Businesses go on as workers shun strike call

...towards a better life for the people

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

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VOL. 25: NO. 63031

N200

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

EGBEDA MURDER:

Autopsy attributes death to respiratory seizure, head injuries 40

DAY 2 LADIPO MARKET MAYHEM:

Hotel, plaza razed; 100 traders displaced, 20 others flee

Diezani's N450m cash: EFCC examines ex-gov's 8 signature

Businesses go on as workers shun strike call •Compliance with strike call in few states •Senate asks c'ttee to interface with FG, NLC ABDUCTED AS CHIBOK SCHOOLGIRL, RESCUED AS A MOTHER...

By Victor AhiumaYoung, Henry Umoru, Emman Ovuakporie, Favour Nnabugwu, Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Mike Eboh, Joseph Erunke & Omeiza Ajayi

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AGOS — BUSINESS and other activities in Lagos, the nation’s economic nerve centre, and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, yesterday, went unhindered as residents shunned the strike declared by a faction of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, led by Ayuba Wabba, to protest the N145 hike in pump price of petrol.

This came as reports across the states indicated that there was only partial compliance to the strike in a few states.

The Senate also, yesterday, asked its

Continues on Page 5

Mr & Mrs RESCUED: Amina Alli, one of the Chibok schoolgirls and her daughter, Safiya (left), rescued by the Nigerian Army from Sambisa Forest, close to Cameroon's borders. ABOVE: Her Boko Haram terrorist husband, Mohammed Hayatu arrested by the troops, yesterday. SEE STORY ON PAGE 8.

COLUMNISTS:

Light and •P.17 Fuel hike: Let’s Shade in Borno cooperate •P.19

Herdsmen’s hell: Sambisa Forest to the rescue •P.19

We increased fuel price because 46 Nigeria's broke —Lai Mohammed

2 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016 — 3

4 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016—5

POCKET CARTOON

INSPECTION: Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State (middle)

inspecting an oil well at the Amalgamated Oil Company Nig. Limited flanked by the Managing Director, Mr. Kumar (left) in Urue Offong/Oruko, Akwa Ibom State.

Businesses go on as workers shun strike call Continues from Page 1 Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity to interface with the Federal Government and the NLC on the face-off between both parties.

In Lagos, seaports, airports, banks, public offices, schools, factories, markets and others did their businesses unhindered as commercial bus operators started operations in the early hours of the day.

From Obalende to Ketu, Ojota to Mile 12 markets, trading activities went on unhindered, while vehicular traffic was busy as usual.

However, it was observed that an OP MESA patrol vehicle and about 15 police personnel in an Amoured Personnel Carrier, APC, were stationed at Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota.

Also, all the LAGBUS buses did not operate, as they were all parked in Yaba.

Wabba-led NLC protests in Lagos

But some members of Wabba-led NLC and Joint Action Front, JAF, held a protest march from Yaba office of the NLC from about 8:00 a.m, through Ikorodu Road to Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, urging Nigerians to participate in the strike.

Speaking to Vanguard, President of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, Igwe Achese, reiterated that members were not on strike, assuring that fuel supplies would not be disrupted at all.

According to him, NUPENG is aligning fully with Comrade Joseph Ajaero-led faction of the NLC not to embark on a nationwide strike.

The union directed all its members nationwide to go

IT'S UP TO YOU

BY AYO ADIO - 08104802192 ITH faith, discipline and selfless devotion to duty, there is nothing worthwhile you cannot achieve. It's up to you.

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TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE- O8084919482

Opportunity dances with those already on the dance floor—Jackson Brown Jr.

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OUR life is a golden opportunity. This moment is the perfect time to make positive changes and to take action upon your dreams. Divine timing also means having patience with the process, especially if other people’s free will choices are involved. Stay focused and positive; it will help you lose fears or control issues which could be limiting in the process of making your dreams a reality.

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE A woman with large buttocks will realise what has happened to her when the race for survival begins.

to work and ignore the calls by the Ayuba- led faction of the NLC to go on strike.

He called on members working in oil installations and loading depots to be alive to their responsibilities, insisting that all filling stations must be opened for the petrol station workers to dispense petroleum products to end users.

Achese enjoined oil marketers to open their depots for members of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTDs, branch of the union to load petroleum products to the different locations in the country.

Workers defy strike in Abuja

In Abuja, the industrial action failed as workers in public and private sectors disobeyed the sit-at-home order and showed up to perform their duties.

A survey carried out by Vanguard showed that in the Federal Secretariat, office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the National Assembly, civil servants were at their duty posts.

At the National Assembly complex, civil servants were seen going about their normal businesses and aiding lawmakers to carry out their legislative businesses of the day, including plenary.

Banking services, couriers, food vendors, cleaning as well as other sundry services were all made available to customers, ruling out the effectiveness of the strike.

The announcement by the Federal Government that it would apply the principle

of “no work-no pay if workers decided to heed the call to stay at home, might have helped cripple the strike.

The Federal Government warned civil servants against any attempt to stay away from work, in a circular issued by the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation (OHSOF) in Abuja, yesterday morning.

The circular, signed by the Permanent Secretary (Common Services Office), Mr Yemi Adelakun, said: ‘’All civil servants are expected to report punctually to work daily. All Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments are, hereby, mandated to ensure strict compliance with this directive.”

Wabba-led NLC lauds members, allies

Meanwhile, the Wabbaled NLC commended its members and civil society allies for turning out, yesterday, to prosecute the strike.

In a statement by its General Secretary, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, the Wabba faction said: “We salute their courage, patriotism and sacrifice in the face of overwhelming acts of threats and treachery. We note that no reasonable struggle comes easy, and this cannot be different.

Thus, in pursuance of the mandate given by the NEC of the congress in conjunction with our civil society allies, the protest continues tomorrow.

"Accordingly, we urge you to mobilise your members, friends or colleagues for the continuation of the protest tomorrow (today)."

Senate asks c'ttee to interface with FG, NLC

Meanwhile, the Senate, yesterday, asked its Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity to interface with the Federal Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC. It urged the committee, led by Senator Nazif Suleiman (APC, Bauchi North), to constantly meet with both teams currently on the negotiation table as a way of finding lasting solution to the problem.

The Senate specifically directed the committee to commence dialogue with the negotiating team to ensure an early resolution of the crisis.

The upper chamber took the decision after a 35minute session presided

over by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu.

Reading resolutions of the Senators after the executive session, Ekweremadu, said: “The Senate in a closed session deliberated on the nationwide strike by labour and the ways of resolving the issues to avoid untold hardships to Nigerians.

“We also mandated the committee on Labour under the chairmanship of Mohammed Nasif to continue to interface with both government and labour for an early resolution of all the matters."

Osun

In Osun State, Gbenga Olarinoye reports from Osogbo that the strike was partially successful, following protest by labour leaders in the early hours, paralyzing economic activities in Osogbo.

According to him, normal activities, however, picked up in the state capital after the protesters had dispersed.

Labour leaders, who spoke at rallies, urged the citizens to resist the petrol price increase, arguing that the policy was inhuman and inflicting pains on Nigerians.

Ogun

In Abeokuta,Ogun State, Daud Olatunji reports that beside the partial success of the strike in Ogun State where some government offices were shut, there was alleged arrest of three labour leaders.

State chairman of NLC, Akeem Ambali, disclosed this in Abeokuta when he led a rally of the labour union to the state headquarters of the Nigeria Union of Journalists at Oke Ilewo in protest against the recent fuel price hike.

But, in a swift reaction, the state Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, denied any arrest claim, saying the leaders of the NLC in that zone were merely invited

by the Divisional Police Officer in Sagamu to eschew violence and not allow hoodlums to hijack the peaceful protest.

Bayelsa

According to Samuel Oyadongha from Yenagoa, the strike was a failure as the state secretariat complex in Yenagoa was opened for business.

Public and private schools were also in session when Vanguard went round town. He said while some banks were shut to customers, others were seen rendering skeletal services.

Enugu

In Enugu State, Emeka Mamah and Chinedu Adonu, report that the strike was partially successful.

Vanguard observed that there were normal academic activities in primary and post-primary schools in the state, while many civil servants in both state and federal ministries were seen carrying out their official duties.

Some civil servants, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said they were in office waiting for further directives from their union leaders.

Contacted, the state chairman of the NLC, Comrade Virginus Nwobodo, said leaders of the NLC in the state complied and were observing the strike, except the Trade Union Congress, TUC, members who had not joined the industrial action.

Kano

According to Abdulsalam Muhammad in Kano, it was business as usual as residents failed to comply with the strike.

Markets were opened for business, as banks ran full services to customers on a day primary, secondary and tertiary institutions opened up classes for academic activities.

Checks round the city showed that there were

Continues on page 16

6 — Vanguard, THURSDAY MAY 19 , 2016

LASPEMA orders stoppage of building under high tension cables

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HE Lagos State Planning and Environment Monitoring Authority, LASPEMA, has ordered immediate stoppage of an on-going construction work under two 33KV high tension wires at Oladun Road, off Ikotun Road, Council Bus stop, in Egbe-Idimu Local Council Development Area of the state in order to forestall future disaster.

The Acting General Manager of LASPEMA, Mr Olanrewaju Kazeem, an engineer, made the call during a working tour of Idimu.

He said the call became imperative because of the immediate need to protect the lives of the people as well as reclaim the site which had previously been under government acquisition for physical and environmental sustainability.

“It is regrettable that buildings on this site had earlier been demolished to discourage the developers as well as subsequent ejection of all illegal occupants. But the site again is presently being occupied by new set of people who have also disregarded the setback rules for high tension wires,'' he said.

Lagos boosts ICT in primary schools

By Amaka Abayomi

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HE Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to provide quality education for public primary school pupils in the state by ensuring that each pupil acquires the necessary computer knowledge to enable them compete with their peers globally.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr. Adesina Odeyemi, made this known during the monitoring of the screening test of primary six pupils for admission into Model Colleges.

His words; “Government is making efforts to improve standards in primary schools by investing in ITC to enable them prepare for Computer Based Test (CBT).

“The CBT will reduce the chances of examination malpractices and make marking examinations faster.”

Commending the conduct of the examination in 28 centres across the state, Odeyemi said that Lagos State was the first to start the CBT with 17 candidates last year and 54 candidates this year.

STRIKE: Judiciary workers shun NLC, attend to cases

By Abdulwahab Abdulah

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AGOS—EXCEPT for the on-going “Settlement Week”, in the Lagos Judiciary, which prevented High Court from litigating on cases before it, all workers of the judiciary were at work yesterday.

The settlement week enable litigants to sit around table and mediate on their cases peacefully.

Observation by Vanguard at the Ikeja Division of the state High Court revealed that the Magistrate courts were sitting and attending to cases filed before them.

The probate, litigation and bailiff sessions of the court were working optimally attending to all issues brought before them.

A senior Registrar told Vanguard that it will be counter productive for the workers in the judiciary to go on strike, especially when the court was on strike for over a month last year.

He said: “ We can’t join the strike called by the NLC. This is because, it’s obvious that there is a subsisting court’s ruling restricting the body from engaging on the work to rule.

“Also, you are aware that we were on strike in most part of last

year when Judiciary Staff Association of Nigeria, JUSAN asked judiciary workers across the country to stay at home to press for their various demands including the independence of the judiciary. So for us to join a strike action distrupting smooth judicial process will be counter productive,” he said.

Meanwhile, lawyers who were in court expressed divergent views over the strike action called by the labour and the division among thge workers.

Mr Olalekan Steven, said: ”I am afraid that now the labour leaders cannot speak with one voice to address common affecting Nigerians and especially workers

in the country.

“For them not to agree on whether to embark on strike or not is a minus on the labour struggle in the country. It will definitely have a virile effect on labour issues in future.” Steven however supported the NLC despite the fact that he came to represent his client in court.

MEETING: From right: Commissioner for Physical Planning & Urban Devt, Wasiu Anifowose; Executive Sec, Oshodi-Isolo LG, Olajobi Adeola; Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Devt, Adebowale Akinsanya; Special Adviser to the Gov on Urban Devt, Mrs. Yetunde Onabule and Special Adviser to the Gov on Transport, Anofi Elegushi during the stakeholders meeting on Oshodi Transport Interchange by the Min of Physical Planning & Urban Devt at Oshodi-Isolo LG Secretariat, Oshodi yesterday.

‘Oshodi to become world-class business district in 18 months'

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

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AGOS—GOVERNOR Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State yesterday, said the much-awaited regeneration of Oshodi into a world class Central Business District, CBD, will commence next week with the construction of a transport interchange.

The project which will be executed under Public Private Partnership, PPP, will comprise of 13 city and interstate parks in Oshodi to be compressed into three multi-story bus terminals.

The terminals with three floors, will be built on 30, 000 square metres for each terminal.

It will take care of the parking and passengers’ demand.

Governor Ambode, who made the disclosure at a Stakeholders’ Forum organised by the State’s Ministry of Physical Planning and

Urban Development, said the project was in line with his administration’s determination to transform Oshodi into a world class CBD with business, travel and leisure activities conducted in a serene, secure, clean, orderly and hygienic environment.

Ambode represented by the Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Mr Adebowale Akinsanya, an engineer, said the project which is scheduled to commence next week would be delivered within 18 months.

While addressing the key stakeholders including community leaders, transport workers, market men and women and others who gathered at Oshodi Youth Development Centre, venue of the Forum, Ambode said: “The Oshodi you see today shall be a thing of the past in the next 15 months as a

world class transport interchange will be coming up.”

Onabule said that the new Oshodi CBD which will gulb several billions of Naira would not

NAF intensifies air surveillance in Niger Delta accommodation at the

By Evelyn Usman

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HE Nigerian Air Force, NAF yesterday said it was carrying out ‘air reconnaissance missions’ around the Niger Delta region, where militants recently blew up an offshore oil facility belonging to Chevron Nigeria, with a view to having a good picture of activities going on in the region.

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar disclosed this while commissioning officers’ residential

Reverse petrol price now, Fasehun urges Buhari

By Dotun Ibiwoye

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AGOS—PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has been called upon to reverse price of petrol to N86.50 from N145 per litre to save the country from preventable crisis.

Making the call yesterday was the founder of the Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, Dr Fredrick Fasehun, who also advised the President to minimize his frequent overseas travels as part of efforts to save the country’s scarce resources.

Fasehun stated that the president has visited 23 countries in 11 months and

only reduce crime in the area, but also go a long way to address the environmental nuisance locations and areas of confusion often associated with the area.

has not started resolving the national problems of the the Niger Delta Avengers and the Fulani herdsmen wreaking havoc around the country.

Fasehun said that if President Buhari refuses to reverse present price of PMS he will be sending a message that he is anti-people and unconstitutional increase in fuel price to N145 will not be good for democracy.

The OPC leader also stated that the increment shows a hollow lack-ofunderstanding of basic Nigerian economics, which means that Nigerian life revolves on the price of petrol.

105 Communications Depot, in Shasha area of Lagos State.

He noted that the renewed activities of some ‘criminals’ in the region had increased the security challenges there. But the CAS who was represented by the Air Officer Commanding, Logistic Command, Air Vice Marshal Mohammadu Mohammed, was quick to add that aside the air reconnaissance missions, NAF was also actively participating in joint operations with sisterservices to put the situation in the troubled zone under control.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016 — 7

HERDSMEN MENACE: Ajimobi outlaws night grazing, water poisoning

By Gbenga Olarinoye

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BADAN—GOVERNOR Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, has outlawed night grazing and straying of cows outside a proposed ‘enclosed designated grazing areas’ across the state, just as he warned farmers against poisoning farmlands and water.

This was part of the highlights of a stakeholders’ peace meeting, which was attended by senior police officers, led by the Commissioner of Police at the state command, Mr. Leye Oyebade, farmers, Yoruba and Hausa/Fulani traditional rulers and herdsmen in Ibadan, yesterday.

The Sabiganna of Iganna, Oba Saliu Azeez; Seriki Fulani of Ogbomoso land, Alhaji Umaru Guruma and an herdsman from Orile-Igbon, Alhaji Ahmed Sulaiman, who spoke at the occasion commended the initiative of the governor and stated their preparedness to embrace peace.

The CP, who laced his short address with intermittent prayers, stated that the meeting would lay a solid foundation for continued peace in the state, while he commended Ajimobi for his invaluable support for security agencies in the state.

The governor said the enlarged meeting was a follow-up to the earlier ones spearheaded by the CP to foster harmonious relationship between the herdsmen, farmers and various communities hosting herders across the state.

He used the occasion to remind the stakeholders that the country was indivisible, stressing that the relationship among the Hausa/ Fulani and their host Yoruba communities had gone so strong to the level that they now intermarry and speak each other’s dialect fluently.

Ajimobi said; “In the entire Southern part of the country, I can say without equivocation that Oyo people are the most hospitable and accommodating and that is why you find a large

concentration of Hausa/Fulani and other ethnic groups living and doing business here.

“Similarly, more than 70 per cent of Ogbomoso indigenes plying their trade in the Northern part of the country speak Hausa fluently. So why should we fight one another.

Progress and development elude communities where there is rancour and crisis.

“We don’t want that here and

that is why this meeting is very important. It’s by divine arrangement that we co-exist, but in the process we should not become parasites to one another, maim or kill one another. As humans, disagreements are inevitable, but they should be resolved amicably.”

The governor thereafter listed a five-point agenda to quench the ember of discord and which he said would serve as rule of

9 church members docked for planning to kidnap priest

By Innocent Anaba

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HE police in Ogun State have arraigned nine members of the Cathedral Church of Christ, Ilaro, before an Ilaro Chief Magistrate Court over alleged plan to kidnap the priest, Venerable E. Oluwatade.

The accused were arrested following a fracas that occurred in the church on May 1, 2016, over

the leadership crisis that had been rocking the church.

The accused persons, Elegbede Gbenga, (32); Elegbede Bukola, (30); Atunrase Oke, (46); Atunrase Elizabeth, (35); Adeniji Solomon, (78); Adeniji Esther, (60); Ogunwunmi Adebisi, (60); Akinwunmi Ololade, (41) and Omoniyi Adedeji, (35) were arraigned on a five count charge of conspiracy, assault, conducting

ABUAD partners John Hopkins Hospital to boost medical education

By Rotimi Owomoyela

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DO-EKITI—LEADER of the delegation of United States-based world’s leading medical institution, John Hopkins Hospital, Dr Timothy Amukele, has said Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, ABUAD, has the potential to lead Africa in scholarship and research.

Amukele, who also said ABUAD has the potential to rewrite the myth of African inadequacy, tasked the institution to inculcate the culture of “research and scholarship” which he described as the hallmarks of great institutions.

Speaking during a visit of the Hospital’s team to ABUAD to explore possibilities of establishing relationship between John Hopkins Hospital and ABUAD Teaching Hospital (ABUADTH), Amukele presented a range of collaborative options from which the university can choose from for the partnership.

The delegation leader, who established similarities between the founder of the hospital, the late John Hopkins and ABUAD Founder, Aare Afe Babalola, in the areas of establishment of university, hospital and charity.

John Hopkins Hospital, which is the best medical facility in the world, has presence in 30 countries.

Ooni advocates attention to cultural tourism

By Olayinka Latona

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AGOS—THE Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi has called on government at all levels to invest in tourism as a way of boosting the economic development of the country.

Speaking yesterday during the maiden edition of Institute of Directors, IoD, Tourism and Hospitality Forum in Lagos, Oba Ogunwusi said cultural tourism would serve as an alternative source of revenue in the face of the dwindling oil price at the international market and economic challenges facing the country He said “Tourism is enough for us in this country, we don’t need any other resources C M Y K

engagement between the herders and their host communities.

