60 killed in Kanobus park bombing

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61841

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013

KANO BOMBING—Victims of the Kano suicide bombing and some of the affected buses yesterday as smoke

billowed from the bus park.

COLUMNISTS:

60 killed in Kano bus park bombing

•P.19

•P.17

BY ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD

•We counted 60 burnt bodies — Witness K •Five fully loaded buses blown to ashes •We have not counted the bodies — JTF •Jonathan condemns blast

ANO—ABOUT 60 people were feared dead, yesterday evening, in Kano when a suicide bomber attacked a bus park located at Sabon Continues on Page 5

Bill Gates cancels trip to Nigeria •P.8 C M Y K

We didn't walk out on Tukur —P.9 — Uduaghan, Amaechi •Court declines to re-instate Salami •P.15

Mr & Mrs

2—Vanguard , TUESDAY TUESDAY,, MARCH 19 , 2013

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013—3

C M Y K

4—Vanguard , TUESDAY TUESDAY,, MARCH 19 , 2013

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013—5

POCKET CARTOON

PRESIDENTIAL VISIT—

President Goodluck Jonathan (r) introducing some of his ministers and senior officilas to Lebanese President, Mr. Michel Sleiman, during formal reception for the visiting President at the forecourts of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

60 feared dead in Kano bus park bombing Continues from Page 1

Gari, a predominantly Christian quarters.

The blast reportedly destroyed several buses while soldiers and policemen cordoned off the area after the blast.

The Chairman,

Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Kano, Chief Tobias Idika told Vanguard on phone that, “the incident occurred around 5.00 pm when activities at the park were at their peak.

So far we have counted 60 human bodies burnt

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

The truth is, we can do great things after we pray, but we cannot do great things until we pray. So keep praying.

TAKE HEART

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BY ELLA RANDLE

HAT is love, take a look at the rose, is it possible for the rose to say, I shall offer my fragrance to only good people and withhold it from the rest? Or can you imagine a lamp that withholds its rays from a mean person who walks by in its light? It could only do that by ceasing to be a lamp — Anthony De Mello Mello’s perspective on love is breathtakingly beautiful, he surmised that one can observe how indiscriminately a tree gives its shade to everyone, good or otherwise, young or old, and every living creature - even to the one who seeks to cut it down, this is a quality of love.

To live a fulfilled life one must attain this quality of love. How do we do this? Just observe the marvellous changes that come over you when you stop seeing people as good and otherwise, but like a rose, a tree and a lamp, give and ask nothing in return; just like the way the lamp is busy shinning for all or like the rose gives out its fragrance simply because that is all it knows to do, whether there is someone there to enjoy it or not or the way the tree offers its shade,these things like love exist independently of a person.

Just think of the coercion and control that you submit to when you try to live up to the expectations of others either for love or approval. The moment we drop control and coercion, freedom will arise. And freedom is just another word for love.

to ashes from five luxury buses affected by the blast. Eye witnesses gave conflicting accounts of how the explosion occured.

An account said "the blast occurred as five fully loaded buses were moving towards the exit gate at the park when an unidentified individual driving a Golf Volkswagen car in an opposite direction rammed into the buses resulting in an explosion. The suicide bomber died instantly."

According to Chief Idiaka , “all the five buses have been reduced to ashes by the impact of the blast, and scores of others with high degree burns have been taken to Government hospital. Casualty figures might rise if what I have seen so far is anything to go by.

“We saw it coming and we informed the relevant authority to provide security for us in Sabon Gari but it fell on deaf ears”, he lamented.

Idika who was in tears further said: “ I cannot comprehend that human lives can be wasted like this; it is a horrible scene to behold and the fire service are trying their best to put off the inferno within and around the park”.

Another eyewitness told Vanguard that “an Improvised Explosive Device went off in one of the five buses going out of the park by 5.00pm", adding that ”there are heightened fears that none of the passengers survived the blast.”

The Sabon Gari blast triggered pandemonium in the state capital as shops were hurriedly shut down in fear of possible looting by hoodlums.

The Joint Military Taskforce confirmed the blast. Spokesman of the Military outfit, Captain Ikediche Iweha told Van-

guard that “ we have moved in to the scene of the blast and we are trying to restore confidence to forestall looting.”

Captain Iweha explained that “ we have invited men from Fire Service Department to put off the fire triggered by the blast and dozens were down by the impact of the blast. Our priority now is to secure the area and we do not have the casualty figure because we have not started counting. Investigation has commenced on the incident and that will reveal what happened, and how it happened”.

Jonathan condemns blast President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has condemned in strong terms, yesterday’s bomb blasts in Kano. The President

said the barbaric incident will not deter the Federal Government from its strong-willed determination to overcome those who do not mean well for this nation. He said the Federal Government will not be stampeded, for any reason whatsoever, into abandoning its unrelenting war against terrorists in the country.

President Jonathan reassured Nigerians and foreigners in the country that the Nigerian Government will continue to do all that is required to ensure the safety of lives and property, including continued collaboration with local and international partners and stakeholders to check the menace of terrorism.

He commiserated with the victims of the Kano explosions, their families and friends, and assured the Kano State government of the Federal Government’s continued support.

132 govt delegations storm Vatican for Pope’s installation

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE (WITH AGENCY REPORT)

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HE Vatican, yester day, released details of today ’s Pope Francis' Installation Mass, saying it would be a simplified version of the 2005 installation Mass that brought Pope Benedict XVI to the papacy, with many gestures to Eastern rite Catholics and Orthodox Christians in a sign of church unity.

About one million people, including delegations from 132 governments across the globe are expected.

The Vatican also released details of Francis’ coat of arms and official ring, both of

which are in tandem with his simple style and harking back to popes past: The coat of arms is the same Jesuit-inspired one he used as archbishop of Buenos Aires, while the ring was once offered to Pope Paul VI, who presided over the second half of the Second Vatican Council, the church meetings that modernized the church.

Francis will officially receive the ring and the pallium, a woolen stole, during today’s installation Mass, which is drawing six sovereign rulers, 31 heads of state, three princes and 11 heads of government to the Vatican. Fernandez leads the largest delegation with 19

members.

Italian media say Rome civil protection authorities are planning for upward of one million people to attend the Mass, numbers not seen since the beatification of Pope John Paul II in 2011, which drew 1.5 million to St. Peter ’s Basilica and the surrounding streets.

One significant VIP is the spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I. His presence at the installation is the first from the Istanbul-based Patriarchate in nearly 1,000 years since the Great Schism divided the church in 1054.

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013

Kidnappers demand N1m to release housewife

BY EMMA AMAIZE & AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE

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ARRI – THE kidnap pers, who abducted 45year-old housewife, Mrs. Baby Obiokor, Sunday, in Udu area of Delta State, have called her husband, Mr. Obiokor, demanding N1 million ransom for her release.

Mrs. Obiokor, an indigene of Okwagbe in Ughelli South Local Government Area was travelling to her country home with her younger sister, Mrs. Patience Mode in a Honda SUV when the four-man kidnap gang ambushed them.

The gunmen, who took only Mrs. Obiokor away, later abandoned her SUV along Udu/Ekekpamre road. They pushed Mrs. Mode out of the car and left in their red Toyota car.

A family source told Vanguard, yesterday that: “The kidnappers called her husband on Sunday night. They demanded N1million and Mr Obiokor said the family can afford only N300,000.

Chieftaincy crisis: 15 suspects arrested over mayhem

BY DEMOLAAKINYEMI

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LORIN—KWARA State Po lice Command yesterday confirmed the death of two persons (not police officers), adding that no fewer than 15 suspects have been arrested in connection with the breakdown of law and order in Ganmo community, Ifelodun local government area of the state.

It would be recalled that violent clash erupted in the town over chieftaincy issues during which the two persons were killed and several others injured.

Vanguard gathered that it was not unconnected with the agitation for the grading of the stool of Oluganna to a fourth class status.

The Oluganna and Olugamo stools are within the same Ganmo community.

It would also be recalled that two ethnic groups namely the Igbomina and Afonja descendants of Idi-Ape quarters, Ilorin are claiming ownership of the ancient town.

The State government recently announced the upliftment of Ganmo monarch, Oba Abdullahi Kolawole.

Suspected terrorists attack schools, kill 3 teachers, injure pupils in Borno

BY NDAHI MARAMA

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AIDUGURI—THREE teachers were killed while three other female students were severely injured when some unidentified gunmen, yesterday, attacked some schools in Maiduguri, Metropolitan Council, MMC, in Borno State.

The six attackers, who were suspected to be terrorists invaded the affected schools, forcing the school authorities to hurriedly close for the day, while parents scampered to take their children home.

The Joint Task Force, JTF, Operation Restore Order, however, confirmed the death of only one teacher at Sanda Kyarimi Secondary School, Ruwan Zafi in Customs General Area. One Mallam Kachalla was shot dead between 8am – 9 am in the school’s premises, while three female students were also injured by bullets from suspected Boko Haram terrorists.

There were conflicting reports about the attacks, but sources said the three victims were killed at the Shehu Sanda Kyarimi Secondary School around Ruwan Zafi ward and Mafoni Primary and Secondary Schools.

Vanguard gathered that at about 9:10am around Ruwan Zafi area, six suspected Boko Haram members laid ambush on Shehu Sanda Kyarimi Secondary School and shot dead a yet to be identified teacher, even as three female students were also hit by stray bullets.

Accounts also said that in Mafoni area, another gang suspected to be terrorists also attacked the Ali Askira Primary School shooting one Mallam Abdullahi, before moving to Mafoni Day Secondary School where they reportedly killed a female teacher identified as Hajja Yagumsu.

When contacted, the Spokesman of the Joint Task Force, “Operation Restore Order” Lt. Col. Sagir Musa said: "Three female students were critically injured from bullet wounds and were rushed to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, UMTH. "Another attack on a Secondary School in Mafoni and Galadima areas by Boko Haram was averted by the intervention of JTF troops, which resulted in the death of three terrorists and recovery of two AK 47 rifles; 200 rounds of ammunition, two video recorders, one laptop and two tricycles. Efforts are on to apprehend the other culprits, he added.’’

But a reliable security source told newsmen that “also in the morning around the Ruwan Zafi area, six suspected Boko Haram adherents attacked Shehu Sanda Kyarimi Secondary School and shot dead a yet to be identi-

Staff of Aero Contractor Airline protest their sack without adequate compensation at the Murtala Muhammed Airport yesterday. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

fied teacher, while three female students sustained injuries.’’

He also added that at about

11.20am at Mafoni area another gang suspected to be Boko Haram members stormed the Ali

Askira Primary School, where a teacher Mallam Abdullahi was killed.

Student arrested over alleged killing of 2 prisons officials

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BY EMMA ARUBI

ARRI—A FINAL year Physics student of the Delta State University, DELSU, Abraka, has been arrested by men of the 3 Battalion, Nigeria Army Effurun, Warri, Ebruke Oghenekohworho, 34, was arrested in connection with last week killings of two Prison officials, a mechanical Engineering lecturer of PTI and release of five prison inmates in Warri.

The military men last Monday

also recovered a Toyota Camry number plate No. LAGOS LND 519 BE belonging to the mastermind of the attack on prison officials simply identified as Kelvin in an encounter that saw the kidnap kingpin fleeing, leaving behind his GSM handset at Kokori junction in Ethiope East Council area of Delta State.

Commanding Officer, 3 battalion, Lt. Col. Ikechukwu Otu gave this details, in an interactive session with newsmen, saying that

Ebruke a.k.a Ajanti is the driver of the kidnap kingpin, Kelvin.

Also caught by the soldiers is one Mr. Atibaka Tega.

He said the duo were apprehended following analysis of phone calls made by Kelvin from his recovered handset.

Lt-Col Otu said they had earlier encountered Kelvin two days earlier at Kokori before the Warri attack on prison officials, who were escorting nine inmates to a State High Court for trial.

Policeman arrested for alleged involvement in robbery

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

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DO EKITI – A police officer (names withheld) is now in police net in Ekiti State Police Command, Ado Ekiti, for his alleged involvement in a robbery which took place at Ikere Ekiti last week.

Sources at the scene of the incident told Vanguard that the five -man robbery gang was led by an Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, had robbed commuters along Ikere-Ise Ekiti road on that fateful day.

To cover up their identities, it was gathered that the robbers led by the police officer, dressed in mufti and mounted a barricade on the road.

The involvement of the police in the criminal act came on the heels of the killing of 400-level Business Administration student

of Ekiti State University who was allegedly killed by the police in Oye Ekiti under the pretence that

he was involved in the robbery at one of the first generation banks in the town

Bank driver arrested for alleged theft

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BY IFEANYI OKOLIE

AGOS—A 45-year-old bul lion van driver with a second generation bank, has been arrested by the special anti-robbery squad, SARS, Ikeja, Lagos, for allegedly stealing an equivalent of N18.1 million in foreign currencies from his bank.

The suspect, identified as Segun Fatokun, was said to be a staff at the Adeyemo Alakija,Victoria Island branch of the bank, where he worked as head of cash movement department.

Vanguard gathered that Fatokun allegedly stole $100,000

and 10,000 Euros, while himself and five of his colleagues were off loading monies from other branches, on March 8, 2013.

Vanguard further learnt that Fatokun, who was inside the bullion van, while they off loaded the cash, left the N18.1milion equivalent behind in the van and later hid it in a friend’s house at Oworoshoki area of state.

Sources told Vanguard that, one of the bank cashiers who took part in the off loading discovered that the money was missing, on March 11, 2013 and he alerted the authorities who brought in the police.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013—7

Gunmen kill 80-yr-old village head, six-yr-old boy, 2 others in Plateau

BY TAYE OBATERU

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OS—FOUR people, including an 80-year-old village head and a six-year-old boy were on Sunday killed at Tapo village in Heipang District of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State during an attack by yet to be identified gunmen.

Just last weekend, two people were also shot dead in Aware Local Government Area by unknown gunmen.

Three members of a family were said to have been shot by the attackers while the village head Da Dung Bot Gwom was believed to have died from exhaustion while trying to escape from the gunmen The gunmen according to eye witnesses, stormed the village at about 11pm breaking into the residence of one Rwang Davou, 71, killing him, his 47-year-old son, Pam Rwang Davou and his sixyear-old grandson, Martins Pam Rwang.

Pam’s wife escaped with injuries and is now receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital, according to eyewitnesses.

The village head who was not seen after the attack was found dead in the bush on Monday morning. He was believed to have ran without any wound, fueling suspicion that he must have died from exhaustion.

The three family members were buried yesterday while the body

of the village head has been deposited in the mortuary for proper burial arrangements because of his status, according to a villager who spoke to Vanguard.

The burial was witnessed by the Chairman, Management Committee of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Mr. Emmanuel Loman and member representing the area in the state House of Assembly, Mrs. Kaneng Gyang Fulani.

The duo were said to have commiserated with the people urg-

ing them to be calm while the incident is being investigated.

Spokesman of the Special Task Force in the state, Captain Salisu Mustapha, however, said he was yet to be briefed on the incident when contacted.

In another attack at Torok-Rim in Riyom Local Government Area on Sunday, two children aged two and four years were shot dead when gunmen fired sporadically into their residence.

Four other people are lying unconscious at the Vom Christian

Hospital following the attack which occurred at about 8.30 pm.

The Chief Medical Director of the Hospital, Dr. Samuel Dido, confirmed the death of the two children and the four whom he said sustained several gunshot wounds.

The two children were buried in the village on Monday. The state Commissioner of Police, Chris Olakpe confirmed the incident, adding that the command is collaborating with the STF to investigate the attack.

Traders, who defiled government's warning, sell their wares at the Idumota pedestrian bridge, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

How I steal Camry cars with master key—Suspect

BY EVELYN USMAN

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AGOS—A 30-year-old son of a traditional ruler of Ezeakoli village in Ideato area of Imo State, yesterday, gave a starling revelation of how he used to steal Camry cars from where they are parked, with the aid of a master key, selling same to ready buyers

at give away prices.

The suspect identified as Prince Onyeka, disclosed that the mater key could open any Toyota Camry car manufactured between 1998 and year 2000.

Prince, who was deported from Taiwan last year over an undisclosed offense was paraded

alongside other robbery suspects said to have been terrorizing Lagos, at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba by the command spokesperson, Ngozi Braide.

During interrogation, the suspect said he ran a one-man squad, adding that the master key

4 injured as LP, ACN supporters clash in Ondo tribunal's venue

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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KURE—AT least four persons reportedly sustained injuries following a clash between supporters of the ruling Labour Party in Ondo State and the opposition, Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, at the venue of the Election Petition Tribunal yesterday.

The clash according to report occurred few minutes after the three member tribunal led by Justice Andovar Kaka rose after the counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission,

INEC, Chief Gboyega Awomolo, SAN, announced that he would not present any witness.

One of the thugs was, however, arrested by the policemen just as vehicular movement was disrupted for more than 30 minutes.

Police authorities, however, in a swift response deployed about 30 stern looking mobile policemen to fortify the premises of the Akure High Court where the tribunal is sitting over the petition of the PDP and ACN challenging the victory of Governor Olusegun Mimiko in the October election.

Several versions of the reasons

for the clash were adduced by members of the warring parties.

The supporters of the ACN alleged that the supporters of ruling LP were the first to attack them after the tribunal rose as they were hailing the candidate of their party in the October 20 governorship election, Rotimi Akeredolu, who was leaving the premises of the court But the LP said the ACN supporters while hailing their candidate after the tribunal rose threw stones at them earlier while they were waiting for the tribunal to resume for the day.

was purchased from Benin Republic and could even open cars with security gadgets programmed in Nigeria.

But according to Braide, the bubble burst after Prince was arrested in Surulere area of the state, following a tip off, adding that during investigation, he confessed to steal at least two cars daily.

On how this was possible, the father of one, who resides in Okota said: “ I usually move the cars in the evening or at night and I work alone. I used to operate around Surulere, Ikeja and Festac.

The suspect said: “Whenever I see a Toyota Camry car, I would wait for a while to monitor the owner before going to open it with the master key.

“A friend sold the idea to me after I was deported. And I bought the master key for N127,000 from Port Novo, Benin Republic last year.

“The key apart from unlocking cars with factory fitted security gadgets, can open any 1998- 2000 Camry cars with alarm system fitted in Nigeria. This is because it is censored.”

EFCC arraigns 3 pastors over N7.9m fraud

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BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

AGOS—THREE pastors David Eshiet, Samson Ugbara and Adesanmi Aderoju, were yesterday arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over alleged N7.9 million fraud .

The defendants who were arraigned before Justice Olabisi Akinlade of an Ikeja High Court, are facing a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and uttering.

The defendants were charged by the anti-graft agency alongside their company, Prince and Zion International Service Ltd. The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges proffered against them.

The trio were accused of defrauding their victims of the sum under the pretense of helping them to secure large sum of money as loan.

The EFCC counsel, Mr Ben Ubi alleged that the defendants had conspired among themselves to fraudulently obtain N4 million and 25,000 US dollars (N3.9 million) from one Angel Estate Residents Development Association in Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos.

House maid, boyfriend trade blame over mastermind of boss' robbery

BY EVELYN USMAN

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AGOS—A mild drama un folded yesterday at the State Criminal Investigation Department of the Lagos police command, following an argument between a 17-year-old house maid and her boyfriend, over who masterminded the robbery of her boss last month, where the sum of $600, 000 and jewelry worth several millions of naira were reportedly stolen.

While Mary Francis, the house-maid, who was employed two months before the robbery claimed that her 30year-old boyfriend, Igwu Ogana Matthew, masterminded the robbery, Matthew on his part, maintained that Mary opened the door for him and his partner on that fateful day.

Explaining the circumstance that led to their arrest, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide said the love birds met somewhere around Sagamu where they discussed the bouyant financial background of her boss, following which Matthew in company of his friend stormed Mary’s employer’s home, where they stole their victim’s Honda Civic saloon car with plate number LAGOS EG 376 SMK.

8—Vanguard , TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013

BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North, HUGO ODIOGOR, Foreign Affairs Editor, BEN AGANDE & UDUMA KALU, with Agency Reports

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NITED States of America dealt a hard blow on Nigeria, yesterday, with the cancellation of a planned visit to Nigeria by one of its richest men, Bill Gates, to the country, following the controversial pardon granted the former Bayelsa State Governor, Dieprieye Alamieyeseigha, by President Goodluck Jonathan, last week, and the lack of safety of health officials in the north.

The US, it was learnt, is still peeved that Jonathan ignored the feelings of Nigerians and went ahead to pardon his former master, who was convicted of money laundering amounting to billions of Naira, thereby setting the anti-corruption war backwards.

The US is also angry that Nigeria summoned its envoy for questioning for daring to voice concerns over the pardon to corrupt persons.

Meanwhile, Presidency yesterday said the report in some news media that Bill Gates had cancelled his proposed visit because of the presidential pardon granted to some Nigerians was not correct.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said told newsmen in Abuja: "The visit was rescheduled because of other commitments by Bill Gates.

He said: “I have read the report in some sections of the media insinuating that Mr. Bill Gates has cancelled his planned visit to Nigeria because of the recent pardon granted some Nigerians.

“I am in touch with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and I can say that this report is not true and that it exists only in the imagination of the writers.

“The foundation said Mr. Bill Gates’ travels are often dependent on the schedules and availability of many other people and

Bill Gates cancels visit to Nigeria He only rescheduled plans— Presidency It's over Alamieyeseigha— Diplomatic sources partners and that in this particular case, because these other people and partners will not be available at the time he is presently scheduled to visit Nigeria, they have to reschedule the visit.”

Vanguard further learnt that the cancellation has to do with concerns over the lack of safety of medical staff, who handle polio immunisation in northern parts of Nigeria, which is one of the biggest recipients of US aid in Africa.

Why Gates shunned Nigeria

Bill Gates, authoritative diplomatic sources said, cancelled his trip two days after the US government expressed disappointment over the pardon.

The sources said: “I can confirm to you that Mr. Gates won’t be coming as scheduled,” sources reportedly claimed yesterday morning.

The body language of Washington D.C. does not support his travelling to Nigeria.

"The thinking here is that the Nigerian government has high tolerance level for corruption and should be ostracised in all ways possible.”

It was learnt that Gates had already instructed his staff to inform Aso Rock, the secretariat of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and the Federal Ministry of Health that he was no longer coming.

Last year, the US gave Nigeria about $226 million in development aid and is expected to spend $600 million this year.

Gates, who has been working with the Nigerian authorities since 2009 to combat the

ravages of polio, a childhood disease that has been dusted by other countries, was scheduled to meet with some governors in the country, whose states were still being buffeted by polio, officials of the Federal Ministry of Health and Nigeria’s billionaire, Aliko Dangote.

turbed that the safety of polio-vaccine workers is not guaranteed in some parts of Nigeria but most importantly by the fact that there is no serious effort to promote mass education of the value of the programme to saving lives in endemic regions of the country.”

Health Ministry source

On Obama's July visit

A top official of the Health Ministry confirmed to Vanguard last night that they had received a notice from the Bill Gates Foundation cancelling the trip to Nigeria.

The official said there was nothing they could do than to put off necessary arrangements being made for the visit.

“Yes, it is true that the trip has been put off,” the official said. Competent diplomatic sources said the foundation opted to suspend the visit barely two days after the US government expressed disappointment with its Nigerian counterpart for pardoning convicted money launderers and warned it might cut aid meant for the country.

It was learnt that the cancellation of the trip had already been communicated to the Presidency and other stakeholders in the health sector in Nigeria.

In Lagos, US embassy said there was a lot of concern about the safety of medical personnel, who handle polio vaccination in some parts of Nigeria, especially the mindless killing of vaccination workers in Kano last month.

It said: “We know that Bill Gates Foundation was dis-

PHILANTHROPY SUMMIT: From left— Vice President Namadi Sambo, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister of Finance, and Mr. Tony Elumelu, Chairman, Heirs Holdings, at the Nigeria Philanthropy Summit in Abuja, yesterday.

Media reports last weekend said US President Barack Obama may also shelve his planned July visit to Nigeria.

US government considers the pardon to the former governor a setback to Nigeria’s anti-corruption effort and threatens to cut aid to Nigeria following the presidential pardon granted Alamieyeseigha.

Speaking on the seeming diplomatic face-off between Nigeria and the US over the comments of the US ConsulGeneral in Nigeria, Mr. Jeffery Hawkins, US Embassy Consulate in Lagos said the misunderstanding was borne out of presentations of points of view.

A source said: “We are concerned about the handling of certain issues at this crucial stage of Nigeria’s development. But beyond that, I must tell you that there are lots between Nigeria and the United States that we cannot allow any rupture in the relations between the two countries.

“You may be aware that there was a US business delegation in Nigeria last week and far-reaching contacts were made in the areas of infrastructural development, investment in the power sector and even provision of private funding for infrastructural development in Nigeria through the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, OPIC. “The US recognises the position of Nigeria as a major economic power in sub-Sahara Africa. We see a lot of growth in the economy and we also see success of the Bi-National Commission and above all, we know that Nigeria has a crucial role to play to bring peace to the Sahel region.”

“We keep to our democratic tradition of openness and transparency in governance, which are the hallmarks of the democratic traditions that you took away from our presidential system of government.

“The system has no double standards and our expression of our concerns must not be misconstrued as meddling in the domestic affairs of Nigeria.

We cannot dictate to government, but we cannot keep silent and allow errors that can be avoided from the onset.

“We are concerned about peace, security and development in Nigeria, which is a major partner to US in the war against terrorism.”

Presidency woos Nigerians

Nigerian government has, however, been making spirited attempts to assuage Nigerians over the pardon given to Alamieyeseigha, insisting that he had shown enough remorse for his “sins.”

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, said last week that the pardon was meant for people like Alamieyeseigha, who committed criminal offences and pleaded with Nigerians to understand with the President over the gesture.

But the US state department spokesperson fired back at the presidential action, saying “we see this as a setback for the fight against corruption, and also for our ability to play the strong role we’ve played in supporting rule of law and legal institution-building in Nigeria, which is very important for the country's future.

“We have made it clear to Nigerians that this puts a question mark on the kinds of work that we’ve been trying to do with them.”

... accuses US of meddling

Rather than try to appease the US, which is a major buyer of its oil, the Nigerian government accused it of meddling into its internal affairs and summoned the envoy for questioning, a development that angered the Americans the more.

In 2012 alone, the US spent about $226 million on health and governance programmes in Nigeria, while Nigeria is requesting for over $600 million for 2013, according to US government data.

The amount is in addition to what American private foundations such as Mr. Gates’ spend on Nigeria’s government and non-governmental organisations.

Gate, who is renowned as the biggest foreign supporter of the campaign to eradicate polio in Nigeria, has been working with the Nigerian authorities since 2009 to tame the monster that has claimed the lives of thousands of children in the country.

Vanguard , TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013—9

ahead of its closure.

“Tukur had graciously agreed to let Governor Uduaghan leave to enable him return to Asaba on time. When eventually it was time to leave for the return flight to Asaba, Uduaghan again notified the chairman who wished him a safe flight. Governor Amaechi, as the host governor, had to see Uduaghan off.”

Tukur challenges North-East govs

SCIENCE & TECH: From left— Chief Antonette Adejumo, Chairperson, Oyo State NHSME; Prof. Sunday Asuquo, Director-General/CEO, Shelda Science and Technology; Mr. Abiola Ladoja, Oyo State Commissioner for Science and Technology, representing the state governor, and Dr. Okesola Olaniyi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Science and Technology, at the 12th National Council on Science and Technology, NCST, in Ibadan, yesterday. PHOTO: Dare Fasube.

We didn't walk out on Tukur —Uduaghan, Amaechi

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, Political Editor, HENRY UMORU, IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI & SUZAN EDEH

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EOPLES Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, rebuffed insinuations of a fresh division in the ranks of its governors, describing as grossly untrue reports that two of its governors walked out on the national chairman during a stakeholders meeting in Port-Harcourt, weekend.

The party’s claim came as the two governors, Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State and Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, besides denying the reports, pledged loyalty and commitment to the Bamanga Tukur-led national executive of the party.

Amaechi specifically faulted mischief makers for initiating the reports.

Ameachi, who refuted the allegation while fielding questions from newsmen at the end of the 2013 Founders’ Day Lecture at the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, NAILS, in Abuja yesterday, said there was no truth that he stormed out of the meeting alongside Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.

I went for lunch — Amaechi

Visibly angered by the accusation, Ameachi said: “Didn’t you also read that I didn’t walk away?

That story was pure mischief.

“What really happened was that my colleague was leaving to travel back and I had not had lunch. So I had to follow him and somebody went and wrote that I walked away. I didn’t walk away.”

Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chike Ogeah, in a statement denying the report of the alleged walk-out said: “Governor Uduaghan is a leader that has distinguished himself in

the exercise of democratic principles and will never engage in acts that do not bind or unite.”

PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said the party held a successful stakeholders meeting in PortHarcourt for members from the South-South zone as it has held in three other zones.

Asserting that the meeting in Port-Harcourt was devoid of rancour, he said: “No governor walked out of the meeting. Governor Uduaghan had an appointment to keep and duly informed the National Chairman who gave him permission to leave.

“Governor Chibuike Amaechi just escorted him and he also took permission from the National Chairman.

Nobody is above the party and it is totally untrue that they walked out. Our governors are cultured and decent and, therefore, cannot engage in unruly acts.

“The issue of hunger and Mr. Biggs was actually a play of words by Governor Uduaghan and Governor Akpabio, who added humor to showcase the leadership appreciation of sacrifices of those who attended.”

On Akpabio’s N1m donation

Defending the N1 million donation made by the Akwa Ibom governor to each state chapter of the party at the meeting, PDP said: “The cost of the venue and other logistics were handled by the host governor and Governor

Akpabio showed his commitment to party faithful by assisting them with transport allowance as well as assisting them with some welfare.

“Politics all over the world is expensive and any gesture towards accommodating the sacrifices of the ordinary PDP faithful is important.”

Mr. Ogeah, in his own rebuttal of the assertions of a walk-out by governors Uduaghan and Rotimi Amaechi, said: “On arrival in Port Harcourt, Dr. Uduaghan had informed Alhaji Tukur of his desire to return to Asaba same day.

“Given that Asaba Airport closes to traffic by 5pm, the governor had sought the permission of Tukur to leave whenever it gets to the threshold of arriving at the Airport

Meanwhile, Tukur yesterday urged governors in the northeast zone to ensure that all broken relationships within the party are restored ahead of the 2015 general election.

Speaking yesterday at the PDP North-East stakeholders meeting in Bauchi, Tukur said his decision to tour all the zones of the party within the country was to rebuild and address challenges against the background of the threats from opposition parties.

He said: “Our great party has got what we call the triple “R” which means, reconciliation without confrontation, reformation without revenge and rebuilding the party based on equity and fairness and no imposition.

“Our party is respected because our manifesto and constitution delivers the dividends of democracy to the people.”

In separate remarks, governors Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State and Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State urged PDP members to embrace one another irrespective of political differences, saying under Tukur, PDP had opened its door for members to express their differences.

Others present at the meeting were the Deputy Governor of Taraba State, Alhaji Umaru Garba; Deputy Governor of Adamawa State, Mr. Bala Nginare; Senators Abdul Ningi, Babayo Gamawa, Adamu Gumba.

Kidnapped Setraco workers: Some may still be alive— Jonathan

BY BEN AGANDE & UDUMA KALU, with Agency Report

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BUJA—PRESIDENT Jonathan, yesterday, said he suspected that some of the workers of the Setraco Construction Company, who were kidnapped by the Ansaru militant group may still be alive.

Addressing a joint press conference with the visiting Lebanese President, Michel Sleiman, at the State House, President Jonathan said a combination of the difficulty of the terrain where the kidnapped foreigners are suspected to be and the fear that their kidnappers may kill, them has stopped Nigerian security

forces from trying to rescue them.

Seven foreigners, including four Lebanese, were kidnapped by Ansaru militant group in Bauchi State about a month ago.

The group later showed a video clip of bodies, which they claimed were those of the hostages, saying they were killed because of plans by Nigerian and British security forces to rescue them.

However, yesterday, Jonathan said: “We really suspect that some of the hostages probably have died either from health or other related causes or direct killing.

“But we still believe that not all the seven were killed because even the release in the

social media did not really show all the seven. So we are still working on it.”

He noted that though Nigeria had been working with other countries whose nationals were also kidnapped on the possibility of their rescue, the safety of the hostages remained a paramount consideration.

In a communique issued at the end of the visit, the two leaders called for the strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries, noting that greater people-topeople contacts would deepen mutual understanding and friendly ties between the two countries and its peoples.

Meanwhile, Islamist sect, Boko Haram, yesterday, released a second video about the French family it claimed to be holding hostage, and

threatened to increase kidnapping and suicide attacks in Cameroon should the Cameroonian government fail to release its members held there and in Nigeria.

The sect sent the video to journalists in Maiduguri, where the hostages are reportedly being held. The video appears to have been recorded while French Foreign Minister, Laurent Fabius, visited Cameroon and Nigeria.

However, a man, Tanguy Moulin-Fournier, who identified himself as head of the French family kidnapped in Cameroon, has spoken, according to a report by AFP. In the audio statement, purportedly recorded by Boko Haram and distributed to reporters in the north by intermediaries, Moulin-Fournier spoke in French and English.

