curtipled over a 365-day period? I don’t believe so!

I believe that there is no how you are going to get to the bottom of this subsidy issue without finding some rots and I am glad that the National Assembly has done it duty in bringing the facts to the open, we don’t have the power to prosecute, all we can do is to tell the nation what we have found. It’s up to the executive to prosecute, it’s also up to the citizenry to bring appropriate pressure on the political process to ensure that no one can be a sacred cow in this matter. Once the citizenry is alive to his civic responsibility, we who are your servants have no choice but to bend to your wishes. I believe that what would happen in the end will not depend on the apathy, indifference, zeal, enthusiasm, whatsoever of politicians alone, to a large extend, it will depend on the Fourth Estate of the realm- the press, the civil society, labour, and the citizenry at large, who must say N1trillion or N2trillion is not a small sum of money. If we bring that money to capital development, we can create enough jobs that will fast occupy our young people and arrest this orgy of violence from jobless youths who are being misdirected, by organization such as we have found in Boko Haram. It will create infrastructure that will make our lives better, it will create better schools for our children.

46 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012

BY ISHOLA BALOGUN

Bismillahi Rahamani Raheem. Wasalatuwasalamala seyidinaMuhammad,waala alihi, wa ashabihi, wasselim.

Tel: 08098097290 email: isholaism@yahoo.co.uk

“Allah said: “Soon will show them our signs in farthest part of the earth and among their own people until it become manifest to them that it is truth. It is not enough that the Lord is witness over all things.” Holy Qur’an (Q41;53) N our immediate environment and surroundings, signs and wonders of the message of the Holy Qur ’an abound. It is not sufficient to see signs but as Muslims, we have to go a little further to be able to decipher it and praise Allah for his wonderful works. To make His signs more clearer, God sent His Messengers on earth to preach His message, to give guidance to the existing signs and other to come. He appeals to us to study them closely in order that we may know that He is the Most Powerful, Most High.

Glory and adoration be unto Him. “So blessed be Allah, the Best of creators.” Q23:14. He gave mankind the intellect and the freedom to explore His signs so as to get benefits from them and also choose whether to believe it or not. That is why the Quran is

described as Guidance and Blessings to mankind. (Hudahn wa Rahmatan li ilalameen) Another of His signs now coming at a time when Islamic popularity is waning in Nigeria as a result of orchestrated violence by some group of people which is erroneously linked with Islam. Just like some will not believe the violence

has nothing to do with Islam, they will still not believe in any story to prove that Islam is divinely ordained.

On Monday May 7, 20212, one of such signs came again. A boy named last Monday as Abdul-Wahab Babatunde was said to have been born with a copy of miniature Holy Qur ’an.

The most stunning

episode was that the delivery came from a non-muslim mother and in a church. Since the incidence, I have been inundated with comments and remarks on the authenticity or otherwise of the story.

While some believe it is a rare miracle, some Muslims say it is not possible. Those who subscribed to the idea

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I

Qurán boy: Another miracle from Allah?

Truly, “it is only Allah that chooses where His signs will appear.” Those who don’t believe it however, described it as fabricated myth, hinging their argument on the premise that the Quran cannot be so desecrated passing through that form of impurity. This will not be the first time when signs and wonders will be disputed by some people

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that it should be investigated must have reasoned with the verse of the Holy Qur ’an thus: “O you who have believed, if there comes to you a disobedient one with information, investigate, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and become, over what you have done, regretful.” (Q49: 6) Perharps, they believe that more stunning episodes will be unraveled in the course of investigation. Again, following what scholars

•Sheikh Is'haq Essam from Bahrain receiving a gift from the President of NASFAT, Alhaji Sherifdeen Yussuf (2nd right) and Sheikh Abdul-Azeez Onike, Deputy Chief Missioner of NASFAT (right) during the interactive session on ''Islam and Peaceful Co-existence in a Multi-religious Society," last weekend, Lagos.

Alamu Shitta-Bey installed new Seriki Musulumi of Lagos

A

•From left, Alhaja Nofisat Arogundade, Women Leader, NASFAT, presenting a gift to Sheikh Is'haq Essam from Bahrain, flanked by other delegation from Bahrain during the interactive session in Lagos.

have said on it, especially after the said Quran was viewed by the league of Imams at the residence of Chief Imam of Lagos, who are believed to have scrutinized the story from the religious perspective and resolved that it is indeed a sign from God. Truly, “it is only Allah that chooses where His signs will appear.”

Those who don’t believe it however, described it as fabricated myth, hinging their arguments on the premise that the Quran cannot be so desecrated passing through that form of impurity. This will not be the first time when signs and wonders will be disputed by some people.

We have heard of a snail that had inscription of Lailaha ila Llahu, we have heard of a tree that carried that same inscription in Ilorin in the recent past. A rock was also said to have broken into two having the inscription of ALLAh is one on it. All these are signs which in other words we call miracles from Allah.

In Russia some few years back, a 9-month old baby boy, Ali Yakubo was seen with phrases from the holy Qur ’an appearing on his skin.

People still said it was surreptitiously written on Yakubo’s back, arms, legs and stomach despite the fact that these verses of the Qur’an were reported

to have appeared and after a while, faded away and replaced with new ones.

Another miracle was the 5-year- old boy, Sheikh Sharifudeen who was also born into a christian family in Tanzania. He speaks five languages - English, French, Italian, Swahili (Tanzania) and Arabic although he is completely uneducated.