To nip crisis in the bud and to enhance a peaceful resolution when there was disagreement, he said the state security council would meet and intensify discussions on farmers and herdsmen management monthly.

Ajimobi further directed that separate committees of farmers and herdsmen, as well as the community be set up to meet on a monthly basis to review level of adherence

and the entire world will come to this great country to come and experience what God has given to us.”

While regretting the attitude of the people to culture, the monarch said; “We forget our root, our rich culture, heritage and tradition which we are known for. We do not appreciate our culture and tradition any longer but we will rather travel to Dubai leaving our source behind.’’

In his welcome address, Chairman, Tourism & Hospitality Committee, Mr. Biodun Jaji noted that the country's economy is built around oil while there are other sectors like cultural tourism, which if properly exploited can be used to create wealth and generate employment.

themselves in manners likely to cause breach of peace, disturbing religious worship and attempted kidnap of Ven. E. Oluwatade.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the count charges.

According to Inspector Bukola Abolade, the prosecutor, the accused persons alongside one, Agbokeye Rufus, who is now at large, on May 1, 2016, conspired to commit felony to wit: kidnapping and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of Criminal Code Cap 24 Vol. II Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria.

Army trains 65 Customs personnel on weapon handling

By Providence Obuh

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HE Nigerian Customs Service, has commenced the training of 65 Customs’ personnel on weapon handling against the backdrop of insecurity in the country.

The 65 Customs’ Personnel drawn from Kirikiri Lighter Terminal (KLT) Command, Apapa are being trained by the Headquarters 9 Brigade, Military Cantonment, Ikeja for one month on weapon handling, high standard discipline, among others.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, ComptrollerGeneral of the Nigeria Customs, Col. Hameed Ali, urged the personnel to take advantage of the opportunity and thereby making the best use out of it.

Ali, who was represented by Comptroller Benjamin Aber, KLT Command, said, “You should count yourself lucky to start the CGC’s reform-pilot scheme. Your success at this training will open good opportunities that will enable you climb the ladder.''

8—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

Troops rescue missing Chibok schoolgirl, arrest Boko Haram ‘husband' ...Kill 15 insurgents

By Soni Daniel, Kingsley Omonobi & Ndahi Marama, with Agency Reports

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BUJA—ONE of the 219 schoolgirls kidnapped from their school dormitory in Chibok, Borno State, in April 2014, has been rescued from Sambisa Forest.

This came as troops of 7 Division of Nigerian military special clearance and rescue operations, otherwise known as Operation Crackdown, Tuesday, cleared Boko Haram terrorists out of their Njimia camp within Sambisa forest.

The girl, Amina Alli, was reportedly found near the edge of the large forest, close to Cameroon's borders.

The girl is said to have escaped while on a mission to gather firewood to prepare meal for one of the leaders of the Boko Haram leaders keeping her.

A statement by Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, confirmed that one of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls was among those rescued by troops at Baale, near Damboa.

He said: "In continuation of Operation Crackdown, troops of 25 Brigade Damboa in conjunction with Civilian JTF deployed in one of the blocking positions at Baale, near Damboa rescued one Miss Amina Alli and a suspected Boko Haram terrorist, Mohammed Hayatu, who claimed to be her husband.

"Both were brought to headquarters, 25 Task Force

Brigade, Damboa at about 2.30pm today (yesterday).

"Preliminary investigation shows that she is indeed one of the schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram terrorists on April 14, 2014 at Chibok and her name is Amina Alli as against Falmata Mbalala that was earlier stated.

"In addition, she is a nursing mother with a four-month-old baby girl, who was named Safiya.

Both the suspected Boko Haram terrorist and the nursing mother have been taken to Maiduguri for further medical attention and screening."

After she was taken to Chibok, where she was identified by her parents, Amina told the

community leaders that: “All the girls are in Sambisa forest, but six of them had died.”

A source quoted Amina as saying that the remaining girls were “well secured and protected” to stop the Nigerian Army from rescuing them.

ActionAid Nigeria reacts to news of found Chibok Girl

The group said: ''It was great news that the first Chibok school girl had been found. This raises hope that the remaining 218 girls and others still held captive would be rescued and reunited with their families.''

ActionAid Nigeria’s Country Director, Ojobo Ode Atuluku said: “We celebrate with the

family of the found Chibok girl, and commend the effort of the Nigerian Army and the Civilian Joint Task Force for their efforts at ending insurgency in the North-East of Nigeria. The Nigerian government must intensify efforts and give them all required support to seek out the remaining girls.

“It is important for the government to strongly advocate against the stigma and discrimination women and girls face when they return. We also expect the Victims Support Fund of the Federal Government to be accountable and give report of how, girls and their babies are being cared for,” she said.

CONFERENCE: President Paul Biya of Cameroon (2nd right) welcoming the Keynote Speaker and Chairman of Heirs Holdings , Mr Tony O. Elumelu(left), flanked by former President, European Commission, Mr Jose Barroso, and senior Cameroonian officials at the International E c o n o m i c Conference organised by Government of Cameroon, tagged Investing in Cameroon, held in Yaoundé, Cameroon on Tuesday.

DIEZANI’S N450M CASH: EFCC examines ex-gov’s …To grill top Govt House, SURE-P, bank officials signature

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor

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BUJA—THE probe of former Military Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga, (retd) by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over allegation of collecting and disbursing the state’s share of N450 million for campaigns ahead of last year’s Presidential election, has taken a criminal dimension.

The former Commander of the Presidential Air Fleet, who was invited to the EFCC Zonal Office in Port Harcourt, in connection with the receipt of the cash, is said to have pleaded his innocence during interrogation and insisted that he neither received nor shared the N450 million allocated to the state by the embattled former Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

EFCC sources confirmed to Vanguard that the operatives

were looking into the claim that some powerful officials in the state forged Nkanga’s signature as the State Coordinator of Subsidy Reinvestments Programmes Coordinator, SURE-P, and collected the N450 million without his knowledge.

The bank officials, who had earlier been questioned separately, had confirmed to EFCC interrogators that they, indeed delivered the N450

million meant for Akwa Ibom State in a bullion van to Government House, Uyo on the order of a senior aide to the governor.

The latest finding contradicts earlier claim that the money was paid to Nkanga by one SaintAnthony Ejiowu, a staff of Uyo branch of Fidelity Bank, which handled the disbursement of the N23 billion cash to Peoples Democratic Party, PDP state

leaders in the heat of the presidential election.

A top source in the commission said: “We have since discovered that the SURE-P ID card of the former governor was merely used as a receipt to collect the money and we want to know the actual person who received the first tranche of the N350 million on March 27, 2015, and the second tranche of N100 million on March 31, 2015.

ROAD ACCIDENTS:

Senate orders Works Ministry, FERMA to reconstruct all death traps

By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

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BUJA—SENATE yesterday mandated the Federal Ministry of Works and Federal Emergency Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, to urgently carry out a holistic reconstruction of all portions of the country’s roads that had become death trap to the motoring public.

The Senate also urged the Federal Government and other relevant agencies to establish ambulances on major highways, saying that would go a long way to saving lives of people involved in ghastly motor accidents.

Also yesterday, the upper chambers had a minute silence for the six medical doctors and the driver from Ekiti State who died in a ghastly motor accident on Sunday, April 24, 2016, on their way to the 54th Annual Conference of Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, in Sokoto State.

The Senate also condoled with the families of the departed, the government and the people of Ekiti State, NMA and prayed for the quick recovery of the survivors, just as it asked the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, to step up public enlightenment campaign on the use of highway codes and safe motoring.

These resolutions were sequel to a motion by Senator Duro Faseyi (PDP) Ekiti North.

According to Faseyi, road accidents in Nigeria have become too many that it required drastic action.

He added that the Senate was disturbed that road accident remained the leading cause of death in Nigeria year in, year out.

EFCC storms ex-Gov Turaki’s home over N36bn theft •Ex-Gov escapes arrest

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor

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PERATIVES of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, stormed the Abuja home of a former Jigawa State governor, Saminu Turaki.

Neighbours of the former senator said they spotted the team of EFCC operatives at the 16

Dennis Osadebe Street, Aso Villa home of the former governor at about 7pm, Wednesday, but it was not clear what their mission was or whether the former governor was arrested by the operatives.

However, a source at the EFCC confirmed the raid but said the team missed the former governor as only a few members of the family were found in the house.

The source explained that the operatives went to the house in a

bid to execute a warrant for the arrest of the former governor who had refused to present himself for trial since 2011 when he was rearraigned on a 36-count charge at the Federal High Court Dutse, Jigawa State.

The source maintained that the commission had long been on the trail of the former Senator and even had him watch-listed, but “he has continued to evade arrest.” It will be recalled that a

Federal High Court in Dutse, the Jigawa capital, had issued a warrant directing the Inspector General of Police or his officers and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to arrest Saminu Turaki, former governor of Jigawa State and bring him before the court. Justice S. Yahuza gave the order after Turaki failed to appear before the court. The EFCC had previously declared him wanted.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016—9

Under-dispensing: Petrol stations fleece Nigerians N1.74bn daily

By Yinka Kolawole

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IGERIANS ARE shortchanged by as much as N1.74 billion every day from the purchase of PMS, otherwise known as petrol, by filling stations across the country due to under-

dispensing of the product.

Investigation by Vanguard revealed that most petrol stations seem not to be satisfied with the hike in the pump price of petrol as majority of them are involved in under-dispensing of the commodity by as much as 30 per

cent to customers.

Based on statistics obtained from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, which estimated that daily consumption of petrol in Nigeria is 40 million litres, it means the stations under-dispense as much

MEETING: From right: Commissioner for Physical Planning & Urban Development, Mr. Wasiu Anifowose; Executive Secretary, Oshodi-Isolo Local Government, Hon. Olajobi Adeola; representative of Lagos State Governor, Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Engr. Adebowale Akinsanya; Special Adviser to the Governor on Urban Development, Mrs. Yetunde Onabule, and Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Prince Anofi Elegushi, during the stakeholders meeting on Oshodi Transport Interchange by the Ministry of Physical Planning & Urban Development, at the Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Secretariat, Bolade, Oshodi, yesterday.

as 12 million litres of petrol to motorists daily. At N145 per litre, this comes to N1.74 billion being paid by motorists for petrol that they are not served.

Most filling stations in FESTAC Town environ in Amuwo Odofin LGA in Lagos are particularly guilty of this.

An independent investigation carried out in some of the stations show a shortage of between 25 and 30 per cent per litre of the product was recorded from each purchase made from the affected stations.

The major culprits include Mobil, Total and most of the independent markets, whenever they have the product. Even NNPC stations are not exempted from this sharp practice.

Reports from other respondents showed that the experience was not different in other areas. In fact, a staff of Vanguard Media Ltd who bought fuel of 20 litres at the company confirmed that when he used the same container to buy the same quantity at different filling stations, there was a shortfall of about 5 litres.

Weapons found in my house belong to NSA Office —Dasuki ....Tells ECOWAS Court: My continued detention arbitrary, illegal

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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HE FEDERAL High Court in Abuja, yesterday, heard that the weapons found in the Asokoro residence of the former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki retired barely 48 hours after he left Office in 2015, belong to the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA. The weapons were said to be for the use of the security details attached to him as the National Security Adviser, NSA, for protection purposes.

These were contained in Dasuki’s statement made to the operatives of the Department of State Service, DSS, tendered and admitted as exhibit by Justice Adeniyi Ademola in the on-going trial of Dasuki on charges of unlawful possession of arms.

A prosecution witness, Mr. Samuel Ogbu, who is an operative of DSS, indicated this when he was asked to read in the open court the statement made by Dasuki during his interrogation by DSS before he was charged to court.

Under cross-examination by counsel to Dasuki, Mr. Ahmed Raji (SAN), the witness said Dasuki in his statement, confirmed that the weapons were for the ONSA and for the protection of the NSA. The witness also said Dasuki claimed in his written statement

that the weapons were to be returned to the ONSA by the security details at the end of the day.

Ogbu, who was asked by Dasuki’s lawyer to read a portion of the statement of the defendant to the open court, admitted that Dasuki in the first paragraph of his statement, made it clear that the weapons belong to the

ONSA and not his personal belonging.

Further hearing is expected to continue.

Meanwhile, at the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice sitting in Abuja, the former National Security Adviser insisted that the Federal Government had no legal or moral justification for his

continued incarceration.

Speaking through his counsel, Robert Emukperuo, yesterday, while making his final address predicated his stance on Sections 293-296 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015, which outlined the procedure for keeping a suspect in detention for not more than two weeks.

Osinbajo, Fayemi commend Adamolekun for consistency, ethical orientation

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ICE PRESIDENT Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, and the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, have commended a foremost public administrator, Prof. Ladipo Adamolekun for consistency and ethical orientation which he has exhibited over the years.

Prof. Osinbajo said this at the public presentation of the autobiographical work of Adamolekun, entitled: ‘I Remember,’ in Abuja.

The Vice President, who insisted that values were imperative to national development, noted that for many years, Adamolekun had stood for such values and had been imparting them on his students and mentees.

Eminent Nigerians present at the book launch include a former Minister of Communications, Chief Cornelius Adebayo, and the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices

and other related Offences Commission, Mr. Ekpo Nta; and the book reviewer, Prof. Isaac Obasi.

In his remarks, Dr. Fayemi lauded the author for distinguishing himself in all the places he had worked including the Obafemi Awolowo University, the United Nations and the World Bank.

Also, the book reviewer, Prof.

Obasi said: “The demonstration of passion for advancing the frontiers of public administration research has been a way of life for Adamolekun for close to five decades.”

In addition, he said Adamolekun has “sustained his love for research and publication in public administration as evidenced by his authorship and co-authorship of over 30 books and 110 articles and chapters in books.”

Author of the book, Adamolekun appealed to the Federal Government to come up

with a new strategy for the war against corruption.

While he argued that the integrity of President Muhammadu Buhari was not enough in the fight against corruption, he reiterated the importance of strategy in driving the war.

Adamolekun said: “The importance of public administration lies in its critical role in ensuring effective implementation of government policies and programmes.

When there is a weak capacity in public administration, delivery of services is largely unsatisfactory.

“Corruption hates transparency. Transparency and accountability help to reduce corruption. That is why I talk about strategy for fighting corruption. The Vice-President has taken that on board. He said the document on strategy will soon be finalised so that the war will have a strategy."

Jonathan ordered payment of N400m to Metuh, Okupe tells court

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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B U J A — ERSTWHILE Senior Special Assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Doyin Okupe, yesterday, narrated before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, circumstances that necessitated the N400million that the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, allegedly released to the National Publicity Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, in 2014.

Okupe, who testified before trial Justice Okon Abang, insisted that it was former President Jonathan that okayed the transfer of the fund into the bank account of Metuh’s company, Destra Investment Limited.

He, however, told the court that the N400m was part of about N21billion was generated by the PDP, prior to the 2015 general elections.

Alleged $3m bribery scandal: 'Lawan caught on video collecting $500,000 from

Otedola'

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

A

B U J A — A Commissioner of Police, David Igbodo, yesterday, told an Abuja High Court sitting at Lugbe that the former Chairman of the then House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy probe, Mr. Farouk Lawan, was caught on video receiving $500, 000 from oil mogul, Mr. Femi Otedola, in 2012.

The witness, who is from the Special Investigation Unit in the office of Inspector General of Police, said the money was part of $3million bribe money the lawmaker demanded from the Chairman of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd, Otedola, as an inducement to remove the name of his company from the report of the House of Reps Ad-hoc Committee on Monitoring of fuel subsidy regime.

10 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016 — 11

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

S-South APC backs deregulation of petrol prices

By Emmanuel Aziken

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OUTH-SOUTH caucus of All Progressives Congress, APC, has endorsed the deregulation of petrol prices and urged Nigerians across board to be patient with government towards achieving the overall objective of the policy.

National Vice-Chairman, South-South of the party, Prince Hilliard Eta, in a statement with all six state chairmen of the party in the zone, said it had become apparent that the subsidy regime was no longer tenable and was only being enjoyed by a few individuals in the country.

“The subsidy was intended as a palliative by government to cushion the effect of the relatively high cost of petrol and related products. However, in a bizarre twist, most of the people involved in the importation, distribution and marketing of petroleum products blatantly indulge in underhand practices to create a never ending artificial scarcity which shot prices very high as recently experienced in the country."

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Okowa backs FG's oil sector reforms, decries pipeline vandalism A

By Festus Ahon

SABA — GOVERNOR Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, yesterday, threw his weight behind the reforms being carried out by the Federal Government in the oil sector, insisting that the long-term benefits cannot be quantified.

Okowa, who stated this when he received the management of Warri Refinery and PetroChemical Company, WRPC, led by the company’s Chief Operating Officer (Refineries), Mr. Anibor Kragha, noted that the reforms would cause immediate pains on Nigerians.

He said: “If the refineries succeed, Nigeria will succeed and the different states will succeed because the importation of fuel has impacted negatively on the revenue of government.

All the state governments are in support of the liberalisation of down-stream oil sector of the economy because, we are caught in the web as the price of oil is very low and there is no foreign exchange to continue to import fuel.

“I sympathize with all Nigerians, we did not anticipate this situation. I believe the

Federal Government will find ways to cushion the effects of the liberalisation but, above all, there are lessons to be learnt from the situation.

"We need to diversify our economy as quickly as possible.

The restructuring of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and the liberalisation of the downstream oil sector, if followed through thoroughly, will impact positively on the economy and create jobs for the citizenry.”

Decrying the activities of pipeline vandals, the governor said such act had negative effect on the environment and the resources of the country.

He added that activities of economic saboteurs had affected negatively oil production.

He said “an advocacy committee led by the deputy governor is currently on sensitization visit to oil-bearing communities for the people to protect the piplelines and government property in their areas.”

Edo Assembly amends bill on Edo University Iyamoh

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN CITY— EDO State House of Assembly has amended the bill for a law to establish the Edo State University, Iyamoh. With the amendment, the university is now known as Edo University of Iyamoh.

The amendment was effected by the House through the Majority Leader ’s motion suspending its relevant rules to

facilitate the amendment.

The amendment was unanimously approved by the lawmakers.

The Speaker, Mrs. Elizabeth Ativie, directed that a clean copy of the bill be sent to the governor for his assent.

Meanwhile, Speaker Ativie led other principal officers of the House on a condolence visit to the Edaiken N’ Uselu, Crown Prince Ehenede Erediauwa on the passing away of the Oba recently.

Dickson vows to check upsurge in violence

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

ENAGOA — GOVERNOR Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has restated the determination of his government to stem the tide of violence, criminality and brigandage by persons within and outside the state, saying their days are numbered.

Dickson gave the warning at a meeting with traditional rulers, chairmen of Community Development Committees and representatives of the various security agencies in Yenagoa.

The governor, who stressed the need to curb the spate of criminal activities, such as kidnapping, pipeline vandalism and the attack on law enforcement agents in the state, called on the people to work closely with security agencies towards apprehending the perpetrators.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19 19,, 2016 – 13

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14—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS STRIKE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, YESTERDAY

At the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja (above and below). PHOTOS: Abayomi Adeshida

Government House, Asaba, Delta State (above and below). PHOTOS: Nath Onojake.

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, at the protest in Ikeja, Lagos. PHOTO: Diran Oshe.

Lagos. PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Mobolaji Bank-Anthony Road, Ikeja, Lagos. PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Lagos. PHOTO: Lamidi Bamidele.