10—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013

Nigeria’ll slash local debt this year —Minister As FG assures private sector on removal of barriers to productivity

BY PETER EGWUATU

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AGOS— NIGERIA will this year slash its domestic debt from around N6.35 trillion ($40 billion) because double-digit interest rates make the cost of servicing it too high, the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama, has said.

He spoke, yesterday, at a breakfast forum organised by the Nigeria Economic Summit Group, NESG, in which six cabinet ministers were in attendance.

He said it cost N699 billion to service debt last year, adding: “The cost of domestic debt is still very high.

We are discussing with the bankers’ committee the high cost of interest rates.”

Ngama said Nigeria had set up a fund starting at N100 billion that would begin retiring domestic debt from this year, noting that the overall debt to GDP ratio was 18.2 per cent at the end of 2012, up from 16 per cent a year earlier.

According to him, “Nigeria’s economy is growing as an investment destination as fiscal stability improves, its currency stabilises and economic growth remains high. But investors are wary of a long-established tendency to mismanage oil revenues, mostly because of massive corruption.

“In absolute terms, the budget deficit was expected to fall to N585 billion in 2013, from N744 billion last year.”

The Budget Office said last month the deficit would fall to 1.85 per cent of GDP in 2013, from 2.85 per cent last year.

“Nigeria has a very strong balance sheet now, compared with a decade ago,” Ngama said.

Nigeria’s debt to GDP ratio is low by world standards but high for a nation that still ranks among the top 10 oil exporters - it pumps out two million barrels of oil a day, almost all sold abroad. Much revenue is spent on a bloated civil service, and Ngama said 60 per cent of government spending was on salaries last year.

Romoval of barriers to productivity Meanwhile, the Federal Government has assured Nigerians of its readiness to remove all barriers that hinder productivity and investment in the country to enhance economic activities in the country.

The government called on Nigerians to alert the government through whistle blowing in the area of economic sabotage, such as smuggling of goods, of pipeline vandalism and other vital government infrastructure in every sector of the economy to bring perpetrators to book.

The Federal Government also disclosed that it was committed to improving power supply in the country as generation of power had increased from 3,800 mega watts to N4,517. It also assured that NIPOST was not dead.

It confirmed that the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment had been renamed Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, MITI, with effect from March 9, 2013.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga, who led other ministers such as Finance, Power, ICT, Works, Transport and Health to present the Federal Government score card and ‘Global competitiveness of the country,” disclosed this development at the meeting with the private sector.

The ministers in attendance include: Communication and Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson; Minister of State for Finance, Mr. Yerima Ngama; Minister of State for Power, Hajiya Zainab Ibrahim; Transport, Senator Idris Umar; Works, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda and Minister of State for Health, Mr Muhammad Ali Pate.

According to Aganga, “Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, has been the leading voice in the call for name change when government named the former Ministry of Commerce and Industry in 2011 as Ministry of Trade and Investment.”

From left: Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Adeyemi Ikuforiji and Deputy Speaker, Mr Kolawole Taiwo, during the sixth edition of Lagos Central Senatorial District town hall meeting, in Lekki, Lagos, yesterday.

Emergence of APC, divine opportunity for Nigerians —Senator Remi Tinubu L AGOS — SENATOR Oluremi Tinubu, representing Lagos Central, yesterday, in Lagos, said the emergence of All Progressives Congress, APC, through the coming together of progressive opposition parties, was a divine opportunity for Nigerians to correct all the wrongs that had been bedevilling Nigeria.

Mrs. Tinubu who spoke at the sixth edition of the Lagos Senatorial District town hall meeting with the theme “Rekindling hope,” gave account of her stewardship to her electorate, saying only a change of government could bring about the desired change in the country.

Among dignitaries at the event were House of Representatives members, Jide Akiloye and Yakub Balogun; Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, and his deputy, Kolawole Taiwo; former Lagos Deputy Governor, Mrs. Sarah Sosan; Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, state leader of the district, Prince Tajudeen Olusi; ACN State’s Assistant Publicity Secretary, Funsho Ologunde; former Defence Minister, Demola Seriki; former Lagos Finance Commissioner, Wale Edun; Matriarch of the Tinubus, Alhaja Betu Tinubu; and Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Legislative and Political Bureau, Omokulanle Akinyemi.

According to her, “if you look around the society, there is a lot of restiveness,

unemployment, so many ills. But we still believe that if we have good governance, a very strong and capable leader, all sectors of the economy and sections of this country will be positively affected. With unity of purpose, we can all make change happen in Nigeria and rekindle hope. We can all work towards achieving progressive goals; pool our strength together with one clear goal of developing our society through good governance, thereby accomplishing a lot for our teeming masses.”

Her funtions at the Senate

Speaking on her functions at the Senate, she promised to work harder to sustain ACN’s progressive views on various issues, including special status for Lagos, devolution of powers, fiscal federalism, justiciability of social and economic rights and gender issues, as well as the actualisation of constitution amendment, creation of local governments, true federalism, state police, removal of Land Use Act and provision of constitutional roles for traditional rulers.

Furnishing of classrooms blocks

She said allocations had been made under the 2013 federal appropriations for the construction and furnishing of three classrooms blocks with VIP toilets and borehole in three different primary schools.

Mrs Tinubu said: “The schools that are to benefit soon are Victoria Island Primary School, Epe; L.A. Primary School. Kadiri Street, Coker and Irepodun New Settlement Primary School, for resettled people in Ajah.

“This year, the federal budget for education has increased to N426.53 billion. I am happy that this includes N6.6 billion earmarked for the rehabilitation of technical colleges where vocational training will be offered to our teeming youths. We secured funding from TETFUND in the sum of N109 million for the construction of School of Primary and Early Child Care Education at the Sir Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPE). The Lagos State University also received N108 million from TETFUND to enable it build on teaching and learning facilities and resources.

Rehabilitation of schools

“Additional federal resources were allotted to rehabilitate the following schools: Jibowu Junior

High School, Yaba (N21m); Banjo Primary School, Ebute Meta, (N20m); Holy Trinity Primary School, Ebute Ero (N15m); and Ire Akari Primary School, Orile (N15m).

“We are expecting the delivery and installation of information and communication technologies (ICT) tools for Aje Comprehensive High School, Yaba. These will include 100 computers, one server, two teacher laptops and 110 charging points among others.

To empower women

“Presently, we have just begun efforts to distinctly empower several of our women. When given a little helping hand, many of them can truly excel.

Therefore, this year ’s constituency intervention project to the tune of N200 million will be utilized for the construction of an ultramodern market spread over about eight plots of land donated by the Chairman, Eti-Osa East LCDA, Hon. Isa Imam, to enhance our women’s economic empowerment through availability of affordable shops for trading activities.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013—11

Ekiti dep gov on leave to attend to health challenges

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

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DO EKITI — EKITI State Deputy Governor, Mrs Funmilayo Olayinka, has sought for a sick leave from Governor Kayode Fayemi, to attend to her health challenges after many trips abroad since the inception of the government over two years ago.

According to a twoparagraph statement from the Office of the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mr Tayo Ekundayo, yesterday, the Deputy Governor had applied for the leave to attend to her health problem.

In the statement, no mention was made on the duration of the leave or whether she would spend the leave in the country or abroad.

According to the statement, “Ekiti State Government wishes to inform members of the public that the Deputy Governor of the state, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka, has taken leave to attend to issues relating to her health. We urge all well meaning citizens of the state to remember her in their prayers.”

13 Ibadan Poly Governing Council members risk jail

BY OLA AJAYI

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BADAN — THIRTEEN members of the Governing Council, The Polytechnic, Ibadan, including the Chairman of the council, Prof.

Oladapo Afolabi, risk being committed to prison over alleged violation of a court order.

Afolabi and 12 other members of the council were said to have failed to implement the court judgment which ordered the council to calculate and pay the gratuity and pension to a former lecturer of the institution, Moses Ademola Adesina.

The ex-staff had filed a suit before the State High Court, praying it to order the management of the institution to pay him his entitlement after he retired voluntarily from the institution.

Already, the court will Thursday begin hearing on the alleged contempt charge levelled against the council.

Adesina, retired from the institution in 1999 after working for 12 years but yet to be paid his gratuity.

Ondo uncovers 6,000 ghost workers on LG payrolls

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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KURE — NO fewer than 6,000 ghost workers have been uncovered by Ondo State Government following the outcome of a staff audit committee it set up.

The government in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Rotimi Adelola, said “the discovery of monumental fraud in phantom recruitment exercise carried out at the local councils where unauthorised recruitment of unqualified workers or none existing individuals whose names are being used to deduct salaries from the local government’s accounts on monthly basis were discovered.

The statement said the probe committee, in the course of its investigation, observed that the difference in nominal roles of the local councils between December 2008 and December 2012 was over 10,000 staff claimed to have been employed.

Also included in the committee’s interim report, according to the statement, was the discovery of over 6,000 junior workers and about 4,000 senior workers recruited within the same period

without following due process.

According to the statement, “before any recruitment could be done at the local government level, the express approval of the state governor should be sought and the local government chairmen should consider if they have the fund to pay the wages

of such new recruits.”

It noted, however, that nothing of such was done in the case of the affected workers, explaining that most of the names of workers claimed to have been recruited in the illegal recruitment exercise were non-existent, saying: “The names given as workers recruited

at the time of the illegal recruitment are fictitious names being used by the council operators to dupe the state. And the few of names that could be traced are those of school pupils and family friends who collect salaries for rendering no service."

From left: Former Commissioner for Local Government, Lagos State, Prince Rotimi Agunsoye; Elegusi of Ikateland, Lagos State, Oba Saheed Ademola; Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State; Senator Olorunimbe Mamora and Commissioner for Local Government, Osun State, Hon. Kolapo Alimi during the visit of the monarch to the governor at Government House, Osogbo.

CAN, Osun govt bicker over introduction of hijab in Christian schools

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

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SOGBO — OSUN State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, and the state government are heading for a showdown over the wearing of hijab by female Muslim students in Christian public schools as CAN claimed it was parts of Islamization of Osun agenda by the present administration in the state, headed by Gov. Rauf Aregbesola.

While CAN at a briefing yesterday raised the alarm of a looming religious crisis in the state allegedly being sponsored by the state government, the government on its part, said the allegations were unfounded as no government in the past had given all religions in the state their due respect than the present government CAN claimed it had uncovered intelligent report on the plot by the state government to Islamize the state through policies and actions since its inception.

At the briefing attended by CAN leaders in the state including its Chairman, Superior Evangelist Abraham Aladeseye and Secretary, Rev Fr Michael Gbenga Ajayi, the association alleged that the government was found of fixing state functions on Sunday morning when every Christian was expected to be in

church for Sunday service.

The CAN Secretary, Rev Fr Ajayi who read the text of the press conference said “the agitation for the use of hijab got to a climax the same month when a female student of Baptist High School, Iwo was arrested by the Police on the order of the school authority for daring to wear hijab

to school.

Islamic fundamentalists, Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram and other terrorist groups across the globe have one thing in common; an aversion to western civilization which they believe does not promote the Islamic religion and as such must be done away with through any means including violence. Is this not what is happening in Osun

Sate?”

However, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Sunday Akere, while reacting to the allegations, said they were unfounded, adding that there was no government in the past that has given all religions in the state their due respect than this government.

Afenifere berates Ali over comment on Yoruba race

BY DAPO AKINREFON

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AGOS — PAN-Yoruba sociocultural organisation, Afenifere, has chided a former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Col. Ahmadu Ali (rtd) for making uncharitable comments about the Yoruba people.

It would be recalled that Ali, in a recent interview, was quoted as describing the Yoruba as ungrateful people.

The group in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Yinka Odumakin, said it would have ignored the utterances against the South-West, but maintained that “it is crystal clear that Ahmadu Ali has no lesson to teach the Yoruba in the art of gratitude and his uncouth remark

only portrays him as ill-mannered and foul-mouthed.

"This type of remark against a whole people is totally unbecoming of Ali whom we thought should be a cultured man having come from Igala kingdom that has centuries of civilization behind it.”

While it berated the former PDP chairman over his utterances, the group said “the grouse of Ali against the Yoruba is that they would not worship his god (Obasanjo) and as such demonized them.”

The statement read in part: “For Ali and those who think like him, Yoruba don’t venerate mere positions but rather leadership through service to the community.

This explains why the Yoruba adore Awolowo who contested the highest office in the land three

times and lost and resent Ali’s hero who occupied the same office three times.

"The difference is that as Premier of Western Region, Awo used the resources of the region to banish ignorance through free education, eliminated diseases through free health, introduced television culture to the Yoruba even before France, made Yoruba to aim for the sky by building the 25-storey Cocoa House in Ibadan, among other imperishable.

“In contrast, the years Ali’s hero spent as leader of Nigeria institutionalized corruption which deepened poverty for all Nigerians including the Yoruba.

The poverty index in Nigeria was 45 per cent in 1999 and jumped to 67 per cent in 2007 in spite of unprecedented oil earnings in the same period."

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013

Amaechi pledges loyalty to PDP

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BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

ORT HAR C O U R T — G OVERNOR Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State has reiterated his loyalty to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Assuring that he will continue to deliver the dividends of democracy as governor of Rivers State, Amaechi, who spoke when the National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamangar Tukur, led other members of the National Working Committee of the party to him on a courtesy visit at Government House, Port Harcourt, Sunday, said his government will also remain committed to the party.

He said his government will support every reconciliatory move within the party and efforts to firmly reposition the PDP.

FG lifts suspension on Dana Airlines

BY KENNETH EHIGIATOR

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HE Federal Govern ment, yesterday, lifted the suspension imposed on Dana Airlines last Saturday, after a meeting among officials of the airline, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, and Aviation Ministry in Abuja.

Consequently, the airline will resume flight operations today, according to the airline management last night.

Government, however, insisted on grounding the airline’s airplane that had a snag last weekend that necessitated the suspension.

Special Assistant to the Minister of Aviation, Mr. Joe Obi, confirmed to Vanguard last night that after series of deliberation on critical safety issues involved in the airline’s operations, government lifted the suspension imposed on the airline Obi said: “Officials of the Federal Ministry of Aviation and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, met with the management team

from Dana Airlines today (yesterday) in Abuja and deliberated on some safety issues in connection with the operations of the airline.

“At the end of the meeting, the suspension of the operations of the airline which took effect last

Saturday was lifted. The airline is to resume normal operations immediately.

“However, the particular aircraft which had a snag over the weekend is to remain grounded until after its airworthiness has been re-certi-

fied by Boeing, the manufacturer of the aircraft.”

Dana Airlines also issued a statement last night, saying that following the lifting of the suspension, it will commence scheduled operations today.

EARLY WARNING: From left: Director of Administration, National Emergency Management Authority, NEMA, Dr. Zanna Mohammed; Director-General of NEMA, Mohammed Sani Sidi, Corps Public Education Officer, Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Mr. Jonas Agwu; Public Relations Officer, Federal Fire Service, Mr. Elechi Collins and Head, Public Relations of NEMA, Malam Yushau Shuaib, presenting Early Warning Alert for 2013 Rainfall and Disaster implication, in Abuja, yesterday. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan.

Bayelsa faults DMO on debt profile ...says debt was inherited

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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E N A G O A — BAYELSA State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, yesterday, said his administration had not borrowed a kobo since its assumed office,

despite the reported debt profile of the state by the Debt Management Office.

The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secrtary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, argued that while the substantive figures in the

document by Debt Management Office were correct, it was an inherited burden which the state government had made much effort to reduce to a bearable level, even amidst the challenges of meeting the financial requirements of running the administration.

The government noted the fundamentals of the report, but pointed out that beyond the perceived huge IGR, responsibilities of government in the state were equally large.

The governor added that the repayment of debt had been on-going, having established the total debts inherited from the previous administrations, as concerted efforts were being made to liquidate the remaining part of the debt.

He said: “We noted the relative figures in the report, which suggested concern but the reality is that the debts were solely inherited and we have made much efforts to reduce it significantly. The Dickson administration has not borrowed a kobo since assumption of office as we have rather been saving money to finance development programmes and we can see the results so far."

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013—13

Privatisation: Bidders pay $156.5m for five power firms

BY NOEL ONOJA

A From left: Senator Idris Umar, Minister of Transport; Dr. Bashir Yuguda, Minister of State for Works; Mr. Olusegun Aganga, Minister of Trade and Investment; Dr. Yerima Lawan Ngama, Minister of State for Finance; Mr. Foluso Phillips, Chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group and Hajiya Zainab Ibrahim Kuchi, Minister of State for Power, during a breakfast dialogue with some Ministers facilitated by Nigerian Economic Summit Group in Lagos. Photos: Lamidi Bamidele.

From left: Professor Anya O. Anya; Mrs. Nike Akande, former Minister of Industry; Engineer Mustapha Bello, Executive Secretary, Nigeria Investment Promotion Council and Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

TOTAL of $156.60 million, about N24.9 billion has been paid to the Federal Government by four bidders who emerged as core investors in the PHCN successor companies.

The amount, which represents 25 per cent of the bid value for five of the companies, is a mandatory payment for the acquisition of generation and distribution companies put up for sale.

A breakdown of the list of companies that have paid, include: Amperion Power Company Limited: $33 million for Geregu Power Plc.; Integrated Energy Distribution & Marketing Company: $42.25 million and $14.75 million respectively for Ibadan and Yola DISCO. NEDC/KEPCO: $32.75

million for the Ikeja DISCO; West Power & Gas: $33.75 million for Eko DISCO. The payments are coming ahead of the, March 21, deadline for all the bidders to make the mandatory 25 per cent payment in line with the Share Purchase Agreements, SPAs, signed for the transactions.

Other bidders for the PHCN successor companies that are yet to pay are: 4Power Consortium (Port-Harcourt Disco); Aura Energy Limited (Jos Disco); Interstate Electrics Limited (Enugu Disco); KANN Consortium Utility Company Limited (Abuja Disco); Sahelian Power SPV Limited (Kano Disco); Vigeo Consortium (Benin Disco); Transcorp Consortium (Ughelli Power Plc); CMEC/

EUAFRIC Energy JV (Sapele Power Plc).

Others are Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited (Kainji Power Plc) and North-South Power Company (Shiroro Power Plc).

Under the guidelines provided by the Technical Committee of the National Council on Privatisation, NCP, the core or preferred bidders risk losing their bids for the respective companies if

by March 21, the remaining nine companies are unable to raise the mandatory fees.

The bids will automatically go to the reserved bidders, usually the second highest bids quoted for the companies, except where the NCP decides otherwise based on the rules guiding the transactions.

C M Y K

14— Vanguard , TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013

Anambra PDP members threaten to storm Abuja over crisis

Impeachment: Drama in court ...As Agbaso calls on security agencies to probe N458m bribe

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

AWKA — WORRIED by the lingering crisis in Anambra State branch of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, some stakeholders of the party have resolved to mobilise members in the state to the national headquarters in Abuja to prevail on the leadership to find a lasting solution to the problem.

At a meeting hosted by Senator Emma Anosike at Umuleri in Anambra East Local Government area, the stakeholders from the 21 local government areas, said the visit to Abuja became necessary to ensure that the crisis was resolved before the 2014 governorship election expected to take place in November this year.

They include former elected local government chairmen and members of national and state houses of assembly.

The communique, which was read by the former local government chairman of Idemili North, Chief Okey Muo Aroh, stated that stakeholders of PDP should no longer watch while the fortunes of the party continued to nosedive.

The convener of the meeting, Senator Emma Anosike, told reporters that the national chairman of PDP and members of the NWC and NEC were aware of the meeting.

OWERRI — A mild drama played out, yesterday, in an Imo State High Court when the legal team of embattled Deputy Governor, Sir Jude Agbaso, headed by Patrick Ikwueto (SAN), sought to move his client’s ex-parte motion.

This came on a day the embattled deputy governor again called on the police, Department of State Security, DSS, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and other antigraft agencies in the country to thoroughly investigate the alleged N458 million bribe leveled against him.

Agbaso had approached the court presided over by Hon. Justice Florence Du-

ruoha-Igwe, to press home his fundamental right to fair hearing when Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN) surfaced and challenged jurisdiction of the court to entertain the matter.

Replying, Agbaso’s lawyer explained that they were in court to ask for an order for substituted service on the other parties, stressing that the court had ample jurisdiction to make an order for substituted service.

“The issue of serving court processes is fundamental and cannot be compromised or waived. Personal service on the lawmakers would be very difficult unless served on the Clerk of the House,” Ikwueto said.

He described as “very interesting” that some of the expected parties had their

counsel in court, even without being served, pointing out that since the parties were now aware of the impending suit, they should be made to maintain the status quo.

On the issue of jurisdiction, Ikwueto argued that no third party could rule on it except the court itself, adding that “this case deals with a criminal matter, investigated by the lawmakers instead of the relevant bodies established by law.”

Before adjourning the matter to March 27, 2013, for definite hearing, Justice Duruoha-Igwe struck out the motion filed by the lawmakers represented by Akintola for being incompetent.

The court approved Agbaso’s prayer for substituted service, as well as ordered

that the respondents be put on notice, adding that the ninth respondent knew when a matter was subjudice Meanwhile, the deputy governor, Sir Jude Agbaso, has again called on the EFCC and other security agencies to probe the N458 million bribe levelled against him.

Agbaso, who made call when he played host to some Owerri-based newspaper publishers, also said he suspected a grand conspiracy and foul-play in the whole saga.

“I have written a formal letter to the Director of State Security Service in Imo State to investigate my call logs to show if I gave the account details as alleged by Joseph Dina of JPROS International”, Agbaso said.

Don’t talk about LG election now, PPN tells Obi

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

His Grace, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigema, President, Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (right) with Gov. Peter Obi of Anambra State, at the Presidential Wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, yesterday, to board the presidential jet to Rome, as members of the Federal Government delegation led by the Senate President, David Mark, to attend the inauguration of Pope Francis 1.

Ojukwu family frowns on EFCC’s refusal to investigate estate agent ....As court orders publication of originating summons on Bianca

BY TONY EDIKE/BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

ENUGU — BOARD of Directors of Ojukwu Transport Limited, OTL, has expressed disappointment and surprise over the response by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to its complaint of alleged ‘fraud and obtaining by false pretences and other offences levelled against Mr. Emmanuel Omuojine, an estate agent to Bianca Ojukwu and the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.

This came as a Lagos High Court, sitting in Igbosere, Lagos, C M Y K

yesterday, ordered that the Originating Motion filed by Chief Debe Odumegwu Ojukwu, who claimed to be the eldest son of the late Bianfran war lord, Chief Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, be published in national dailies, for the attention of Mrs. Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, 5th defendant in the suit.

OTL directors had in a letter written by their lawyer, Ifeanyi Okumah on August 5, 2012, and a reminder dated September 28, 2012, raised several issues against the property management agent and urged the Commission to

investigate his activities while handling some property belonging to the company in Lagos.

The EFCC, however, turned down their request in its reply dated October 10, 2012, but was received in February 2013.

In the EFCC letter signed by one Ola Oji for the Executive Chairman, the Commission said it had “carefully reviewed the petition and has observed that the properties listed therein are already the subject matter of an inheritance war between factions of the complainants’ family.”

But reacting to the EFCC’s position, the OTL directors

represented by Dr. P. Ike Ojukwu, said they were surprised that the Commission decided to look the other way while the company’s resources were being siphoned into private pockets.

The claimant had joined Ojukwu Transport Limited, Professor Joseph Okwuabudike Ojukwu, Engineer Emmanuel Ndubueze Ojukwu, Mrs Lotanna Ojukwu, Mrs Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, Mr Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Mr Patricia Ojukwu and Mrs Margret Nwagbo (NEE Ojukwu) as defendants in the suit.

AWKA — THE Anambra State branch of the Peoples Party of Nigeria, PPN, yesterday, urged Obi to forget about conducting local government election in the state before the end of his tenure.

According to the party, there is no time for the election again, in view of the governorship election that would take place later this year.

State chairman of the party, Mr. Isaac Onuka, who spoke at the inauguration of Anambra State branch of the party in Awka, yesterday, said everybody’s attention had been focused on the governorship election.

He added that talking about local government election at this point in time would be diversionary.

He said: “In my capacity as the state chairman of PPN, our concentration has shifted from the local government to the governorship election because it is belated to talk about local government election now.

“We urged the governor to conduct the local government election earlier, but he refused."

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013 —15

Reps frustrate NNPC's effort to cover finances of 16 subsidiaries

BY OKEY NDIRIBE & EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

ABUJA — THE House of Representatives, yesterday, frustrated efforts by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to cover the financial records of its 16 subsidiaries.

This was disclosed by Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, Abdulmumuni Jibrin, during an investigative hearing in Abuja.

He further disclosed that “ none of the subsidiaries of NNPC that appeared at the session yesterday could present before the Committee the requested financial details of their various companies.”

Their representatives claimed that the invitation got to them late.

The House had earlier revealed that NNPC made N6 trillion between 2009 and 2012 as internally generated revenue but refused to remit N142 billion to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) as required by the Fiscal Responsibility Act, FRA, 2007.

Court declines to reinstate Salami ...says it lacks jurisdiction to okay him back to office

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

ABUJA — Hopes of the embattled President of the Court of Appeal, PCA, Justice Isa Ayo Salami, returning to office a year and seven months after he was suspended by the National Judicial Council, NJC, were yesterday, dashed by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

The Council had on August 18, 2011, ordered Salami to proceed on an indefinite suspension on the ground that he was found guilty of judicial misconduct.

He was accused of lying on

oath against a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu. Salami had in the wake of a feud that ensued between him and the ex-CJN, alleged via an affidavit he deposed before the high court that Katsina-Alu pressurised him to pervert justice in a gubernatorial election appeal dispute involving Sokoto State.

However, the NJC, after a stormy session it held on August 18, cleared the former CJN, even as it axed Salami for violating the code of conduct for judicial officers in the country.

Nevertheless, the Council had since then okayed him to return to office, a move that was vehemently opposed by President Jonathan who insisted that re-instating Salami within the pendency of legal actions revolving around his suspension would amount to sub-judice.

Meanwhile, in its judgment, yesterday, the high court not only struck out the suit that sought for his immediate reinstatement, but also divested itself of the jurisdiction to grant any of the reliefs pleaded by the plaintiffs.

Presiding Justice Adamu

Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament and Miss ECOWAS Peace Ambassador, Hyaladzirra Banu, during a courtesy call on the Speaker, by the Peace Ambassador, in Abuja.

Bello maintained that the plaintiffs, 11 legal practitioners who approached the court under the aegis of the Registered Trustees of Centre for the Promotion of Arbitration, were bereft of the locus-standi to seek for Salami’s recall.

The Judge stressed that in the eyes of the law, only the suspended PCA had the requisite locus to ask the court to return him to office, saying, “he is the only one whose right was directly affected by the action of the 3rd defendant, NJC.” Though both the NJC and Justice Salami himself, had in their separate written addresses, implored the court to go ahead and grant all the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs, Justice Bello held that “the fact that the 3 rd and 4 th defendants, NJC and Salami, supported the suit, did not in any way add any value to enhance the locus-standi of the plaintiffs.

“The mere fact that they are legal practitioners that took oath to protect the constitution at all times does not cloak them with the locus to file this action.

"On that basis, this court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain this suit and the proper order in the circumstance is to strike out the suit. I, therefore, make an order striking out the suit and I make no order as to cost,” he added.

Pension thief, Yusufu secures N10m bail …. I sent him to prison for his own safety, says judge

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

ABUJA — Having spent two months at Kuje Maximum Prison, self-confessed pension thief, Mr. John Yakubu Yusufu, was yesterday, granted bail by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

Yusufu, who was on January 30, remanded in prison custody after he pleaded notguilty to a four-count criminal charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, secured bail in the sum of N10m.

Ruling on his application for bail, trial Justice Adamu Bello also ordered the convicted former Director of Pension in the Police Affairs Ministry to produce one reliable surety in like sum, stressing that such person must not be below the rank of a director in the Federal Civil Service.

Besides, the court

maintained that the surety must not only be resident within the Federal Capital Territor y, but must show evidence of ownership of a landed property in Abuja.

The surety, according to Justice Adamu, should tender the title deed of the property to the Chief Registrar of the high court for authentication, even as the court yesterday seized the international passport of the accused person, warning that he should not travel out of the country without permission.

“Pending the perfection of his bail conditions, the accused person should remain in prison custody,” the judge added.

Meanwhile, before the accused was granted bail yesterday, Justice Bello, adduced reasons he not only remanded the convict, but also why he was allowed to remain in prison detention for over two months.

The Judge insisted that his decision was aimed at assuaging the anger of Nigerians, following the slapon-the-wrist sentence that was earlier handed to the accused by an Abuja High Court at Gudu where Yusufu had on January 27, confessed that he connived with seven other civil servants to steal over N23billion from the Police Pension Fund.

It will be recalled that the trial Judge in that case, Justice Abubakar Thalba, had relied on the statutory provision of section 309 of the Penal Code Act and sentenced him to two years imprisonment with an option of N750, 000 fine, a sum the accused quickly paid and drove home.

However, he was subsequently re-arrested by the EFCC, following his alleged complicity in another N300million fraud.

In the new charge, Yusufu was said to have on or about February 14, 2012, knowingly failed to make full disclosure of his assets and liability in the Declaration of Assets Form he filled and submitted, and equally failed to declare that he owned a company known as AY-A Global Services Limited.

He was said to have used the name of the company and lodged in a fixed deposit account with Zenith Bank, the sum of N250million, N10million in a fixed deposit account with the First Bank of Nigeria Plc, and another N29 million which he was said to have instructed one Danjuma Mele to lodge in his company account in the name of Jidag Technical Services Ltd with Diamond Bank.

The offence, according to the EFCC, is punishable under section 27 (3) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment

etc) Act Cap E1 2004.

Yusufu had through his lead counsel, Mr. Maiyaki Theodore Bala, begged the court to allow him to go home on the day he was docked.

Giving reasons he took the action, Justice Bello, in his ruling, said: “The accused person had pleaded not guilty to this charge and under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

“Though he had on the day he was arraigned, prayed this court to release him on bail, I refused so as to let the passions and emotions of the public cool down. I decided that it will better serve the interest of justice for the accused person to be kept away from public glare for his own safety."

In the meantime, the court has fixed April 22 to commence hearing on the substantive case against the accused.

C M Y K

16—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013—17

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The mess in Imo: No longer a laughing matter indebted bank accounts were being “rescued” while innocent citizens were being kidnapped and killed by the dispossessed. I think the messy quarrel between Okorocha and the Agbasos is that one has dipped his hands into the other’s basket of stolen yams.

Imo people must not allow themselves to be deceived. Both Okorocha and Agbaso have embarked on characteristic diversionary tactic to cover up the criminal act of mindless looting and assets stripping going on in Imo State.

Okorocha would want to be seen as an anti-corruption Governor while the Agbasos resort to crying to Owerri Zone as champions of their cause. Utter rubbish! How can Okorocha explain the award of a contract of N1.2 billion for an urban road in Owerri that is less than three kilometres; that is, N400 million per kilometre? Imo State is not Bayelsa where the topography is swampy! Why was the contract sum of N1.2 billion paid upfront? When was the contract advertised? When was the road designed? How many more contracts were awarded like that and the contract sum paid upfront? Did the award of the contract follow due process? By his

Deputy Governor, Jude Agbaso: Embattled.

own admission, Okorocha pays up to 40 per cent mobilisation fee when he is not paying 100 per cent up front. Is that not criminal? And people are applauding!

I

nstead of diverting the attention of Imo people by going after Agbaso (and am not implying that Agbaso did not deserve what he is getting from his co-traveller) Okorocha should be explaining to Imo people where he kept the over N26 billion his much demonised predecessor handed over to him. If he can tell Imo people how his predecessor “misappropriated” N62 billion, he sure can explain a matter of

,

ATE last year, I attended a party at the Abuja home of a highly distinguished sister of mine who had been bestowed with a deserved national honour. A distinguished senator asked me, “Pini, how is Clean and Green?

How is Imo State?” “I take the fifth!” I answered. “Why?” He pressed.

“Because anything I say will be construed as sour grape. You know I just left office and my views may be seen as biased”. There was a general laughter. He gave up. I returned to nursing my cognac. But the rot in Imo is no longer a laughing matter. Events are such that it is difficult for any lover of the state to keep quiet. People are fleeing the state because of insecurity.

Those who live outside the state are afraid to go home.

The current drama of impeaching the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Jude Agbaso (call it Act One Scene One) reminds me of a story late Sam Mbakwe once told us. Two thieves; call them thief ‘A’ and thief ‘B’, went to steal yams from a farm. On their way back, thief ‘B’ excused himself to go and ease himself in the bush. On his return he noticed that his accomplice, thief ‘A’ had stolen from his basket and stuffed into his own basket. Thief ‘B’ looked at his accomplice and said to him: “Nna, I know both of us are thieves, but you?

You are too much! You are an incurable thief!” Every fool knew that Okorocha and the Agbasos regarded the state as war trophy and went ahead to apportion the state to themselves in the name of “Rescue Mission”. That was why Jude Agbaso, even as Deputy Governor, would be sworn in as Commissioner for Works, the first time ever Nigeria would witness such ridiculous arrangement.

