PDP CRISIS: Tukur, NWC members to resign Thursday

...towards a better life for the people

**

VOL. 25: NO. 61906

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013

Nigeria flogs Tahiti Nigeria’s defender, Uwa Echijile (R) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Tahiti during their FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 Group B football match, at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte, yesterday.

Photo: AFP.

2015: S-South, Gunmen Middle Belt elders back Jonathan for 2nd term

8

kill seven students, two teachers in Damaturu

9

PDP CRISIS:

Tukur, NWC members to resign Thursday

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR & HENRY UMORU

•Party recalls Wamakko, Sokoto Gov

L

AGOS—THE Na tional Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and members of the National Working Committee, NWC are to quit their offices Thursday at the National Executive Committee, NEC meeting of the party scheduled to

•What stopped Amaechi's recall — Akpabio •Why Anyim committee wants Tukur, others out •16 govs attend Jangs NGF faction meeting —P.50

Continues on Page 5

COLUMNIST:

19

Mr & Mrs

JANG'S NGF FACTION: Cross section of Jonah Jang's faction of Nigeria Governors' Forum at their first meeting in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

FG pays fuel marketers N192.5bn C M Y K

9

2 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013 — 3

4 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013—5

POCKET CARTOON

CONFERENCE— From left: Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha; House Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; Chief Ernest Shonekan, Senate President, David Mark and former President of Ghana, Jerry Rawlings at the International Conference on Emerging Democracies in Africa, organized by National Institute for Legislative Studies in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

PDP CRISIS: Tukur, NWC members to resign Thursday Continues from Page 1 meet that day.

The decision, Vanguard gathered, was consequent upon the submission of a report by the Senator Anyim Pius Anyim-led presidential committee constituted to study the crisis in the party. The report was submitted to the President yesterday.

However, Vanguard learnt that the recom-

mendation by the Anyim committee for the NWC members to resign was a political solution to the lingering court cases instituted by some displeased party members against the election of the NWC members.

Before the NWC members caved in, Vanguard learnt that they were promised re-election at a special mini-convention of the party to be con-

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

If you do nothing about it, nothing will be done about it. Do something great.

TAKE HEART

P

BY ELLA RANDLE

EOPLE who lack the clarity, courage, or de termination to follow their own dreams will often find ways to discourage yours. When you change for the better, the people around you will be inspired to change also....but for some, only after doing their best to make you stop. Live your truth and always follow your heart — Steve Maraboli There is a beautiful feeling that comes with spending time with the right people. These are the people you enjoy being with, who love and appreciate you, and who encourage you to improve in healthy and exciting ways. They are the ones who make you feel more alive, and not only embrace who you are now, but also embrace and embody who you want to be, unconditionally.

Another beautiful way to live is to be honest with yourself about everything. You always know what needs to be done rightly, as well as what needs to be changed. Be honest about what you want to achieve and who you want to become. Be honest with every aspect of your life, always. Because you are the one person you can forever count on. Search your heart, for the truth, so that you truly know who you are. Once you do, you’ll have a better understanding of where you are now and how you got here, and you’ll be better equipped to identify where you want to go and how to get there.

vened in a few weeks.

Tukur reverses self

Tukur had also reversed himself on the suspension of Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State from the party.

The suspension of Wamakko from the PDP was lifted upon pressures from The Presidency that Tukur had turned the conflict with the governor into a personal battle. Central to the point highlighted by members of the Anyim committee was the appointment of Senator Abubakar Gada, one of the fiercest political rivals of Wamakko as the Political Adviser to Tukur.

NWC members to resign Other members of the NWC expected to submit their letters of resignation at the NEC meeting are the Acting National Secretary, Solomon Onwe; National Organising Secretary, Abubakar Mustapha; National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh; National Auditor, Adewale Adeyanju; National Legal Adviser, Victor Kwon; National Woman Leader, Kema Chikwe; National Financial Secrtary, Elder Bolaji Anani; National

Youth leader, Garba Umar Chiza; and National Treasurer, Bala Kaoje.

Vanguard gathered that the Anyim committee recommended that resignation of the NWC members was the only way out and the NWC members, a source said, have agreed to this.

But besides that, sources at the Wadata Plaza head offices of the PDP told Vanguard, yesterday, that the resignation became inevitable because of the on-going court case that arose from the report of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, that the national convention of the party where the NWC members were elected was irregular.

The INEC report had observed that the conduct of the election for eight of the national officers was irregular and did not follow the party’s guidelines. Upon the INEC report, some aggrieved party members had gone to court seeking removal of the NWC members from office.

Yesterday, party sources said the report of the Anyim committee became a cover for the party to honourably discharge the NWC members and avoid suggestions that the presidential contest that also produced President Goodluck Jonathan as presidential candidate

was irregular.

“We do not want to embarrass the President or the party and this has become a neat way to solve all the problems facing the party,” a senior party official said yesterday.

Party recalls Wamakko

Earlier, Wamakko’s suspension was lifted by the NWC following a closed-door meeting between the NWC and the Anyim-led presidential committee. At the end of the meeting, Tukur said, the “NWC has rescinded the suspension of the Sokoto State Governor on the appeal of the PDP Governors’ Forum.”

Reliable sources, however, rebuffed the suggestion, saying that Tukur was forced to reverse the suspension following submissions by the Anyim committee that Tukur had translated personal issues into official party matters that could reverberate on both the party and the president.

Tukur's personal battle In imputing personal motives, members of the presidential committee, Vanguard learnt yesterday, were told that Tukur may have been influenced by the thinking of his recently appointed political adviser, Senator Abubakar Gada who is reputed to be one of the strongest political rivals to Wamakko in Sokoto State.

“How could the National Chairman have taken Wamakko’s arch enemy as his political adviser and this would not happen?” a source privy to the development in Abuja said.

Besides, it was learnt that the suspension of the governor was taken

without the knowledge of the President.

“The President said he was not consulted and he read it in the papers the next day and secondly, they now told him that Alhaji Bamanga Tukur cannot give him a single vote but Wamakko has delivered the whole state from top to bottom to the PDP. The battle that Tukur was fighting was just a survival war, a number of people had started believing that the National Chairman had started overstepping his bounds,” another source privy to the developments said.

It was also learnt yesterday that the PDP got to know that Wamakko had mobilized lawyers to file a court action today against his suspension.

The party had not envisaged Wamakko going to court and officials were thus at a loss as to how they would defend the suspension of the governor for the reason that he did not answer the telephone calls of the National Chairman.

“Wamakko was rude to the National Chairman and he was suspended and it gave the impression that was part of the on-going crisis in the Nigerian Governors' Forum, which it is not,” a presidential source said.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja at the end of the over two hours meeting between the NWC members and the Presidential Committee headed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, at Legacy House, Maitama Abuja, Tukur also disclosed that the National Executive Committee, NEC will hold on Thursday, June 20 2013 by 12 noon.

It would be recalled that the last NEC meeting was held July 19, 2012.

Continues on Page 14

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013

Scores injured as students, police clash in Lagos over school fees

BY BOSE ADELAJA

L

AGOS — FRACAS broke out, yesterday, in Epe area of Lagos, leading to injuries on scores of students of Michael Otedola College of Primary Education. The entire Noforija community was equally thrown into disarray.

According to an eye witness, the school authority had earlier issued a directive that the students should complete payment of their fees to be eligible for the first semester examinations which began yesterday.

Some of the students were said to have complied with the directive while others did not, a situation which made the authorities to bar erring students from writing the examinations.

One of the students who pleaded anonymity said the situation made some of the affected students to protest the development, which also stalled the examination as the eligible students had to abandon the examination halls.

The Provost of the school, who was not happy with the development, ordered the eligible students to return to the examination rooms to complete their papers, assuring them of security.

In the process, the school called for the support of the Police and policemen were dispatched to the school.

Some of the protesting students were arrested.

In retaliation, the students attacked the armed Policemen and this led to further fracas between both parties. At the end of the day, the Policemen fired some shots and scores of the students were said to have been injured.

Ex-NNPC staff arrested for vandalising pipeline Forms vandals association while in prison

BY EVELYN USMAN AGOS — OPERATIVES of the Inspector General of Police Special Task Force on anti pipeline vandalism have arrested a former staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Bashiru Majorette, while allegedly siphoning petroleum product at Odi Ifediwo area of Ogun State.

Preliminary investigation, according to officer in-charge of the unit, Friday Ibadin,an Assistant Commissioner of Police, revealed that the suspect was dismissed from the NNPC following his alleged connivance with pipeline vandals.

He was subsequently arrested, arraigned and sentenced to five years imprisonment and was recently released.

Surprisingly, the suspect disclosed that while in prison, he formed an association with other vandals, with a view to continuing with the illegal business after serving their respective jail terms.

He said he opted to connive with pipeline vandals while still working, following what he described as ill-treatment by the NNPC. According to him, “I was employed by NNPC to guard the pipeline in 2002. My records are there that my line was always protected because I never allowed vandals to go near the area I was guarding. They (vandals) had approached me severally

L

A

WKA — NO fewer than 17 persons were seriously injured and a Mitsubishi bus burnt when youths of Onitsha and their neighbouring Obosi community in Idemili North Local Government Area clashed, yesterday.

Vanguard learnt that two communities are feuding over ownership of a large parcel of land behind the Federal Government-owned Nigerian Meteorological Institute along the Onitsha-Owerri expressway.

The disputed land, known as Ogwodogwo, is currently being farmed by Obosi people.

The clash resulted in a traffic gridlock on the expressway as the

Vandals can be deadly “It was only then that I started enjoying the dividend of the job because all this while I had risked my life for nothing. Those vandals can be deadly, if you do not allow them to work. This explains why most of our security men prefer to allow them to function with impunity. Those days, I was dreaded because I used all within my reach to protect the pipelines."

Arrest and conviction On his arrest and conviction,

Jascon 4 tugboat mishap caused by snapped rope

BY EVELYN USMAN

L

AGOS — INDICATIONS emerged, weekend, that the cause of the capsized Jascon 4 oil service tugboat which claimed the lives of 11 crew members, last month in the Atlantic ocean, was connected with the rough wind which made the tension rope to

17 injured as Onitsha, Obosi youths clash over land

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

with thousands of naira but I refused because I wanted a clean record and hoped that I would be promoted.

“But along the line, I discovered that NNPC officials were ingrates. They were in their offices wearing tie, while I was left in the bush to protect pipeline and was given stipends. We complained severally and were told that the contractor who employed us on behalf of NNPC was the one that should be held responsible.

“I decided to help myself to survive out there in the bush.

Whenever they wanted to operate, I would pretend as if I never knew that they were there unless NNPC officials at the technical room discovered a drop and raised an alarm that vandals were in my area.

youths brandished dangerous weapons and barricaded the highway while chasing one another.

The prompt intervention of security operatives, however, saved the situation from escalatiing.

Both sides recorded casualties and the wounded are receiving treatment in hospitals in Onitsha and Obosi.

Vanguard recalls that Onitsha and Obosi communities have been claiming ownership of the long stretch of land along the Onitsha-Owerri road for many decades such that those who purchased land in the area for industrial and other commercial ventures were forced to pay to both communities.

snap.

The off-shore oil service tugboat owned and operated by West African Ventures Limited , WAV, said to be working for Chevron, was reportedly assisting a tanker to its crude oil loading point when the unexpected happened.

According to sources at WAV, “the sea was very rough and the massive waves were beating against the vessel’s hull and super-structure.

"This condition caused the tension rope to snap without warning. This immediately unbalanced the vessel, causing it to capsize and sink very quickly to the bottom of the sea.

"While investigation of the incident is ongoing and the exact sequence of events still being compiled, it is now clear that during tanker loading operations, the heavy weather caused the loading tanker to break free from the single point mooring bouy and subsequently it started to drift without control.

"Oil loading operations had earlier been suspended before the tanker broke free but it was still connected to the oil loading lines connected to the bouy.”

Bashiru Majorette, the suspect Bashiru accused one Dosumu of betraying him by informing NNPC that he was allowing vandals to operate.

He said: “Dosumu was sacked because NNPC suspected him.

He came to me and asked to operate in my area and I refused.

He decided to leak my secret to NNPC. Normally, whenever there is a drop in pressure, we would be alerted and to reduce the heat on us or the vandals, we would tell them that there was a leakage. Dosumu, out of envy, reported that all those leakages were the activities of vandals and that I was very much aware.

“I was at our weekly meeting on September 14, 2008, when policemen came and arrested me. I was later told that there was a petition against me, alleging that I was into NNPC pipeline vandalisation. I was remanded in prison and later convicted to five years imprisonment by Justice Okeke.”

arrested and brought to the prison.”

Many pipeline vandals in prison

How he was arrested

In prison, Bashiru met most of the vandals in prison and quickly joined their association.

He said: “I was shocked at the number of pipeline vandals that I knew that were in Ikoyi prison.

I tried my best to secure my bail but failed because I did not have enough money to pay lawyers.

“I resigned to my fate and joined the association, and since I had more information, I became an authority in the group. Those who were able to secure their bail ensured that our interests were protected in all their deals. They paid our own share of the money in our accounts while we controlled deals outside through our phones. The guys outside knew the importance of keeping to the agreement before they left because one day, they would be

“Please, Nigerians should help me to appeal to the police to give me another chance. There was no other way for me to survive than to go back to the same crime. I am very sorry.”

Explaining how he was arrested, Ibadin said: “Police got a tip off that vandals were operating in Odi Ifediwo area of Ogun State.

“Policemen led by Sector Commander, Lagos, DSP Onaghise Osayande, cordoned off the area and in the process arrested Bashiru. They also recovered a DAF truck with number plate XJ359DKA as well as the spot where they planted three valves with hose of about 100 metres. I was shocked to realise that Bashiru whom I arrested five years ago was freed and was back to the same crime.”

My release from prison On his release from prison, Bashiru said: “On May 16, 2012, I was released from prison after five years. Normally, anyone that was released would be advised to go underground. This was what I did but I never knew that the police had got my number and was tracking my calls through some vandals that were in their net.

“Unfortunately, that night I was patrolling the area to alert those in the bush whenever I spotted security operatives. Two men accosted me and I thought they were marketers and I stopped. It was when they slapped me that I realised that they were security operatives. I couldn’t believe that I was heading back to the prisons. My plan was to raise money and start my own business.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013—7

Husband, wife die mysteriously in Okrika

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME & BRIGHT OGUNKILEDE

P

ORT HARCOURT — TRAGEDY struck in Okrika, Sunday, when a husband and his wife suddenly died under questionable circumstances, yesterday.

The Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP, Angela Agabe, who confirmed the development, said the couple allegedly died after a meal.

Vanguard gathered that their remains had since been deposited in a morgue in Port Harcourt.

Some neighbours of the deceased who spoke to Vanguard simply identified the man as Thomas and the wife as Beauty.

They said they probably died from food poison.

Another possible angle to the ugly development is that the couple might have been strangled to

death by unknown assailants.

Meantime, the state Police spokesperson, DSP Agabe has said the last meal the couples had before their untimely passage had been taken to the hospital for analysis, adding that the Police was investigating the incident.

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

Pastor, others nabbed for kidnapping baby

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI — TIMELY intervention of a team of policemen from Isiala Mbano Police Division reportedly saved the life of a self-styled Pentecostal preacher and his wife from being lynched.

Vanguard learnt that some angry youths had completed arrangement to lynch the preacher for his alleged involvement in the kidnap of a one-month old baby for ritual purposes.

Vanguard gathered that the Pentecostal preacher, identified as Pastor Obinna and two others said to be at large, allegedly stormed a family house in Okwuosu Amauzari at about 1.30 am and kidnapped the baby at gun point.

A villager, who spoke on grounds of anonymity, said the cry of the baby’s mother attracted members of the vigilante group who went in theit hot pursuit.

It was further gathered that the pastor took the baby to his residence in Umuezeduru, Amauzari, adding that the endless cry of the baby aroused suspicion and people’s attention.

“Sensing trouble, the pastor put a call across to another set of vigilante group from Afor Amauzari, alleging that some robbers had invaded his home,” the villager recounted.

According to the man, when the two groups entered the pastor’s house, they saw the pastor’s wife breast-feeding the baby.

“Not satisfied with the drama playing out before them, the group from Okwuosu decided to go for the original mother of the baby. She quickly indentified her baby on arrival and the pastor and his wife were immediately arrested,” he said.

The source said a pistol was recovered from Pastor Obinna and on interrogation he named one Bright as one of his accomplices in crime.

Efforts to get the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mrs. Joy Eleoko, a deputy superintendent of police, to speak on the matter failed.

Okada ban: Benin residents resort to bicycles

ILLEGAL BUNKERING: 15 drums of illegally refined diesel allegedly owned by a telecoms service provider at Edjeba in Warri South Area of Delta State, seized by soldiers from 3 Battalion, Nigerian Army, Effurun Barracks, yesterday. Photo: AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE.

How I escaped from suspected ritualist —Woman

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

L

AGOS — A 30-year-old woman, Precious Adebayo, yesterday, narrated how she escaped from a suspected ritualist, Taiwo Balogun, who disguised as a commercial bus driver.

Precious told Vanguard that at about 8 p.m. on June 5, 2013, she boarded a commercial bus at Iyana Orile bus stop in Orile Agege Local Council Development Area, LCDA. According to her, “it was raining at the time. The bus driver (Balogun) was alone in the bus when I flagged him down and told him I was going to Iyana Ipaja.

“He stopped, picked me and sped off. On getting to Mobil petrol station on Old Ipaja road, just before the Lagos State exams board office, beside NYSC camp, he told me that because of the heavy traffic at the Iyana Ipaja under bridge, he wanted to go through some inner streets through Orile Agege LCDA office at Arigbanla. He said he would come out close to Iyana Ipaja through Aboru junction and I agreed.”

Precious said she became apprehensive when it took the driver several minutes navigating through inner streets without emerging anywhere.

According to her, “I complained that I was afraid as I no longer understood where we were and where the driver was heading to. I, therefore, told him to drop me so that I could find my way out to Iyana Ipaja bus stop.

“But he reassured me that we would soon emerge at the expressway where I will disembark. Shortly after this, the driver suddenly stopped in a dark corner and told me that he wanted to pick up something.

“He then came down, entered the vehicle from behind and grabbed me on the throat in a bid to choke me. I struggled to free myself but he held me tightly. He hit my face, head and nose with a wheel spanner and inflicted grievous injuries on my face and head.”

Precious said the suspected ritualist attempted to slit her throat and cut off her breast, saying: “He used knife in trying to cut my neck but did not succeed. He even tried to cut my breast, but God rescued me.

This happened at Canal, near Pleasure, after Sawmill."

Vanguard gathered that luck ran out on the suspect when his vehicle failed to start. And within that time Precious regained some strength, pushed open the bus door and screamed for help, which attracted people in the neighbourhood. When the driver noticed that people were coming towards them, he abandoned his bus and Precious.

However, the matter was reported to a police team at Iyana Ipaja under bridge who then radioed Elere police station, Agege. Officers from Elere Police Station then took Precious to the scene of the crime in the night and people in the neighbourhood deflated the four tyres of the bus.

Balogun was apprehended around 1:00 am the following morning, as he came back to stealthily remove his bus (unknown to him that the case had been reported to the police).

The case has subsequently been transferred to the Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti Yaba, where the suspect is undergoing further interrogation.

ENIN CITY — AS the ban on commercial motorcycle riders, popular known as Okada, by the Edo State government commenced, yesterday, residents of Egor, Oredo and Ikpoba Okhai Local Government Councils have resorted to purchasing bicycles as alternative means of transportation.

The transportation problem in the areas worsened after Governor Adams Oshiomhole also banned the use of tricycles (Keke NAPEP) in the city, declaring that it was not an alternative to Okada.

However, the ban has inflicted hardship on the residents because there are lots of areas where commercial buses do not ply. As a result, Vanguard observed that residents have resorted to buying bicycles.

Vanguard observed that the cost of bicycles has skyrocketed from N18,000 to N30,000, while motorcycles are now being sold for between N10,000 and N12,000.

Cleaner docked for alleged theft

BY ONOZURE DANIA

L

AGOS— A 26-year-old cleaner, Fredrick Silas, was yesterday arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court over alleged burglary and theft of valuables worth N266,000, belonging to one Miss Adenike Damola.

Silas, who was docked before Magistrate A. O. Akinde, is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, burglary and stealing, preferred against him by the police.

The Police prosecutor, Inspector Benson Emuerhi told the court that the defendant and others at large conspired to commit the alleged offence at about 2.30 a.m. on June 15, 2013, at 13, Joseph Street, Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos.

He said the defendant broke into the house of Miss Damola and stole two Nokia handsets, one Blackberry phone, wristwatch and a bag containing clothes.

Emuerhi said the offence contravenes Sections 285, 305 (b) and 409 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011.

8—Vanguard , TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013

2015: South-South, Middle Belt elders back Jonathan for second term

BY BEN AGANDE

A

BUJA—POLITICAL Elders from the South-South and Middle Belt, under the aegis of Congress for Equality and Change, yesterday, said President Goodluck Jonathan has every right to contest for a second term in 2015 and should not be denied such right.

Chief Edwin Clark, leader of the group, told newsmen, after a meeting with President Jonathan, that the group, which was formed in 2010, came to pledge its support for his government.

He said: “It is written in the constitution of Nigeria that a president is entitled to two terms. Shagari did so, Obasanjo did so. Shagari’s second term was taken over by a military man.

“Today, he wants to be President. He staged a coup in 1983. I was also a Senator at that time.

“When it came to Obasanjo, he did eight years under the constitution. And some of my northern friends have said that all they had was a second term for Shagari.

“If Shagari was entitled to two terms, why not Jonathan?

Is it because he is a minority?

So any group that is coming to meet Mr. President with a view that he should not contest in 2015, count me out.

“This group believes that Mr. President should contest the 2015 election as the constitution provides.”

Constituents

Clark said the group is made up of the south-south states and minorities in the middle belt, which comprises NorthCentral and North-East.

He said every Nigerian is equal and should be treated as such, noting that it was the only way the country could move forward.

Clark said: “Everybody in Nigeria is equal to the other.

Nobody is superior to the other. Nobody is inferior to the other. That is why we named it equality and change. There must be changes in this country.

“We have to move forward. We have been living in a country where we have been building bridges between the various groups in this country.

“There are minority groups, there are majority groups and unless we understand one another, it will be difficult for us to survive as a country.”

Roll call

Members of the group, led

by Chief Clark to the meeting,

We 're mobilising other groups— Clark include Gen. Lawrence Onoja (rtd.), Senator Rowland Owie, Senator Felix Ibru, Cairo Ojougbo, Senator Ewa Henshaw and Commodore Dan Suleiman.

Also at the meeting were Water Resources Minister,

Mrs Sarah Ochekpe; Housing and Urban Development Minister, Ms Amma Pepple.

Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke; Works Minister, Mike

Onelememen.

Others were ministers of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Allison-Madueke; Minister of State, Trade and Investments, Dr. Samuel Ortom; Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku;

Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Ahmed Gulak.

Chief Clark said the group had already commenced dialogue with other groups in the country to get their support for President Jonathan.

VISIT: From left— President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Edwin Clark, South-South leader, and Senator Ameh Ebute, former Senate President, during a visit by a delegation from the South-South and Middle Belt zones to the President in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: Abayomi Adeshida.

44.5m in labour market by 2014 unless...— OATUU

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

G

E N E VA — A F R I CA N workers have warned world leaders on the dangers of abandoning the unemployed and other vulnerable people in the world or 44.5 million workers would enter the labour market by June 2014.

Under the umbrella of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, OATUU, the workers argued that just as the state did not abandon troubled private business interest to the so-called market forces, it should not abandon the poor, indisposed, unemployed, homeless, sick, aged and the hapless to the insatiable thirst of the market forces.

Speaking through the Secretary-General of OATUU, Mr. Owei Lakemfa, at plenary of the International Labour Organisation, ILO, they called on ILO to reject the policies of allowing market forces to control the economy.

They argued that recent

happenings in global economy had shown that the state remained the most important instrument in the socio-economic well being of the citizenry.

Lakemfa contended that the hypothesis that the private sector was the engine of development was false, stressing that the financial

crises, and the role of the state in bailing out the private sector in countries of industrialised world had put a lie to the propaganda that government had no business in business.

He said: “It is in this wise that ILO has to reject the evangelism of the market place in which human be-

ings are objects and mere statistics in the balancing of budgets. Making profit is good, but not at the cost of human lives.

“The fact that public funds are used to bail out private banks shows that the state remains the most important instrument in the socio-economic well being of the citizenry.”

IG orders redeployment of 3 CPs, 7 DCPs

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

I

NSPECTOR-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, has ordered the redeployment of 10 Commissioners of Police and Deputy Commissioners of Police to various commands and formations.

The postings, which take immediate effect, according to Force spokesman, CSP Frank Mba, affected three commissioners of police and seven deputy commissioners of police.

In the postings, CP Sylvester Umeh, formerly CP Easter n PAP, Port Harcourt, moves to Kebbi State; CP Yahaya Ardo moves to Police College, Ikeja, as Commandant, while CP Irimiya Yeruma, formerly Commandant, Police College, Ikeja, moves to Eastern PAP, Port Harcourt, as Commander.

Others affected in the postings include DCP Nyats Jatau, who moves to CP Railways, Lagos State; DCP Mohammed Usman moves to Force Headquarters as

CP F Department; DCP Yakubu Jibrin moves to police Staff College, Jos, as Deputy Commandant, while CP Coordinating Courses, DCP Mukhtar Garko moves to Niger State as DC 2i/C Police Command Minna.

Others are DCP Mohammed Danmalam, who moves to the IGP Monitoring Unit FHQ Abuja.

DCP M. Hussein moves to Plateau State as DC 2i/C, Jos, while DCP Alhassan Mamuda moves to DC Administration “G” Department FHQ, Abuja.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013—9

Joint Task Force, JTF, in search of the attackers even as increased search of goods, vehicles and humans have been intensified at the check points in the metropolis.

Drama in Maiduguri

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE: From left— Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, Chairman; Mrs Yvonne Fasinro, member; and Dr. Christopher Kolade, during a meeting of the project implementation committee of the Christopher Kolade Professorial Chair in Corporate Governance, organised by the Sigma Educational Foundation in Lagos, yesterday.

Gunmen kill 7 students, 2 teachers in Damaturu

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI & HENRY UMORU, with agency reports

G

UNMEN, suspected to be Boko Haram members, Sunday night, killed seven students and two teachers of Government Day Secondary School, Damaturu. The school authorities confirmed the attack and deaths of the nine persons.

The sect members were also reported to have attacked a military check point around the pilgrims area.

Joint Task Force spokesman, Lazarus Eli, who confirmed the attack, said two of the insurgents were killed while three military personnel were critically wounded.

He explained that three of the attackers were captured with various items, including one AK-47 rifle, one RPG, 48 rounds of 7.62 (special) ammunition, among others.

The insurgents, according to an eyewitness, attacked the school at 9.30pm in their hostel.

Survivor’s story

Mohammed Idi, who survived with gunshot injuries and is receiving treatment at the Accident and Emergency Ward of the Gen. Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital, said he was shot by one of the insurgents when he came out of the hostel after hearing gunshots.

He said: “We were sleeping in the hostel and suddenly heard gunshots outside, very close to the hostel. We got confused and many of us ran for our dear lives.

“Immediately, I came out, I saw one of the gunmen close to the hostel and he started shooting at us.

“I was shot in the leg and the

bullet went through my bone. I tried to run but fell down because my leg was very stiff and I was in pains.

Somebody came, grabbed my hand and started dragging me and we ran away together.

“Initially, I thought I was in the enemy’s hands until I realised that it was one of our students who was helping me to escape.”

All the students, except final year students of the institution who were writing NECO exams, have fled the school while one of the supervisors informed that three of the students killed

were final year students.

One of the doctors at the General Abacha Specialist Hospital, one Dr. Salim Umar, disclosed that the hospital had received 11 dead bodies and seven others with various gunshot injuries.

One of the injured students said that the insurgents tied the hands of one of the students, who took him to the house of one of the teachers, where they killed four people, including the teacher.

Umar confirmed that one of the dead students had some injuries on his hands. He explained that all the stu-

dents killed were either shot on the head or in the neck.

Yesterday’s attack brought an end to almost 10 months of relative peace in the state capital, Damaturu, and other parts of the state.

Curfew reviewed

The situation has compelled the state government to revert to the earlier curfew of 6pm to 6am instead of the 9pm to 7am that was reviewed last week.

Meanwhile, some parts of the state capital like Potiskum, Ali Malami Estate, and pilgrims area were locked down by men of the

Maiduguri residents witnessed a mild drama when an 11-year-old girl grabbed the collar of a local perfume (Turare) vendor, accusing him of being among those who slaughtered her father and mother in the dead of the night about nine months ago.

Some witnesses said the 11year-old girl, who was hawking sachet water at the Gamboru area of Maiduguri metropolis, saw the man believed to be in his early 30s, and immediately recognised his face as the man who, in company of four others, attacked her family.

Traders said the man could not run away because of the large crowd that had gathered.

He was, however, saved from being lynched as the police arrived and whisked him to a nearby police station.

Meanwhile, Defence Headquarters has assured that troops in the ongoing emergency rule in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states have been adhering to the rules of engagement.

Defence Headquarters also expressed satisfaction with some individuals, particularly youths, who organised themselves into vigilante groups to join in efforts to fish out terrorists within their communities.

This is just as elders, leaders and stakeholders of Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, in Adamawa State described the declaration of state of emergency in the state as having political undertone.

FG pays oil marketers N192.5bn

BY EMMA UJAH, Abuja Bureau Chief

A

BUJA—THE Federal Ministry of Finance has paid petroleum products marketers N192,502,279,966.50, this year.

A statement by Mr. Paul Nwabuikwu, Special Adviser to the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minis-

ter of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, yesterday, in Abuja, said that 19 marketers were paid N56,806,010,752.45 this month.

He added that earlier in the year, N135,696,269,214.05 was paid to oil marketers in respect of verified 2011 and 2012 arrears.

According to Mr.