Yaba, Lagos. PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

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Benin, Edo State. PHOTO: Barnabas Uzosike.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19 19,, 2016 – 15

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16 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

Continues from page 5 activities in most government hospitals in the city as the General Outpatients Department was packed with patients.

Businesses go on as workers shun strike call

Edo

In Edo State, Simon Ebegbulem & Gabriel Enogholase report that the strike was partially successful as state public servants stayed away from their offices.

However, it was observed by Vanguard that banks, courts and some public schools were open for business, even as federal parastatals and agencies in the state also opened for business.

Meanwhile, the Edo State Government, in a statement by Head of Service, Mrs. Gladys Idahor, directed workers in the state public service to shun the strike and stay at their duty posts, warning that any worker who shunned work under the guise of strike would forfeit his or her pay.

Benue

In Makurdi, Benue State, Peter Duru reports that civil servants and private sector workers in the state, shunned the strike.

When Vanguard visited the state secretariat, banks and other private organizations in Makurdi, workers were seen in their respective offices going about their duties.

Some who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they turned up for work because the leadership of labour in the state was yet to formally brief them on the matter.

When contacted, state council chairman of the NLC, Comrade Godwin Anya, said workers in the state would comply with the directive and commence an indefinite strike from Thursday.

Adamawa

According to Umar Yusuf from Yola, some ministries, departments and parastatals complied after labour leaders went round to enforce the strike.

Earlier in the day, most of the offices were open for business, but labour leaders went round to ensure compliance.

The enforcement led to the closure of the state secretariat complex at about noon, while in some other key government places, labour leaders almost clashed with workers as they resisted the closure of their premises.

Oyo

Ola Ajayi reports from Ibadan that there was partial compliance as protest by members of Academic Staff Union of Universities, JAF and NLC temporarily paralysed commercial and vehicular activities in the metropolis.

As early as 7am, leaders of the unions assembled at the state secretariat of NLC, Agodi Gate, Ibadan from where they moved to several places in the city.

Led by the state NLC Chairman, Mr. Waheed Olojede; National Treasurer of ASUU, Dr. Ademola

The NLC and some affiliates during the protest in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida Aremu, and others, the protesters went through Beere, Molete, Dugbe, Mokola roundabout, Sango, to Oyo State Secretariat.

Probably due to the fact that all workers in the state did not join them, Olojede asked them and other Nigerians to join the struggle because it was meant to emancipate them from the stranglehold of inconsiderate and oppressive leaders.

Delta

According to Festus Ahon, in Asaba, there was partial compliance in Asaba, Warri and other commercial towns in the state as federal and state secretariats on Okpanam Road and Mariam Babangida Way respectively were locked with no worker in sight.

The old state secretariat on Summit Road, some public primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in the state were also shut in compliance with NLC's strike call.

Also shut down at press time, were the state-owned Broadcasting Service, Asaba, and Warri, and government-owned Pointer newspaper, Asaba.

However, a source told Vanguard that some staff were being asked to report at work to render skeletal services. While some of the banks opened, others did not.

Kwara

According to Demola Akinyemi in Ilorin, workers and teachers in primary and post primary schools complied with the strike.

Vanguard’s visit to the state secretariat along Ahmadu Bello Way, Ilorin and other ministries, indicated that workers that arrived early enough for their duties were prevented by labour leaders from getting to their duty posts.

Also at Bank Road, along Unity and Taiwo area of Ilorin, some banks were seen running skeletal services for customers, while some closed their offices for fear of being hijacked by unscrupulous elements.

Anambra

Enyim Enyim & Chimaobi

Nwaiwu, report that there was partial compliance with the strike as workers reported to their offices as early as 8 a.m. but left after signing their attendance registers.

Abia

According to Anayo Okoli in Umuahia, there was partial compliance with the strike as some civil servants reported for work, while some students and pupils who went to school were asked to go home by their teachers who took part in the strike.

Chairman of NLC in the state, Comrade Uchenna Obigwe, put the level of compliance at between 70 and 80 per cent but said that by today, there would be total compliance.

Rivers

According to Jimitota Onoyume in Port Harcourt, the strike was a total failure in the state. He said efforts by the faction to enforce the strike by rushing to lock the gates of the state secretariat in Port Harcourt failed as it was flung open minutes later.

Civil servants were at their desks in the state secretariat and other activities went on smoothly.

Niger

Wole Mosadomi, in Minna, reports that there was a mild drama at the main gate leading to the secretariat, as some workers resumed for official work.

While some of the workers were trying to force themselves through the locked gate, few others insisted that the strike must be embarked upon, thereby causing confusion at the gate.

All commercial banks were open for business without any molestation, while students were also seen in their various schools with lessons going on normally.

Akwa Ibom

According to Chioma Onuegbu in Uyo, workers in the state joined in the strike. The different unions that stormed the Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat at about 11am, chanting solidarity songs, urged the Federal Government to

revert the fuel pump price to N86.50 kobo.

Plateau

In Jos, Marie-Therese Nanlong reports that the strike was partially successful in Plateau State as some sectors of the economy were shut down by the union.

State Chairman of the NLC, Comrade Jubrin Bancir, told Vanguard that the union will systematically ground every sector until the Federal Government reverted the pump price of fuel.

Kaduna

Luka Binniyat reports that normal activities went on in Kaduna. But, Chairman, Kaduna State Chapter of the NLC, Comrade Adamu Ango, said the strike was downplayed to avoid bloodshed.

He said: “We have been informed from very competent security sources that a violent group has been contracted to position itself in the direction of our planned procession.

“The plan is that they will start throwing stones at us to cause confusion and give it a semblance of fighting. Then security agents will move in to shoot certain people or arrest some of us. All this is to spark violence, so that the NLC will be blamed."

However, all ministries, parastatals and agencies of both federal and state governments were open for business. Banks, markets, hotels and schools ran their affairs smoothly.

It was, however ,gathered, that Academic Staff Union of University, ASUU, branches of Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, and Kaduna State University, KASU, were warming up to join the strike.

Ebonyi

Peter Okutu in Abakaliki said workers shunned the strike, as they were compelled to fill attendance notebooks or risk their salaries.

Meanwhile, the state chairman of the NLC, Comrade Ikechukwu Nwafor led other labour leaders

to lock most of the offices in the state as early as 7am to bar workers from gaining access to their workplace.

At the state secretariat, workers were locked outside for two hours until a detachment of Ebonyi State Police Command was mobilized to ensure that no worker was harassed by the labour leaders in the state.

FG fully committed to implementation of palliatives

Meanwhile, the Federal Government, yesterday, assured Nigerians that it was fully committed to quick implementation of palliatives in the 2016 budget, while developing other ways to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians that might arise because of the recent deregulation of the downstream sector of the Petroleum industry.

Speaking through the Minister of Labour & Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, government said it was ready to recommence negotiation with the Nigeria Labour Congress any time.

Ngige dismissed claims by the Ayuba Wabba-led NLC that it was not consulted by government before the deregulation. Ngige in a statement said: “It is instructive to note that most Nigerians have shown great understanding of the fact that the current problem is not a subsidy removal issue but how to deal with the non-availability of foreign exchange, a situation that leaves the Federal Government with no other choice than to deregulate the downstream sector of the petroleum industry which resulted in rise in pump price of petroleum.

"In view of the above, the Federal Government is fully committed to the quick implementation of the palliatives in the 2016 budget, while developing other ways to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians.

“The Federal Government appreciates all the important issues raised by the labour unions and has taken them into consideration. Government is resolute in making sure that the economy is not only strong but able to provide jobs and opportunities for all Nigerians."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016— —17

T

HE flight to Maiduguri, last week Tuesday evening, had been delayed for more than three hours. And at a point, not a few passengers had become apprehensive that it might be cancelled.

Eventually though, we took off and one hour and ten minutes or so later, we landed.

When the pilot announced that the local weather stood at 41degrees Celsius, it really felt that we had truly arrived in Maiduguri. It was a near-full flight, and as I would gather over the next two days, all hotels were fully booked and it seemed that a lot of traffic is coming in this direction: NGO types working on the food emergency, and I saw a few of them inside the Government House, as well as others coming to explore business opportunities.

The traffic jams are there on the streets and in the days that I have been here, solarpowered traffic lights were being installed at busy intersections and are up working. Although military vehicles still speed through streets, people feel more relaxed now, because the past year has seen a serious degradation of the Boko Haram terror; and when I have spoken with ordinary people in Maiduguri, they say that President Buhari’s greatest achievement as far as they are concerned, is the fact that they can afford to live as normal a life as possible again, in Borno.

From the visitor’s perspective, I still felt that tightness in the belly, when I am driven around, especially in crowded parts of the city. You just never know who might be hiding a devise under a dress. But for those who have lived through the critical heights of the terror of Boko Haram and the tough military response, these are really hopeful times indeed!

Returned with a thud to reality But not much can be taken for granted in Borno. Just when I was beginning to relax a bit and agreeing that hope was truly springing forth, a suspected Boko Haram suicide bomber, dressed like a woman, attempted to enter the state secretariat last Thursday afternoon.

A policeman accosted the suspicious looking “woman”, who promptly detonated a device that took his life and the patriotic policeman. We returned with a thud to the soil of reality! After visiting the injured, that same afternoon, the governor invited me to accompany him on a visit to Gongulong Lawanti, on the outskirts of Maiduguri.

It is the homestead of the wife of former governor Ali Modu Sherrif. Boko Haram had burnt the housing estate, hospital and school there. They are now being reconstructed, with the cottage hospital being upgraded to a 50-bed hospital and the school, completely modernised. There was a huge C M Y K

Light and Shade in Borno crowd of school age children running after the convoy of vehicles and when we alighted, the governor was surrounded in what was certainly a crowd control nightmare for his security people.

But he wanted the close contact with the children; he patted heads, shook hands and spoke directly. Eventually, the elders came as we inspected

Choices made by the ruling classes have condemned millions of people in our society to a marginal existence and a desperation, which made it easy to become prey to the recruitment that Boko Haram offered the new classrooms; he reminded that education was not only free in Borno but also compulsory! The problem is real and a huge one, and when I looked at that huge crowd of very poor and disadvantaged children, it worried that despite the governor ’s declaration, many of them would still not attend school. They reflected in their dresses and unkempt looks, the poverty of the households they came from.

That was on Thursday, last week.

I am writing these lines on Tuesday night. I had received two visitors early this morning; drivers who, at different times, had driven me during my various visits to Borno.

In 2010, Malam Shuaibu had taken me on a whirlwind trip to Bama, Damboa, Chibok, Gwoza and AskiraUba. Our discussion had, naturally, centred on the Boko Haram crisis. The palace we visited in Askira Uba, Shuaibu told me, was burnt; Bama(hometown of one of my late aunties) was completely

destroyed and nothing was left.

Even wells were filled with dead bodies and they lined heads of people beheaded, on a bridge at Bama.

So many other places that I had visited over the years and made stories and packages from, either for the BBC or RFI, such as Monguno, Gubio, New Marte, Banki, Gamboru-Ngala, had also suffered, even when life has begun to return to many of these places with the clearance that the Nigerian Army effected over the past one year.

As we discussed, I tried to explore the minds of the Boko Haram terrorists through their actions. There were gory videos of killings and beheadings; they would enter a town or village, steal food; abduct women and girls; force young men to join them; execute the reluctant; then burn houses as well as food.

Manifestation of modernity Every manifestation of modernity and the symbols of state power seemed to particularly incense them! I thought of the atrocities of the RUF in Sierra Leone, with the chopping off of limbs and the LRA’s abductions of young girls in Uganda, but they don’t match Boko Haram’s brutality.

There are cases of PSTD that we have not done too much about; how does society heal the trauma people have witnessed over these years? What about the generation of young men and women lost in the violence and those damaged, almost beyond redemption?

I did not have to wait for too long to see the brutal reality I had been mulling. Because this Tuesday evening, I joined Governor Kashim Shettima and his Deputy plus a host of officials, as well as Dr. Fatima Akilu and a team from UNICEF, to meet a group of women recently liberated from Boko Haram.

At the centre of the group of about 35 women and over twodozen children, was the eight year old, that everybody called “AMARYA” (newly wed). She could be any eight year old anywhere on earth, except that she had been married off to a Boko Haram husband, the day before she was liberated. The “husband” was killed that day and this young girl has been withdrawn and noncommunicative. All she had said was that she wanted to

return to her husband in the bush! The group even had a leader, a young lady that might be 20 or thereabouts, who alone they listened to. There was one that the family had rejected and one whose father saw and just cried!

The government has a team of counselors working with them; there are plans to gradually return them to their families and also talks of empowerment. But there is a very bumpy ride ahead. Fatima Akilu and her team chose to stay behind with the group as we drove out late evening.

That just brought together so poignantly, all that I had thought of all day, about the Boko Haram insurgency, the associated tragedy and how long communities and the people will take to recover normalcy.

Depressing as those scenes were, there are, nevertheless, green shoots of growth on the soil of Borno. A few days before I arrived in Maiduguri, Aliko Dangote had visited. It was a visit that people here appreciated very much. He offered assistance at a premium!

He donated Two Billion Naira to the relief effort, and also pledged to feed the IDPs during Ramadan. People told me how grateful they felt that he came, reminding that he had been here before!

Slow road to recovery I sent him a text expressing happiness that the Social Responsibility element of his work has become almost as important as the business end.

And the optimistic tone to life was only slightly dented by the bombing that took place early on Thursday. As I reported earlier, life is gradually looking up and even the local football team, the El-Kanemi Warriors, have returned to Maiduguri to play their league matches. They had been exiled to a different location at the height of the insurgency.

Nobody would take chances, because Boko Haram would almost have certainly targeted a football match, with thousands of people massed inside a stadium! Well, last Thursday, Kano Pillars, certainly one of the best organized teams in the Nigerian Premier League came calling, and in further expression of the theme of hope in this community, El-Kanemi Warriors won the game by two

goals to nil!

Yet, I was so overwhelmed by the sight of the eight year old “AMARYA”, who could just have been my daughter or anyone else’s! Governor Kashim Shettima, in introducing the group to the team led by Fatima Akilu, had reminded that the women liberated from Boko Haram, were actually victims of a deep-seated problem.

He identified the failures of leadership in Northern Nigeria in particular, which had led to the severe consequence of a brutal insurgency. We have managed to create one of the most unjust and most unequal societies on earth!

Choices made by the ruling classes have condemned millions of people in our society to a marginal existence and a desperation, which made it easy to become prey to the recruitment that Boko Haram offered.

Millions of young people have no hope, and hundreds, maybe thousands, found space inside an insurgency which armed them with weapons of death; drew them into an ideological vortex that emphasised a most bizarre explanation of Jihad as preying on the communities that they came out of; and indoctrinated them that the more brutal they were in the violence they unleashed, the better their fidelity to their absurd interpretations of Islam.

The abduction; rapes; defilements and forcible marriage of minors and other women, was also part of a perversity that has not been systematically studied as a central element of the Boko Haram insurgency.

Greatest tragedy Many of these are sexually repressed young men, whose economic conditions, as part of a marginalised underclass, a lumpen urban mass, are often without skills to be profitably engaged in the world of 21st work. They are often also unable to afford the economics of marital life. It was therefore no coincidence, that before his killing, the original leader of the group, Muhammed Yusuf, was said to offer financial assistance to start small businesses and to get married.

With the commencement of the insurgency, and with the power of the gun, they could abduct girls and women, and also force them into marriages, and there have also been reported rapes of women and girls. So the power over helpless girls at gunpoint, helped in a perverted manner, to solve many problems; they found sexual fulfillment and also had the gun to ruthlessly reinforce a macho image and a domineering masculinity.

There are also tales of drug use within the insurgency which only added fuel to the fire of everything that had gone wrong, to make Boko Haram one of the greatest tragedies to ever plague this corner of human society!

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY MAY 19, 2016 THE media are replete with the exploits of Nigerian troops in hunting down and destroying the camps of cattle rustlers who attack herdsmen and dispossess them of their cattle.

Troops of Operation Sharan Daji engaged in anti-cattle rustling, armed banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities in various states of the NorthWest have largely succeeded in eliminating several bands of rustlers, destroying their camps and recovering numerous livestock, large quantities of sophisticated arms and ammunition.

The most recent successes of Operation Sharan Daji and One Division of the Nigerian Army in conjunction with other security agencies against cattle rustlers took place in Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna and Kano states. Considering that cattle rustlers are bandits who delight in robbing with violence and destroying lives, the efforts of the Nigerian Army in hunting them down are commendable.

Farmers must also be protected President Muhammadu Buhari recognised the danger that the cattle rustlers pose to livestock owners and nomadic herdsmen when, in his inaugural speech on 29th May 2016, he harped on his resolve to rid the country of them. He has made good his word, and many of the cattle rustlers, who are said to be foreign infiltrators, have been flushed out.

We are dismayed, however, that the same attention is not being paid to armed herdsmen who have been terrorising farmers, invading communities, burning them down, occupying them, sending their cattle into people’s

farms to ravage their crops, killing, robbing, raping, kidnapping and leaving trails of heinous crimes as they go. Reports of these brazen attacks are reported in the media everyday.

In fact, many Nigerians called on President Muhammadu Buhari to speak up on this matter.

It took nearly one year into his administration, and the sack of Agatu in Benue State and Ukpabi Nimbo in Enugu State and the death of hundreds of citizens before President Buhari finally directed the Police and security agencies to take all necessary measures to end the menace.

In spite of that directive, the at-

tacks have not stopped. In fact, the Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, had to rush to an Udi community last week, along with Fulani leaders, to reassure the people that a rumoured imminent invasion by Fulani herdsmen was nothing but mere rumour.

We urge the Federal Government to face the task of flushing out armed herdsmen with the seriousness with which the cattle rustlers have been battered, irrespective of whether the perpetrators are Nigerians or foreigners.

We want perpetrators to be brought to book and compensation paid to those who lost relations and property. Herdsmen are not supposed to carry unlicenced arms.

Both herdsmen and farmers must equally be law-abiding, and both sides deserve protection from criminals. Government must secure, without fear or favour, those who produce food for the nation.

OPINION OKOWA: Verdict of Deltans, one year after

By Prince A. Abugo

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HAT has Governor Ifeanyi Okowa done differently to foster development in Delta State within one year in office? By way of gauging public feeling in the state about this I decided to move around to interact with Deltans. In Warri, I rode in Kabu-Kabu buses, visited markets, drinking joints. I did the same in Asaba, Ughelli and Uvwie. My focus was peasant farmers, fish farmers and ordinary persons whose passion drives society. I also visited some rural communities to see how people view the Governor in navigating state affairs.

From my interactive survey, I could say the Governor scored high on leadership. The important credentials of a leader is sustaining the momentum that brought him into office, keeping old friends, winning over opponents and using leadership for service. Governor Okowa within the year, stabilised the polity through internal democratic mechanism, touched Deltans irrespective of political, social, ethnic or ideological persuasions. He has abolished several sycophantic praise singing cults that held the state hostage, feeding on common patrimony. He discouraged tribalism, favouratism and greed.

He concentrated on job creation and

skills acquisition in a bid to encourage self-employment and create employers of labour. By so doing the belief that employment lies only in the civil service and oil companies has been redefined so that Deltans now see that critical wealth that transforms a nation comes essentially from the private sector. Prior to this, we had over-bloated civil service where salaries were paid without production; government money was largely

He has abolished several sycophantic praise singing cults that held the state hostage seen as “awhoof” to be grabbed without working for it, thus encouraging overbloated wage bills which frustrate development plans.