At one-year -ld, he was able to recite the Quran and went on to preach in Arabic, Swahili and French without any learning. He had no formal education, but teaches people with a great number of converts. He knew the Qu’ran by heart and started praying five times daily when he was eighteen months.

One of the qualities of true believers and worshipers of Allah listed in the Holy Qur’an is “...

Those who, when they are reminded of the signs of their Lord, fall not deaf and blind thereat”. ...

“Does not man see that it is We Who created Him from sperm? Yet behold!

He (stands forth) as an open adversary! And he makes comparisons for us and forgets his own (Origin and) Creation: He says “Who can give life to (dry) bones and decomposed ones (at that)?” Say “He will give them life Who created them for the first time! For He is well-versed in every kind of creation!

“The same Who produces for you fire out of the green tree when behold! Ye kindle therewith (your own fires)! “Is not He Who created the heavens and the earth able to create the like thereof?” Yea indeed! For He is the Creator Supreme of skill and knowledge (infinite)! Verily when He intends a thing His command is “Be” and it is! So glory to Him in Whose Hands is the dominion of all things; and to Him will ye be all brought back.” Q36:7783. May Allah guide us aright.

LHAJI Nurudeen Alamu Shitta-Bey has been installed as the new Seriki-Musulumi of Lagos, at the Lagos Central Mosque.

Some of the personalities at the event held last weekend, included: former governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, Oba Adedapo Tejuohso, the Osile of Oke-Ona Egbaland and the representatives of Turkish government amongst others.

Tejuosho, in his comment said the choice of Alhaji Alamu

Shitta-Bey as the new Seriki-Musulumi of Lagos was divine and in line with the desire and yearnings of the Lagos Muslim community and other natives.

According to them, the installation of Alhaji Alamu Shitta-Bey was accepted by all and in line with the tradition since the time when Islamic religion was entrenched in the 19th Century in Lagos.

The Chairman of Shitta-Bey’s Family Affairs Committee, Chief Rasheed Adewale Shitta-Bey in an

interview said it was a collective decision of the entire family members who presented him to the Muslim community in Lagos, under the leadership of the Chief Imam of Lagos, Sheikh Garuba Akinola Ibrahim who performed the turbanning ceremony and Baba Adinni of Lagos, Sheikh Alhaji Hafeez Abdou.

The new SerikiMusulumi of Lagos, Alhaji Alamu-Shitta-Bey succeeded Senator Sikiru Ayodeji Shitta-Bey who passed on in 2010.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 PISCES; Unless you are more careful matters-of-the-heart may cause avoidable trouble the way your career/business can suffer temporarily.

ARIES; It is important you don’t exhibit aggression unnecessarily. Here is a day when secret love is capable of bringing serious pressure. Try to be very diplomatic.

TAURUS; Your concentration level is not perfect and if you take bad advice from friends you would be misled.

The more practical you are the better for you.

GEMINI; Unnecessary aggressive approach on your part along your career/business lines will back-fire more than you imagine. Graceful expression is what you will need.

CANCER; Happenings within your working arena can bring minor provocation but it is just a passing trend.

Travelling for love will bring more challenges than expected.

— 47

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

E

VERYMAN or woman is thirsty for one thing in the life - we all want to be appreciated. The desire to be appreciated is innate in every human

The thirsty man being.

No matter what you give a man, if you don’t appreciate him, he is like the thirsty man given a bottle of mineral instead of glass or

TERROR MUDA

water, he can’t be satisfied. Appeciate a man for te little thing he has done for you and he will go out of his way to do greater things for you.

in “Never say goodbye”

Whether a small man, whether a big man, whether a little child, a big girl, big woman, etc, we are all thirsty for appeciation.

Think about it!

By Kola Fayemi

LEO; Male members of this Star sign will need to watch their libido while female must not ignore their sex-life.

Beware of joint ventures with those you don’t know.

VIRGO; It is not compulsory you take to aggressive reaction to those within your base of operation who are not as perfect as you. Protect your spouse.

LIBRA; Watch what you eat and drink today. This is the wrong time to engage in unnecessary heated argument..

Romance at work may bring disappointment.

SCORPIO; Trying to influence matters-of-the-heart with money will not give you the desired result. Any way it is a day you will need to be more careful with money.

SAGITTARIUS; It is important you are more careful while trying to pass judgement on people within your base of operation because you too may be wrong.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

CAPRICORN; Taking a pleasure drive or movement may bring more than anticipated responsibility. Keep away from whatever can not be placed above board today.

AQUARIUS; If you allow friends to force their ideas on you financially or on matters-of-the-heart, you would be the loser. Express yourself gracefully.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

Where was my moon Dear Joshua,

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Kindly tell me where the Moon was placed when I was born and other things I should know about my star.

John, Oyo. Dear John, What space can take will be given here-under. Your natal Moon was in Aries.

ANALYSIS OF YOUR HOROSCOPE DATA Preponderance of cardinal quality in your chart is an indication of GREAT LEADERSHIP QUALITY together with innate ability to attain prominence on one hand, on the other hand, exaltation of intellectual related Mercury in Aquarius at positive angle to both lucky Jupiter and Uranus (the planet of genius) in Libra pointed to a person with higher pitch of intelligence.