5th Vanguard's Children Confab holds today

T

HE 5th Annual Vanguard’s Children Conference holds today at Lagos Television House, Agidingbi, Lagos by 10.00am, with the theme The Role of Teachers in Curbing Child Abuse.

Primary and secondary school students from private and public schools across the state, heads of schools and

counsellors will be in attendance.

Dignitaries expected at the event include Dame Abimbola Fashola, First Lady of Lagos State, as Special Guest of Honour; Chief Khubrat Razak-Okoya, Mother of the Day, and Deacon Olatunji Belo as Father of the Day.

Nwabuikwu, the ministry would continue to make “fuel subsidy payments in a transparent and efficient manner that protects and enhances the interests of the Nigerian people.”

He said: “The Ministry of Finance makes payments based on batches of claims as submitted by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA.”

The marketers

Marketers that were paid in the latest batch included AITEO Energy Resources Ltd, ASCON Oil Company Ltd, A-Z Petroleum, Bovas & Company, Folawiyo Energy and Forte Oil Plc. Others were Gulf Treasures Ltd, Integrated Oil & Gas Ltd, Masters Energy, Mobil, NIPCO, NorthWest Petroleum, Rahamaniya Oil, Rain Oil, Sahara Energy, Shorelink Energy, Swift Oil,

Techno Oil and Total.

There were recent fears of fuel scarcity in the country over what some players described as delays in the payment of marketers’ claims.

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, had to re-assure the public that there was no reason for anxiety over fuel supply, saying that there was adequate stock of products and that the supply framework was working smoothly, as fuel importers were being paid regularly.

Unscrupulous operators in the industry were seen as those behind rumours of fuel scarcity in what stakeholders concluded were attempts to stampede the Ministry of Finance into settling unverified claims.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala has, however, insisted that she would not be pushed into paying marketers without verification of their claims by the PPPRA.

10—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013

Fashola sues for patience on Ikorodu Road expansion

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

L

AGOS — GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, appealed to motorists and residents of Ikorodu and environs, to exercise patience over the pace of work on the N30 billion expansion work on the 13.5 kilometre road from Mile 12 to Ikorodu Road, saying it would be completed on schedule.

The road expansion began last year.

The residents, however, asked the state government to construct a fly-over bridge on the ever busy road as well as pay compensation as soon as possible to owners of property demolished following the expansion project.

Book presentation

T

HE FORMAL presentation of a book in honour of the ViceChancellor of Caleb University, Professor Ayodeji Olukoju, will hold today at the University of Lagos Arts Theatre.

Professor Olukoju said the 430 page book, edited by Dr. Saheed Aderinto, Assistant Professor, Western Carolina University in the US and Dr. Paul Osifodunrin of the University of Lagos, has 18 chapters contributed by scholars based in the United States, the U.K, France, Italy, Canada and Nigeria.

Titled, ‘The Third Wave of Historical Scholarship on Nigeria: Essays in Honour of Ayodeji Olukoju,’ the book is an honour accorded our distinguished scholar, Professor Olukoju, by colleagues and academic friends to celebrate his contributions to History as a field”, explained Dr. Aderinto.

According to him, the public presentation, which holds at 11.00 a.m., will be chaired by Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, while Her Excellency, Mrs. Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire, Deputy Governor of Lagos State, will be the mother of the day.

NGF election crisis unfortunate for democracy — Cleric

BY PROVIDENCE OBUH with agency report

L

AGOS — THE Catholic Archbishop of Ibadan Diocese, Most Rev. Felix Alaba Job, yesterday, described the crisis generated by the justconcluded Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, chairmanship election as “unfortunate” for Nigeria’s emerging democracy.”

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, recalls that 35 governors Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, former Lagos State Governor (left), welcoming Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, held the election under the former Vice President of Nigeria, during the latter’s condolence visit to Asiwaju on his umbrella of the Nigerian Gov- mother’s death, in Ikoyi, Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele ernors Forum, NGF, on May 24, 2013. Gov. Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers AGOS — THE Action Congress of Nigeria, would also be remem- ment signed by his SenState and Gov. ACN, has commiserated with its leader, Asiwaju bered for her domi- ior Special Assistant on David Jang of Plateau contested the Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on the death of his mother, nance at the top ech- Media, Mrs. Funmi c h a i r m a n s h i p , Alhaja Abibatu Asabi Mogaji, asking him to draw elon of the Association Wakama, condoled with with Amaechi poll- strength from the sweet memories of her remark- of Nigerian Market the children of the deMen and Women for ceased, especially the ing 19 votes to de- able sojourn on earth.

In a statement in Lagos, yesterday, by ACN’s Na- about half a century, National Leader of the feat Jang who got tional Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, during which she kept Action Congress of Ni16.

However, Jang the party said, though no words were good enough her dignity intact and geria, Senator Bola later claimed vic- to soothe Asiwaju’s loss, he should take solace in made a giant stride in Tinubu, the Government tory in an election the mammoth accomplishments of his mother, un- fighting for the interest and people of Lagos State of the association mem- and the entire market he reportedly lost, doubtedly one of the greatest women of her time.

ACN also paid tribute to the late Alhaja Mogaji, bers. women and men across leading to crises ’’That she presided the country. in the NGF. President General, Association of Nigerian Market He noted, in particular, over such a massive Men and Women, debody for such a length Alhaja Abibatu’s contriscribing her as a major of time without soiling bution to raising one of factor behind the sucher reputation and that the foremost political cess of the progressives, of her famous and leaders in Nigeria in the LAGOS — AN Ebute Meta Chief Magis- especially in the South- h i g h l y - person of Alhaji Bola trates’ Court in Lagos, yesterday, remanded west. respectable lineage is a Ahmed Tinubu, the ’’Despite her old age, four suspected cult members at Ikoyi Prisons, great testimony to her former governor of Lagos her instincts remained over the alleged murder of two men. uprightness, decency, State.

The accused are Usman Alabi, 27; Saheed sharp till the end, and integrity, generosity, He recalled that, “MaLasisi, 26; Oyekunle Tijanin, 28 and Rahman she paid a close atten- loyalty and firm princi- ma’s sterling qualities, tion to what was going Isa, 24. exemplary character and ples.”

The men, who are of no fixed addresses, are on around her, includMeanwhile, Ogun contribution to human standing trial on a seven-count charge bor- ing the re-alignment of State governor, Sena-tor development led to her dering on conspiracy, unlawful killing and progressive forces aimed Ibikunle Amosun, has being conferred with the at making life better for belonging to an unlawful society. described the death of Degree of Doctor of HuThe Chief Magistrate, Mr Olatunbosun the citizens, the plight of Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, man Letters (DHL) HonAbolarinwa, ordered that the accused be re- whom she made her pas- President General of oris Causa by Ahmadu manded, pending legal advice from the State sion throughout her life- Nigeria Market Women Bello University in 2012. time.

Director of Public Prosecutions.

“She was a great and Men, as a great loss ’’As recently as a few The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports woman,” the governor to Nigeria. that the pleas of the accused were not taken weeks ago, she still inAmosun, in a state- said. quired about the by the court.

The prosecutor, Insp George Nwosu, said progress of the re-alignthat the crime was committed on May 16 at ment, a clear indication PUBLIC NOTICE that she stayed true to Oluwakemi St., Mushin, Lagos.

HOPE ANGEL FOUNDATION The general public is hereby notified that the above named Foundation He said that the accused belong to an un- her passion of ensuring has applied for registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission better life for all even till lawful society known as “Eiye Fraternity”. under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990. the end,’’ the party said.

The prosecutor said that the accused and The Trustees Are: It said the greatest inmembers of the group, now at large, were en1. Dr. Mrs. Adaiah Priscillia Soibi- Harry - Chairman dication of her unyield2. Mr. Soibifaa Harry - Member gaged in a fight with a rival group.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES Nwosu said that the accused shot dead Ade- ing concern for the less 1. To provide intensive knowledge dissemination for sustainable olu Odukunle and Hassan Ibrahim, who al- privileged in the society health care delivery 2. To provide periodic medical intervention legedly belong to another group known as P- was the fact that 3. To support capacity building for available health institutions anytime the interest of Square.

4. To provide drugs and consumable medical accessories to the He said that the offences committed contra- her members - the marrural areas and the urban poor ket men and women 5. To maintain continuous engagement with local health institutions vened Sections 42, 221, 231 and 409 of the 6. To deploy affordable best practices in health management collided with that of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

7. To vector management to emphasize attitude change government during her Section 221 provides that subject to the pro8. To intervene in critical segments of the health delivery system Any objection(s) to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrarvisions of any other law, a person who com- son’s tenure as governor General of the Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off mits the offence of murder shall be sentenced of Lagos State, she sided Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja, within 28 days from the date of this with the members! publication. to death. The court adjourned the case to July Signed by: SECRETARY ACN said Mogaji 7 for mention.

ACN, Amosun commiserate with Tinubu L

4 suspected cultists remanded for murder

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013 —11

Hoodlums wanted to rape my wife — Ogun monarch

Aregbesola swears-in first female CJ for Osun

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

BEOKUTA — THE embattled Olofin of Ado-Odo in AdoOdo-Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, Oba Abdul Lateef Adeniran, who was beaten by hoodlums, broke his silence, yesterday, saying the hoodlums that attacked him attempted to rape his wife while his crown and other valuables were stolen.

Oba Akanni, who appeared before the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the crisis that sat in Isabo, L-r: National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur ; Abeokuta, also lamented that a sum and Chief Fred Majemite, Political Adviser to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta of N1.5 million kept in his palace State, during the 50 years birthday celebration of Hajia Fatima Tukur as at the time of the incident was stolen by the hoodlums who burnt down his palace.

The monarch was beaten by yet to be identified hoodlums in the area before his palace was set ablaze during an attack that occurred April 15, 2013.

Consequently, the state government set up a judicial

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE Notable leaders among the Mobolaji Osomo, and Sen. commission to look into the 37 expected from Ekiti are Gbenga Ogunniya. crisis and come up with recProf. Tunde Adeniran, Chief Leading invitees from Osun ommendation to the governAyo Fayose, Hon. Caleb are Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun, ment.

AGOS — TO reclaim the Olubolade, Sen. C.K Awoyelu, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, The monarch while giving six states of the South- Engr. Segun Oni, Sen. Erelu Olusola Obada, Chief a graphic detail of how he West geo-political zone in the Gbenga Aluko, Prince Dayo Ebenezer Babatope, Olubunmi was attacked, said, “I was 2015 general elections, 200 Adeyeye, Sen. Bode Etteh, Yinka Omilani, Iyiola beaten with charms on that leaders of the Peoples Demo- Olowoporoku, Sen. Ayo Arise Omisore and Isiaka Adeleke. day and I would have been cratic Party, PDP, in the zone and Mrs.. Titi Oluwatuyi.

And from Oyo State are: Chief dead by now if not for the will storm Lagos today to work Among a 31-man delegation Lekan Balogun, Adebayo Alaograce of God.” out strategies on how to pros- from Lagos are Chiefs Bode Akala, Yekeen Adeojo, Gen. Raji “These hoodlums after beatecute and win the electoral George, Dapo Sarumi, Dr. Rasaki, Sen. Teslim Folarin, ing me stripped me naked battles.

Abayomi Finnih, Alhaji Hon Mulikat Adeola-Akande, proceeded to the palace where Currently, the party has re- Muritala Ashorobi, Alhaji Sen Hosea Agboola and Hon all the cars parked in the comturned to its post-1999 to 2003 Rafiu Jafojo, Sen. Adesye Muraina Ajibola among others. pound were set ablaze.” scenario when it was not gov- Ogunlewe, Sen. Musiliu erning any of the states.

Obanikoro, Gen. Tajudeen It reclaimed five states from Olanrewaju, Mrs. Kofoworola the Alliance for Democracy, Bucknor-Akerele, Alhaja AD, later Action Congress, AC, Sinatu Ojikutu, Mrs. Remi and now Action Congress of Adiukwu-Bakare, Capt. Tunji Nigeria, ACN, at the 2003 Shelle and Dr. Abiola polls. So, before the 2007 elec- Ogunkelu.

BY BEN AGANDE, Abuja of the meeting told Vanguard tions, it was in charge of five Expected from Ogun State that only Governors in states except Lagos. are 31 leaders including Sen. support of Jonah Jang However, between 2007 and Jubril Martins Kuye, Chief OVERNORS in support attended the meeting.

2011, it lost all the states un- Dayo Soremi, Hon. Titi Oseni, of Governor Rotimi The source who did not want der its control through a com- Sen. Lekan Mustapha and Dr. Amaechi yesterday night to be named said that the bination of the ballot box and Adekoya Adedoyin. shunned a meeting with governors in attendance at the judicial pronouncements, President Goodluck Jonathan Invitations were also exmeeting were mostly those in which were worsened by recur- tended to 35 PDP kingpins in convened at the State House support of the Jang Faction of ring and protracted internal Ondo State. They include Dr. in Abuja. the NGF. crises.

Although the meeting was Olusegun Agagu, Sen. Bode He gave the names of the To the ACN, it lost Ogun and Olajumoke, Chief Olusola blanked out to journalists, but governors as Emmanuel Oyo (through the ballot box) Oke, Dr. Bode Iwaloye, Mrs. a reliable source at the venue Uduaghan of Delta, Godswill as well as Osun and Ekiti Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, (through the law courts). It also Ibrahim Shema of Katsina and lost Ondo to the Labour Party, Idris Wada of Kogi. first through the courts and Others are, Martins Elechi now via elections. of Ebonyi, Seriake Dickson of The parley, which is being Bayelsa, the deputy governor BY GBENGA ARIYIBI organised by the South-West According to him, officials of of Benue, Steve Lawani, Yero PDP Caretaker Committee the agency had at the weekRamalan of Kaduna, Sullivan Chairman, Chief Ishola Filani, end seized the drugs in LaDO EKITI — THE NaChime of Enugu, Olusegun will be held at the Lagos Airgos. tional Agency for Foods, Mimiko of Ondo. port Hotel, Ikeja.

Though, no reason was adOthers include Peter Obi of According the Chief Pegba Drugs Administration and duced by the senator for the Anambra, Imo State Deputy Otemolu, zonal secretary, the Control, NAFDAC, has im- action of NAFDAC operators Governor, Eze Madumere South-West “elders and lead- pounded drugs worth millions “I have contacted the of naira ordered by Senator and Taraba Acting, Governor ers of the party’ will at the NAFDAC boss, Dr. Paul Orhii, Umar Garba stakeholders’ meeting, discuss Babafemi Ojudu which he said to intervene and I am sure ,the Governor Jang who is the “crucial issues about the he planned to distribute to little hitch is commanding his ailing members of his constitufactional chairman was also in progress of the party and the attention,” he said. ency. attendance. zone.”

2015: 200 S-West PDP chieftains storm Lagos today L

Pro-Amaechi governors shun meeting with Jonathan

G

NAFDAC impounds drugs imported

by Ekiti senator

A

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

O

SOGBO —“JUS TICE is a value that is universally desirable but the rule of law is of vital importance in bringing it about. This underscores the invaluable role of the Judiciary as the champion of the rule of law, as well as the arbiter of justice.”

These were the words of the Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, while delivering an address titled “In furtherance of Justice and the rule of law” at the swearing-in ceremony of Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo as the Chief Judge of the State of Osun in Osogbo yesterday.

Aregbesola noted that the sustenance of justice is a task for all, not for the Judiciary alone; saying justice in a society is also a cumulation of the micro-level activities of all of its members.

‘...we’ve worked on 900 km of roads’

O

SOGBO — OSUN State governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola has said about 900 kilometres of both inter and intra-city roads have either been completed or under construction since his administration came on board in the state about two and a half years ago.

Speaking at the flag-off of the construction of 30 kilometre super-highway named Omoluabi Motorway, Aregbesola said that Osun will, within the shortest possible time, boast of the best road network in the Nigeria.

Also flagged off was the construction of the Chief Adebisi Akande Trumpet Interchange Bridge which connects those traveling on the Ibadan-Ile-Ife Expressway with those coming to Osun through Gbongan.

According to him, good roads are critical to the modern state, adding that physical transportation of human and materials is primarily by road in Osun.

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013

Dickson attributes achievement to God

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

ENAGOA— BAYELSA State Governor, Mr Seriake Dickson, has attributed his achievements in life, especially his elevation to the position of a governor of the state to divine arrangement.

Dickson at a thanksgiving service at the King of Glory Chapel, Government House, Yenagoa, to celebrate God’s faithfulness in his life and that of the state, described his life’s challenges and blessings of God upon him as a testimony of the goodness of the Lord.

He urged the youths to persevere and have faith in God to achieve success.

The governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel IworisoMarkson, recalled his experiences from childhood to his days in the Nigeria Police and as a lawmaker, noting that it was divine favour, perseverance and hard work that saw him through the travails of life.

C-River woos investors

C

ALABAR—CROSS River State Government is making plans to attract more foreign direct investment to the state through the 2013 edition of the Africa CEO roundtable and conference on Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility, which the state is hosting for the second time.

The event which holds June 20-21, 2013, is organised by ThistlePraxis Consulting Limited.

Leading the pack of potential investors is Africa’s youngest billionaire, Ashish Thakkar, President, Mara Group, who will be the keynote speaker.

Business leaders, entrepreneurs, top corporate executives and other experts from within and outside the continent will converge to discuss issues bordering on innovation and sustainability with special focus on how transformational leadership promotes innovation and encourages youth empowerment.

Judge orders registrar to refund released N460m judgment money

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

A

In reference to the attitude of the Chief Registrar FCT High Court, Justice Yahaya said: “The court system cannot be maintained without the willingness of parties to abide by the findings and orders of a competent court until reversed on appeal.

This presupposes that no party and no court of subordinate or even co-ordinate jurisdiction can say ‘I do not have the order made and I cannot obey it’…and that posture has to be condemned in the strongest of terms if we are not to say good bye to the rule of law.”

Noting that action of the FCT High Court Chief Registrar was an affront on the Judicial sys-

tem and the rule of law, Justice Yahaya ordered the plaintiff/respondent’s Managing Director, Prince Chukwuani and the second respondent, Mrs Oluwatoyin Yahaya (Chief Registrar FCT High Court) to pay the judgment sum of N460 million into an interest yielding account in the control of the Chief Registrar Court of Appeal within 30 days of the ruling.

The Central Bank of Nigeria, a party in the appeal expressed its satisfaction with the ruling of the court.

Speaking to reporters after the ruling, counsel to FERMA, Mr Ikani Simeon, said that the ruling by the Appeal Court was a good sign that the Nigerian judiciary has

come of age and that all Nigerians need to have faith in the system as the last hope of the common man.

According to him, FERMA had opposed the claims of the plaintiff (BPS) as couched in the case at the trial court on the ground that the payment claimed by BPS then was based on interim statement and not Engineer’s certificate, which carries the actual amount payable on contracts as was the acceptable practice in the road construction industry.

He added that BPS objected to the deduction of VAT and withholding tax, which are normal practice in public finance policy.

BUJA—THE Court of Appeal, Abuja, presided over

by Justice Abubakar Datti Yahaya has ordered the Chief Registrar of the FCT High Court, Mrs Oluwatotin Yahaya and the Managing Director of BPS Engineering, Prince Chudi Chukwuani to refund the sum of N460 million judgment money into an interestyielding account within a period of 30 days.

The ruling followed an indictment of Chief Registrar of FCT High Court, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Yahaya, for releasing to Chukwuani, against court orders, the sum of N460 million judgment sum kept in the Chief Registrar’s custody.

This was despite two subsisting interlocutory orders by the Appeal Court and the FCT High Court in the case between BPS Engineering and Construction Company Limited and Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, pending the determination of the appeal by FERMA before the Court of Appeal.

In granting the application by FERMA for the Appeal Court to invoke its discretionary power to compel the Chief Registrar FCT High Court and Chukwuani to pay back the disputed judgment sum of N460 million into an interest yielding account in the control of the Chief Registrar Court of Appeal in Appeal No.CA/A/ 225/2012 Justice Abubakar Datti Yahaya, held that it was unbeUNESCO FAIR: UNESCO execcutives, Ms. Rovani Sigamoney, Imteyay Khodabuz and coming of a judicial officer of the Mark West, with University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, Vice Chancellor, Prof. Bartho Okolo, rank of Chief Registrar of a High Court to ignore an order of court. at the commencement of UNESCO Science Fair, at Nsukka, yesterday.

Eminent Nigerians urged to mediate Jonathan, Amaechi feud CRESSOP, 2003, adding that it was sad that the political ORT HARCOURT— class had failed to acknowlPROMINENT Nigerians edge the role played by his have been urged to help re- late father for the emergence solve the differences between President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State.

Son of late Marshal Harry

BY EMMAAMAIZE and former deputy governorARRI—ABOUT 80 per ship candidate of All Nigeria cent of teachers posted Peoples Party, ANPP in the 2007 elections in the state, Mr. to primary and secondary Sonny Harry, said there was schools in riverside communiurgent need for senior citizens ties in Gbaramatu Kingdom, of the country to step into the Delta State, have refused to seeming conflict between the report for duty, though they regovernor and President ligiously draw their salaries Jonathan with a view to resolv- monthly.

A non-governmental organiing same amicably.

Harry who spoke in Port sation, Tompolo Foundation, Harcourt, Rivers State, yester- set up by ex-militant leader, day, said that his father pio- Government Ekpemupolo, neered campaign for a Presi- said during a recent tour of the dent of the country from the foundation to schools in the South South with his platform, area, that there were only two Campaign for the Realisation teachers on ground in each of of South South President, the 10 primary/secondary

BY JIMITOTAONOYUME

P

of a South southerner as President of the country.

“Regrettably, however, my family is worried that since the CRESSOP dream became a re-

ality, nobody has mentioned my father. We are appealing to Mr President to give us a sense of belonging as a people from his zone.”

Teachers shun riverside schools in Delta

W

schools, visited.

Executive Secretary of the Foundation, Mr. Paul Bebenimibo, told Vanguard in Warri, yesterday, “The visit by our project officers to select 10 of the 15 primary and secondary schools in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area, to assess the usage of the educational materials we donated to them, three months ago, revealed that they lack teachers.

“The team jointly led by Geoffrey Okolie and Gloria Okubotimbi, was delighted that all the donated educational materials were being judiciously uti-

lized and Jeijei Primary School, Kurutie, was the best organised, but in 10 of the schools, they met only two teachers each.

“Our information is that teachers deployed to riverside communities stay put in Warri and refuse to go to their duty posts, but they had made arrangements to collect their salaries at the end of the month.

“We call on the Delta State Government and the Ministry of Primary/Secondary Education in the state to post more teachers to schools in riverside communities.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013 — 13

14—Vanguard , TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013

PDP CRISIS:

Tukur, NWC members to resign Continues from Page 5

2012.

President Goodluck Jonathan had on June 8, set up a committee, with Anyim Pius Anyim, as Chairman, and the Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe; governors Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom; Ibrahim Shema of Katsina; Theodore Orji of Abia; Isa Yuguda of Bauchi; Gabriel Suswam of Benue and Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State and the Political Adviser to the President, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, as members to recommend ways of arresting the worsening crisis in the PDP. All members of the committee were present except Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue state.

Besides Tukur, other NWC members present at yesterday’s meeting were the Acting National Secretary, Solomon Onwe; National Organising Secretary, Abubakar Mustapha; National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh; National Auditor, Adewale Adeyanju; National Legal Adviser, Victor Kwon; National Woman Leader, Kema Chikwe and National Financial Secretary, Elder Bolaji Anani.

Tukur said, “NWC has rescinded the suspension of the Sokoto state governor on the appeal of the PDP Governors’ Forum and secondly the National Chairman is inviting the PDP statutory members to the meeting of National Executive Committee holding on Thursday, June 20 at 12 noon”.

According to Tukur, “Now this issue will never come again. It is a great party, we believe in our nation. We need a party as a platform to stand on, but based on unity, discipline and commitment.

“We are also have the support of NEC in lifting the suspension of our governor of Sokoto.

"With that we are ready for further business. So we are going to have our NEC meeting on Thursday the 20th of this month by 12noon.

Also speaking, Chairman, PDP Governors’ Forum and governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio who noted that the party could not have lifted the suspension of Governor Amaechi against the backdrop that he was already in court.

He said: “The matter is in court and doing anything on it would be prejudicial.

He is in court.”

New taxi scheme 'll enhance security in Abuja — SAMBO

BY LAIDE AKINBOADE

A

BUJA—VICE President Namadi Sambo yesterday said the newly introduced Abuja taxi scheme would enhance security of lives and property in the capital city.

Sambo stated this in Abuja while launching the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Subsidy Re-investment Programme, SURE-P, and Abuja Investments Company Limited AICL, Abuja taxi scheme.

He said it would not only provide employment for the teeming youths in FCT, but will also be a safe and affordable transport system. 160 of the scheduled 1,000 new vehicles for the scheme were launched.

Sambo said: “We are delighted with the giant strides the FCT administration is taking in the development of the capital city.

This is a milestone in the developmental strides and I am impressed by the new look of the city.

“The launch of Abuja taxi is very timely, considering the importance of safe and affordable transportation system for a capital city like ours.

“A city can only be active when it has a very reliable and safe transportation system in place.

A capital city must be distinguished by its world class transport system. This initiative will therefore provide effective and efficient transport system in Abuja and its environs.

“It would go a long way in providing safe and affordable transport system, create employment and human and vehicular movement.

“The city must live up to its reputation as a safe haven. The new transport system will go a long way in enhancing effectively, our security system by reducing crime in the territory. It will also add to the aesthetic beauty of the FCT and reduce road accidents and environmental hazards.

“We have identified that one of the major challenges inhibiting growth of the territory is neglect of the transport sector, so the Federal Government developed a road map that will address the issue with all the seriousness and urgency it deserves.

“Our administration has rolled out a national transportation plan that involves huge investment worth billions of naira that will cover roads, inland waterways, rail and airport development.

“This involves modern and sustainable transportation system with greater emphasis on rail and road, airport and in land water ways. An enabling environ-

ment for public private partnership has also been created. We are developing both the intra and inter network to connect the city so that people that live outside Abuja can comfortably come to work daily, thereby easing the problem of accommo-

dation and transportation.”

FCT Minister, Senator Bala Muhammed, in his address put the cost of each taxi at N2,669,161.00, taking into consideration the cost of painting and other things.

He said: “We have decided to

give subsidy to the drivers so we reduced the cost of each taxi by N120,000, but we will be expecting a monthly payment of N63,000 and the period of payment is 36 months so that they will be able to pay and others will be able to get it."

BRIEFING—From left: National President of Umuahia Premier Club, Mr Sunny Osuogwu; Chairman of the Club Abuja branch, Sir Chuks Nwaononiwu and National Secretary, Dr Francis Nwosu during a briefing on activities of the club in Abuja. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

I'll revolutionise education — Gov OBI

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA—ANAMBRA State governor, Mr. Peter Obi, said yesterday that the people of Anambra will witness a revolution in education and other sectors of the economy before the end of his administration.

Speaking during the flag-off of the presentation of N10 million to each of the 253 public secondary schools in the state at the Women Development Centre, Awka, Governor Obi said the state executive council has also approved N6.5 billion for infrastructural development in public schools.

The governor said having jointly rehabilitated the schools handed over to the original missionary owners successfully, the state government had begun the infrastructural development of public schools, adding that with what government had planned, Anambra schools will compete with any secondary school in Nigeria.

The N10 million to each school, which amounts to N2.53 billion for the 253 schools, will be handed over to the principals of the affected schools and the money would be managed by seven–member committees that would include chairmen of Parents/Teachers Associations,

traditional rulers, presidentsgeneral of the town unions, among others, for proper accountability.

The governor, who presented the cheques to the first set of 21 schools from the three senatorial zones of the state, warned that

any principal found wanting in the utilization of the money willbe dealt with accordingly.

According to Obi, part of the N6.5 billion approved for schools in the state is to be used to procure buses for all secondary schools by end of the year.

N-Assembly has not ruled out state creation — AYOGU EZE

BY TONY EDIKE

E

NUGU—SENATOR Ayogu Eze representing Enugu North Senatorial zone at the National Assembly has dismissed recent media reports that no state agitation met the basic requirements, saying the door was still open for the creation of new states.

Deputy Senate President and Chairman Senate Committee on Constitution Review, Senate Ike Ekweremadu, had in a recent media briefing revealed that requests submitted by those demanding creation of new states did not meet constitutional requirements and therefore ruled out the possibility of state creation under the present dispensation.

But speaking with newsmen, Senator Eze urged various state

creation movements to keep their dream alive, stressing that the committee erroneously based its assessment on requests submitted in 2010 instead of the ones filed in 2013.

Eze, who is Chairman Senate Committee on Works, however,. doused the worry of the people of the proposed Adada State, which he represents, saying the error was not targeted at them.

He said: “Since the report of the Senate Constitution Drafting Committee was presented, there has been a lot of misconception, especially with regards to the issue of state creation.

“I want to say categorically that it is not true that the Senate committee has ruled out the possibility of state creation. The door is still open to create states; creation of state is very possible, but it is very cumbersome".

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013 — 15

16—Vanguard , TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013

NTI churns out 60,000 teachers in 4 yrs

N18,000 minimum wage: Benue NUT calls off strike

L

M

OKOJA—THE Kogi Study Centre of the National Teachers’ Institute, NTI, said no fewer than 60,000 teachers had graduated from the centre in the past four years.

The NTI Coordinator, Malam Abdullahi Seriki, made this known when he addressed newsmen in Lokoja, yesterday.

Seriki said over 24,000 of the graduates obtained the Nigerian Certificate in Education while some were products of the institute’s Continuous Professional Development Programme.

He said others graduated with diploma in education while the remaining participated in the MDGs training scheme and the pivotal teachers training programmes of the institute.

He said the MDGs teacher training programme was specially designed to equip teachers with latest scientific ways of teaching and making learning attractive to students.

Kaduna trains 951 civil servants

K

ADUNA—A total of 951 civil servants have been sent on inservice training in various institutions of higher learning in the last one year by the Kaduna State Government, the Head of Service, Mr Nathaniel Hayab, has said.

Hayab disclosed this yesterday at a lecture to mark the 2013 annual public service week.