Okowa invested in reviving ailing industries, including DSC Aladja in collaboration with the Muhammadu Buhari-led government. The Governor understands that revival of DSC is a boost to his SMART agenda. Asaba Textiles Industry, African Timber and Plywood Sapele, Delta Steel Structures Enerhen, Delta Glass Ughelli and others have been given a new lease of life to

boost the economy and sustain the prosperity agenda. These firms were before now made prostrate through corruption, ineptitude and nepotism.

Happily enough Deltans are embracing Okowa’s orientation to revive critical sectors and clear the path to economic growth. Our lives begin to end the day we become silent, complacent and indifferent to the social happenings around us. We must embrace Okowa’s hope to propel greatness and ideas because we cannot rely on same old policies that have polarized us and encouraged divisive tendencies that saw some ethnic groups as destined for leadership while others are subservient.

Okowa represents a bridge of unity that has given us identity and brotherhood that have made us our neighbours keeper and entrenched moral leadership and financial discipline.

The SMART agenda is a revolutionary pragmatism that rectifies moral recklessness and economic drain, thereby sustaining economic prosperity. Okowa sees people as central to all political activities because no policy succeeds without them. That’s why SMART is an interventionist process to economic, political and social stability.

This social awareness is evident in encouraging citizens to be alive to their responsibilities; discipline is cardinal to success and through exemplary conduct the Governor is telling us it cannot be business as usual; we should be models of leadership in our various callings and

homes. The inauguration of the Delta State Traffic Management Agency, DESMA, was necessary to check bad road behaviour among motorists that lead to ghastly accidents and to curtail the activities of touts that lead to loss of revenue.

The Governor must also be commended for establishing a platform for expedited processing and issuance of certificates of occupancy to land and property owners within 90 days of application.

This shattered the previous system that was shrouded in secrecy, manipulation and sharp corrupt practices, thus creating unnecessary delay. Under the present system, land and property owners are being empowered to use their certificates of occupancy as financial document for business transactions.

This is possible because the Governor has been able instill discipline in governance, work ethics and in eliminating corruption. That’s why workers unions should not restrict themselves to only wage advocacy increments; their voice should be heard condemning the rot in the civil service where people indulge in crooked activities to earn unmerited salaries, where ghost workers have made their haunt and many workers falsify their ages to remain in service, thus depriving youths employment. But they know they have no hiding place because soon the biometric exercise will fix all the anomalies.

•Prince A. Abugo is SA, Social Advocacy, to Governor of Delta State.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19 19,, 2016 – 19 Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com to develop at its own pace.

It was this visionary politics that drove the various defunct regions to frenzied paces of development that have not been matched since the unfortunate entry of the military into our politics.

Who would have believed that

Fuel hike: Let’s cooperate O NE of the casualties of military rule on the political psyche of Nigeria is that politics has lost its philosophical personality. The only thing that drives people into politics is the quest for power because with power you have easy access to the public till.

In other words, corruption or corrupt self-enrichment is what propels the quest for public office.

That is why the democratic process since 1999 has produced more millionaires and billionaires from among the “successful” political actors than the productive sectors of the economy could boast of. The few who managed to score it big as business entrepreneurs did so because they benefited from the corrupt system which has bred a few super-rich and created mass poverty (especially among the youth). What sad days we live in!

Compare this with what we had before the Nigerian civil war.

Politics still wore its noble garbs.

Despite the fact that political parties were essentially ethnoregional, they were still very much the gatherings of what was called “like-minded people” – people who shared the same ideals and

visions of how they wanted to approach socio-political and economic developmental issues.

Those who found themselves in political parties where their visions clashed were described as “strange bedfellows”.

Nigeria’s foremost nationalist and Pan-Africanist, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, had a vision of one unified Nigeria where everyone would “forget our differences” and work together to create a nation that would be the toast of Africa and the Black race.

Sardauna Ahmadu Bello, instead, wanted a Nigeria dominated by the North’s Islamic culture in line with the original purports of his Usman Dan Fodio Fulani ancestors who established the Sokoto Caliphate. Mallam Aminu Kano also wanted a Muslim model for Nigeria where the welfare of the common person (rather than pandering to the comforts of the ruling oligarchy pushed by Bello) would take primacy. Chief Obafemi Awolowo wanted a Nigeria where each of the major ethno-regional blocs would take charge of their areas in a strong, decentralised federation to enable every group

We have no option; we must do it or we die; let us cooperate; it is better to cooperate willingly than to destroy the economy further through unhelpful civil disobedience the North, now rated as the poorest and most backward in the federation (despite its dominance of power since independence) was once the most prosperous? Is it not a great irony that Western Nigeria, which used to be the beacon-holder in education is now consistently returning second-rate results and getting cut-off marks than South East and Edo/Delta states? Who would have believed that the former Eastern Region was once rated by the UNP as the “fastest industrialising economy” in the Third World in 1964?

Because of lack of principles and absence of noble intentions in embracing politics, everything goes. All that matters is the grab

Herdsmen’s hell: Sambisa Forest to the rescue T HE activities of the new Boko Haram – the wave of barbarous hordes in the form of herdsmen – have reached a crescendo and all people of goodwill must feel perturbed by the ugly development.

In recent times, the activities of these evil men have assumed the status of a national emergency. We are today faced with the moral equivalent of war; and as a people and a nation, something must be done – and pronto too – for our collective peace and cohesion.

From the plains of Plateau, Nasarawa and Southern parts of Kaduna states, these dangerously armed marauders have increased in number, pouring southwards into Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, Ogun, Benue, Taraba, Kogi, Enugu, Abia, Anambra, Delta, Edo and Rivers states.

They brazenly herd their cows into people’s farmlands and threaten the people with their deadly weapons at the slightest sign of protest. Some of them sometimes abandon their cows to engage in horrendous crimes like armed robbery, kidnapping, murder and rape, often blocking the highways and inflicting life threatening injuries on their victims.

Their modus operandi is to openly brandish their sophisticated weapons anywhere and strange enough, not much is done by law-enforcement agencies; at least to enforce the law prohibiting the illegal possession of firearms, which the rest of society must strictly observe.

Truly, the herdsmen have been with us over the years with their funny straw hats and a command stick across their shoulders. What is most disturbing is that in the last one year, their numbers have grown in geometric progression along with unimaginable sophistication in their weapons of mass destruction.

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In the last few months, it has been stories of a band of cowmen barreling through other people’s territories in a manner that portrays the legitimate owners as impostors.

One way of appreciating the enormity of the problems posed by the menace of the cowmen would be to examine a few cardinal incidents and put the associated violence in perspective.

The Federal Government must quickly acquire the Sambisa Forest and convert same to grazing areas for herdsmen

One of them took place in Agatu community in Benue State where the Fulani herdsmen razed down the community, burnt down homes and slaughtered everyone in sight – young and old; male and female; and even raped the women before killing them. All these give them the true colour of a Boko Haram outfit.

Still more disturbing is the fact that these barbaric elements have the temerity to justify their primitive acts. The interim national secretary of their umbrella body, Gan Allah Fulani Association, Saleh Bayeri, said the herdsmen were right in attacking the Benue community as a vengeance for killing a Fulani man in 2013. He claimed that the Agatu people invaded the compound of Shehu Abdullahi, killed him and made

for power – power at all costs, as that guarantees easy access to our oil money. It was unprincipled politics foisted by the military that made it possible for all sorts of flotsam and bobtail to crowd into the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the party which the military handed over power to in 1999. No heed was paid to party principles and bed-fellowship. Unlike in 1979 when you could easily distinguish between Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, from National Party of Nigeria, NPN, states, you could not tell what makes a state a “PDP state”. There was no resemblance at all between the PDP Federal Government and PDP states. The same applied to other states controlled by the opposition parties.

This political malaria was transferred to the All Progressives Congress, APC, when a merger of a mongrel of political parties was announced on February 6, 2013.

A party led by Muhammadu Buhari, Fulani-Muslim fundamentalist with military reflexes who co-authored the centralised federation with his fellow post-war rulers, found himself in the same party with Bola Tinubu, who advertised himself as a neo-Awoist “true” federalist “progressive”. They opened their arms and welcomed a disgruntled chunk of the ruling PDP’s faction, and a new party that had no character or vision was heading toward power.

Tinubu’s group has found itself flip-flopping from opposition to the deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry (which the then Goodluck Jonathan regime wanted to effect) to defending it

now that they have found themselves in the saddle. A political movement that came out, with a myriad of paid “civil society ” activist groups in Ojota in January 2012 has now mobilised to push the argument that there is no alternative deregulation. They are backing away from most of the campaign promises with which they seduced Nigerians to transfer power from Jonathan’s PDP to them. They have shown they cannot be trusted, and that words mean nothing of value. In spite of that, some people still continue to prattle about the “integrity” of our leaders whose sanctimonious pretences are being slowly stripped bare for the world to see for what it is.

In 2012, we argued on column and elsewhere in support of deregulation because we believed in putting an end to fuel crises in our economy. We believed that the oil boom of that time was an excellent opportunity to make a quick break and tide over it with a variety of social safety nets the regime proffered. But organised Labour played into the hands of wicked and power-hungry politicians and forced Jonathan to backtrack. We lost over trillion naira in subsequent subsidised fuel imports. Four years later, we are faced, once again, with no option than to deregulate.

Yes, we have no option. We must do it or we die. Let us protest a little, but let us cooperate. It is better to cooperate willingly than to destroy the economy further through unhelpful civil disobedience.

Next time they come to you for your vote, let their deceits and failed promises guide you in the decision you will take.

away with 200 cows.

Evidently, this new branch of Boko Haram is enjoying the type of immunity that the original Boko Haram enjoyed in the beginning. Such impunity is coming from a band of criminals at a time when there is a sitting government and up till now Saleh Bayeri is walking our streets, a freeman? We have not heard that he has been arrested and tried for treason? Shall we also continue to assume that the group is faceless? When are we going to hear that the Gan Allah Fulani Association has been disbanded and its leadership summarily dealt with?

Another incident occurred in Okada area of Edo State, where the herdsmen killed a man without any evidence of provocation.

When the news filtered out, a storm of indignation burst forth. The natives lashed back and razed down the herdsmen’s settlement and everything in sight. That looks like a return to atavism and the old Biblical injunction of an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth but how much can you blame a community enveloped in total rage and bewilderment? This is invariably a direct result of government’s aloofness.

This nation is yet to recover from the shock of the recent attack in Enugu State where scores of innocent citizens were brutally slaughtered in cold blood.

The marauders have carried their acts of brutality to virtually every state across the nation and we cannot watch on helplessly.

The exigency of presidential intervention can no longer be played down because the tension across the nation is soaring. If the usual state of aloofness is allowed to persist, very soon, the Edo example might become the order of the day. People might be carried away by the apparent erroneous impression

that self help is the best help or that might is right.

The President has condemned the escapades in the strongest terms. But words, no matter how strong, are not enough at this edge of catastrophe. The President must show by action that desperate problems demand desperate solutions.

The Boko Haram started in part of the North East; and we watched as it spread through an entire region. The current one is scattered across the country and we are watching until it envelops the entire nation.

For all we know, if the sky falls, the problem cannot be for one person.

We hear there is a Bill before the National Assembly, seeking to mandate state governments to provide grazing zones for cattle. Ab initio, this is a dead letter. The Bill is a time bomb that will explode before its first reading. Legislators elsewhere do not introduce measures without due regard to the workability. For one thing, this Bill runs counter to the provisions of the Land Use Act. For another, it is against natural justice to confiscate someone’s land and transfer it to another to graze his cattle. That simply connotes a policy of live and let die.

But if we must continue to pander to the sacred cows status of these cattlemen – a role they have ably carved out for themselves – then, the Federal Government must quickly acquire the Sambisa Forest, which is largely regarded as no-man’s land and convert same to grazing areas for herdsmen. The wealthy ones among them can build ranches while those less endowed will still have abundant grazing routes.

20—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

DAY 2 LADIPO MARKET MAYHEM:

Hotel, plaza razed; 100 traders displaced, others flee

By Monsuru Olowoopejo, Esther Onyegbula, Faith Ake and Chika Ukele

A

S the clash between hoodlums from Oloruntoyin Street, Mushin and traders at the popular Ladipo spare parts market entered day two, two more structures were yesterday razed with property worth several millions of Naira destroyed, displacing at least 100 traders.

The two burnt structures were Light House Hotel on 13 Osoro Street and a plaza on 12 Olapeju Street, Mushin Local Government. The fire which gutted the buildings was said to have started at about 1:20 am yesterday.

It was learned that the fire started from the spare parts plaza and spread to the Light House Hotel.

Sources said that the structures were set ablaze midnight after the clash which had subsided during the day erupted again. The clash was said to have started at about 10am on Tuesday, when some hoodlums (largely of Yoruba extraction) stormed the market to collect parking fees but were resisted by the traders who were mostly of Igbo extraction.

Hoodlums and traders Vanguard gathered that the hoodlums and the traders had been arguing over the parking fees for a while before the clash started on Tuesday with over three vehicles burnt and several others vandalized.

Sources said that the clash subsided at about 2 pm, after policemen attached to the Rapid Response Squad, RRS and Olosan Police Station arrived the community to restore peace.

However, the traders and residents were divided over the cause of the fire. But sources said that it erupted again midnight, leading to razing of the buildings.

One of the traders who identified himself simply as Maxwell explained that; ‘’The structure was severely burnt to the extent that part of the building started giving way.”Secretary of the Hotel, one Miss Mercy, however said it was razed during the clash that erupted on Tuesday.

When Vanguard visited the market, several shops were under lock and key. The traders were however sighted standing in groups

•The razed plaza... yesterday

•One of the burnt vehicles on Tuesday discussing the clash that had crippled their businesses.

Confirming the inferno, Director of the Lagos State fire Service, Mr. Rasak Fadipe, said the fire would have been curtailed ear-

We pleaded with the police to stay put in the area and help safeguard our goods and properties but our pleas were ignored only for hoodlums to return and unleash terror early this morning lier but it was difficult accessing the building due to the street fighting that started again at midnight.

Fadipe noted that they were forced to leave the scene in order to avoid being injured.

According to him, “It took the

intervention of the Divisional Police Officer, DPO of Olosan who came to our Isolo office midnight to lead us to the scene. And on arrival, we met the fire which was put out at about 04: 30 am. The burnt plaza building housed some 40 shops.”

Traders, residents divided over inferno: Speaking to Vanguard, a trader, Jeremiah Chinagorom, said; “We left the market at about 2 pm on Tuesday. And at about 2 am, I was called that the market was on fire. There was no power supply. That was why I was surprise that fire could emanate from the plaza.”

He alleged that the hoodlums and the residents set the building ablaze, saying; “We all left here at about 2 pm. And those left here were the hoodlums who live within this axis. This was part of their plan to get back at us for resisting them over the parking fees.”

Chinagorom who said he lost all he had worked for, noted; “We have over 100 traders here. All we salvaged could only be sold at give away prices.”

Responding, one Mr. Olowu, a resident, said; “We could not have set the building ablaze because we discovered the fire earlier than everyone. And we raised alarm.

We called the fire service to help put out the fire. So, how could we who set the building ablaze help

in putting it out at the same time.

That is not possible.”

Olowu who said his cars worth over N6.5 million were set ablaze, alleged that the security officers drafted to the scene encouraged the traders in perpetrating illicit acts including setting the cars ablaze.

CP orders full scale investigation: Meantime, the Lagos state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, yesterday, ordered a full scale investigation into the circumstances that led to the bloody clash between hoodlums and traders.

Command operatives Contrary to claims that two persons were reportedly killed, Lagos state police spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, SP, said no death was recorded during the incident.

She, however, confirmed that four men were injured and rushed to hospital.

According to her, fracas ensued after a fight between two people over buying foods. Command operatives from Rapid Response Squad, RRS, and our men from Area D, Mushin, moved into action and normalcy was restored.

The Commissioner of Police has ordered full scale investigation into the fracas.

An eye witness, Mr. Ugochukwu Onwuatu, who

spoke to Vanguard at the scene said trouble started yesterday when a tout popularly called Egbe was arrested by the police for inflicting injury on one of the union members last week. “He was paraded in the police van through the market which caused an uproar in the market as some Igbo traders started taunting him. This provoked the Yorubas and they started fighting the Igbo traders. A lot of people ended up with stab wounds, cars and buses were vandalised and set ablaze by both parties.

“We pleaded with the police to stay put in the area and help safeguard our goods and properties but our pleas were ignored only for hoodlums to return and unleash terror early this morning by setting a one storey- building housing goods worth millions of naira ablaze,” he lamented.

Vandalizing of properties The Assistant Secretary, Olapeju/Rotimi Unit Traders Association in the market, Davidson Anayo told Vanguard that touts have been coming to ask for park and pay fee which have not been so for over 20years.

“After everyone had gone home, they came back to vandalise our properties. These touts came last week to ask for a fee called park and pay. In the past twenty years of selling in this market, I have never heard of or paid such a fee. They left only to re-group yesterday to demand for the payment but we refused to pay a dime and even settled the matter amicably.

“However, information went round that the Lagos state Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, was coming on Thursday 19th May to the market. The agency in charge of cleaning up the market in preparation for the governor’s visit, LASECH, instead of doing what they were paid to do, started destorying people’s goods. This attracted the attention of the touts who seized the opportunity to attack people came, looting shops and vandalizing goods.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

versifying its funding sources, Alhaji Mahmoud IsaDutse, Nigeria’s Permanent Secretary, Ministry of finance, said yesterday. “We want to use debt more efficiently than we used to in the past. We are looking to borrow, but tied to infrastructure projects,” IsaDutse said on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the Islamic Development Bank in Jakarta.

Capital markets

SUMMIT - From Left: Director General of Poultry Association of Nigeria, PAN, Onallo Akpa; Chairman of PAN Lagos State Chapter, Prince Adetoyi Olabode; Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri and; President of PAN, Dr. Ayoola Oduntan, during the fourth edition of PAN annual summit held in Lagos.

Nigeria looks to Sukuk for infrastructure funding needs N

IGERIA hopes to use a proposed Islamic bonds issuance programme to help fund big infrastructure needs.

An official told Reuters that the government aims to tie the transaction to one of its sever-

al projects.

The country plans to borrow as much as $10 billion from debt markets, with about half of that coming from foreign sources, to help fund a budget deficit worsened by the

slump in oil prices that has slashed revenues and weakened the naira.

The federal government is working on a sovereign Sukuk with details expected within the year as part of di-

“The government wants to primarily access concessionary sources to fill its funding needs, but any shortfall would be covered through the capital markets, he added.

“Out of those debt plans, hopefully Sukuk will be one of the sources - either domestic or foreign,” he said. According to him, Sukuk could be linked to a wide range of projects, from power plants to railways.

Issuance of a sovereign Sukuk is part of a strategic plan developed by the country’s debt management office to develop alternative sources of funding and to establish a benchmark curve for corporates to follow.

In 2013, Osun State issued N10 billion ($62 million) of Sukuk, but no other Sukuk transactions has followed.

Unity Bank records N78.8bn earnings in 2015

By Peter Egwuatu

ing operating environment characterised by a continued lull NITY Bank Plc has posted in the economic activities in the gross earnings of N78.8 country as well as major regulabillion and a Profit After Tax (PAT) tory headwinds that impacted of N4.6 billion compared to gross earnings during the year espeearnings of N77 billion and PAT cially the Treasury Single Acof N10.6 billion in the year 2014. count.