It had to be so because there has never been honour among thieves!

What was Jude Agbaso’s first strike?

Demolish the Deputy Governor’s Lodge which was newly renovated for the former incumbent and to build a new one! As he was demolishing and rebuilding, Okorocha was also demolishing and rebuilding, grabbing every available land and erecting buildings. In the scramble to quickly rescue private pockets, Imo became a state of Squares; if it is not Heroes Square, it is Ikemba Square, Ojukwu Square or Bongo square, First Lady’s Office that would make Imelda Marcos jealous, new Deputy Governor’s office, new Executive Chambers, a new mini Basilica in the Government House, etc, all dead assets that add no value to the economy of the state. In the scramble and looting, the Speaker of Imo House of Assembly was also alleged to be awarding contracts. Meanwhile, heavily

As for the PDP that wants to embrace the Agbasos, although I am not a party member, but they will be foolish to do that. That will amount to supporting a criminal act

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small change like N26 billion? He should explain to Imo people who bought ADA PALM and ITC and where the proceeds are. He should tell Imo people where the proceeds of the General Hospitals he sold are. He should show Imo people where else in the state he has built his world class primary schools except on Wetheral Road and where the 27, 30-KVA soundproof generators supplied to the 27 Primary Health Centres in the state before we left office are. Where are the

over N12 billion assets of IROMA? Okorocha has many questions to answer to Imo people!

As for the Agbasos, anybody who buys into the lacrimal spin they want to give to their current travail must have his head examined. When Martin Agbaso recklessly helped to dismantle the Imo Chatter of Equity and short circuited the turn of Owerri people in 2015, by selling the flag of APGA to Okorocha, it was simply a business deal, the type many upwardly mobile and predatory Igbo young men see politics as. And the Agbasos alone, not Owerri zone, benefitted from that deal.

The five positions Martin demanded from Okorocha went to his family: Deputy Governor, Jude Agbaso; Commissioner for Works, Jude Agbaso; Commissioner for Health, Agbaso’s uncle (his mother ’s brother); Special Adviser, Jude Agbaso’s wife; Managing Director of IBC, Agbaso’s in-law (husband to his immediate younger sister)! Now Martin is again in the market hawking APGA governorship ticket to somebody from Orlu, while he aspires to go to the senate. Such is the gluttony that is politics for Martin Agbaso! So where does Owerri zone come it in this sordid deal? Was it not the same Martin Agbaso who mobilised Emekukwu youths against Ohakim’s proposed relocation of Imo State University to Mbaise/ Ngo-Okpala site?

Now they are in trouble, he wants to use the hands of Owerri zone to pull the chestnut out of the fire!

As for the PDP that wants to embrace the Agbasos, although I am not a party member, but they will be foolish to do that. That will amount to supporting a criminal act. Besides, the Agbasos are simply the flip side of Okorocha. The Agbasos were complicit to Okorocha’s dismantling of the legacy of the PDP government of Ohakim, including demolishing millennium schools and repainting ambulances we gave to the 27 Primary Health Centres in Imo and re-launching them as theirs! Jude Agbaso was the one who, tongue-incheek rationalised the sacking of 10,000 graduates employed by Ohakim because they “did not have tables and biros”! That simple act of infamy affected no less than 50,000 Imo citizens, if you add their dependants!

The PDP should begin now to worry about its reputation and not to embrace any discredited former tormentor that comes along. What is unfolding now is Act One scene one. Act One Scene two is yet to unfold. Everybody should simply sit back and watch. The penkelemes in Imo is no longer a laughing matter!

OPINION

BY ADEWALE ADEOYE Continued from yesterday's Viewpoints pg

A

FTER routing the Fulani, al-Kanemi returned Mai Dunoma to his domain. The siege continued until after the death of Uthman Dan Fodio in 1817.

By 1830, some terms of truce was declared between Sokoto and Kukawa in the 13th century. The prowess of Borno extended to the port of Kabara near Timbuktu, where currently, Islamic groups were recently expunged by the French and allied forces. Borno had made efforts to expand its purist Islamic norms to the other parts of Nigeria or the Northern hemisphere. For instance, in the autumn of 1825, Bornu army’s attempt to take over Kano was repelled by 124,000 Fulani soldiers, half of the number of soldiers deployed by Alaafin of Oyo to safeguard Yoruba territory almost a century earlier. The Borno army captured the Bauchi flag, while the Fulani soldiers also captured silver timbre. Realising the balance of forces, peace accord was signed at around the time the Nigerian nation began to emerge. In all the ancient battles, the Shuwa Arabs supported the El Kanemi who is known to be the direct descendant of the Holy Prophet Mohammed (SAS), through his mother. There are historical reasons to suggest that the uprising may continue to receive unprecedented support from unlikely quarters in the Middle-East. The break-up of Boko Haram into factions appear to reflect the old rivalry between the North West and the North East which

Boko Haram: A people’s alternative to peace (2) has been explained earlier. It now appears that at least three extremist groups, the Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan, Boko Haram (Jamaa Ahlal-suunah Li-dawa wa al-Jihad) and other fringe less known Islamic groups have emerged in the North, each representing varying ideologies of Islam. In Zaria lay the prominence of the Shiite which mystical root is Iran. There is now the obvious fear that apart from the on-going confrontation with the state, intraIslam insurgence, based on ideological cleavages, like in the case of Pakistan and Iraq is not unlikely in the future.

This portend serious danger for the conservative caliphate which has been holding on to power since 1804 to the disadvantage of the poor, impoverished masses.

We should recollect that in 1981, the Maitasine group relaunched its own mode of Islam which was crushed by the government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari. With this kind of history, there has not been any known time in history that the North East fully submitted itself to the overall influence of the modern Nigerian state. During my last visit in 1995 to Maiduguri, a prominent Kanuri politician told me that there would be peace in the North East as long as their son the late Gen Sani Abacha, remained in power. Abacha himself tried to re-enact the rivalry between the North East and the North West using the then Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Dasuki as a pun. No doubt, apart from wearing down the

psychology of the Nigerian armed forces, which is one major goal guerilla movements all over the world strive to achieve, the Islamic movement does not seem to draw enough harsh, visible resentment from locals in territories where it has been most active.

Viewed critically, Boko Haram is a radical, revolutionary Islamic movement that is questioning orthodox political and economic traditions in Nigeria but which is most proclaimed in the North where political leaders literally feed on the misery of the people. Today, Boko Haram appears to be exploring the deep-seated poverty in the North, the public distrust of the authorities and the ethnic cleavages in Nigeria to strengthen its recruitment base.

Ab initio, the group may have started as a front for politicians seeking political power, the reality now is that it has assumed the status of a cultural and religious movement capable of drawing sympathy from an angry and disenchanted Northern Muslim audience, and of course with great potentials of drumming huge support from millions of angry and hungry people spread across the Maghreb region where the exclusion from economic and political contest has been their lot.

Continues on pg 18 *Mr. Adeoye, a journalist, wrote from Abuja.

18— Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013 AHEAD of the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting which holds Wednesdays, the public occasionally learns of the key issues to be discussed. An issue considered pressing was the Federal Government’s intention to borrow N251 billion to finance deficits in the infrastructure budget.

The nation exited the debt trap in 2005 after series of lengthy negotiations that ended in a debt buy-back deal for the country, an effort for which Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, who was also Finance Minister at the time under President Obasanjo received accolades at home and abroad. It is curious that the nation is incubating another debt trap so soon under the watch of the same person, a situation which has led to outcries and warnings from persons and institutions.

Governor of the Central Bank, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, last year in London warned that, “We are borrowing more money today at a higher interest rate while leaving the heavy debt burden for our children and grandchildren”. He advised the Federal Government not to allow “present and unborn generations inherit the heavy burden of foreign debt since Nigeria

Nigeria’s Impending Debt TTrap rap is currently in big danger because of it.”

Similarly, Director-General of the Debt Management Office, DMO, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo has warned that the nation’s debt profile may hit $25 billion (about N3.75 trillion) by 2015. According to the DMO, on its website, domestic debt stands at more than N6 trillion, while foreign debt at the end of 2012 was more than $6.5 billion.

A socio-cultural group, Afenifere Renewal Group, also said, “It is ironic that the same Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, who negotiated debt forgiveness for Nigeria eight years ago, is also the same

person spearheading Nigeria’s re-entry into another foreign debt trap.”

Key to funding infrastructure is raising funds locally, especially through prudent management of local resources. Nigeria does not need to borrow abroad to finance development projects. If we curtail avenues of waste, reduce the size of government, plug loopholes in the revenue chain, remove ghost workers from the payroll, and combat corruption, there would be funds to finance infrastructure.

The times call for better assessment of projects. The current culture of wastes sticks to a pattern. Contracts are awarded for projects that contribute little to the development of the country, such that even if there are funds for them, they are wasted in the layers of bureaucracies that dot the national landscape and that are deliberately introduced to consume the national budget than use it in developing the country.

Another debt trap, as projected by the DMO, will not be in anybody’s interest. It is worse when there are no guarantees that borrowed money would be used for specified projects.

OPINION

BY NKEMJIKA Continued from Pg 17

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HE second dimension of this plot started last year even before the Sunday Punch report of January 6, 2013 revealed Governor Okorocha as one of the eight governors being discreetly investigated by the EFCC over fraud-related activities. Since September 2012, the EFCC has reportedly been on a surreptitious investigation of Governor Okorocha’s management of the public funds of Imo State, especially as it relates to the disbursement of Imo State Local Government funds, the N47 billion loan from the banks and the N13.3 billion Imo Bond fund. The climax of this aspect of the plot was the arrest and detention of the Imo State Commissioner for Finance and the Accountant-General of the State by the EFCC. Of course, the unending trips to Abuja by these two officials, after they were granted administrative bail by the EFCC, are expected, in the long run, to lead to the exposure of Governor Okorocha’s imagined financial misdeeds, as well as paint him in the colours of a corrupt public official that is ripe for impeachment.

The third dimension of the plot started some weeks ago when operatives of the EFCC stormed the Imo State House of Assembly but failed to arrest the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and some other members of the legislative house. The EFCC raid, which was supposed to kick-start the plot to remove Governor Rochas from office, ended up with the arrest of the Clerk of the Imo State House of Assembly, Chris Duru. The failed attempt to arrest members of the Imo State House of

The war against Rochas Okorocha (2) Assembly by the EFCC, on the ground that Governor Okorocha took loans without the approval of the same Imo State lawmakers, appears to be a ruse to get them into EFCC custody. However, once inside the detention cells of the EFCC at Abuja, the arrested Imo State legislators are expected to be persuasively compromised or coercively intimidated into commencing impeachment proceedings against Governor Okorocha.

The use of the EFCC, especially during the Nuhu Ribadu era, to illegally and unconstitutionally impeach some state governors to the sadistic pleasure of General Olusegun Obasanjo, may be in the offing for Okorocha as a veritable means of realising the second term ambition of President Jonathan.

As the Igbo will say, “it is only a tree that will hear of a plan to cut it down and will do nothing to avert the event”. The design to remove Governor Okorocha and Speaker Uwajumogu from office is now stale news.

The news reports, especially in the Sunday Punch of January 6, 2013, and the Daily Sun of Friday, March 8, 2013, have dutifully informed the public about the alleged plans by some forces in the Presidency and the PDP, including some fifth columnists in the Imo State Government, to realise the political destruction of Governor Okorocha and Uwajumogu. The pertinent question remains: What is to be done to undermine the intended plot to remove Okorocha and Uwajumogu from office? Of course, there are some well-

articulated thought processes and strategies (information gathering/analysis, performance profile assessment, media projection/response and court cases, etc) which implementation have the capacity to stem the intended impeachment moves against Governor Okorocha and Hon. Uwajumogu, the Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly.

The immediate critical endeavours to stem the purported impeachment moves against Okorocha and Uwajumogu must include the following action plans. The first is that Governor Okorocha must set up an Information Gathering and Analysis Centre, IGAC, whose personnel will deploy the services of cultivated contacts in the Presidency, the PDP, the anti-corruption agencies, the Imo State Government offices and parastatals, to discreetly collate information on the continuously evolving plans and strategies aimed at removing his good-self from office or down-playing his achievements as the governor of Imo State.

The second is the setting up of an Imo State Government Strategy Committee, a kind of think-tank, that will not only appraise issues and challenges of governance as they manifest in Imo State and suggest solutions, but will also be executing periodic assessment actions on the performance profile of commissioners, special advisers and heads of government parastatals to ensure that their activities do not undermine the realisation of government’s developmental goals. Nobody

from the executive arm of government should be a member of this committee, because no useful purpose will be served by allowing commissioners, advisers, etc, to appraise their own performance.

Other issues to be urgently addressed border on judicial actions. The Governor should ensure that the Imo State Government institutes a court case challenging the powers of the EFCC to pry into its books and public accounts in the name of fighting the corruption war in Nigeria. This is against the background that the activities of the EFCC in Imo State undermine the constitutional powers of the Auditor-General of the State and that of the Imo State House of Assembly, guaranteed in sections 125 (2), 128 and 129 (1) of the 1999 constitution (as amended). As a matter of fact, the Imo State Government should sue the EFCC for damages for illegally and unconstitutionally presenting its chief executive (Gov. Rochas Okorocha) to the Nigerian public and the international community, as a corrupt public official when no report from the Auditor-General of Imo State or the Imo State House of Assembly has indicted him for corrupt practices or the mismanagement of public funds. The court judgement restraining the EFCC from arresting and prosecuting Dr. Peter Odili over his mismanagement of the public funds of Rivers State between 1999 and 2007 validates the points canvassed in this discourse.

Concluded.

*Mr. Nkemjika is the Chairman of Mezie Ala-Igbo Foundation.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013— 19

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“

AN the governing elites in Nigeria be divided on the intentions of the Boko Haram? The answer is yes, they are divided. But should they be divided, the answer is no- they should not be divided.

Why? The Boko Haram have not hidden their intentions to transform Nigeria into a Sharia state whose state religion they have sectarianised.

And this sectarianisation is evident in their use of terror. Both the Sultan and General Danjuma are agreed on this point. Luka Binniyat summary of the General’s remarks in the Sunday Vanguard March 3, 2013 is quoted for his comprehensive description of the crisis.

“Former Minister of Defence, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma yesterday, raised the alarm that Northern Nigeria is in the 'middle of a civil war', following the upsurge of insurgency in the region. Danjuma, who himself fought in the Nigerian civil war, otherwise called the Biafran war, then called on Northern elites to find solution to the problem, saying attacks by faceless persons, in obvious reference to the killings

by Islamist groups, notably Boko Haram and A’nsaru, had no immunity for anyone. The former minister who spoke at the special convocation and N50 billion fund raising for Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria Phase II

Development Project, held in Zaria, described the attacks as 'highly contagious', and have crippled social and economic activities of the region. Danjuma said our founding fathers sought to create a united and self-reliant society based on respect for the rights of others irrespective of tribe or religion. They would certainly be appalled that, today, the nation is in total anarchy. Human life is very cheap and impunity has become the norm. In the case of the North, the danger is very real indeed. Ladies and gentlemen, we are in the middle of a civil war in Northern Nigeria. There is no defined front in this particular war, and worse still, the enemy is faceless and unknown. There is no immunity for anyone. This war is highly contagious. Needless to say, the social and economic cost is incalculable. I regret to confess that I have not suggested solution to this problem. It is up to us the elites to get together and brainstorm to solve our many problems. I take this opportunity therefore, to appeal to the nation for unity. We must unite in order to solve our problems”.

Wars are fought by opposed enemies. General Danjuma has described the war waged by the enemy whom he described as faceless, and has called upon the elites, both North and South, but

,

more especially the Northern elites committed to the vision of the founding fathers "to get together and brainstorm to solve our problems” of a society where “human life is very cheap and impunity has become the normwhere there is no defined front in this particular war, and there is no immunity for anyone”. Obviously General Danjuma calls attention to the mortal threats to the Nigerian society and does not exaggerate when he says that “we are in the middle of a civil war in Northern Nigeria”.

The implication of General Danjuma’s observation is that Nigeria ”is in the middle of a civil war”. Just as war in Northern Mali is war in Mali as a whole, so is war in Northern Nigeria war in Nigeria.

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ike all wars this war in Nigeria polarizes as it opposes parties in conflict.

Danjuma calls those warred upon

by Boko Haram to unite and brainstorm to win the war. In that call for unity is to be found the problem. The Nigerian side is constituted of elites and that is what makes the Nigerian side vulnerable to sectarian insurgencies.

Sultan's amnesty therapy: Playing hand of Esau, voice of Jacob

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BY TONY NWAEZEIGWE

HE Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar 111, a retired BrigadierGeneral of the Nigerian Army, is not only both the spiritual and political head of the Nigerian Muslim umma, but also the amir al-muminum- the commander of the faithful. What it means is that as the head of Muslims, he stands as the ideological fountain of the Muslim umma from where all ideas and actions flow. In other words, nothing happens within his realm of authority without his knowledge if not his consent.

The Boko Haram, it should be recalled, had earlier revealingly made it clear that the Sultan of Sokoto and General Muhammadu Buhari are the two personalities they would prefer to mediate between them and other Nigerians, even though the two men declined the offer and denied any knowledge of the kin-pins.

However, now that the Sultan has opened up, this time, not to accept the task of mediation, but rather request for unconditional amnesty for a group that has perpetrated heinous crimes against humanity, it becomes obvious that the revered religious potentate was only being economical with the truth about those actually sponsoring the insurgency.

During the recently concluded meeting of the Ja’matu Nasril Islam in Kaduna, His Eminence spent some record time condemning the Wukari religious conflict

as “total madness,” just because for once the Muslims were reported to be at the receiving end. His concern about the grave security situation in the country did not in any form extend to an iota of condemnation for the rampaging activities of the Boko Haram, in which thousands of innocent lives have been wasted. One should have expected the all-powerful Sultan to come out for once to condemn the heinous crimes being committed by the Boko Haram in name, before ever speaking of any form of amnesty, otherwise the widespread belief that the Boko Haram are only playing the script written by the Caliphate will remain incontrovertible in the minds of most Nigerians.

Take for instance, the gruesome murder of the female anti-polio field workers in Kano. Did it not smack of insensitivity that the Sultan’s only reaction to that act of eternal wickedness was to invite the Honourable Minister of State for Health, Alhaji Mohammed Aliyu Pate, a Muslim, to lecture them on the authenticity of the polio eradication programme. Thank God the Alhaji Pate polio lecture was full of awful revelations to the contrary. Not only are 98 per cent of the polio victims Muslims, but that the only countries in the world today are Islamic. Who then is deceiving who?

I

t is unfortunate that the Sultan should in his demand for unconditional amnesty for Boko Haram make a

,

Boko Haram and the Nigerian political elites

The Nigerian political elite is constituted of individually elected officeholders and who have nothing in common but the status of wealth ownership

The Nigerian political are elites of officeholders and who have used office holding to transform themselves into elite of wealth and in spite of using incumbency for state creation ends, are yet unable to establish themselves as rulers of Nigeria. They will be unable to unite in spite of the common danger that makes political solidarity a necessity- and the reason for this solitary existence of the constituents of the Nigerian elites is the fact that no groupings of the elite have yet taken up the task of leading the project of state creation to establish a Nigerian sovereignty. The Nigerian political elite is constituted of individually elected officeholders and who have nothing in common but the status of wealth ownership.

Common religion, common ethnicity, common regional cultures have not transformed these individualistic constituents of the political elite into a class, let alone into a ruling class. The challenge that the Nigerian political elite faces is two-fold: War has been declared on them by religious revolutionary insurgents and have only officeholders like themselves, that is military officeholders, to wage and win the war to secure their elite status; they are in war that threatens each of them individually but they are not able to organise themselves as a class. The political elite is internally and structurally solitary being composed of individual officeholders past and present.

General Danjuma seeks to awaken them to the fact that they must act as a class to win the war but preaching has never anywhere transforms individualistic congregation of elites into a ruling class.

Groups think in class terms as they embark in constituting themselves as sovereign or in resisting campaigns to constitute them as subjects. General Danjuma is honest enough to admit that the chances of maintaining Nigeria as a secular constitutional society

To compare the Niger Delta militants with Boko Haram is, to say in the most unfortunate term, a contemptuous but miscalculated act of insensitivity to the targeted killings of Christians and security personnel, burning of Churches and schools, properties in the Muslim North

,

comparison with the Niger Delta militants.

If one may ask, is the Sultan saying that both groups have identical aims and objectives, identical modus oparandi, and identical targets of operation to warrant identical amnesty programme? To compare the Niger Delta militants with Boko Haram is, to say in the most unfortunate term a contemptuous but miscalculated act of insensitivity to the targeted killings of Christians and security personnel, burning of Churches and schools, properties in the Muslim North.

On the one hand, here is a group which although sitting on the major wealth of the Nigerian nation, suffered calculated socioeconomic and infrastructural deprivations

depend on the political elites coming together to brainstorm to solve their common problems and what they have in common is an enemy group that intends to subjugate them and reduced them into subjects. The fact of war would not bring Nigerian political elites together; they will come together as they see the vital and urgent task of embarking on the project of establishing a sovereignty in Nigeria as the process of defeating the Jihadist Boko Haram and securing the society in Nigeria.

Sovereignties are ruling class structures and the institutions that establish sovereignties are the same that secure and maintain them. There are not too many options available to Nigerian political elites: *They can come together to brainstorm on how to apply the Root Cause Approach- that is, of how to create a sovereignty in Nigeria through state creation; *They can spend resources on the security sector of the government to wage and win the ‘civil war’; *They can play the ostrich and focus on electoral statemaking.

President Goodluck Jonathan has traced “ why there are upheavals in Africa” to this third option. I quote Ben Agande’s Sunday Vanguard March 3, 2013 summary of the President’s address to the Ivorian National Assembly: “Addressing the Ivorian National Assembly as part of the activities for his two-day state visit to Cote D’Ivoire, Jonathan charged the present crop of African leaders to rise up to the challenge of managing contests for political power in manner that assures greater collective security and peaceful coexistence… We therefore risk the very institutions we are trying to build if we exclude the people who voted us into power in the governance process… 'there are some here and elsewhere, who might think that the straight jacket of a dictatorship is the surest way to bottle up these grievances and dismantle dissent. This is wrong'".

by successive Muslim leaders of the country.

All they demanded was for their due rights to be granted. They never attacked innocent and defenceless Nigerian citizens or propose an alternative government. Their leaders even though operating underground were well known to the people, hence the possibility of negotiating with them.

On the other hand, here is the other group which, on the contrary say they forbid Western education and associated civilisation, destroying hundreds of schools and rendering thousands homeless and out of job. Their fundamental objective is to overthrow the Federal Government and impose an alternative form of administration and leadership, based on what they termed the deen of Allah, a State where people will be forced to revert to the mode of life lived hundreds of years ago.

The question here is, how then can the Sultan reconcile the aims and objectives of the Boko Haram with the obvious fact of a Nigerian federalism bound together by defined democratic principles woven in multiple ethno-religious identity, freedom of worship and expression? Nigerians will like to know if the Sultan by openly demanding for unconditional amnesty for the members of Boko Haram, is saying with an avalanche of spiritual authority that the Boko Haram will denounce their aims and objectives which, to the knowledge of most people, revolves round the eternal project of Islamizing the entire Nigeria?

Continues tomorrow on pg 17 *Dr. Nwaezeigwe, is a snr reseacher fellow at the Institute of African Studies, UNN.

20—Vanguard , TUESDAY TUESDAY,, MARCH 19 , 2013

Relocate now, Lagos advises residents of low-lying areas

BY KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

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*Some trucks and shops affected by the inferno

Tanker fire triggers renewed leadership tussle in Lagos

BY FREDRICK OKOPIE

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T was a weekend of shock for residents and business operators in Mosheshe Street and Cardoso Close, KiriKiri Waterside, in Oriade Local Council Development Area of Lagos State. This is because the entire area was almost razed when a fuel tanker loaded with 33,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, popularly called petrol, burst into flames on a fateful Saturday night.

According to a resident who identified herself as Mama Daniel, the fire was so intense that residents were forced to flee their houses to unknown destinations. Another source, who resided in the estate opposite the tanks farm, just about 70 meters from the fire, told Vanguard Metro, VM, that residents were prompted to flee their homes based on the fear that the fire may extend to the five oil depots located in the area.

Investigation by VM traced the cause of the explosionto the attempt by the tanker driver to make brisk money by siphoning fuel from his loaded truck which he would thereafter sell to black market operators around the Kirikiri Waterside.

It was while he was thus engaged that fire from food vendors who cook with charcoal in the area ignited the petrol which was spewing from a leakage.

VM was told it was the practice by truck drivers to stop at the Cardoso Close junction and resell petroleum products to illegal buyers. Prior to that Saturday conflagration, the said driver of the burnt truck with plate registration number AKD 316 XA, has been reported to the owner by one Chief Babalola Shabi, who also provided a picture of the driver in action as proof.

Following the fire incident, business activities have been grounded in the area, especial-

ly as nine lock-up shops and kiosks used by black markers were burnt beyond repairs.

VM investigations also revealed that most of the houses along the Alekotile Street were used as a mini-depots for petroleum products, especial gasoline (diesel).

Many residents in the area are of the opinion that siting oil depots in residential area is risky.

•In-house fighting over who controls Kirikiri Prior to the Saturday fire that damaged properties and caused injuries, the tiny Kirikiri community has been in the centre of a power struggle between the Baale of Kirikiri, his chiefs and High Chief Babalola Shabi over who controls the town and plays a mediatory role between the five oil tanks farm and the community.

At the palace of the Baale of Kirirkiri, the Baale told VM that those representing the community were not chiefs of the town. He added that the three Community Development Areas, CDA, agents collecting tolls from trucks loading products from the depot are not remitting the money to the community for developmental purposes.

The secretary to the ruling council, Mr. Julius Ajanlekoko said: “We were planning to arrange forameetingbetweenthetankfarm owners, when Lola Shabi called for a meeting involving the Oba of Imore and his chiefs. None of us were in the meeting and we didn’t know what they deliberated upon.

“What we are clamouring for is safety; we want the government to save our soul from fire and from the grip of Chief Babalola who is arrogating power to himself and want to dethrone the Baale and the chiefs. He wants to turn this palace to another Badia where touts reign. That is what we are trying to prevent.”

When VM contacted Chief Babalola Shabi for his reaction, he

simply said that Kirikiri Town has no Baale, that the late Oba of Imore dethroned the Baale of Kirikiri before he died and installed himself as the community leader of Kirikiri.

According to him, the Baale and his chiefs were angry because he changed the sharing formula of money meant for the whole community. “They were not satisfied with it, so they turned against me,” he said.

He further said that but for his influence in the community, criminals and hoodlums would have taken over the town, adding that he should be commended rather than be castigated by people.

HE Lagos State government has advised people residing in low-lying or flood plane areas of the state to start thinking of alternative accommodation. According to the government, the relocation order has become imperative due to this year’s seasonal rainfall prediction which implies that lives and property of the residents are in danger.

The State Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello who gave the advice at the presentation of the 2013 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction, SRP and its socio-economic implication for Lagos State, said residents in low-lying areas where water from upstream passes through whenever it rains are highly vulnerable.

Rainfall, according to the predictions, will commence in Lagos between the first and second week of March, with a margin of error of three days as probable onset dates. Bello pointed out that this prediction has been further confirmed with the rains which came in torrents penultimate Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The 2013 rainfall is expected to end on December 17, with a margin of error of four days which is between December 13 and 21.

“From the year 2013 seasonal rainfall predictions, Lagos State shall experience a rainy season of about 249-275 days with intermittent stoppage in February and August. The magnitude of Lagos seasonal rainfall prediction for this year is that Lagos will experience heavy rainfall of high intensity, with thunderstorm just like last year. Lagos is expected to record 1722mm with marginal error of between 21 and 179mm. Heavy thunderstorm has been predicted to occur during the rainy period of June, July, August, September and October,“ he said.

Continuing, Bello said: “Lagos like other coastal cities of the world is prone to flooding, and several global occurrences can attest to this.

However, we commenced our de-flooding programme at the end of last year’s rainy season. We intend to sustain and strengthen last year’s strategy which is predicated on Pre-Rain, Mid-Rain and Post-Rain programmes of the government which include anticipation, monitoring and clearing as well as cleaning of our drainage channels and canals across the state.

“Other programmes put in place by the Ministry to reduce the incidence of flooding include massive clearing and dredging of primary and secondary channels and collectors in the state, expansion of existing drainage channels in order to contain more storm water during rainy season, lining of many earth channels and strengthening of resident engineers/drainage maintenance officers to oversee drainage matters in all our Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Araes across the state.”

Greenlife, RCCG reach out to the needy

BY ETOP EKANEM

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LAGOS-BASED pharmaceutical company, Greenlife, through its CSR outreach, Paincare Outreach, recently gave back to the public through a medical awareness cum food and medical distribution programme.

This year edition of the programme, which recorded a massive turnout of people of Itamaga in Ikorodu area of Lagos State, had the company partnering with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, House of Jubilation parish.

The programme which started about four years ago has now become a monthly affair. Bags of

rice, noodles and medicines were given out free of charge to the public at the venue.

Managing Director of the company, Mr. Peter Nwosu, who spoke on the occasion said: “The programme is designed mainly to minister to the spiritual and material needs of the people in any chosen community. We are just trying to touch lives and make people know that the Lord loves them without any discrimination. It is to win souls for Christ and in doing this we partner with any Bible-believing church. We are not hiding this fact. Everything is by his grace and mercy.”

Pastor Gbenga Olukoya, the Assistant Pastor

From left: Mr. Peter Nwosu, CEO of Greenlife Pharmaceuticals and chairman of Paincare Outreach; Mrs. Oladunni Adenike, a recipient and Pastor Steve Akindara, an official of Paincare outreach during the outreach programme.

in charge of Lagos Province 33 to which the host church belongs, was full of appreciation for the visioner, Mr. Peter Nwosu, for his kind gesture. He described the programme as “an opportunity to reach out to the needy in the society.”

According to Pastor Olufemi Ayekun, another coordinator of Paincare Outreach, “it is more than a programme to feed the poor and take care of their medical needs alone. The real purpose is to touch lives. It is not a philanthropic thing. It is a way of showing Christ’s love for mankind.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013 — 21

Telecoms investments hit $25bn …NCC plans to release new licences

By EMMANUEL

ELEBEKE

T

HE Executive Vice Chairman of the N i g e r i a n C o m m u n i c a t i o n s Commission, NCC, Engr.

Eugene Juwah has said that the total investments in the Nigerian telecommunications sector stand at $25 billion.

He also disclosed that the number of subscriber base in the network has equally increased to an all time 113 million active lines.

Juwah announced this at the sent-forth dinner organised, weekend, in honour of the old board of the Commission in Abuja.

He attributed the success of the industry to democratic rule without which, he said the feat achieved by the sector would not have been possible.

“Although, the commercialisation of the sector commenced in 1992, Nigeria still could not boast of 450,000 active lines in year 2000, which was powered by a paltry $500 million investment portfolio until the coming of democracy in 1999, but the then President had to pick men and women of sterner character to turn the fortunes around,” said Juwah.

Engr. Juwah said that the occasion was long overdue as the much celebrated achievements in the sector couldn’t have been possible

leaving in 2010, an industry celebrated globally has been firmly established. Telephone was no longer for the rich, it has become the menu on every table whether in the city or in rural dwellings,” he added.

He also announced that the SIM Card registration project would soon be completed, while the much awaited number portability project will be taking off by the end of March.

He further lamented some of the challenges facing the industry, which include

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By EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

2,118.00 0 18.77

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forty feet container, loaded with 612,000 copies of suspected pirated DVDs and 45,900 units of DVD jackets estimated at N300 million has been confiscated by operatives of Nigerian Copyright Commission, NCC and Nigeria Customs Service, NCS at the Apapa Seaport, Lagos.

A report by the Ports Monitoring Officer of NCC, Mr. Joe Ojika, which disclosed this, stated that the container marked MRKU4366990 was intercepted on the verge of leaving the port upon a tip-off to the Customs by officers of the Commission.

The report indicated that a vehicle with Registration No. XU 814 BDG which freighted the container was turned back at the exit gate of the port for antipiracy inspection at the

93.36 CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL 154.76 230.268 201.2654 163.1868 1.6135 0.2885 232.7296 24.6558 41.2616 26.9833 232.5579

155.26 231.012 201.9156 163.714 1.6187 0.2985 233.4815 24.7359 41.3949 27.0705 233.3092

multiple taxation, irregular power supply, vandalisation of infrastructure, multiple regulation and right of way for easy service deployment and expansion and appeal for understanding, describing them as legacy problems.

The NCC boss, who also attributed the growth of the sector to the legacy projects of his predecessors, and also used the occasion to announce plans by the commission to begin fourth generation regulation before the end of the year.

From left: Head, Corporate and Investment Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr. Victor Williams, Vice President, Corporate Council on Africa, Mr. Robert Perry and Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Capital, Mrs. Yewande Sadiku at a business lunch organized by the Corporate Council on Africa in Lagos.

139.8

109.98

DOLLAR POUNDS EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYA KRONA SDR

without the effort put together by the team being honored.