The lecture has at its theme: “Nigeria Public Service in the Age of Open Government: Giving Voice to the Citizens.”

He said the training was in line with the reforms being implemented in the state civil service to improve capacity of workers and promote service delivery. “ The reforms being implemented in the public service are vital to the entrenchment of and promotion of service delivery.

Hayab said the government had approved N81.3 million for the implementation of this year’s training roadmap for civil servants in the state.

BY PETER DURU AKURDI—BENUE State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, yesterday called off its two week-old industrial action over non-payment of N18,000 minimum wage to teachers.

This was sequel to acceptance by the state government to start payment of the new wage from August 1, 2013.

Addressing newsmen in Makurdi the state capital, state chairman of the union, Comrade Godwin Anya said teachers called off the strike following the assurances by the state government that it would implement the new minimum wage from the agreed date.

In a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, which was also signed by both parties and facilitated by the Secretary General of the NUT, Obong Obong and made available to newsmen, the state government agreed to “implement the minimum wage applicable to Benue State to primary school teachers.’’

The MoU further stated: “that the state wing of NUT shall immediately call off the strike in the state and direct

its members to resume work on Monday, June 17, 2013, yesterday.

"That the actual date to commence the implementation of the new uniform salary structure in Benue State shall be

August 1, 2013.”

When asked about possible payment of arrears, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Alex Adum who presided over the briefing, said that full

details of the resolution were known to the union officials.

Adum however, said that there was no difference between the salary structure of the state civil servants and the teachers in the state.

REMEMBRANCE FOR LATE GOV PATRICK YAKOWA—From right: Chief of Kagoro, Mr. Ufuwai Bonet; Chief of Kagoma, Mr. Zakkah Wyong and National President, Southern Kaduna Peoples Union, SOKAPU, Mr. Ephraim Goje, at the remembrance mass service for Late Governor of Kaduna State, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, organised by SOKAPU at St. John's Catholic Church, Kaduna on Sunday. Photo: Olu Ajayi.

2015 Presidency: Lamido, Amaechi posters flood Jigawa

BY ALIYU DANGIDA

D

UTSE—PRESIDENTIAL campaign posters for the joint ticket of Governors Sule Lamido and Chibuike Amaechi of Jigawa and Rivers States respectively have flooded some major towns in Jigawa State.

The posters were pasted on the walls of private and public buildings at Ringim town on Sunday by some youths allegedly hired by prominent politicians in the state.

When Vanguard visited Ringim, some people who were apparently excited by the development were seen in groups discussing the development, hoping that Lamido would get his party’s ticket to contest.

The posters were said to have been brought into Ringim town in large quantities as supporters, party members and other well wishers started collecting the posters which were pasted in commercial buildings, motor parks and other strategic places along the Unity Road.

A resident of the area who spoke on the condition of anonymity said he was

impressed with the development as it was time for

the people to know those interested in ruling them

either as governors or president in 2015.

Kano Hisbah evacuates 114 destitute persons

K

ANO—THE Kano State Hisbah Board, yesterday, said it has evacuated 114 destitute persons from the streets of Kano metropolis.

The Director-General of the board, Alhaji Abba Sufi, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Kano that the exercise commenced on Sunday.

According to him, the exercise is part of the state government’s resolve to ban begging on the streets of the state capital.

Sufi said: "We have so far evacuated 114 destitute persons out of whom 85 are women and children while the remaining 29 are men.

"Out of the 29 men, 18 are non-indigenes and will soon be repatriated to their respective states of origin”.

According to him, all the evacuees are temporarily being accommodated at the board pending completion of the rehabilitation work at the

Mariri Rehabilitation Centre in Kumbotso Local Government Area of the state.

Sufi said officials of the board had also held a meet-

ing with leaders of various associations of the destitute persons with a view to suggesting possible ways of rehabilitating their members.

Plateau INEC coming with LG poll time table

J

OS—CHAIRMAN, Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission, PLASIEC, Mr. Ezekiel Dalyop, has promised to come up with a well-planned time table for local government elections in the state soon.

Dalyop made the pledge while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Jos yesterday.

He said the delay in releasing the timetable was to enable the commission consult with various stakeholders for an election schedule that would be convenient for all parties involved.

He said, “We are working on

the time table as directed by the governor. We have to do consultations with various organs and individuals that will take part in the elections.

"So that when we come out with the time table, we will know it is properly-planned, very soon we will finish.

“By our law, we have to give sufficient notice which we are working on. There is no time frame that we will finish in one or two weeks’ time., "But I know that in a very short while, we will be through. We have almost finished with consultation.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013 — 17

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY,JUNE 18, 2013 THE Senate in dismissing the N4 billion that was proposed as First Ladies’ Mission House, a project that Mrs Patience Jonathan, the President’s wife was promoting, was so polite it missed an opportunity to make a point the growing appetite for opportunism.

Mrs Jonathan wanted a facility for activities of African first ladies. It was her pet project, a private venture, under a nongovernmental organisation she runs.

How did the concerns of a private organisation become an item in the budget of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT? What gave the authorities of the FCT the audacity to imagine they could expend N4 billion of public funds on a private facility?

We find the FCT’s effrontery terrifying. If the amount was not big to draw attention, would it have passed? If it was concealed on a less prominent heading would the Senate have noticed?

Who initiated the inclusion of the project in the budget? Does the Senate not think it should investigate the attempt to mismanage public funds?

The proposed N4 billion expenditure

Senate, N4b First Ladies’ Project would have been only 1.14 per cent of the FCT’s N350.73bn budget which the Senate passed, but that is beside the point. Whether it was N1 or N1 billion, public funds should be used for public projects and for the benefit of the public.

Appropriateness of the proposed expenditure had been an issue since last February when the FCT presented the budget to the National Assembly. Various civil society groups, political parties and the public were against the project. Their argument was simple – it was a private project.

Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT, Senator Smart Adeyemi, said “It is worthy of note that the proposed appropriation for

the construction of building for the African First Ladies’ Peace Mission house has been distributed to meet pressing needs in the area of engineering and satellite towns.” He failed to mention that public opinion counted in that decision.

Abuja is decaying, but like the President of the Senate, David Mark said, the authorities tend to see the dilapidation in physical terms, not in the lives of people, especially outside the developed municipality.

“There is a lot of traffic congestion. The streets are not being kept in very good condition; the gardens and the lawns are not being maintained; I think there are a lot of areas where the city has to work very well,” Mark said at the session.

Water, electricity, transportation, roads, housing, hospitals, schools are in shambles in FCT, in areas without lawns, streets or gardens. The saved N4 billion should be used to improve the lives of ordinary people. Governments are about the welfare of the people, ordinary people too, not just projects.

OPINION

BY NATHANIEL ABARA Continued from yesterday's pg 17

I

T was against the background of “light”, which in modern times we could term transparency that the work of creation began on earth. We can deduce that without transparency as a first modus operandus of governance, nothing good could result from our transformation efforts. The Freedom of Information Act and the proposed CCS, with the media group playing a vibrant role, will engender transparency, and the demand for accountability and responsiveness. Their intervention will stem corruption in the system.

The present three branches of government fall short of the expectations of Nigerians.

This model of governance does not suit our situation where the corruption-prone extractive industries dominate the economy.

We are aware that oil and gas contribute approximately 95 per cent of foreign exchange earnings and about 80 per cent of government revenue, according to Shell Nigeria April 2013 Report. With this sectional dominance of oil which Juan Alfonso called “the Devil’s excrement” that results in Ross’s “oil curse”, the model is unlikely to deliver satisfactory services, development and transformation. The panacea can be found in the role of CSOs to engage all tiers of government, demand transparency and accountability, expand services and set the stage for accelerated development of Nigeria’s “Third Sector”, the voluntary and non-profit social sector

Constitutional role for civil society-media organisations(2) where the needs of 150 million Nigeria’s poor people will be met. These fit the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, EITI, which engages CSOs as a strategic partner to reverse the “resource curse” worldwide.

But what could be the cost of this enterprise? Working on the estimated 2013 budget of the federation of N9.5 trillion, a capital component of 27.3 per cent, the same ratio in the approved 2013 federal budget, we have N2.6 trillion of capital expenditure which should impact Nigerians. Dr. Andrew Pocock, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, disclosed that infrastructure in Nigeria cost three times higher than it ought to be, because of corruption in allocation and delivery process. On this basis, the value of the capital budget that could be lost in 2013 is estimated at N1.7 trillion at all tiers of government. This figure excludes savings in the overheads of government. Investing on the CCS at all tiers, about five per cent of the expected value not delivered, which comes to approximately N85 billion per annum, in order to recover N1.7 trillion for Nigeria would appear a reasonable investment. So, the CCS project would be good value-for-money.

CCS, this new arm of government, will positively affect the 150 million poor Nigerians, the vulnerable and disadvantaged of our society, who were

excluded in the framing of the 1999 Constitution. The 812 executive arms at all tiers of government have no more than about 30,000 elected and appointed officials to supervise a public service of about 2.5 million. Based on the 2007 report of the global citizen network, CIVICUS, Nigerian CSOs now have about 120 million as members. CSOs therefore have the capacity to effectively engage the 2.5 million public servants on a 24/7 basis at all critical points where value is expected to be created.

W

hy is this constitutional engagement so compelling? First, the ordinary citizen is weak and helpless.

There is very little he or she can do to influence government. As proposed, the CCS will act as an intermediary to advocate and mediate the social contracts between the people and their governments. This model also applies in the spiritual realm.

For example, in the Christian faith, Christ Jesus mediates and advocates between our Omnipotent God and mortals under the new covenant or divine contract. Christ mediates between God and His people.

Borrowing a leaf from the foregoing model, we can assert that without credible CSO’s in any nation, a people should not expect meaningful improvements in their security, social, economic and other areas of life.

The second reason is that Nigeria’s

complex ethnic, religious, regional and other societal diversity overburdens our generic three arms of government. We are the world’s seventh most populated country, estimated to be 170 million people. This population which is fragmented along many divides has over 250 ethnic groups which speak over 550 languages, spread on one million square kilometres of territory, dwelling mainly in rural areas and facing multi-faceted environmental challenges at the extremes of north and south. This chaotic situation was further weakened in the quest to keep the nation one. Societal confusion was compounded by serial balkanization of the four regions in 1963 to 36 states and 35 provinces to 774 local government areas. These demarcations now constitute the basis for social, economic, political and what have you, contests by few elites, to the exclusion of the larger proportion of the citizens.

Moreover, as a resource-rich nation, Nigeria is under the heavy veil of the “resource curse”. The CCS is the EITI equivalent of the “magic arm” by which we convert the complex diversity and liability of our large poor population to assets: 120 million people who constitute the members of CSOs and volunteers who come together to build understanding, paper over these divides, create social value, propagate transparent, accountable and responsive governance, and turn the “resource curse” into God’s “resource blessing” for all.

Continues tomorrow on pg 18 *Mr. Abara, an economic expert, wrote

from Lagos.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013 — 19

, Continues from last week

T

“

HIS is so because in the three periods relevant for support for The Patriots choice of the basis of sovereign representation, the sovereigns in the societies that were united to form the Nigerian Province of the British Empire were never normally and universally ethnic nationality sovereign. In the pre-colonial period, sovereignty was variously monarchical, imperial, and age groups stratified.

In the colonial period all included in the British Empire were subject of the English monarchy. For administrative convenience, the British co-opted native rulership institutions and banished rebel monarchs and elites from their kingdoms. “We put kingdoms in parenthesis because British Imperial Sovereignty was not a divided or shared one. The contemporary traditional rulers were legitimated as officials of British rule and ruled at the pleasure of the British Colonial Office. The

British in granting independence to Nigeria did not restore to power the pre-colonial rulers nor did they by their transition constitution from colonial rule to self rule re-instate the precolonial orders. The British transferred the administration of the Colony of Nigeria to politicians organised as electoral parties.

The successor administration of the government of the Colony of Nigeria declared by the British Government on October 1, 1960 to be the representative of a new sovereignty was formed by electoral parties legitimated by the British Colonial Government. Colonial Nigeria legitimated as sovereign Nigeria through negotiated cession of authority by the British Colonial Office to parties elected in elections organised by the British Colonial authorities in 1959 was a new societal construction- a province of an empire, not a restoration of the independence of pre-colonial societies.

Colonial Nigeria was constructed through British

,

imperial conquest. It was not constructed through a contract of pre-colonial sovereigns which would have been tantamount to a contract to become subjects of the British Monarchy. Colonially created traditional chieftaincies were not successors of the precolonial autonomous sovereigns.

In the Northern part of this country, politicians organised for elections through partnership with the colonial traditional rulership. Similar methods were applied in the Yoruba South West.

In the East, political parties were put together through electoral organisation of economic and ethnic associations. The stake for all parties was control of the administration of the colonial government now legitimated as the sovereign government of Nigeria.

I

f there is any place for the role of contract it was in the agreement of political parties to

Nigerian Prisons, a scar on the nation's conscience

BY CLEMENT UDEGBE

A

TWO-day International Conference on Nigerian Prisons Reforms ended on June 5 at REIZ Continental Hotel Abuja. It was packaged and driven by First Consultancy and Training, a UK-based company. The Minister for Interior was there, the Attorney General was represented; the Crown Agents, the Law Reform Commission impressed all; the Human Rights Commission and the speakers and all stakeholders present did a good job.

Discussions at the well-attended conference exposed the years of shameless neglect of our Prisons and the huge opportunities for the use of agriculture to improve the lot of the Prisons. But the Ministry of Agriculture was not represented. Their absence was strongly regretted by participants because Nigerian Prisons has about 15 large farm areas scattered around the nation, which could be used for mechanized farming, and also offer opportunities for poultry, fish, snail and honey bees farming, to name a few.

These could be harnessed to augment the funding and feeding of the Prisons and the inmates. This was the new idea this conference was bringing on board.

The National Planning Commission was very ably represented by the Secretary to the Commission, but the Minister of Agriculture could not find a Director to send to such an important conference. The 24 points communiqué at the end of conference posited thus: "The potential capabilities of

the inmates should be explored in the agricultural sector to boost agricultural and agro-based activities and improved equipment provided for the prisons." Who were the participants talking to when the Ministry concerned with agriculture could not be bothered?

If this conference were to take place in overseas, they would line up to attend, with their PAs, collect esta code and all sorts of allowances, but may not even pay the conference registration fees! The price of local food stuff has been rising monthly since the past six months and Mr. President should not be blamed for the rising price of local food when he has a minster to find solutions to such situation? Can the ministry find any lasting solution to the food question without interacting with all the agencies concerned?

It was wrong for the Minister to continue to neglect matters concerning Nigeria Prisons.

Ministries should attend conferences that impact on their core mandate, especially if private sector driven.

Where government claims that there is no money, and a private person spends his own money towards finding solution to a problem confronting government, it is wrong for that same government or an arm of it, to shun the same private sector driven action. This is part of why PPPs often collapse due to lack of commitment and foresight from the government side; more so, because there are no consequences for such negligence or incompetence.

We are talking of the reformation of criminals in prisons in Nigeria, and engaging them in agriculture is surely one

act as one in constitutional conferences organised by the British Colonial Government for transfer of proprietary authority over the Colonial Government of Nigeria to a concert of politicians organised as rival electoral parties. There were differences within and among the colonial delegations of Nigerian politicians negotiating for the independence of Colonial Nigeria from British rule. Their options were limited. They could agree to downgrade their differences so as to obtain their goal of independence or they could let their disagreements prevent their attainment of their common objectives. Consensus on the goal of ending British rule in Nigeria did not extend to unanimity on the issue of what party or coalition of parties would constitute the successor sovereignty. Political parties in Nigeria eventually chose to create electorates based on political construction of ethnic unanimity. Similarly, they chose to configure governments, regional, state and local on constructions of ethnic unanimity. These ethnicities were constructed for electoral purposes for the capture and control of government. Every institution of government and governance were instituted on the basis of constructions of ethnic unanimity. These constructions made no room for constructions of ethnic diversities. A consensus has emerged on the status of the people in the promulgation of constitutions by civilian and military politicians. From 1979 to the present constitutional amendment exercise, the people, not the ethnic nationalities has been proclaimed The Entity of the Sovereign in Nigeria Section 14[2(a)] is a problematic

,

Search for Nigeria's security challenge: The Patriots' proposal (2)

If we are to adopt a nationalist stand on what Nigeria is, we must jettison from the national conference discourse concepts of Nigeria defined in terms of electoral denominations

The way out of the myriads of problems of the Nigerian Prisons is to create a Prison Service Commission, just like the Nigerian Police Service Commission, with a retired Comptroller General in charge

,

of the best ways to help their reformation and also contribute to feeding and funding the prison system. Nigeria runs a prison system that is majorly still in the state they were over 50 years ago, while our leaders talk of Vision 20-2020 without shame.

Government provides N200 per day for the feeding of prison inmates; what greater punishment is there than this that a man will spend N50 per meal in Nigerian Prisons.

Even the prison personnel have become victims, in more ways than one, through several years of neglect and internal dichotomies in officer cadres that create more frustrations. Our prisons can never reform any criminal as they are!

N

elson Mandela once said that the conscience of a nation is reflected in the way it treats its prisoners. The Nigerian Prisons is a big scar on the conscience of this nation. The neglect suffered by Nigeria Prisons stems from the fact that the Police and Judiciary have continued to spare our

statement of this consensus.

“Sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom Government through this Constitution derives its powers and authority ”. The whole statement is problematic because it makes sovereignty a property.

Can the people secure their sovereignty when government has always from colonial period to the present been indeed defacto exerciser of sovereignty? If The Patriots seek to subsume their construct of ethnic nationality under that of the promulgators of the Constitutions of Nigeria there is still left unresolved the problem of how to ensure that the 389 ethnic nationalities substantially represent the people. In any case, The Patriots have rejected the postulation that there is the people. The Patriots state that there are 389 peoples, each a claimant to the collective sovereignty. This is a political argument, not a constitutional one. And there is no context or condition for constituting the people from the 389 peoples.

There is only one starting point in thinking through the question of the modalities for the conference. We must start from the basic premise that Nigeria is a British institution which has now been ceded to Nigerians. If we are to adopt a nationalist stand on what Nigeria is, namely, a province of an empire now declared a separate country, we must jettison from the national conference discourse concepts of Nigeria defined in terms of electoral denominations.

Nigeria is ceded to all Nigerians.

How to secure this gift from ruin is the present security challenge.

Concluded

leaders from going to prison when they commit crimes. These high profile felons should be sent to prison where they will acquire firsthand experience of the system and get reformed themselves. You cannot reform a small thief when you put him in the same cell with armed robbers and murderers and later with terrorists! Such a person can only become hardened and more skilled in crime. Terrorists must never be kept in civil prisons because the terrorist has a completely different mindset and value for life.

The way out of the myriads of problems of the Nigerian Prisons is to create a Prison Service Commission, just like the Nigerian Police Service Commission, with a retired Comptroller General in charge. This will eliminate all the attenuating conditions which make the Prisons personnel / warder a victim of the society. A situation where someone awaiting trial is conveyed to the court on a motorcycle is as shameful to our country as it is risky for the warder. The new CGP may well consider the setting up of a Prisons Equipment Fund/Foundation, modeled to improve on the failures of the Police Equipment Fund, which was chained and imprisoned by greed and corruption.

If the reforms envisaged by the Prisons Reforms Bill currently before the NASS will be meaningful, by reducing human rights violations, and to bring our prison practices in line with international standards, two things must be done: The law makers must get the communiqué from this conference and let the resolutions impact on the bill as necessary. And the major stake holders and operators of the prison system must be consulted to accommodate their opinions and suggestions based on their respective hands-on experiences.

* Mr. Udegbe, a lawyer, wrote from Lagos.

20 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013

that he needed to do something fast, that I do not want to lose my child. He said there was nothing he could do, but that I should pray, if I knew how to.

After that, he left us and went home, and another doctor took over. At this time, I had called my pastor and some of our church members to come and pray with me, since the doctor said there was nothing more he could do. We were praying and even considering taking the child out of the hospital when he gave up around 7pm Saturday. When the child gave up, they called the doctor on duty to check on him, he did and confirmed that he was dead.

Death report or certificate

*Distraught... Success and her husband

Mutilation of baby’s corpse in Lagos hospital •Strange twist as police search for mystery SUV

P

OLICE detectives in Ogun State are said to be combing the nooks and crannies of the state and other environs in frantic search for the owner of a black sports utility vehicle, SUV, that reportedly drove into Ajike Medical Centre in Sango Ota, where the corpse of a 13-monthold baby was allegedly mutilated. This followed allegation by the mother of the dead baby, Success Onyeka Oleh, 30, that she saw “a strange black jeep” drive into the hospital in the midnight after the baby died.

Vanguard Metro, VM, learnt that based on this and other startling revelations, eagle-eyed detectives who earlier arrested the owner of the hospital, Dr. Babawale Joshua, decided to spread their dragnets with a view to locating the strange black SUV. Success tells her story When our reporter visited the two-storey building housing the hospital, it was deserted and under lock and key as residents gathered in groups to discuss the strange occurrence. A middleaged man directed our reporter to the residence of the family of the dead child. On getting there,

the mother of the child, Success, who hails from Umunze in Olumba South Local Government Area, Anambra State, profusely shed tears as she sat, weeping bitterly and asking rhetorical questions bordering on who she had offended.

“Why would anyone think of doing this to the body of my baby?” she asked, turning to our reporter. “What did I do to deserve this, what did my baby do, is the pain of losing him to the cold hands of death not enough for me?” she asked yet again, amidst tears.

Measles related complications After so much consolation from people gathered around her, she managed to tell her story in a plaintive voice. “You see, my child was ill, at first he was treated for measles. After two days, he started running temperature and he was also coughing and acting as if he wanted to throw up, but could not. We brought him to the hospital at about 9am on Friday, 7th June, 2013 for treatment.

When we got to the hospital, the doctor just looked at him and said that it was a measles- related

complications; that his heart was also not functioning well, that his kidney was swollen.

“All this was done without carrying out a single test on him. I told him that this was a child I had recently taken to the general hospital when he had measles, to run a test, and the result showed his heart was in good condition. He said he could tell his condition just by looking at my child.

“After that, they administered an injection on him and admitted him. But his condition was not improving. The way they were acting at the hospital was not at all encouraging. At a point, I complained to the doctor that I was not happy with their work ethics, that if they know they can’t treat my child, they should tell me so that I would take him elsewhere. He apologised and we were transferred to a better room. I also suggested that they put him on drip since he was very weak. This, they did, and my child’s health improved and we were all happy. Even the next morning, being Saturday, he was in good shape when his father stopped by to check on him, on his way to work. Later that day, he started running temperature again. I complained

and the doctor asked the nurses to give him an injection, which they did.

“After the injection, I noticed that his stomach was protruding.

I ran to the nurse, and she gave me a flimsy excuse. When the doctor came, I told him of the development. He came to our room, looked at my son and said that if he could excrete, he would be fine. Then he asked the nurse to use a pump on him so that he

,

BY UJU MBANUSI

“And as we made to take the body away, one of the nurses stopped us, saying that we had to clear all the bills before the baby could be released to us.

Also, our pastor advised us to get a death report or certificate before taking his body away. That was why we decided to leave our child’s body at the hospital with the intention of taking him away for burial the next morning.

“Around 2am on Sunday, because I could not sleep, I came out of our compound which is a few houses away from the hospital to get some fresh air. I noticed a jeep drive down the road and stopped at where people gathered near the hospital. The driver of the jeep stopped the car and asked some of the people gathered there where Ajike hospital is; they pointed the place to him and he drove into the hospital.

“I did not suspect anything; it was this morning when my husband came over with some of his people to make arrangement for his burial that he discovered a different body from the body of our one- year and two-month old baby we left the previous night,”

Why would anyone think of doing this to the body of my baby? What did I do to deserve this, what did my baby do, is the pain of losing him to the cold hands of death not enough for me?

would excrete.

“The nurse brought a syringe and water and put it in the baby’s anus; after a while, another nurse suggested that they use rub on him, which they did. After that, no positive result. I again asked them to go and complain to the doctor that the child is yet to excrete despite all they had done to him.

“After a while, the doctor came down and saw me pacing up and down. I ran to him and told him that my baby was dying,

,

she narrated at length.

However, when VM visited the annex of the hospital at Number 1, Ajike Close, off Olakunle-Ojo street, Amje bus stop, Alakuko, Lagos, normal activities were going on. None of the staff was willing to talk about the incident that occurred at the Adeyemi Street branch of the hospital. It was gathered that the remains of the child have since been deposited at the Ifo mortuary by men of the Sango Police Station, where the case was reported.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013 — 21

Inflation rate stands at 9.0% — NBS

BY GODFREY BIVBERE

N

IGERIA’S inflation rate stood at 9.0 per cent in May against the 9.1 per cent recorded in April, Dr Yemi Kale, Statistician-General of the Federation has said.

Kale, in a statement in Abuja, said this indicated that year-on-year rate was still below single digit as observed since the beginning of the year.

The statement said that the Composite Price Index (CPI), which measures the inflation rate, showed that the Core Sub-index continued to show a muted rise due to base effects. “The yearon-year muted changes for the rest of the year in the Core Index may be sustained until the end of the year due to substantially higher price levels this

time last year. As stated in the April 2013 CPI Report, the year-on-year changes in the Core Index for the rest of the year are likely to be muted as a result of substantially higher price levels this time last year.

“The increase in food prices captured by the Food Sub-index, while significant, are also lower year-onyear. Through the first five months of 2013, the Food Sub-index averaged 10.0 per cent, 1.8 per cent lower than rates recorded during the same period last year,’’ it stated According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), relative to April, the rise in the Headline Index could be attributable to higher prices in all 12 COICOP divisions.

“Higher prices were also reflected in

the Food and Core Sub-indices. All divisions (except the food and nonalcoholic beverages) rose faster than levels exhibited in April. This is also reflected in the faster month-on-month rates in the Core Sub Index in May

Data bureau boss seeks cooperation

BY KUNLE KALEJAYE

M

EANWHILE, Dr Yemi Kale, the Statistician-General of the Federation has appealed to households to cooperate with the Bureau enumerators to collect statistical information that will guide

From left: Group Executive Director, BUA Group, Kabiru Rabiu; President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Goodie Ibru; President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, Chief Kola Jamodu; Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga; and Managing Director, Bank of Industry, Ms. Evelyn Oputu, during the presentation of Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan, in Lagos.

122.55

-1.15

2,242.00 -66.00 16.57

+1.06

97.78

+1.09

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL DOLLAR 154.75 POUNDS 241.8588 EURO 205.9413 FRANC 167.206 YEN 1.6298 CFA 0.2942 WAUA 234.5852 RENMINBI 25.2397 RIYA 41.2634 KRONA 27.6098 SDR 235.9009

155.25 242.6402 206.6067 167.7472 1.6351 0.3042 235.3432 25.321 41.3967 27.699 236.663

SELLING 155.75 243.4217 207.2721 168.2874 1.6403 0.3142 236.1011 25.4037 41.53 27.7882 237.4253

CBN Exchange rate as at 17/06/2013

government in creating jobs in the country. The statement said the NBS, in collaboration with the Office of Chief Economic Adviser to the President, would conduct the survey through the application of appropriate statistical methodology for tracking variability in the number of jobs created or lost every quarter.

“The main objective of the survey is to improve available information and data on the Nigerian labour market through the application of appropriate statistical methodology,” it added. The statement said the survey would cover the fourth quarter of 2012 and the first quarter of 2013 to ascertain the level of national job creation efforts and the labour force. It said that the survey would also cover the informal and formal sectors in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

“Our field officers will be visiting selected establishments and households between June 18 and July 2, 2013 to collect the required data.

The NBS hereby solicits necessary cooperation from establishments and households for the success of this exercise, particularly in completing the questionnaires correctly. In compliance with the Statistical Act 2007, all information collected through this survey will be held in strict confidence and used for statistical and planning purposes by the Federal Government.’’

GIABA seeks increased action against financial crimes …Says developing countries lost $1.6trn in one year

0.33

106.01

vis-à-vis April. On the other hand, the Food Sub-index indicates a slower rate of increase in food prices in May relative to April”, it added. The bureau said that in May, the Composite CPI increased by a faster rate than the figure recorded in the preceding month as the index increased by 0.67 per cent compared to the 0.5 per cent recorded in April.

BY MICHAEL EBOH

I

NTER-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) has emphasized the need for governments in Nigeria and across the world to step up their fight against money laundering.

The group said this was critical in the entrenchment and promotion of democracy, good governance as well as international peace and security.

Speaking at a workshop for elected local government officials held in Lokoja, Kogi State capital, Dr Abdullahi Shehu, Director General, GIABA, noted that in 2006 alone, developing countries lost between US$858.6 billion (N137.376 trillion) and $1.6 trillion (N256 trillion) in illicit financial flows in year 2006.

He stated that this has brought to the fore the need to protect the international financial system from abuse.

According to him, the establishment of GIABA is part of the renewed efforts to develop strategies for the prevention of money laundering and its predicate offences and

to assist member States to implement those strategies to protect their economies from misuse for the purposes of laundering the proceeds of crime, including the financing of terrorism.

He said, “Terrorists and extremist organizations, drug cartels and the trafficking of human beings are seriously affecting human security in developing and developed economies alike. The 9/11 terrorist attacks in the USA have brought to the attention of the world the global reach of the extremist organizations and the frightening consequences of their actions concerning personal safety, peace and security in the world, potential tensions among different segments of the society, and pressures on the state institutions.” He identified colonization, discrimination, low level of education, and a large population among the causes of poverty, lamenting that negative structural factors, such as lack of government support, neglect of educational development, health care and poor economic infrastructure have also contributed strongly to the persistence of poverty.

22 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013

Buying and selling Bonds (1)

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

H

AVING explained what investment in bonds is about, and the basic merit last week, we proceed to discuss how to buy and sell bonds. But before this, it is important to know that there are also risks to investment in bonds. The greatest risk is inflation, general increase in prices of goods and services. Assuming you invest N10, 000 in a five year bond, the reality is that within those five years, prices of goods and services may have risen significantly such that what N10, 000 can buy at the time you invested in the bond, you may need N15, 000 to buy it by the fifth year when the bond matures.The implication is that though you get your money back with interest, but the value is not the same.

note that investment in bonds has its risk and this depends on the type of bonds.