The 2015 performance was The bank’s performance is achieved in spite of the challeng- attributed to its repositioning strategy, in which, its assets were critically stressed-tested resulting in major impairment $ 132. 60 -0.10 charges of N27 billion for 2015 as against N17 $2,897.00 -2.00 billion in 2014 representing a growth of N10 $ 16.65 -0.17 billion on asset charge over the previous year 2014. The new management inherited huge $49.31 0.03 legacy Non Performing Loans, NPLs from the $48. 47 0.16 general commerce and manufacturing CURRENCY BUYING SELLING subsectors and believes US DOLLAR 196 196.5 197 that the impairment 285.3368 286. 0647 286. 7926 POUNDS charge in Year 2015 was 221. 2056 221. 7699 222. 3342 EURO necessary in order to 199. 4302 199. 9389 200. 4477 FRANC 1.8 1.8046 1.8092 YEN give new breath of life to 0.3212 0.3312 0.3412 CFA the institution. The enor276.2372 276.9419 277.6466 WAUA mous tasks embarked 30.0383 30.1154 30.1925 RENMINBI upon by the new man52.2583 52.3916 52.5249 RIYAL agement is to position 29.8448 29.921 29.9971 KRONA 276.2424 276.9471 277.6518 SDR the bank for proper cleanup and de-risking of its CBN Exchange rate as at 18/05/2016 balance sheet, thus

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paving way for sustainable business in its overall transformation initiatives.

The Bank also grew its assets by seven percent from N413 billion in 2014 to N443 billion in 2015, amid shrinking economic indicators, measurement and regulatory policies that affected deposit portfolio during the year under review.

While commenting on the result, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Unity Bank, Mrs. Tomi Somefun, said “with the bank’s repositioning efforts

Unity Bank is poised to deliver quality banking service to emerging sectors in Retail/SME, commercial and the agricultural value chain and consistent focus to tap into the emerging opportunities in the enlarged economic space within Nigeria, Unity Bank is poised to deliver quality banking service to

emerging sectors in Retail/SME, commercial and the agricultural value chain.

Strong infrastructure “The Bank is building strong infrastructure for retail banking and attracting youths for its sustainable banking business by developing customer-centric products to meet the needs of its esteemed customers and build new clientele base.

With the bank’s capital raising exercise, the year ahead is bright as the effects of the on-going transformation initiatives will surely consolidate Unity Bank as “a retail bank of choice”, culminating in superior financial performance and values to all stakeholders”.

The bank is now in a better position to tap into the core commercial hub of Lagos by leveraging on the huge retail spinoffs/opportunities and harness the diverse business potentials provided by population, port and patents for excellent service delivery to its esteemed customers.

The bank has started to witness increased businesses from the corporate, commercial and retail segments of the market with a strong resurgence.

— 21

Forex crisis frustrates demand in real estate — Ettah

By Nkiruka Nnorom

T

HE Chairman of UACN Property Development Company (UPDC) Plc, Mr. Larry Ettah, has said that the Nigerian real estate sector is plagued by the on-going foreign exchange crisis.

He said as a result of these restrictions, most retailers in existing malls are demanding reduction in rentals, while occupancy levels have been adversely affected. Speaking at the company ’s Annual General Meeting, AGM, in Lagos, he said that the lack of mortgage financing and cost of funding were preventing effective demand in the low/medium residential housing market.

He stated that there were indications of over-supply in the premium market segment evidenced by high property space vacancy and declining rentals in Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Abuja. He noted that UPDC Plc was recalibrating development towards the retail segment and had put strategies in place to enable it take advantage of emerging opportunities in the segment.

Emerging opportunities He disclosed that the company successfully launched series 1 of its N24 billion Commercial Paper early in the year, as a cheaper alternative to bank’s loans.

According to him, the company posted N3.74 billion in revenue for the year ended December 31, 2015, as against N10.08 billion recorded in the same period in 2014. Loss before tax was N1.80 billion as against N2.04 billion and Group’s N3.54 billion in 2014.

He revealed that the company continued its on-going developments in 2015 and commenced some new ones, noting that the Board also took a decision to impair UPDC’s equity in the hotel business, which had a major adverse impact on the company’s profit before tax. . A further impairment of N473 million was passed on the group result based on a market valuation of the hotel asset in June 2015.

Providing details on the company’s plan for the future, he said “Our strategy for 2016 and beyond includes deleveraging the business through equity capital injection by way of Rights Issue, sell down of surplus stake in the Real Estate Investment Trust, REIT, and disposal of low-performing assets, as well as leveraging on partnerships and alliances that are in sync with the company’s long term goals.”

22—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

Your desk should be just as neat and organised as it would be if you were working away from home

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How to work at home

W

ORKING at home can provide a lot of flexibility. You can work when you feel like it, and if you have children, you can schedule your work day around their activities.

Unfortunately, working at home can also be a challenge if you don’t know how to organise your time and become distracted. If you want to successfully work from home, you have to know how to get ready for work each day and to stay professional, focused, and organised. The following steps can serve as guide.

Get ready for work: Get dressed for work as if you are leaving the house. If you dress for work, you will take yourself more seriously and maintain a work place attitude. Working in your pajamas and slippers will only motivate you to go back to bed. Prepare to work in your designated work space. Whether you’re lucky enough to have a home office or just a desk in your house, you need to clear off an area that is meant only for working. Things from the work space should not leave the work space.

Be organised: Write down your schedule for the day, week, and month. If you’re working a full-time position which requires you to work 40 hours a week, have a goal of working regular hours, from 9 to 5 or so.

Keep a planner at your desk where you will mark the hours that you will work every day, along with any planned lunches, meetings, and even scheduled breaks. Maintain a to-do list, it will make you feel more organised and less tempted to slack off or multi-task. Keep an organised desk at all times. Your desk should be just as neat and organised as it would be if you were working away from home.

Be professional: Don’t do personal things during work hours. Though you may be tempted to complete other errands or chores while you’re working, or even to set up a personal engagement, it’s not professional to mix your errands with your actual work.

Professional relationships Don’t let friends and family interfere with your work schedule.

Stay connected: Though you’re working from home, you should still get to know your colleagues and to develop professional relationships with them. This will make it easier for you to work with them and you’ll feel more excited about coming to work.

Stay focused: Change your environment to avoid getting distracted. Do not chat with your friends while you’re working. This will slow you down exponentially. Avoid multi-tasking.

Though you may think that multi-tasking will help you get more things done and finish your work day faster, you’ll actually be more focused if you complete one type of work at a time. Go down your to-do list one item at a time, and you’ll be shocked by how much faster you’ll get things done than if you try to finish four things at once.

If you’re multi-tasking, you’ll never be fully engrossed in one task and will be more likely to get distracted and to make a mistake.

Take occasional breaks Taking a break from time to time will actually help you stay focused. No one spends eight hours straight working in an office, and neither should you. You should do something to take a break every hour, whether it’s to take a short walk or to just take in some fresh air. Taking breaks will actually make you more focused when you do get back to work. Rest your eyes. If you’ve been staring at a monitor all day, take at least a fiveminute break to rest your eyes to avoid straining them and getting a headache.

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BUSINESS

The most important skills in business T

HE three most important skills in business, according to Strive Masiyiwa, are first, the ability to read; secondly, the ability to count (work in numbers) and; thirdly, is the ability to sell.

Strive Masiyiwa is a London-based Zimbabwean businessman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He

is the founder and executive chairman of diversified international telecommunications group, Econet Wireless. The following article on the importance of salesmanship in business was culled from his blog.

Never stop selling: Every entrepreneur must be a good

salesperson. You must never stop selling, even if you’re the richest man in the world. “I remember listening to Bill Gates one day talking passionately about one of the products from Microsoft. I thought to myself, “Wow, he is the richest man in the world, but he’s still interested in selling his

Venture capitalism: Turning ideas to products •Nigeria hosts maiden summit in June In the face of the current economic quagmire being experienced in Nigeria due to the volatility in the price of crude oil, venture capitalism offers Nigerian entrepreneurs a new vehicle that could turn their creativity into economic power.

Stories by Yinka Kolawole, with agency report

T

O facilitate the entrenchment of venture capital culture in Nigeria, the first Venture Capital Advocacy Summit in the country will hold between June 28 and 30, 2016 in Lagos.

The summit is being organised by Alfe City Company Limited with the support of the Senate Committee on Trade & Investment and the House Committee on Commerce. The event will feature the maiden introduction of the concept of venture capital and provide an opportunity for interaction with international experts and seasoned investors.

Venture capital is money provided by investors to startup firms and small businesses with perceived long-term growth potential. This is a very important source of funding for startups that do not have access t o capital markets.

Venture capital funds invest in companies in exchange for equity in the companies

they invest in, which usually have a novel technology or business model in high technology industries, such as biotechnology and IT. Mr Soji Adeleye, Chief Executive Officer, Alfe City Company Limited, the organisers of the summit, said: “To say that Nigeria needs a thorough reengineering at the moment would be an understatement.

Total collapse of the crude oil sector The total collapse of the crude oil sector in recent months is a reminder that the over-reliance on that sector was shortsighted in the extreme. Investment in the people on the other hand is the only riskfree investment as they will always be there hence organic growth of the private sector provides insurance for the future. Venture capitalism offers Nigeria and its universally acclaimed entrepreneurial people a new vehicle that could turn that creativity into economic power.” He said the endorsement of the summit by the

National Assembly was crucial as the entrenchment of venture capital culture in Nigeria would require legislative underpinning to guarantee the safety of investment of investors.

Stakeholder’s

endorsement

Sen. Fatimat Raji Rasaki, Chairman Senate Committee on Trade and Investment said, “We share the principle and objectives behind this very laudable program and commend it to all stakeholders across the country. We hereby convey our commitment to work with you and other stakeholders for the success of the summit and subsequently perform our legislative responsibility to ensure a successful entrenchment of venture capitalism culture in Nigeria.”

Similarly, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Commerce, Hon Sylvester Ogbaga, said the committee considered the summit’s objectives as very laudable. “I wish to therefore convey the decision of the committee to collaborate with Alfe City Company Limited in that regard,” he said.

Adeleye also emphasised the need for state governments to participate in the summit.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

— 23

By Josephine Agbonkhese & Anino Aganbi

•Man beats wife to death for ignoring his phone call •Man in court for allegedly stabbing girlfriend •Six months pregnant woman brutally battered by husband •Husband baths wife with acid •Wife drags hubby to court for alleged defilement of daughter •Father beats daughter to death over plate of rice ….and more recently…

•Husband allegedly beats wife to death at Egbeda in Lagos

A

BOVE are some very common, yet upsetting news headlines read almost on a daily basis. The spate of domestic violence in Nigeria is so rife that even its various penalties seem incapable of serving as deterrents to offenders.

Although domestic violence is described as any violent confrontation between family or household members such as spouses/partners, relatives, children or wards, involving physical harm, willful intimidation, sexual assault, psychological or emotional assault, women have remained the numero uno sufferers of the epidemic in Nigeria.

Deep-seated cultural beliefs This can however be tied to the deep-seated cultural belief that it is socially acceptable for men to discipline their wives— even up to employing physical means.

Unique Nigerian style: Keep quiet until disaster happens The fate of the girl child in Nigeria is in fact very disheartening. This is because, from childhood through to adulthood, she is considered inferior to her male counterpart; to whom she must also remain, at all times, subservient and even ‘sheepishly’ obedient.

Thus, while in other climes an offender might get punished for intimidating, C M Y K

Domestic Violence:

What happens to the donors’ millions?

Every year, international donor organizations dole out millions of dollars to local non-governmental organizations, NGOs, around the world, including in Nigeria, in a bid to fight the awful scourge of wife battery. Yet, Nigeria is one of the countries in the world where things are not easing off. Worse still, we are beginning to see mortalities, while neighbours, families and law enforcement agencies appear to just fold their arms in apathy. That is, until the inevitable happens and someone is killed.

Then the drama begins, heightens and slowly tapers off until the next incidence. Then the circle begins again…

Woman’s Own attempts to find out why this persists. beating or emotionally traumatizing a woman, such treatments must lead to either loss of life or permanent bodily

Why must we wait until somebody dies or is deformed before such cases are treated as criminal offences harm before it makes news in Nigeria. This lukewarm attitude to the ill-treatment of

women largely perceived as “socially acceptable” and “a family matter” rather than a criminal offence, has only further fuelled the menace as a result, instances are grossly under reported, poorly documented and hardly investigated—at least until a major disaster happens.

Between law enforcement agencies, NGOs, donor agencies et al While it is appropriate to commend the efforts of law enforcement agencies, nongovernmental organizationsNGOs, and of course donor agencies at combating man’s injustice to mankind in this regard, the continuous rise in domestic violence which is almost rubbishing their efforts,

has given rise to a myriad of questions: Who is responsible for the rise in domestic violence in spite of various efforts? Is anybody working to stall violence before it degenerates to loss of life? In fact, why must we wait until somebody dies or is deformed before such cases are treated as criminal offences?

Women lack commitment to prosecute— LEDAP ”The limitation has been the commitment from the women.

That’s why the menace is on the increase. They lack the commitment and will to pull through. Although the justice

Continues on page 24

INSIDE I liked short skirts and stilettos Pg 24 ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

No! Our officers are handling domestic violence efficiently Pg 26

24—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

By Morenike Taire

•Nkiru Igbokwe, UNFPA

•Adaobi Egboka, LEDAP

What happens to the donors’ millions?

Continues from page 23 system has its own issues, most of the time, it is the unwillingness on the part of the women that factors more in the unsuccessful prosecution of offenders,” said Adaobi Egboka, a legal practitioner who is Executive Programmes Director at Legal Defence and Assistance Project, LEDAP, a non-profit organisation which delivers pro bono legal services to survivors of human rights abuses, in response to Woman’s Own inquiry into why a major disaster happens before cases of domestic violence make headlines.

According to her, most victims end up withdrawing their case files once advised by family members and friends against prosecuting “the father of their children”.

Domestic violence This is in spite of efforts to make the women understand the man might only at first get a restraining order to stay away from them for a while, while he undergoes counselling.

At the moment however, a lot is happening in terms of prevention and intervention, Egboka said.

She went on: “Apart from awareness and letting the women know that domestic violence is a crime, because most C M Y K

times, women do not even identify it when it starts, we’re also teaching them what to do to prevent it from getting worse because we believe there must have been emotional and psychological violence before physical abuse sets in.

Economic empowerment strategy: “For us at LEDAP, we also try to link up with organizations and partners who carry out economic empowerment programmes because we realize that most of the time, domestic violence

We have actually structured our intervention to tackle certain social norm areas

occurs because women are not economically empowered but are solely dependent on their husbands. So, when some things happen, they do not want to report because they do not want to lose their source of

livelihoods (husbands). As a form of legal strategy also, we sensitize women about the Domestic Violence Laws, like the one in Lagos State.

Unfortunately, most women are not aware of this law. We have simplified it and also distributed it to many women.”

Nigeria’s society too patriarchal- UNFPA Explaining why the efforts of NGOs appear to be only a drop of water in a mighty ocean, Mrs Nkiru Igbokwe, Gender Specialist, United Nations Fund for Population, UNFPA , a notable funder of NGOs, blamed the highly patriarchal nature of the Nigerian society for the rise in domestic violence rather than any form of inefficiency on the side of NGOs. “ We work with NGOs to carry out prevention and intervention schemes and also support legislations that seek to discourage perpetrators. Also, we carry out mobilization and community dialogue while we also work with religious and traditional leaders.

“Although progress is being made to reduce the epidemic, the patriarchal nature of this country has been a major challenge. It is male-dominated and as such, men have all the power— economic, political, cultural, etc.

And when a person has enjoyed an advantage for so long, it is

difficult to let go in any way.

They(men) will of course see it as power over-take,” Igbokwe said.

We’re futuristic in our approach — Voices for Change

“We have also not limited our mode of operation in this fight,” Ruth Okonya, one of the coordinators of Voices for Change, V4C, a Department for International Development, DFID, programme which funds local NGOs working to combat domestic violence in Nigeria, added.

The voices for change coordinjator also explained we have actually structured our intervention to tackle certain social norm areas, targeting ages 16-25. The reason is because we are being futuristic. We feel it is easier to work with young people when you can still shape their minds and thinking.

We take them through life skills when talking about violence. We expose them to the different forms of violence so that even when somebody doesn’t raise his/her hand to hit them, they understand there is violence. Many of them now know when they are in abusive relationships.

“As a way of reaching out to women who are already in abusive homes, we sponsor other organisations to provide counseling, care and support such as temporary safe houses.”

Justice system too slow — Expert Continues on page 26

At 60, her life revolves around family her son, her two grandbabies, her 92 year-old mother, and so on. It is therefore easy to forget that as a career woman Aina Elizabeth Egharevba is as ‘tough as they come.

Rising through the ranks to become the first and only female executive directo of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA since its inception in 1955, Egharevba grew up in a family with five girls- o which she was Daddy’s little girl.

Prior to that she was Executive Director, Marine and Operations of NPA in November 2007, a position she held till December 2011; and played an active role in the actualisation of the Federal Government’s port reform programme of 2006.

Now retired, the English and Literature graduate of the University of Benin and Fellow of the Nautical Institute of Technology (amongst others), who started as an educationist; continues to pursue her passions which include work, women and community service. She chats with WO.

W

HEN I go to a port I get overwhelmed so I cannot imagine a woman feeling at home there. How did you cope?

I started my career in the Nigerian Ports Authority in 1983 in Warri as a Personnel Officer.

Initially I had to come to Lagos for interview and my younger sister and I went to Marina for the interview. I looked at the tall building and said “wow, have you had any female MD?” They said no. I said, “I will be the first”.

I just said it but I think now that it was prophetic because it guided my path. I had lots of challenges and had to stomach a lot of things. It got to a point when I had a boss who was very overbearing, who used to say thngws like: “ you should tie wrapper, you should not wear miniskirt…”

A man, no doubt?

Yes. I said look, I am not in a uniform applied they did not give me any code of colleague of his told me, “is it because leave the organization? He loves your very short skirts and stilettos.

Female graduates

When I joined Nigerian Ports Authori female graduates and I was the younge much attention- some I liked, some I did a hard back. I don’t want to use that w would rather use ‘challenges’.

I have passion for whatever I do and tr best. Several times when I was assista slept in the port because I had deportee leave them; the agency responsible for brought any food. I had to buy foodstu was one who gave birth in the ship and

y: 2e n, h’

e or A) a f

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016 —25

I liked short skirts and stilettos —Elizabeth Egharevba

had to chain her to be able to take her to the hospital.

I didn’t have the full cooperation of my bosses so to prove my worth I went the extra mile. Even when I was Executive Director, Marines & Operations- that is the core business of NPA; I was the only female. In Yoruba they call it Okanlawon.

The MD was friendly, other colleagues were friendly but they retired to the mosque and maybe after some meetings they retired to discuss further. I know I brought in a lot of innovation. I f remember when I was manager of RORO port in 2005 thereabouts. When I got in there- I’m sure you would have heard of stolen vehicles and all. Each hub had it’s own police station with a Divisional Police Officer and the Nigerian Ports had it’s own security department so you would expect full security.

I discovered that I was not getting the best result. The choice of cars stolen by these robbers were cars from America- very new. One particular day they had just brought in another DPO. About midnight he called me: “Madam, I am outside the car park.

They have over 13 robbers inside the car park. They have been there for two hours and my men are not opening •Elizabeth Egharevba the gate.