Action loving Mars as the final dispositor of your horoscope ( that’s most influential planet at home when you were born) will most times induce you to strongly desire importance with likeness for quick results; actually long promise without concrete action will bore you easily. Equally 60 percentage of push-full influence in your chart means that the best for you is to go after your needs and wants.

Combination of all the placement and aspects formed within the planets when you were born are pointers to you as a person with balanced personality with little bias for good spiritual life. And you believe in disciplinarian life style.

Placement of your natal Sun and Moon in compassionate Pisces and self conscious Aries respectively are indications of your being mainly a Piscean and partly an Arian, however as Aries is also your Stellium sign, both basic characteristics of Pisces and Aries are highly pronounced in your inner-self.

Commen3

by Lawrence Akapa

48—Vanguard , FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012

Academic activities resume at Unilag

'Strip political appointees of armed security aides'

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AGOS—ACADEMIC activities resumed yesterday at the University of Lagos after three days of mourning for the late Vice Chancellor, Prof.

Adetokunbo Sofoluwe, who died on Saturday aged 62.

The Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic and Research, Prof. Babajide Alo, however, said academic activities would be “low keyed''.

He said: “The university community is yet to recover from the rude shock when it received the sad and sudden news of the death of its 10th vice chancellor.

“A high-powered burial committee headed by my humble self was set up in conjunction with the family.

“On Thursday, May 31, 2012, there would be a lying-in-state on our campus followed by a burial service at All Saints Church, Yaba, and this would be followed with an interment at the Vaults and Garden, Ikoyi, Lagos.”

Senator calls for setting up of leadership centres

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

S

ENATE Committee on Women Affairs, Social and Youth Development yesterday advocated for establishment of Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre, CLTC, in every state, noting that Nigeria is in dire need of quality leadership.

Chairman of the Committee Senator Helen Esuene, said this in Lagos during a facility tour of CLTC Sea School, as part of the Committee’s oversight functions.

According to Esuene, ''leasership trainings should be made affordable to Nigerians, including students in secondary and primary schools respectively".

Agbarho old students meet

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HE Lagos branch of St. Enda’s College (Agbarho Grammar School) Agbarho Old Students Association holds its monthly general meeting tomorrow at 12B Abuja Close, Agbara Estate, Ogun State.

A statement by the president, Chief Lucky Arhere said very important matters, including handover of the school to missionaries have been lined up for discussion.

BY TONY NYONG

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From right: Former Oyo State Governor, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, his wife, Oluwakemi, former Senior Special Assistant on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Prince Felix Akande and his wife, Faderera, during funeral and thanksgiving for Madam Deborah Adegbite, at Mark Hayford Memorial Baptist Church, Timber Market, Accra, Ghana.\

N18,000 minimum wage: Zamfara workers begin strike

BY SAMIU IBRAHIM

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USAU—CIVIL serv ants in Zamfara State yesterday began an indefinite strike to press home their demand for payment of the N18,000 minimum wage to workers in the state.

The Secretary of the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Sabo Tsafe said the workers would not return to work until their demands were met.

The workers had earlier given two weeks ultimatum to government within which to commence pay-

ment of new minimum wage or face industrial act i o n .

Vanguard gathered that discussions between labour and government was reportedly deadlock , as government allegedly insisted that its ability to pay the new salary scheme depended on its monthly accruals from

the Federation Account.

Furthermore, government insisted that it could only address the demands of labour, after the conclusion of its on-going verification of the work force, which labour reportedly interpreted to mean rationalisation or retrenchment of workers.

Alleged non-payment for projects: Contractors give Chevron ultimatum

BY EMMA ARUBI

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ARRI—KOKODIAG BENE community contractors, executing the multi-million naira cottage hospital for the oil–rich people of Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, have given

Chevron Nigeria Limited a 48 hours ultimatum to pay them for work done or face their wrath.

The community’s Financial Secretary, Mr Jackson Timiyan, in a joint statement with Capt. Jonathan Uti and Godfrey Ike on behalf of the other contractors, said the ultimatum had become imperative as various banks

from where loans were obtained for the execution of the project were now set to confisticate their property used as collateral due to default in re-payment of the loans.

They claimed that they had executed the hospital project to Chevron’s specification and expressed worry that the company was not

living up to its pledge of paying them to meet the completion time frame.

“We the contractors went into borrowing from our banks for our various constructions pending Chevron’s disbursement. Now the project is uncompleted and no disbursement had been made to us over a year,” they complained.

Foundation laments plight of Nigerian families

BY LAJA THOMAS

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GGRIEVED families have been urged to sheathe their swords and return to path of peace, dialogue and conviviality as violence destroys the vital essence of the family. She lamented that the Nigerian family has been consistently under threats because of an admixture of controllable and uncontrollable circumstances in our environment.

The Founder/President, Asabe Shehu Yar ’Adua Foundation, Mrs. Asabe Yar’Adua, said this at a ceremony to commemorate this year's UN Family Day in Abuja.

Mrs. Yar’Adua said: “The general economic gloom has compounded the woes

facing the family, especially in Nigeria and most developing countries. It is a growing economic hardship being precipitated by the sharp decline in government expenditure on capital projects and empowerment schemes, owing to an astronomical rise in

overhead costs. Budgets for educational needs by the authorities fall short of the crucial demand with its dire consequences on the family. Thus, the family lives in perpetual fear because of the rising state of insecurity”.