With respect to type of bonds, the basic ones are Sovereign

bonds, State bonds, Municipal bonds, and Corporate bonds.

Sovereign bonds are issued by the federal governments, while state bonds are issued

by state or regional governments. local government bonds are issued by local government, and corporate bonds are issued by companies. Corpo-

T

here is also the risk that the bond issuer may have problem repaying the bond.

Though this risk is minimal or almost non-existent in government bonds, it could happen if it is a company that issued the bond. Also there have been instances where governments had difficulty repaying their loans. A good example is Greece, which has been under severe economic problem in the last three years. So take

Top 10 performing stocks

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

A

mong the top 10 perform ing stocks in the previous week were Academy Press, Paints & Coating Manufacturers Nigeria, PCNM, Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals, Berger Paints Plc, Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, and IPWA Plc. Others are Cutix Plc, Forte Oil, Evans Medical, and Champion Breweries Plc.

P rinting/Publishing listed company, Academy Press, added 40 percent or N0.70 to its share price to top the gainers in the week. It started the week at N1.75 and closed at N2.45 per share. Academy Press, involved in security printing, had in 2012 announced that it would take advantage of ban on importation

of security and sensitive print materials by the Central Bank of Nigeria to upgrade its facilities to full blown security printing outfit.Unlike other stocks that have been experiencing huge investors’ patronage, Academy Press has not enjoyed as much support from investors just like others in the same sector. So far, the stock price has risen by paltry 56.05 percent, from N1.57 at the beginning of the year to the present market price. It had risen to N4.10 before falling back to N2.45 at the close of transactions on Friday.

The company paid 7.5 kobo as dividend in 2012.

P CNM listed in the building materials sector recorded 32.14 percent or N0.45 increase from N1.40 at the beginning of the week to N1.85 to emerge the second highest gainer in the week. PCNM, which manufactures paints and coatings, recently said that it was awarded the sole manufacturing rights for the manufacture of protective coatings by International Paints in Nigeria. So far, the stock price has risen by

270 percent from N0.50 at the beginning of the year to the present market price. It had also risen to N2.41 before relapsing to N1.85. A total of 773,100 shares of the company were traded last Friday, while its divi-

dend was 8 kobo. The company posted N2.91 billion turnover in 2012, as against N1.79 billion recorded in 2011, while its profit before tax rose to N275.03 million from the previous N122.97 million in 2011.

The third highest gainer, Neimeth, has over the last few months been featuring on the top ten gainers list. Last week, it rose by 32 percent or N0.40 from N1.25 to N1.65 per share. Listed in the pharmaceutical sector, Neimeth is involved in the manufacturing and sales of pharmaceuticals, chemicals and animal health products. Already, the share price has risen by 217.31 per-

cent year to date from N0.52 at the beginning of the year to N1.85 at the close of the transactions on Friday. The company’s financial position both in top and bottom line has not been encouraging in recent time. The company recorded a loss after tax of N69.3 million for the year ended 30th September, 2012 compared with a profit of N113.1 million in the previous year. Though there was a 22.74 percent growth in turnover for the period from N1.89 billion in 2011 to N2.33 billion in 2012, operating profit dipped from N241.14 million in 2011 to N48.18 million in 2012.

Berger Paints gained 20.30 percent or N1.92 price increase from N9.46 at the beginning of the week to N11.38 per share.

Berger Paints will soon embark on rights issue to raise N850 million having received approval from the shareholders.

The share price has risen by 66.86 percent year to date from N6.82 at the beginning of the year to N11.38. it had risen to N12.20 before relapsing to the present market price.

Berger Paints Nigeria Plc en-

rate bonds are also referred to as Debenture or Industrial loan. The most important thing is that they are all debts.

In Nigeria the most dominant type of bond is the Sovereign bond also known as FGN Bond. Total value of FGN Bond outstanding (yet to be paid/or yet to mature) is N3.5 trillion as at December 31st, 2012.

Like equities/shares, there is primary market and secondary markets for buying and selling of bonds The primary market is where bonds are issued and sold by the issuer directly to the investing public, while the secondary market is where bond holders can sell the bonds, and willing investors can buy such bonds.

The importance of the secondary market for bonds is that if you buy bonds, and you need money before the tenure of the bond expires, you can take it to the secondary market and sell. Also if there are no fresh issuance of bonds i.e. government or companies are not selling bonds, but you want to invest in bonds, you can go to the secondary market and buy from bond holders willing to sell.

In Nigeria, bonds are also listed and traded on the Nigeria Stock Exchange. For example, last week, 1,770 units of FGN bonds valued at N194, 830 were traded in 15 deals on the stock exchange.

gages in the manufacture of decorative and industrial paints, marine and protective coatings, automotive /vehicle refinishes and allied products.

Vitafoam’s share price rose

by 16.53 percent or N0.61 per share from N3.69 to N4.30 on Friday. Year-to-date, the share price has risen by 47.77 percent from N2.91 to N4.30, after rising to N5.54 earlier in the year.

Other gainers include IPWA, which gained 13.33 percent or N0.08 price appreciation to close at N0.68 from N0.60. Cutix recorded 12.50 or N0.25 price gain to close at N2.25 from N2.00 at the beginning of the week. Forte Oil rose by 10.45 percent or N1.61 from N15.40 to N17.01, while Evans Medicals and Champion Breweries gained 10.03 or N0.31 and 9.92 percent or N0.48 from N3.40 to N3.09 and N4.84 to N5.32 per share respectively.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013 — 23

BY WILLIAM JIMOH

M

r. Augustine Anono, Na tional Chairman, Nigeria Professional Shareholders Association That issue of shares buy back is based on different reasons.

The first is that a company may decide to buy some of its shares back in order to give robust dividend for its shareholders.

Or if the company feels that its share capital is too big and may not be able to service it with dividend. They will have to embark on buying back some of the shares so as to be able to cater for the others. But this is always done when the price of the shares is very low.

Another reason why a company may decide to buy back its shares is if it feels that what it is paying to the registrar peraccount is too much, then with share buy-back they will be able to trim the unit and the account of that company.

But on a good day, other companies do it because they want to reposition themselves, in terms of liquidity and the number of shares they have in the market. Just as we all know that the capital market like any other markets is determined by the forces of demand and supply, therefore, if they do not want much of their shares on the floor of the market, they will buy them back and with that the price of the remaining shares will rise.

This may negatively impact on the shareholders if not properly managed.

I will not say that the regulator has done enough, because when this companies are in the market to seek funds, SEC and NSE are the platforms through which they access shareholders’ money but whenever they are delisting or they want to buy

INVESTORS SPEAK

Investor s express views on shares buy

Shehu Mallam Mikail back their shares it is the regulator that they are going to liaise with and the interest of the shareholder who gave their money in the first place may not be given priority as required.

So if any of thes processes is to take place, the regulator should ensure that the interest of the shareholders is considered first. This can only

happen when the regulator has gone extra miles to ensure that the companies did not play on the intelligence of shareholders.

S

hehu Mallam Mikail , National President Constance Shareholders’ Association of Nigeria In respect of share buy back, there are more to it than I think

the shareholders understand.

Because it is an impression at which most of the directors think they can bring back some of the lost glory of their companies in order to facilitate the growth and activities of the company.

To me it is a way of reenergizing the business. It should also serve as an eye opener that the policies with which most of the regulatory authorities are working with are currently yielding results.

So companies that may want to embark on share buyback will think twice and know that there are rules and regulation that cannot be boycotted, and this will also help them to get the proper standing as well as provide return for the investors. Share buy back is another ideal way of bringing back the glory of any company that may want to go for it and before any company can do this, that means that such a company has been doing well for its shareholders in terms of dividend declaration and other activities in the market.

There is a legal backing for this. If any company decides to go for this option, then they must follow the entire necessary rule attached to it.

And if it is properly done, then other companies that are thinking of coming into the capital market will know that this is a market where whatever they have to do have

COMPLAINTS AND INVESTIGATIONS N

o communication from First Bank, Finbank My money is tied up in shares I bought in FINLAND Bank PLC and FIRST Bank PLC about three years ago. The offensive part of it all is that up till now I have never been notified or given a certificate for the shares bought. I acquired the shares in the primary market. What do I do? (Hon. Austine Eguakun, Edo State) Investors Forum The last public offer conducted by First bank was in 2007, and Finbank was 2009. So you could not have bought their shares through the primary market three years ago. Meanwhile, Finbank has been acquired by First City Monument Bank PLC. Our advice is that you contact the registrars of the two banks to ascertain the genuineness of the shares you bought and from where you bought them. For First Bank, contact First Registrars at Plot 2 Abebe Village Road, Iganmu or call 01773086, 774309, 270178,

2701079. For Finbank contact City Securities at Primrose Tower, 2nd Floor, and 17A Tinubu Street, Lagos. Tel: 2341-2641298, 234-1-7924462.

How long does it take for brokers to sell shares?

Please how long does it take for a broker to sell shares and pay the owner? (Saint Paul, Port Harcourt) Investors Forum It depends on a lot of things.

The conditions you gave the broker i.e. if you insist they should sell at a certain price.

It also depends on availability of people willing to buy the shares (demand). Also if what you gave the broker is the share certificates, which means the shares would have to be verified and registered in a CSCS account created in your name. This can take up to three months.

How do I sell my shares?

I want to sell my GTBank shares but don’t know how to

proceed. (Ojevwe Koloko, Warri).

Investors Forum You need the services of a stockbroking firm to do this.

Meanwhile you will have to submit the share certificates to the stockbroking firm for verification, and registration in a CSCS account created in your name. This can take up to three months. For the list and addresses of licensed stockbroking firms please visit http:// www.nse.com.ng/Regulation/ ForBrokers/Pages/DealingMembers.aspx.

I want to join a shareholders’ Association I live in Onitsha, Anambra state and I want to join a progressive capital market shareholders’ association. Please help me.

Investors Forum There are many shareholders’ Associations but we can’t recommend any to you. The best time to encounter any of these associations is during the an-

nual general meeting (AGM) of quoted companies. At the AGM, you will meet their officials and you can introduce yourself and willingness to be a member.

How do I cash Ecobank dollar dividend?

Sir, I could not pay in Ecobank dividend into my account because it is in dollars, and I have no dollar account. I also have expired dividend warrants.

Please help me. (Ikechukwu Okonkwo).

Investors Forum You can cash the Ecobank (or Ecotransnational) dollar denominated dividend warrant through any of the branches of Ecobank. Take the warrant to their branches and they will give you the naira equivalent in cash. With respect to the expired dividend warrants, take them to the company’s registrar and they will renew or revalidate them for you.

to be done in a right wayand in the right perspective and not just for the interest of the company’s director. On the issue I cannot foresee any disadvantage that such process should cause for the shareholders if the rules are followed to the letter. Because any investor that is diligent will know and say to himself this is the time I am putting my money in long term investment and not just for short term.This is also a time that an investor or a shareholder will know how to properly tackle whoever that is likely to be on the board of any company’s directors in order to ensure that the future of their investment is not being eroded.

So for the shareholder that knows how to invest, I mean those that know how to manage their investment, there will be no problem. And I can tell you that based on the policies that are now in place, it will be very difficult for any company to rob the minority investors, most especially those who are watchful.

E

ngineer Hameed Ogundipe First and foremost, I must let you know that I have over N10 million in shares between 2008. But now, because those shares that were selling for about N60 dropped to N5 which is a capital loss, I have been very careful in my investment in the capital market.

One thing I always tell anybody that is just coming to invest in the market is that you should try and ensure that you buy the good ones, except if you think you can afford to burn your fingers. Then there is no problem with how you deal in the market and the type of shares you buy.

Talking about the share buy back, since there are regulations backing every activity in the market, there should be no problem with it. If any company think that he can now own the entire shares that were sold to minority shareholders, it is okay with me as long as the proper steps are taken and the shareholders will get their money back with the interest.

COMPLAINTS AND INVESTIGATIONS Do you have any challenge with your investment in the stock market or with any company (stockbroker, Registrar Company etc), write to vanguardinvestorsforum @gmail.com OR send text to 07043855187. We will INVESTIGATE AND REPLY

24 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013

Stakeholders envision further drop in oil production •As Nigeria’s crude falls to 1.96mbd

BY SEBASTINE OBASI

S

TAKEHOLDERS in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry predict that the country may suffer even lower crude output than stated in last week’s report by the International Energy Agency, IEA, which stated that Nigeria’s crude oil output declined to a six-month low to 1.96 million barrels per day, mbd contrary to budget benchmark of 2.567mbd.

The immediate past president of the National Association of Petroleum Explorationists, NAPE, Mr. Afe Mayowa, argued that the drop in oil production did not come as a surprise, as many stakeholders had showed anxiety in the beginning of 2013 when government made the 2.567mbd benchmark.

For them, it was an ambitious projection. “I am not surprised because all the attendant problems in the Niger Delta are still there – community issues, vandalism, PIB. The PIB will not be passed in the life of this administration because those who are supposed to make it come to light are more concerned about their personal gains rather than national interest.

“Also, vandalism is not restricted to Niger Delta. It now occurs in Ogun, Ondo, Lagos and other areas where we have pipelines. Therefore, the decline will go on and it will definitely affect our economy negatively,” he said.

Similarly, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, said that the union was worried and disturbed over the drop in crude oil production in the country, since the first quarter of 2013.

NUPENG blamed the drop on incessant crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism and urged the Federal Government to take urgent measures to stem the decline, to ensure that revenue accruing to the government was not affected.

“Government must change tactics and strategies in the fight against crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism. We urge the Federal Government to introduce new technology like monitoring sensors and alarm systems that will trigger off whenever any pipeline is being tampered with,” the Union said.

The Union argued that such measures, with the collabora-

From left: Mr Francois Boussagol, Managing Director, Total Nigeria Plc; Olubunmi Popoola-Mordi, Company Secretary and Mr Momar Nguer , Chairman at the 35th Annual General Meeting of Total, in Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau.

tion of the host communities where these pipelines traverse would check crude oil theft from the pipelines.

It noted that the decline would also affect the country ’s external reserves and further compound the incidence of abandonment of projects in Nigeria.

The Union called on the oil majors

and the government to create job opportunities for the restless youths in the Niger Delta, so that they would stop tampering with the pipelines. “The issue of mass unemployment should be tackled with vigour because it has become a time-bomb, waiting to explode,” Achese Igwe, National President of the Union said.

NUPENG also suggested that if the Nige-

rian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, could bury the pipelines deeply underground, the pipelines would become inaccessible to oil thieves and the vandals.

Oil and gas account for about 90 percent of Nigerian government revenues and 90 percent of foreign exchange earnings.

IEA Report The IEA reported last week that Nigeria’s crude oil output declined to a six-month low of 1.96mbd. The agency attributed the decline to oil theft and pipeline vandalism, which had bedeviled the industry for a long time.

The IEA’s report underscored recent statement by the NNPC, which said that 53 break points were discovered along the 97km Nembe Creek Trunk line.

“This will further reduce our April and May monthly average to about 2.2mbpd and further decrease crude oil revenue by about $554 million (N83 billion) that should have accrued to the Federation Account,” the corporation said.

“We shall continue to work with relevant government agencies both at the federal and state levels; to end this incessant crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism. We have the potential to meet the national target of 2.48mbpd if this menace is eliminated,” it added.

FG rules out bailout for marginal fields operators ...to float development finance institutions by 2014

BY MICHAEL EBOH

T

HE Federal Government has ruled out any intervention in form of provision of bailout funds for marginal oil fields operators in Nigeria.

Speaking at the Ministerial Platform in Abuja, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, said this is in view of the fact that the government cannot afford to provide support to all sectors of the economy.

According to her, the Federal Government’s decision not to provide funds for marginal field operators is due to the fact that the oil sector is normally regarded as having the ability of attracting investment into the sector.

Continuing, she said, “It is proper for the government to support certain sectors of the

economy, for them to be able to thrive, and support them in a way that they can become competitive. However, if government keeps on supporting a sector, it means the sector is not viable, but we cannot support every sector.

“On the issue of marginal fields, I really want to say that the oil sector is normally regarded as having the ability of attracting investment. If we have up to 10 billion barrels trapped, that is a lot of trapped resources. The reason we don’t think of a bailout fund for the oil sector is because we expect the sector to be able to attract adequate investment from the private sector.”

Okonjo-Iweala, was responding to questions from Mrs. Catherine Ifejika, Chairperson/ Chief Executive Officer, Britannia-U Nigeria Limited, on possible bailout for marginal fields operators, following their in-

ability to access funds to carry out their operations.

The minister said to address the funding challenges confronting marginal field owners and other businesses, the Federal Government is setting up a development finance institution that will become operational by the end of 2014, to cater for the medium to long term financing needs of businesses in the country.

She said the institution will provide funding of between 10 to 15 years for businesses to help them meet their financing needs. She added that the government is partnering with the World Bank in this regard, and will provide loans to businesses at a reasonable rate of interest.

She said, “This is a new angle that just came up that even oil field operators need resources. I think we need to think in this country of how we need to

make medium to long term resources available to our private sector so that they can borrow at a reasonable rate.

“That way, the government does not have to be doing bailout for every sector. We are working on it with a strong push from the Presidency; we are now embarking on setting up a Development Finance Institution that will provide 10 – 15 years money at reasonable rate of interest. The World Bank has ordered some institutions to support us, just as we are doing for housing.

She maintained that the development finance institution will address the issue of funding for the marginal field operators and other businesses.

She stated further, “It will take us about 18 months to be able to set up the long term financial institution, while by July to August; the housing fund will be ready.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013 — 25

26 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013

BRIEF

Chevron’s $10bn Angola LNG ships first gas cargo

C

HEVRON Corp’s $10 bil lion Angola LNG plant has shipped its first cargo after an 18-month delay prompted by fires, labor shortages and U.S. shale drilling that erased demand for African fuel in the world’s largest gas market.

The shipment of gas that was cooled to -256 degrees Fahrenheit (-160 degrees Celsius) to shrink its volume was sold to state-owned Sonangol EP for transport to Brazil aboard the ship Sonangol Sambizanga, Artur Pereira, chief executive officer of Angola LNG Marketing, said in an e-mailed statement today. A “large number” of LNG sales from the plant have been signed or are in negotiation, the London-based company said.

Chevron, the world’s thirdlargest energy company by market value, has made LNG a linchpin of its goal to raise its worldwide output by 20 percent through the end of 2017 to the equivalent of 3.3 million barrels of crude a day.

The company is spending more than $77 billion on two LNG projects in Australia, and in December acquired a 50 percent stake in the proposed Kitimat LNG terminal on Canada’s Pacific Coast.

“First gas at Angola LNG is an important milestone in support of our strategic plan to grow our production,” George Kirkland, vice chairman of San Ramon, California-based Chevron, said in a statement distributed by Business Wire today. “This project will commercialize natural gas resources in western Africa to meet growing demand in the region and internationally.”

Production at the liquefaction plant, with a capacity of 5.2 million metric tons a year, was postponed because of fires, pipeline collapses and a lack of skilled workers, three people with knowledge of the situation said last month.

The facility in Soyo in northern Angola plans one or two shipments in June and July before performing checks on its systems and resuming output in the fourth quarter, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the information isn’t public.

Global LNG demand is expected to exceed production around the end of this decade with the deficit growing to 100 million metric tons a year by 2025, Chevron Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John Watson said in a presentation to analysts in New York on March 12. Demand for the fuel will increase at an estimated average rate of 15 million tons a year through 2025, led by growth in Asian nations such as Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, Watson said.

‘Funding hinders development of renewable energy’ BYMICHAELEBOH

P

ROMOTERS of the Bank of Industry/United Nation’s Development Programme’s, UNDP, Access to Renewable Energy, AtRE project, have cited lack of finance and funding as the major factors hindering the development of renewable energy in Nigeria.

Speaking at a BOI Forum in Lagos, Mr. Lawal Gada, Renewable Energy Manager/ Acting Project Manager, BOI/ UNDP AtRE Project, disclosed that renewable energy finance is almost non-existent in Nigeria, adding that most of the projects developed are either government sponsored or financed from private sources.

He expressed concern that despite the fact that Nigeria’s potential household energy market is worth $1.5 billion, banks’ funding for renewable energy projects in the country is inadequate, due to a number of factors ranging from perceived risks to dearth of long term funding.

Apart from lack of finance, Gada identified other challenges to include lack of standards for renewable products, technical know-how of industry players, awareness on positive impact of renewable energy and sustainability of the projects.

He disclosed that the AtRE

Visitors at the Kaztec Engineering stand at the just-concluded Nigeria Oil and Gas Technology, NOG Tech 2013, in Lagos. project was initiated in continuation of UNDP’s support to private sector development, especially Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, MSME development and United Nation’s commitment towards ensuring universal access to modern energy services.

He said the UNDP/BOI AtRE programme is an intervention project aimed at expanding renewable energy services for rural and peri-urban MSMEs, adding that the project aims to facilitate investment in renewable energy options and linkages for

enterprise development.

He noted that BOI was chosen as the Implementing Agency (IA) for the project because of its strategic position between the financial institutions, MSMEs and overnment.

He disclosed that the objectives of the AtRE programme include: •To foster pro-development energy services by facilitating an expansion of renewable energy services accessible to MSME •Support renewable energy investments by building up

capacity within the financial sector as well as among users and providers of energy services, and •To promote policies and institutional frameworks for an inclusive renewable energy market development.

Gada further said that the AtRE project aims at improving access to reliable and renewable energy service options for MSMEs; develop capacity of stakeholders to facilitate investments in renewable energy sector as well as establish and maintain policy level dialogue.

Forte Oil eyes upstream, power, refining businesses

BY KUNLE KALEJAYE

F

ORTE Oil Plc has said part of its portfolio expansion will include upstream, refining and power to consolidate on its existing businesses. The oil firm’s bid to acquire Shell’s OML 30 was aborted in 2010.

Managing Director of Forte Oil, Mr. Akin Akinfemiwa, told journalists in Lagos that despite the failed attempt, the company has not given up on expanding operations to the upstream sub-sector of the industry, as it is currently reviewing some assets with a view to taking investment decisions on them.

To this end, he said Forte Oil has already registered an upstream company, FB Energy Development Company Limited, preparatory to taking those investment decisions.

Akinfemiwa said: “In 2010, we are runner s up to Shell

divestment from OML 30, and we did that in collaboration with few of our foreign partners, but sad enough we could not clinch that deal.

“So we already have an upstream entity registered and running for us that is pursuing the sale of assets. We are currently ready for the marginal field bid round and also the general offshore block bid round.

“So we already have a working structure. We are currently looking at some assets as we speak, but we will do everything within the confines of our financial strength. So we will look at what is best for the company and what is best for the shareholders.

“We already have a working structure with few of our foreign partners that are working with us. We have not taken any decision for now, we are looking at everything but at the point of investment

decision, we will let you know.

“Our aim is to provide quality products and services using high safety standards and global best practices, while remaining profitable and socially responsible. Our focus is to continuously improve our services and expand our business network in Nigeria and to other countries in Africa.”

With regard to expansion other sectors of the energy value chain like power and refining, Akinfemiwa noted that Forte Oil is doing relatively well, especially as it’s consortium, Amperion Power, was among the first of the preferred bidders to pay the compulsory 25 percent deposit for the distribution company it bided for.

As a result, he said the company did not experience any difficulty raising the compulsory deposit as demanded by the Bureau of

Public Entreprises, BPE, and did not envision experiencing any difficulties in raising the balance of 75 percent before the August 22, deadline.

“We did not experience any difficulty raising fund to pay our 25 per cent. We were the first to pay in February. We are ready to take over operation of our investment and we are sure to meet the dead line of payment for the leftover of the 75 per cent in August,” he assured.

It will be recalled that Forte Oil and partners also bided and won the bids for the Kaduna and Port Harcourt refineries, before the Federal Government cancelled the privatisation of the nation’s refineries as originally scheduled by the National Council of Privatisation, NCP. Notwithstanding the cancellations, the Forte Oil boss is still hopeful of going into refining when the sector

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013—27

TCN deploys new monitoring technology for power lines BYNOELONOJA

T

HE Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has engaged an international information communication technology firm, Penuel Consulting for the management and monitoring of transmission lines around the country through the use of modern ICT tools.

Speaking at a forum in Abuja, the General Manager, Design and Construction, TCN, Mr. Mike Ezebinna, said the project was necessary in helping to check

and monitor transmission lines efficiently, nationwide. “Bringing ITC to bear in managing transmission lines and power, you can sit in the office and monitor what is happening on the transmission lines, and make it faster to address issues of tower collapses. It is very important to have the right software, it’s very important to have the data that you can use as a reference on the lines, and it makes decision making easier for you and at the end of the day, things are done faster and more efficiently because of

technology system ravaging will improve.

“When you have the coordinates of each tower in the soft form, if there is a collapse you don’t need to go far, you can call it on your computer, it makes it easier for you to clear, repair or replace any damage, it is a database collection, what we are trying to do today is to find out how we can use that data,” Mike added.

Also responding, the Principal, Penuel Consulting, Mr Timmy Fadiora, told newsmen that the essence of the project between the

Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN and TCN is the first in Nigeria, and adding that the essence is to be able to conduct area mapping of the entire transmission lines in Nigeria and their sub stations.

He explained, “It is not just to do the area mapping, but to actually get the geo-reference, the exact location of each of those lines and their sub-stations, and the importance of it is that it is going to help the TCN to identify areas of energy losses on the lines, because when you say you generate 4000 Megawatts, MW, by the time you transmit that and distribute that to the users

there will be losses in the lines, so if you know the locations and the terrain of the area it will actually help in checking these energy losses.”

“It also helps in securing the right of way is cases of encroachments, and there are two types- vegetation encroachment and building encroachment. But the one we have done will be able to identify the exact location of those encroachments and be able to mitigate those encroachments, as these encroachments bother on safety issues and reliability of the lines.

Most of the power cut that we have is caused by vegetation encroachment.

Energy firm to harness flared gas for power

T

BY SEBASTINE OBASI

HE quest by the Fed eral Government to end gas flaring would soon yield better results, as Clarke Energy, said it has employed containerized gas engines for the production of power using the flared gas. Clarke Energy is an independent company which specializes in engineering, installation and maintenance of power plants utilizing gas engines. The company argued that if effectively deployed, the technology is capable of converting flared gas to generate power for local areas, as well as reduce emissions coming to the atmosphere. It would also convert waste products into useful energy source. The Group Marketing Manager of the company, Mr. Alexander Marshall, said the technology would impact positively on the Nigerian oil and gas industry by reducing gas flaring and enhancing the quality of life of the people living in the Niger Delta region.

“You flared this gas before, now you can convert it into money. It becomes a resource for the country and a lot of industries can spring up in a community that has not gotten power.

Also, peoples’ lives would be enhanced because small businesses that rely on power to run can now start coming alive again.

It is not something that would be unpredictable, as far as the gas is there the power is there. It would impact positively on the economic life of the communities and people living in those areas,” he said.

28 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013

Lagos tackles fuel stations over waste storage

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

T

O engender a cleaner and safer environment, the Lagos Waste Management Authority, L AWMA, has concluded plans to commence the enforcement of appropriate waste storage bins by operators of fuel stations, motor parks and other businesses sited along the major highways in the state.

LAWMA said in a statement that the move is to ensure total

compliance with the state government’s directive that all tenements should have covered bins for the storage and evacuation of wastes, and adhere strictly to the provisions of the state Environmental Sanitation Laws.

Section 12 of the law stipulates that “Every owner or occupier of a tenement shall provide a covered dustbin as may be specified by the Authority outside the tenement for the disposal of waste.”

Accordingly, the Authority

has frowned at the indiscriminate dumping of wastes traceable to the activities of petrol stations and motor parks situated along the major highways, thereby disrupting the free flow of traffic.

It would be recalled that the Authority embarked on advocacy and sensitisation programmes on different occasions to educate owners and managers of such businesses in the state on the need to effectively manage their wastes, especially through proper containerisation.

The recommended bin as specified by LAWMA is the 240-litre bin, and can be purchased from PSP operators, major markets or LAWMA offices across the state; while the least size is the 200-litre storage bin with a lid.

Explaining the importance of containing wastes in the storage bins, LAWMA emphasised that this helps to contain the spread of epidemics, keep the drains and canals from getting blocked and beautify the environment.

The statement further emphasised the need for residents in the state to complement the efforts of the government in making sure that all forms of environmental hazards in the state are averted; adding that managing waste from the point of generation paves the way for easier and faster evacuation, and also improves the turnaround time.

Nigeria to leverage on Turkish thermal, hydro expertise

BY NOEL ONOJA Minister of Power, Prof.

Chinedu Nebo, has said that Nigeria in its quest for new energy mix would leverage on Turkish expertise in thermal and hydro power sources.

Nebo, represented by the Permanent Secretary in his ministry, Amb. Godknows Igali, said Nigeria offered the best environment for business not only in power but also heavy equipment, machinery and construction.

Speaking in Abuja while receiving in audience the Bereket group led by its Deputy Chairman, Mr. Ali Yagli, and its Nigerian partner, Oral Energy Limited (the core investor of Jos DISCO), the minister commended the group for the confidence it has in the Nigerian economy.

He added that the group will not regret its decision as there are unequal potential in terms of returns on investment.

He described the visit as well-timed, against the backdrop of the focus on hydro and renewable energy like wind, solar and coal, noting that there are enormous coal reserves that stretched from Enugu-Kogi-Benue and Nasarawa states. “Nigeria should harness these potential to the fullest as our coal has been described as one of high quality,” he added.

On the Group’s request for more participation in Nigeria’s power market, the Minister noted that other renewable like solar energy and wind are also available for exploration.

Vanguard , TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013—29

By Theodore Opara

Lanre Shittu woos Mack customers •Of eres at e ffinance inance scheme •Offfer erss single digit int interes erestt rrat ate

R

enowned automobile marketing company, Lanre Shittu Motors has introduced a single digit interest rate finance for its Mack Truck customers nationwide.