“Presently, investment in the telecoms sector stands at about $25 billion and active lines are well over 113 million and still counting. This couldn’t have been possible without the team which is seated here with us today. Once somebody has done well in this country, we should be able to appreciate that person.

The coming of democracy marked the beginning of a remarkable journey and by the time the former board was

-0.07 +1.02 +0.33 SELLING 155.76 231.756 202.5659 164.2413 1.6239 0.3085 234.2334 24.816 41.5282 27.1577 234.0606

CBN Exchange rate as at 17/03/2013

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Group urges FG to halt oil theft, illegal refineries

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HAREHOLDERS Alliance for Corporate Accountability (SACA) has urged the Federal Government to urgently halt the rising wave of crude oil theft and operations of illegal refineries in the Niger Delta area. Rev. Fr. Kevin O’Hara, Executive Director of the non-governmental organisation, made the call in Yenagoa.

NAN recalls that Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, the largest crude producer in Nigeria, on March 4th raised an alarm on the increasing incidence of crude oil theft. The company’s Managing Director, Mr Mutiu Sumonu, warned that unless efforts were urgently made to curb the illicit oil trade, the company might be forced to shut its Nembe Oil Trunk line. He said that Nigeria was losing more than 60,000 barrels of crude daily to theft and illegal refineries.

O’Hara stressed that oil theft was a complex problem, which posed a serious challenge to the economy. He, therefore, urged the Federal Government to collaborate with the international community in efforts to tackle the problem.

“Obviously, oil theft is a huge issue. It is a very complex one because it is believed to involve people in high positions; unless the Federal Government takes the fight against it seriously, it will continue.

Piracy: NCC, NCS confiscate N300m worth of suspected DVDs Enforcement Department of the NCS. “A joint inspection team made up of officers of the Nigeria Customs Service drawn from its various units and the NCC officers conducted inspection on the container on 7th March 2013,” it stated.

According to the report, “The inspection revealed that the container contains 600 cartons with each carton containing 1,020 copies (612,000 copies in all) of cinematographic DVDs and 45,900 units of empty jackets. The estimated market value of the contents of the container is put at about N300 million.” It stated that investigation was ongoing, adding that the container would soon be handed over to the

Commission by the Customs.

It will be recalled that last year, the Commission, in collaboration with Nigeria Customs Service, recorded an unprecedented confiscation of a total of 13 containers of 3.6 billion units of pirated products, valued at N4.75 billion at different seaports in the country. Whereas, 11 of the containers were stacked with pirated books of Nigerian and foreign authors, the remaining two were loaded with pirated musical and film works of local and foreign titles. This seizure brings to 14 the total number of containers of suspected pirated copyright works impounded so far at a cumulative total estimated cost of N5.05 billion.

22— Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013

It’s risky to buy shares with Hot Money M

ANY of the people that lost money when the stock market crashed between 2008 and 2009 did so because they invested with hot money. In fact, the crash of the market was triggered by hot money.

Hot money can be described as short term money looking for quick gains. The money is short term because it is available for a period less than one year. It could be loan from a bank or any financial institution, but the tenor is always short, and the repayment terms merciless. It could also be your own money, which you will definitely need very soon. For example, money saved or set aside to pay school fees, house rent or any project in the next six months to one year. And it could even be your retirement benefit or pension.

The basic character of such money is that you can’t forgo it for a long time without serious implications.

People that use this kind of money to buy shares usually do so to speculate with the expectation that share prices will increase within the short period the money is available, and hence they can repay and still make good money.

When the stock market was booming, with prices of shares rising rapidly every day, a lot of people, in attempt to take advantage of the boom, borrowed money from banks and other organisations, used their retirement benefit, money for house rent and children school fees to buy shares, with the hope that in three to six months, share prices would have doubled. Also foreign investors brought such money into Nigeria and invested heavily into the stock market, of

course to participate in the boom.

The stock market can be very unpredictable. It can go up today and come down tomorrow. It can boom this year and crash next year. That is why it is risky to buy shares with hot money. The market may suddenly go down, and instead of quick gain, you may end up with quick losses.

That is what happened to people that used hot money to buy shares in

,

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

2008.

It started with the global financial crises. Banks in Europe and America became distressed and stopped giving loans. As a result, foreigners and foreign financial institutions withdrew funds invested abroad. In Nigeria, this translated to massive selling of shares by these foreign investors. As a result, supply (selling) outstripped demand (buying), share prices fell rapidly, leading to crash of the market. From N12.6 trillion in March 2008, total value of shares on the Nigeria Stock Exchange fell to N6.95 trillion by December 2008. People that had borrowed or used short term funds to invest could not recover their money, and to repay became almost impossible.

Till date, many are yet to recover from the devastating effect of the crash. So think twice before using hot money to buy shares.

The market may suddenly go down, and instead of quick gain, you may end up with quick losses.

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I have lost faith in Nigerian stock market

By AMAKA ABAYOMI

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ADDENED by the dwindling crash experienced by the Nigerian stock market in 2008, a 400 level student of the Department of Public Relations/Advertising, Lagos State University (LASU), Bolanle Apete, said that she has lost faith in the market as she is yet to recover her investments.

“I bought my first shares in 2003 when the going was good and I got

my dividends and bonus from the organizations regularly. ”But since the economic meltdown hit the world in 2008, followed by steep depreciation in the prices of shares, I lost touch with my shares and no longer receive dividends and bonus from the organisations anymore.”

Asked why she didn’t engage the services of a stock broking firm to manage her stocks, she said, “I initially wanted to get one, but with

the meltdown and the dip in the prices of stocks, I was encouraged to spend more money contracting one.”

Advising her fellow students on the benefits of wise investments, Apete said, “I have lost faith in the stock market and it’s better for them to look for other areas to invest in rather than the stock market. ”Government and the market regulators will do well by educating the populace on the present situation of the market, if they want people to come back to the market again.”

Investors’ rights under CAMA

T

he Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) gives shareholders numerous powers under voting rights. This includes: Ratification of members of the Board of Directors, Removal of members of the Board of Directors, Mergers and Acquisition, Appointment of Proxies etc.

Shareholders’ voting rights: Ownership of shares provides shareholders with a set of rights.

These rights are spelt out in the company’s articles of incorporation or by-laws. Rights vary depending on the nature of the company and its legal structure but there are common features exist.

The most visible and common right afforded to shareholders is the right to regularly elect individuals to the board of their company. Electing people to the board is the closest a shareholder can get to telling management what to do without actually working for the company. Influencing the selection of people to a company’s board is the most common tool of shareholder activist and institutional investors. Also, shareholders have the right to remove any member they consider unfit or irrelevant to the company. They do this through voting at Annual General Meeting or Extra Ordinary General Meeting.

Mergers and Acquisition: Shareholders have the right to vote on allowing the company to merge with another company. They also have the power to endorse any acquisition of other company(s). Getting shareholders’ approval is one of the last steps in the merger and acquisition process. Before submitting the proposed merger or acquisition for a vote, management would have already completed due diligence.

After the shareholders’ approval, the next step is regulatory approval.

Amendment of Articles and Memorandum of Association: A company cannot amend its bylaws or Articles of Association and Memorandum of Association without the approval of shareholders through a vote. Common bylaws include how directors are elected and how and when they meet. Quite often, at least two-thirds of the current ownership (shareholders) must agree to the changes before they can be implemented. The board of directors does not have the right or power to unilaterally change the existing corporate bylaws without the approval of shareholders.

For more information, and enquiries about this subject, send email to vanguardinvestorsforum@gmail.com.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013 — 23

ICMR denies knowledge of complaints against Registrars

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

Appreciation to Investors Forum

I

T

he Institute of Capital Mar ket Registrars, ICMR, has said that it was not aware of any complaint bothering on misconduct against any of its members.

The Association’s President, Mr. Bayo Olugbemi, who is also the Managing Director, First Registrar, said that no case of misconduct has been reported since he took over as the president.

Over time, several allegations of misconduct have been raised by investors against registrars, complaint ranging from deliberately with-holding of minor investors’ share certificates to allow high net worth investors take advantage of capital appreciation which usually happen immediately after companies complete an Initial Public Offer, or Public Offers.

There is also the accusation of connivance with companies that declare dividend not backed by cash to cover the fraud in order not to lose such client. Also is the complaints

wish to thank you most sincerely for your prompt action over the issue I raised on my Oando shares. I wish to confirm that I have been contacted by First Registrars and I have forwarded the documents they requested. I hope this issue will be resolved as soon as possible. Once again, I thank you for helping poor Nigerians out of their predicaments. God bless you real good. (Kehinde Bodunde)

Amyn Investment, where is my money?

I

*Olugbemi, President, ICMR about unnecessary delay in issuing share certificates and keeping back minor investors’ dividend warrants for whatever reason.

They are also accused of unduly delaying verification of share certificates, among several other misdeeds.

Responding to these, Olugbemi said that the association has Membership and Disciplinary Committee which takes care of issues of this nature.

“We have a Committee of ICMR called Membership and Disciplinary Committee.

If and when we receive any complaint bothering on ethics and professional misconduct, of course, we will deal with such,” he said.

He noted that the association has successfully organised several trainings on corporate governance, fraud detection and prevention just to mention a few, adding that “it is an on-going process.”

Stocks In The News

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

Nigeria Breweries Plc

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igeria Breweries Plc’s share price is be ing beaten by market sentiment, no thanks to shareholders’ emphasises on dividend payment as yardstick for adjudging a stock to be either good or bad.

In the last two weeks since the board of directors announced that they will be proposing N22.69 billion or N3.00 per share as dividend to the shareholders for the 2012 financial year, the stock has been on declining mode. For the shareholders, the company has to be punished for failing to live up to expectation.

From N170.00 as at 22nd of February when the corporate action along with financial statement was made public, the price dropped to

Greif Nig. Plc

G

COMPLAINTS & INVESTIGATIONS

reif Nigeria Plc will be proposing 30kobo per share dividend for approval by shareholders at the forthcoming annual general meeting. The dividend, according to 2012 unaudited full year financial statement, will be paid from profit after tax of N36.39million recorded within the period.

Review of the financial statement showed that revenue declined from N879.50million in 2011 to N748.66million. Profit after tax declined to N36.39 million from N38.38 million in 2011. However, there was an efficient cost management as cost of sales reduced to N619.11 million from 719.05 mil-

N160.00 at the close of trading on Thursday, 14th March, 2013.

The result released showed that the profit after tax was flat at N38.042 billion from N38.050 billion recorded in 2011, while pre-tax Profit declined by 1.36 percent to N55.624 billion from N56.397 billion in 2011. Gross Revenue grew by 20 percent to N252.674 billion compared to N211.071 billion during the same period of year 2011. This is despite acquisition of some companies over the past one year with the latest being the addition of Sona Systems Associates Business Management Ltd and Life Breweries Company Ltd.

lion in 2011.

Greif ’s working capital in the review period grew by 14 percent from N348million in 2011 to N397million, while net assets increased by 6.6 per cent to N390.57million compared to N366.97million in 2011. The decrease in cost of sales and administrative expenses is indicative of a more efficient and stronger company, even in the face of declining revenue.

The share price as at the close of transactions on 14th March stood at N12.98. Investors traded 150 units of the shares worth N 1,851.00 in one deal.

sold my shares through the Warri office of Amyn Investment in 2005. I was issued a cheque of N12, 536.65. I couldn’t cash it because it was stale and I returned it to their office for a new cheque. Not long after, the Warri office closed down. I called the MD and she asked me to write. I wrote them on 24 November, 2005 and again in 2012.Up till now, I’m yet to get my money. I therefore use this medium to appeal to them to pay me my money. (Yuke Avworu Warri).

Investors Forum We visited Amyn Investment, an official of the company said they will check their records. Meanwhile, you are requested to call the official on 08033384498, and also forward your complaints to amyninvestments@yahoo.com.

I want to sell Golden Capital shares

P

lease what do you know about the Private Placement sold by Golden Securities LTD, now Golden Capital PLC. I bought 50,000 units. I want to sell but it is not listed (Rev Ade Erinle, Asaba)

Investors Forum To sell the shares, it is either you wait for the shares of the company to be listed or you sell through Over-theCounter (OTC) arrangement. OTC is private sale between two or more parties. So you can approach a stock broker or any willing buyer and sell based on agreed price.

How do I verify bonus shares?

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lease how do I verify the annual bonus stocks given to shareholders? I have shares in five companies.

(Nduka .J)

Investors Forum The Registrars of the companies usually send letters to each shareholder informing him/her about bonus shares allotted to him, but in case you have not received such letters, contact the Registrars of each of the companies.

FCMB where are my share certificate and dividends

G

ood day, I wish to inform you that few years ago, I bought 1,000 units of shares from FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC, but since then I have not received my SHARE CERTIFICATE and DIVIDEND. However, I COMPLAINTS want you to help me on AND how I can get my CERINVESTIGATIONS TIFICATE and DIVIDo you have any DEND. It would be very challenge with your appreciated if these can investment in the be done for me.

(Ogundele Mutiu, A) stock market or with

Investors Forum Please contact, City Securities (Registrars) Limited, the registrar of FCMB. The Companies contact is Primrose Tower, 2nd Floor, 17A Tinubu Street, Lagos.

Tel: 234-1-2641298, 2341-7924462.

any company (stockbroker, Registrar Company etc), write to vanguardinvestorsforum @gmail.com OR send text to 08157550673. We will INVESTIGATE AND REPLY

24— Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013

How we award oil blocks — FG ... Says Nigerians own 52%, foreigners 48%

A

S the controversies gen erated over which region controlled more of Nigeria’s oil assets intensify, the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, has said that such controversies are baseless considering that oil blocks are awarded based on bids offered for them globally.

Against this backdrop, the industry regulator noted that when such bid rounds are being conducted, the region of the bidders is not one of the prequalification for winning such oil blocks.

The Director, DPR, Mr. Osten Olorunshola, who made the clarification last week in Lagos, said, “The Federal Government does not allocate oil blocks and marginal fields to individuals and corporations based on region or where they come from.

So, DPR does not ask if an individual is from the North or South when allocating the fields.”

Ownership controversies Pressed further, on which region owned more of Nigeria’s oil assets, Olorunshola, who spoke at the launch of the Nigeria Oil and Gas, NOG Intelligence, a weekly print and online industry newsletter, insisted that “The DPR has no records of 83 per cent Northern ownership of oil blocks anywhere.”

According to him, Nigerians currently own 52 per cent of the country’s 173 active oil blocs, while foreign oil companies own 48 per cent.

He added that of the total of 388 oil blocks in the country, only 173 of them have been awarded to individuals and corporations, while 215 blocks were yet to be awarded.

Broken further, of the 173 so far awarded, Nigerians owned 90 blocks while foreigners owned 83 blocks.

He, however, lamented that all the 90 blocks awarded to indigenous players account for only six per cent of the country’s total crude oil production, while the 83 awarded to foreign oil companies account for 94 per cent of the total output.

Steering the hornets’ nest The Chairman, Senate Committee on Business and Rules, Senator Ita Enang, a forth night ago steered the hornets’ nest, when he alleged that 83 percent of Nigeria’s oil blocks were in the control of the northern region.

This led to a series of claims and counter claims by various groups in the different geographical regions in the country, including activists and nongovernmental organisations, NGOs. Many even called for a review of oil block awards.

Even newspapers (not Van-

geria’s total crude production; while foreign oil companies account for the bulk of 2.35 million bpd or 94 per cent of total output.

He blamed this on the lackadaisical attitude of the Nigerian players towards the development of their blocks. He said

cess funds. As at 2003, when the fields were awarded, Nigerian banks where in difficult situation, making it impossible for majority of them to give out loans.

“Also, another challenge that served as a drawback to the marginal fields programme is

From left: Former President Rotary International and Chairman, Board of the Rotary Foundation, Mr. Wilfrid Wilkinson; Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke; and Executive Vice Chairman, Chrome Group, Sir Emeka Offor, during a breakfast meeting with the Rotary Chiefs in Asokoro Abuja. guard) went agog with their own versions of the real oil block owners.

However, DPR’s recent pronouncements on the issue that Nigerians own 80 oil bocks where foreigners had 83 have nullified every other previous pronouncements on the controversial oil blocks ownership, including the list of 77 oil blocks and their owners recently published by one of the dailies.

Analysts are of the view that to end the controversy, the DPR should go a step further to publish the full list of the 173 oil blocks so far awarded, indicating who owned what, whether local or foreign.

Poor indigenous output contribution Notwithstanding the fact that Nigerians owned the larger share of the nation’s oil assets, their contributions to total production as revealed by the DPR is abysmally poor.

According to data provided by the regulator, Nigerians are producing about 150,000 barrels of crude oil per day, representing six per cent of the Ni-

that majority of them have not commenced any serious production activities on the oil blocks since they were awarded to them.

He said, “It appears that people just want to own oil blocks and put it on their complimentary cards. We are not happy with that. It is absurd that six per cent of oil production is coming out of 90 leases.

“Government decided to dig deeper as it was not so happy with the performance of the indigenous oil companies. That is the reason why government put in place the Marginal Fields policy,” he noted.

He disclosed that about 24 marginal fields were allocated in 2003, and only six fields are doing well, while the rest have refused to develop theirs, adding that many are faced with litigations, funding constraints, non-bankable proposals, and a host of others issues.

He said, “The major issue that negatively affected the production capacity of majority of the marginal field owners is the fact that the owners could not ac-

the unending litigations by most of the parties the fields were awarded to. The bid rounds brought a lot of litigations, due to the fact that the parties were technically asked to merge before the fields will be awarded to them. Till today, majority of them are still in court and are yet to kick start the process of production on their fields.”

The active and producing marginal fields are: · Asuokpu/Umutu field owned by Platform Petroleum · Ibigwe field by Walter Smith and Morris Petroleum · Uquo field by Frontier Oil · Ajapa field - Britania-U · Umusadege field by Midwestern Oil and Gas, and Suntrust · Obodogwa/Obodeti field by Pillar Oil Olorunshola further stated that of the five marginal fields that were awarded on a discretionary basis, only Oriental Energy owners of two of the fields - Okwok and Ebok fields; and Niger Delta Petroleum Development Company, own-

er of Ogbelle field are involved in active production.

He, however, maintained that over the last couple of months, the Marginal Fields programme is gradually living up to expectation, as production is now up to 60 million barrel per day in addition to about 100 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscf/d) of gas.

Despite the identified challenges, Olorunshola argued that the marginal fields owners are still breaking new grounds, as they integrating value, unlocking stranded molecules, creating opportunity for employment and empowerment.

He further stated that the programme is deploying new technologies, recording unprecedented collaboration and are now handling local communities better than before.

Block revocation, new bid rounds underway In view of the poor performance, Olorunshola disclosed that the licences for some of the marginal fields will be revoked.

In the revocation of the licenses granted to individuals and corporations, emphasis will be placed on fields that are yet to be developed.

As a result, he said the licenses will be revoked next year, and the fields will be taken from the current owners and given to new owners. the DPR boss disclosed that the Federal Government is considering undertaking another bid round for the country’s marginal oil fields, irrespective of whether the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, is passed or not.

He explained added that this was with a view to streamlining the bid rounds and reducing the process to about seven months from about one year and above in the past.

According to him, once the advertisement calling for bids is published in the newspapers, the DPR is targeting 90 days for people to submit their bids, and 60 days for evaluation of the bids. He argued that the period will enable it to properly assess the bids, while expressing the hope that it will record a significant oversubscription.

He further disclosed that the DPR is striving to ensure that subsequent bidding rounds are conducted every three years, while making sure that the reserves volume are bankable and the bid rounds are made simpler and transparent.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013 — 25

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26—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013

LADOL, Shell train graduates on abseiling

By SEBASTINE

OBASI

T

he local content policy initiative of the federal government got a boost last week, as the first set of the offshore support skills training programme received their certification.

Addressing the graduates at a ceremony held at the LadolLogistic base in Lagos, Mr. Dimeji Bashir, Vice President,Operations, Ofserve, an integrated energy company, which coordinated the training, the 19 new graduates were certified after acquiring skills in abseiling (rope access technician level 1), rigging, small hand tools usage, scaffolding, painting and blasting.

According to him, the benefits of the training are enormous to both the trainees who have undergone the training exercise and the oil and gas industry as a whole.

“The offshore skills acquisition programme is the first of its kind bundling a wide variety of skills into a single programme that offers majority of the skills required to maintain and operate any offshore facility. Ofserv Nigeria Limited, partnered with SNEPCO & NCDMB to deliver world classtraining programmes geared towards effective knowledge acquisition, retention and readiness of the trainees to be absorbed into the Nigerian Oil & Gas Industry.

“Rope access technology provides services to many industry sectors including oil, gas, power, petro-chemical and construction.

Applications for rope access are constantly evolving, work is not limited by height or inclination and can be implemented far beyond the limitations of conventional fall arrest systems and many traditional access methods,” he said.

Bashir also said that the training programme, which lasted for one month, was sponsored by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCO), to fulfill its training obligations pertaining to the Bonga North West subsea hardware and control project.

He added the Industrial Rope Access Trade Association(IRATA) an internationally recognised organisation with headquarters in the United Kingdom, certified the graduates.

Oil & People

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HE thought of the devastating and horrible impact of the BP Deep-Water Horizon Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico seemed almost unimaginable. Scenarios unfolding more frequently in the Niger Delta region than we’d like to believe asseverates two major questions regarding oil pollution that Nigerians have an obligation to answer.

First, can a disaster comparable to the one in the Gulf of Mexico happen here? The answer, of course, is yes — whether caused by negligent acts or some other event or series of events. Nature is unpredictable and human beings are fallible. It could happen.

The second question is whether it makes sense to enact an anti-indemnity law to check liability and risk issues and thus alleviating the terrible problem occurring in the Niger Delta region. Is the law worth enacting?

Environmental devastation in the Niger Delta region is common place with no remedy in sight. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in 2009 described Nigeria as, the “ world pollution capital”. Recent oil spills in the region - 27 out of the 34 oil spills reported in 2012, occurred in Bayela State, calls to question the frequency and magnitude of these occurrences, effectiveness of our legal regime and the plight of citizens of this region.

In order for sustainable development to take place in the oil and gas industry, the legal system places at the disposal of parties the right to •Collapsed oil rig contract. The law, however, cannot possibly anticipate the content of an infinite number of atypical transactions into which these parties may need to enter. Legal framework, therefore, has to give the parties freedom of contract.

Standardized contracts have thus become a necessary tool in eliminating or controlling unanticipated incidents in litigation. The under a so-call “knock-foruse of indemnity clauses is knock” provision which one of the tools used by means that each will be international oil companies in responsible for injury, loss or petroleum exploration and damage for their own personnel and equipment.” development.

Aside from the knock-for The principle of indemnity knock provision there is also under common law doctrine the fault based provision. This allows liabilities to be is where the assuming party transferred from one party to is indemnified for loss caused another. This includes (i) a by his own negligence, strict duty to make good any loss, liability, or other fault.

Knockdamage or liability another has incurred (ii) The right of for-knock indemnities or an injured party to claim control based indemnities; reimbursement for its loss, unlike the fault based damage, or liability from a indemnity reduces and person who has such a duty sometimes eliminates high and (iii) reimbursement or cost of litigation between compensation for loss , parties to the contract.

Responsibility is resolved by damage, or liability.

This clause makes the party looking into the express term giving the indemnity liable to in the contract and identifying pay compensation for loss or the assuming party under the damage that arises from a circumstance. However, these specific event. It is a means clauses also indemnify a of shifting the financial party against its own consequences of an event to negligence.

Recent oil field contracts another party. The parties have included gross may give “cross-indemnities” negligence as negligence in for loss or damage to their own indemnity provisions.

This personnel and equipment

•FELIX AYANRUOH felix.ayanruohlaw@gmail.com

Enact Oilfield Anti-Indemnity Law in Nigeria (1) drafting technique while beneficial to oil majors and large service companies, local companies with limited resources and victims of these spills are at the receiving end.

For this reason the courts have consistently held that indemnity provisions that are contrary to public policy are unenforceable - they injure the public welfare or interest, or are contrary to public decency, sound policy, and good morals.

S

everal states in the Unites States place restriction on oilfield service contracts with indemnity clauses.

Four states, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico and Wyoming have statutes prohibiting certain indemnity provisions in oilfield service contracts otherwise known as antiindemnity Acts.

The provisions of the four acts are similar in restricting indemnity provision in oilfield agreements. These

laws were designed to prevent large oil owners and oilfield operators demanding their contractors indemnify them not only against negligence on the part of the contractor, but also any possible negligence of third parties, including their own.

In a nutshell, these laws provides that agreements relating to wells for oil, gas, or water, or to mine for a mineral that attempts to indemnify a party from its own negligence and also resulting from personal injury or death or property damages among others is void and unenforceable. Apart from restricting the use of these clauses, the Texas statute in a remedial measure allows the insurance against own negligence by mandating the Operator to be named as an additional insured. An indemnity agreement is permissible if the parties agree in writing that the indemnity obligation will be supported by liability insurance coverage to be furnished by the party giving the indemnity.

Felix.ayanruohlaw.gmail.com

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013—27

West Power pays 25% cost for Eko DISCO T

HE preferred bidder for the Eko Distribution Company, West Power & Gas, has paid the sum of $33.75million, being the mandatory 25 percent of the total cost of the transaction value. The valuation for 60 per cent equity of the company is $135million.

A statement from the Bureau of Public Entreprises, BPE, yesterday, indicated that West Power & Gas made the payment in two tranches ahead of the March 21, 2013 deadline for all bid winners to pay the mandatory 25 percent of the total cost of the

transaction value. It is expected to pay the remaining 75 percent of the total cost within six months.

The consortium comprises Alpha Consortium Limited, Atlantic Meridean, Africa Infrastructure Investment Fund 2 Mauritius and Siemens Limited of Germany.

The latest payment of the 25 percent cost brings to three the number of core investors that have paid the sum. The others are the Korean and indigenous consortium, KEPCO/NEDC, which paid the sum of $32.7million to the BPE last week for the Ikeja

DISCO, although the payment is yet to be publicly acknowledged by the Bureau.

The first 25 percent payment was made the Amperion Consortium, which paid the 25 percent cost for the Geregu Power Plant, which was announced by the Technical Committee of the NationalCouncil on Privatisation, NCP over two weeks ago in Abuja.

It would be recalled that in December 2010, the NCP advertised for Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from prospective core investors interested in acquiring control-

ling stake in the 11 successor distribution companies (Discos) created out of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria. By March 4, 2011, the deadline for submission of EOIs, 180 applications were received for the 11 Discos.

Following the evaluation of the applications, 80 bidders were shortlisted. At the deadline for the payment of the data room access fees, 72 out of the 80 shortlisted bidders each paid the mandatory $20, 000 fee to purchase the Request for Proposals (RFP), have access to the data room and proceed to the next stage of the transaction.

Local content: Nigerians to champion power reforms

By NOEL ONOJA

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ORE Nigerians should get ready to lead the current reforms in the power sector as the sector is poised to totally deploy the local content initiatives following successes recorded by the initiative in the country ’s petroleum sector in the past few years.

Accordingly, the Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo has promised to draw up a programme for the enhancement of the Nigerian content in the power sector.

Speaking at his maiden meeting with principal officials of the power sector recently in Abuja, the Minister said to this end, the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN), is to produce highly skilled power sector professionals, as Nigeria is not prepared to import needed manpower overseas.

The Minister said that thousands of Nigerians would be needed urgently in the power sector revolution that is about to be unleashed. NAPTIN would be required to equip these Nigerians with necessary skills needed to drive the energy sector in line with international best practices.

While proffering solution to the high level of break down, due to archaic maintenance culture, the Minister said that modern approach is through preventive maintenance which is anticipatory of major problems before they arise.

PHCN welfare As regards, the welfare of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) workers, Nebo reiterated government’s unwavering commitment to discharging its entire obligations to them.

“The government’s commitment to the generation of 40,000MW by 2020 is resolute as it would make Nigeria become a medium power by 2020. The National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) is in the process of delivery 10 new plants.

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28—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013

Spill Schneiderjudgment: Farmer awaits Electric to host Shell response discovery event

BY SEBASTINEOBASI

F

IVE weeks after a Dutch court in The Hague, Netherlands, ruled in favour of Mr.Friday Akpan, a farmer, whose 47 fish ponds were polluted by the Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC oil spill, he is yet to be paid for the damages.

Akpan, a native of Ikot Ada Udo, in IkotAbasi, Local Government Area of AkwaIbom State, told Vanguard exclusively that the spill not only paralyzed his business, but also affected the well being of his family. “It paralyzed my business and affected the well being of my family. None of my children is a graduate because I couldn’t send them to the university,” he said.

The district court in The Hague said SPDC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell, must compensate Akpan, but dismissed four other claims filed against the Dutch parent company, by farmers in Goi, Rivers State and Oruma, Bayelsa State.

Akpan told Vanguard that each of the fish ponds, about 20 by 30 metres in diameter, was stuck with 3,000 fingerlings and during harvest time prior to the pollution, he sold each fish for at least N5,000 because they were very big.

The farmer recalled that he expanded his ponds business through a facility from the agriculture board before disaster struck, saying, “I started with three ponds, after which I invited the State Agricultural Development Programme for inspection.

The ADP recommended I applied for a loan, which was approved by the Agricultural Loans Board. The loan was used to enlarge the fish ponds to 47.”

However, he lamented that not long after the expansion programme, the spill occurred and wiped away his source of livelihood, thus putting him in huge debts.

Akpan, a 52-year-old father of 12 children, said though he was very happy with the judgment because it would help him to repay his debts, he is eager to see that it is implemented.

“The spill damaged 47 fish ponds, killed all the fish and rendered the ponds useless.

Since then I have been living by God’s grace, and on the help of good Samaritans.

After three months, I will for-

ward my claims through my lawyers, Chima Williams and Channa Samkalden,” he said.

As at press time, the Public Affairs unit of SPDC, refused to comment on the issue despite asking for questions, which Vanguard sent to them by electronic mail.

The Judgment In its judgment the Hague court said,”Shell Nigeria should and could have prevented this sabotage in an easy way. This is why the district court has sentenced Shell Nigeria to pay damages to the Nigerian plaintiff.”

In his reaction, Vice President, Environment, Royal Dutch Shell, Mr. Allard Castelein, said that Shell would negotiate the amount of damages with Akpan, but that an appeal could postpone the outcome of the talks.

Akpan at one of his contaminated fish ponds

FG approves $1bn bond for electricity trader … To unveil power road map 2 soon

By NOEL ONOJA

T

HE Federal Government has empowered the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trader with the sum onebillion Dollars, $1 billion, which has been approved in form of bond, to enable it purchase electricity from the generating companies.

Government did not, however, explain why it needed to bail out the bulk trader, but the announcement came on the heels of government’s disclosure that it is on the verge of approving the second phase of the Electric Power Sector Road Map, to reaffirm its resolve that there is no going back on power privatization.

The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, who disclosed this last week in Abuja, said, the Road Map II became necessary in order to empower and take care of gaps that have been identified, and would soon approve, Road Map II. Speaking in his office when he met with a United States Agency for International Development, USAID delegation, Nebo said,

“We must hit the ground running, we do appreciate the enormous work you have done in the past, especially in the area of capacity building, but we need more help now even in the area of strengthening of institutions that will implement our plan. We are calling for more investments; we want genuine investors to take advantage of the revolution that is about to happen in the sector.”

Describing the new map as phenomenal, the minister said it would surpass what happened in the telecommunications sector because power is crucial to our everyday living, particularly in the rural areas, which have been denied of power for years.

“We need to develop the critical mass of experts in all areas of generation, transmission and distribution,” he said, adding that the sector suffers from an ageing workforce, a problem that would require assistance from USAID. The Minister of State, HajiaZainab Ibrahim Kuchi, who was also present, told the delegation that the recent inauguration of a board for the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) affirms Mr. President’s commitment to resolving the Manitoba issues.

PTD commends NNPC’s pipeline rehabilitation

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etroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD, an arm of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has commended the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mr. Andrew Yakubu, for his pipelines rehabilitation programme.

The union made the commendation during a courtesy visit by a delegation of the National Executive led by its National Chairman, Dr. Timothy Ogbu, to the NNPC Headquarters in Abuja at the weekend.

A statement from the Corporation on Sunday, quoted Ogbu as saying that the union was very impressed with Yakubu’s effort in rehabilitating the pipeline and depots, which have been giving downstream operators some nightmares over the years.

“We want to thank the GMD for the successes recorded in this area and hope that the tempo will not only be sustained, but also be improved upon in other areas that have been bedevilled in the industry such as the Aba – Makurdi – Yola line, the Ibadan – Ilorin line, and that of Warri – Kaduna –Jos – Gombe – Maiduguri,” Ogbu stated.

The Chairman said his union cherishes the cordial relationship between it and NNPC and promised to ensure that the harmonious relationship is sustained for the good of all Nigerians.

Responding, Yakubu thanked the union leaders for recognizing the effort of his management in aggressively addressing the downstream infrastructure challenge, adding that the commendation was for him and the Corporation a call to do more.

He explained that the rehabilitation of the pipelines and depots is only a part of the mandate given to him by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, which also included the rehabilitation of the refineries for optimum capacity utilization.