Also commenting on the

current security challenges facing the country, she said, “lives of many families have been ruined, having lost their bread winners or their businesses completely destroyed. This is indeed the situation that the average family in Nigeria has found itself.”

ESS than a week after Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State kicked of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, campaign for the local government elections, the state Chairman of Independent Electoral Commission, AKISIEC, Mrs Gloria Ukpong, has said to reduce tension and violence during the council polls, there was need to strip political appointees and political parties of their armed security aides.

The AKISIEC boss, at a stakeholders’ meeting with security chiefs and leaders of political parties warned, that the commission would not be liable for any shortcoming in the conduct of the election, if political parties refused to obey the rules.

Thanksgiving

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HANKSGIVING to mark 90th birthday and 60th marriage of Rev. Canon Joseph Abi Oghenekaro (rtd) comes up tomorrow at St. Barnabas' Anglican Church, Owhrode, Udu L.G.A. Reception takes place at the primary school, opposite the church.

Mrs Ikomi for burial

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RS Comfort Ikomi, 76, of Ugbege in Warri North LGA of Delta State and Philips of Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, is dead. There will be a Christian wake today at her residence, funeral service holds tomorrow at First Baptist Church, Palmer Road, Sapele. Entertainment follows immediately at Sapele Athletic Club, GRA, Sapele, Delta State. She is survived by many children, grand children and relations among whom Mr. Moore Olegitiere JP P.R.O. of Uvwie Kingdom and Mr Jolone Ikomi, a Warri-based legal practitioner.

UNN leads other varsities on CSR

BY CHINENYEH OZOR

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SUKKA—UNIVER SITY of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, is ahead of other universities in the country and occupies the 35th position in the world on Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR.

Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Bartho Okolo disclosed this at the World Earth Day seminar organised by Centre for Entrepreneurship and Development Research, CEDR, of the UNN, explaining that the university is poised to uphold the virtues of CSR.

Okolo noted that the university’s policies and practice on environmental sanitation, waste management and landscaping were geared towards institutionalization of green environment aimed at ensuring that the university community enjoys the best of facilities.

zLate Mrs Ikomi

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012 — 49

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MAY 18, 2012

World Bank, IMF warn of domino effect of Greece default W

ORLD Bank Presi dent Mr. Robert Zoellick yesterday warned that Italy and Spain are at risk from the illiquidity crisis that is plaguing Greece which has been denied further credit line by the European central bank. Mr. Zoellick said the worry for the managers of European economy is on what happens to Italy and Spain which are facedwith dire economic situations thst could result from a domino effect of the Greek default.

The World Bank boss said “The core question will be not Greece, but Spain and Italy,” World Bank President Robert Zoellick said on Wednesday. If Greece left the euro zone, the ripple effects could be very damaging and reminiscent of when Lehman Brothers investment bank collapsed in 2008, spreading panic on global financial markets.

Greece and Spainish depositors made frantic withdrawals from their banks as the economic

and political conditions in both European countries worsen. In Greece the interim government took over the affair of the country while panic spread in Spain after economic data confirmed the country is back in recession and reports of an outflow of deposits from nationalized Bankia hammered its share price.

IMF chief Christine Lagarde also warned of “extremely expensive” consequences were Greece to leave the euro zone, a once taboo possibility that European leaders have begun to discuss openly after the nation descended into political chaos.

Fears that Greece’s dire state could drag the euro zone deeper into crisis rattled financial markets across the globe, as a little-known judge was installed to head an emergency government which will lead the nation to new elections on June 17.

•World Bank boss Zoellick

•IMF Boss, Largard

Greek Interrim PM, Pikramenos

Lagarde on Wednesday called on Greek leaders to show their resolve to keep the country in the euro by sticking to its bailout deal with the International Monetary Fund and European Union, the terms of which have inflicted great suffering on its people. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said on Wednesday his government, struggling to reduce its budget deficit, could soon find it difficult to fund itself affordably on the bond market unless the pressure eases.

Recession-hit Spain, which faces deep concerns over the health of its banks, is set to see its medium-term borrowing costs rise sharply at an auction on yestersday of

1.5-2.5 billion euros of bonds expiring in 2015 and 2016. The European Commission warned last week that stubbornly high debts in the regions and

Hague judge delays Mladic war crime trial

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HE presiding judge in the U.N. trial of Gen. Ratko Mladic has delayed indefinitely the presentation of evidence that had been scheduled to start later this month due to “errors” by pros-

US to send troops to Africa Command T HE US army has said a combat brigade will be assigned to the Pentagon’s Africa Command next year in a pilot programme that will send small teams of soldiers to countries around the continent to do training and participate in military exercises.

General Ray Odierno, the army’s chief of staff, says the plan is part of a new effort to provide US commanders around the

globe with troops on a rotational basis to meet the military needs of their regions.

This pilot programme sends troops to an area that has become a greater priority for the Obama administration since it includes several nations from where it perceives an increasing threat to the US and the region.

Odierno says a bri-

•US President, Barack Obama gade from the 10th Mountain Division will take on the new task.

Already US special forces have begun providing training and logistical support to Ugandan soldiers hunting Joseph Kony, leader of the Lords Resistance Army. Military advisers are also in Uganda to draw lessons learned from Iraq and Afghanistan to help train African Union soldiers to fight Somalia’s alShabab group.