The new single digit interest scheme according to Lanre Shittu Motors is aimed at making acquisition of their trucks (Mack) easier for their numerous customers nationwide.

Speaking on the scheme, Mr. Taiwo Shittu Business Development Director, Lanre Shittu Motors said that they discovered that high interest rate has made acquisition of new truck very difficult for customers hence their effort to introduce a scheme that world help customers acquire their trucks with easy.

Said he, “Our research has shown that prohibited high interest rate offered by local banks have made it difficult for haulage and constructing companies to purchase new premium heavy trucks, many times forcing them to settle for older used models, not suitable for the difficult conditions in Nigeria.

Describing Mack Trucks as durable, reliable and economical to run, the Business Development Director said they were able to negotiate the one digit interest rate by using international bank guaranteed by European and American Export Credit Agencies.

To demonstrate the importance Mack Truck attached to the new finance scheme, Mack Truck Vice President (Business Development, Mack Global Brand); Mr. Frank Oliveira, as well as the Director Customer Finance, Henrik Larsson, and Ben Grantayet, in charge of International Operations were on ground for the launch.

Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Oliveira said, Nigeria is a very important market for

From left: Mr. Frank Okeke, MD Haulage Oil & Gas Ltd; Mr Lanre Shittu, CEO, Lanre Shittu Motors; Frank Oliveira, Vice President, Business Developmentt, Mack Global Brand, USA; Taiwo Shittu, Executive Director, Lanre Shittu Motors and Ben Gantayet, International Operation, Mack Truck Inc. USA, during the handover of new Mack Trucks to officials of Haulage Oil and Gas Ltd, financed by EKN Financing Solution, in Lagos. Photo: Diran Oshe.

Mack Trucks, and having new, safe, efficient Mack Trucks is very important for Nigeria. We now have a solution to the main financing road block that used to hinder customers from purchasing new Mack Trucks.

According to him, customers interested in purchasing new premium heavy duty trucks now have access to international financing rates in the single digits. This is made possible by using international banks guaranteed by European and American Export Credit Agencies (ECAs).

Qualified customers can secure financing of up to 85% of the total purchase price of the new equipment. The other 15% is required as a down payment before the trucks are delivered.

Lanre Shittu Motors, the official distributor of Mack Trucks in Nigeria, has successfully negotiated with several local banks to help customers cover the 15% equity contribution. This offer is only available when purchasing new

trucks from an official Mack Trucks distributor in Nigeria.

In his remak, Mr. Henrik Larsson, Mack Finance Director said, Thanks to the Mack

Truck’s broad network among international banks and ECAs, as well as Lame Shittu Motors broad network with local banks, we are able to offer this very competitive

financial structure.

Global banks and ECAs are willing to cooperate with us thanks to Mack being a high-end, premium product and the fact that there are

highly rated customers for Mack in Nigeria” Meanwhile Lanre Shittu Motors has made its second handover of Continueson page 30

FRSC cautions driv er s, fflags lags of driver ers, offf ‘Operation Rainst orm’ Rainstorm’ T HE Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, has disclosed that concerted effort of the corps and other road safety agencies across the country has brought road crashes reduction nationwide from 400 to 300 weekly.

Deputy Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, (Operation); Mr. Bobaye Oyeyemi who disclosed this during the inauguration of the nationwide special patrol tagged “Operation Rainstorm’ said that the operation was part of their operational strategy to reduce road crashes by 20 per cent and fatality by 30 per cent in 2013.

The Deputy Corps Marshal who represented the Corps

Marshal, Mr. Osita Chidoka said that the week long (June 9 – 16, 2013) was aimed at consolidating on last month’s exercise tagged ‘Operation Shield’ and other operational activities, embarked upon by the corps since the beginning of the year.

According to the Deputy Corps Marshal, the special patrol was supported by the World Bank which made available a number of patrol vehicles to boost the operation.

Fliers were distributed to drivers at different points by the FRSC officials who took the opportunity to advise motorists on the need to drive with caution during the rainny season and beyond.

The Corps’ Public

Education Officer, Mr. Jonas Agwu, also said in a statement, “Operation rainstorm has been organised in a triad dimension to cater for strict enforcement of road traffic regulations intertwined with robust public enlightenment campaigns and fleet operators’ inspection and certification under the Road Transport Safety Standardisation Scheme.”

He said there would be massive deployment of patrol vehicles, motorbikes, ambulances and tow trucks along designated routes of the highways to boost the enforcement activities during the special patrol.

Agwu also said, the enforcement would centre be on number plate violations such as

covering of number plates with plastic, use of ‘Peace Ambassador ’ number plates, use of plastic number plates and broken and defaced number plates, all of which negated the provisions of the National Road Traffic Regulations 2004.

He said, “Operation rainstorm will also address other road vices such as speed limit violation, overloading, dangerous driving, driver ’s licence violation, non-use of the passenger manifest by some fleet operators and light sign violations.”

He added that the campaign would focus on the traffic hazards associated with the use of worn-out tyres, speed limit violation, the new number plate and use of phone while driving.

30—Vanguard , TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013

By Theodore Opara

Kia mak es car acquisition easier tner sS C makes easier,, par partner tners Sttanbic IBT IBTC D

etermined to make the acquisition of Kia models easier for its customers, Dana Motors, representatives of Kia Motors in Nigeria is partnering with Stanbic IBTC bank for a friendly and easy financing scheme.

This scheme, according to Kia, will give their customer the opportunity to sign up and get their brand new KIA models immediately with ease while paying for them in instalments over a period of time

ranging from one to five years.

According to Mr Sandeep Maholtra, Chief Commercial officer for KIA Motors Nigeria “ we have partnered with Stanbic IBTC to make it easy and flexible for our customers to get the best right here and now.

KIA customers can now buy their choice new KIA cars while paying monthly instalment of N39,600.

Said he, “Our customers are at the core

of our company business and we aim to do all that is required to keep them satisfied, recognizing the various needs constantly competing for our customers’ attention.”

On how the scheme works explained that all the customers needs to do is to simply obtain an invoice for the car of their choice from any Kia showroom nationwide and take it to any Stanbic IBTC Bank branch for processing.

Once processing is completed, delivery is made on payment of the required percent equity of the deal value of the car while the balance is paid in low monthly instalments over the agreed period.”

“It’s for real! Imagine getting a brand new KIA Rio 1.4L for cash price N2.250m or owning the all new KIA Cerato only for N66,060 monthly.

The leasing scheme covers various models of KIA vehicles, like the Picanto, Rio, Cerato,

Optima and Cadenza to sports utility vehicles like Sportage, Sorento, and Mohave without excluding our K2700 Light truck.

On the quality of their vehicles, he said Kia’s distinctive designs, innovative technology and excellent prices make them a good bargain and excellent value for money. KIA Motors offers 3 years/ 100,000km warranty on all models while the Mohave and Cadenza that comes with 5 year

unlimited mileage warranty.

Globally award winning in every way, KIA continues to bag awards on a regular, most recent being the ‘Most improved brand of the year’ at the Nigeria Auto Awards 2013.

He attributed Kia’s success in Nigeria to the Nigerian automobile industry. This is its customer first policy.

The customers get the best of designs, technology, pricing and of course world-class after sales and other value added services, making it a preferred brand for both individuals and corporate bodies across Nigeria.

Lanre Shittu woos Mack customers Continues from page 29 new trucks that were financed through this EKN financing solution.

Ten Mack Granite Elites were delivered to Greenfield Assets Limited on May 6 and forty-five Mack Granites Elites were delivered to Haulage Oil & Gas on June 12. Frank Okeke, Managing Director and CEO of Haulage Oil & Gas Limited said the following regarding his experience with Mack Trucks: “Mack Trucks have proven to be unequalled in durability, ruggedness and reliability.

The truck perfectly fits into our business model of long term and sustained provision of haulage logistics to blue chip companies in Nigeria. Haulage Oil & Gas Limited is excited at the financing concept provided by Lame Shittu Motors and EKN, especially the single digit interest rate. This financing, if extended to spare parts purchase, will further promote the Mack Brand in Nigeria.

We appreciate the speed of consummating the current transaction.”

With the popularity of Mack Truck in Nigeria combined with a financing solution that makes it possible for more companies to purchase Mack products, the heavy truck market now has access to new premium trucks at an affordable price.

Vanguard , TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013—31

By Theodore Opara

Elizade drivers’ workshop produces better drivers — Oluwaniyi G

ENERAL Manager, After-Sales, Elizade Motors, Mr. Emmanuel Oluwasayo Oluwaniyi has said that the company ’s Annual Drivers’ Workshop for their fleet customers is helping to produce better drivers.

Mr. Oluwaniyi who spoke to journalists during their just c o n c l u d e d drivers’workshop at their Ogba Lagos office, said that about 200 drivers participated in the two

days workshop with the theme “Exceeding Expectations”.

According to the General Manager, the training programme has been able to achieve drivers’ education as most of them were exposed to latest technique in modern day traffic rules and regulations.

He explained that the purpose of the programme was to help the customers enjoy their Toyota vehicles and enlighten them on how to

get the best out of their Toyota vehicles.

Another reason is to ensure that the customers spend less on maintenance of their Toyota vehicles because an informed driver would not toy with the state of his vehicle.

“We want the owners to enjoy their cars. We want the customers to know that Elizade Toyota cares.

And most importantly, to educate them on the latest technology available in the new

Toyota vehicles.

In addition to the training programme, Mr. Oluwaniyi pointed out that Toyota has a lot of after-sales products and value added service for its customers.

These include: quick service, satellite workshop, early bird service,over night service, weekend service, diagnostic service, warranty repairs, emergency recovery

services, courtesy car at affordable rate, and after market installations.

Other after sales products offered by the Toyota number one dealer include, preventive maintenance services, major repairs, body and paint repairs, accident repairs, dashboard repairs and dashboard polishing, upholstery r e p l a c e m e n t / rejuvenation.

The general manager further explained that

though they offer this wide range of services, they don’t charge extra on these services.

“We use our services to make our customers happy. Our products are more attractive knowing that the longevity of an automobile depends on the after-sales backup.

Speakers at the workshop were drawn from Lagos State Ministry of Transportation Vehicle Inspection Service, Lagos State Transport Management Agency (LASTMA).

Why we chose Autoboss, BigRed, Premium Guard —Filkmou boss ANAGING Speaking on the M Director of Tongrum/ Torin (BigRed) Filkmou Ltd, Mr Clifford brand, which specialises Omage, representative of Autoboss diagnostic equipment, Tongrum/ Torin (BigRed) garage equipment, Premium Guard (Vehicle Filters) and Haynes Automotive repair manuals, has explained that the quest to give Nigerians best products at affordable prices led to his introduction of these world-class products into the Nigerian market.

The University of Benin trained Civil engineer told Vanguard Motoring also that his passion for the automobile sector and the need to bring professionalism into the auto business was the other factor that led to his venturing into the business of sales of spare parts product and services The Filkmou boss said, “on the production end, we have identified a number of companies as mentioned above that produces world-class products that are affordable, durable and easy to maintain”.

For instance, he said a company like Autoboss, which specialises in the production of diagnostic equipment, was carefully chosen because of its outstanding qualities. It is a multi-brand equipment and can be updated as time goes on. It comes with a printer that can print the problems in the automobile engine.

“Autoboss is a brand with wider vehicle brand diagnostic coverage. It also has versatile functions across the vehicle system and the parent companies behind it, SPX and Bosch, have pedigree in vehicle diagnostic equipment production.”

In addition to this, he said the product is competitively priced and gives you value for money. “We also offer technical support and warranty to customers,” he explained.

in the production of garage equipment, Mr. Omage explained that the brand offers unparallel range of varieties from its plants in China and United States.

Months back, he said that the company added Premium Guard to its number of franchises to save Nigerians the problem of fake filters, which could be very damaging to cars.

Premium Guard, according to him, produces original equipment parts for American, Japanese, European and Korean automakers and its products have been rated among the best in the world. Filkmou’s other product - Haynes automotive repair manuals, according to him, would help in educating and improving the professional competence of our technicians as it contains information on repair processes for many auto brands.As the sole representative of these companies, Mr Omage said that they stock products to avoid running out of products and to discourage their customers from patronising sub-standard products.

He however pointed out that they educate technicians on modern automobile repairs having realised that there were gaps to be filled.

To this end, he said that they have been involved in training mechanics on modern automotive technology under the Lagos State Vocation Education Board (LASTVEB). On the challenges facing them in running the business, the Managing Director said, “Being new in the market, there is this issue of trust fromthe the customer.

32 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013

•A Luxury housing estate.

Housing: FG secures N935bn loan from China ••As NUJ, FMBN meet on housing challenge

By CHRIS OCHAYI

D

ETERMINED to ameliorate the nation's housing deficit housing deficit facing the country, the Federal Government said it had commenced discussion with China Export and Credit Insurance Corporation, SINOSURE, and International Commercial Bank of China, ICBC, to source for a loan of N936 billion, to fund housing development in Nigeria.

Managing Director of Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, FMBN, Mr. Gimba Ya’u Kumo who disclosed this at an interactive session aimed at creating a synergy between the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, and the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, FMBN, in Abuja said, the loan has a tenure of 15 to 20 years.

Kumo who said the loan which will be provided under a single digit, stressed further that it shall be given directly to Chinese Construction firms on installmental basis of $1.5 billion, who are to build the houses under the supervision of FMBN. He explained further that, FMBN’s responsibility shall be to create mortgages over the housing units, collect mortgage repayments and use the proceeds of the repayments to payback the loan over the tenure of the facility.

Explaining the business expansion initiatives by the

bank, Mr. Kumo said, a 1,000 unit staff housing estate at Kagini, FCT, will be a model project for estate development in Nigeria. The estate, to be known as Goodluck Jonathan Legacy Model Housing Estate, according to him, will be funded by a commercial facility but projected to be de-

livered at affordable price to FMBN staff and general public.

He said the FMBN is also in partnership with Nigerian Employers Consultative Association, NECA, Trade Union Congress, TUC and Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, aimed at working out

modalities for housing delivery to Nigerian workers.

Noting that a Joint Technical Committee was put in place for this effect, he said the report produced by the committee identifies several housing development models for adoption which include the fuller model, in use in

Luvu Nasarawa State, Jigawa model; Red brick among others.

He said, “it recommends the enhanced use of alternative building materials and technologies tyo reduce cost and that, FMBN and NLC/TUC to drive the process of requesting State Governments to provide 5 hectres of land and infrastructure for pilot housing scheme in each state.

He said, “in order to redress the funding limitations of FMBN the JTC recommends short, medium and long term solutions some of which include increase in the approved capital base of FMBN from N5 billion to N200 billion.

“The joint stakeholders to collectively prevail on States that are not contributing to the NHF to commence contribution”, urging government to impose Housing Tax on oil majors to support housing delivery in Nigeria.

In his remarks earlier, the National President of Nigerian Union of Journalists, Mohammad Garba commended the FMBN for reviving the mortgage system considering the huge number of housing deficit in the country. He also commended the efforts of the management of the bank at ameliorating the suffering of Nigeria workers through the transparency applied in the management of the National Housing Fund, NHF scheme.

New block making technology in Nigerian

By KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

A

GAINST the backdrop of the unending incidents of building collapse in Nigeria, a new concrete block making technology known “CONCRETE MD” has been introduced to Nigerian market as a measure to drastically reduce recurrent incidents of building collapse in the country.

The technology which automatically mixes concrete and results in accurate measurement of materials, is being introduced to Nigeria and Africa for the first time by Growth and Employment in States,GEMS 2; a UK aid funded agency intervention in the construction and real estate sector in Nigeria.

CONCRETE MD; manufactured by Cart-Away Concrete Systems, an American corporation is a mobile selfsustained machine that uses fuel, automated mixture barrel, measurement dashboard and other components which reduce human variation to a large extent thereby providing better assurance of accuracy, consistency and quality output. The features contained in the machine enable it to be moved from site to site conveniently. It does not depend on PHCN but more importantly, it is

believed that it will alleviate considerably, the problem of frequent building collapse in Nigeria.

According to Mr. Ronald Ashkin, Technical Director, GEMS 2 who are the promoters of the new technology, concrete blocks made with CONCRETE MD are much, more stronger than what is being produced at the moment, adding that the introduction of this machine into the Nigerian market is in fulfillment to GEMS 2’s primary mandate which is to improve the construction sector through income growth and overall empowerment of workers and artisans.

Ashkin who noted that since the arrival of the machine, GEMS 2 has launched nationwide demonstration and training sessions to showcase the efficacy of the machine to key stakeholders, said the training session kicked off in Abuja last week and attracted essentially businesses in the construction sector. He stated that the high point of the event was when concrete block made from the MD CONCRETE machine was placed side by side the one made with the local mixer, pointing out that the difference was glaring to all.

“Some participants at the Lagos training were concerned about the probable

cost of the machine”, noted Ashkin who moderated the Lagos training session. He noted that “the role of GEMS 2 is to introduce innovation that will ultimately result in growth and sustainable solution to the sector”.

On the cost of the machine, he asserted that the cost will definitely be determined by market forces, emphasizing that “what is important now is to determine acceptability and value of the solution. “Once those have been established, I am confident that market forces will take care of cost issues. Attention should be focused on the big picture which is the fact that stronger concrete blocks will result in stronger building construction”, he said.

GEMS 2 Technical director further noted that his organization has been investing in research and improvements which have the capacity to evolve innovations, build local capacity, grow income and empower labour in this case, the artisan.

According to him, “putting these goals side by side the current challenges in construction in Nigeria from the input supply perspective, GEMS 2 has so far sponsored studies that will assist in market uptake of bricks in the country while strengthening the use of concrete blocks as well”.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013 — 33

We can recycle 95 per cent of our waste — Nigerite

By KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

Executive Director of Marketing, Nigerite Limited, Arc. Toyin Gbede presenting a gift to Commissioner for Education Lagos State, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye during the Green Lagos Season 2 award ceremony organised by Nigerite Limited in Lagos. them off so that when you come in you will never hear the noise from machines or the generators.”

Gbede said the company is, in addition to that, using gas to power its production line. “We have synchronised our diesel and we are removing diesel generators and replacing them with gas generators so that gradually we will reduce the

emission of the green house gases.”

Nigerite had organized a competition among public secondary schools both in junior and senior categories in Lagos on the topic ‘Green Lagos Competition Season 2’, required students to write about green economy. From a total of 584 entries that were received, first second and third positions were selected to be

I'm delighted with Climate Change Clubs — Fashola

By IKENNA ASOMBA

L

AGOS State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola has expressed delight with the achievements of the Climate Change Clubs in the state's schools. The Climate Change Club was launched by the government in March 2008 to inculcate the idea of climate change and its impact on the environment in school children.

Fashola who disclosed this at the fifth anniversary celebration of the Climate Change Club at the Police College, Ikeja at the weekend noted that “the Climate Change Club came about as part of our collective global adaptation and mitigation response towards environmental challenges confronting humanity. We recognized that as a government, that dealing with climate change now is an obligation we owe our future generations, and if we fail by any means, posterity will judge us by our inactions.”

Advising the school children,he said: “Dear

By JUDE NJOKU

W

N

IGERITE, a leading build ing materials manufacturing firm has noted that 95 per cent of waste from the company are recyclable, while 85 per cent of the company’s products, ranging from roofing to ceiling that are offered to the market from the low end to the high end, are also recyclable.

Making this known at the just concluded Green Lagos Season 2 organised by Nigerite Nigeria Limited in commemoration of 2013 World Environment Day in Lagos, Toyin Gbede, an architect and Executive Director, Marketing, Nigerite said all these are measures to ensure the sustainability of the environment, stressing that “all our roofing sheets, all the metals that we use are recyclable materials. We are very careful about and any product that does not have the tendency to be recycled we leave it out.”

According to him, the company is also careful about noise level. “You don’t hear the sound of our generators in our premises or of our machines. What we have done is to locate them in a secluded area and we cordoned

ESVARBON moves to check quacks

young vanguards of the environment, I am confident that with your readiness to fight, a brighter rewarding future is sure for Lagos and our dear nation”.

On his part, the State Commissioner for Environment, Tunji Bello reiterated the state government’s commitment in giving priority to tackling the challenges of Climate Change.

According to Bello, it has become imperative to make peace with the planet because climate change is a terrible problem that needs to be solved. He added that “the celebration of climate change clubs in Lagos is an annual event initiated by this administration to raise an army of environmentally conscious youths as illuminating change agents against climate change and global warming.”

He explaining the involvement of school children in the climate change campaign, the Commissioner said: “our administration is leaving no stone unturned to ensure a friendly envi-

ronment for inhabitants of Lagos State. This task, we have reasoned should not be left for adults alone, the youths must key into the programme.

“This government realized early enough the need for children to imbibe the right environmental attitude that must start from schools.

Fashola’s administration is poised to attain a cleaner Lagos through campaigns such as this and ‘Me and My Tree Programme’. Let me inform you that Fashola is driven by the irrevocable vision of attaining a cleaner and sustainable environment and he believes that promoting children’s participation in this sphere is about fulfilling their rights to be active citizens that can always rise in defence of the environment”, Bello stated.

No fewer than 100 primary and secondary schools including, teachers, environment ambassadors, captains of industries and government officials took part in the celebration of the 5th Anniversary of Climate Change Club in the state.

rewarded at the grand finale which saw the student who took the first position being rewarded with N25,000, a laptop and a book while the second and third students got N20,000 plus a book and N15,000 plus a book respectively.

The executive director of marketing, disclosed that the idea of what this company is doing with the annual competition is to invest in tomorrow so that “ when we grow old, there will be people to take over from us”, stressing that the issue of the environment is such that “all of us have a role to play and we are doing our own bit”.

Issue of the environment “This programme is all about education on the environment.

We need education to understand the environment. Some families don’t even understand the implications of their activities on the environment. People are dying in the village and they think it is the gods that are killing them not knowing that it is their environment”, he said. He explained that the event was their contribution to the sustenance of the most important gift bestowed on man by God, adding that they want to draw attention to the need to preserve the heavenly gifts, ensure that the environment which is freely given by God for the existence of all is efficiently managed.

“We are a friend of the environment and we keep a close watch of the environment in line with our motto, ‘Environmental Excellence through responsible care’; it is on record that our company has won the annual award of the best kept industrial premises over 10 times from 1993 to date”, he said.

ORRIED by the activities of persons who parade themselves as estate agents, the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria, ESVARBON is collaborating with law enforcement agencies to check the spread of pseudo practice and prosecute those found guilty of quackery.

Chairman of the Board, Mr. Ayodele Sangosanya who disclosed this at the induction of 107 new estate surveyors and valuers last week in Lagos, said ESVARBON has already instituted actions in the law courts against those found to be operating in unprofessional ways.

Sangosanya explained that the focus of the Board is to substantially reduce the dubious activities of quacks by registering many more estate surveyors and valuers without lowering standards. Presently, Nigeria has a total of 3,119 estate surveyors, a figure Sangosanya said, is grossly inadequate to provide services to the over 160 million Nigerians.

The ESVARBON Chairman said the Board has approved the use of pseudonyms for persons who desire to practise estate surveying and valuation with names other than family names. “In this regard, the Board has formulated and forwarded guidelines to guide the formation of mega firms with pseudonyms to the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development for gazetting. This stride is to encourage mega practice of the profession to meet international best practices, as it is currently practised in allied professions like Law and Accountancy,’ he said.

Sangosanya lauded the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development for putting in place measures to revitalise the housing and urban development sector through the National Housing and Urban Development policies.

Addressing the inductees, the ESVARBON boss advised them to be good ambassadors of their profession. He informed them that the stamps, seals and certificates given to them, are properties of the Board and these can be withdrawn if abused.

“The rules and regulations of the Board should guide any Estate Surveyor and Valuer and their violation will not be tolerated.

Therefore, the ethics and ethos of the profession should be carefully guarded by all and sundry, ”he warned.

34 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013

Environment now threatened by food wastage — Fashola

BY CHARLES KUMOLU & KELECHI AZUBUIKE

L

AGOS State governor Babatunde Fashola has called on Nigerians to avoid food wastage, saying that it constitutes a challenge to the fight against global warming.

He also noted that avoidance of food wastage, would lead to efficient land use and improved water resource management.

Fashola, who said this recently in Lagos at the 2013 World Environment Day titled: Think, Eat, Save called on retailers, hospitality industry and restaurant operators to redesign product packages to avoid waste.

His words: ‘’Food wastage leads to the squandering of resources, such as fertilisers, pesticides and fuel, used for transportation. The volume of food going into landfill sites is enormous and this creates methane, which is one of the most harmful contributors to climate change.”

The governor said statistics of the Food and Agriculture Organisation, an agency of the United Nations (UN), show that 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted in a world where one in every seven persons go to bed hungry daily.

“This is equivalent to the amount produced in the entire Sub-Saharan Africa. As if this is not enough, they said one out of every seven people in the world, including Nigeria, go to bed hungry and more than 20,000 children below age five die daily from hunger.’’

In addition, he said, ‘’this report, for me, is unacceptable, unfair and

harsh on posterity. Wastage occurs because many producers, retailers and consumers discard food that is still fit for human consumption. That is why Nigerians must make informed choices in buying and consumption.”

The governor further enjoined religious bodies, the government and non-

governmental organisations, schools and institutions of higher learning to step up the campaign against wastage of food, charging them to educate the public to only procure and prepare the amount of food they could consume.

“We must make informed choices in buying and consuming food.

Food

•Recreation park in Lagos

F

OR the country to have its desired road infrastructure that would place the nation among the top 20 nations in the world, Nigeria needs N2.3trillion, says Minister of works, Mike Onolememen.

Onolememen said the value of N2.3trillion was arrived at based on statistical analysis during an audience with the representative of the United Nations Secretary General on International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction in his office last week.

The Minister stated that the Ministry in its capacity cannot allow such huge investment on road infrastructure built by different tenures of government in the nation to

Environment, Tunji Bello, said the World Environment Day was marked to create awareness and inspire environmental consciousness on the need to take positive actions regarding issues of the environment.

He said the Lagos State government was following up with this year ’s theme, with a mission to influence the people to change the increasing culture of food wastage, which, he noted, was an enormous drain on sparse natural resources and a contributor to negative and undesirable environmental impact.

“If food is wasted, it means that all the resources, inputs and efforts deployed in the production of food items are also lost. This is avoidable if we consciously see it to be so,” he added.

He assured the people that the state government would step up the campaign on the reduction of food wastage, while appealing to the people to support the government and protect their environment.

Landlords, NURTW resort to self help on failed Ago road •As Lagos commences palliative repairs on the road

By HUGO ODIOGOR & KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

E

MBATTLED members of Ago Unit of National Union of Road Transport Workers and Landlord Association of Park View Estate have embarked on self help effort to rescue the total collapse of Ago- Amuwo Odofin access road.

Faced with endless agony caused by the deplorable condition of the road, two groups have mobilized funds and human resources to fill the deep crest created by stagnant flood water with hard core stones and granites.

Financial Secretary of NURTW, Mr. Ajose Taiwo said “the failed section road has become a nightmare particu-

Works Minister values Nigeria road infrastructure at N2.3trn

By FAVOUR NNABUGWU

wastage occurs because many producers, retailers and consumers discard foot that is still fit for consumption,” he added.

Continuing, Fashola said, ‘’the loss of property and livelihood is one that we must proactively guide against to mitigate global warming.’’

Also speaking at the forum, the state Commissioner for

be washed away by disaster such as flood, and said that such natural occurrences can be mitigated.

He assured that the Ministry will work closely with any available expertise to formulate the way forward in protecting the nation’s key infrastructure in his domain. He however mentioned that the Ministry is ready to further collaborate with National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA in resolving the occurrences of this national question.

The minister revealed that there is no sustainable development in any nation without sustainable infrastructure. He therefore requested for a forum of nations with different disaster experiences where

thinkers will come together to discuss on how to avert natural disaster/disaster risk reduction.

Earlier in her address, the leader of the group, Margareta Wahlstrom stated that the group came to reinforce the message on natural disaster management. She said it is a global agenda where people from different parts of the world with similar disaster risk experiences for example, Canada, Japan, Australia and others could discuss and make contributions to help nations prone to natural disasters just like what was witnessed in Nigeria during last year rainy season which she said could have been averted.

larly at the Park view Estate gate, for their business and for the residents of Ago who ply the road daily.

He said “this situation has frequently caused their buses to breakdown in the middle of the flood and in the process, forces passengers to disembark into pool of water or pay area boys to carry them out of the buses across the flood water”. According to Taiwo, each trip of a Ten-tyre truckload costs between N120, 000.00 to N140, 000.00,and the landlords supply between six to eight of such truck loads to the site.”

The Auditor of the Union, Mr. Fatayi Olaifa said in the past “Christ Embassy had been active in supporting to carry out repair work on the road, but we have not seen them again and other churches and organized groups who should join us to make the road useable” Olaifa, said “we want to appeal to the state Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola to have a change of heart on Ago road, we need drainage at both sides of the busy road to channel away the rain water.”

Vanguard learnt that the Chairman of the LCDA Shamsudeen Abiodun Olaleye has not shown up at the failed road to see the effort being made by the NURTW and the Landlords.

However, palliative works designed to bring immediate relief to the flooded parts of Ago Palace Way, Okota was last week flagged off by the State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Obafemi Hamzat.

Speaking at the flagging off, the commissioner explained that the palliative works will not only ensure the ease of flow of the rain waters by creating drains but will also see the road level raised.

He described the road as a failed asphalt road resulting from the growth in population and the consequent pressure resulting from development along the corridor.

He noted that the original design was to use the sides as drains which the development has blocked. Hamzat said the palliative works which will cost the State Government about N90million will take about 8 weeks to complete. He added that contract for the fourth phase of the Ago Palace Way to cover the length from Century Hotel to the end of the road has been awarded.

While restating the commitment of the State Government to delivering a first class road on the axis, the Commissioner noted that challenges are to be expected for which the Ministry is positioned to address.

Vanguard anguard,,

TUESD AY , JUNE 1 8, 20 1 3 — 35 TUESDA 18, 201

YOUR LUCK TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

CANCER; Here is a day when things are meant to go according to your plans and record success.