“We can’t achieve optimum capacity utilization in the refineries without having the pipelines and depots in good shape for effective product evacuation and distribution, that is why we are fixing them so that by the time we complete the rehabilitation of the refineries we won’t have any problem with distribution and storage,” Yakubu said.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013 — 29

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Automobiles 30—Vanguard , TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013

Minister lauds VON for proficiency, quality

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STORIES BY THEODORE OPARA

T

HE Honda Place Nigeria has unveiled the 2013 Honda Accord which originally debuted 37 years ago. This model marks the beginning of the production of the ninth generation Accord.

Remarkably loaded with distinctive features such as blue tooth, parking sensors, retractable side mirrors, the new Accord replaces the eighth generation model which bestrode the global automobile marketplace from 2008 to 2012.

Honda meticulously improved the 2013 model not only to outperform competitions but to reintegrate the sporty driving dynamics of much earlier Accords.

Mr. Deepak Daryanani, Head, Sales and Marketing, The Honda Place Lagos validated these claims at a media presentation of the new Accord in Lagos, where he described the new Accord as ‘King of the Jungle.’ The Accord also boasts unmatched fuel efficiency in its class.

He said the 2013 Accord is exceptionally crafted as a masterpiece with dynamic and prestigious agile demeanor in line with Honda’s design philosophy.

According to him, the Accord has been detailed with premium accessory such as LED head lamps, earth dream technology and paddle shift gear to give the car a deserving character.

The Honda helms man is however optimistic that the remodeled Accord would address “critics’ claims that the previous Accord model was too large and too soft.”

Currently one of the most aggressive models in the Honda line-up, the Accord was for the first time, during the seventh generation (20042006), significantly reviewed with freshened exterior styling, more power and stability control, as did minor modifications to trim level organization.

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All-new Accord debuts with premium features The ninth generation Accord is indeed a significant improvement over its predecessor especially when viewed against the backdrop of innovations like class leading cabin space, excellent fuel economy

and almost a cubic foot more cargo volume.

Couple with these is incomparable cockpitlike interior and improved three-eye instrument panel with large dial plate.

Other attractive inno-

vations are the car ’s new electric power steering with non-contact torque sensor for linear steering feel and world’s first steel and aluminum bonded front surface.

Honda’s resourcefulness and desire to al-

ways be the first dates back to more than five decades ago, when the automaker successfully transferred its motorcycle business to automobiles, power and marine equipment.

HE Ministry of Trade and Investment has expressed satisfaction with the quality and proficiency at VON Automobiles Nigeria Limited, local manufacturers of AshokLeyland buses, trucks and light commercial vehicles.

Dr. Samuel Ortom, Minister of State for Trade and Investment made this remarks last week, when he and his team conducted a supervision visit to the plant in Lagos.

He said: “I have inspected and seen what VON Automobile Nigeria is doing and I am quite impressed with the quality of work here as well as the capacity of the plant. I have toured other parts of this country and I am saying that what I found here is of international standard and can be used anywhere in the world.”

The minister who led a high powered delegation of members of the Committee on Mass Transportation for Nigerians to VON Automobiles also applauded the vehicle assembly plant for transforming the defunct Volkswagen of Nigeria (VWoN) plant within a relatively short period of time.

He said: “I am satisfied with what I have seen and the truth is that you can supply us with the quality and quantity of what we need and I want to reassure you that I will take this back to the Committee and within a very short time, government should be in a position to allow you make offer to the body that would be demanding your services.”

Yaxing, ‘Mercedes Benz Coach’ from China arrives T

RANSIT Support Services Limited, has unveiled the Yaxing range of coaches into the Nigerian market. The Yaxing Coaches were presented to leading Transporters in Nigeria like ABC Transport, Chisco Transport, Evergreen Transport etc, at the Ocean View Restaurant Lagos, recently and he shared lot of similarities

with Mercedes Benz models.

Speaking at the presentation,General Manager in charge of Exports, Yaxing Motor Coaches Company Ltd, China, Mr. Shen Dehua, explained that the company was in partnership with Mercedes Benz in China for many years which informed the similarities of their products.

Although, he maintained that the two companies had both parted ways, the Yaxing products benefitted from the relationship with the world leading truck maker while the relationship lasted.

Also speaking at the occassion, Mr. Stanley Mbanu of Transit Support Services Limited, explained that the com-

pany settled for the Yaxing range of products after carefully studying the quality of the vehicles which it discovered to be at per with European products. The Yaxing VHC 0500 coach, according to him is powered by Cummins, which is known for durability and reliability with availability of parts.

Already, the Associated

Bus Company (ABS) Transport has acquired nine units of the Yaxing VHC 0500 buses for its operation with an order for additional 10 more units.

Mr. Mbano explained that the VHC 0500 coach was developed by Yaxing Benz together with Daimler Benz in China, using international standard and European

Vanguard , TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013—31

Kia Quoris pulls crowd, settles in Nigeria

BY THEODORE OPARA

I

T was perhaps, the largest crowd at the launch of any car model in the country as the large hall was filled to its capacity. There were side attractions as different groups took their turns to entertain the audience. Then came popular standup comedian, ‘Basket Mouth’ who held everyone spell bound with his jokes.

The atmosphere at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos was charged as Kia launched its Quoris luxury sedan in Nigeria.

When Dana Group Managing Director, Mr. Jacky Hathramani, distributors of the Kia brand in Nigeria, mounted the stage to introduce the new Kia flagship sedan, the Kia Quoris, the ovation was so loud as the audience applauded ceaselessly.

Mr. Hathramani’s excitement at this stage knew no bound as he talked about the qualities of the car, which is bringing Kia to an entirely new segment in the auto world.

According to him, it is the first Kia pure luxury sedan with array of features that are hardly found in competing models.

The Kia Quoris is a rear-wheel drive sedan with a V6 powerplant and 8-speed automatic transmission. It’s exceptionally spacious and luxurious interior speak volume for the car.

Premium Lexicon

audio system and multimedia rear seat entertainment are some of the unique features of the new Kia Quoris which has kept other luxury car makers wondering where the Korean car maker got its inspiration from.

According to Kia’s Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer, who was one-time Volkswagen

Group design chief, the Kia Quoris is all about elegant simplicity, balanced proportions and simple surface.” And taking a queue from Schreyer, the Dana boss described the Quoris as epitome of luxury.

The Quoris V6 3.8-litre MPI engine delivers 294ps of powere and is equipped with dual continuously variable valve

models. These include adaptive front lighting system (AFLS) which works in conjunction with the full HID headlights, Parking Guide System (PGS), an onboard computer for safe parking.

Others are Active Safety System in the Quoris with ABS. (Antilock braking), BAS (Brake Force Assist Sys-

tem), ESC (Electronic Stability Control); HAC (Hill Assist Control), VSM (Vehicle Stability Management) and EBD (Electronic Brake-Force Distribution). The EBD which monitors the car’s load, the combined weight of occupants and cargo and adjusts the front rear distribution of the braking pressure to enhance retardation.

C&I targets more market share with Suzuki Dzire C

&I Leasing Group, sole distributors of Suzuki brand of automobile in Nigeria has launched the new Suzuki passenger car, swift

Dzire into the Nigerian market.

Speaking at the unveiling in Lagos, the Managing Director, C&I Motors, Mr. Vikram

Mr. Emeka Ndu, Chairman C & I Motors (L), admiring the Dzire at the unveiling.

C M Y K

timing (CVVT) and a variable intake system (VIS).

The eight-speed automatic transmission mated to an innovative SBW (shift by wire) technology helps save space and weight while reducing engine noise in the cabin.

As a pure luxury sedan, Kia adopted a number of technologies never before seen on Kia

Mehtani, described the new Suzuki as an irresistible car for people who desire efficient and comfortable sedan, adding that the car will help increase their presence in the entry level sedan vehicle segment in Nigeria.

“The swift Dzire is an absolute new automobile from Suzuki stable which I hope will help us increase our presence in the entry level sedan segment of the Nigerian automobile market which offers great promise as a very large number of sales of new automobile happen in this segment,” he said.

He added that, the swift Dzire is an exciting new offering in the sedan segment which combines the very appealing shape with great fuel efficiency and robust engineering design.

According to him, the introduction of swift Dzire enables Suzuki to

cross the bridge between hatch-back vehicles represented by the Suzuki Alto and Celerio and the Midsize sedan, represented by Suzuki Sx4.

The swift Dzire comes in 1.2 litre engine and in three trims, including two manual transmissions and one automatic transmission and is priced below N3 million, according to the managing director. With this price, the Suzuki swift Dzire is probably the only Japanese brand in this segment that is prized below N3 million.

Promising that C&I Motors would be unveiling more exciting Suzuki models into the market soon, the managing director traced their relationship with Suzuki brand in Nigeria to 2007 when they took the franchise for Suzuki brand.

“The relationship between C&I Leasing Group and Suzuki Motors Company, Japan

started way back in 2007 when they were offered the sole franchise distributor for Suzuki passenger cars in Nigeria,” he said.

Also speaking at the unveiling, the chairman of the occasion, Dr. Newton Jibunoh, an environmentalist, who have crossed the Sahara desert thrice with Suzuki models said, he had no doubts that the swift Dzire would surpass customers expectations.

Dr. Jibunoh who was represented by Ms Omobolanle Afobatele said, “Suzuki models provide the right-mix of fuel efficiency, comfort and ruggedness. With my previous experiences with the Suzuki brand, I am confident of the durability and fuel efficiency of Suzuki swift Dzire with its 1.2 litre engine capacity and sufficient ground clearance which is suitable for Nigerian roads,” he said.

According to him, the swift is a vehicle of choice that cuts across all age groups and gender.

32—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH, 19, 2013 by themselves or their families for that sole purpose and they live happily ever after.

At, least, that’s the way things were supposed to be. Unfortunately, it did not work that way for Layi and his cousin Steven. The two women were who were even referred to as cousins because of their close friendship turned out to be real troublesome, such that Steven and his wife soon became regular visitors at their local Police station. They were always fighting and his wife was always bragging that she would send him to prison if he was not careful.

Eventually, she did not send him to prison but to his death. One night after a nasty fight, she called the Police and he was asked to leave the apartment for the sake of peace.

He drove around in his car for a while and decided he would wait it out in his car till morning. It was winter time and he probably miscalculated.

What really happened, no one may ever know but Steven was found dead in his car the next morning. Layi believed he was killed not by the cold but by the greed and waywardness of a village girl whom his cousin had

Just before you get intimate

Married but living single(6)

Nike, (40), Business woman is married to Layi, (50), who resides in the USA. She has been living single for almost seven years now. Why? ”It is not that I did not know the true picture of the kind of marriage I will have before I went into it. I knew I will never be allowed to visit the US not alone to live there with him. He had made me understand all these when we decided to take the relationship more seriously. And since I accepted then, there is nothing I can do about it now unless he changes his mind. It is not that I have not been try-

ing to pressurise him to do so.

But so far, it has not worked.

Layi has been married and divorced twice, each marriage produced a child. He also has a child from one other woman. my two children makes five as the three women have a child each.

My parents did not like him initially. One, they considered him too old for me because of the 10 years age gap. Then, after hearing about his many women, they seemed almost put off. But they had no choice because I was already pregnant with his child. I had to tell them it was what I wanted. And because of my mother’s personal

,

HI! IT is the dream of every wom an to find her own Prince charming, get married and be called Mrs. It is a dream they have harboured in their hearts since they were little. And when that husband comes in a package wrapped with success, the promise of life abroad and access to the good things of life, many women are likely to throw caution to the winds. Unfortunately for some, reality may sometimes be different from dreams and they find themselves trapped in between two worlds, neither married, nor single.

We will be taking the story of three women who are trapped in unions with guys who reside outside the country.

Dear readers, if you or anyone you know of have been through a similar experience, please write in and share with us. We also offer our readers an opportunity to share their problems with other readers whose advise will also be published on this column. this is because this column is not only reader participatory, it is also because we believe in the power of numbers, the more, the merrier. So, we are anxiously waiting to read from you.

Our adress remains, The Human Angle, Vanguard, P.M.B. 1007, Apapa, Lagos, and our e-mail add r e s s : thehumanangle93@yahoo.com Happy reading!

It was winter time and he probably miscalculated; what really happened, no one may ever know but Steven was found dead in his car the next morning

experience with my father, she agreed and gave me her support.

My father had walked out on us to shack up with another woman many years back. She remarried after she realised she could not cope with the care of three children all alone. She was lucky second time around.

So when I talk about my parents, I’m talking about my mother and stepfather.

Layi according to his story did not have things too easy for him on arriving the US many years back. Like most Nigerians, he and his cousin, Steven had left home with very high hopes and ambition, but soon realised that the streets of USA are not lined with gold waiting to be picked by foreigners as they had thought.

So, they did what most foreigners do to make a living. Work, school, marry a white or black woman for papers, once they become qualified to live and work in the USA, they divorce them and later marry their own kind. Most of the time, these are women imported into America

,

brought to America on his own sweat, only for her to became a superstar.

Layi had met his wife through Steven's wife when she arrived arrived America. That they were friends meant that they shared similar traits.

With time, he became paranoid that his own wife would treat him in a similar manner, simply to get his property and make him pay support for their child. And this really frightened him because he was already paying for the child from the white woman.

Naturally, since there was no longer trust between them, the relationship collapsed and they each went their separate ways. However, he said he was able to part with her amicably, using her cousin’s case to armtwist her into an agreement. he would pay child support and he can see the child anytime he wishes to. But he gets to keep the house and everyone keep what belongs to him or her.

A relationship after his marriage broke down produced another female child making three girls from three mothers.

The lady tried very hard to make him marry her but he refused and she finally left with her child.

To be continued

Friends Searching Males

•Bright, 25, from Delta state, needs a girl, aged

18-20, for a relationship.08105348057 •Bobby, 40, needs a tall, slim and educated woman, aged 23-30, preferably from Edo north, for a serious relationship.08028396531, 08092542446 •Michael, 28, needs a girl, aged 25-28, who will love and take care of him.08136998809 •Paddy, 32, a Nurse, resident in Abuja, needs a mature, fat, busty and sexy lady, for a romantic affair. 08060676333 •Jude, 31, needs a lady, aged 25-35, for a serious relationship.08092847351 •Mark resident in Lagos, needs a rich, sexy and caring lady, aged 30-40, who is lonely and deserves to be pampered, for a romantic relationship. 08027517019, 08067076037 •Prince, 25, student from Imo state and resident in Onitsha, needs a girl aged, 18-25, who is single and God fearing, for a serious relationship.

08038609074 •Prince, 34, humble, God fearing, employed, and C M Y K

native of Warri, needs an educated, God fearing, employed girl, aged 20-30, for marriage.

08063512749 •Gbenga, 34, dark, 5.8ft tall, a Christian, resident in Lagos and employed, needs an employed, single lady, aged 27-33, for a serious relationship.08189037550 or 08085838120, •Dear readers, please note that neither Vanguard, nor Yetunde Arebi will be liable for any error in the publication of requests on the Lovezone that may result in any form of embarrassment to any member of the public.

Also note that we do not run any match-making agency in or outside the country. Any reader who transacts business with anyone claiming to be our agent does so at his/her own risk.

Henceforth, only messages sent through the numbers readers want to be contacted on will be published.

This notice is necessary in order to serve you better in our refreshingly different style. To get your requests published, just text it to the code number 33055. For further enquiries, call 08026651636. Cheers!

BY ONOZURE DANIA

I

t’s a hard pill to swal low, but it’s true. Just because a man has had an affair with a woman does not mean that he has even spent a second thinking whether or not he wants to be with her or have a relationship in the future. So, if you are thinking that sleeping with a man will make him see your worth, you are dead wrong!

It is not the physical attraction a man feels for a woman or that he desires a woman sexually that makes a man really feel for her and wants to be with her more often. for most men, sex even great sex has very little to do with their actual feelings. because sex is more of an experience that can be performed easily without emotional attachment, it is often mistaken for something serious.

Yet almost every woman equates an affair with a relationship. Let’s say you slept with a guy and then he got distant. You are probably thinking he played around with you and was not being honest about what he was looking for. But let me ask you this question, did you tell him what you wanted before you got physical?

Did you say something like, “I only sleep with a man if he already values me and sees me for the amazing woman that I am?” I’m guessing no.

Instead, you probably did what lots of women do during casual dating.

You gave him no impression about whether you were in it for the fun and connection of it all with him or were actually looking for something serious.

You thought the act of an affair alone would speak for itself. Wrong.

If you have ever felt hurt because you became physical with a man and he ended up not having an interest in dating or starting a relationship, then the odds are you can look back and see that you have made this mistake.

Of course, it does not seem like it’s you who is making a mistake in these situations.

It feels like the man you are with is the one who obviously doesn’t get it and is a player for not being ready for a relationship.

But deep down, you know you slept with this man because you believed that if you could come up with enough “proof ” that he should love and value you, and if you could make things “perfect” between you two, then he would become the open and loving man you imagined him to be.

You have to stop banking on what you think a relationship could be or should be.

Start opening your eyes to what is. You are so wrapped up in his perspective, what he is doing, his feelings, his emotions and his desires or lack thereof, that you all have but have forgotten about something way important which is what you really want.

I will take a wild guess here and bet that the kind of guy that you truly want is not a guy who is going to freak out or act distant just because you are telling him how you are feeling after you have already slept together.

08054747429 •Luckson, resident in Asaba, needs a sexy and well behaved, straight forward and ambitious girl, from Asaba and environs, for a relationship.08179430403 •Henry, 32, employed, from Delta state, needs an employed girl, aged 25-30, from a well to do family for a serious relationship that will lead to marriage.

08064321934, 08157945731 •A guy needs a caring and loving lady for a serious relationship. 08034997684 •Austine, student from Benin, needs an influential and wealthy woman, aged 34-50, for a relationship.08155158407,08162498182 •Thompson, web designer from Onitsha, needs a responsible girl for a serious relationship.

08164138578, www.cltechnology.wordpress.com •Obalola, 36, resident in Lagos, needs a tall, financially ok, beautiful, sexy and God fearing lady, aged 38-45 and resident within Lagos and Ogun state for relationship.08055078991,07061547408 •Jeff, student from Abeokuta, needs a decent girl for a serious relationship that will lead to marriage.07038365912

Vanguard anguard,,

LEISURE

YOUR LUCK TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 LIBRA: Whatever anybody says or does, you will have both your say and way. Venus and Jupiter may tempt some of you to embrace illicit (or secret) romance within your base of operation.

SCORPIO: Venus and Jupiter at positive angles may tempt you to join some of your friends who are already onboard of merry making train. Watch your health.

SAGITTARIUS: Minor financial success you record today can lead to something bigger and good in the near future; as good luck will smile at many and induce love of luxury, merry, making and romantic association. Genuine lovers will need to be on guard against deceit from new admirers.

CAPRICORN: Both financial success and emotional satisfaction are closed to you than before. Those of you travelling because of maters-of-the-heart are in for an exciting romantic day Those ambitious career-wise will succeed after few struggles.

AQUARIUS: Many members of your opposite sex will go out of their ways to attract your romantic interest. This is the wrong time to engage on unnecessary argument. Been your lucky day you are expected to take good advantage today.

TUESD AY, MARCH 19, 2013—33 TUESDA

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

...L

ET me ask you a few questions — If you are asked to go and hunt for an elephant on top of a tree, will you go? If you are asked to go and fish in the desert, will you go? And if you are told a ship has berth in the desert, will you

Beware of false prophets — 3 believe? If your answer to the above questions are no respectively, then why will you believe prophecies that do not seem to agree with your

natural chemistry, do not agree with the word of God, do not agree with Quranic provision (in case you are a Muslim) and seem to lack basic

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”

element of truth and integrity?

There are prophets and there are prophets. But every prophecy must be tested against the spirit, the word of God and the integrity of the vessel.

Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

PISCES: If you priority is love, much of it would come your way as desired. But here is a better day for more ambitious in the business world. Don’t allow anybody to deceive you over money.

ARIES: Those of you with secret admirers within your working area will have the needed opportunities to make the needed moves. Resist the temptation to deceive others.

TAURUS: Although matters-of-the-heart may give you cause to smile broadly, if care is not taken, you would cause friction that can’t help you r case at work. This is the wrong time for unnecessary scheming within your working arena.

GEMINI: Those of your who are red-blooded for romance may have an exciting and satisfying day. Happenings within your social circles must be taken more seriously.

CANCER: Confrontation may come your way in the circle but the heavens are working favourably for you. Some doses of romance is not too much for you on a day like this.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

LEO: Provided you don’t allow your innate ability to be as diplomatic as necessary desert you, things work favourably for you to the betterment of your finances.

VIRGO: Many of you will be in sentimental mood and exhibit strong romantic desire openly. But then, if care is not taken, you may be carried away to the detriment of your finances. Serious minded lovers are in for happy day.

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 horoscope?

Dear Joshua, I want you to give me my comprehensive horoscope, especially what my special gift is.

Which day of the week was I born? Where were my natal planets and their meanings? Who am I? Tijani, Ikeja.

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Dear Tijani, There is no space for comprehensive horoscope but what you’ll have here -under is answer to your questions/ You were born on a Thursday and your special gift is LEADERSHIP quality.

YOUR HOROSCOPE DATA Day Of Birth: Thursday Sun Sign: Virgo: Sun in 20th Degree of Virgo Moon Sign: PISCES: Moon on 10th Degree of Pisces Mercury in 16th Degree of Libra Venues in 5th Degree of Scorpio Mars in 13th Degree of Cancer Jupiter in 6th Degree of Pisces Saturn in 5th Degree of Aquarius Uranus in 2nd Degree of Virgo Neptune in 11th Degree of Scorpio Pluto in 10th Degree of Virgo North Node in 6th Degree of Leo South Node in 6th Degree of Aquarius Quality and Element Cardinal and air star signs hosted two planets each fixed and earth three each, no planet in fire while mutable and water star signs hosted five planets each.

Push-full influence = 20% Non- push-full element = 80% Final dispositor = Lucky Jupiter General Analysis Just 20 per cent of push-full influence in your chart can deceptively present you to others as a soft (or even timid) person but practical Virgo that hosted nothing less than three heavenly bodies when you were born and Astrological aspects between Mercury (mental focus) and aggressive Mars in you r chart are pointers to the contrary.

Yes! You are highly intelligent and your mind works the same way detective’s minds do. It is true, there are little contradictions between your inner self and your emotional being as indicated quality, water element and Virgo characteristics.

One moment, you can be very emotional, exhibiting temper with stinging tongue but a few hour later you are amiable, easy going, friendly and compassionate. You are the adaptable type who will see changes as sources of good opportunities.

Commen3

by Lawrence Akapa

34— Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013

Our battle against ghosts in Delta — Ofili, HOS LIKE a man living a second life, Sir Okey Ofili radiates a smile and the purposefulness of a man on a mission. Ofili, Head of the Civil Service of Delta State who survived a kidnap last year, counts himself specially privileged to head the bureaucracy under Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan. While appreciative of what he says is the governor’s principled stance towards upholding the dignity and discipline of the civil service, he reviews the challenges and culture of the service he heads. Excerpts:

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN

H

OW would you describe access into the civil service when you entered?

I think, with the knowledge of hindsight I want to say that it was relatively easier than what we are seeing now. In our third year in university we already had people who were coming round to interview us for jobs.

After that we had to go for the NYSC and after that we still continued with those contacts. I know that much fewer number of persons were coming for interviews then. The numbers were relatively smaller, part of the reason being that there more openings, more companies were working and the numbers that we were churning out from our university system was relatively not as large as what we now have.

I couldn’t have imagined what we have now when you put up for an advertisement for one or two positions and you see about 30,000 persons applying. I know that when I came for the interview for the service we were just about 50 persons for 20 positions and off course, all of us who left that year, immediately after our NYSC found places, either in the civil service or in the corporations or in companies and I don’t think there was any of us

FCT POLLS:

in my class who did not get a job immediately we left service unlike what we see now when we find graduates of six, seven, eight years still looking for jobs.

So, I want to say those were really the glorious days of Nigeria and we are looking forward to see if we can go back to those glorious days.

Do you see yourselves as

there should be a feedback mechanism where members of the public should have an opportunity to assess what we want to do, where once in a while we go and report to them, through press briefings and what have you. But it is important that we don’t lose sight of the fact that we are accountable to our political masters.

Out of these, how many are ghosts?

Firstly, they are called ghosts, so they don’t enter into the system in the usual way. What has happened is that you have situations where there is some connivance, maybe at the level of those responsible for the payment of salaries…these ghosts manifest in different ways.

Firstly, there could be an outright situation where salary is being paid to a non-existent staff.

Secondly, there could be a situation where yes, the staff exists but doesn’t come to work, he has a job somewhere else, but his name is on our payroll.

Then we have another situation where someone has retired or is late and his name is still on the payroll and the last one is that where an officer is being arbitrarily paid a salary which he is not supposed to get.

Maybe his salary is supposed to be N30,000 a month but he is being paid about N70,000. All these are arbitrations and the general name for them is ghost workers. It would be difficult for me to say what proportion of ghosts is in our service.

It is a challenge because at the end of the day, so much money

is lost through this means. It is not something that should be encouraged, it is something that we must all try and fight vigorously. It is a reflection of the part of the decadent in our society.

The only way to fight it is regular monitoring of our wage bill. If we carry out an exercise today and flush out say about 200 fake names, if we wait till next year, we will get about 300 or 400.

How do they come back?

Well, firstly part of it could be that those who are supposed to check these things in the system are not checking like those who are retired or are late and their names are still on the payroll.

Then, it could be a deliberate effort by some unscrupulous civil servants who because they have the opportunity to prepare the payroll, they introduce these names into the payroll.

So, I think strictly speaking it is a self inflicted injury and I am sad we are talking about it because it is a poor reflection of the civil service that these kinds of things can happen. These are not problems created for us from outside the system, this is a battle or an aberration that emanates from within the system and that is why it keeps on resurfacing with all the attempts we make to stamp it out.

How supportive has the governor been to the service?

Let me say that our governor is very, very supportive of the civil service and I consider myself,

Continues on page 35

A lonely vict or or PDP victor oryy dance ffor

BY OKEY NDIRIBE, CHRIS OCHAYI, JOHNBOSCO AGBKWURU, JOSEPH ERUNKE, JOHN BULUS, LAIDE AKINBOADE AND GABRIEL EWEPU

T

*Ofili: Our governor is supportive

obligated to the p o l i t i c a l authorities or to the citizenry?

In carrying out my duties as a civil servant, we are accountable to our political masters, because our political masters are the representatives of the citizenry, but we also owe the citizenry an explanation where we need to make such an explanation.

First of all, we are responsible to our political masters not losing sight of the public we are to serve. Ideally,

What is the size of the Delta Civil Service?

The core civil service, I think we are about 17,500, but if you want to talk about the entire workforce of the entire Delta State and we now include the people in the Post Primary Education Board, Hospital Management Board and so on, we should talking about 55,000.

HE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP was last Sunday celebrating its victory in the area council elections of last weekend in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. But it was not an easy victory.

It was also not a tensed election as the election came and went leaving most of the electorate indifferent.

At the end of the election, the PDP won the chairmanship in five of the six area councils losing only in Gwagwalada Area Council, an area that had in the past proved a tough nut for the

ruling party.

Even though the FCT Minister was reported to have lost his polling ward, he would, however, be satisfied that he sufficiently delivered the capital city to the ruling PDP. In Abaji, the PDP chairmanship candidate polled 8,933 votes, which is higher than the 8204 combined votes of the ACN, ANPP, CPP, PPA and SDMP. For the Kuje seat, PDP scored 16,800 votes. Together, the six opposition parties that contested the seat – ACN, ANPP, APGA, CPC, SDMP and PPA scored 6419 votes.

Also in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), the PDP’s 16841 votes is higher than the 12, 266 votes jointly garnered by the AA, ACNN, ANPP, APGA, CPC, CPP, LP, UPP, SDMP and

PPA. In Kwali, the result was PDP – 12,809 and opposition parties, 9142.

PDP almost repeated the feat in Bwari where its 9881 votes were very close to the 9941votes that the AA, ACN, ANPP, CPC, CPP, LP, SDMP and PPA jointly got The ruling party, however, narrowly lost in Gwagwalada where its 11,502 votes were 94 votes shy of the All Nigeria Peoples Party candidate’s 11,596 votes.

The polls were indeed, characterised by logistic hitches and a high level of voters apathy.

This was confirmed by a National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Mrs Gladys

Nne Nwafor who supervised the exercise.

She decried the voters apathy during the polls adding that the turn out was below 40 per cent.

Nne Nwafor, who is the INEC Commissioner incharge of Imo, Enugu and Ebonyi states said this while fielding questions from journalists immediately after the FCT elections.

According to her: “The overall impression of the exercise is that the turn out is very low, even below 40 percent. I wouldn’t say it was due to lack of awareness.

Everybody was aware of the FCT elections.”

At many of the polling stations visited by our reporters, INEC adhoc staff which comprised mainly of serving members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) were seen sitting idly

while waiting for voters.

For instance, an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) adhoc staff at Karu ward within Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) said less than 100 voters showed up for accreditation out of the over 3000 registered in the area in 2011.

Speaking on voters’ low apathy,

Continues on page 35

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013 —35

In unison, Rivers people back Amaechi DAPO AKINREFON

A

LESSER man may have collapsed under similar pressure. But not Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State whose base of support at home continues to stand despite the strong pressures from political rivals at home and abroad.

Despite the furore over the failed move by elements connected to the the presidency to remove Amaechi as the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), his enemies, it seems may not have relented in thier efforts.

Perhaps, not until they believe they have completely finished the governor and his base within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have continued the battle to politically decapitate Amaechi.

The governor, apparently is now a hunted man as his political enemies explore all ways of marginalising him. One example was the failure to invite him to the recent PDP national caucus meeting, despite the fact that some PDP governors were invited. But no invitation was extended to Amaechi who is the chairman of NGF. Only recently, a plot to discredit the Amaechi administration and arrest State officials on phantom allegations of ‘monumental’ corruption in the state, was revealed.

Observers view this as part of a grand design to stop Amaechi from getting another term as NGF chairman and completely

FCT polls: A

weaken him politically.

Also, with the 2015 general elections fast approaching, his enemies operating from the presidency especially see the Rivers governor as a threat and obstacle to Jonathan’s second term agenda.

Nevertheless, Amaechi continues to enjoy enormous support at home.

In a solidarity visit to the governor, Rivers State members in the House of Representatives led by the Caucus leader, Mr Asita O. Asita said the lawmakers could not be silent in the face of obvious injustice.

Asita, who spoke on behalf of other members, told the governor that “we are here to express and declare our support and appreciation to you, on how you have successfully and wonderfully managed the affairs of the state. In the past five years and four months, we are satisfied with the level of implementation and vision that you have shown, we are satisfied and indeed thankful to God for giving you to our state at such a time as this, and wish to congratulate you for the show of uncommon courage and statesmanship in the face of uncovered hostilities towards your person as governor.”.

Commenting on the controversy trailing the PDP leadership tussle in the state, the Rivers Caucus stated that it cannot be silent in the face of obvious injustice, saying that they were among delegates who participated in the state congress organized by eminent and

*Amaechi: Waxing strong at home notable honourable leaders from the national secretariat of the party to elect the Chief Godspower Ake led state executive.

It would be recalled that a handful of PDP members in the state, had taken the Ake led State PDP executive to court, challenging its validity. lso on a solidarity visit, the supreme socio-cultural body of the Ikwerre ethnic group, Ogbakor-Ikwerre Oganisation worldwide, pledged their total support and loyalty to the governor.

Speaking on behalf of the group, President-General of Ogbakor Ikwerre, Prof Augustine Onyeozu, described the performance of Governor Amaechi in office as superlative and excellent.

While it enjoined the governor to disregard negative comments

A

and urged him to remain focused and courageous.

Also passing a vote of confidence on the governor, all 32 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly expressed their confidence and support for Governor Amaechi, his conduct, actions and statements.

The lawmakers, in a motion, expressed their confidence and support for Governor Amaechi, his conduct, actions and statements.

In the motion presented by House Leader Chidi Lloyd, the state legislature urged President Jonathan not to allow political jobbers to distract him, recalling that the state gave him the highest votes in the 2011 presidential election. Each of the lawmakers took turns to extoll the virtues of Amaechi and individually pledged their support.

Lloyd said “Rivers people condemn in strong terms the recent unwarranted but premeditated attacks on the person and office of the Governor of Rivers State.

That the people of Rivers State do herein restate our total confidence in the person, leadership, disposition, and response of Governor Rotimi Amaechi to the centripetal political forces of the Nigerian State. A source close to Amaechi described the vote of confidence reposed on the governor as gratifying and humbling in diverse ways.

“It is humbling for Governor Amaechi that all these persons, groups and lawmakers, both State and federal, representing the vast majority of Rivers people would show this kind of solidarity and support for him, support for his leadership style, his achievements, his actions, his policies, his programmes, his statements and stance on both state and national issues."

Their solidarity and support is the voice of the people and it is gratifying to the governor to know that Rivers people are solidly behind him in all that he is doing and saying.

And its understandably so, because Rivers people know that whatever Governor Amaechi is doing or saying is for the interest and general good of Rivers people.