Romney regrets bullying gay student

P

RESIDENTIAL can didate Mitt Romney apologized on Thursday for what he called high school pranks that may have hurt others, after a report that he and other students at a Michigan school bullied a student who was presumed to be gay. “I did some dumb things and if anybody was hurt by that or offended ... obviously, I apologize,” Romney said in response to a Washington Post story that detailed a 1965 incident in which Romney pinned down a fellow stu-

came a day after Democratic President Barack Obama declared that he now supports same-sex marriages. Romney and

other Republicans made clear they would seek to contrast their opposition to gay marriage with Obama’s stance.

ecutors in disclosing evidence to defense lawyers. Alphons Orie said Tuesday he was delaying the Yugoslav war crimes tribunal case due to “significant disclosure errors” by prosecutors who are obliged to share all their evidence with Mladic’s defense team.

He says judges are still

dent and cut his hair.

The report about Romney’s days as a prep school student whose pranks sometimes crossed the line into meanness toward presumed gay classmates

M

ARY Kennedy, exwife of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., was found dead at her New York home Wednesday, reports the Associated Press. Westchester county executive’s office spokesman Ned McCormack says an autopsy will be

conducted Thursday on the body. He cannot speculate on the cause of death until then. The Bedford, N.Y. police department said that at approximately 1:36 p.m. they responded to a call about a deceased individual found at the Kennedys’ home.

analyzing the “scope and full impact” of the error. He says he aims to establish a new starting date “as soon as possible.” Prosecutors already had admitted the errors and did not object to a delay in the trial.

Mladic’s attorney has asked for a six-month delay.

NATO ends Libya campaign

N

ATO

has

formally announced the end of its military mission in Libya following a meeting of ambassadors from the alliance’s 28 states in Brussels. Friday’s decision comes a day after the 15nation United Nations Security Council unanimously voted to end the mandate that had authorised military action in Libya.

Alliance warplanes will cease operations on Monday after flying more than 26,000 sorties, and bombing almost 6,000 targets, in

Robert F. Kennedy’s estranged wife dies at 52 •Mitt Romney

the welfare system would prevent Spain meeting its deficit goal of 5.3 percent of GDP this year. Reports from Athens said depositors were withdrwaing their money to keep at home or transfer them to other countries.

The economic uncertainty is Greece is compounded by the political impasse in the European country. The European Central Bank has stopped offering liquidity to some Greek banks it does not consider solvent, and international concern about the euro zone rose as Athens called new elections that look set to be won by parties opposing austerity measures.

•Mary Kennedy,

a seven-month operation that helped bring about the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi, the former Libyan leader. “We have fully complied with the historic mandate of the United Nations to protect the people of Libya, to enforce the no-fly zone and the arms embargo,” Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO’s secretary-general, said in a statement.

“Operation Unified Protector is one of the most successful in NATO history, We are concluding it in a considered and controlled manner because our military job is now done.” The mandate of Unified Protector, the name of NATO’s operation, was to protect civilians and civilian-populated areas under attack or threat of attack.

The alliance’s operations in Libya had divided the UN, with Russia, China, Brazil, India and South Africa accusing the alliance of breaching the Security Council mandate.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012 — 57

C M Y K

58—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012

My mother, my mentor TRIB UTE TRIBUTE

By OLUKAYODE FAYEMI

A

S the last child in the Fayemi household, my arrival was heralded with song and dance. Although my birth elicited genuine excitement on the part of my siblings, it was for my mother a cautious welcome. My mother’s caution was understandable having lost a boy and two girls in quick succession before my arrival. While I was generally called Olukayode (the one who has brought joy), mum privately called me Folorunso (we give this one to God to protect) because, as she once told me, it wasn’t until I turned five that she became more confident that I wasn’t going to disappear like my siblings did.

Given the above context, I grew up knowing my mother as a strong, proud, beautiful, elegant, industrious, hardworking and a consistently optimistic woman - the unseen backbone of our family. Unlike my father who was deliberate, self-effacing, almost withdrawn in his detached mien, mum was spontaneous - her effervescence and generosity of spirit was bewitchingly infectious. Yet the myth then was that being a special child and the last born, my mother would spare the rod and pamper me silly. I cannot recall

A

Late Dorcas Aina Fayemi

ary school, I became the cook, the driver, her shop steward and the general journeyman. Mum worked hard and she expected all around her to work hard. I could not recall any time my mum did not have to go out and work. Anytime I was on school break, it was all work - and my escape route was often my sisters’ various homes.

Although I also left home ear-

,

Mine was largely an unspoken, impenetrable bond with mum. I thank God for my mum’s life of service to all who had the opportunity to come across her

enjoying any such status. Instead, she was equally generous and spontaneous with her punishments. Mother reached for the closest instrument she could hit you with from her pounded yam pestle to her giant soup spoon, not minding the injury sustained at that point even if she would be back to nurse the wounds. Even at that, my sisters said she had mellowed by the time I came. She always told me that she missed out on school because she was pampered by her grandmother (with whom she stayed) - who removed her from school to escape the harsh treatment of the teachers - and promised herself that no child of hers would have the same experience. So, you dared not inform my mum that you were flogged in school as this almost always certainly elicited a repeat treatment.

An unconscious feminist who refused to be dependent on anyone, not even her husband, mum trained me in exactly the same fashion she trained my sisters. She trained me to be independent in all ways. With the exit of my four sisters from home by the time I entered second-

C M Y K

family members. My Mum bore the brunt of the period with extra-ordinary grace and equanimity. She witnessed several betrayals in the course of my political work. She endured many indignities from known and unknown quarters. But the period also showed clearly my mum’s strength of character. Even when many had become disillusioned by the ‘do-or-die’ politics of our state and urged withdrawal privately, mum was consistently optimistic.