Yong-at-heart may be in for a romantic day. You just have to take the initiative.

LEO; This is your day; although there will be some challenges within your base of operation, eventual success will be yours. Be more family minded.

VIRGO; Even if friends have failed to live up to expectation in the recent days you will need to leave the past behind you and forge ahead. Lovers are fairly favoured.

LIBRA; Recent challenges notwithstanding pleasant surprises are possible. The more financially ambitious you are today the better for your cause.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

W

HO is a great man? Why study the great man? What is the benefit derivable from studying great men?

A great man simply put is somebody that has done something notable and remarkable that is of

Studying great men benefit to humanity.

So, if you are a rich man who lives for himself alone, you can’t be said to be a great man.

Asking the question: Why study the great man, is like asking the

question why study history or any other subject. It is important to study the great man in order to understand the principles and philosophy of his greatness. Studying the great man saves

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”

you lots of time, money and effort, it helps you not to commit the same mistake of trial and error which he made before achieving greatness.

Study great men.

Their experience could help you to minimise or eliminate pitfalls on your road to success.

Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

SCORPIO; Better opportunities indicated for those of you willing to be as self assertive as possible, and it could turn out to be a happy day to be remembered by real lovers.

SAGITTARIUS; Although you will need to keep your secrets for the next few days that is not to say you should not pursue your financial interest. Take care of your health.

CAPRICORN; Don’t wait till tomorrow before you make an important move because good luck and success are closer to you today than you image.

Be hopeful.

AQUARIUS; Tomorrow will prove more rewarding financially but you will have good opportunity to do things rightly within your working arena. Be loving.

PISCES; Some of you who are travelling purposely for love are in for rewarding day. All of you will need to take your social life more seriously.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

ARIES; Professional advice may be needed over your finances but if you are sure of what you are doing you can go ahead. Be more family minded; TAURUS; Unusual co-operation may come your way today but if you are carried away by this the whole thing may change tomorrow. Respect your spouse.

GEMINI; Better than yesterday. Happenings within your working arena will not give you cause to worry but situation may change tomorrow. Your finance are favoured.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

What’s my birthday ruler?

According to the date I was born I should be a Libran by my star but most of the time when I read horoscopes written by both yourself and foreign Astrologers Scorpio always applicable to me, why?

Kindly tell me how the planets lined up when I was born and the day of the week I was born but don’t publish my date of birth.

Debo, Epe. Dear Debo, You were born on a Sunday meaning that mighty Sun rules your birthday. You were wrong to have taken Libra as your Sun sign because the Sun was placed in early degree of Scorpio together with many other heavenly bodies. Then with the Moon in Libra when you were born will equally be influential in your characteristics build up but, you are mainly a Scorpio born person.

You are both an intelligent and emotional person.

And as there was no planet at home when you were born, too many ideas will always struggle for prominent place in your mind, thus decision making is difficult but most times, your intelligence comes to the rescue.

Certainly, you appear to other as a gentle person who can be mistaken for soft fellow but your innerself is the personality with a steel like will power.

You are the consistent type who may find it difficult to change once you have made up your mind as indicated by distribution of the planets as written out in paragraph two of this exercise.

One major challenge you have been battling for a very long time is constant worries, some times, necessarily and the other time, uncalled for, as indicated by conjunction Mercury and Saturn formed when you were born. Placement of your natal Sun (basic self head) and Moon (your sub-conscious self) in Scorpio and Libra respectively are indications of your being mainly Scorpio born person and partly in Libran.

VIRGINIA

HOME & AWAY

dadadekola@yahoo.com

by Lawrence Akapa

36—Vanguard , TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013

65 N/Delta youths for strategic studies in UK

BY SONI DANIEL

A

BUJA—DETERMINED to transform oil-impacted communities in the Niger Delta, the Presidency has dispatched another set of 65 students drawn from the region to the United Kingdom to pursue specialised courses capable of changing the fortunes of their communities.

The students, who are to run both undergraduate and post-graduate courses in engineering and related fields, arrived several universities in London, weekend, with some officials of the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs.

The students’ stay in the UK is funded by the Presidency, which is responsible for their tuition, feeding, accommodation and return tickets.

Out of the 65 students, 33

PAC hails Okiro's appointment

P

OLICE Assistance Committee, PAC, has commended the appointment of Sir Mike Okiro as Chairman of Police Service Commission, PSC, assuring him of necessary support in his bid to reposition the Nigeria Police Force.

PAC said this in a statement in Lagos by its Director-General, Dr. Martins Oni, commending President Goodluck Jonathan on the appointment.

Mavies wins N5bn suit against SITA

BY INNOCENT ANABA

A

Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, awarded N5 billion in favour of Mavies Limited as general damages in a suit against Societe International Telecommunication Aeronautiques, SITA. SITA is an international aviation platform, which assists airport authorities and airlines to collect revenue.

Trial judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba in his judgment, granted all the reliefs sought by Mavies, in addition to the general damage awarded in its favour.

The plaintiff had in the suit, sought for a declaration that the defendants are liable to the plaintiff for willfully and intentionally procuring and/or inducing the Federal Airport Authority, FAAN, to breach its subsisting agreement with the plaintiff by engaging in inconsistent and prejudicial transactions with FAAN to the detriment of the plaintiff; A declaration that the defendants’ actions in willfully and intentionally procuring and/or inducing FAAN to breach its subsisting agreement with the plaintiff is impacting on the plaintiff ’s ability to collect revenue due to the Federal Government of Nigeria, pursuant to the facilities provided by the plaintiff under the agreement; A declaration that any purported agreement or understanding for the provision of any Common Use Terminal Equipment or similar equipment and/or software/ application between the defendants (or any of their subsidiaries/ affiliates, agents or representatives) or any other person, apart from the plaintiff and FAAN, in respect of any or all of the four airports (already envisaged under the plaintiff ’s subsisting agree-

ment with FAAN) is invalid, unlawful, ineffective, null and void; “An order of injunction restraining the defendants, acting by themselves, in concert with or through their officers, employees agents, attorneys, privies, affiliates, subsidiaries, assigns or any other person, body, group or entity whatsoever and FAAN or any other agency of the Federal Government from negotiating, executing and/or implementing any agreement whatsoever in respect of, pertaining to, connected with or arising from any or all of the activities envisaged (or similar to those envisaged) under the plaintiff ’s subsisting agreement

with FAAN (particularly the CUTE) in relation to the four Airports.

The four airports are Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja; Nnamdi Azikwe Airport, Abuja; Mallam Aminu Kano Airport, Kano and PortHarcourt Airport, PortHarcourt, during the subsistence of the plaintiff ’s agreement with FAAN; An order of court setting aside any agreement whatsoever executed between the defendants and FAAN in respect of, pertaining to, connected with or arising from any or all of the activities envisaged (or similar to those envisaged) under the plaintiff ’s subsisting agreement

Court frees Obe of conspiracy charges

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—A Delta State High Court sitting in Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government Area, has discharged and acquitted former Special Assistant to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan on Security Matters, Chief Fred Obe, of charges of conspiracy to commit felony and wounding with intent.

Trial judge, Justice Onojovwo, in his judgment, acquitted Obe of the charge instituted against him by Delta State Government.

It was gathered that Obe was charged to court in 2011 after he decamped from Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, to Democratic People’s Party, DPP, shortly before the general elections.

Reacting to the judgment,

Obe thanked God for the verdict, saying the ruling was a landmark judgment in the Delta judiciary system.

He described the legal battle as politically-motivated and one which would have seen him spend the rest of his life in jail.

Obe said: “The judgment shows that there are still men and women of integrity in the judiciary.”

Flood: Relocation of communities suffers set back

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

A

SABA—THE current campaign embarked upon by Delta State Government for persons living within the flood plains to relocate to safer grounds due to impending floods, as predicted by the relevant agencies, has suffered set back as the people involved are insisting that they have nowhere to go.

Riverine communities, especially in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of the state,

by the river bank, have already raised alarm over another devastating flood, saying that rainfalls in the past two weeks had caused the River Niger to rise tremendously.

President-General of Utchi Clan, who is also the Coordinator, Association of Clans Presidents-General, Prince Igwe Nzekwe, while reacting to the advice by the Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr Tony Nwaka, urging the communities within the flood

plains to relocate, said they had nowhere to go.

He said: “It was only during the flood that the committee inaugurated by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan visited some villages and I was with them.

"Since the flood receded, nobody has come to find out the situation of farmers and individuals in these communities.

"Even houses that collapsed are being managed by the owners and are yet to be repaired."

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

with FAAN (particularly the CUTE) in relation to the four airports; An order of court directing the defendants to pay the plaintiff N5 billion being general damages for the defendant’s willful and intentional procurement and/or inducement of FAAN to breach its subsisting agreement with the plaintiff and also cost of the action.

The court granted the prayers of the plaintiff and awarded N5 billion as general damage, excluding cost of action.

It will be recalled, FAAN had on October 31, 2007, entered into agreement with Mavies Limited to provide an integrated Airport Operations Management System, AOMS, for FAAN.

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

On President Jonathan's mid-term report(3)

T

HE Minister of Finance can say the economy has improved. But the ordinary man is not feeling the impact of the so-called improvement of the economy. Development should be in practical terms and not theory.— Miss Temmy Williams, Businessperson.

O

N the energy sector, at least there is a noticeable change. In my area at Ago, Lagos, there is steady power supply, which is good. In the oil sector, there has been stability. I don’t hear of scarcity anymore.— Mrs Oluke-mi Adeniji, Lawyer.

T

HIS administration is trying, but there are one or two lapses that really call for attention. For instance, our roads are terrible and the rains are here. President Jonathan should do something to ensure that cases of flooding will be minimal.—Mr. Osagie Ukpebor, Video Man.

A

S a Nigerian and an observer of what has been happening, the mid-term report has fallen below expectation. More need to be done. When you measure the performance of this administration, the criteria must be in terms of welfare.— Mr. Shaibu Aliyu, Lawyer.

F

RANKLY, I will score this administration 20 percent. I think the President, with an eye on 2015, has not been able to put his foot down. If you look at it, there was an upsurge in power at a time and suddenly everything dropped. —Mr. Oyeshina Oyedunle, Lawyer.

E

DUCATION needs to be looked into.

The failure in the last UTME was massive and unacceptable to Nigerians. Polytechnic students have been at home for months due to ASUP strike. How then would I score the administration well?— Miss Ebereke Kelechi, Student.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013 —37

Robbery: Delta community accuses Police of cover-up A

BY EMMAAMAIZE

SABA—ELDERS of Obodogwugwu community in Okpanam, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, have accused police officers from the Inspector General’s Monitoring Unit, Abuja, of providing cover for an armed gang, which had taken over the community’s land.

The elders, led by Acting Diokpa, Ogbueshi P.K. Obanya, who spoke to Vanguard in Asaba, named a Superintendent of Police as the head of the team protecting the group of militants and cultists from facing the law.

The community in a petition to the Inspector General of Police, also alleged that the suspects were using the IG Monitoring Unit to take over case files concerning them from the Delta State Police Command, Asaba, thereby, frustrating proper investigations into murder, kidnap and others cases against them.

According to them, the situation was getting dicey in the community, as the suspected gunmen have instilled fear and stopped natives from going to their farmlands.

The gang allegedly burnt an SUV and restaurant belonging to the chairman of the community’s

land committee, on May 25, for allegedly opposing their reign of terror.

The elders said that the gunmen set ablaze a bulldozer hired by the community in 2010 “for the purpose of plotting/allocation of our communal land,” while several elders had received death threats.

According to Ogbueshi

Obanya, “the militant group is currently selling our land, they have made attempts to kidnap some of us and we have reported to the police in Okpanam and Asaba, but we heard that the police from Abuja are protecting the boys from prosecution.”

Diokpa of Umuchima quarters, Mr. D.D Amadi, said: “They shoot people who go to farm, our

people do not go to farm again because of intimidation. There is fear, I do not sleep well. We call on the state government to come to our rescue.

“The group that is intimidating us is strong and has influence, they have lawyers and policemen that work for them, that is our problem.”

VISIT: Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State (left), receiving the new Managing Director of Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Company, CCECC, Mr. Shi Hong Bing, during a visit to the governor in Abuja.

11,000 Bayelsa youths renounce cultism

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

E N AG OA — B AY E L S A State Government’s crusade against cultism received a boost weekend, with 11,000 youths openly renouncing their membership of various secret cult groups.

The oath taking ceremony for the repentant cultists was administered by the state Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Chief Francis Egele.

Speaking at the event, at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Yenagoa, Governor Seriake Dickson, said that government plans to train 10,000 youths drawn from the eight local government areas of the state in different vocations.

According to him, N1 billion had been set aside as soft loans for young entrepreneurs, adding that a youth summit would soon be held in the state to enable government identify their problems.

Commending the decision of youths in the state to renounce cultism and other acts of

criminality, the governor, said that the empowerment programme was part of his administration’s Restoration Agenda.

He said that the training will commence in two months time after the conclusion of their verification exercise.

He said: “If we do not help to build you all, then our future will

Edo LG polls: PDP candidate withdraws petition Congress of Nigeria, ACN, as

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN CITY—PEOPLES Democratic Party, PDP in Edo State and its chairmanship candidate for Owan East Local Government Area in the April

20, 2013 local government elections in the state, Mr. Foloruso Isonah, yesterday, withdrew their petition before the Edo State Local Government Election Petition Tribunal, challenging the election of Mr. Jimoh Ijegbai of Action

Amnesty phase 3: Ex-militants hail Jonathan

W

ARRI—EX-militants of the Niger Delta have expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for including them in the third phase of the amnesty programme.

The former militants in a letter of gratitude to President Goodluck Jonathan by the Delta State chairman of third phase amnesty programme, Mr. Kingsley Agas and others, however, complained that since the payment of the third phase of the amnesty programme was effected, the bank accounts of some

not be assured. You are all aware of what our restoration government is doing; building schools, roads, hospitals, investing in security and making our state safe, talking to people to come here to invest so that we can create jobs for you.”

documented leaders were yet to be credited. They added that those whose accounts had been credited had their payment irregularly staggered and skipped, leaving only a few of the leaders with their payment update.

“We call on the financial section of the presidential amnesty programme to look into this issue and ensure that all documented leaders of the third phase of the programme are paid.”

They also called on the Fed-

eral Government to consider documenting former militants of Niger Delta region, whose records are yet to be reflected in the third phase of the programme with the amnesty office as quickly as possible to enable them also benefit, “especially the leaders of the ex-agitators and our boys who fought with us.”

They also thanked the national chairman and secretary of the exmilitants, John Julius and Tam Odogu, for their relentless effort in coordinating the amnesty issues at the national level.

chairman of the council.

Counsel to petitioners, F. S. S. Ojelaro in an application before the tribunal, headed by Justice D. Okungbowa, said the applicants were withdrawing the case against Ijegbai, ACN; Edo State Independent Electoral Commission, EDSIEC; Owan council; EDSIEC Electoral Officer for Owan East and six councilors elected under ACN, “pursuant to paragraph 31 of the 1st schedule of the Edo State Electoral Law (2012).

Consequently, Justice Okungbowa granted as prayed and struck out the petition.

Ojealaro, the petitioner’s counsel, who spoke to newsmen after the tribunal sitting, explained that his client decided to withdraw the case after elders and leaders of the area intervened and some contending issues were resolved by the leaders.

Uduaghan lauded on security

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—THE peo ple of Ekakpamre community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, yesterday, applauded the crime eradication initiatives of the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.

The community in statement by its President General, Evangelist Roland Ikperha and a prominent community leader, Chief Patrick Okitiakpe, said the community was fully in support of the governor’s resolve to rid the state of criminals in line with his peace and security agenda.

They noted that within 10 months of the community’s current administration in office, it has been able to assist the state government in the building of a Magistrate court.

According to them, the community was also checking criminal activities in the area and had brought nine suspected criminals to book, adding that the criminals were charged to court and had been remanded in prison custody.

Peace c’ttee set up in Ndokwa

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

A

SABA—IN a bid to prevent a possible breakdown of law and order in Delta State, the state government has set up a 12-man committee to broker peace between an oil prospecting company, Energia Limited, operator of OML 56, Ebendo-Obodeti marginal field in Ndokwa West Local Government Area of the state and the two neighbouring communities.

Community Relations Manager of Energia Limited, Mr. Hakeem Akintoye, who spoke on behalf of the company’s managing director, Mr. Felix Amieyeofori, after the meeting told reporters that the inauguration of the committee to reconcile the two neighbouring communities, Emu-Ebendo and Obodougwa-Ogume was commendable.

38—Vanguard , TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013

Fire incident: Lawmakers call for relocation of Ekwulobia market

Insecurity: Cleric declares 21-day fasting, prayers for Nigeria

C

HAIRMAN, South-South zone of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Rev. God-dowell Avwomakpa, has called for the commencement of 21 days of national fasting and prayers to save Nigeria from imminent danger and disintegration.

Avwomakpa said each fasting day would be rounded-off with prayers to intercede for peace, love, harmony and blessing for Nigeria.

Avwomakpa, who titled the programme “Let God Intervene”, assured that God would not abandon Nigeria because He loved the country immensely and would not allow it to be destroyed by Satan and its agents.

The cleric disclosed that God would soon dismantle forces of darkness working against the peace, unity and development of Nigeria, adding that this year’s theme, “Kingdom Principles”, would be a point of contact for God to do His marvelous work on Nigeria.

Avwomakpa stated that Christians were God’s ambassadors and should stand firm and be bold to declare the truth and righteousness while propagating the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

2014: Guber aspirant makes case for Anambra North

A

PEOPLES Democratic Party, PDP, governorship aspirant for Anambra State in the 2014 guber poll, Dr. Alex Obiogbolu, said weekend that no amount of opposition will stop Anambra North Senatorial zone from producing the next governor.

The PDP aspirant stated this during the presentation of the report of the technical committee set up by ‘Olu Na Ada Agbe’ Peoples Assembly, an organisation that has membership drawn from 12 of the 21 local government areas of the state.

Obiogbolu, who spoke on behalf of the 16 aspirants that presented themselves to be screened by the organisation, said the North Senatorial zone must produce the next governor from among the aspirants from the zone whose credentials and antecedents spoke volumes about their personalities.

BY ENYIM ENYIM

O

LAUNCH—From left: General Manager, Home Entertainment Division, LG Electronics West Africa operations, Mr. Steve Ryu; Product Marketing Manager, Home Entertainment Division, LG Electronics West Africa operations, Mr. Paul Mba; Managing Director, Fouani Nigeria Limited, Mr. Mohammed Fouani; and Managing Director, LG Electronics West Africa operations, Mr. Deog Jun Kim during the launch of the new LG Cinema 3D Smart TV in Lagos. Photo: Diran Oshe.

Electricity consumers groan over increase in metre charge

BY KUNLE KALEJAYE

E

LECTRICITY consumers in some part of Lagos have expressed worry over increase in fixed metre charge for pre-paid metres users. They accused the Federal Government, through the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, of short changing Nigerians, considering that there was no stable power supply to justify the increase.

The fixed metre charge before the new tariffs kicked off in June 1, 2012 was N500, but was increased to N750 in June 1, 2013.

Meanwhile, Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, said the price is the cheapest and lowest in the world.

Vanguard reliably gathered that the increase was meant to boost investors’ confidence in the

ongoing privatisation process in the power sector.

NERC Chairman, Dr. Sam Amadi in an interview with Vanguard said N750 was not too much for fixed charge, adding that “my worry is that there is no electricity. N750 is not too much to pay. It is one of the lowest ever in the world. The problem we have is that Nigerians are used to paying nothing.

“This new increase is a basic requirement to attract investors in the power privatisation bid process but as time goes on, the price will drop when investors have recovered their money.

“As long as electricity is generated on a daily basis, the fix charge must be paid and that is how you can guarantee return on investment. The increase will favour investors".

NERC boss maintain that it

is cheaper for electricity consumer to stay connected to national grid as against generating power from generating sets.

An aggrieved electricity consumer who simply gave his name as Wole in Egbeda area of Lagos said “I use pre-paid metre but all of a sudden I discovered in June that my fix charge has increased from N500 to N750.

Where is the power supply to justify this act of wickedness by PHCN? He added that: "If the light is constant, they can increase whatever they want to increase and we will be ready and willing to pay whatever they want us to pay but when there is no stable power supply and you come to increase our charges, I think that is the height of insensitivity on the part of both government and PHCN".

RMAFC asks FG to reduce over dependence on oil

A

BY PETER OKUTU

BAKALIKI—THE Reve nue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, yesterday, called on the Federal Government to reduce its over-dependence on oil and gas and broaden its economic base through diversification.

RMAFC Chairman, Engr. Elias Mbam, who made the call during a zonal Advocacy Workshop on Economic Diversification and Enhanced Revenue Generation (South-East zone) in Abakaliki, stressed that the nation’s economy must be diversified to guarantee actualization of the various socio-economic development programmes of government.

Mbam stated that the SouthEast zone had high potentials for agriculture, solid minerals, tour-

ism and industrial development waiting to be harnessed, but implored state governments within the zone to build strong economic ties with their counterparts through the promotion of regional collaboration by exploring areas of comparative advantage.

According to him, at the end of the zonal workshops, the commission will produced a blueprint that would serve as a broad-based guideline to governments at all levels for the diversification of their revenue base.

He said: “At present, oil and gas resources drive the nation’s economy. These hydrocarbon resources are exhaustible, nonrenewable and vulnerable to international price volatility and politics.

“Therefore, we must diversify to ensure sustainable means of funding our national development and reduce the over-dependence on oil and gas revenue”.

In his remarks, Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State opined that the diversification of sources of revenue would increase economic independence of the nation, reduce its reliance on vulnerable economic sectors and lead to multiple market platforms for export and income generation He said: “we, as a state, in appreciation of our mandate to align ourselves with the national aspiration, have taken a number of steps to diversify our revenue base even though the results may be slow in manifesting.”

NITSHA—TWO law makers in Anambra State House of Assembly, Dr Umeh Ikechukwu and Chief Ikem Uzoezie, respectively, yesterday, called on the state government to relocate the electronics section of Ekwulobia market that was razed last Thursday.

Speaking to newsmen after an on- the- spot assessment of the tragic incident, the duo, who represent Aguata 1 and 11 constituencies, suggested that the first approach to the problem was for government to relocate the section of the market as it was operating along the road as an attachment to the main market.

Uzoezie, who estimated the number of shops gutted by fire at 60, said the House of Assembly had waded into the matter by mandating the committee on commerce and industry to investigate it and submit its report next week.

2015 Presidency: Igbo group cautions elite

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

O

HANAEZE Youth Council, OYC, has cautioned Igbo political elite against canvassing for Igbo presidency come 2015, saying the dream would not materialise under the present political dispensation.

In a document titled, ‘Awka Millennial Declaration: Agenda for Igbo Youths,’ jointly signed by the President General, Comrade Francis Oji, and two others, the group said the policy of zoning remained the only way through which the Igbos could produce a president for the nation.

They further called for a referendum to determine the political future of Ndi Igbo as enumerated in the United Nations' Declaration on Rights of indigenous People, 2007.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013—39

FLAG-OFF: From left, President, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, chatting with Rev. Gaiy Moyey, Founder, West Africa Theological Seminary, Lagos; Director General, Institute for National Transformation, Prof. Vicent Anigbobu; Dr. Yusufu Turaki and Justice Ogebe, during the flag-off of National Christian Campaign on Social Transformation, at National Christian Centre, Abuja. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan

MEDIA LAUNCH: From left, the Marketing Director, Cadbury West Africa, Mr. Dele Anifowoshe; MD, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Mr. Emil Moskofian and the Marketing Manager, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Chioma Afe, during the media launch of Cadbury Bournvita New 500G SKU, at the Company's Head Office, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos

CONFERENCE: From left, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Governor of Ekiti State; Hon. Justice Funmi Atilade, Lagos State High Court; Okey Wali,SAN, President, Nigerian Bar Association, and Gbenga Oyebode, MFR, Chairman, Section On Business Law, during 7th Annual Business Law Conference, in Lagos.

Photo: Akeem Salau

COCKTAIL: Mr. Fraser Neil Johnston, General Manager, Protea Hotel Select, Emotan, Benin City (middle), Mr. Smith Rogers (right) and his wife, during the VIP cocktail function, organised by the hotel for guests

THANKSGIVING: From left, Delta State Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama, SAN; Justice Jonathan Shakarho and Bishop Simeon Okah of the Flock of Christ Church, Effurun when Justice Shakarho, who retired from the Federal Judicial Service, had a thanksgiving service in the Church, weekend.

CONFERENCE: From left, Alhaji Rasaki Muritala; AUDITION: Participants at the MTN Project Fame Ajahmillo Solomon, and Donald Ehenemba, at the auditioning, waiting for accreditation, at the Kwara MTN Western Conference, in Lagos, weekend.

Hotel, Ilorin

LAUNCH: From left, Mr. Chidi Okonkwo,Deputy General Manager, Tecno Mobile Nigeria, with Mr. Mounir Boukali,Public Relations Manager, Tecno Global and Mr. Lucas Dada,Director of Production and Services, Etisalat Nigeria, during the launch of Tecno Phantom A Smartphone, at Eko Hotel & Suites, in Lagos.Photo: Akeem Salau

PRESENTATION: Chief Hassan Taofeek; Chairman, Palm Tree Growers Association in Oyo State, receiving a letter from Asimiyu Alarape, former Speaker, Oyo State, with the assistance of Engr. Olumide Ayinla, Chairman, All Farmers Association, during the presentation of letter of approval for the establishment of cottage industries, to farmers in nine cooperative societies and other associations, by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, in Ibadan, yesterday. Photo: Dare Fasube

PAGE 39 JUNE 17, 2013

40—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013

Nasarawa to spend N25bn on Farin-Ruwa Waterfalls

Northern govs extol Bayero's virtues

M

L

AFIA—NASARAWA State Government said, yesterday, that it would spend N25 billion to transform Farin-Ruwa Waterfalls.

Alhaji Adamu Mu’azuAdogi, Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Lafia that the transformation would create jobs and enhance socio-economic development in the state.

“The state government is partnering a Chinese firm in order to develop the fall as a tourist site.

"The Chinese firm will provide 70 per cent of the capital and financial commitment to develop the waterfalls into a tourist centre.

“The firm is expected to build standard hotels, restaurants, a mini zoo and swimming pool, among others in the site to promote economic development.

“When this is done, it will provide up to 1,500 employment opportunities to the youths in the state," Adogi said.

Borno Govt faults FG's Gross Empowerment Scheme

BY NDAHI MARAMA

M

AIDUGURI— BORNO State Government has faulted the Federal Government’s Gross Empowerment Scheme, GES, involving electronic fertilizer sales due to lack of telecommunication, which is a major component of the scheme.

The government, however, approved over N1 billion for the procurement of 15,000 metric tonnes of Urea and NKP fertilizers for this year’s cropping season.

Commissioner of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Usman Zanna who spoke, yesterday, in an interview with newsmen in Maiduguri , the state capital said that GES did not give the state government, full control over the distribution of the products to farmers in the state.

BRIEFING—From left: The Permanent Secretary, Establishment, Office of the Head of Service, Kaduna State, Dr. Adamu Kagarko; with Head of Service, Mr Daniel Hayab and Hajiya Daratu Mohammed at a press briefing to announce commencement of the 2013 Civil Service Week in Kaduna, weekend. Photo:Olu Ajayi.

Abubakar tasks Nigerians on security challenges

BY TAYE OBATERU

J

OS— FORMER military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar has challenged Nigerians to rise up to the security challenges in the country by providing useful information on suspicious characters to security agencies.

He stated this on Sunday shortly after paying a condolence visit to former Plateau State Deputy Governor, Dame Pauline Tallen over the

death of her father, Paul Kattiems.

He told journalists that the citizenry has a duty to provide security agencies with useful information as security is everybody’s business.

Accompanied by his wife, Justice Fati Abubakar, the former head of state said: “The security situation in the country, I will say, in the last one year has improved a little bit. It is step by step. ”It is unfortunate that we

2015: I've not appointed any successor— Suswam

BY PETER DURU AKURDI —GOVER NOR Gabriel Suswam of Benue State, weekend, threw open the race for his successor in 2015, saying that anybody from the three senatorial zones of the state could run for the position.

The Idoma people have not produced any governor in the state since it was created and people of the area had been insisting that it was their turn this time.

Suswam spoke in an interview with newsmen in Makurdi, saying that he had neither preferred nor anointed any candidate to succeed him at the end of his

M

term in 2015.

According to Suswam, the claim by some politicians in the state that it was the exclusive right of one of the zones to produce the next governor of the state was unattainable. . ”When I contested in 2007, there were other contestants who ran with me, it was not restricted to my senatorial zone; that will also be the case this time.

"I cannot, therefore, sit here as an individual and tell you where it will go or who my successor would be; so every person interested in contesting is free to do so."

found ourselves in this situation to the extent that state of emergency was imposed on some states. Hopefully Nigerians will join hands to ensure that we bring peace back to our country. ”Peace is a responsibility of each and everyone of us. We have a role to play and like I said, all the perpetrators of mischief live among us. They are our brothers and sisters.

We have to take up our citizens’ role by reporting such miscreants to the proper authorities”.

Abubakar also challenged journalists to be socially responsible by not giving reports that could worsen a bad situation adding, “ you members of the press have a responsibility; you can educate our people and inform them of what is happening, but please while you are doing so, do it in a responsible way. ”Do not influence situations. There are reports that you can find ways of reporting without telling lies or heating the system.”

He had earlier commiserated with Mrs. Tallen and the Kattiem family over the death of their father and was received by head of the family, Mr Albert Kattiems and the Chairman of Goemai Unity and Development Organization, Chief Anthony Homsuk who expressed the family’s gratitude for the solidarity visit by the Abubakars.

INNA—THE Northern States Governors' Forum, NSGF, on Sunday extolled the virtues of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, who celebrated his 83rd birthday and 50th coronation anniversary.

The NSGF described Bayero as a “conciliatory force”, who worked for peace, unity and tolerance among diverse ethnic and religious interests in his domain.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Chairman of the NSGF, Gov. Babangida Aliyu of Niger.