For the Governor, they know that Rivers interest supercedes every other interest, that Rivers State and its people comes first, and that the governor will continue to guard that jealously, no matter the amount of intimidation, threat or harassment. That was what he was elected by the people to do”, the source told Vanguard.

lonely vict or or PDP victor oryy dance ffor

Continues from page 35 the Paramount ruler of the area, His Royal Highness, Chief Emmanuel Kyauta Yepwi, said that although INEC made all the necessary preparations for the elections as evidenced in the provision of all electoral materials, voters’ outcome was unimpressive.

He said: “We have been preaching for them (voters) to come out and vote so that we can select the right person we want.

People came and after accreditation, they were told to come back by 12:00 Noon and you know Nigerian time factor.”

Commenting on the situation, Mrs. Okomudu Naomi, a voter at FCDA quaters said, voters apathy and lack of confidence in the leadership of the local councils is responsible for the poor turn out.

According to her, “the residents here are interested only in the Presidential and National

Assembly elections but lack interest in the local council polls.

When you really look at it we are not feeling the impact of these local councils. The chairmen are not doing anything for us. It is the FCDA that cleans our streets and provide water for us. They

don’t really care about the residents.

Nevertheless, several cases of irregularities were also observed in some parts of the territory.

Among such irregularities were late arrival of electoral officers and their materials.

It is believed this situation, could have discouraged many voters from exercising their civic right.

For instance a female voter who turned up early for the accreditation exercise at the polling station at CBN Junction,

Karu said she went back home to have her breakfast because none of the INEC officials had reported for duty.

In many parts of the FCT, electoral officials arrived late at the various polling stations with their materials.

Our battle against ghosts in Delta — Ofili Continues from page 35 very, very lucky that I am head of service somebody like His Excellency, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, CON is the governor of Delta State. He started as a commissioner and later on as Secretary to the State Government before he became governor and he has taken a lot of interest in familarising himself with the rules and the regulations of the Civil Service. He believes in due process, he believes in things being done orderly, and

as governor he has continued to emphasise that we must do things orderly. I don’t have any challenge with him.

During his period as governor we have had a lot of achievements. Firstly, our directors have been moved to grade level 17, I want to say that we got that because we have a kind of governor that we have.

We continue to promote our officers as at when due in spite of the financial difficulties that we have, he has not in any way stood against promotion of officers. We

have never embarked on any arbitrary lay off of staff because we want to downsize or right size, he is an apostle of human capital development and we have continued to get quarterly releases for our training programmes, the housing loan scheme and the vehicle loan scheme are still very much in place and in the appointment of permanent secretaries he has allowed service rules to operate.

As you know under the constitution he has the final say in the appointment of permanent

secretaries and he can decide to get anywhere to appoint permanent secretaries, but he also believes that it may have a negative impact on the civil service, so he has resisted that temptation so that all appointments are from within the civil service and he does not believe that government can operate without the civil service.

Some of the things he tells us are that he knows when a memorandum has not been written by a civil service.

36—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013

Clark's son bags chieftaincy title

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IAGBODO Town, headquarters of Emgbelebiri-Mein Kingdom, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, was, yesterday agog following the conferment of chieftaincy title on Chief Ebikeme Clark, son of Ijaw foremost national lader, Chief Edwin Clark.

The Pere of Emgbelebiri Kingdom, HRM Samuel Perekeme, who conferred the title of Ebi dou Owei of Emgbelebir –Mein, said the title was a mark of recognition of Ebikeme’s contributions to the development of Kiagbodo and the Ezon –ebe in general.

HRM Perekeme, said the kingdom will continue to recognise positive contributions from sons and daughters of the land as well as well meaning Nigerians, who contribute towards the development of the kingdom.

Speaking to journalists, Chief Ebikeme Clark charged Niger Delta youths to shun criminality and tow the path of hard work to succeed in life.

Uduaghan lauded on devt

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non-governmental organisation, G25 Assembly, based in Delta State, has lauded the on-going transformation of the capital city of Asaba saying, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan is gradually unveiling his true self that endeared people to vote for him a few years ago.

The commendation which was contained in a statement by the group’s chairman, Mr. Ebede Benedict. He said that the ongoing development of Asaba encompasses the three-point agenda of the state government.

While urging the Governor to continue with the pace, the group said attention should also be focused on the power sector by speeding up work on the step-down transformer in Asaba and the IPP project in Oghara to boast economic activities in the state.

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MEETING: From left: Member, House Committee on Finance, Mr. Yomi Ogunusi; Chairman, House Committee on Finance, Mr. Abdulmumin Jibril and Clerk of the Committee, Mustapha Sadiq, during the committee's meeting with NNPC stakeholders, at the National Assembly, in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

How I escaped death at VC’s office —Bailiff

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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SABA—CHIEF Bailiff of a Delta State High Court sitting in Isiokolo, Mr. Peter Onouvughe, has narrated to the court, how he narrowly escaped being shot to death by a Mobile policeman attached to the Vice Chancellor of Delta State University, DELSU, Abraka when he (bailiff) was there to serve the VC a notice of consequence of disobedience of order of court, Form 48.

Onouvughe, in a report to the Chief Assistant Registrar of the court, entitled ‘Bailiff report as to assault and threat to life with gun on me by police officer attached to VC’s office, Delta State University, Abraka,’ said: “When I went to serve the notice of consequence of disobedience of order of the court, the police officer attached to the Vice Chancellor, who is the orderly, after I explained myself to him that I am a judicial staff of the state High Court, Isiokolo, that he should allow me to see the VC, he replied, and I quote: 'Who is court and who knows court?'

“He started pushing me from the VC’s office and rough handling me, saying that if I failed to move out of the office, he was going to shoot me and he now corked his gun with a finger on the trigger and pushed me out.

The staff attached to the VC’s office came and held the police officer’s gun. It was then I threw the processes at the entrance to the VC office.”

It will be recalled that a Professor in the university, Professor Victor Jike, had dragged the university and the VC, Professor Eric Aru-

bayi, before the state High Court for removing him as a member of the university’s Investment Limited Board, which is in charge of Internally Generated Revenue, since his tenure had not elapsed.

And following the suit, trial judge, Justice A. Omamogho, granted an order on November 26, 2012, restraining the defendants “from appointing or consti-

tuting any body or committee by whatsoever name called, to conduct any election in the Senate for the representation of the Senate in the Governing Council of DELSU, pending the determination of the motion on notice already field.

The plaintiff, Prof. Jike, claiming that the order was not complied with, later filed a motion for an order for committal to prison of the VC.

Anenih’s emergence as BOT Chair'll boost PDP's chances in 2016 —Asekhame

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN—PEOPLES Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State, yesterday, said the emergence of Chief Tony Anenih as Chairman, Board of Trustees of PDP, has given a boost the chances of the party in recapturing the state in the 2015 National Assembly and 2016 governorship elections.

But Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, reacting through the state Chairman of the party, Mr. Thomas Okosun, described the comment as laughable, saying, “Chief Anenih and others have been in the party since 2007 when the people of the state rejected PDP and voted massively for Mr. Adams Oshiomhole.”

Former chairman of Owan West Local Government Area of the state, Mr. Dan Asekhame, who briefed newsmen in Benin City, with other leaders of PDP, alleged that fear had gripped members of ACN in the state since the announce-

ment of Chief Anenih as BOT chairman of PDP, adding that hundreds of ACN members had moved to PDP, which, according to him, was an indication that PDP will clinch many local government areas in the forthcoming council elections and future elections in the state.

He said: “Chief Anenih is a political dinosaur, a fact that no body can dispute. And luckily for ACN, they are making so many mistakes that we are going to capitalise on.

For example, in Owan West, the ACN wants Ora people that have three wards to produce the House of Assembly and the chairmanship ticket while Iluleha that has six wards out of the 11 wards were not considered for any position.

“That is why Iluleha people will vote massively for PDP in the forthcoming council election. And the same thing will happen in many councils in the state. That will be the beginning of the rise of PDP again and nothing will stop the party in winning the governorship seat in 2016."

Senate wades into Eket-Ibeno road contract, queries delay

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HAR COURT—THE Senate has waded into the Eket-Ibeno road contract in Akwa Ibom State that was awarded by Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, since November 2009.

Briefing newsmen ahead of a meeting between the Senate SubCommittee on Niger Delta, the contractor and NDDC, Chairman of the Senate Committee, Senator Heineken Lokpobri (Bayelsa State), said the Senate had to wade into the contract to thoroughly determine what was responsible for the delay in completion of the road project.

He said his committee had to summon NDDC and the contractor handling the project to a meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, adding that his committee had visited the road to see things ahead of the tripartite meeting.

The Senator said that findings at the end of the meeting would be taken back to the Senate for deliberations and actions.

“We are not here to witch hunt anybody. We have gone to see the road. Based on that, the contractor was summoned to Abuja. The idea now is to see how we can talk in House."

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013—37

Uduaghan, a goal getter —Tebite

LG polls: Edo PDP sues EDSIEC over alleged collection of money for forms

BY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI—A MEMBER of Delta State House of Assembly, Olorogun Taleb Tebite, yesterday, described the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan as a goal getter.

Tebite, who spoke with our correspondent, shortly after the flag-off of the first quarter 2013 polio eradication sensitisation campaign in the state by Governor Uduaghan at Ughelli, said: “Delta is one of the states that is committed to the eradication of polio in the country.

“Uduaghan’s overwhelming performance stemmed from his experience in governance. He was Commissioner for Health from 1999 to 2003 and Secretary to the State Government from 2003 to 2007 under the administration of Chief James Ibori; so he has brought his experience to bear on the governance of the state.

“Uduaghan is a focused and committed governor. He is a goal getter; all Deltans need to do is to continue to support him."

‘No protest at Delta Poly'

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ELTA Polytechnic, Otefe, Oghara, Delta State, has denied a report by an on-line publication, that there was mass protest at the institution, following alleged plot by the Rector to install her candidate as the Student's Union Government, SUG, President.

Public Relations Officer of the institution, Mr. Force Ofotokun, explained that the report

by Sahara Reporters was not only sponsored by detractors but a figment of the imagination of mischief makers and the reporter.

Ofotokun noted that the fact that the Rector went to calm the students, who were having problems trying to choose their leader, as it was common with most students union election around the world, did not mean her intention was to impose a candidate of her choice on the students.

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BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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ENIN—EDO State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has dragged Edo State Independent Electoral Commission, EDSIEC, before an Edo State High Court seeking to compel the commission to refund the N100,000 and N50,000 it collected from chairmanship and councillorship candidates respectively, as payment for forms for the April 20, local government elections in the state.

State chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, who spoke at Fugar, Estako Central Local Government Area, during the flag-off of the party’s campaign for the forthcoming council election, expressed his party’s reservation over what he called the poor funding of EDSIEC by the state government.

He said: “Last week, we went to the state high court in Benin City, where we filed an action, demanding that EDSIEC should refund the N100,000 and N50,000 it collected from chairmanship and councillorship candi-

dates. We believe that EDSIEC's action is unconstitutional, illegal and we are relying on section 106 and 107 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which gave no such powers to the commis-

sion to demand for such money.

“We are also not dissatisfied with the funding of EDSIEC by the state government.

They should provide them with enough money to con-

DONATION: Mr. Timi Tonye, Commissioner, DESOPADEC, representing Delta State governor (middle); Dr. Edwin Iguara (2nd left) and Mr. Kenny Okolugbo, Commissioner, DESOPADEC, representing Ndokwa nation (left), during the donation of drugs provided

by DESOPADEC for its free health care.

Rivers Varsity crisis: CLO accuses NUC of complicity

BY WILSON YAFU

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IVIL Liberties Organisation, CLO, weekend, accused National Universities Commission, NUC, of complicity in the crisis rocking Rivers State University of Science and Technology, RSUST, over the contentious retention of Prof. Barineme Fakae as the university’s Vice Chancellor.

A day after serving Gover-

nor Rotimi Amaechi seven days ultimatum to reverse his appointment of Prof.

Fakae or face court action, CLO, in a statement by its Rivers State Director of Research and Publicity, Mr. Livingstone Wechie, accused NUC of allegedly fuelling the crisis, which had kept the RSUST branch chapter of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, away from classrooms for nine months.

The stance of the striking lecturers, which CLO supports, was that Governor Amaechi, in retaining Fakae as VC, undermined due process, which must be resolved only by reversal of the decision.

The governor and Visitor to RSUST, maintains that his endorsement of Fakae for another term as VC was in order, adding that anyone opposed to it to go to court.

Braithwaite seeks demolision of 14-storey high, air and linkage the building on V-Island rights of the claimant for over

BY WILLIAMS JIMOH

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AGOS lawyer, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, has asked a Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere, to order Standard Chartered Bank to demolish, with immediate effect, a 14-storey building under construction situated at 142 Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The case is before Justice Doris Okuwobi.

Braithwaite, in the N10 billion suit, is further praying the court to declare that the construction by the bank of

duct this election, and not to be taking money from candidates. The positions are not for sale.”

He recalled that in the last governorship election in the state, no candidate was made to pay for the form.

the 14-floor building and a five level car park on the land, 124 Ahmadu Bello way, Victoria Island, Lagos, was unlawful and damaging his right.

He is further asking the court to declare that the commercial building “now at 10th floor constitutes, and it is an illegal structure.”

He also wants the court to declare that notwithstanding ”the defendant’s illegal development permit, the said commercial bank building constitutes a nuisance and an unlawful obliteration of the claimant's easement to

40 years.”

He is further contending that before the commencement of the suit, seeking a perpetual injunction to restrain the defendant, from commencing its then proposed 14-floor commercial building, the bank was just preparing to start construction.

Meanwhile at the resumed hearing in the matter, counsel to the defendant sought for an adjournment to respond to the claimant’s amended statement of claim, which the court obliged and adjourned till April 9, 2013.

INC petitions IG over alleged detention of member

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JAW National Congress, INC, has called on the Inspector-General of Police to investigate and end the ongoing incarceration of one Mr. Paul Tusemone, saying allegation against him by a Warri chief was vindictive and baseless, as the matter had already been handled by a Delta State High Court sitting in Warri, which ruled in Tusemone’s favour.

National President of INC, Mr. Ekanpou Enewaridideke, in the petition to the IG, said: “Tusemone's arrest is a plot to mislead the police into violation of the law because the matter is in court and the chief had already lost the first phase of the case just as there are many other legal cases the chief has lost against Tusemone in different courts in Warri.”

Enewaridideke noted that the arrest of Tusemone was a clear contempt of court “because a state High Court in Warri had ruled against further intimidation of Tusemone by the Warri chief using police or any agents. We again call on the IG to carry out thorough investigation into the case as we are convinced that the IG will do justice to this matter now that he has adequately been briefed.”

38 —Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013

Council chief distributes N2.5m free drugs

BY CHINENYEH OZOR

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SUKKA — NSUKKA Urban Local Government Council in Enugu State has distributed customized drugs worth N2.5 million.

It also recruited about 265 health extension workers for the 34 existing health centres in the area.

Chairman of the council, Mr. Tony Ugwu, disclosed this during a brief ceremony of the hand over and official commissioning of Nsukka health centre, renovated by PATHS 2, noting that the council attached priority attention to the health sector, despite challenging demands from other sectors.

Ugwu explained that the council recently recruited 265 health workers and posted them to different health centres to meet up with the increasing health challenges in rural area of the council.

He added that youth corps doctors, pharmacists and laboratory scientists were posted alongside the health workers to the 34 health centres in the area.

He stressed that the council recently commissioned Ibagwa-Ani health centre and would soon commission Obukpa health centre and other health posts to strike a balance in the health sector of the area.

He commended PATHS 2, UNICEF and other donor agencies for partnering with Nsukka local government council in the provision of health facilities.

Ekweremadu calls for more youth participation in ECOWAS activities

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA — SPEAKER of the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS Parliament, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, said yesterday that for the Vision 2020 of ECOWAS to be realised, there must be total involvement of more youths in the activities of its institutions.

According to Ekweremadu, youths must be carried along to achieve the noble ideals which among others, envisage the transformation of ECOWAS from an ECOWAS of states to ECOWAS of the people.

Speaking when he received the reigning Miss ECOWAS Peace Ambassador, Zirra Banu, who was on a courtesy visit to his office at the ECOWAS Parliament, Abuja, Ekweremadu stressed that the youths and women of the subregion had a pivotal role to play in the actualization of the dreams of ECOWAS. Ekweremadu, who doubles as the Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, however, expressed the desire of the parliament to work closely with the ECOWAS Peace Ambassador in achieving the objectives of the parliament and its noble programmes to lift the fortunes of

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AGOS— TO actualise the immense potential of Nigeria for greatness and well-being of its people, a Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO, Foundation for Value Transformation, FVT, was launched in Lagos, weekend.

Speaking during the media launch of the foundation, its Executive Director, Mr Segun Caulcrick, said FVT “will be a platform for peaceful action by people who still have passion for Nigeria to win. A platform for the independence generation, frustrated at seeing their dreams of a great nation disappear into distant horizon in their twilight.

“Despite its outstanding potentials for greatness, there is a heartfelt cry from Nigerians for a way out of the muddle of dysfunctional social political system that has held this nation

crucial role to play in this regard because the tomorrow we are trying to build belongs to them.”

Earlier, the ECOWAS Peace Ambassador lauded the contributions of ECOWAS Parliament towards defending democracy and stability in Niger Republic, Republic of Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, and Guinea

BY INNOCENT ANABA

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AGOS — A Federal High Court in Lagos has joined the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, as a

down for too long. A consensus seems to be building up among the elite and intelligentsia that revamping our decimated social values will be the first step in the new direction, away from the nations accelerated lurch towards the abyss.

He enumerated core objectives of FVT, which was initiated in January 2012, to include stimulate societal values that support economic growth and good quality of life; promote cohesive national values to strengthen unity in diversity; support leaders in building sustainable high performance organisation; and develop a stakeholder network for national transformation.

Caulcrick said it was in the light of these that FVT conducted “a ground breaking survey in September 2012 to understand the values driving the current dysfunctional culture and identify values that can lead us in different direction.”

Bissau.

She also supported the quest for the enhancement of the powers of the Parliament to enable the institution achieve more for the region and offered to collaborate with the Parliament towards creating more opportunities for the young people and women in the subregion.

From left: Dr Jumoke Odunsi, Managing Director, Wellcare Home Medicals Limited; Mr Akinmade Akinrolabu, General Manager, Business Development; and Mrs Tosin Adewale, General Manager Admin/Operation, during a press briefing by Wellcare Medicals Limited on home support services to the old and frail, nursing care and personal aids/care givers services, in Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Airtel alleged illegal lottery: Court joins NCC as defendant

Group launches NGO for value transformation

BY ETOP EKANEM

youths and women of the subregion.

He said: “For us at the ECOWAS Parliament, ECOWAS Vision 2020 is real. We are interested in seeing ECOWAS blossom with the many years of efforts towards integration really impacting more lives of the ordinary citizens,; and I believe the youths, in particular, have a

defendant in a suit seeking to revoke the operating licence of Airtel Nigeria Limited for allegedly operating an illegal lottery.

Trial judge, Justice Saliu Saidu, in a ruling on a motion filed by the initiator of the suit, Benjamin Owiadolor, also joined the National Lottery Regulation Commission, NLRC; Consumer Protection Council, CPC, and Secure Electronic Technology Plc, all as defendants to the suit.

Justice Saidu equally ordered Airtel to provide the call logs of Owiadolor in court.

Owiadolor, who is a lawyer, had filed the suit urging the court to mandate Airtel to refund all sums expended by subscribers who participated in the competition known as “wake up a millionaire promo” by way of credit, which should be done under the supervision of the NCC. The plaintiff (Owiadolor) is further asking the court to declare that the promo embarked upon by Airtel without first obtaining the requisite licence from the NLRC is illegal and a contravention of the provisions of the NLRC Act and Lotteries and Pools Betting Laws of

Lagos State.

He is also arguing that the Airtel’s promo is a breach of the conditions of the telecoms licence granted Airtel by the NCC in accordance with the NCC Act. Besides, the plaintiff is seeking N1 million special and general damages against Airtel for the considerable harm, mental and physical disturbances and untold trauma he suffered as a result of the invasion of his privacy through the sending of unwarranted text messages by Airtel.

According to the statement of claim, the plaintiff stated that sometime in April 2009, Airtel embarked on a promo wherein it solicited and encouraged subscribers to make telephone calls to other subscribers on Airtel network and enjoy free one minute call for every one minute call.

He added that on April 25, 2009, he had very important commercial transactions with business associates and friends which required lengthy telephone conversations and at about 12 noon, he made a number of telephone calls which were all truncated at exactly 1.01 minutes.

NEMA records 80 distress alert signals in 2012

By LAIDE AKINBOADE

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BUJA — THE National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, yesterday said its Mission Control Center, MCC, received 80 distress alert signals in 2012 from maritime, aviation and land users.

Director General of NEMA, Alhaji Mohammed Sani-Sidi, said the computer-based satellite technology that uses the COSPAS-SARSAT hi-tech system/facility, had helped search and rescue officers to respond timely in saving victims from distress, especially on the high sea, from where most of the distress alerts came.

According to him, “the system is designed to pick distress alerts and location data to assist in search and rescue operations, using spacecraft and ground facilities to detect and locate the signals of distress beacons.

“It also facilitates the speedy location of distress alerts even in remote locations.”

He said it was imperative to iron out the issues and challenges which could be used to optimise coordination between the various agencies in preventing air and marine disasters in 2013.

Vanguard, TUESAY, MARCH 19, 2013—39

From left: Dr. Lawal Bakare, Project Head, Lagos World Record Toothbrushing Challenge; Dr. Rotimi Olojede, President, Nigeria Dental Association; Dr. Yewande Adesina, Special Adviser to Governor Fashola on Public Health; Mr. Hakeem Bello, From left: Hon. Zakari Mohammed, Chairman, House of Representa- Special Adviser to Governor on Media and Dr. Lara Agbaje, Chairperson,Nigeria tives Committee on Media & Public Affairs; Hon. Ali Ahmed, Chair- Dental Association, Lagos State Chapter, during a press conference on 2013 World man, House Committee on Justice; Hon. Nnana Igbokwe, Deputy Oral Health Day, in Lagos. Photo: Bunmi Azeez Chairman, House Committee on FCT and Hon. Victor Ogene, Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Media & Public Affairs , addressing pressmen on Speech Immunity, during plenary sessions, at the National Assembly, in Abuja. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

From left: Mr. Frank Halim, Trustee, Foundation for Value Transformation, FVT; Mr. Segun Caulerick, Executive Director; Laura Dr. Augustine Uroye (5th from right, front row); Mr. S. A. Bewaji (6th from right); some Johnson, Head, Public Relations & Media and Sir Olusegun George, Prison Service officials and members of Warri South Local Government Peace and Secu- Trustee, during the media launch of Foundation for Value Transrity Committee, shortly after the condolence visit over killing of prison wardens, in Warri. formation, in Lagos.

From left: Mr. Kayode Akande,Executive Director, Mrs. Funmi Femi-Obalemo,Head, Corporate Communications and Mr.Wilson Ideva,MD/CEO, all of Premium Pension Limited, at Premium Pension Limited Customer Retirement/Interactive Forum, in Lagos. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye

Mr. Mike Omeri, Director General, National Orientation Agency, NOA, flanked (left) by Alhaji Ali Danjuma Kawu, Council Secretary, Bwari Area Council, and (right) Prince Afam I. Anene, Director, Political and Civic Education, NOA, at a one- Miss Wuraola Soyeye, giving her mother, Mrs. day Interactive Forum with stakeholders on the Oredola Bamidele a peck, during her convocation, 2013 FCT Area Council Election, at Bwari, Abuja. at the University of Lagos, Akoka, recently.

From left: Apostle Matthew Udoh, Dean, Students Affairs, Apostolic Theological College, Lagos Campus; Apostle John Buzu, Chairman, College Governing Board; Elder Gospel Ikpeme, Provost, Apostolic Theological College, Nigeria; Apostle Joseph R Akpan, Visitor to the Institution; Apostle Nkem Okeiyi, Co-ordinator, Lagos Campus and Apostle Kaiso Ekpenyong, at the inaugural matriculation of the Apostolic Theological College, Lagos Campus, at FCT Field Area Headquarters of The Apostolic Church Nigeria,TACN, in Oshogun, Ketu, Lagos.

From left: Prof. Olawale Albert, Director, Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan; Prof. Dolapo Lufadeju, Past District Governor, Rotary Club and Mr. Gbenga Olaniyi, President, Rotary Club of Ibadan Jericho-Metro, at the club's public lecture with the theme: 'Achieving Peace Through Conflict Resolution and Prevention.' Photo: Dare Fasube

40—Vanguard , TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013

CAN accuses Bauchi govt of insensitivity over Achaba

BY SUZAN EDEH

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AUCHI—BAUCHI State chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has expressed surprise over the state government’s sudden lifting of the ban on commercial motorcycles (Achaba) in Bauchi metropolis, saying the action would heighten the state of insecurity in the area.

The state government had banned the operation of commercial motorcyclists in the

wake of last month’s uproar following the kidnap of seven foreigners in the state by Islamist sect and the alleged killings of some residents of Zango area of the state.

However, CAN said it was “shocked to hear that the state government, which earlier announced the ban on the operation of Achaba riders in the state, suddenly rescinded its decision.

Apart from the seven foreigners, who were kid-

napped, some unidentified gunmen had also attacked Zango, a suburb of Bauchi State and killed Ayuba Shehu, Freeman Lumi, Godia Rimi, Ishaku Samson, Joseph Komo, Inna Zamba, Samuel Mutashi, Ishaya Jauro and Haruna Ayuba at the residence of a traditional title holder in September last year.

In another recent attack, a businessman, whose name was given as Collins from Akwa-Ibom State was also

INSPECTION : Gov-

ernor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State (left), inspecting the AfonEiyenkorin bridge project, yesterday.

Emir of Dutse to lawmakers: Allah 'll guide you, history 'll judge you

BY TINA AKANNAM

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UTSE—EMIR of Dutse, Jigawa State, Alhaji Nuhu Sunusi, has lamented over what he described as the numerous problems bedevilling the country and asked the National Assembly to find lasting solutions to them.

Sanusi mentioned the poor state of insecurity in the country and called for concerted efforts on the part of the National Assembly to bring the situation under control.

He told the lawmakers, “ you must be bold and fearless and history will judge you and Allah will guide you. If our illustrious warriors (National Assembly) of good governance fail, we will all share the shame of ignominy.”

Sanusi spoke, yesterday, when the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, paid him a courtesy visit in his palace, noting that under a democratic system the legislature had a lot of responsibilities towards improving the lot of the people.

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He said: “We have come a long way in our efforts to democratise; mainly through determined efforts of the legislature. We look up to you to find lasting solutions to the problems facing our nation today.

“As a result of many failures and the urgent need to address societal issues of security and free and fair election, these issues have manifested

themselves through corruption in public places, poverty, illiteracy and unemployment among the youths.”

Earlier, Alhaji Tambuwal had told the emir that he was in his palace to solicit for his support and fatherly advice on several issues affecting the nation and to commission some laudable projects executed by the present administration in the state.

reportedly killed in his shop.

Reacting to the lifting of the ban on Achaba, state Chairman of CAN, Rev. Lawi Pokti, said the lifting of the ban smacked of “insensitivity on the part of government over the killings of Christians and foreigners alike in the state.

“It is very disheartening that in spite of the selective killings of some innocent people, who are contributing immensely to the development of the state, the government went ahead to lift the ban on Achaba.

“The leadership of CAN is not happy over this development. If this trend continues, Bauchi State will soon become a shadow of itself with almost everybody now leaving the state to other more secure parts of the country.

“From investigations, the perpetrators of these crimes use motorcycles.”

Pokti lamented over the alleged inability of the government to provide security for the residents.

He said: “People are being killed on a regular basis at Zango and Railway areas of the state and little or nothing is being done to stem the tide of insecurity by agencies of government. Security agents must intensify efforts to restore peace and sanity in the troubled areas.

“The killings taking place in Zango and Railway areas of the state are premeditated because these gunmen know their victims. It is so sad to discover that the targets of these attacks are mainly Christians residing in these areas.

“These people, who mind their business, are contributing to the development of the state and we wonder why somebody should see them as enemies. We feel this ugly development is getting out of hand and should be addressed on time to avert another calamity.”

2015 polls: Politicians urged to protect democracy “Political leaders must realTerkura Suswam gave the

BY PETER DURU

M

AKURDI—AS 2015 general elections draw near, politicians have been warned against indulging in acts that could truncate the country’s democracy.

Former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct Social Democratic Party, SDP, and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stalwart Dr.

warning, yesterday, in Anyii, Logo Local Government Area of Benue State, while playing host to the National President of the Agricultural and Allied Employees Union of Nigerian, AAEUN, Simon Anchaver, and other labour leaders in the state.

He said politicians should “play the game by the rules rather than resort to desperation in a bid to wrestle power from the ruling party.

ise that the emergence of a leader in any country or geographical entity is through God’s ordination and not by the desperate actions of persons or individuals.”

Earlier, Anchaver, who is also the chairman of the state council of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, said the visit was prompted by the unfolding events in the state and the need for consultations with the leaders of thought.

ACN, PDP members join Accord Party in Oyo

BY BASHIR ADEFAKA

A

S Oyo State Accord Party, AP, restrategise ahead of 2015, thousands of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, supporters in Ona-Ara Local Government Area of Oyo State, have decamped to AP. The new members were welcomed into AP by the party leader, Senator Adewolu Ladoja, in a ceremony at Olunloyo, Trailer Park Ground along Akanran Road, Ibadan, weekend.

The former ACN members were led to AP by Mr. Nurudeen Badmus, Alhaji Abokorere and Dr. Daudu, while those from PDP were led by Mr. Kunle Balogun, Ibrahim Jinadu, Ayangbenle and Chief Sekoni.

The member, representing Ona-Ara state constituency in the state House of Assembly, Olusegun Oye-wole, who championed the movement to AP, said it was propelled by the deceit being perpetuated by the ACNled government in Oyo.

Task Force repairs 21 boreholes in Plateau

J

OS—SPECIAL Task Force, STF, maintaining peace in Plateau State has said it had rebuilt 21 out of the 28 malfunctioning boreholes in various communities in the Riyom Local Government Area of the state.

Commander of the task force, Maj-Gen. Henry Ayoola, made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Jos, Sunday.

He said the task force had to restore some of the boreholes to alleviate the suffering of the people in accessing potable water.

He said: “We have noticed with great concern how the people in some communities in Riyom are finding it difficult to access potable water. So we decided to come to their aid by rehabilitating the malfunctioning boreholes.

“We believe poverty, hunger and absence of some essential amenities usually fuelled violence."

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013—41

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42— Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

A

s the 2013 rainy season gathers steam, fear has gripped residents of Ayobo and Igbo-Ilogbo, in Ipaja-Ayobo Local Council Development Area, LCDA, that the area may be isolated.

Reason:the only road linking the over 10 communities in the area has been abandoned by the council authourities.

When Vanguard visited the communities located along the Market road that links Camp Davies road, from Megida Bus Stop, it was discovered that the communities are in desperate need of government intervention.

Some of the communities depending on this road to access their homes are: Balogun, Ijon, Ishefun and Kande among others.

The residents lamented that previous and present administrations in the state have continuously marginalised them without explanation.

Sources said that lack of proper drainage facilities in the area has turned some of the communities to perennial flood planes, causing many to abandon their property until the water subsides. The worst flood-hit areas are Bada and Balogun and Igbo-Ilogbo axes.

Over 40 families have been sacked by flood caused by the March 4th and 16th downpour.

Pastor John Awe, a landlord in the area said; “Our fears are caused by the rainy season which has commenced, and with the present state of the road, we will be completely cut-off when the rains intensify.

“The reason for this is that most roads in the council are in deplorable state especially the Market Road which serves as link road for over 10 communities.”

Another resident, Mr. Ladi Samson, argued; “Whenever it rains, vehicular movement in and out of Ayobo becomes impossible. Many drivers who risk driving on the dilapidated road eventually get their vehicles stuck especially the portion at the Ayobo market.

“This is why the yellow commercial vehicles Danfos, stopped plying the road; the only means of operation now is commercial Tri-cycle popularly called Keke and Okada.

When Vanguard visited the portion of the road, an articulated truck with registration number LAGOS XU 905 EKY, was actually C M Y K

Ayobo: Residents express fears as the rains start stuck at that portion of the road.

Mr. Kenneth Matthew, an Okada rider, lamented that, that portion of the road had become a threat to the residents of the area.

“During last week’s downpour, many vehicles especially heavy duty ones broke down here causing a bumper-to-bumper traffic on the road.

“At this time, we increase the transport fare by over 50 percent a because the demand is more than the supply,” Matthew explained.

LCDA responds Speaking on the state of the road in the area, the Council chairman, Mr. Shakiru Yusuf, said “the road from Megida Bus stop to Ishefun community, is a state government project. For any sensible construction to be carried out, it must be done by the state government through the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, and not the council.”

According to Yusuf, “During the last flag-off of the Eko Free Health mission and polio eradication campaign, held in the council, Governor,

Babatunde Fashola came, I reminded him of the responsibilities of the state government to the council especially as it concerns roads

under the purview of the state government.”