Her single-minded determination and steely resolve often surprised me because I’d mistakenly thought age would have mellowed her. She never at any point urged me to throw in the towel. She told me she always knew the journey would be tough and rough but also consistently reassured me of the light she could see at the end of the dark tunnel. She urged me to be bold, courageous and not betray Ekiti people. She hated my dismissive, sceptical mien and impatience with religiosity.

,

ly and lived away from her for a considerable length of time, Mum had already taught me a lot about life. While she often taught the same lessons as Dad about character, compassion, hard-work, community service, perseverance, her style was remarkably different, uncodified and refreshing. She was direct, precise, demanding and often in your face. Mum was extremely protective of her family, loyal to her friends and her milk of compassion to outsiders was legendary as she was always ready to share the little she had with the needy from far and near. She complemented her husband who was reserved, self-effacing and inscrutable fittingly and this helped his public image which would have suffered greatly. My mum was the best wife any man could pray for and I certainly can confirm that my late dad was very lucky.

She was fun to be with and could easily laugh at herself in a self-deprecating manner. I guess I must have subconsciously searched for a woman like my mum for wife and must have taken her teachings to heart with my marriage to a very conscious feminist, family protector and public relations agent, and I often marvelled at the remarkable similarities between my Mum and my wife.

My return to Nigeria after the exit of the military brought much relief to my mum. My eventual decision to become politically active in Ekiti even brought greater relief because it meant my constant presence in Ekiti, something my mum had missed since I left Christ’s School, Ado Ekiti. Mum had craved for my presence for a long time - even if she was not that enamoured of partisan politics per se. For her, anything to bring me closer home was more than welcome.

We grew much closer during this period that tested the mettle of many friends and

devout Catholic who car ried her rosary everywhere, she could suffer fools gladly and still entertained various hare-brained schemes by the emergency evangelists and fake medicine men that saw her as a conduit to her recalcitrant son – even if she didn’t believe them. One even had the temerity to tell her she was the source of her son’s problems and she must go back to where she got her son from and beg for forgiveness, whatever that meant.

That was just one of the several indignities she had to endure. Since I was hardly at home during this period, many of my supporters looking for me in the village ended at her doorsteps and her house was the refuge for m a n y political exiles and supporters

from neighbouring communities. She never got tired of taking care of people. I am convinced I got my selfless service genes from her as much as from my dad.

For her, the greatest security was the people who pestered her with all manner of requests, not the ‘prison’ where I’d placed her in Government House without the freedom to welcome her unsolicited guests. Two weeks to her demise, her paternal community in Omu-Ekiti honoured me as the son of their princess. It was the first time of knowing that my mum had any drop of blue blood in her. But then she acted it all through her life. She was regal in her steps, highly fashionable and always liked to dress up.

Beyond the fad and fashion though, she had a more compelling urge to always look after people around her, the way a service oriented royalty behaved - always ready to feed the hungry, to give drink to the thirsty, clothe the needy, provide shelter for the homeless and share the little she had with all. When death finally came, I was sadly not at her bedside but Bisi and my siblings were.

Mine was largely an unspoken, impenetrable bond with mum. I thank God for my mum’s life of service to all who had the opportunity to come across her.

My mother, my mentor, thank you for showering me with love without expecting anything in return and for the joy of bringing me to this world. I know that what you would really like most is for me to continue to live a life of service to our people in Ekiti and humanity at large. I promise not to disappoint you.

Sun re o! Omo Oriyemusola…

•Olukayode ‘Folorunso’ Fayemi is governor of Ekiti State

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012 — 59

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60 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012

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Authentication Of Name

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VANGUARD'S LAGOS OFFICE

YOU CAN B O O K YO U R A DV E R T S AT OU R L A G O S I S L A N D O F FI C E — VA N G UA R D M E D I A L I M I T E D (LAGOS OFFICE) K I O S K 4 8 E A S T P AV I L I O N T B S , L A G O S .

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL SPECIAL

Bayern vs Chelsea Tomorrow Time: 7.45pm Venue: Allianz Arena, Munich

Robben raring for glory

A

rjen Robben believes that Bayern Munich must seize their chance to win the Champions League final against Chelsea tomorrow. ”This is a unique chance. You never know whether you will ever make it to the final of the Champions League again. We have to make it happen now,” Robben stated to De Telegraaf. ”I think that the lost 2010 Champions League final will only have a positive impact.”

Nevertheless, Robben did admit that Bayern’s 5-2 DFB-Pokal final defeat to Borussia Dortmund last Saturday has hurt their confidence. ”That definitely was a bit of a blow to our morale. That was a very nice trophy that we wanted to win.''

Drogba eyes special win

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helsea striker Didier Drogba believes Chelsea deserve their place in the Champions League final this weekend, and hopes they can put the heartache of Moscow in 2008 well and truly behind them by beating Bayern Munich.

The 34-year-old is likely to start at the Allianz Arena in what could be his last game for the club and the striker thinks that a win on Saturday could be the perfect way to forget what happened four years ago.

Drogba was part of the team that lost against Manchester United on penalties in Moscow; however Drogba did not take part in the shootout after he was sent off in extra time.