It said that Bayero’s 50 years on the throne brought tremendous progress and modernisation to Kano, to the emir’s eternal credit.

“We note that since Bayero’s coronation in June 1963, violence, whether sectarian or otherwise, was a rare occurrence in Kano, where Christians and Muslims co-habit in peace,” it said.

Abia free Education policy on course — Orji’s aide

A

BUJA—MR.Ben Onyechere, Special Adviser on Public Communications to Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State, yesterday, in Abuja, faulted the ininuation by the opposition that Abia State government had reversed its free education policy, describing the ploy as a desperate attempt aimed at constituting a clog in the wheel of progress.

Firing back at the critics who also condemned the youth empowerment programme of the state, Onyechere emphasised that students in Abia State pay examination fees which is not same as school fees.

According to the aide, “this anti-Abia group has actually been overwhelmed by the level of activities in the state.

"Their ploy to stampede the governor is therefore not only outdated but cynical and clownish."

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013 — 41

42 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013

‘Mandela is doing very well’ F

ORMER South African president Nelson Mandela, who is being treated in hospital for a lung infection, is “doing very well”, his daughter, Zenani Mandela-Dlamini who is South Africa’s ambassador to Argentina, said yesterday.

The 94-year-old antiapartheid leader, who became South Africa’s first black president in 1994, was rushed to hospital early on June 8 with a recurring respiratory infection.

He has remained in a “serious but stable” condition, according to

the government, but visiting family members have spoken of his improving condition in recent days.

While viewing flowers and cards left by wellwishers outside the Pretoria hospital where Mandela is spending his 10th day, Zenani

Mandela-Dlamini, South Africa’s ambassador to Argentina, told reporters: “He’s doing very well.”

She is the eldest daughter from Mandela’s marriage to his ex-wife Winnie.

Meanwhile, Mandela’s current wife, Graca Machel, on Monday

thanked people for their messages of support.

“So much love and generosity from South Africans, Africans across the continent, and thousands more from across the world, have come our way to lighten the burden of anxiety,” she said in a statement.

The wife of Nelson Mandela, Graca Machel, has thanked the thousands of people around the world who have wished him well during his stay in hospital.

She said the messages had lightened “the burden of anxiety ” and brought “love, comfort and hope”.

Mr Mandela, 94, is making a sustained recovery but remains in a serious condition, President Jacob Zuma said.

Rouhani vows to ‘build trust’ with West

I

RANIAN President-elect, Hassan Rouhani has expressed hope that Iran can reach a new agreement with Western powers over its disputed nuclear programme, saying a deal should be reached through more transparency and mutual trust.

“The idea is to engage in more active negotiations with the 5+1, as the nuclear issue cannot be resolved without negotiations,” Rouhani said yesterday , referring to the UN Security Council’s five permanent members plus Germany.

During his first press conference since being declared winner of Iran’s presidential election on Saturday, Rouhani also described as unfair and unjustified US and EU sanctions imposed against the Islamic Republic over the nuclear issue.

But Rouhani also ruled out a halt to his country ’s controversial enrichment of uranium. “This period is over,” Rouhani said, referring to international demands for an end to the programme.

There were “many ways to build trust” with the West, he added, as Iran would be “more transparent to show that its activities fall within the framework of international rules”.

“Our nuclear programmes are completely transparent. But we are ready to show greater transparency and make clear for the whole world that the steps of the Islamic Republic of Iran are completely within international frameworks,” he said.

“I hope that all countries use this opportunity,” the president-elect said.

The news conference came to an abrupt end when a man in the audience sprang up and shouted a slogan in favour of reformist leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, held under house arrest since 2011.

“Mir Hossein should be here” the man shouted live on state television as security guards bundled him away.

Rouhani won Friday ’s presidential election with more than 18 million of the votes.

The country’s Interior minister, Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar, said 72 percent of the 50 million eligible Iranians had turned out to vote, and that Rouhani had secured just over the 50 percent of the vote needed to avoid a run-off.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013 — 43

44—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013

2015: Chime’s boost for Enugu North IN words and action Governor Sullivan Chime is beginning to give shape to the contest to determine his successor

BY EMEKA MAMAH

T

HE declaration by the Enugu State Governor, Mr Sullivan Chime that the people of Enugu North Senatorial District should get prepared to produce his successor in 2015 has revved up political activities in the zone with aspirants to the position now intensifying their strategies to get the coveted seat.

Chime spoke at the Nike Lake Resort Hotel in Enugu, during a town hall meeting organised by the state government to celebrate the 2013 Democracy Day on May 29, 2013.

Indigenes from the zone eyeing the governorship seat include, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Senator Ayogu Eze, Chairman of the PDP in the state, Engr. Vitta Abbah, former gubernatorial candidate of the All Nigeria People’s Party, ANPP, in the state, Ambassador Fidel Ayogu, who is now in the ruling party; Chairman and Chief Executive

were free to contest as some Nsukka candidates contested previously, the ruling PDP, had an understanding for rotation of the governorship position in the state.

Chime said that after the PDP would have produced a candidate from Nsukka district, the choice of who wins would still remain with the electorate.

Before Chime’s declaration, there had been apprehensions that Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who is from the same senatorial zone as the incumbent could muscle his way into the race and by that derail the zoning arrangement which has run for 21 years starting from when the former National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, from Nsukka zone became the first civilian governor of the old state in 1992. Nwodo, who served as governor on the platform of the defunct National Republican Convention, NRC, lost his position when the military

,

Chime said that after the PDP would have produced a candidate from Nsukka district, the choice of who wins would still remain with the electorate

of Peace Mass Transit, PMT, Chief Samuel Maduka Onyishi and Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr Eugene Odo. Others include two members of the House of Representatives, Dr Pat Asadu and Ifeanyi Ugwanyi respectively as well as a veteran in the governorship race, Chief Okey Ezea, who is however not a member of the “PDP family.” Before the creation of the new Enugu State, the three senatorial zones in the state included Abakaliki, Enugu and Nsukka.

However, during the Abacha regime, Abakaliki was carved out of Enugu and merged with Afikpo in old Abia State to make up the present Ebonyi State, leaving the present new Enugu State with the Enugu and Nsukka zones.

However, to make the senatorial districts three as stipulated by the constitution, Isi Uzo was carved out of Nsukka and merged with Enugu which was then consequently divided into two senatorial zones. Governor Chime said even though people from the other two senatorial districts of the state

,

dissolved all political structures after the annulment of the 1993 presidential election won by late Chief MKO Abiola.

Though he was there for only two years it was counted as a turn for the people of Nsukka.

Before Chime’s announcement, the people of Nsukka had taken it for granted that they would produce the next governor until about three months ago when residents of the state woke up to discover that campaign posters of Senator Ekweremadu had flooded major streets especially in Enugu metropolis and Nsukka, thus upping the ante.

Ekweremadu promptly accused his political opponents of being behind the posters but some people did not believe him.

They reasoned that there was no way Ekweremadu who hails from Aninri in Enugu West Senatorial district could aspire for the governorship position, given the unwritten zoning arrangement. Chime who hails from Udi in the same Senatorial District will complete his second term of four years in 2015, after his predecessor, Dr Chimaroke Nnamani, from

Governor Chime, insisting that the governor had his second term in office. He said it was ‘’a master-stroke by Igwe Abangwu because he supported a people’s governor, whose second term has turned out to be an unquantifiable blessing to the entire people of the state. "My people are overjoyed, “ Chief Ukuta, explained “ that the governor has kept this covenant and has shown that he is, indeed a man of honour; indeed a statesman, who keeps his word.”

Additional state

*Chime: Backs power shift to Nsukka zone Enugu East had equally served for two terms of four years each, leaving Nsukka as the only zone yet to serve since the return of civil rule in 1999.

Nsukka people commend Chime Meanwhile, the people of Enugu North Senatorial Zone have praised Governor Chime over his categorical declaration that it was their turn to produce the next governor of the state.

They also pledged to vote overwhelmingly for the party which had consistently ruled the state since 1999.

A statement signed in Enugu on behalf of the people of the area by Chief Maxi Ukuta said Governor Chime had demonstrated that he

remained a man of honour.

Ukuta who had convened a series of meetings to sensitise the various segments including the intelligentsia, business community and political leaders in the area recounted the indelible contribution of late Igwe Charles Abangwu towards the struggle.

Ukuta who served as a cabinet commissioner during the administration of Chief Jim Nwobodo in the old Anambra State recalled that late Chairman of the Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, Igwe Abangwu had the vision by bringing together, all the traditional rulers from the old Nsukka Zone and the entire Enugu State to rally support for

Ukuta emphasised that the Adada State Movement, which was one of the oldest and suitably qualified both in land mass, mineral and human resources, had always topped the list of states’ agitation. .

The current Chairman of the state council of traditional rulers and paramount ruler of Essodo Kingdom, Igwe Osisi Itodo, also echoed Ukuta’s sentiments, pointing out that Chime’s second term campaign was kick-started in his Igboeze North Local council because of the people’s belief that Chime was an honourable man, who would abide by the zoning arrangement in the state. Chime has not been known to be the loquacious type. He has continued to tread cautiously to avoid being linked to his successor since he came into power in 2007.

However, following his announcement that his successor would come from those who had been close to his administration it would be safe to assume that those who are outside the favoured group would begin to prepare themselves for the serious challenges ahead.

2015: PDP’s failure‘ll catapult APC to Aso Rock – Yusha’u Ahmed MUHAMMADU Yusha’u Ahmed, the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, governorship candidate in the 2012 election in Sokoto State in this interview speaks on burning issues ahead of the 2015 polls. Excerpts:

BY ABDALLAH EL-KUREBE

W

HAT kept you away from Sokoto State since the 2012 governorship election?

After the election, I traveled out to handle my businesses. I also had an accident where I broke my led at the gym. I am back in Sokoto and from what I have gathered so far, the people of Sokoto are yearning for a change; they are yearning

for betterment of their lives; they are yearning for economic and social changes and I think the way forward now is in the way that opposition parties are coming together to change the course of the nation. This change is what in particular, Sokoto State needs. This state requires a new, dynamic and visionary leadership and that is what I am here to offer; to galvanize the people towards that change during the next

election.

How did the 2012 election affect your business interests?

Some of the businesses suffered some setbacks; some of these businesses need close supervision without which they suffer. These were some of the effects but it is a sacrifice that we are ready to make to make sure that people are salvaged.

You said that Sokoto State and Continues on page 45

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013 —45

Death penalty won’t stop kidnapping — Ajuyah,Delta Attorney-General WEDNESDAY April 17, 2013, has gone down as the day members of the 29member Delta State House of Assembly took the bull by the horns to override the veto of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan on the bill stipulating death penalty for kidnappers. The governor had since November 2012 when the bill was passed and sent to him refused to assent to the bill. The State AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Charles Ajuyah (SAN), in this interview shed more light on the issue especially from the executive's perspective.

HE governor during his midterm report on Democracy Day mentioned that Delta State has the highest number of kidnappers prosecuted, could you throw more light on this?

Yes, I have the statistics. It is true that so far with my interaction with other Attorneys General, I think Delta State is up to the task.

We are not sparing any effort at all in ensuring that suspects arrested are prosecuted.

And because of the nature of kidnapping, what it takes and the elements of the offence, we have always found it very convenient to charge suspects for kidnapping and armed robbery because any kidnapping offence will involve use of arms, parting with money and such things.

I will say that out of five kidnap cases only one may be charged for kidnapping depending on the facts of the

case. We have gotten 60 convictions between July 2011 and 30th May 2013.

So, could it be true that the death penalty law for kidnappers was forced down your throat?

Understand me, the question we were looking at even before the law came is will death penalty be a cure?

The position I took even at the programme, which incidentally his Excellency is

,

T

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

charged for the offence of murder committed day-in-day out.

Death penalty has been there for armed robbery since 1970 but is the offence not being committed today? All we are saying is that let us have a strict penalty for such an offence (kidnapping). Let us not go under the illusion that death penalty will eliminate it entirely.

When the House of

,

Let us not go under the illusion that death penalty will eliminate it entirely

also saying is that: it is not a cure.

In fact, death penalty has never been a cure for any crime. I will say that with every sense of responsibility.

The law is there but is it the cure? Is death penalty a cure for murder? It is not.

I can tell you that we still have offences of murder in the state. People are still being

Assembly passed the antikidnapping bill and later overrode the governor’s veto were you comfortable because tongues were wagging that you did not advise the governor appropriately?

What we are talking about is Law and it is not right to say that one did not advise

*Ajuyah His Excellency appropriately.

The advice was there but again we have two arms of government and under the Constitution, His Excellency was right to do what he did and the legislators have powers to do what they did and that is where we have separation of powers. So it is not a question of wrong advice. The law says that if the House passes a Bill and sends it to His Excellency and it is not assented to, and his Excellency decides to veto it, the House of Assembly also has the constitutional right to do what it did (override).

How do you react to the reasons given by the governor for his objection, especially the assertion that the bill as provided offends provisions of the constitution?

I think the governor’s views have expressed to the House the legal position that I am aware of. Under the Constitution, Police is a matter under the Exclusive list and if a matter is under the Exclusive list then in my own view, it is the National Assembly that can make regulations about the Police.

2015: PDP’s failure‘ll catapult APC to Aso Rock – Yusha’u Ahmed Continues from page 44

the country needed change. In what area has the nation failed?

I think we have failed in all areas. We have failed in interpersonal relationships; we have failed in community settings; we have failed in the educational sector; we have failed in healthcare delivery; we have failed in security, which is a basic ingredient for any country to develop. One important and basic right for each individual is for the government to guarantee his life and property.

From what is happening in this nation today, nobody needs to tell you that we have failed woefully in that respect, especially with the bloodletting found everywhere in the name of different kinds of ideologies. It is worrying and every right thinking Nigerian should be disturbed about what is happening. I am yet to believe that Nigeria will break up for whatever reason. The security challenges we are

facing are not insurmountable.

In the area of infrastructural development, you will agree that we were better-off in years past than we are now.

In terms of economic development generally, where have we fared well? We have retrogressed instead of moving forward. This country needs very significant and strategic structural changes.

Structural changes And unless we bring those changes, I think we are not going anywhere. You cannot bring a change unless you have a visionary leadership, that is, a leadership that has the strategy to deliver its vision; a leadership that has the capacity and commitment.

If you have a leadership that has no realizable target or one that has no capacity, we cannot go anywhere. This country should not be where it is now.

It is supposed to be among the developed nations.

*Ahmed But we are still grappling with the problems and challenges of the Third World that we would have forgotten several years ago. We have seen countries that lagged behind us now at different stages of development. Many of these

countries have become investment hubs of the world but what have we gained? Who will come into this country with this security situation to invest? Nobody will risk that because they have options to invest in different parts of the world.

One most important ingredient for investment to exist is security, which unfortunately, we are lacking in this country. We need as a nation, to have a leadership that will confront these security challenges head-on. Whether we like it or not the failure of governance has led to this situation we are in. We have the capacity as a nation and as a people to overcome these challenges. I am positive that by 2015, we will hold our elections

peacefully and I believe there will be smooth handing over of power to the All Progressives Congress, APC government.

You ran for governorship in 2012, what are you up to this time around?

The election is about two years to come and political environment is very dynamic.

It can change anytime and very significantly.

For now, the focus is to galvanize the masses for them to understand and realize their fundamental rights and then to fight for those rights.

Now, there is no gain-saying that every citizen of this state has realised the need for us to have a change of leadership.

There is the need for democracy to work for the masses. We are holding political discussions and we believe we will have a platform under which, if God permits, we could run. But naturally, we are APC members. APC, as you are aware, is an amalgam of the three major parties – ANPP, ACN and CPC.

46 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013

Vanguard, TUESD AY, JUNE 18, 2013— 47 TUESDA

Mother of quadruplets recounts:

How voluntary blood donation saved my life

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

G

ENEVIEVE Uba would not be alive today, but for a group of persons who donated blood voluntarily to enable her undergo surgery, following a complication she suffered after giving birth to a set of quadruplets.

She would have died as a result of unavailability of blood.

“It was a terrible experience and a narrow escape for me,” she told Good Health Weekly in an interview last week.

“It all began four months into my fourth pregnancy when I observed that my abdomen was getting bigger than expected.

I was afraid. I decided to go to the hospital to register but before that, I went for a scan which showed I was pregnant with quadruplets. So I rushed to Gbagada General Hospital to register.

“After examination, the doctor said I should not be allowed to attend my antenatal clinic there and I was transferred to Island Maternity where I delivered my babies through Caesarean Section.

Operating theatre “But soon after the surgery, I lost consciousness. My body began swelling up because I was bleeding internally. I was taken back to the operating theatre for another surgery.

After that, it was observed that I was still bleeding. I was operated upon again. The bleeding did not stop. At that point, I was sent back to the theatre for the third time after which the bleeding stopped.

Within that period I was given 21 pints of blood and three pints of plasma.

“My husband was able to donate just one pint of blood.

If other people had not donated blood freely, I would not be alive today. I would be history.

I encourage Nigerians to keep on donating blood voluntarily.

Their blood saved my life. I thank all voluntary blood donors. God bless you all.”

Genevieve urged Wife of the Lagos State Governor, Dame Abimbola Fashola to remember her promise of assistance during her visit to the hospital.

“We have written to the office of Dame Fashola as advised but we have not got a reply. My husband is jobless and with the birth of these babies, our survival is uncertain.

“It is by the grace of God that

• Genevieve (left) with her quadruplets and family members at the LCCI building, Lagos, during the commemoration of the 2013 World Blood Donation Day in Lagos State, last week. we are able to feed these children. The most painful aspect is that I have not been producing breast milk. I was told it is as a result of the injections and drugs I took during my ordeal.

WIth no breast milk, we just feed them NAN which costs about N16, 000 per carton

which lasts an average of six or seven days.”

Blood is one commodity that can never be found in the super market. Human blood has no substitute. It must come from a living human being. But voluntary donation of blood is one challenge Nigeria and the world at large has continued to

face.

Statistics show that in Nigeria, 36,200 units of blood were collected voluntarily in 2010 This was less than 10 percent of the country's total requirement. Nigeria had a voluntary blood donation population of 5 per cent in 2006 as against the World Health

Organisation, WHO, recommendation of 100 percent. Certainly, several thousands of lives in Nigeria could be saved if safe blood was readily available.

Just last Friday, 14th June, 2013, Nigeria joined the rest of the world to mark the “World Blood Donor Day” aimed at raising awareness on the need for safe blood and blood products and also appreciate voluntary non-remunerated blood donors.

Theme for this year is: “Give the Gift of Life: Donate Blood.”

Despite the importance of voluntary donation of blood towards saving human life, myths, cultural and traditional beliefs have made it impossible for Nigeria to achieve 100 percent voluntary blood donation as recommended by the World Health organization, WHO. Each year, an estimated 287,000 women die worldwide from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth.

More than half of these maternal deaths (56 percent) occur in sub-Saharan Africa and haemorrhage (severe bleeding) is the leading cause.

Although several efforts have been made to reduce maternal deaths from haemorrhage through skilled birth Continues on page 49

Clinic for indigent patients opens in Lagos

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

L

ESS privileged members of society and persons unable to afford proper medical care, can now benefit from high quality medical treatment and care, free of charge, courtesy of the Medic Angels Foundation, a Non Governmental Organization that is focused on providing spiritual and medical healing for the indigent.

The Foundation is working hand in hand with Medic Angels Clinic Ltd., a neighborhood clinic in Lagos providing comprehensive as well as free but standard primary healthcare services with compassion.

It is estimated that about half of all urban dwellers in Nigeria are unable to pay for adequate medical care.

Explaining the rationale behind the initiative, Medical Director, Medic Angels Clinic

• Medic Angels Clinic. (Inset: Dr. Olatunji Awonusi).

Ltd., Dr Olatunji Awonusi said it is to benefit the Nigerian health sector.

“I got the idea while practicing as a medical doctor in Australia where I resided for 30 years. The concept is based on being passionate about customer services that would

enable people to take care of their health. Medic Angels came up; we set a Foundation that is self sustaining and a clinic that is more than the conventional clinic.

"The ultimate vision is to open two of such clinics yearly across the nation to provide quality

standard of care for the less privileged," he remarked.

Awonusi explained that the free health care services may only be accessed through the Foundation.

“Beneficiaries can be identified through outreach programmes conducted through churches, mosques and other foundations that will set the criteria for those to benefit. Patients will be admitted in the Clinic for the long term, until they are reclassified; they will stay on the book till the number that can be accommodated is attained."

The facility which was established to serve the community, combines medical and spiritual healing.

“It is an angelic mission is to minister to the ill that cannot pay,” said Chairman of the Clinic Board, Pastor Ituah

Continues on page 48

48— Vanguard,

TUESD AY, JUNE 18, 2013 TUESDA

Months after, Chiedubem thanks Gov Orji, Vanguard, others

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

I

T is said that when a person shows gratitude for a good deed, he or she is likely to obtain another. This may have moved Abochi and Ngozi Tom to show gratitude for the good deed done to their son, Chiedubem who was once a hole- in- theheart patient, but has been completely cured.

In a thank you message to Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji, all well-meaning Nigerians and Vanguard, the family expressed great joy about the role played by all concerned who came to their rescue when they needed help most.

The family returned from MOIT Hospital, India, where the little boy had undergone successful corrective heart surgery.

On April 24, 2012, Vanguard’s Good Health Weekly published Chiedubem’s story. He was diagnosed of a congenital heart disease three days after birth.

Evidences from various medical examinations conducted on him revealed he had a hole-inthe heart.

From when this discovery was made, hospital visits became an everyday affair. The search for redemption took them to the Kanu Heart Foundation where Chiedubem was listed as Number 100.

With efforts to save the boy’s life in Nigeria not yielding defined results, subsequently, he was referred to India for further treatment.

Clinic for the poor Continued from page 47 Olajide, who stressed that the goal is to advance medical treatment in Nigeria.

“About 20 percent of all we do is to offer services free of charge essentially to those who do not have the means to pay.

"Ministering to the needy is part of our calling and people still need physical care and we can bridge the two,” explained Mr. Heith Cooper, Executive Director of the Clinic.

Cooper, who is in charge of medical operations and learning development, stated that Nigeria has a lot of lack in healthcare and the initiative is is an opportunity to bring healthcare to those who cannot pay. “The health facility is about the art of delivering standard care for patients and training for the medical staff.

"We are going to train personnel and improve the knowledge base of those delivering.

“What matters is the integrity.

There will be no cutting corners.

We know there are standards that must be followed to achieve the goal,” he remarked.

• Chiedubem Tom. Faced with this challenge, his parents, Abochi and Ngozi had gone all out, cap-in-hand in search of help, but found none.

But, they remained resolute in their effort to save the life of their son.

Their search for urgent assist-

ance brought them to Vanguard,and their story was eventually published. The story went viral, drawing attention of at home and abroad.

People contributed generously, even non-Nigerians joined the appeal to raise the

disired fund to save Chiedubem. A few Nigerians in the Diaspora displayed uncommon concern and affection.

Narrating their sons’s successful healing, Ngozi said: “Our ray of hope started when Vanguard described in its publication how we had written to the Abia State Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Theodore Orji for assistance and how bureaucratic bottlenecks made it impossible for our appeal letter to get to the Governor.”

Further, she recalled how the Governor’s daughter read the story and drew her father ’s attention to the boy’s plight.

Ngozi also narrated how the Governor, after reading the story, invited the family to Aba and donated the sum of N2.5 million - the actual sum needed for the boy’s surgery.

Ngozi described Orji’s donation as a demonstration of responsiveness towards issues affecting his people.

Confirming that Chiedubem is now in a perfect condition, she said: “May I use this medium to express my profound appreciation for

giving my son opportunity to live again.

Some other Nigerians who she specially recognised for their contribution included; Ekwe Ezige who resides in Chicago in the United States of America; Mr. Kennedy living in Israel; Angola-based Mr. Michael, and from South Africa, Mr. Michael as well as Mr. Chinedu Orji.

As Ngozi recalled: “No day passed by without a telephone call from them for an update on the boy’s condition and success made. We are particularly very grateful to them all and beg The Almighty God to bless their endeavors in Jesus name.

Amen.

Further, Ngozi recalled the plight of one Mr. Aremo Olusegun Aremo, an Ogun State-born Nigerian who resides in the United States of America.

“When Aremo read the story of my son’s predicament he flagged it off on his Facebook Wall, contacted his friends and moved them to make contributions for the surgery.

May God richly bless him.”

Cerebral Palsy Centre earmarked for Lagos

• 80 affected families stand to benefit

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE & CHIOMA OBINNA

A

CEREBRAL Palsy, CP, centre designed to offer specialist support and care to indigent Nigerians with Cerebral Palsy in Nigeria is to be set up in Lagos by the Benola Foundation, a NonGovernmental Organisation and a Cerebral Palsy Initiative.

About 650,000 Nigerians are living with cerebral palsy (CP) while no less than 13.5 million persons are closely connected to a child or adult living with the condition in the country.

Disclosing this to Good Health Weekly at an interactive session last week, Founder and CEO, Benola Foundation Initiative, Retired Air Vice Marshal Femi Gbadebo, explained that the proposed Centre would serve as a regional centre of excellence for specialised services such as counselling, assessment, care and management as well as the production of specialised equipment for those living with CP in and around Nigeria.

Gbadebo and his wife, Alaba, whose 17-year-old son, Olaoluwa is a CP patient, explained that the Centre would also be made to become the lead supportive agency on CP in Africa and a leading advocate for the rights of those living with the condition.

Medical experts say CP which has no cure for now

except for palliative medical treatment to improve quality of life - describes a group of chronic conditions affecting body movement and muscles coordination.

It is caused by damage to one or more specific areas of the brain, usually occurring during foetal development or during infancy.

Olaoluwa, who was said to have been delivered through Caesarean Section, (CS) had his umbilical cord wrapped around his neck. Doctors cut off the cord but, unfortunately, he suffered brain damage as a result of lack of oxygen

(asphyxia) before the cord was cut.

“The problem of CP is compounded in a country like Nigeria where inadequate facilities and lack of trained manpower often make it difficult for parents to find reasonable and affordable options for managing such children, resulting in high infant mortality rate and untold hardship to parents who lack proper understanding of the condition,” Gbadebo stated.

“We at Benola do not claim to be authorities on the subject, but having lived with it for 17 years, we appreciate the

• Retired AVM Femi Gbadebo and wife, Alaba.

problem. For that reason, we hope to become the lead supportive agency on cerebral palsy in Africa and a leading advocate for the rights of those living with the condition.”

Further, Gbadebo called on companies and organisations involved in production or marketing of pharmaceuticals, food, beverages, toiletries and sanitary products to identify with Benola, stating that due to the peculiarities of the condition.

“I call on them to identify with Benola in this noble cause to help make life better for an estimated 650,000 Nigerians living with CP, and the other 13.5 million Nigerians who are closely connected to a child or adult living with it,” he says.

So far, 80 families of persons living with CP, have been in touch with Benola and indicated interest to participate in the forum so as to access necessary information needed to improve the quality of life of affected children and adults.

He further noted that a major challenge Benola will address is counseling parents/ guardians of children with CP to accept that the child has this medical problem. "The earlier you accept that your child has CP, the better. The longer it takes to accept, the more the child's situation deteriorates. A lot happens in the brain of a child in the first few years.”

Vanguard, TUESD AY, JUNE 18, 2013— 49 TUESDA

PPP, solution to safe water — FG

BY UDUMA KALU

F

•Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN) Lagos State Branch, visted Vanguard Newspapers last week. From left: Mr. Seyi Odeyemi PRO: Mr. Benjamen Uba , Financial Secretary, Mr. Olawale Oladubu Chairman, Lagos State AMLSN; Mr. Mideno Bayagbon, Editor, Vanguard; Mr. Robert B. Samuel - Chairman, AMLSN 2013 Conference and Mr Taiwo Oloko.

Photo: Diran Oshe

EDERAL government will use Private Public Partnership, PPP, to ensure access to safe water in the country. Government will also provide the enabling environment for the private sector to realise this dream and to provide jobs for its citizens.

President Goodluck Jonathan who disclosed this in Lagos last week emphasized the importance of safe water to good health in Nigeria.

The President, who was represented by the Special Adviser on Water Resources, Prof. Dan Adebiyi, at the official launch of Primeau Filter, said government was in support of initiatives to provide safe water and help reduce deaths from water-borne diseases as well as provide jobs for Nigerians.

The President hinted that the Federal government is working towards providing safe water for Nigerians,

Lab scientists seek legislation on workplace safety

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

N

IGERIAN laboratory scientists have called for adequate legislation to regulate the practice of health and safety in the general working environment in the country.

The scientists, under the aegis of Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria, AMLSN, Lagos State Branch, called for creation of robust safety measures and consciousness in work places with a view to reducing work related hazard and disease.

They said the creation of a legislation and safety consciousness in work places became necessary following the

International Labour Organinsation , ILO report which revealed that an estimated 160 million cases of fatal work related diseases occur yearly globally, in addition to 317 million of non-fatal occupational accidents that happen in a year.

In an address during its 48th Annual Conference with the theme; “Occupational Health and Safety in Nigeria: Matters Arising”, Chairman of the Association, Mr. Olawale Oladubu, emphasized the need for employers of labour in the country to adopt safety measures that would reduce the exposure of the health of their workers to risks and occupational hazards.

“The work environment in Nigeria

does not protect the worker from hazards, hence, the need for awareness on occupational health and safety to reduce increase in work related diseases witnessed in many work places in Nigeria today.”

He advocated for increased awareness on the various labour laws in the country among employers of labour and the employees.

Speaking on the laboratory practice in Nigeria, the Chairman said AMSLN has in the last six years sanitized the profession to check quackery.

Chairman, Conference Planning Committee, Robert Samuel, called for adequate compensation of workers who sustained injuries in the workplace.

noting that sustained private partnership, would make the initiative happen. Also speaking, Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, represented by Mrs Toyin Oke-Osanyintolu, described the project as a noble way of getting safe water in the country.