They saw their boss and they didn’t open.

I called the private security personnel. I told my son I was going to the port.

At 1am? m department. When I Yes. My son said no. I went and immediately they f dressing. But another e of him you want to r legs”. I used to like I try as much as possible to

ity we were just three est of them so I had so dn’t like and so I grew word ‘victimization’; I

ry to give the thing my ant Traffic Manager I s to handle. I couldn’t r their welfare hardly uff and all that. There she just went ‘off’. We

live a healthy lifestyle. I don’t keep malice- no bitterness, because these things affect one unknowingly

saw me they said, “Madam is here”, and they opened the gate. They had no choice. I used to tell them at home, the moment I leave the gate to go to work nobody should call me. I don’t want to know what is happening. They now tell me that when I am home I receive calls from work (laughs)

•Elizabeth Egharevba and family

That’s good. What is your response to that?

My mum called me some 10 years back and I told her I was in a meeting… “later”. By the time I finished the meeting she stopped talking. Something was wrong with her and she wanted to tell me. She didn’t talk about it so now, whatever I am doing- except I am in church- I listen to her.

If you were to advise government parastatals on how to use human resources with particular focus on women, what would you say?

A stop shop that we had worked on before I left is a window for trading generally in Nigeria. You can call it a one-stop shop. The nation should have a site like other countries where you are seated, do all the transactions, pay, clear and you are seated.

Computerized?

It’s a platform that must accommodate all the agencies in the trading process- NAFDAC, NPA, terminal operators, the banks, customs, everybody.

It is a system that those that are not ready can click on whenever they are ready.

Multiple agencies in the port The prayer was let it start with the maritime industry because we identify the trouble of the multiple agencies in the port, long hours of clearing, the problems and challenges of clearing. Government has been shouting 48 hours. This is even better than 48hours delivery.

In Nigeria once you can eliminate physical contact it reduces the time of the process; it reduces the corruption.

So, what happened to it?

We pushed it to NEC at that time, 2010, and that was it.

You mean such a platform has just been pushed aside?

It was an inter-ministerial committee established by the then minister of Transport, honourable Biu. He believed in it so much. All the relevant government agencies were part of the committee. It was presented to NEC headed by Aganga and that was the end.

What happened?

The next thing we heard was that the contract had been awarded at a fee much higher than what we asked for to a company we did not know about. The then National Assembly invited the minister to defend

the project because they faulted it.

Not the content but the contract award process so the young men that came up as the contractors could not defend the project. Aganga had just left and Okonjo Iwealla had just taken over so she just called it off.

If you go to customs they will tell you they have a one-stop shop. I don’t want to doubt it, I am not in customs, but what we are saying is a trading system for the country.

Or perhaps the fear is that people might lose their jobs Nobody will lose their jobs. What we stand to gain is this: every agency takes administrative fees. You pay 5,000 here and there; at the end of the day if you are clearing one container administrative fee will be up to a hundred thousand. What we are saying is, when it’s a one-stop shop you pay administrative fee of 5,000. They don’t need to see the customer. You submit your paper to the first desk until it reaches the end, and you just go and pick up your cargo. If there is an issue a query will be sent to your mail.

Will there be a similar initiative for exports?

It will be both import and export. The total trading process.

I see that helping women a lot because the reason they do not like getting involved with international trade is because of all the hassles so they leave it to the men.

Yes. There are fewer women in the freightforwarding business. In the last ten years a lot of them have come up but you can’t compare the number. I know that once sanity comes into the system there will be a lot of women. With the downturn a lot of them have to come up but it should not be something they are forced into because of the economic situation.

So, 60 years and you still look like this. What is the secret?

The grace of God. I try as much as possible to live a healthy lifestyle. I don’t keep malice- no bitterness, because these things affect one unknowingly. I look for the best in people. I have my own fault anyway. Once a while I get naughty and indulge in unhealthy eating so I trade in. I pay my tithes to God and I also take aloe-vera gel.

I drink plenty of water to the extent that a doctor had told me in London that I should watch the quantity of water I consume. When they had the ebola thing and they started taking temperature at the airport they looked at me strangely because my temperature was 35.5. When I got to the other side, the same thing so I had to ask the doctor, he said I was well hydrated so I take that as a plus.

I was born very slim- the only slim person in the family when we were growing. When I was in my 30s, 40s I added weight to the extent that I got to 90kg. I had a problem with my neck from an accident. When I got to London the doctor just said “lose 30kg”. No tablet was given to me. I maintained that, not necessarily by choice. Each time I add weight, I feel it on my back.

How is retirement?

I retired in December 2011 and started my own maritime consulting concern. My son is a director.

I started effectively in May 2012 consulting for Ondo State which is why I am hardly in Lagos except my grandchildren are around.

Continues on page 26

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26— Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

No! Our officers are handling domestic violence efficiently — Police PRO, SP Dolapo Badmos

By Esther Onyegbula

In defense of the Nigerian Police, Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Police Command, SP Dolapo Badmos, in this interview with Woman’s Own, says the police is also working assiduously to combat domestic violence. that offenders are adequately prosecuted through proper, indepth and detailed investigations.

Amid all of these, what’s your reaction to the allegation that victims are told by the officers to go home and settle their “family issue” when issues of domestic

•SP Dolapo Badmos

W

HAT is the police doing to address the increasing rate of violence against women?

We are doing a lot to tackle the issue of domestic violence against women. One of the things the Lagos State Command, for example, has done is to create a Gender Desk at the police command which is directly under the supervision of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Owoseni Fatai. Officers attached to this department have been trained on how to handle, investigate and prosecute cases of domestic violence.

Other units handling domestic violence…..

Apart from the Gender unit, we have five other divisions that handle cases bordering on domestic violence and sexual abuses within the state.

These are the Isokoko, Ilupeju, Adeniji Adele and Festac divisions, as well as the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba Panti.

Training female personnel on domestic violence…

What the Command has done is to train our personnel, mostly

women on how to handle issues bordering on domestic violence.

When such issues are brought to them, they ensure that the offenders are adequately prosecuted. Most times, the Lagos State Police Command collaborates with the state government on extreme cases of violence against women, especially when the victims have nowhere to go or their lives are threatened. The Lagos state government provides shelter after we have taken them into protective custody. The Command has been doing a lot to ensure

Another expert who spoke on anonymity however blamed the upsurge in domestic violence on the Nigerian justice system.

“The attitude and response of the police, the delay in the judicial system, etc. are not helping at all. As a matter of fact, justice delayed equals justice denied. For instance, we have a girl in our shelter whose case of sexual violence has been in court for two years!

We need to reform our criminal justice system so as to enable more women speak out and get justice! We need to sensitize our police personnel so as to enable them do their work better,” she said.

Our sensitization is yielding results- Justice for All Arguing also that the activities of stakeholders have been of significant

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effects, Mr Godwin Odo, an expert with Justice for All, J4A, a UK government Department for International Development, DFID, sponsored programme,told Woman’s Own that the level of stigma hitherto associated with assaults such as rape no longer obtained.

“Now, in places such as the Mirabel Centre being run by Mrs Itoro Eze-Anaba, we have close to about 2,000 people in the last two and half years who have come forward to say they have been victims of rape.

Trained professionals If the sensitization was not working, you won’t have people coming forward willingly to talk about their experiences and seek help from trained professionals in these areas,” he said.

violence are reported at the division?

I do not want to wish the allegation away as unfounded. I would like to emphasize that in the Nigerian police of today, any

I liked short skirts and stilettos

Continues from page 25 Will you introduce the eplatform there or even in Onne and Calabar?

N o . seaports alone cannot start it because you Government should do its own have to part- J4A, LEDAP incorporate Reiterating that more still needs to o t h e r be done to augment the efforts of agencies and NGOs and other stakeholders in parastatals. combating domestic violence however, You have to Odo of J4A suggested the need for incorporate government to, either through the the banks, customs, and National Orientation Agencies or with due federal and state Ministries for respect to Women Affairs, join in the fight. customs, Odo also called on the Federal there has not Ministry of Education to incorporate been any studies on Domestic Violence in the significant curriculums of both secondary and reforms. tertiary institutes of learning.

But the In addition, Egboka of LEDAP customs are identified the need for traditional and claiming reforms… religious leaders who are in actual fact That is what the first port-of-call in domestic crisis I am saying. situations to identify domestic violence But that will as a criminal offence and not a “family not stop the issue” which “must be shrouded in introduction secrecy”, so that more women do not of this thing. die in silence.

What happens to the donors’ millions?

Continues from page 25

The leadership of the Nigerian police, at national, state and divisional levels, has organized several trainings session

officer engaged in such act is taking a huge risk. This is because the leadership of the Nigerian Police, at national, state and divisional levels, has organized several trainings session, seminars and conferences to empower police officers on how to effectively and efficiently deal with issues of domestic violence. Therefore, any ignored victim of domestic violence at the Divisional Headquarters should get across to the State Police Command and report such occurrence.

How many cases of domestic violence does your command receive, daily, monthly or quarterly?

At the moment, I don’t have complete data of reported cases of domestic violence. I will have to get the accurate data from our records. But of course, a lot of victims have been coming to report cases of domestic violence.

Is your father still alive?

He died. Honestly he was my ideal man. A lot of people ask me, “are you married?” I say yes. I decided to keep that name because of the meaning. It means Unstoppable. When I was going to work in NPA my dad took me there, made sure he handed me over to my boss. Even when I was going for youth service. I enjoyed my stay in UNIBEN. He used to bring food for me.

Were the other children not jealous?

They were not. My father had no dull moment. He could be sitting on the dining table, behind is the cabinet. He wants something and I could be outside. He would call.

Even those closer would call me.

They knew I was always there for him- obedient, quiet. Even when he was advised not take alcohol if I went to his room and saw alcohol I just talked to him but the others would go and report to my mum.

Do you have any political affiliations and ambitions?

None whatsoever. I am a career woman. I love to knit, I love to cook even though I have a cook. I am very homely. If I had the option of going out and staying home, I would stay home.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016 — 27

,

& YOU products. And it’s not just Bill Gates.

Every great entrepreneur has this skill: the ability to sell.

"When I was about eight years old, my mother gave me a packet of sweets to take to school. I sold the sweets one by one over the lunch break. After that, I bought my own sweets and sold them to my friends using my profits. Before long I had a little business.

"But it almost became a disaster when I took to the streets and got lost, whilst trying to sell my sweets. Then my mother intervened. She stopped me selling sweets on

The ability to sell is a skill you need, beyond selling something to a customer

the street and channelled my energy into more creative things, and helped me sell them from her shop. She did not kill my entrepreneurial zeal."

There are a lot of people who dream of getting into business, but they think it’s beneath them to be seen trying to sell something.

Never look down on a street vendor, because from their ranks will come more great entrepreneurs than from most business schools.

Selling skills Whatever it is you’re trying to do, whether it’s a product or a service, you must know how to sell. There are millions of people who work for organisations, even in very senior management positions, who could not even sell an alcoholic beverage to an alcoholic.

This is bad. There’s an old adage amongst military planners which says, “A battle plan is only as good as your first contact with the enemy.” In business we say, “A business plan is only as good as your ability to sell to a customer.”

The ability to sell is a skill you need, beyond selling something to a customer. It includes “making a proper pitch” to

investors and bankers. It also includes “selling your vision” to potential and current employers, and partners. It’s all about the ability to sell. You should become conscious about what it really takes to sell something. Once you become conscious of selling at its most basic level, we can move on to things like marketing.

"Some of the greatest salespeople I’ve ever known are Americans. I have such admiration for the practice of sales and marketing in the United States." Imagine for a moment the guy who invented Coca-Cola... How on earth did he persuade people they could overcome thirst by drinking a “black” liquid?

Products and services I imagine people would have recoiled at the idea of drinking something that looked dirty, and there were no fridges in those days.

You need to think consciously about how a product or service is being sold. However, you must remember that it doesn’t matter how good you are in sales, if the product or service is bad, you will not last.

Afterthought: Every year members of the British Royal family travel around the world promoting British companies and products.

They are not ashamed to go out and sell products and services developed by companies from their country.

They don’t consider it has something beneath them, but something of high honour. They know that when British companies are successful it creates wealth and jobs in their countries. We should all be passionate about promoting and defending products and services produced by companies from our various countries, and so should our leaders.

Everyone in a leadership position, who does not take time to sell products and services from his or her country, does not appreciate the modern wealth creation model. The Commerce Secretary of the United States, declared at a meeting I attended in Nairobi some time ago: “I am the Chief Marketing Officer of US industry.”

I once got a phone call from the ambassador of a certain country, and he asked to come and see me. To my surprise he brought with him catalogues and brochures of businesses in his country. He urged me to consider buying services and products from his country. I was totally amazed. We must all of us be on the lookout for opportunities to promote products and services from our countries, and our continent. This is where wealth, taxes, and jobs come from; it is not rocket science.

It is not enough to have a vision.

We need to have processes and structures in place that will help us achieve the vision

,

Whose role is it to run an organisation's vision?

Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility…Dietrich Bonhoeffer

I

T is a big risk when the leaders are the only people that understand the vision of an organisation. There is yet a bigger risk when they chose to run with the vision alone.

Developing the vision is the first step; the second and most important step is running with the vision. Two pertinent questions to ask are: who owns the vision of an organisation, and who runs with the vision?

The CEO (with the board or senior management) is expected to develop the vision of any organisation. The vision helps them to know where they are going to, and what their end state results will look like. That does not mean that the CEO or senior management owns the vision. As soon as any vision is being developed, it ceases to be the CEO’s “property”.

Everyone in the organisation now owns the vision.

Core strategies

i d e a s .

When the ideas of some group of people (younger officers) are disregarded a n d slighted, it negates the true fact t h a t “people

support what they help create”. When this happens, the people involve might not work with their minds and hearts the way they ought to.

Points to ponder

Leaders are to lead and navigate change in a way that will yield sustainable results

Running with the vision is akin to implementing core strategies that will help organisations achieve their end state.

The CEO’s job is not to implement the core strategies, his primary roles are planning and change. Employees implement the change, in order words they run with the vision.

I am disturbed. Why is it that in most organisations, only the senior management sees the organisational “big picture”?

These people constitute about 20-30 percent in population. What happens to the other 70 percent who are middle officers? These groups of people in one way or the other are expected to run with the vision. Can you see why I am disturbed?

Why is it easier for senior management to see the big picture? The answer is because they have been taken to a “helicopter ride” and from 5000 feet above the ground level they were able to see the big picture.

The CEO must ensure that everyone in the organisation sees and knows where the organisation is going to – this is a critical task.

Whenever I am teaching Strategic Thinking to organisations, I always include a slide titled “Danger”. Why danger? Yes, there is a big danger when the CEO or Senior Management thinks that his/her idea is best and only idea.

Nobody has the monopoly of best

BY ‘UJU ONWUZULIKE

For a CEO to achieve the organisation’s vision, everyone in the organisation must begin to see the “big picture”. Mildly speaking, some employees do not know what their vision statement is.

They also do not know what their core values are, so what guides them and what have they been doing?

Leaders and Managers must avoid “DAD” syndrome when running the affairs of the entire organisation.(“DAD” stands for:

Deciding – Announcing – Defending).

But rather must enforce “Parallel Involvement Process”- where the views of employees are valued. Being a leader does not confer us the right to use veto powers on subordinates. Remember people support what they help create.

Final Note

It is not enough to have a vision. We need to have processes and structures in place that will help us achieve the vision.

Remember structures influence behaviour. The roles of leaders are to lead and navigate change in a way that will yield sustainable results.

These results are achieved collectively.

Senior management and the collective workforce should not focus on their personal goals but rather on the goals of the organisation. It is much easier to achieve one’s personal goal(s) after helping the organisation achieve its goal first.

For your views or perspectives: Email: uju.onwuzulike@mclgroup.net Mobile: 09091142093

C M Y K

28

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19 19,, 2016

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016—29

Education sector needs complete overhaul -- Berkhout Wants 6-5-2-3 system restored

By Dayo Adesulu

C

HAIRMAN, Safari Books Limited, Chief Joop Berkhout, has lamented the decadence in the nation's education sector, calling for a complete overhaul of the system.

Berkhout who stated this in Lagos during the presentation of a biography “I Remember” written by Professor Ladipo Adamolekun said: “The quality of education in Nigeria bears no comparison with the high quality during the 60s and 70s.”

He lamented that Nigerian universities, which are supposed to be international institutions where both students and staff come from across the world, have become mere local institutions that can no longer match foreign institutions.

He cited King’s College, London as an example, where his son is the Dean, and he has over 5,000 students and 600 members of staff coming from across the globe.

He said: “When I came here in 1966, a primary six pupil’s vocabulary content was 1,500 words; they were able to read and write, do arithmetic and were employable. Upper standard was used in primary six; today it is used at ordinary level.”

adding that the decision has led to the younger generations not knowing anything about the History and Geography of their

The introduction of Social Studies at the expense of History and Geography is a grave error which has led to the younger generations not knowing anything about history and geography of their country country.

Going down memory lane, he explained that in those days teachers were highly respected

and formed an important part of the society adding, ‘’today most of them are semi educated and poorly paid."

He said: ‘’The confiscation of established Voluntary Agency Schools has done great harm to education. Another major problem we have is that most do not read hence, are unable to write a simple sentence that makes sense.

"Last month the world celebrated the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death, how many of our young generation are aware or know about Shakespeare? ‘’He was celebrated all over the world, except in Nigeria. A book is everlasting and Shakespeare has proven this over 400 years. A house without a book is a body without a soul."

While lauding the academic prowess of Professor Ladipo Adamolekun, Berkhout said that for over 50 years of publishing books in Nigeria, he had

Chief Joop Berkhout, Chairman, Safari Books Limited

never seen a biography as detailed and accurate as “I Remember” written by Professor Ladipo Adamolekun.

The publisher said: ‘’Having kept detailed diaries of his early life to the present, it is indeed phenomenal and makes this biography a rare book which is a great pleasure to read.

"Sometime last year, he phoned that his long awaited

Standard of education not falling — FUT Minna VC “ I can categorically tell you that the standard in Nigeria has not fallen and it is not falling.

My observation is that the expectation of everybody in the country is very high and rising and this why it appears to some

transferred to Local Governments while secondary education should be transferred to state governments and the tertiary institutions taken over by the Federal Government.

He said if this is done, it will pave way for easier administraion,effective funding and thorough supervision, thereby further transforming the sector.

The funding of primary education should be transferred to local government, secondary education should be transferred to state government's and tertiary education be taken over by the Federal Government

Specialized universities

Education system Berkhout further lamented the downward spiral in the education sector, noting that today, a great number of higher education students are not employable as most applicants are not fit for available jobs for lack of skills.

“We require a complete overhaul of the entire education system,” he said.

According to him, for Nigerian education system to experience the good old days of academic excellence, the Ministry of Education must restore five years ordinary level, followed by two years higher school certificate.

He urged Nigeria's government to establish more technical colleges, teacher training colleges and teach skills.

Berkhout, who posited that the introduction of Social Studies at the expense of History and Geography was a grave error, C M Y K

biography was in the making, there was no doubt in my mind that Professor Ladipo Adamolekun’s biography would be an important contribution to the world of learning.’’

According to him, Intellectuals like Adamolekun are a rare breed and are therefore not easy to find among the younger generation, urging all to follow in Adamolekun’s footsteps and write their own story.

Prof. Musbau Adewumi Akanji, VC, FUT, Minna.