“After Moscow we thought we were going to get to the final the next year,” Drogba told reporters. ”But that’s the Champions League, it’s very difficult to reach the final and that shows how much we deserve to be there today.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012—61

62 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012 — 63

Keshi blasts Eagles despite 2-0 win T

HE Super Eagles on Thursday put up a spirited second half performance to defeat Nationwide Division 2 side Mountain of Fire And Miracles (MFM), Abuja 2-0, but Head Coach Stephen Keshi, said after the game that he was appalled by the display of his team, because according to him they did not play like a national team in the first half.

The game which was played at the Practice pitch of the Abuja National Stadium, started on a rather tepid note for the Eagles, who started the game with the possibles. Dan Akpeyi, was in goal, Hamza Onwuemenyi, Nura

Mohammed, Samson Pius, Emma Nwachi and Turkey based Ehigho Ehiosun spearheading the attack.

Several chances were created in the half but were wasted with Pius, Gbolahan Salami and Hussein Hassan the chief culprits.The half ended goaless to the delight of MFM Coach Monday Cornelius.

In the second half, Keshi rolled out the probables and it had an immediate effect as Ejike Uzoenyi, Obinna Nwachukwu, Kalu Uche and Izu Azuka took the fight to the opposition in the early stages of the half. It resulted in a simple tap in goal by Azuka

in the 65th minute after Ejike’s trade mark run on the flank, this time from an unfamiliar right flank.

After that goal, Azuka who was not feeling too fine, was pulled out for Sunday Mba, who ensured that the prressure on the amateur side was sustained. It resulted in a penalty in the 75minute, when Kalu, was pulled down inside the area and Ejike stepped out to stab in the goal.

It could have been a goals rain but the players took things rather too easy to the chagrin of Keshi, who ordered them back to training on Thursday evening for playing below par.

•Keshi

24 schools battle for Ow en set ffor or Man Utd e xit Owen exit Channels Kids Cup M

BY SOLOMON NWOKE

T

WENTY Four prima ry schools in Lagos square up in this year ’s Channels Kids Cup Football (Under 13) tournament which begins next Monday at the Legacy Pitch of the National Stadium, Surulere.

Straitgate School Magodo takes on their counterparts from Command School Yaba in the opening match which kicks off at Nine O,clock in the morning while Surulere LGA tackles their mates from Lagos Island in the second game.

Speaking at a media briefing yesterday at the Corporate Headquarters of Channels Television, Isheri Lagos, the General Manager, Special Duties, Steve Judo who stood in for Head of Organisation 2012 Channels Kids Cup, Tayo Balogun said the tournament was designed specifically for public and private schools in Lagos state and its environ aimed at discoverying young talents from the basics.

Balogun said also that the tournamnt was part of the corporate social responsibility of Channels Television in helping to develop sports in the state and the country from the grassroots.

He noted that the tour-

nament has taken a giant leap since its inception in 2009 as lots of talents have been discovered.

“Over 30 schools from different parts of the state applied for the tournament while 24 were given the pass mark to participate in the competition. The local organizing committee conducted a thorough screening of each participating school to checkmate age cheating and ensuring that every team is given a level playing ground.

ICHAEL OWEN will leave Manchester United when his contract ends next month.

The England legend,

•Owen

Liverpool get Standard Chartered boost

I

N a rare move to dis charging its corporate social responsibility, Standard Chartered Bank, the main sponsor of Liverpool FC (LFC), has replaced its logo on the team’s home shirts with the logo of Seeing is Believing, its global charitable initiative aimed at tackling avoidable blindness.

Seeing is Believing gained international exposure as Liverpool FC wore the limited edition shirts when they played and won Chelsea by 4 goals to 1, in their final home game of the Barclays Premier League season. This was the first time that Liverpool FC

displayed the logo of a charitable initiative on the front of the team’s iconic red shirt. The limited edition shirts were signed by the LFC players after the match and offered to fans across Standard Chartered’s international network to raise money for Seeing is Believing. Every dollar raised will be matched by the Bank.

According to Richard Meddings, Group Finance Director, Standard Chartered and Chairman of Seeing is Believing “The Liverpool-Chelsea game was viewed by millions globally, making this a great opportunity to raise awareness of Seeing is Believing and avoidable blindness,”

32, has spent three seasons at Old Trafford after joining on a shock free transfer in July 2009.

But he has made just 52 appearances in all competitions with only four this term. Owen confirmed boss Alex Ferguson told him he is no longer needed earlier this week. Writing on Twitter, he said: “The manager informed me after our testimonial match on Tuesday that the club would not be offering me a new contract. “I have loved every minute of the three years I have spent at such a fantastic club.

“I would like to thank the players, staff and fans for their support and wish them well for the future.

“I now plan to have a short holiday during which I will contemplate my next move.”

He later revealed his desire to carry on playing.

He said: “At 32, I definitely owe it to myself to have two or three years and play a bit more — but for somebody else.

“I am only 32. I might look a bit older than that but looking at the likes of Scholesy and Giggsy, it doesn’t half fill you with a lot of motivation and

Proenca picked for final Continues from BP And last term he was the referee for Manchester United’s semi-final second leg against Schalke.

He will be assisted in

Munich by his compatriots Bertino Miranda and Ricardo Santos.

The fourth official will be Carlos Velasco Carballo from Spain.