Managing Director, Ogun - Osun River Basin River Authority, Eng. Bayo Alayande, representing the Minister of Water Resources, said PPP as a universal approach to WASH- (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene).

WASH, which is part of global water sustainability, increased access to safe water for schools and communities in Nigeria, aims at reducing by 20 percent persons without access to safe water.

Chief Executive Officer, Revelations Water Technologies Inc, producers of the filter, Mr. Ron Moser, said the product utilises the most advanced form of nanotechnology to kill bacteria without t use of chlorine. It is capable of filtering 2000 litres or water.

Voluntary blood donation Continued from Page 47 attendance and ensuring the availability of Emergency Obstetric Care, blood transfusions remain key components of such intervention. It is estimated that 26 percent of maternal deaths in subSaharan Africa are directly related to a lack of blood.

So many women die from haemorrhage because once bleeding starts, death can occur within two hours, compared to 10 hours for eclampsia and 72 hours for obstructed labour.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

H

ELLO everybody and welcome. Over the years, we have received a lot of questions from our viewers and the top three subjects men inquire about are penis size, erection matters and premature ejaculation. Just the other day, I got a letter from a reader who wanted to know if the size of a man’s penis really does matter to women and I made him understand that size does matter but if a man is not very big, he can still satisfy a woman if he has the skills.

There are women who are small breasted and have narrow waists but are still attractive. Body types are different. It is a fact that women will always choose a bigger penis and men will always prefer larger breasts but that does not mean that they will not settle for what is available, especially if their partners are good people who are also great in bed. So let us remember this. We may not be the most beautiful people around. But we can always find ways to conduct ourselves and make our loved ones be okay with what we have to offer. Size matters but it is not everything. Let us answer more questions from our readers.

Hello Uche. My name is Samuel and I am 59 years old. Six years ago, I lost my wife. I just remarried last year. I am writing you because I have low sex drive. When I was younger, I wanted sex all the time. At my age now, I am okay with having sex once every few weeks. The problem now is that my new wife is just 36 and I worry that I may not satisfy her. I need something – Samuel Dear Samuel, I am sorry for your loss. I hope you have managed to move on. It is normal for sex drive to diminish as adults get older. It is due to the diminishing of a specific hormone in the body, namely testosterone. I recommend taking Max Intense Testosterone Booster. It is a supplement for men that boost one’s sex drive by naturally increasing the testosterone levels in the body. It is all natural and has no stimulants. I also suggest buying your wife

a vibrator. The truth is that within a few years, intimacy will become even more difficult for you because of your age. So to ensure that your wife does not start looking outside for sex, get her a vibrator and an orgasm gel. The 7.5 inch Vibrating Jelly Dong is very good and so is Mood Arousal gel – Uche I have been using the Max Width instant penis enlarger and I am very happy so far. Now I want a more permanent enlargement. Can I combine Max Width with Max Size enlarger? Charles Yes you can Charles. Max Width is a cream while Max size is a capsule. You can also combine your Max Width cream with a penis pump for more permanent results – Uche Dear sir, my penis will stand if I am with my girl but during sex, it will come down. It has not happened before. I need advice on what to do – Olusegun Dear Segun, if you have only had this problem once, then do not panic yet. Men lose their erections sometimes when they have taken alcohol or when they are mentally distracted. But if it continues to happen, then go and see a doctor. Supplements such as Enzyte and Sex Voltz can help you recover full erections but I still suggest you see your doctor to determine the cause of the problem – Uche I had a good time last Christmas your products.

My personal favourite is the Love Stuff All Night Delay Cream for stopping premature ejaculation.

Good job guys – Frank You are all welcome Frank – Uche That’s it for today. Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can reach us on 08191978308 or 08027901621 to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com. Zee Virtual Media delivers to you wherever you are in Nigeria. For enquiries email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com.

Happy holidays - Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

50—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013

Vanguard CLASSIFIED

Corrupt politicians must pay for their sins — RAWLINGS zFundamentalism, corruption threaten democracy —SHONEKAN

BY HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA — FORMER President of Ghana, Flt. Lt. Jerry Rawlings, yesterday said if Nigeria and other parts of Africa must get it right and strengthen democracy, corrupt politicians must not be allowed to go scot-free.

This came as former Interim Head of State, Chief Ernest Shonekan, declared that religious fundamentalism poses a serious threat to the nation’s democracy, including other parts of Africa.

According to Rawlings, Nigeria must not continue to pay lip service to eradicating corruption, especially against the backdrop that poor, petty thieves get imprisoned for several years, while businessmen evade taxes in millions of dollars and politicians embezzle state funds and go unpunished.

Independent management Speaking yesterday at a conference on Emerging Democracies in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities, organized by the National Institute for Legislative Studies, Abuja, Rawlings said: ‘’We cannot continue to pay lip service to the strengthening, empowerment and independent management of our multiple anti-corruption institutions.

“We live in countries where poor, petty thieves get imprisoned for several years, while businessmen who evade taxes in millions of dollars or a politician who misappropriates millions of state funds escape punishment.

“These inequalities are recipes for the retrogression of our democracies and we cannot allow the negative tide to continue. A democracy that cannot provide socio-economic justice cannot be a healthy democracy and will remain vulnerable

and fragile.”

He noted that the primary challenge for emerging democracies in Africa was the failure of Western democracy to acknowledge its inherent flaws and encourage a system of democracy that was dynamic, home grown and imbued with the socio-cultural backgrounds of individual African states.

Rawlings, who noted that a practicing democracy that could not create the climate to correct economic ills and corruption, could not and would not be a democracy, adding that a democracy that could protect the sanctity of its electoral process was engaging in a fraudulent electoral coup d’etat.

According to him, equally destructive is

the unfortunate practice of using money to buy the conscience of the electorate.

“Democratic institutions across the continent are poorly equipped to offer the best support to governments. As a capacity building institution dedicated to provide professional research, advice, training and advocacy for members of the legislature, your organization is in a unique position to be a pacesetter in empowering our senators and parliamentarians to better serve the interests of their constituents,” Rawlings said.

Speaking at the event which took place at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, former Interim Head of State, Chief Er-

nest Shonekan, stressed the need for Africa and Nigeria, in particular, to deepen democracy by ensuring that there was internal democracy in political parties.

He said: “Religious fundamentalism is posing serious threat to democracy in parts of the continent, particularly in West Africa, North Africa and in the Horn of

Africa. There is, therefore, an urgent need for the countries concerned to constitutionally separate the state and religion and also enforce the provisions of the constitution in this regard.

“Another major challenge to democracy is corruption.

Corruption debars progress and discourages foreign investors. It is encouraging that many African countries have established agencies to investigate and prosecute cases of corruption.”

NGF Crisis: Jang fails to win new ‘convert’ •As 16 governors attend the meeting

BY HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA—STRONG indications

emerged, yesterday, that the reconciliation move by Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State to bring proChibuike Amaechi governors to his camp may have failed.

At the well publicised meeting of the Jonah Jang led faction of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, 15 governors and one deputy governor were in attendance.

Present at the meeting were Jonah Jang of Plateau; Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo; Sullivan Chime of Enugu; Theodore Orji of Abia; Martins Elechi of Ebonyi.

Governors in attendance Others were Idris Wada of Kogi; Peter Obi of Anambra; Ibrahim Shema of Katsina; Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta; Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom; Isa Yuguda of Bauchi; Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa; and Liyel Imoke of Cross River. Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam was represented by his deputy, Steve Lawani while Taraba state acting governor, Umar Garba was also in attendance.

At the last meeting which took place penultimate week, Sullivan Chime of Enugu who was absent attended yesterday ’s meeting, but Governor Ramallan Yero who was at last meeting was absent. He did not send his deputy. At yesterday ’s meeting, 14 PDP governors attended, one APGA and one Labour Party, LP. Meeting was still in progress at press time.

BAMIGBOLA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss B a m i g b o l a Oluwabunmi Mofoluwasho, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. A d e y e m i Oluwabunmi Mofoluwasho. All former documents remain valid.

Guaranty Trust Bank and general public please take note.

ORITS—I, formerly known and addressed as Orits Thomas Jagun Lori, now wish to be known and addressed as Oritsejolomi Lori Jagun. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

N WA N O L U E — I , formerly known and addressed as Nwanolue Francisca Chinwe, now wish to be known and addressed as Nnaji Francisca Chinwe. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public please take note.

ALARI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Alari Tamarapreye Tina Endurance, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oweilayefa E. Tamarapreye Success.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ISIORO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Evi Edith Isioro, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Evi Edith MacGregor. All former documents remain valid. National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) and general public please take note.

ADVERT HOTLINE 01- 8737025

ADVERT HOTLINE 01- 8737025

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013— 51 2013—51 affairs too from time to time. I gave her some gist about a couple of them and we laughed over it. Until that journey, I had always looked at her as a little child and not a girl or even woman that she ought to be at 20 years.

After our meal, we had a drink together then to my surprise, she brought out a packet of cigarette from her handbag.

The expression on my face must have reflected my feelings as she began laughing at me, telling me she is not a baby any more neither is she as naïve or innocent as I thought her to be. She however made me promise not to tell her brother about it.

She told me she had been doing it right from her secondary school days, meaning she had been smoking for about four years at that time. I was really at a loss for words. I had just discovered another side of a young, innocent girl I had always looked upon as a shinning example for my own daughter. This girl and my daughter had a connection and it was even their relationship that brought the two families together. My daughter liked her a lot and would always spend time with her whenever she was around.

Anyway, I did not allow that to discourage me. I concluded that she was still young and would grow out of it especially after graduation or when she finds a good man. I had no idea she had more surprises in store for me before day break. We parted for our rooms after we finished our drinks

My moment of weakness!

T happened about six years ago when I used to travel all over country, marketing for the company I work for. We have this nice couple where we lived and we were very cordial with them. The husband had a younger sister who was an undergraduate at the University in Nsukka. Whenever she was on holiday, she would come and spend some time with them.

She was a very nice, respectful and ever smiling girl and my wife and I used to give her money and some little stuff when she came around because e were all like family friends even though we did not come from the same town.

One day, I was scheduled to travel to Benin as usual for marketing.

When she heard about my plans, she informed us that she had been making plans to go back to school too. She asked if she could follow me to Benin, then find her way to her destination. This according to her will help her save some money. She insisted that any arrange-

I admitted that I have been engaging in extra marital affairs too from time to time. I gave her some gists about a couple of them and we laughed over it

,

.

I

ment I have was manageable by her. Having no means of persuading her to drop her plan, I allowed her to travel with me.

This however turned out to be a great mistake.

We did not leave until mid morning since my work at the company I was visiting would not start until the next day. I usually love to travel a day ahead to give me enough time to rest and prepare fresh and early for the job. We stopped twice in the course of the journey. The first was at a fuel station to change a bad tyre and fill up the tank.

The second was to have a late lunch at a restaurant close to Ore. By the time we arrived at Warri, it was very late in the evening. I was worried about her safety as we could not find a decent and direct vehicle to her destination.

Some of the drivers then advised us to come back early the next morning which we were later forced to accept.

That night, I took her back to my hotel and booked a room which eventually turned out to

,

Hi! Have you ever found yourself in a situation that you not wriggle out from without succumbing to the situation?

When you fall into temptation, who do you blame, the situation or your weakness or some other forces? Some say that once you have fallen for something unwholesome, there is nothing stopping you from doing the same thing over and over again. Do you as a person agree with this?

The story you will reading today is about a middle aged man who found himself trapped in a situation he said he had little control of. He made his decision and had his moment. But was he able to retrace his steps? Find out below and Josephus, (49), Accountant, narrates his brief affair with a neighbour ’s younger sister. Happy reading!

be a waste of money. She didn’t exhibit any sign of disappointment that she could not continue with her journey immediately. In fact, she was happy that she could be with me for a little while longer, at least, so she said. I found the comment a bit offline, but waved it off. She had been so restless all day but I must admit that she was good company. We discussed a lot, touching on almost all aspect of living. I had no idea she was that intelligent and interesting to be with. She spoke freely about her love affairs with her boyfriends and why she preferred one to the other. She was fresh and fun to chat with and I must confess that I found myself drawn to her over our dinner together. Before I reaVA C A N C I E S lised it, I APPLICATIONS ARE INVITED FROM SUITABLY QUALIFIED admitted CANDIDATES FOR THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS: that I do en1. QUALIFIED ACCOUNTANTS gage in exCANDIDATES MUST POSSESS (ACA) WITH RELEVANT WORKING tra marital EXPERIENCE. 2.ACCOUNTING OFFICER CANDIDATES MUST POSSESS ACCOUNTING TECHNICIANS CERTIFICATE WITH COGNITIVE EXPERIENCE. 3. ACCOUNT CLERK CANDIDATES MUST POSSESS ACCOUNTING TECHNICIANS CERTIFICATE WITH COGNITIVE EXPERIENCE. 4. SECRETARY CANDIDATES MUST HAVE RELEVANT QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE. 5. ALL CANDIDATES MUST BE COMPUTER LITERATE APPLICATIONS AND CV SHOULD BE SENT TO: CAREERS@OJIKEOKECHUKWU.COM WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

Dealing with blindsided breakup

By ONOZURE DANIA HAVE you been dating someone special for several weeks, months or even years? How long you have been together isn’t as important as the fact that you thought you were happy and all of a sudden, breakup came as a surprise.

And to make matters worse, the reasons for breaking up with you just don’t make any sense. How do you cope when someone you care about ends your relationship and you are not entirely sure why?

There are some things you really need to do regardless of what anybody says.

Let’s face it, it’s natural to wrestle with events we don’t understand. If your partner’s reasons for breaking up seem lame to you, you are going to be undoubtedly struggling to wrap your head around it all.

Give yourself permission to run through the history of the relationship. Try and figure out where things went sour. Talking with a trusted friend might even help shed some light, desperately wanting to figure things out is inevitable, it’s also part of grieving, which you are starting to do. But even though it’s normal to find yourself obsessing over the whats, hows and whys of it all, this is not a place you want to get stuck.

In other words, it may be an important stop on your journey back to joy but don’t unpack your bags and sign a long-term lease that you are not going to give any room for relationships again. You might just be closing the door to your happiness.

Connect with someone.

This isn’t the time to withdraw from people who love you. You are going to need friends with whom you can talk, cry, laugh and ultimately travel forward together out of this unhappy spot you are in. If you have

and I reminding her of the need to wake up early to continue her journey. I must have fallen asleep immediately I jumped into bed because I was suddenly woken up by the loud noise from the door. Someone was bagging hard on the door. At first, I was a bit scared that something had gone wrong especially when I heard her voice at the other side of the door.

I asked what the problem was and she said nothing but I should just let her in.

I looked at the time and it was almost 1.00am and she was in her night gown, the sexiest piece of rag I’d ever seen. She told me that she could not sleep alone in her room as she was frightened. So, I asked her to take the bed while I would take the double chair in the room. She would not hear of it, saying that I would be uncomfortable and that she would be guilty and unable to forgive herself. She assured me that the bed was large enough for the two of us and that I should not worry myself about her. She saw my reluctance and CORRECTION OF NAME began laughing, askMy correct name is Mr. ing me what thoughts U t o w a r e O w i g h o Commander. But the middle were running through my head. All of a name was wrongly spelt as sudden, I started feeling intimidated by Owvigho and Ovwigho in my this little girl but I still managed to put up documents instead of the correct name Owigho. All a brave show and call her bluff. I took one documents bearing both side of the bed and she the other, but no names remain valid. Delta sooner had we settled down she moved State Head of Service, closer and clung to me from the back. She embassies, Delta State Civil Service Commission and began whispering some inaudible things general public please take in my ears, giggling like a mad girl. She note.

been so caught up in your now-defunct relationship that you have missed spending time with good friends, this is the time to reconnect.

When you are surprised by painful events, you can see these events as senseless and random, in the puzzle of life. They can feel like pieces that don’t fit, Your brain keep returning to the rogue puzzle pieces, trying to figure out where they belong in the big picture of your life.

One thing about it, is when you write about hurts that don’t make sense especially as you explore connections between those hurts and other things in life, for instance, your childhood, your health, other people you have dated, a particular season in life, or whatever, you find yourself less haunted by the randomness of it all. You have put the senseless hurt in some sort of context, which is a big step to healing.

Pursue an unrelated goal.

Do something, anything, just take action and make sure your new endeavor is something unrelated to your past relationship. Pursuing a new experience, goal or skill is not only distracting but it’s also a good reminder that there is life beyond your breakup.

Finally, let go of the need to know that you have been mentally gnawing at those excuses they gave you.

On some days, tell yourself there has to be a deeper, darker reason this person broke up with you.

If you could just figure out what it is, there is a chance the two of you could solve it and live happily ever after.

Sometimes relationships end and whether it ends with a war cry or a whimper doesn’t change what you get to do next. Grieve, laugh, heal, live, let go and move forward, toward what you deserve, which is someone who sees you as beautiful, inside and out, and worth fighting for.

told me she was in love with me and had been for a long time too.

She asked if I had noticed it and was merely pretending. We are no longer neighbours too, our families have moved, her brother to Lekki and we to Ogba were we have our private houses. However, it is one experience I will never forget. I bet she too will not forget me.

52—Vanguard, TUESDAY,

JUNE 18, 2013

Heat try to stop Spurs 5th title T

HE Miami Heat weren’t supposed to be in this situation. Not now, anyway.

Coming home from Texas with their season on the line in 2011 was one thing. They were at the end of their first year together — LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh still trying to figure it all out and clearly a long way from it. But this season, they were the NBA’s best team, one that lost three games in three months and made losing three times in one series look unlikely, if not downright unimaginable.

The San Antonio Spurs can finish Miami off Tuesday night in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, reaffirming themselves as one of the league’s greatest franchises.

If so, the Heat’s Big Three once again go from celebrated to devastated.

“We’re going to see if we’re a better team than we were our first year together,” James said.

One more victory makes the Spurs 5-0 in the NBA Finals, keeping pace with Michael Jordan’s 6-0 Chicago Bulls as the only teams to make it here multiple times and never lose.

“We understand Game 6 is huge,” Parker said. “Obviously, you want to finish in the first opportunity you get.''

Footballers jailed for kicking linesman to death

•Blatter

FIFA probes Ethiopia, Togo players

F

Manu Ginobli of Spurs (right) tries to make a basket close to Heat Bush during their final match

A

DUTCH court convicted six young footballers and the father of one of the players of manslaughter on Monday for kicking to death a volunteer linesman after a youth match last December in a brutal attack that shocked this football-loving nation.

Judges in Lelystad sentenced the 50-year-old father, identified only as El-Hasan D, to six years in prison. Five teenaged players were given two-year sentences in youth detention for their roles in the attack and another was sentenced to a year. A seventh player, age 15, was sentenced to 30 days detention for assault.

All the defendants had insisted they were innocent.

They have two weeks to appeal. Their lawyers argued that the linesman, Richard Nieuwenhuizen, could have had an underlying medical condition that contributed to his death but Dutch forensic experts said he died as a result of the beating.

Osaze in Crystal Palace link

N

•Osaze

EWLY-promoted Crystal Palace have been linked with West Brom and Super eagles outcast Peter Odemwingie. Odemwingie expected to depart the Hawthorns this summer after the relationship between the club and player broke down following a failed move to QPR in January.

It has now been suggested that Palace are keen to snap up the 31-year-old Nigerian, who is valued at around £3million by the Baggies.

West Brom boss Steve Clarke, however, refused to be drawn on the speculation but he did suggest the situation will be resolved sooner rather than later.

“It’s a situation that will be resolved over the summer. That’s why we have got a technical director and a chairman who like to do deals,” he told the Express & Star.

IFA is investigating Ethiopia and Togo for allegedly fielding ineligible players in World Cup qualifying, potentially leading to the Ethiopians losing their place in the final playoffs for Brazil 2014.

Possible sanctions against the two teams could significantly affect Africa’s qualifying competition for next year ’s World Cup and help South Africa and Cameroon’s chances - but hinder Libya’s.

Ethiopia qualified Sunday for the final playoffs in October and November with a 2-1 win over South Africa, but potentially faces being stripped of its 2-1 win in Botswana on June 8 for an alleged ineligible player there. FIFA said it is also looking at Togo’s 2-0 home win over Cameroon on June 9, which could now be awarded to Cameroon, pushing it above Libya in the race for a playoff place in their qualifying group.

FIFA did not say which players were under suspicion or why they may be ineligible.

The typical punishment for fielding ineligible players is a 3-0 win for the opposition team and FIFA has already punished Burkina Faso, Gabon and Sudan for ineligible players in qualifying.

Ethiopia won a place among Africa’s final 10 countries with its 2-1 win over South Africa this weekend, but if its earlier victory over Botswana is ruled out, it will only lead South Africa by two points ahead of the final round of Group A games and won’t yet be sure of a place in the playoffs.

Rose to earn £5m after winning US Open

J

USTIN Rose is expected to earn at least £5m on the back of Sunday’s US Open victory – although, in all probability, the Englishman’s earnings will shoot up by a lot more The near £1m cheque he received for winning at Merion is just the start of it. The 32-year-old has the right to

call himself a major champion after his Philadelphia breakthrough and very soon will have the finances to match the stature as well.

The bonuses in his sponsorship contracts – including TaylorMade, Ashforth, Zurich and British Airways – will run to at least £3m, while his management will also imme-

diately be able to add noughts to his appearance fees.

“They will not just rise for this year, but for the years ahead,” said an industry insider. “Justin was already among the top earners in golf, but this will take him to a new level. When his contracts are up for renewal, the numbers

Justine Rose

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013 — 53

I can't splash Chelsea cash — Mourinho JOSE MOURINHO admits that new Financial Fair Play rules will stop him going wild with Chelsea’s chequebook.

The returning Blues boss ran up an eye-watering £70MILLION bill when he first arrived at Stamford Bridge back in 2004.

Mourinho has already signed £17m Andre Schurrle and has been linked to big-money moves for Edinson Cavani, Wesley Sneijder and Hulk.

But the Special One insists UEFA’s new finance rules mean the scatter-gun approach to buying players is now over.

He said: “It’s very motivational and demands more from you.

You have to think more about every decision

C M Y K

and every move.

“Every wrong move you make has an influence on the future.

“You need to work more closely with the board in the financial area, you have to have

a different perspective and a different look at the players on loan and youth football.

Pix Show Cross section of Men Professional Cyclists, approaching the finish point at the National Stadium,Surulere, Lagos during the 2013 Lagos CycleFest Race held at the weekend. PHOTO; Kehinde Gbadamosi

Obije wins MTN WGC western regional qualifiers

C

HRISTOPHER Obije has once again, emerged the overall winner in the Western Regional qualifiers of the World Golfers Championship, sponsored by telecommunications giant, MTN. The 18hole championship was played on Saturday June 15, 2013, at the Ikeja Golf Club. Obije also won last year ’s edition.

With this victory, the golfer has earned the top spot among the fifteen players that qualified for the National Finals of the championship, slated for September.

General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN, Mr. Kola Oyeyemi, at the post

tournament gala night, restated the company’s commitment to the development of golf in the country. .

The company, he remarked is a responsible organisation. “If a brand can be responsible for over fifty million Nigerians and still counting, if there’s no character, MTN won’t be where it is today, I think there is need to identify with such company” he said.

Playing-off Handicap 3, Obije won the 0-5 category after a gross score of 74 and 71 net. He was followed by Milo Ajah and Lanre Tanimowo who finished second and third respectively with gross and net score of 74 and 72 and 83 and 78.

54 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013

Eagles Continues from BP ter Godfrey Gaiya, Chairman House Committee on Sports called to inform him on the crisis. President Jonathan was said to have sent for sports minister to work out the balance and pay the players their expected bonus. The money was expected to have been wired to Brazil. It was not confirmed if the players had received the money and Enyeama has revealed that the players were still not satisfied.

“We haven’t settled anything, but we’ve moved on and everything is normal,” the Maccabi Tel Aviv goalkeeper told journalists.

“We accept the criticisms, we’re responsible for our actions and we stay as a team.

“For now, this act is behind us. We’re profes-

C M Y K

sionals. We don’t want to talk about this — it’s about the past and we don’t want to spend our energy on these things.

“After the championship we’ll revisit it, but for now we’re done.”

Coach Stephen Keshi, seated beside Enyeama at the pre-game press conference, refused to criticise his players, but admitted he was concerned about the effects of their late arrival.

“I’m not going to tell you I’m upset with the players. The decision depends on the circumstances around it,” he said.

“We’re here, which is the most important thing. We’re here to make Africa proud and Nigeria proud. Whatever has happened before is behind us and we just need to concentrate and play our game”.

Continues from BP

Gaiya

Goal.com that the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation did not put the players’ interests into consideration when it decided the new bonus regime before the two World Cup qualifying matches played against Kenya and Namibia last week.

“The issue here is that if there was the need for the NFF to either downsize their staff or to reduce the bonuses of players, two things should have been done - consulting those of us who are from the other side, we have the powers to make appropriation.

Whatever kobo the NFF is spending has to come through the National Assembly. At no time were we told that they had issues to do with finance.

“There is no paper as I am talking to you now that has come to the House (of Representatives) to even tell us that they have downsized or that they have reduced the bonuses of the players.

We never knew about it and we have never been consulted.

“You see it takes two to tango. It is the right of the players to be carried along when issues to do with their welfare is to be considered. I want to say here that the NFF should have taken the players into confidence and some form of negotiations as regards the major reasons for slashing the $10,000 winning bonus to $5,000.

None of us were told formally that the allowances or bonuses of the players were slashed.

Murray

Continues from BP

rankings, its formula to give extra weight to results on grass will not help Nadal given his second-round Wimbledon exit last year. The Spaniard won an eighth French Open title this month but dropped to No5 in the rankings because his countryman David Ferrer improved on last year ’s performance by reaching the final at Roland Garros.

Murray, who on Sunday won the Aegon Championship for the third time, will be seeded No2 but may face the nightmare scenario of a quarter-final against Nadal, a semi-final against the defending champion Roger Federer and a final against the world No1 Novak Djokovic.

The Scot insisted he is

ready to face whatever comes his way, saying in his BBC Sport column: “I know there will be a lot of interest in the draw this year as Rafael Nadal looks like being seeded fifth, but as a player you can’t get too obsessed about the draw.

“I’d sign up to be in the quarter-finals against Rafa tomorrow if someone offered me that. You could say if I get through that match then the semi-final might not be as tough, but if you want to win the biggest tournaments you have to beat the best players in the world. It doesn’t really matter where they are in the draw.”

Murray missed the French Open because of injury but showed he is back to full health by beating Marin Cilic in the final at Queen’s.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013 — 55

C M Y K

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013

Nigeria tame Tahiti Nigeria’s Super Eagles yesterday in Brazil started the FIFA Confederations Cup in a great fashion when they mauled Tahiti, a team of amateurs 6-1.

With this victory, the Eagles who will meet Uruguay in their next match go top of Group B ahead of Spain, Uruguay and Tahiti.

Bonus row: How Gaiya saved Nigeria

C

HAIRMAN House of Representatives Committee on Sports, Honourable Godfrey Gaiya has absolved the Super Eagles of any blame in the show of shame that Nigeria was subjected to in Windhoek, Namibia when the players refused to board the arranged flight to Rio de Janeiro via South Africa.

The legislator was blunt when he told

Continues on Page 54

Eagles to resume bonus battle S

UPER Eagles skip per Vincent Enyeama has said that the row over bonuses that delayed the squad’s arrival at the Confederations Cup had not been resolved, but the players were putting it behind them.

The African champions did not arrive in Brazil until the early hours of Sunday morning, just 36 hours before yesterday ’s Group B opener against minnows Tahiti, after missing their scheduled flights on Thursday.

The players were unhappy about being offered bonus payments of $2,500 (1,873 euros) following a 1-1 draw with Namibia in World Cup qualifying and had demanded double that amount from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

A truce was eventually brokered Senate President David Mark who intimated President Goodluck Jonathan af Continues on Page 54

JUBILATION....Super Eagles defender Elderson Echijile (R) celebrates his goal with teammates during yesterday’s match against Tahiti at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Belo Horizonte. PHOTO: AFP

Wimbledon: Murray has no fear of meeting Nadal

A

NDY Murray says he is not fazed by the possibility of playing Rafael Nadal in the

PUZZLE

be where Nadal falls, with the two-time champion expected to be seeded No5.

Although the All England Club does not stick completely to the world Continues on Page 54

7 jailed for beating linesman to death P.52 QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

quarter-finals of Wimbledon. The focus of Friday’s men’s singles draw is guaranteed to

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Powerful (6) 5 Specimen (6) 8 Fruitless (8) 9 Passion (4) 10 Tooth (3) 12 Board (5) 15 Beer (3) 17 Scull (3) 18 Vestment (3) 19 Spoil (3) 20 Void (5) 21 Still (3) 22 Fuel (3) 23 Donkey (3) 24 Hint (3) 26 Utter (5) 29 Timid (3) 33 Smear (4) 34 Unsteady (8) 35 Adorn (6) 36 Figure (6)

DOWN 2 Prohibited (5) 3 Monster (4) 4 Broil (5) 5 Grim (5) 6 Thaw (4) 7 Even (5) 10 Droll (5) 11 Ravine (5) 12 Iron (5) 13 Plentiful (5) 14 Canoe (5) 15 Chasm (5) 16 Way in (5) 25 Custom (5) 27 Courage (5) 28 Fire-raising (5) 30 Bisect (5) 31 Competent (4) 32 Cripple (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Fuss 4, Tab 6, Vast 8, Vulgar 9, Relate 10, Toy 12, Alter 14, Decay 15, Sound 18, Putter 20, Amazed 24, Named 26, Crowd 28, Naïve 30, Set 32, Aghast 33, Health 34, Stay 35, Peg 36, Tilt.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 2, Usual 3, Suggest 4, Tart 5, Bury 6, Value 7, Satiate 11, Own 12, Asp 13, Roe 16, Urn 17, Dam 19, Upright 21, Men 22, Adamant 23, Die 25, Axe 27, Weary 29, Vital 30, Stop 31, Thug.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-8944295. Advert Dept: 01-7924470; Hotline: 01-8737028; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

C M Y K