Issues develop from Epe-Odo Eragbushi d

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

S

ome two weeks ago, hundreds of houses, said to have been built on government acquired land, were demolished at Epe-Odo Eragbushi community, Epe Local Government Area It has resulted in several residents there been rendered homeless.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, said he was directed by the Ministry of Lands Bureau to carry out the demolition and subsequently, advised the House Physical Planning Committee which waded into the matter that only Governor Babatunde Fashola has the Veto Power to call off the demolition stressing that his ministry always follow due process.

The Permanent Secretary, Lands Bureau, explained that the land in question was under Global Acquisition outlined for

housing projects saying that a year ago they went to the site and spoke with some of the encroachers and asked them to bring documents so that some sort of relocation or compensation could be arranged by the government.

However, it was later discovered that the occupants had only wrong surveys which had misled the authorities to issue out building plan approval to them.

Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Bisi Yusuff and Abdul Hakeem Masha, who contributed to the issue at the Plenary Session said that the commissioner who knew about the ‘Stay Action” pronouncement by the Assembly, could have in his capacity advised the Governor on the House’s position.

Other lawmakers who contributed stated that some of the encroachers had

Certificate of O land informatio for residential Omowunmi Ol obvious that pr House was not Other issue ra from lawmaker encountered t Occupancy an ‘Free from Acq Commissione that demolitio areas - Govern are drainage, sh on set–backs o side and on the The speake Adeyemi Ikuf needed to be d have heard so f to a logical con

demolition

Occupancy and also had n that the site was meant purposes, while Hon. latunji- Edet said it was ronouncement from the t regarded. aised during the hearing rs include the difficulty to get a Certificate of nd Surveys with illegal uisition’ stamps, er for Environment said on was done in public nment land where there hanties or illegal markets of 15 meters on the left e right side. er of the House, Mr. foriji, said that things one properly, “ what we far can allow us to come nclusion,” he said.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013 — 43

21 million people for Lagos Black Heritage Festival

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

A

whooping 21 million people comprising of Lagos residents

and visitors are expected at this year ’s edition of the Black Heritage Festival in Lagos

Nobel Prize Winner, Prof. Wole Soyinka and Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism and Inter-governmental Relations, Mr. Disun Holloway gave the details while unfolding plans for the hosting of the event .

The week-long festival will commence on Saturday, 23rd March and climax on Easter Monday, 1st of April, 2013.

The Civic Centre on Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria Island and Oyinkan Abayomi Street will be the venues for the Water Regatta event.

Speaking at the Freedom Park, Lagos, Soyinka, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Festival, said all logistics had been put in place for a hitch free event.

Disclosing that the hosting of the event was part of government’s determination to preserve the cultural heritage of Lagos residents, Soyinka added that people from all parts of the world are expected in Lagos to

Is LAGBUS going the way of LSTC?

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

I

n the 1920s, road-based bus transportation was pioneered in Lagos by two Nigerians, Mrs Charlotte Olajumoke Obasa (a leading indigenous entrepreneur of that time) and W.A. Dawodu. This was followed by the establishment of J.N. Zarpas, a company owned by Levantine expatriates. Zarpas dominated the Lagos transportation scene until their buses were acquired by the Lagos Town Council in 1958 to form the Lagos Municipal Transport Service (LMTS).

The situation remained the same until the 1960s when many operators went into the transport business. This resulted in the emergence of the Bolekaja, which literally means “come down and let’s

fight” in Yoruba.

The Lagos State Transport Corporation (LSTC) was a state owned company that ran transport services in Lagos. The buses were mainly Mercedes Benz buses which were painted red and white (see picture).

They had a free service, called scholars bus, for (uniformed) school children and they also had airconditioned buses for regular fare paying commuters.

There were bus terminuses and depots at Keffi Street Ikoyi, Simpson Street Lagos Island, Race Course/Tafawa Balewa Square, etc.

Former Governor Raji Rasaki, a Brigadier-General abandoned his official car and used coaster buses instead, because he felt that his motorcade would be too long if he and his commissioners used their official cars. He donated the coaster buses to the LSTC when he was leaving office in 1991.

However, the corporation became bogged down by corruption and mismanagement, such that, by the late 1990s it had practically collapsed.

When Governor Bola Tinubu assumed office in 1999, he ordered an audit of the corporation and inspected their depots.

He discovered that top management staff had been illegally selling the corporation’s buses. Rasaki’s coaster buses where listed as being beyond repair on the corporation’s books, whereas, in reality, they were in good working order.

Today, L AGBUS Asset Management Limited, operator of Red Buses, started operations on the 17th February 2007 with 500 buses and 29 routes.

LAGBUS is supposed to provide mass transportation for the teeming population of Lagos commuters.

experience the thrills and excitement of the festival.

Holloway on his part said the Festival would be of immense economic benefit to residents, stressing that it would also provide a source of relaxation for all.

According to him, Lagos state will host over 21 million people at the event, adding that it will give Lagosians the opportunity to unwind and have fun in a secured environment.

Events marking the Water Regatta will include: engine power boat racing, swimming, search and rescue demonstration and the traditional boat regatta tagged “The Black in the Mediterranean Blue and the African Colours of Brazil”.

Other events to be staged include drama, dance, exhibitions, symposium, music and street carnival.

The scheme, in recent times had been faced with a myriad of challenges such as depletion of fleet due to lack of adequate maintenance by management and technical know how. At various garages of LAGBUS, decrepit buses line up the entire space.

Today, LAGBUS cannot boast of 200 buses in its fleet.

LAGBUS workers have dropped from 350 to about 120 due to systematic sack and poor working condition while contract/casual workers are presently about 550, it was gathered It is believed that the manner LAGBUS is being run presently, it might end up in the way Lagos State Transport Corporation, LSTC, and be rested soon. It was also learnt that LAGBUS has a very disorganized human resources unit.

The state government recently, unfolded plans to boost the existing fleet of Bus Franchise Scheme, BFS, operator of LAGBUS with the introduction of 10,000 new buses and taxis to be distributed across the 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas in the state by next year.

Meantime, commuters across Lagos metropolis have criticised what they called the “shoddy arrangement” in the operation of LAGBUS.

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44—Vanguard, TUESD AY, MARCH 19, 2013 TUESDA

I sold my house to pay for dialysis, says survivor of Chronic Kidney Disease

progress in reducing high child mortality rates, persistent challenges need to be addressed if Nigeria is to achieve the health-related MDGs. A press statement by UNICEF said:“This year’s contribution from the Government of Japan will be used to procure cold chain equipment such as solar refrigerators to fill existing gaps.

“This will boost routine immunization efforts as well as the drive toward polio eradication, especially in the context of introduction of new vaccines.

In addition, the grant will support the operational cost of strategies to reduce the number of un-immunized children.

Deputy Representative and Officer in Charge, UNICEF Nigeria, Mr.

getic. “Sorry we cannot take you because there is protein in your urine.”

Stella was advised for further assessment. Obviously, the doctor did not tell her exactly the indication of protein in her urine. Like most busy Nigerians, Stella did not bother to go back to her doctor. She however, cut down on consumption of eggs. But worse was to come.

She didn’t know it, but the protein detected in her urine was an indication that her kidneys were failing. Six years later, precisely in 2005, she began to fall ill. She was being treated for malaria when the doctor later suspected typhoid.

Stella became confused at this point.

Even after the typhoid treatment she did not feel any better. It was at that point that further diagnosis confirmed her kidneys were failing. With the uncheering news, Stella traveled abroad in January 2006 where it was again confirmed that both kidneys have failed.

From then Stella was placed on life time dialysis — three times a week just to stay alive. But it wasn’t any easy.

She spent all her life time savings. But she was never deterred in her fight against the disease. Her doggedness in the fight was proven when she decided to make a critical decision that affected her family so bad — the sale of her house. With tears in her eyes she said I have to do it.

Stella continued with the dialysis from that time till 2010 when she finally had a transplant in India.

Narrating her story, she spoke in an emotion laden voice: “I sold my house in Lagos just to be able to afford a life time dialysis and transplant.

My greatest joy today is being able to find a matching donor within the family. My mother who at the time was about 68 years gave me one of her kidneys. Basically, I got another chance with life.”

Stella today has set up a Foundation called True Health Foundation.

“The major aim is to provide succour to indigent patients. Obviously, you cannot be all things to all men.

“We are focusing on chronic kidney disease drawing from my experience.

We found out that quite a number of female patients who have had their transplant at St Nicholas hospital resulted from complications in pregnancy. There are two types of CKD, I had chronic renal failure that you have to dialyse for the rest of your life until you have a transplant. ”Women in pregnancy could have blood pressure rise at six months and then start having complications which affect the kidneys; if it is detected early and three to five sessions of dialysis are provided,the kidneys actually recover. With such early intervention, the woman is saved from chronic renal failure.”

She said the cost of treating is kill

Continues on page 48

Continues on page 46

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

T

ODAY, the burden of chronic kidney disease CKD, in Nigeria is appreciable. Global statistics show the incidence is increasing by 6 to 7 percent every year. An estimated 15,000 new CKD cases occur in Nigeria each year although observers believe the figure could be much higher.

It is also estimated that about 36 million Nigerians are suffering from one stage of CKD as one in seven Nigerians have kidney disease.

Reports also have it that less than 1,000 are on dialysis.

But the good news is that some people are now surviving CKD after an expensive life saving procedurekidney transplant.

More interesting is the fact that the success stories are not only happening in other countries of the world but in Nigeria too despite the many challenges faced

by CKD patients in the country.

Good Health Weekly spoke to one of the CKD survivors in Nigeria, Mrs. Stella Emmanuel, a 3- year survivor of CKD. Here is her heart - rendering testimony: Everything was going well for her until she decided to change jobs.

Repeatedly she said: “kidneys don’t just fail.”

It was 1999 and Stella worked in a bank but the quest to garner more experience in other fields, motivated her to join an oil company.

She went through all the interviews successfully until the medical assessment stage. The doctor was apolo-

• Mrs. Stella Emmanuel , Chronic Kidney Disease Survivor.

NAFDAC facilitates donation of free ARVs to Benue

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

A

S part of efforts to widen Nigeri ans’ access to safe and efficacious ant—retroviral medicines, ARVs, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, recently facilitated donation of free ARV drugs to the SEV-VA Foundation of the Benue State First Lady, Architect Dooshima Yemisi Suswam. The drugs donated by the ACTLAP Children Foundation of Canada by to support the Foundation to ameliorate the plight of people living with HIV in the State.

Benue State has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the country, according to the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA, a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Health.

NAFDAC Director General, Dr. Paul Orhii who was present during the presentation assured of the quality and safety. “I am personally here to assure you that these medicines have been tested by NAFDAC, we have looked at the expiration date and they fully satisfy NAFDAC requirement.”

Orhii said ACTLAP has indicated interest in partnering with the Agency to explore further opportunities of increasing access of people in Nigeria to lifesaving medicines.

Wife of the Benue State governor, Yemisi Suswan, who is also the Chairperson of SEV-VA said the charitable Foundation relies on generosity of well-meaning Nigerians and global charities.

She praised efforts of Nigerians in

the Diaspora for coming up with positive initiatives that will impact on the lives of the people back home, urging other Nigerians in the Diaspora to emulate them. “We must do something within our capability to ensure that we rescue our children from death and sickness and that is what the NAFDAC Director General has done.”

She advocated that Nigerians who are HIV-negative should imbibe healthy lifestyles that will ensure they remain HIV negative, while those who are HIV-

positive should not see it as the end of the road as they can lead normal lives with the right medications. The Foundation solicited for donation of HIV test kits urging stakeholders in the health sector to join hands to stop the mother to child HIV transmission and provide medication for infants whose mothers gave birth to them without being aware of their status. ACTLAP representative, Mrs Aghayere said the Foundation was in Benue to show support.

Japan boosts child survival in Nigeria with N443m

BY CHIOMA OBINNA grant of N443 million $2.8 mil lion has been received by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) from the government of Japan to tackle prevention of infectious diseases among Nigerian children.

The grant is for strengthening routine immunisation including the cold chain system. Signing of the corresponding grant agreement took place between Mr Tetsuo Seki, Chief Representative, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Nigeria and Mr Jacques Boyer, Deputy Representative and Officer in Charge, UNICEF Nigeria, took place at the Federal Ministry of Health in the presence of Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu. Although Nigeria is making

A

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013—45

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46 —Vanguard, TUESD AY, MARCH 19, 2013 TUESDA

Why Primus Hospital is establishing a kidney transplant centre in Nigeria M

RS. Achia Dewan is the chairperson of Primus International Super Spe cialty Hospital in India and Nigeria. She speaks to Victoria Ojeme about the hospital’s plans to begin kidney transplants in Nigeria by establishing a kidney transplant centre in the country. Excerpts:

• Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Mrs Nonny Ugboma, Godwin with Destiny when they visited MTN Nigeria after the successful heart surgery for Destiny in India.

How MTNF rescued Destiny from certain death

BY CHARLYNE IKPE & RACHEAL OLAYIWOLA

T

HE birth of Destiny a little over a year ago was heralded by frenetic celebrations in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Aboh Godwin. He is their third son and was simply adorable. But, barely six months into his life, Destiny began to show worrisome signs. He was not growing, did not eat enough and tired too easily. His breathing was rather rapid and he seemed to sweat too much.

Mrs. Godwin, a full-time housewife noticed the signs, and alerted her husband.

“At first we thought it was an ailment that could be treated immediately. When we got to the hospital we were told that he needed an ECHO to reveal the status of the heart and treatment required.

The result showed Destiny had two large holes in his heart. It was like a death sentence had just been handed to their adorable son who was just seven months old.

“I just began to cry. The child was too young to have this kind of problem. He did not do anything to deserve that. Why two large holes? Many with only one hole in their hearts ended up dead. How much more a little child with two large holes in his tiny heart? I just couldn’t take it.” When they were done with crying, the Godwins asked the doctors what could be done. And

‘I sold my house to pay for dialysis’ Continued from page 44 ing most patients. “When I was having my dialysis at St Nicholas Hospital, people were coming from Warri, and each session cost about N35,000 and if you follow your schedule you will be spending N400,000 - 500,000 a month. Most people did not have such money. I had to sell a house to pay for mine. ”By the time you have the transplant; you need to take your tablets and steroids to ensure that your body does not reject the new kidney. ”Just the same way the government provides free medications for HIV patients I think it will be great if they could do the same for those who have had kidney transplant and survive.

Further, she advised Nigerians to cultivate the habit of regular check up even when they are well. ”If I had known the implication of having protein in my urine, there are medications I could have taken that might have reduced chances of my kidneys failing completely,”she noted.

their heart sank further as they were told it was only a very complicated surgery requiring sophisticated equipment that was not available in Nigeria. They said the child’s best option was to be flown to India for the corrective heart surgery.

“Somehow, we found the courage to fight for the life of our precious gift. The challenge however was money. The couple started running from pillar to post to get the required funds to take Destiny to India for the surgery that he sorely needed to live. The child seemed to be getting weaker every passing day, and the couple were under pressure to do something before it was too late.

“We went to many foundations but help was not forth coming. While waiting, hoping and praying for God to spare little Destiny’s life, a friend of Mr. Godwin’s told the couple that MTN Foundation could actually help them with the surgery of their son abroad.

“My husband’s friend said he knew that MTN Foundation had helped many people in the past. So my husband and I decided to try it out. We wrote an application to them and to our greatest surprise they called us to inquire from us all the information concerning our son. We were particularly surprised because we did not know anyone at MTN. After they verified all our hospital documents they gave us the sweetest message we have ever received: They would bear the cost of our son’s surgery in India!” Mrs. Godwin recounted emotionally.

The Foundation’s support extended beyond the actual surgery and medication, to cover related expenses, such as the cost of obtaining passports and other travel documents, accommodation and feeding of the child and another person accompanying him. It was only by sheer providence that they arrived the hospital right about the time that it decided to pack up.

“Destiny was placed on a series of medications for a week with extensive monitoring and constant examination to ascertain the best time to open him up. On the first signs of strength and stability, Destiny was wheeled into the theatre for the operation.

Then wait began.

The surgery reportedly took hours. An exhausted doctor later walked in to inform the distraught mother that the operation had been successful and Destiny was going to be alright.

“I thank God because MTNF came at the right time. First, we would not have been able to pay for the surgery on our own. Secondly, if the Foundation hadn’t intervened when it did, Destiny woul;d have had heart failure here in Nigeria where there would have been no expert care to revive, stabilize and operate him. I am sincerely grateful to MTNF.” she said.

On setting up a branch in Nigeria We have a hospital in India named Primus Specialist Hospital and we have been getting a lot of Nigerian patients, and when these patients come to India with a 10 per cent hope that they will receive good treatment and many at times they come when hardly any thing can be done.

So that was the reason we were finding it very sorrowful and we thought of looking for a way of helping these communities, because they are coming all the way with the hope that the patient is going to be okay.

Unfortunately now we have a limitation in the medical field and when you tell them that no matter the amount of money you spend on the patient, the patient will not survive. Sometimes the life of that patient will be just two months or three months and when you ask them to go back to Nigeria they say no.

In most cases out of pity, we were being forced to keep these patients, you can imagine what that patient is going through at this particular period, the emotions and everything that patient has put you into.

That was when I and the Indian High Commissioner arrived at a decision to meet with the Minister of FCT Mohammed Aleiro. This Karu building was given to me, 40 per cent of it, 60 per cent which was to be completed by the government. when we were given this building, within six months we had to import medicines bought equipment and started operation.

We went there with the hope of helping people, our hope is to start kidney transplant this year. At the moment, we under go joint replacements, spine surgery, neurosurgery, (brain surgery), ENT including cochlear (ear, nose and throat) implant, plastic and reconstructive surgery and nephrology (dialysis). Etc. Challenges Everything that comes into this country, you must pay duty, apart from that we rely on generators. We definitely want support from the government of Nigeria, you may be right but if a patient has to go to India and you do the comparison, it is much less than what we are doing here, because in India, at least one or two persons will come with the patient and you need to stay for three months. It is not easy to bring doctors to Nigeria due to bad online publicity of African countries which is not true.

Are there plans to reduce your charges?

That is not going to be a problem; we can do it if the hospital is doing very well, we are just starting we have so many expenses, if the number grows, definitely we can consider. Why not, it is our wish to reach out to every body, and I totally agree with you because for the common person it is not affordable.

Free medical care We are doing it but mostly, free consultation, 30 per cent discount on test and scan but not treatment because treatment is very expensive.

Reduction of treatment cost y half during this time of medical free campaign than the diagnosis and other

things you have mentioned?

It is the government that has to make this policy. If you go to India; the amount you pay is the same amount you will pay here in Nigeria. N86 billion goes out from Nigeria government to other country for medical every year. The government should be working on how to save that money and try to give insurance policy so that many things can be done in the country.

On Primus model of health care.

Our plan was to start investigation centres all over Nigeria. We wanted to start diagnoses centre in Port Harcourt, Kaduna, Ogun and Lagos because whenever you are sick all you need is to be investigated. If you are diagnosed properly, half of your problem is solved then treatment of life will be there.

• Mrs Achia Dewan Lessons learned in Nigeria health care delivery I must tell you that, I came to Nigeria with the zeal to assist the community, it is not rice selling or foot ball place were people can play games, it is health you don’t play games with peoples health. I had full confidence, health is very important nobody play with health, it doesn’t matter when you need medical care you have billions in your pocket and a chartered flight is waiting for you out there believe you me, there wont be time for you, I had plans to start a cardiologic, oncology and kidney transplant centre and it has to be a team work.

Lessons Nigeria should learn from Indians In India 30 years back we were the same and when we started many Indians who were based abroad came back. So that was my plans, let us start something and Nigerian doctors who are abroad should come back and grow the health sector in the country.

On Nigeria’s health system There are a lot of challenges and we all have to work as a team. The government, private investors and other stake holders must invest in healthcare so that quality and standards can be brought to a acceptable level. My advice to the Nigerian doctors is that they are the most respected people in the world and they should come forward and push for a better healthcare for Nigerian people.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013—47

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48—Vanguard, TUESD AY, MARCH 19, 2013 TUESDA

Child survival:

Lagos govt partners Hypo Bleach on immunisation

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

I

N a bid to promote the health and wellbeing of the Nigerian Child, MultiPro Enterprises Limited, makers of Hypo Super Bleach has partnered with the Lagos State Ministry of Health in the just - concluded Polio Immunization Plus Days Campaign which was flagged off at Ipaja Mini Stadium, Ayobo-Ipaja Local Council Development Area (LCDA) recently.

The National Immunisation Plus Days, NIPDs, campaign which began in Nigeria since 2006 serves as one of the core strategies for improving immunisation activities in Nigeria.

This would be done by combining the usage of the fixed posts, house-tohouse and transit teams for the delivery of multiple antigens (e.g. BCG, OPV, pentavalent, measles, Yellow Fever, HBV, etc.) on the days set aside for mass campaign.

Speaking at the Flag off ceremony of the 4 - day campaign, Senior Sales Manager, MultiPro Enterprises Limited, Mr. Jude Nzeata, said it was an opportunity for Hypo to fulfil its social responsibility to the society.

"The National Immunisation Plus Days provides us with the platform to reach millions of children who are in dire need of a proper health care services. In line with this we have made millions of Hypo Bleach sachets available for distribution both here at the flag off ceremony and at every Primary

Health Centre within the 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs through the course of the program and also delivering proper counsel about the importance of immunisation and hygiene."

Further he appealed to parents especially mothers to take their wards between the ages of 0 to 5 years to the Primary Health Care Centres and Clinics in the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) so that they can be immunized against polio and other diseases.

Nzeata explained that the decision to partner with the Lagos State Ministry of Health was another step in the fulfilment of Hypo's continued desire to contribute to the realisation of a clean and healthy nation which started with the introduction of affordable bleach for all and also affirmed that this would definitely not be the last partnership between the company and the Lagos State Ministry of Health because a lot still has to be done to further improve the level of health care services in the country.

Deputy Director and Head of Department, Family Health and Nutrition, Dr. Folashade Oludara stated: "Once again, Hypo has proved to be a very reliable partner as they have not only helped to produce the flyers and banners but donated millions of Hypo products to be given to mothers who bring their child for immunisation.

• L-R: Chairman Ikotun-Igando, Local Council Development Area, Mrs. Morenike Williams; Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola; member Lagos State House of Assembly, representing Alimosho 1, Hon. Bisi Yusuf and Senior Sales Manager, Multi Pro-Enterprise (HYPO), Mr. Jude Nzeata, during the 2013 National Immunization Plus Day in Ayobo area of Lagos, recently.

NHIS: Universal coverage is our goal — SAMBO

BY DOTUN IBIWOYE

Scheme, CBHI, organised by the NHIS in collaboration with the Civil Society AdvoHE Acting Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance cacy Center, CISLAC, however, argued Scheme (NHIS), Dr. Abdulrahaman that the only way universal coverage could Sambo has said 98 percent of health work- be achieved is through coverage of the iners in the Federal government employ has formal sector as desired by the NHIS through the CBHI. keyed into the Scheme.

“To achieve this mandate, the NHIS has Sambo,who disclosed this in Lagos at a national workshop for CSOs/NGOs on designed a number of programmes that Community Based Health Insurance target the various socio-economic groups in the country. In addition, a blueprint and operational guideline have been developed to guide stakeholders in the implementation of these programmes”, he said. chances of having children. enlightenment about the disorExecutive Director, CISLAC, a woman may have suffered

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE “As a socially responsible from the condition for up to eight Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, further der.

OWARDS saving Nigerian Disclosing this last week at a organisation, Nordica Fertility years before propr diagnosis is called on the Civil Society women from the pain and media forum to highlight activi- Centre, with offices in Lagos, done.

Organisations and Non-Governtrauma of endometriosis - an ties to herald the Endometrio- Asaba and Abuja, in conjunc“In Africa, the situation is mental Organisations in the incurable female health disor- sis Awareness Month, Medical tion with the Endometriosis worse because, very little is country to collaborate with the der that occurs when the en- Director, Nordica Lagos, Asaba Support Group, have joined known about the condition. NHIS to ensure full implementadometrium (cells lining the and Abuja, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, other organisations in the world Therefore, a lot of women live tion of the 15 percent budgetary uterus) grow in other areas of said endometriosis often leads to comfort these women and tell with it without ever being di- implementation to health develthe body, Nordica Fertility Cen- to pain, irregular bleeding and them that despite the pain, they agnosed as the condition was opment and financing pledged by are not alone. We shall support believed not to be common African Heads of States and Govtre, with offices in Lagos, Asaba problems getting pregnant. and Abuja, in conjunction with “It is a common condition them emotionally and medi- among blacks before now. Over ernments in Abuja in 2000. the Endometriosis Support that occurs in 5-10 percent of cally,” Ajayi noted.

“The continued loss of millions the years, it has been discovHe noted that in Nigeria, en- ered that no race is left out of of African lives annually which Group, have joined other women within reproductive organisations in the world to age group (15-44 years) dometriosis has been either mis- this excruciating ordeal.” can be prevented is unacceptable support affected women as well worldwide. Women with this diagnosed or not diagnosed.

Among activities lined up for and unsustainable. Our leaders as create more awareness and condition have 20 percent less “Even in developed countries, the month in Lagos are a know what they have to do. They Nurses” Forum on March 20 have already pledged to do it. All and an Endometriosis walk on they have to do now is actually March 23; This will be followed do it. This is all we ask of them,” by a Doctors’ Forum at the Rafsanjani stated.

Nordica Abuja office on April 1 and an Endometriosis Talk on April 2, facilitated by Dr Keith Isaacson, immediate past President, American Association of Gynaecologic Laparoscopists, Continues from page 44 AAGL. “Our major objective is Jacques Boyer said Japan’s to create awareness for the congrant to Nigeria to combat indition amomg members of the fectious diseases for children public and my colleagues in the has been a significant contrimedical profession. All our acbution to Nigeria’s efforts to tivities are free and open to evreduce child mortality. eryone.

Ambassador Extraordinary At the media forum, former and Plenipotentiary of Japan Miss Nigeria, Chief Nike to Nigeria, Mr Ryuichi Shoji Oshinowo who has lived with • From left: Former Miss Nigeria, Chief Nike Oshinowo; Medical Director, Nordica Fertility endometriosis since sthe age of said: “The people of Japan reCentre, Lagos/Asaba/Abuja, Dr Abayomi Ajayi and Mrs Tola Ajayi, Clinic Manager during the 13, shared her experience. main committed to the welfare of Nigerian children. media forum to herald the March 2013 Endometriosis Month. Photo: Sola Ogundipe.

Read about it on Saturday.

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Nordica Lagos tackles endometriosis with awareness T

Japan boosts child survival

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013—49

By JUDE NJOKU

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igeria requires s u s t a i n e d expenditure of about $14.2 billion per year over the next decade to provide nonexistent infrastructure and fix the ailing ones. This amount translates to about 12 percent of the country ’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP. Currently, the country spends about $5.9 billion per year on Federal infrastructure or five percent of the country’s GDP. These facts were laid bare by former World Bank Vice President (Africa), Mrs Oby Ezekwesili at the 43rd Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, NIESV, which ended in Benin City, weekend.

Ezekwesili who served as the Minister of Education in the Obasanjo administration, noted that China spent about 15 percent of its GDP on infrastructure in the mid 2000s and this lifted the country’s economy massively.

Mrs Ezekwesili who delivered the keynote address at the conference, posited that “about $10.5 billion is needed for federal infrastructure alone especially power”. According to the cost of doing business in Nigeria is very high mainly due to the dearth of essential infrastructure.

“Indirect costs borne by firms to fill infrastructure gap in Nigeria amount to 15 per cent, in China it is 5 per cent, India 10 per cent and only two per cent in Turkey which ranks 19th in the rating for major economies in the world,” she explained..

Continuing, the former Education Minister declared that “infrastructure has made a net contribution of about one percent to Nigeria’s improved per capita growth performance in recent years.

Raising the country ’s infrastructure endowment to that of the region’s middleincome countries, such as Mauritius, could increase annual growth by about four percent”.

The former World Bank VP who stated that government has no business engaging in those things which the private sector is better positioned to do, called for the concessioning of all airport terminals in the country.

According to her, the money spent in building such terminals could have been utilized in providing infrastructure that would impact more on majority of poor Nigerians.

Canvassing increased funding for road maintenance, Mrs Ezekwesili called for the

NIESV President, Mr. Emeka Eleh presenting a plaque to the Minister of Works, Hon. Mike Onolememe, who represented President Good Luck Jonathan at the conference.

Seated right are Guest Speaker, Mrs Oby Ezekwesili and Mr. Stephen Idehenre, Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Adams Oshiomhole,

Nigeria requires $14.2b to fix ailing infrastructure — Ezekwesili construction of rural feeder roads to enable peasant farmers bring their products to the cities for sale instead of either allowing them to spoil or selling at give-away prices.

Saying that more two million youths join the labour market annually, Mrs Ezekwesili posited that economic growth without jobs is a source of deeper inequalities and creates social tensions.

Government, she said must

“ innovate on policy solutions that rapidly expand the economy to absorb these youths. Policy solutions and investments will include removing barriers on the supply and demand side issues- quality and relevant skills based education, better investment in infrastructure Speaking on the role for estate surveyors in infrastructure development, she enjoined them to carry out

an analytical evaluation of infrastructure gap at different levels of possible intervention.

She harped on the need for professional integrity and advised estate surveyors to demand for accountability and results for all public investment in infrastructure.

President Goodluck Jonathan who was represented by Works Minister, Mike Onolememen noted that the success of the transformation agenda

depends on infrastructure development. According to him, Nigeria is in the process of developing a National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan for the development of infrastructure in the next 30 years, (2014 2043).

He explained that his government places premium on infrastructure projects funding because it will impact positively on the realisation of the other priorities.

President Jonathan who lauded the theme of the conference, ‘Infrastructure Development and Economic Empowerment’, posited that it couldn’t have come at a better time than now when government’s transformation agenda is geared towards achieving the objectives of Vision 2020 to which infrastructure provision is critical.

“Infrastructure development and economic growth/ empowerment are mutually reinforcing as infrastructure development plays a vital role in wealth creation. The importance of infrastructure to national development cannot be over-emphasised, it is at the core of good governance and public welfare,” he said.

Earlier, the President of NIESV, Mr Emeka Eleh noted that the abysmal level of the county’s infrastructure is a serious concern to the estate surveyors. “There is no doubt that lack of appropriate maintenance of existing infrastructure is costing the nation immensely. More often than not, our infrastructure is allowed to damage considerably before attempt is made at repairs due to lack of appropriate maintenance processes,” he lamented.

The NIESV boss explained that it was against this backdrop that the theme of the annual conference was chosen.

How to instal asphalt roof shingles

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oof replacement requires no special skills and can be done by anyone with the proper tools, materials and guidance. Roofing materials are designed to last an average of about 40 years. All roofs will therefore eventually become worn and weathered and will need to be repaired in part or replaced completely.

There are several types of roofing material including wood, asphalt, slate and metal. This writeup focuses on the installation of asphalt roof shingles.

Tools and materials needed Working on a pitched roof might take a little getting used to. All that is required to maintain secure footing is 2x4 lumber that is 4 or 5 feet in length. Lay a 2x4 board flat and horizontal onto the roof a few feet below where you’ll be working.

Drive a 16 nail through each end of the 2x4,

through the shingles and most importantly, into the edge of a rafter. Use the 2x4 as a cleat to keep you from sliding down the roof.

Pull it up and re-nail it in place as you work your way up and across the roof.

Step 2 -Remove worn and damaged shingles Using your hammer claw and a utility knife, remove all damaged or worn shingles, all the nails and the felt roofing paper from the plywood sheathing in the area to be reshingled.

Step 3 Getting started Start from the lowest section and work your way up to the ridge. Apply new roofing paper onto the entire surface to be shingled with roofing nails, overlapping each course two inches from above.

If you are patching in a section of the roof,

be sure to install shingles that match the size and the color of the existing shingles. Asphalt roof shingles are sold and installed in units called squares. A square of shingles covers an area of 100 square feet.

Step 4 – Install the new shingles Install the new shingles using galvanized roofing nails. Nail through the self-sealing stripe along the center of each shingle. If you’re beginning at the eave, install a starter course of shingles upsidedown (slots facing upward) along the edge of the eave. Lay the first course directly over it.

Align the butt (bottom edge) of each shingle with the top of the slots on the previous course; this usually results in a 6-inch exposure to the weather.

50—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013

FG, states urged to mainstream climate change into infrastructural devt

By KINGSLEYADEGBOYE

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A tenement building in Lagos... Estate agents are backing Lagos on collection of one year rent. Inset: Mr. Ikwuagwu Emeka George.

Estate agents back Lagos on one year rent policy

BY KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

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agos State Real Estate Transaction Regulatory Authority, a new body charged with the responsibility to regulate the practice of estate agency in the state, has registered the Lagos State branch of Estate Rent Commission Agents of Nigeria, ERCAN to regulate the activities of estate agents operating in state.

Mr. Ikwuagwu Emeka George who is the vice chairman of Lagos State branch of ERCAN, disclosed this in an interview with Vanguard Homes & Property.