K eshi snubs Mik el, Osaze, Mikel, Yak ubu akubu Continues from BP Musa and John Utaka.

Keshi explained at the world press conference in Abuja that the overseas contingent will be joined by 18 of the 22 players who will travel to Lima for the international friendly against Peru taking place on May 23.

THE FULL LIST: Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille OSC, France), Austin Ejide (Hapoel Petah Tikva (Is-

rael) Defenders: Joseph Yobo (Fenerbahce, Turkey), Elderson Echiejile (FC Braga, Portugal), Efe Ambrose (Ashdod MS, Israel) Midfielders: Victor Moses (Wigan Athletic, England), Fegor Ogude (Valerenga, Norway) Strikers: Omatsone Aluko (Rangers, Scotland), Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia), Ikechukwu Uche (Granada, Spain), John Utaka (Montpellier, France)

Te v in a fresh attack on Fergie C ARLOS TEVEZ last night launched an amazing attack on Alex Ferguson — telling his former boss: “You think you’re president of England.”

The Manchester City striker held up an ‘RIP Fergie’ sign during the club’s title parade on Monday.

City apologised for Tevez’s “significant error of judgment” but the Argentine has refused to say sorry.

He said: “It seems like Ferguson is the president of England.

“He’s always spoken nonsense about me and I’ve never asked him to say sorry.

“When someone plays a joke on somebody else, you might apologise. But I won’t say sorry.”

•Tevez

RVP’S contract talks break down Continues from BP which have been described as tense and tetchy, broke down with no agreement.

Fears are now mounting that Van Persie could be tempted by a move from Arsenal to the Etihad, with City desperate to land the Premier League’s top star.

As revealed in SunSport yesterday, Arsenal are willing to play hard ball if 28-year-old Van Persie does not sign — and will make him see out the last year of his current deal.

The Dutchman hit 37 goals for the Gunners this season and was named both PFA and Football Writers’ Player of the Year.

C M Y K

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012

More stories on Champions League in SportsVanguard's pullout

ide s In

Keshi snubs Mikel, Osaze, Yakubu S •Invites 11 Euro stars for Jumbo June

•Mikel

•Osaze

•Yakubu

RVP’S contract talks break down

R

OBIN VAN PER SIE’S Arsenal future hangs in the balance after showdown talks with boss Arsene Wenger.

The Gunners had TODAY'S

hoped to persuade their captain to agree a lucrative new three-year deal worth £130,000 a week that would see off interest from champions

PUZZLES

Manchester City and keep him at the Emirates.

But yesterday’s talks,

Continues on page 63 YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

UPER Eagles’ Head Coach, Stephen Keshi yesterday named Skipper Joseph Yobo and 10 other overseas-based professionals for the three 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2013 African Cup of Nations qualifying matches coming up next month.

He however overlooked EPL’s trio of Mikel Obi, Osaze Odemwengie and Yakubu Aiyegbeni.

Yobo, who stars for Fenerbahce of Turkey, is one of only three defenders, with Israel-based Efe Ambrose and Portugalbased Elderson Echiejile the other names.

Goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama and Austin Ejide are called, as well as midfielders Victor Moses and Fegor Ogude, and strikers Omatsone Aluko, Ikechukwu Uche, Ahmed

Continues on page 63

•Drogba

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE:

Proenca picked for HELSEA and Bay final Cern Munich will

clash at the German giants’ Allianz Arena in European football biggest match.

And Portuguese official Proenca, 41, will be the man in the middle.

He was in charge of the second leg of the last-16 clash between Inter Milan and Marseille this season.

FINAL WHISTLE ... referee Pedro Proenca

Continues on page 63

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 3 Begin (5) 9 Sooner (6) 10 Vent (6) 11 Claw (5) 12 Usual (4) 15 Step (4) 17 Saluted (7) 20 Hill (3) 21 Eater (5) 23 Cheese (4) 25 Trial (4) 26 Stratum (5) 28 Wager (3) 30 Guard (7) 33 Paradise (4) 35 Roster (4) 36 Squander (5) 38 Mend (6) 39 Decorated (6) 40 Headdress (5)

DOWN 1 Fetch (5) 2 Stock (5) 3 Fixed (3) 4 Found (6) 5 Space (4) 6 Barrel (3) 7 Fold (5) 8 Guide (5) 13 Commanded (7) 14 Decoration (5) 16 Touch (7) 18 Plunged (5) 19 Obtain (3) 22 Allude (5) 24 Frenzied (3) 27 Clergyman (6) 28 Whiskers (5) 29 Entice (5) 31 Wanderer (5) 32 Keen (5) 34 Robe (4) 36 Intelligence (3) 37 Epoch (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Popped 5, Sacked 9, Voter 10 Loosen 11, Winter 12, Noted 14, Swim 17, Rid 18, Cede 20, Hated 22, Dined 23, Ringlet 24, Learn 26, Never 29, Eddy 30, Web 32 Dare 33, Rodeo 35, Seldom 36, Ravine 37, Beset 38, Redden 39, Threat.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 1, Polish 2, Profit 3, Even 4, Donor 5, Sewed 6, Arid 7, Kitten 8, Darted 13, Tingled 15, Waved 16, Merry 18, Cited 19, Defer 21, Din 22, Den 24, Lesser 25, Addled 27, Valise 28, Repeat 30, Women 31, Beret 33, Robe 34, Oath.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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