By Wole Mosadomi

V

ICE-CHANCELLOR of Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, Professor, Musbau Adewumi Akanji, has said the standard of education in the country is not falling, contrary to the belief by some Nigerians.

Rather, the expectation of most Nigerians is rising, thereby eroding and downplaying achievements in the sector.

Speaking at the Personality Platform organized by the Correspondent Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Minna, Niger State, the vice chancellor said the insinuation could not be proven with any statistical data but affirmed that research had shown that even with the problems in the sector, the standard of education in general terms was getting higher in the country than in the past.

people that the standard is falling," he declared.

The Vice Chancellor however suggested that the funding of primary education should be

Professor Akanji also called for special funding for specialized universities in the country so as to achieve the aim of their establishments adding that without huge funding, the technological breakthrough expected to be championed by these institutions in the country will only be a mirage.

Asked to comment on the five year single tenure for vice chancellors, Professor Akanji said five years is enough for any vice chancellor to make a meaningful impact in such an institution, pointing out that no matter the duration of years given, nobody can finish any outstanding problem in any institution saying,”it is a matter of doing your best and leaving the rest.”

30—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Cultism, drug abuse threat to national peace

IBBU produces beverages from local fruits, herbs and multipurpose mixer Researchers at the Centre for Applied Sciences and Technology Research: Food Science and Technology Programme of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai, Niger State, in their continued effort to ensure food security in Nigeria, began production of nutritious beverages from abundant local fruits and herbs found in the area. They also designed and fabricated a multi-purpose mixer with contributions in cash and kind from Tetfund and the university. Excerpts:

*Cashew fruit juice

By Ebele Orakpo

N

UTRTIOUS beverages using native fruits, herbs According to the researchers - Dennis Balogun, Cornelius O r i s h a g b e m i , Theophilus Ikegwu and Babatunde Jubril"considering the fact that Niger State is an agricultural producing state with over 78 per cent of its employed residents in agriculture, IBB University, Lapai lays emphasis on research that will improve the standard of living and well-being of farmers which will enhance the national food security of Nigeria.

The objectives of the research projects is to focus on productivity and value-added processing of Nigerian indigenous foods and vegetable crops in order to increase Nigeria’s degree of food security. We are involved in several food processing and quality assurance researches, development of

*Food Ingredient Drier indigenous alterative food processing technologies to provide affordable processed and packaged foods and also to reduce dependency on foreign fabricated food processing technologies.

Beverages A beverage is any liquid other than water, intended for drinking,

IBBU has perfected methods of processing cashew, apples and mangoes into juices and fruit drinks and may be alcoholic or non-alcoholic.

The development and processing of beverages from fruits and vegetables sourced from Northern

Nigeria is due to the readily available fruits and vegetables in large quantities from the zone.

Fruits and vegetables like mango, cashew apple juice, and zobo, Moringa oleifera and kunun aya (tiger nut milk) are found in large quantities in this part of the country. Niger State has numerous fruits and vegetables, including herbs which could be utilised for production of fresh beverages.

In line with the vision and mission of the university, IBBU has perfected methods of processing cashew, apples and mangoes into juices and fruit drinks.

Method Cashew, apples and mangoes were purchased from Lapai.

The cashew nuts were removed while the cashew fruits were pulverized and then pulped. After pulping, it was sieved using muslin cloth to obtain the fresh juice.

The juice was pasteurized after addition of sodium metabisulfite and sodium benzoate as bacteriostat.

Pasteurized fruit juice was then cooled, packaged in 100 ml plastic bottles and then stored in a refrigerated condition.

Food Ingredient Drier This is a cross-air circulation drier (Dehydration Chamber) whereby the hot fluid circulates over the solid and liquid food matrix.

The drier has shallow perforated trays mounted on racks. Food may be sprayed on the perforated trays or added to unperforated trays (if liquid) before drying.

This drier contains a heater and a fan to circulate hot air at very high velocities, and an exhaust where hot air is sucked out of the cabinet/ chamber.

It is dually powered by gas and electricity heater to ensure continuous power supply during drying operations. The drier has dual alternate energy inputs: electricity and gas. The design is such that, in the absence of electricity, gas could be used for the drying of food and food ingredients.

The motor of the electricity supplied inlet is rated 1 horsepower with energy input of 0.75 KW, 38 volt and 2 ampere while that of the gas is rated 0.5 horsepower. The air velocity within the drier is 5 m/s.

Olashore reiterates commitment to scholarships

By Tare Youdeowei N its continuing effort at rewarding outstanding performance in students, Olashore International School has announced the awarding of scholarships to all incoming year seven students who passed with distinction in the various entrance examinations held within and outside Nigeria.

Located in Iloko-Ijesha, Osun State, the school organizes the scholarship examination at the school’s premises. The top 10% of students will receive a scholarship on tuition fee in recognition of their outstanding performance.

According to the Principal, Mr. Derek Smith, the school believes in rewarding outstanding candidates to encourage and promote a culture of healthy competition among students. “The merit-based scholarship will instill

I

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academic confidence in individual students further enhancing the high standard of the school. It will also assist parents by helping cover the tuition fees of the child,” he explained.

In the same vein, the Chairman Board of Governors, Prince Bimbo Olashore stressed the school’s commitment to achieving academic excellence and providing world class education, life skills in leadership, art, sport and global exposure whilst preserving Nigerian cultural values.

He emphasized; “The scholarships are rewards given for outstanding performance. Every year seven students who did very well in the recently concluded entrance examinations stands the chance to participate in the scholarship examination and the best performing students will receive the award.

By Elizabeth Uwandu

T

HE need for Nigeria youths to rise to the occasion of leadership and shun social vices formed the core of a one day summit on campus security themed, “ Cultism and drug abuse among Nigerian Youth:A Threat to National Peace and National Security;organised by the National Union of Lagos State Student, NULASS. The summit held at Federal College of Education, Akoka had in attendance students from higher institutions within and outside Lagos , and special guest speakers such as Deputy Superintendent of Narcotics, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Mrs Chizoba Eluka, Mr Maxwell John and Mr Victor Olayinka from the Department of State Security Service DSS, Lagos Command.

Declaring the event opened, NULASS national president, Daniju Sultan said the youths who seem to no longer see themselves as leaders of tomorrow but leaders of today, have not lived up to their status as large percentage of them are involved in drugs and cult related activities.

His words: “It is a known fact that youths are the “Leaders of tomorrow,” but we always say we are the leaders of today. However, reality tends to show that a larger percentage of us are not ready to take charge in Nigeria of today as some of us are busy abusing drugs and engaging in cult related activities. That is the reason we still have aged people at the helm of affairs."

Sultan, however urged the youths to take the summit as an opportunity to give cultism and drug abuse red cards and make Lagos a drug and cult free state.

OIS bags Osun State award

By Amaka Abayomi

O

LASHORE International School,OIS, has been conferred with the award of Osun State Outstanding Secondary School Of The Year, 2016. This was awarded to the school recently by the Excellent Media South-West Nigeria Excellence Award in Osun State.

Annually organized by a group of media in Osun State to include, Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC), Oshogbo, NTA Oshogbo, UniQ FM Illesa, Gold FM Illesa, Orisun FM Ile-Ife, and NTA Ile-Ife, Olashore International School was recognized for its impact and contributions towards

improving the standard of education in Osun state.

OIS is a learning community committed to academic excellence, nurturing each child to their full potential in a safe and serene environment, developing leaders for the dynamic global society in the 21st century.

Located at Illoko-Ijesha in Osun State, and established in 1994, on 60 acres of land, Olashore International School is a coeducational school which offers high quality education in a wide range of subjects at junior and senior secondary along with a University Foundation Programme in partnership with Lancaster University and the Institute of Education, Dublin.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016—31

Bill Gates delivers 14th Nelson Mandela Lecture July 17

By Sola Ogundipe

T

HE Nelson Mandela Foundation in association with the University of Pretoria has announced that co-Chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Mr Bill Gates, will deliver the 14th Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture on 17th of July 2016, the eve of Mandela Day. Gates, 60, and co-founder of Microsoft, will address the theme “Living Together” in his lecture at the University of Pretoria’s Mamelodi campus.

The Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture is one of the Foundation’s flagship programmes to honour the founder, Nelson Mandela, and to raise topical issues affecting South Africa, Africa and the rest of the world.

In a statement, Gates said: “It’s an incredible honour to be invited to deliver this year’s Nelson Mandela Lecture. President Mandela will be remembered for generations to come for his courage, his vision, and his relentless pursuit of equality and justice.

“I believe, as he did, that progress is possible. We can help people everywhere live healthier, more productive lives - if we make

sure that innovation reaches everyone who needs it. I can’t think of a better venue for discussing these urgent issues than the Nelson Mandela Lecture,” Gates noted.

Chairman of the Board of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Professor Njabulo Ndebele, said: “The Nelson Mandela Foundation shares Gates’ commitment to improving the quality of life for people around the world. We know that the promise of a better life is possible through improving access and quality of education, health and opportunity.

International dialogue “These are causes that Mr Gates continues to advance and support. We are honoured to have him to share his insights on the most challenging issues of our time.”

It encourages both local and international dialogue – often about difficult subjects – as a means to address the multiple and complex challenges that face the world today.

“Living Together” highlights the need for a new social pact

across the globe to end protracted conflict, overcome intolerance and prejudice, improve access to healthcare and education, and reduce poverty and Mr. Bill Gates. inequality.

Sello Hatang, CEO of the Foundation works with partners Nelson Mandela Foundation, and grantees to combat infectious stated: “We are delighted that Mr diseases; empower women and Gates has accepted our invitation girls to transform their lives; to deliver this year’s Lecture. I ensure that children and young have no doubt that his views will people survive and thrive; and stimulate debate and highlight inspire people to take action to the issues that continue to curb change the world. progress of poor and marginalised Through its support for communities in South Africa and innovative techniques, tools and around the world.” approaches, the Foundation has In his contribution, Principal helped make possible dramatic and Vice Chancellor of the progress in reducing hunger, University of Pretoria, Professor alleviating poverty, and Cheryl de la Rey, stated that: “As preventing and treating HIV, an innovator and a malaria, and polio in Africa and philanthropist, I know Bill Gates around the world. will inspire students, staff and Previous speakers of the Nelson academics at the University of Mandela Annual Lecture include Pretoria. His dedication and Former US President, Bill commitment to improving the Clinton, Archbishop Desmond lives of the poor sets a remarkable Tutu and Nobel laureate, Prof example for us all”.

Wangari Maathai.

The Bill & Melinda Gates

Boska takes Pain Free Day to Onitsha

D

EXA Medica, makers of Boska has taken its Pain Free Day initiative to residents of Onitsha in Anambra State.

The Pain Free Day initiative was aimed at improving consumer health, who often engage in strenuous activities yet rarely find time to do a health checks and suffer sudden breakdown resulting in body pains.

The programme provided access to health experts who provided full range of health advice and support.

Besides rendering free health services, the Boska team also leveraged opportunity to educate consumers on living stressfree on or off duty.

The Boska Brand Executive, Mr. Uche Aghado, said the company is committed to improving consumer's health because health is an important part of one's life and should be taken seriously.

“The high level of consumer response today shows that this sort of program is most beneficial to our consumers,” he added.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

M

Y husband and I are in our early fifties. We got married quite early and our last child is in the university. Anyway, we don’t have a sex life.

We are happy though. Nobody is complaining. It is just that we have not really felt like having sex in a long time. Is this a problem? Mrs Anyanwu Sex is a natural human impulse designed to fill a need. When you stop feeling the need and your partner feels exactly the same way, then there is no problem in your relationship, especially since you say that you are both happy and nobody is complaining. However sex has a lot of health benefits which is one of the reasons couples maintain an active sex life even into old age. For example, frequent sex lowers the blood pressure and helps you lose weight by burning calories.

The average person burns approximately 144 calories for every thirty minutes of intercourse. So this is a good reason to be sexual. Also sex relieves stress, slows down aging and helps you sleep better.

And that is not all. Sex decreases pain and lowers the risk of prostate cancer in men.

So as you can see, a healthy sex life can benefit you in many ways, should you choose to go for it.

You may have nothing to lose by not having sex but you have so much to gain if you do – Uche I am interested in those colognes that helps one attract women. I hope they work – Iyke Yes Iyke they work but it is not like black magic.

They are called Pheromones and they basically improve your chances of having a girl respond to your advances. When you spray it, you still need to walk up to a girl and start a conversation.

But you will stand a better chance of having her give you a chance to hear what you have to say you.

One of such pheromones is the Optimale Pheromone Cologne for men. Another one is Yes Cologne. They are both very good – Uche For a long time now, I have not really been in the

mood for sex. Anyway, I came across your advert and bought Velextra from you. It has been good because when my husband initiates intercourse, I don’t say no and for the first time in a long time, I have been the one asking for it. My question is, how often am I supposed to take this drug? Bimpe Velextra works for up to 72 hours in the body so take one tablet every two to three days. It starts working within an hour – Uche I am an old client and you sold me a penis enlargement pump long time ago. Anyway, I only started using it regularly this year and you will not believe how big my penis is now.

I am like all those heavily endowed guys you see in adult films. I just thought you should know because a lot of people think that these items don’t work – George Mba Thank you George. Long time. We always tell people that using a penis pump is like going to the gym to build up your muscles. If you do it consistently, you will get results. They are very reliable – Uche I am in my sixties and the last time I used Viagra for erection, it gave me a bad headache. Do you have something better that can give a man my age good erection without the headaches? John Dear John, there are milder aphrodisiacs that you can use for tackling erectile dysfunction. A good example is Sex Voltz. It is gentle and works gradually so it will definitely suit you. Man Up Now and Stiff Nights are also gentle on the body – Uche I took Rhino 7 on Friday night. Now I know why it is so popular. It is Monday and I am still active like an animal - Zubi Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call 08171912551, 08027901621 or 07086754515 for help or visit www.zeevirtualmedia.com Zee Virtual Media delivers all over Nigeria. For enquiries email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com- Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

32 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 LIBRA; It is good to express yourself gracefully , but it is equally good to watch what you tell others so that you don’t promise what you can not deliver.

SCORPIO; The best for you today is to give priority attention to practical way to improve on your working pattern and encourage better understanding at work.

SAGITTARIUS; It is nice to rely on yourself but nobody can be an Island on his own; meaning that you will need to be as co-operative as necessary to be successful today.

CAPRICORN; Good advice from the veterans within your base of operation will go long way to get things done the proper way to the betterment of your cause.

AQUARIUS; If you take good advice from your tried and trusted friends you will not have cause to regret but if you become reckless it would back-fire. Be loving..

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

R

IGHT from ages man has continued to look for ways of clothing his nakedness. Nakedness does not just mean not wearing clothes alone. It includes covering our evil deeds,

God is watching wicked acts, ways and sins etc.

As it was the days of the biblical Adam and Eve, so it is today.

When we commit heinous crime, we run for cover under the stone,

TERROR MUDA

under the water and under the dark, hoping and praying that we will not be caught.

We live a lie. We forget that air bear witness to our cruel act; the sun by our shadow

in “Never say goodbye”

takes our photograph, and our conscience convicts us daily.

Beware, God is watching. Your sins will find you out.

Think about it!

By Kola Fayemi

PISCES; You like it or not, domestic related issues will become prominent on your mind. Career and financial affairs can bring you unexpected success today..

ARIES; Those of you who are more firmed are in for a rewarding day. In whatever you do today it is important you don’t forget both immediate and far future.

TAURUS; You will have more to gain keeping both your personal and financial secrets. Take good advantage of your sex appeal to enhance your love life positively GEMINI; You are becoming more determined to the betterment of your cause. However this is not the right time to re-arrange (and/or) re-plan your finances.

CANCER; Giving priority attention to either day-to-day working activities or long term career related issue is not bad at all but you must be as practical as possible.

LEO; It will be wrong to drop ambitious plans along your career line because of minor disappointment. Take your good friends more seriously.

VIRGO; Time is fast approaching for an important actions concerning you career and/or business lines. Don’t allow friends to mislead you. Be very practical.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

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

What’s exactly my Future?

Dear Joshua, I want you to tell me how the planets lined up when I was born and what both immediate and far future have for me.

When was I born; I mean the day of the week.

Salami, Benin.

Dear Salami, You were born on a Monday as indicated by your horoscope data given here under. You have future. I hope you will take what you will find seriously and utilise them.

THE HOROSCOPE DATA DAY OF BIRTH=MONDAY SUN SIGN = CANCER ;SUN IN 6TH DEGREE OF CANCER. MOON SIGN = ARIES ;MOON IN 24TH DEGREE OF ARIES STELLIUM SIGN = LEO MERCURY IN 1ST DEGREE OF LEO* VENUS IN 22ND DEGREE OF LEO* MARS IN 17TH DEGREE OF LEO* JUPITER IN 22ND DEGREE OF SCORPIO SATURN IN 3RD DEGREE OF CAPRICORN URANUS IN 14TH DEGREE OF LEO* NEPTUNE IN 4TH DEGREE OF SCORPIO PLUTO IN 2ND DEGREE OF VIRGO NORTH NODE IN 8TH DEGREE OF LIBRA SOUTH NODE IN 8TH DEGREE OF ARIES NUMBERS OF PLANET HOSTED BY GROUP OF STAR SIGNS (ACCORDING TO QUALITY & ELEMENT) ARE; CARDINAL = 3 FIXED =6 MUTABLE = I FIRE = 5 EARTH = 2 AIR = NONE WATER = 3 PUSHFUL INFLUENCE = 50% NON-PUSHFUL INFLUENCE = 50% FINAL DISPOSITOR (PLANET AT HOME)= AMBITIOUS SATURN THE FUTURE TRENDS For the past few years you have entered an endless cycle of material success. And your 46th year on earth is meant to be a powerful turning point with major emphasis placed on MONEY and LOVE. Talking of money, it will come through your work . However the great challenge here is how to hold on to your profits as there are indications of you expending too much of your funds on either women or woman. It is not clear if it is on business or your normal responsibilities. But mind you if it is on business you will need to tarry a while because such may not yield the desired result. Actually if you go into joint venture with a woman during your 46th & 47th years on earth you are more than likely to be cheated; to be fore warned is to be fore armed.

Romantic aspect of it is if you don’t want another wife you will need to be very careful; as romantic escapade can result to avoidable trouble and/or sorrow (God forbid). Please take me very seriously here, Please! Please!! Please!!!

What is more important about next Month is that you will need to be more careful with money between now, the whole of June and July.

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016—33

Cross River youths on rampage over assassination of bizman

By Emma Una

C

ALABAR—VIOLENCE has erupted in Ugep, Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State, following the killing of a local businessman by suspected assassins.

According to Johnson Ogare, a resident of the area, gunmen stormed the Bikobiko home of the businessman, who traded in building materials, at 4a.m.,

woke him from sleep, pretending that they had a business proposal for him. As he emerged from his apartment, he was shot dead.

Johnson further told Vanguard: “The man’s name is Honoura-ble Larry, a former councillor in Ugep Local Government Area, who went into building materials business after his tenure at the council.”

The killing, it was gathered,

provoked the youths of the area who mobilised later in the day and started attacking and looting shops and homes of other businessmen on the grounds that those who killed him were fellow businessmen.

“They attacked shops and homes of Igbo traders and some Ugep businessmen because they suspect they are the ones who connived to kill the man,” Johnson said.

He said several cars were set

ablaze, homes of mainly Igbo traders looted, causing them to flee the area with some taking refuge in the palace of the king of the area, Obol Lopol and the police station.