Pointing out that the newly established state authority will henceforth monitor and regulate the activities of estate agents in the state under ERCAN. ERCAN is also duly registered and recognised by the Federal government, Emeka who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Holmes Viu Properties Ltd said the registration and recognition of his association by the state government lends credence to the fact that the umbrella body of estate agents across the country is a legal body.

According to him, ERCAN is to estate agents what the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, NIESV is to estate surveyors and valuers. He added that every practicing estate agent in Nigeria is expected to be a member of the association which was formed to stem the dubious activities of estate agents.

Emeka said the Lagos State one year rent policy is

achievable. He noted that the policy is already achieving its goal, because landlords now know that they cannot collect more than one year rent in Lagos.

“We as estate agents take our time to educate the landlords on the new policy. Those of them that insisted on two years’ rent collection initially have come to realise that it pays more to collect one year rent than to allow their houses to be locked up without tenants for months or years. So, they have no option than to succumb to the policy of the government. The policy will gradually be popularised. It is just a question of time.

“However, there is much work to be done by the government in terms of housing provision.

The government needs to concentrate its attention on provision of mass housing for its citizenry, as this will force the Lagos Shylock landlords to comply with the one year rent policy. If most low income earners in the state are accommodated by the government, Lagos landlords will have no option than to beg people to become tenants in their houses, because if they don’t, their houses will be locked up .The government can help landlords by reducing charges on soil test and land use so that the cost of building will not be too high for them.

Once these charges are reduced, the landlords may even be willing to collect six months from tenants. As an association, we advise landlords to collect one year rent as stipulated by the government. But those

stubborn ones who insist on collecting two years’ rent, tell them they are on their own. For us, one year rent collection makes the job easier for the business. Some people because they are desperate to get accommodation, they don’t bother if the landlord is asking for two year’s rent. Such people are the ones encouraging landlords to collect two year’s rent,” Emeka stated.

OVERNMENTS at all levels should properly mainstream climate change into its infrastructural development for resilience and sustainability.

This call was contained in a communique released by stakeholders who rose last week from the 2013 edition of the annual Lagos State Climate Change Summit.

The summit had as its theme, “Vulnerability and Adaptability to Climate Change in Nigeria: Lagos State Transportation, Housing and Infrastructure in Focus.”

Participants at the summit called on the Federal government to provide for the private sector an enabling environment to aggressively pursue climate change mitigation and adaptation initiatives in the interest of green development.

Observing that there is need for Nigeria and Lagos State in particular to optimize the current opportunity to transit to a low carbon pathway at lower incremental cost, the stakeholders stressed the need for infrastructure policy development, legislation, planning and implementation with effective private sector participation.

They called on Lagos State to ensure a multidisciplinary approach to the planning, design, construction and management of urban

infrastructure, while it making urban infrastructure climateresilient.

Stating that cities, as economic drivers, are climate hot spots and are key contributors to Green House Gas emissions, the summit noted that climate change mitigation and adaptation measures are very costly and the private sector has a critical role to play in it.

The summit enjoined the Lagos State Government to continue to pursue the development and implementation of a long-term strategic and inclusive vision that is embedded into the current planning, especially land use allocations, and promotes infrastructure with integrated design solutions.

The Lagos State policy thrust with respect to urban development, the experts posited, should be poverty eradication and sustainable economic growth through infrastructure renewal and development, the summit recommended that Lagos state government should further strengthen the capacity of its Electricity Board to pursue its energy conservation initiative.

According to them, a wellarticulated state-level housing and urban policy that mainstreams climate change mitigation and adaptation into the house building sector should be developed and implemented for more environmentally-friendly and climate resilient homes.

Court re-affirms Oshukwu-Iyombo family as owners of Araromi Ale Kingdom

BY INNOCENT ANABA

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ith the recent landmark judgment vesting the ownership of vast hectares of land at Araromi-Ale Kingdom, in Badagry Local Government area of Lagos State in Oshukwu-Iyombo family, the head of the family, Chief Ibikunle Oshukwu, has allayed fears of an imminent unrest in the area.

Justice Adeniyi Adebajo, had on January 30, 2013, dismissed the claim of registered trustees of Lagos Flying Club and upheld the traditional evidence of the history of the land that: “The Araromi-Ale kingdom was originally founded around 1830 (183 years ago) by Oshuku, a fetish priest by name Akinosi Iyonbu Ale, who originally migrated from IleIfe, stopped at Ojo via Ibuku, Ilogbo and finally settled at Ale.” “Following the judgment,

which ordered our opponents to vacate the land immediately and equally ordered us to take possession forthwith. We took immediate possession peacefully without any violence and the place had remained peaceful ever since. So, we wonder where our opponents see the imaginary violence they have been shouting in media,” Oshuku said.

He said the announcements were deliberate attempt to misinform the state government, security agencies and general public of a nonexisting violence.

Members of the Landlord Association confirmed that there was no case of violence, as peace had reigned supreme in the area since the Oshuku family took over and are enjoying tremendous cordial relationship with the people that won the case.

Registered Trustees of Lagos Flying Club, had sued Chief Ibikunle Ajose, seeking among other reliefs, a declaration that

the land belonged to the Club, an order directing Ajose to vacate the land and to pay the Club N2 million as damages for trespass.

But Ajose counter-claimed, seeking a declaration that he was entitled to the Right of Occupancy in respect of the land, an order giving him immediate possession, N550,000 as damages and an order of perpetual injection restraining the Club, its servants, agents and privies from committing further acts of trespass on the disputed land.

In his evidence in Chief, Ajose gave a history of how the first Oshuku founded the kingdom in 1830 and that he was the ninth and present Oshuku appointed on 14 August, 2003.

He stated that the family obtained a judgment of the Supreme Court of the Colony dated August 24, 1904, when the land was first encroached upon and tendered a certified true copy of the judgment.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013 — 51

Drama as robbery suspect explodes over exploits Sayys ‘Our case is not peculiar peculiar,, Senat Senator orss sstteal as well’ Sa or

BY EVELYN USMAN

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HERE was mild drama yes terday at the premises of State Criminal Investigations Department, Panti, Yaba, Lagos when a robbery suspect boldly confronted reporters as he was being paraded with his partners in crime. The suspect, Garba Sani, 24, was a private guard attached to Honda

Place, along Oshodi/Apapa expressway in Lagos. He was arrested with six other suspects alleged to be members of a robbery gang that broke into Honda Place and stole auto spare parts valued over N23 million in June, last year.

Lagos State Police spokes woman, Ngozi Braide while parading the suspects said the following items were recovered from them; one new Sam-

sung split 2HP air conditioner valued at N77,500; one 150 KVA power generating set valued at N3.8 Million ;another 8KVA power generating set valued at N90,000 and N781,000 cash.

However, when anxious reporters asked Garba Sani to state his own side of the story, he charged at them in high tone by asking if anyone of them (reporters) had not com-

mitted crime in their lives.

Without showing any sign of remorse, he said the crime for which he and other suspected members of his gang were arrested for is not a serious one when compared with that committed by those in public offices in Nigeria.

The confrontation went thus; Why are you here?

I am not a robber . This is not a robbery case. It is called

The suspects

Cour obber or killing yyoung oung lady Courtt remands two rrobber obberyy suspects ffor

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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wo young men, Emmanuel Tijani and Tajudeen Sheriff, were yesterday remanded in prison custody for alleged robbery and murder. The duo who were arraigned before Justice Lateefa Okunnu of an Ikeja High Court are facing a threecount charge of conspiracy, rob-

bery and murder proffered against them by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

The crime was said to have occurred on October 5, 2006 along Collinton Alakuko road area of Lagos. The prosecution counsel, Femi Adamson told the court that Tijani and Sheriff committed the crime during a robbery operation which lead to

the murder of one Omolola Afolabi.

He said that Tijani and Sheriff, on the day of the incident while they were armed with guns, during a robbery operation, conspired together to rob Afolabi and stole two of her phones and N20,000 cash after which they killed her.

Adamson said that the of-

fence committed is contrary and punishable under section 402, 2A and B Cap 6, Cap C17, 297,231, 232, 328 (a) (b)(c)(d) of the criminal laws of Lagos state of Nigeria 2011.

However, the defendants counsel, Peter Agboola, urged the court to grant accelerated hearing adding that the defendants have been in the prison custody for the past 7 years.

break and entry.

Really? How did you do it?

I was on duty when my friends came and we went inside the company, broke the doors with tetracycline gas and packed the good away.

Are the goods yours?

No, they belong to the owner of the company.

Then what do you call that?

Please I can not talk much. I have told you we are not robbers. Listen, we have a lot of criminals in Nigeria. Senators are stealing money and nobody has arrested them. We too, we need money. We are jobless , we have nothing. My salary is N12 ,000 monthly.

Besides, the stolen parts have been recovered and they did not find any gun on us. So, why would anybody call that robbery?

At this point, his alleged partner in crime, 30-year-old Okwudili Godwin , in whose warehouse the goods were recovered , interrupted, saying, “ We live in the same area. He sold the idea to me and I went there and we took the goods.

Nothing happened to the goods and nothing has been sold. There was also no gun.

We went there around 7pm when everybody had closed.

He called us to go and collect the goods. I took the goods to my warehouse at Ikorodu area. . But nothing was sold from it and they have all been recovered intact. The goods were stolen in July last year and they recovered it this year.

We did not sell it because it is not my line. I have never gone to look out for customers to buy them. Ask the police, nothing has been sold from that goods.”

Asked what business he was into, he said, “ I am a business man. I sell parts.

Why did you not ask Sanni what he wanted you to do with the goods when he invited you?

Rather than give straight answers, he, again charged at reporters saying, “You that is asking me, have you never committed a crime in your life before? I am asking you a question, have you not committed a crime before?. Do not ask me that question again.

How much are they paying you a month that can sustain you and your family? Please do not ask me that question again. Let me tell you , we are all criminals. We are Nigerians and we have the element of criminality in us”.

At this point, it was obvious they could not take any question again. However, the suspects, according to Braide, would be charged to court for robbery.

52 — Vanguard, TUESDAY,

MARCH 19 , 2013

Nigerians in foreign jails resist repatriation

BY HUGO ODIOGOR, Foreign Affairs Editor

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ACED with dire socio-economic circumstances at homes, Nigerians in foreign prisons have stated their preference to serve their terms abroad rather than being repatriated to their fatherland.

With no fewer than 25,000 Nigerians serving various jail terms, including life sentences in Asia, Europe, US, Latin America, Arab and African countries, and calls on government to intervene on their behalf have been rebuffed by the prisoners who prefer to do their terms in foreign jails than returning to Nigeria.

This was revealed at the 13th brainstorming session organised by the Nigerian Institute for International Affairs (NIIA) Lagos, yesterday where the Comptroller General of Nigerian Prison Service Mr. Zakari O. Ibrahim told the audience that the efforts to repatriate some of the Nigerians in foreign prisons are being frustrated by lack of extradition treaty between Nigeria and some of the countries where there are large number of Nigerians in foreign prisons.

Secondly, the extradition process has also been made more complex by the fact that most Nigerians often insist that they have a right under the international law not to be repatriated without their consent.

The Brainstorming session entitled ‘”The Plight of Nigerians In Foreign Prisons, the Challenges of Tr a n s f o r m a t i o n ” attracted past Foreign Affairs and Interior Affairs Ministers, Serving and retired A m b a s s a d o r s , Representatives of Foreign Missions, Immigration and Prison Managers and Security agencies as well as Researchers and Scholars in International affairs, extensively focused on the socialand

economic conditions that have forced Nigerians into regular and irregular migratins as well as the plight of innocent Nigerians who are punished for the crimes of their compatriots in jail in foreign countries.

According to Ibrahim, “most of them often exploit this provision to resist being brought back home to serve their terms. even those who agree to come home often change their minds the last minute and there is nothing anybody can do about it”.

But Human Rights Lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana warned against any attempt “to get the over 20,000 Nigerians in foreign jail back to

Nigeria because “we do not have the facilities to accommodate them, we do not have the resources to give them the quality of live that they enjoy even in jails in foreign lands” .

According to Mr. Falana, “they are protected by the UN Charter on Human Rights and African Charter on Peoples and Human Rights.

According to Mr. Falana, “some of the prisoners are paid stipends, given rehabilitation training and they even save enough money to start life after their jail term.

He warned that “if you force such people back to the jail conditions in Nigeria, there will be

riots which the prison authorities would not be able to control.

The Director General of NIIA, Prof. Bola Akinterinwa said that during the tenure of Amb. Ojo Maduekwe a Nigerian delegation that went to Indonesia to plead for the stay of execution of 21 Nigerians on death row in Indonesian prisons were visibly angry with the Nigerian delegations that visited them.

According to Prof Akinterinwa, “the prisoners felt that our visit would worsen their case because even though they were condemned to death, they believed that they could gain more time by appealing against their

sentences and they even preferred to die there rather than return to Nigeria”.

In a paper presented by the Chairman of the House Committee on Diaspora Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa said about 6,000 Nigerians are in jail in various countries including United Kingdom, while 2,000 others are held in China.

About 33 Nigerians died in China and were cremated by the Chinese authorities.

The paper which was presented by Hon. Terab Abdulrahman said about 457 Nigerians are in jail in Brazil with 21 of them being women.

In Iran there are over 4,000 Nigerians held for drug related crimes while over 600 area in

jail in India.

He said: “In Cairo, a lot of our youths are lured with a promise of getting them to play professional football, it turns out often times to be a hoax “they are slammed in jail, without trial.”

Hon. Abdulraham said over 20,000 Nigerians are in detention centres in Europe.

Hon. Abdulraham blamed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for failing to come to the aid of Nigerians abroad.

Majority of the participants blamed the failure of governance and failure of Nigerian institutions as well as the high unemployment as the cause of high level of migration and Nigerians ending up in jails in foreign lands.

Fears over terror haven in Mali after French pullout W

ITH France planning to start withdrawing its troops from Mali next month, Western and African officials are expressing increasingly concerned that the African soldiers who will be relied on to continue the campaign against militants linked to Al Qaeda there do not have the training or equipment for the job.

The heaviest fighting so far, which has driven the militants out of the towns and cities of northeastern Mali, has been borne by French and

A helicopter arrived Sunday while French troops waited in the Adrar des Ifoghas mountains near Mali’s border with Algeria.

Chadian forces, more or less alone. Those forces are now mostly conducting patrols in the north, while troops sent

by Mali’s other regional allies, including Nigeria and Senegal, have been slow to arrive and have focused on peacekeeping

NATO chief dimisses Karzai’s accusations

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HE head of NATO said yesterday it was “absolutely ridiculous” for Afghan President Hamid Karzai to accuse the United States of colluding with the Taliban and said Kabul should recognize sacrifices made by other countries on Afghanistan’s behalf.

Karzai marred a debut visit to Afghanistan by the new U.S. defense secretary, Chuck Hagel, on March 10 by accusing Washington and the Taliban of colluding to convince Afghans that foreign forces were

needed beyond 2014, when NATO is set to wrap up its combat mission and most foreign troops are to withdraw.

NATO SecretaryGeneral Anders Fogh Rasmussen said he was concerned about the increasingly harsh rhetoric between Karzai and the United States, which contributes the largest contingent to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.

“I reject the idea that was publicly launched by President Karzai that ...

there is so-called collusion between NATO, ISAF, the U.S. and the Taliban. It is an absolutely ridiculous idea,” Rasmussen told a news conference, using unusually strong language for the normally cautious NATO chief.

“We fully respect the sovereignty of Afghanistan but we would also expect acknowledgement from the Afghan side that we have ... invested a lot in blood and treasure in helping President Karzai’s country to move forward,” he said.

rather than combat, prompting grumbles from Chad’s president, Idriss Déby Itno.

The outcome of the fighting in Mali carries major implications not only for France, but also for the Obama administration, which is worried that Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and other militant groups could retain a smaller but enduring haven in remote mountain redoubts in the Malian desert.

To help the French, the United States began flying unarmed surveillance drones over the region last month from a new base in Niger.

And the administration has spent more than $550 million over the past four years to help train and equip West African armies to fight militants so that the Pentagon would not have to. But critics contend that the United States seems to have little to show for that effort.

Kenyatta challenges ICC

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AWYERS for Kenya’s President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta have urged the International Criminal Court to drop charges against him.

He denies accusations of instigating violence after the disputed 2007 poll.

The special hearing came a week after charges against his coaccused, Francis Muthaura, were dramatically dropped.

Mr Kenyatta’s lawyers argue charges against him are now compromised but the ICC prosecutor has said she has additional evidence against him.

The trial of Mr

Kenyatta, who narrowly passed the 50% threshold to win elections earlier this month, is scheduled to start in July.

In the aftermath of the election in December 2007 - when Raila Odinga narrowly lost to incumbent President Mwai Kibaki - more than 1,000 people were killed and about 600,000 were left homeless.

Mr Kenyatta, the son of Kenya’s founding president, is accused of organising attacks on members of ethnic groups seen as supporting Mr Odinga following the 2007 vote.

C M Y

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013 — 53

We’re ready for Gabon, DR Congo — Flying Eagles captain •Says early goal by Mali was a setback

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IGERIA’s Flying Eagles have promised to make up for an opening day loss to Mali to qualify for the semi-finals of the 2013 African Youth Championship.

Defending champions Nigeria failed to put away countless chances to allow Mali run away with a lone goal victory on Sunday in Oran.

Gabon and DR Congo played out a 0-0 draw in the second game in Group B to keep this section very much wide open.

The Flying Eagles have said they will now get their title defence back on track with victories over Gabon on Wednesday night and then at the weekend against DR Congo.

“We will do a lot better in our next game against Gabon on Wednesday,” vowed skipper Abduljaleel Ajagun, who was in the team that fell 0-1 to Cameroon in a group game at the last tournament in South Africa.

“The early goal Mali scored set us back and we were just too much in a hurry to equalise.

“We now know what we have to do on Wednesday.”

Lobi Stars midfielder, Moses Orkuma, said they will ensure they do not throw away begging chances again as they did against the Junior Eagles

of Mali.

“We have realised our mistakes and we are now condemned to win our next two matches, which should qualify us to the World Cup,” said Orkuma.

Ghana U20 coach targets Benin for revival G HANA coach Sellas Tetteh is confident his side will return to winning ways against Benin at the 2 0 1 3 Af r i c a n Yo u t h Championship.

The Black Satellites conceded a late penalty to lose 2-1 to Egypt on Saturday night in their opening Group A match at the Stade Omar Oussief in Ain Temouchemt, Algeria.

Ghana must beat t h e i r We s t Af r i c a n border neighbourswho drew 0-0 with hosts Algeria-on Tuesday to remain in the competition.

“We have two more matches to play so we will work towards that.

What has passed is passed. We will just look at our weaknesses and strengths and work towards it,” Tetteh said.

Ghana need to finish as one of the top two sides in the Group to qualify for the 2013 FIFA U20 World Cup in Turkey.

The 2009 African champions were eliminated at the Group stage at the last edition in South Africa.

•Ajagun

AYC: Flying Eagles resume training

N

IGERIA’s national U20 side will Monday night resume training after falling 1-0 to Mali in the Group B opening game of the ongoing African Youth Championship played on

Sunday in Algeria.

The defending champions were wasteful in front of goal, and as a result fell to Mali in their first game, and are due to confront Gabon on Wednesday in their next

Super Eagles Continues from BP based midfielder Babatunde Michael and Velaranga of Norway combative midfielder, Fegor Ogude, were the early callers at the team’s camp at Transcorp Metropolitan Hotel in Calabar.

Ogude flew with the team from Abuja to Calabar, while Ejide joined up about an hour after the team’s arrival.

Michael was just on time to hop into the team’s bus for the day’s training session.

The team departed for training at about 3:30pm at the Abaraham Ordia Sports Complex inside the University of Calabar and will repeat same tomorrow and all through the days leading to the match against Harambee Stars.

Head Coach Stephen Keshi says he expects a

full house by Tuesday morning, adding that training will be the same time and all players expected should have been in, as he needs a good number of training sessions for the team to jell against Kenya. “We would have a full house for Tuesday ’s evening training and from there we see how ready the players are for the task at hand”, he declared.

The team had a light training session with the UNICAL Football team before it went into its own session that was supervised by Keshi and his assistants.

Keshi’s Nine NPL Stars: Chigozie Agbim, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwueke, Gabriel Reuben, Sunday Mba, Solomon Kwambe, Benjamin Francis, Obinna Nwachukw, Gambo Mohammed.

game.

Nigeria dominated ball possession and created more chances but Mali were efficient and defended in numbers.

It was against the run of play in the 13th minute that striker Adama Niane scored a poacher’s goal from inside the Nigeria penalty box to give the Malians the lead.

Media officer of the Nigerian side Sam Audu said the team are now set to make up for their loss on Sunday.

“The Flying Eagles resumed training on Monday night ahead of the decisive game against Gabon.

Kick-off for this game is 8.30pm and so the Nigeria U20 will also commence training about the same time.

JOY OF VICTORY: Students of Igbonoba Grammar School, Agbor celebrate victory in the Governor Uduaghan secondary School cup Zone D zonal qualifier over Ute Okpu Grammar School, Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State. Igbonoba Grammar School, Agbor won 1;0.

Zauzza, former Director of Sports passes on

A

former Director of Sports in Northern Nigeria, Alhaji Idris DanGaladima Zauzza has passed on in Zaria. He was aged 82. He served both federat and state govern-

ments in various capacities.

In 1994, he was an assistant to late Chief S. B. Williams who was the LOC Chairman of the aborted Nigeria ’95 FIFA Youth Championship. He also

headed the Kaduna Zone of the LOC. Alhaji Idris DanGaladima served as executive member of the Rtd Col Mamman Kontagora-led Presidential Committee.

•Obuh

54 —

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013

Messi uncovered …..opens up on son, Vilanova and tears for Argentina T

HIS is Lionel Mes si raw.

The world’s greatest player gave an intimate interview on Argentinian TV at the weekend.

He spoke about dad Jorge, new-born son Thiago, missing cancer-stricken Barcelona boss Tito Vilanova, and his tears for Argentina.

MESSI ON HIMSELF: “I’m my No 1 critic. Whether I play well or badly. I am hotheaded. I get angry because I never want to lose.

“I knew I didn’t play well for Argentina but I wasn’t the only one. The whole team was not performing.

“People and the media wanted me to go out and win games on my own but this has never happened.

“I knew I was not giving my best but I was the first to want to play well.”

ON DAD JORGE: “For my old man I never play well. Since I was a little kid I was scoring four goals and he still had something to criticise.

“And this made me want to do better in the next game so he wouldn’t tell me anything or so he would say ‘ you played well’. He rarely did.”

ON SON THIAGO: They told me having a son is the most beautiful thing but the truth is until you have one you do not realise what it means.

“I was never one to talk about my personal life. But I do it all. I change him, I wash him, I feed him. I like it very much.”

ON BARCELONA: “Teams that sit back and defend are complicated and have knocked us out. Chelsea, the Inter of Jose Mourinho. Milan and Real Madrid C M Y K

•Osaze

Wes ow tto o estt Brom vvo deal with Osaze O

•Messi also played us in the same way.

“Sometimes we pay a heavy price for not knowing how to play in a different way.”

ON VILANOVA: “Players know each other and can play from memory but you need the boss for millions of details.

“We respect Jordi Roura, he’s trying to win everything like us but not having Tito was a tough blow. Tito’s very intelligent and knows football. He’s different to Pep Guardiola and has his own way of transmitting his message.”

ON BEST PAL SERGIO ‘KUN’ AGUERO: “Kun makes me laugh.

We’ve been friends since we were Under-14s. We are very different. He is wound up all day and I am calmer.

ON CRYING FOR ARGENTINA: “I cried many times. In the 2006 World Cup Argentina had played so well and lost to Germany on penalties. In 2010 obviously the same thing happened. Yes I cried but the whole team cried.”

ON SHUNNING SPORTS PSYCHOLOGISTS: “I’ve never seen one. I don’t want to talk about my stuff.”

ON HIS FUTURE: “I’d like to go back to Rosario and live.

“My son will definitely start school in Barcelona so I don’t know what will happen. In Barcelona I am spectacularly well. I have been there a long time, Barcelona is my home but I always have the desire to return.

ON BEING SUBBED: “I don’t like coming off the pitch. I want to end the match regardless of the score. Once I got angry, we were beating Valencia 4-0 and Pep subbed me. It was stupid on my part. …..Interview courtesy of TyC Sports TV

SAZE Odemwingie will be dealt with internally after his Twitter outburst, West Brom have confirmed.

The Nigerian striker was disciplined after unleashing a scathing attack on the Baggies via Twitter in January after the club rejected his transfer request.

And he was at it again Sunday with a series of astonishing statements directed at the club on the social network.

The 31-year-old hit out at being omitted from the

starting line-up for the past four games.

Odemwingie also claimed he would have taken a pay cut to move to QPR and that his commitment to Albion was still being questioned when he has taken injections to play when not fully fit.

While the majority of Odemwingie’s tweets have since been deleted, an Albion spokesman said: “The club are aware of what Peter has said and we will deal with it internally.”

•Messi and Aguero with their Olympic medals.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013 — 55

AYC: Dosu backs Flying Eagles to bounce back A

S Nigerians expect the Flying Eagles to do well at the African Youth Championship in Algeria, former international Josehp Dosu in a chat with Goal.com predicted that the John Obuh-led boys have what it takes to defend the trophy they won two years ago.

“If you look at the team Obuh took to this championship, six of the players that were there two years ago are also involved in this one. So, talking about experience, we have it,” said Dosu.

“All we need to do is wish them good luck so that they can get their foot right which will enable them pick the maximum points, and from there forge ahead,” he said.

When asked on what could be the teams’ greatest undoing in Algeria, Dosu believes overconfidence could spell doom.

“They should not underrate any opponent because they are African champions. All they need do is concentrate well, take their chances as they come, grab as many goals as possible, and with these, our lads will return home as champions,” Dosu concluded.

Nigeria will qualify for the World Youth Championship in Turkey if they defeat Congo DR and Gabon in their next games.

Oboabona set for Euro move

E

NUGU Rangers FC are expected to return to Nigeria on Wednesday March 20, 2013 after playing out a goalless draw with Vital O FC in Bujumbura, Burundi.

The Flying Antelopes forced their opponent to a scoreless draw in Burundi in the first leg first round of the CAF Champions League played on Sunday 17 March 2013 in Bujumbura.

“Our players and officials will return to Nigeria on Wednesday, the club wrote on its official twitter handle.

Team skipper Godwin Anyalogu said after the gruelling encounter that they were satisfied with the result.

A

FCON star Godfrey Oboabona has told MTNFootball.com he hopes to move to one of the top five leagues in Europe in the summer.

The Sunshine Stars of Akure defender in an exclusive interview with MTNFootball.com stated that he already has offers from Spain, England, Germany, Italy and France.

“I already have offers from the top five leagues in the world. But like you know the transfer window had closed by the time the Nations Cup ended,” he stated.

“If I want to make any move now then it would be to an African country. And I don’t want such a move when I have offers from Europe.

“So, I would rather wait till the summer and make the right choice instead of rushing into any move.”

Sunshine have already put a price tag of one million Euros on their versatile skipper.

Oboabona was outstanding in the heart of the Eagles defence at last month’s Nations Cup as he played every minute as Nigeria clinched a third AFCON title in South Africa.

Flying Eagles against Amajita of S.Africa during the qualifier.

WC Qualifier: Kenya foreign pros yet to join camp

K

ENYA are still ex pecting the bulk of invited foreign based players to join camp, as only one of the seven invited has teamed up with their home based counterpart.

Nigeria will host Kenya in a world cup qualifier on Saturday March 23, 2013 in Calabar, and only Dennis Oliech has reported to the camp of the Harambee Stars as at the time of filing in this report, with only five days left to the match.

Head Coach of Kenya Adel Amrouche says he is not worried about the sluggish turnout, indicating that he has enough players in camp for the match.

“I am working with the players I have in the team currently. Whoever joins us along the way is wel-

Imoke Continues from BP Super Eagles.

The 50 minutes flight from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja to the Magaret Ekpo International Airport in Calabar, was smooth.

The team was received on arrival by Hon. Patrick Ugbe, the state’s Sports Commissioner and Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, who is the Director, Technical at the Nigeria Football Federation. As usual the team witnessed the now familiar singing and drumming by the Nigerian Football and Other Sports Supporters Club, Cross River chapter.

C M Y K

After airport formalities the team went straight to the Transcorp Metropolitan Hotel in the heart of the city where it would be quartered for Saturday ’s encounter against the Harambee Stars of Kenya.

Sports Commissioner, Hon Patrick Ugbe, also revealed on Monday that instead of Thursday, Governor Liyel Imoke will now receive the Afcon trophy on Wednesday during the state Executive Council Meeting in the state capital. The shift he revealed is as a result of the tight schedule of the governor this week, assuring however, that

CAF CL: Rangers expected tomorrow

Oboabona

Senator Imoke will be back on time for Saturday’s World Cup qualifier.

Head Coach Stephen Keshi said he was delighted to be back in Calabar, and he was doubly happy because the Governor practically led the team to the city. “We hope we can give him victory also in the double digits”, he said jokingly.

Chukwu

Continues from BP

Chukwu claimed in a chat with Goal.com that the John Obuh boys should be extra motivated by the exploits of the senior national team, the Super Eagles at the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

“We expect the team to

do well just as their seniors because they were given everything. They had intensive preparation, played top class friendlies, so all we demand from them is a good result,” said Chukwu, who is a member of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) technical committee.

•Victor Wanyama come but I cannot certainly say when all the foreignbased players will be in the team,” Amrouche said after the team’s morning training at the City Stadium on Monday.

The other foreign-based players expected to join the team are Celtic ace Victor Wanyama, Racing Genk’s youngster Ayub Timbe, Brian Mandela who plies his trade in South Africa, former City Stars midfielder David Gateri among others.

Nigeria can still qualify for the World Youth Championship if they beat Congo DR and Gabon in their next matches.

Nigeria has won the African title a record six times and have got two runners up medals at the World Youth Championship.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013

Imoke leads Eagles Into Calabar C ROSS River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, practically led African champions, the Super Eagles of Nigeria into Calabar, the state capital on Monday morning, as he was in the same Arik Air flight that took the team

W/Cup qualifier: Mikel, Martins, Moses storm camp today •Ejide, Michael, Ogude lead Eagles first training

T

WELVE out of 23 players expected to feature for the national team against the Harambee Stars of Kenya on Saturday started training in Calabar on Monday evening.

Apart from the nine home-based named earlier on Sunday by Coach Stephen Keshi, Israeli based keeper, Austin Ejide, Ukraine Continues on Page 53

•Keshi

AYC: You have no reason to fail — Chukwu tells Obuh

PUZZLE

HE national U-20 team were at the losing end Sunday as they went down 0-1 to the Eaglets of Mali in the Group B opener of the Africa Youth Championship going on in Algeria.

Following that lack lustre performance against Mali, former Super Eagles handler Christian Chukwu believes the Flying

Eagles are well motivated towards making the nation proud in Algeria, and will not have any justification to fail.

Chukwu explained that the Caoch John Obuh-led technical crew and the Nigerian youngsters have not lacked anything as it concerns support from the football authorities.

Continues on Page 55

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 4 New (5) 7 Obeyed (6) 9 Strive (3) 10 Resin (3) 12 Shaver (5) 13 News (4) 15 Drugged (5) 17 Suit (6) 19 Shout (4) 20 Regal (5) 22 Through (3) 24 Fought (7) 27 Epoch (3) 28 Originate (5) 31 Region (4) 33 Pinched (6) 35 View (5) 37 Breeze (4) 38 Zest (5) 39 Label (3) 41 Stray (3) 42 Cavalryman (6) 43 Learnt (5)

Messi opens up on son, Vilanova and Argentina — Page 54

•Messi

DOWN 1 Spray (6) 2 Close (6) 3 Solidify (3) 4 Blaze (4) 5 Prompt (5) 6 Untarnished (8) 8 Skirting-board (4) 11 Illness (9) 14 Deceased (4) 16 Rind (4) 18 Hint (4) 21 Opening (8) 23 Harvest (4) 25 Sea eagle (4) 26 Sketched (4) 29 Foolishness (6) 30 Bear (6) 32 Flower (5) 34 Resound (4) 36 String (4) 40 Breach (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS

ACROSS: 1, Whip 4, Tub 6, Moss 11, Jerk 14, Cab 16, Gripe 21, Panel 24, Bleak 27, Kin 31, Cove 34, Sir 35, Zeal 36, Pie 37, Dull.

How to Play Sudoku

West Brom vow to deal with Osaze — Page 54

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

Continues on Page 55

T

LEADING BY EXAMPLE: U-20 Chief Coach, John Obuh leading his wards out in training.

to the Canaan City on yesterday.

As the 10 players and officials boarded the aircraft few minutes to 11am, they were oblivious of the fact that Governor Imoke will be on board until when he suddenly entered and exchanged pleasantries with Head Coach Stephen Keshi and his assistant, Dan ‘The Bull’ Amokachi, before the aircraft crew announced to all that the governor was flying with the

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 2, Halt 3, Poor 5, Bare 6, Major 7, Ore 8, Strip 12, Arise 13, Guide 14, Tam 15, Blank 17, Idiot 18, Elder 22, Ken 25, Loose 28, Heap 29, Rind 32, Via.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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C M Y K