Mr. John Eluu, Cross River State Police Command spokesman, said he had not been briefed on the crisis in the area, “but I will call the Divisional Police Officer in Ugep for information on what is going on there.”

IYC urges Edo Ijaw to vote wisely

By Onozure Dania

T

HE Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Western Zone, has advised the Ijaw in Edo State to be wary of who to vote for in the f o r t h c o m i n g governorship election, stressing that successive administrations had used the riverine Ijaw people as ladder to climb to political office without considering their plight during their tenure in office.

Chairman of IYC Western Zone, Mr. Freedom Atigbi, who briefed members, expressed their displeasure over the way the Ijaw in Edo State were being treated politically, as they had been relegated to the background, despite their huge economic and social contribution to the state.

He said: “It is unacceptable to us, hence drastic steps have to be taken so we will not vote for parties or candidates that will not protect our interest in the area of capital projects allocation, appointments of members of the state executive council and other social benefits.”

He noted that Ijaw in the state have been advised to tread with caution in the f o r t h c o m i n g governorship election in the state, while riverine dwellers should, as a matter of importance, look carefully at the manifestos of the various political parties seeking their support.

C M Y K

COMMISSIONING: The Prelate, Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr. Chukwuemeka Uche (left), accompanied by Proprietor/Chairman of the Board, John Wesley Cathedral Nursery and Primary School, Benin, Very Rev. (Dr.) Prince Ukaegbu (middle) and other senior ministers, during the commissioning of a block of 14 classroom built by the Methodist Church of Nigeria Diocese, Edo-Delta branch.

Vandals, cultists, political war affecting our operations—TOTAL

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT— TOTAL Oil Company has lamented the spate of insecurity in its host communities around OML 58 in Rivers State.

Deputy Managing Director, Port Harcourt District of the oil firm, Mr. Nicolas Brunet, speaking yesterday at a oneday meeting with stakeholders of the communities in Port Harcourt, said the state of insecurity had created what he termed an “extraordinary situation” for the firm.

Represented by Charles Anfray, Advisory, Community Affairs and Development, the Deputy Managing Director said that the essence of the interactive session held at the company’s premises was to encourage the sharing of information between the firm and the stakeholders.

He said: “The security situation is extraordinarily difficult. We are in the middle of cultists and political wars, where so many of our brothers have suffered. There are shootings almost every day.

“Our facilities are vandalised; well heads, pipes among others. The situation

has caused so much pain and many people have relocated.

We need to be able to support you in this difficult situation.

We need to put heads together to see what can be done to restore peace in the area.”

The company enjoined the

stakeholders to feel free to speak, stressing that the meeting was about how it can continue to help its host communities, adding that it was also about promoting dialogue between the firm and the communities.

Edo PDP women demand Dep Governorship slot ...as Ize-Iyamu promises ‘adequate representation’

By Gabriel Enogholase

B

ENIN—AHEAD of Edo State governorship election fixed for September 10, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, women from the three senatorial zones, yesterday in Benin, demanded that the party presents a female candidate as deputy governor for the election.

They made the demand during a solidarity visit to a PDP governorship aspirant, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who promised that his party will accord women adequate representation if voted in.

Ize-Iyamu, who noted that it was difficult to promote female candidates in the past, said things have changed as

women are now in the forefront and constitute a very significant number of the voting population.

He commended the women for coming together for one objective of having a female deputy governor in the state, describing them as very serious minded, saying “if you are looking for people who are loyal, faithful and committed, it is difficult to omit women.”

Earlier, their leaders, Mrs. Lindsay Sorae and Mrs. Henrietta Agu, said they came together to speak with one voice and appeal to Edo State PDP leadership to emulate some other states, which have started having female deputy governors.

Olojoba forecasts victory for PDP in 2019

By Godwin Oghre

S

APELE—A member of the National Screening Committee of People Democratic Party, PDP, in the justconcluded ward, local and state congresses of the party in Delta State, Mr. Clement Olojoba, yesterday, restated the party’s preparedness to win the presidential election in 2019, citing the party’s solid grassroots structure and the inability of the current All Progressives Congress, APC, administration to address the country ’s security challenges.

The PDP stalwart in Delta State and leader of the Association of Past Local Government Councillors, said: “The increase in electricity tariffs and fuel price without a concomitant increase in workers’ wages, have reduced the credibility of the ruling APC, to the extent that the masses are already eagerly waiting to vote PDP back to power at all levels in 2019.”

Eta donates buildings to 3 Delta schools

By Emma Amaize & Ochuko Akuopha

O

YEDE—GROUP Managing Director of Skyward Resources Limited, Mr. Enahoro Eta, has built and donated classroom blocks and learning facilities to three primary and secondary schools in Oyede community, Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta State.

The schools are Oyede Primary School, provided with a block of three classrooms and teachers’ office, and Oyede Comprehensive High School, which got a computer laboratory with a power generating set.

A block of toilet facilities went to Egbeniame Primary School, Oyede.

The state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, was represented by his Special Assistant, Dr. Godwin Edozie, at the commissioning.

34—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

Angry villagers destroy Okorocha’s varsity fence

Free Nnamdi Kanu or we'll shut down Niger Delta oil and gas activities —Egbesu Mightier Fraternity

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

By Chidi Nkwopara

N

O

NEWI—A pressure group, Egbesu Mightier Fraternity, yesterday, gave the Federal Government a two-week ultimatum to release unconditionally, the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu and former National Security adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki.

In a statement by its spokesman Captain Agbaka Doctor, entitled, 'Release Nnamdi Kanu and Colonel Sambo Dasuki Now or else.... Operation Shut Down Oil and Gas in Niger Delta Region Will Start, and made available to Vanguard, the group said that after the expiration of their ultimatum, the Federal Government will regret not heeding their directive.

“We, the Egbesu Mightier Fraternity is warning the Federal Government of Nigeria to release the IPOB leader and the former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd) in the next two weeks unconditionally or they will regret not listening to us.

“The Federal Government is also directed to ask the military to leave Gbaramatu Kingdom within the same period or else we are going to shut down every oil and

WERRI—A group of unidentified angry villagers, said to be from Umuago, Urualla, Ideato North local council area of Imo State, have attacked and destroyed part of the proposed Imo European University, IEU. The proposed tertiary institution was originally scheduled by the Rochas Okorocha administration as the permanent site of Imo State University, IMSU, but was later changed to IEU before its current Eastern Palm University, EPU. Vanguard gathered from an indigene of the area that “the state government acquired the 12-hectare piece of land when it planned to transfer IMSU to the place.”

The aggrieved citizen claimed that while communities in Ideato South Local Government Area, whose land were also acquired had been duly compensated, their counterparts in Urualla were subjected to high level intimidation, harassment and oppression.

gas activity in the region. Tompolo is not the problem of Nigeria or behind the problem in Niger Delta but misrule and high handedness of the Federal Government and its officials.

“Tompolo is not responsible for the bombing of oil and gas

pipelines in the region. Egbesu Mightier Fraternity is part of the bombings. We are responsible.

Niger Delta Avengers is a branch of the struggle and nobody should take us for granted or we will do more,” they said.

They wondered what Chief

Enugu constructs 20 roads in 12 months

By Emeka Mamah

E

NUGU—NO fewer than 20 road projects covering 35 kilometres have so far been constructed and rehabilitated by the Enugu State government in the past one year.

The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Patrick Ikpenwa made this known in an interview with newsmen in Enugu on his activities in the past one year, pointing out that the state government had invested so much on road construction in spite of the economic down-turn in the country.

He said that the completed urban roads included Holy Ghost Rd, Samuelson Rd, Holy Trinity Rd, Nawfia St., Mbanefo St., Ridgeway Road and Colliery and Lake Avenue in Enugu metropolis.

Others are Airport RoundaboutEmene-Eke Obinagu Road, 9th Mile By-pass, Isiuzo St., and Abakpa Nike Road.

He said that some of the rural roads including the 11.6kilometre Opi-Nsukka dual carriageway were at various stages of completion just like the Udenu Ring Road, Umuezebi Road, and Post Office

C

O N T I N E N TA L BROADCASTING Service, CBS, owner of TV Continental, has launched its services and programmes on Digital Satellite Television, DSTV and its terrestrial platform, Gotv.

The move became necessary to directly confront foreign

stations which tell African stories from foreign perspectives. It averred that TVC programmes and services on these platforms will give Africa the opportunity to tell its story the African way.

Chief Executive Officer, CBS, Mr. Nigel Parsons disclosed at the press briefing, unveiling the partnership with DSTV and Gotv, that with the launch of the channels on both

Roundabout-OdenigboOgurugu-Ikenga Road all in Nsukka.

His words: “Work is also in progress at Obechara Road Junction, Amankwo-AmekeAmah Brewery, Orie EmeneAdoration Ground, Nkpokiti Estate Internal Roads and Ibuzo Street in Independence Layout, Enugu.

“Government has completed renovation and reconstruction of some public buildings like the Deputy Governor ’s Office, Protocol Unit, Government House Fuel Dump, and landscaping of Government House."

COSON challenges FG on proper enlargement of entertainment industry

By Anozie Egole

L

AGOS—THE Copy Right Society of Nigeria, COSON, has challenged the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government on proper enlargement of entertainment

industry in the country.

The organisation disclosed this during the week on its 6th annual general meeting in Lagos.

Reading his address which received intermittent applause, COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji, pledged his society’s support to the Federal

TVC programmes go live on DSTV, GOtv

By Prince Osuagwu & Princewill Ekwujuru

Government Ekpomupolo, alias Tompolo did that he is being harassed and intimidated by agents of Federal Government, and warned that the intimidation and harassment should stop immediately.

platforms, CBS has taken a step towards deepening its reach across Africa. He said that TVC was established to act as a mirror to Africans.

"We intend to take these stories to many platforms as possible, including online, radio, terrestrial and satellite television," he said.

He stated that partnering with Multi-Choice Africa reinforces TVC’s vision of

being the continent’s first truly pan-African 24-hour news station, 24-hour Nigeriacentric news channel and 24/ 7 entertainment channel.

On behalf of DSTV and Gotv, Public Relations Manager for GOtv, Efe Obioma, said: “We are deeply committed to Africa and support the growth of original African programming."

Government in the effort to get the entertainment industry to contribute to reviving the nation’s ailing economy. He, however, challenged the government to ensure that its actions match its words.

In his words: “For us to play our role effectively, the government cannot pretend to understand our problems because it does not. The government must engage us closely, listen to our issues and then take action instead of just talking.

"For instance, the government cannot say that it wants the entertainment industry to grow the economy and yet looks the other way while government agencies engage in horrendous copyright infringement."

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

On FG’s increase of pe tr ol pum p price tto o N1 45 per litre petr trol pump N145

I

believe the common Nigerian cannot cope with fuel at N145 in the heat of present economic difficulties. We are a developing country and at this stage I think fuel subsidy should be removed. -Miss Jenifer Gabriel, Model

I

f major oil companies import with dollars earned from crude export, they make about N100 prior to buying a litre of refined product as against the official CBN exchange.

Why can’t they fund the parallel market at N350? Mr. Onuigbo Austin, Engineer

T

he House of Representatives should also summon President Buhari to come and answer questions as to why he claims to deregulate but keeps prices tagged to fuel marketers. -Miss Ogechukwu Lynda, Student

I

f one earns N80,000 and spends N25,000 a month on transport, with the increase in petrol price, he will spend N50,000 on transport, pay rent, feed, clothe, and save. So you have killed the power to make the economy grow. Mr. Obim Nwosu, Worker

T

hese people have no shame, the very same things they criticized Jonathan's government of doing is what they are doing now. All we ask is total reversal of pump price to N86.50. Miss Okereke Bukola, Self Employed

N

igerians must have heard something like this before, 'we will make one dollar equal to one Naira.' Now, one US dollar sells for N345. They said fuel will sell for N40.

Fuel now sells for N145.

What are they giving us?

-Miss Cynthia Osuchukwu, Graduate

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016 — 35

FG not stopping teaching of CRK in schools — LALONG As cleric raps govt on grazing reserves plan

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

J

OS—GOVERNOR Simon Lalong of Plateau State, yesterday dismissed insinuations that the Federal Government was in the process of stopping the teaching of Christian Religious Knowledge, CRK, in primary and secondary schools in the country.

The governor, who spoke while addressing the 90th General Church Council, GCC of Church of Christ in Nations, COCIN in Jos, said many clerics had approached him on the issue and urged those spreading the rumour to stop as such was doing more harm than good to the polity.

According to him: “Constitutionally, the issue of Primary school education is completely the responsibility of state and local governments, so if somebody is bringing it at the federal level, I don’t think is for Plateau State. I doubt if in our madness we would want to change the curriculum that has built and made us responsible.”

He called on spiritual leaders and members of the church to continue to pray that the peace being experienced in the state be sustained. He also appealed to the church to partner with government in fighting the ills of the society.

Earlier, President of COCIN, Rev. Dachollom Datiri, urged Northern state governors not to engage in any policy aimed at

undermining the rights of its citizens, warning that the proposed Religious Preaching bill by the Kaduna State government, was a bad omen that should be rejected by all peace loving citizens.

The cleric stressed that the constitution of Nigeria did not discriminate against any religion and the move by the Kaduna State government to restrict or regulate preaching was clearly a breach of the fundamental human rights of Christians.

He however commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his efforts at tackling insecurity and corruption in the country, but

lamented that “while the scourge of Boko Haram has slightly abated, brutal attacks by Fulani herdsmen have claimed hundreds of innocent lives in several parts of the country causing a national outcry.”

Speaking on the ongoing fuel crisis and the proposed grazing reserves, he noted that “citizens have been battling the fuel crises, in the midst of this unbearable situation, Nigerians were slammed with the deregulation pronouncement. While it is being argued that this will help end the perennial fuel crisis, is this not portraying a level of insensitivity on the part of government?

''What measures have been put in place to cushion the effects of deregulation? It is shameful that Nigeria is having to go through such unbearable experiences when our country is a major producer of crude oil.

“Nigerian lawmakers must appreciate the weight of trust and responsibility bestowed on them by the electorate. They must work for equity and defend the common people against those who would oppress and take advantage of others. The idea of grazing reserves is barbaric.

We must reject this move aimed at keeping some people perpetually dominated.”

LAW WEEK: From left; the Deputy Leader, Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Kaduna branch, Mr Festus Okoye, esq; Chairman, NBA, Kaduna branch, Sherrif Ndasule; Chief Judge of Kaduna State, Justice Tanimu Zailani and President of Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Danlami Garuba at the opening of NBA, Kaduna branch 2016 Law week. Photo by Olu Ajayi.

Dasuki 1976 reforms, solution to councils' woes, says royal father

By Boluwaji Obahopo

L

OKOJA—A royal father in Kogi State, the Maigari of Lokoja, Muhammed Makarfi

II has called on the Federal Government to revisit and implement the 1976 Dasuki Local Government reform, saying it was the only solution

Ex-employees of BUA picket firm over non-payment of entitlements

By Bartholomew Madukwe

F

ORMER employees of Bua International Limited yesterday crippled the Victoria Island Head office of the company over alleged unpaid benefits following the sale of its subsidiaries to Olams Group.

The aggrieved protesters stormed the Bua office on Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Lagos, before midday, displaying placards with various inscriptions like: “Pay us our 10%; Our redundancy is not negotiable; Our effort made Bua Group & Co worth N35bn; We are not slaves, pay us our 10%.”

Coordinator of the protest, Akasan Sylvester, explained that their due entitlements had not

been paid in full and what was given to them from sales of Bua Group International was pittance compared to what should be paid.

Among other things, they demanded payment of redundancy package to all workers of Bua Flour and Pasta to a tune not less than 20 percent of the total sale of the company.

Reacting, the Group Head, Corporate Communications of Bua, Mr O’tega Ogra, said the action of the former employees was a surprise because the company paid them fully on December 18, 2015 after selling its asset to Olams.

He said: “Bua Group International sold its asset on January 11, 2016. So we handed over the employees to our buyer (Olams) and paid them off.''

to the barrage of problems facing the third tier of government.

The tradition ruler, who spoke yesterday while receiving the newly constituted five-man administrative committee for Lokoja Local Government, however said the implementation must be done wholeheartedly or nothing would change.

According to him: “The 1976 Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki Reform would have saved the local government from all its present challenges. Though President Muhammadu Buhari then as a military head of state implemented it but it was halfheartedly. Such situation did not bring a complete solution to the councils' challenges. Then came General IbrahimBabangida, who changed the system, and General Sani Abacha’s policies compounded the woes of councils. The Dasuki Reform is still the best for the LGAs and remain the only solution to the barrage of challenges facing the third tier of government. Unless the Reform is implemented wholeheartedly; I’m afraid there may not be a permanent solution to those problems local governments face.”

The traditional ruler, however,

charged the newly-constituted committee to look into the security challenges the people of Eggan, Oworo, Kakanda and Kupa communities were facing with the herdsmen.

The head of the 5-man administrators, Lawal Shiru said very soon, workers of the local government would receive their two months salaries arrears, noting that the state of the local government was pitiable.

Kano DISCO signs MoU with foreign firms on solar energy

By Abdulsalam Muhammad

K

ANO—KANO E l e c t r i c i t y Distribution Company, KEDCO, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with consortium of foreign firms for the exploitation of solar energy in Kano.

M a n a g i n g Director, KEDCO, Alhaji Jamilu Gwamna, told newsmen in Kano that the measure was adopted following reports that Kano has highest radiation sources in Nigeria.

Alhaji Gwamna, who spoke through the Chief Technical Officer of the company, David Omoloye said: ”It has become totally unacceptable to operate Nigerian power sources on thermal, which account for 70 per cent, and hydro that stood at 30 per cent.”

He explained that overreliance on these sources had brought Nigeria's energy needs to its knees, noting that KEDCO was doing its best to reverse the trend.

Alhaji Gwamna said supply sources from the national grid to Kano had dropped from 800 megawatts to an average of 50 megawatts daily as a result of the activities of Niger Delta militants.

“We have a crisis situation at hand, it’s pretty difficult now to meet our obligations to our customers because of the activities of vandals on the creeks of Niger Delta,” KEDCO boss stressed.

He lamented that the company was similarly confronted with activities of local vandals that specialized in tampering with installations like transformers and cables.

Ishaku's wife pet project restores 19 persons' sight in Taraba

By John Mkom

J

ALINGO—NINETEEN out of 29 persons offered free eye treatment by Hope Afresh Foundation, a pet project of wife of the governor of Taraba State, Anna Darius Ishaku, have regained their sights at the Primary Health Care Hospital, Magwai in Jalingo.

The wife of the governor had on Tuesday last week flagged off the free treatment, targeting 80,000 patients across the 16 local government areas of the state.

When Vanguard visited the hospital, it was discovered that apart from other patients that were receiving treatment for various illnesses, 19 patients who were led by their relations as blind persons to the hospital had regained their sight.

One of the patients, Mr. Peter Ande Swuwa, who was brought to the hospital his son Wasen Ande, told Vanguard that he had been blind for over three years before the operation.

Mr. Ande said he regained his sight after two days of his operation at the hospital.

36—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

DSTV BASKETBALL: From left— Minister for Youth and Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalong; President, Nigeria Basketball Federation, Tijani Umar, and General Manager, Marketing, MultiChoice Nigeria, Martin Mabutho, during the DStv Basketball All Star Game at the Indoor Sports Hall, National Stadium, Abuja.

TOURISM: From left— Government Official, Dubai Immigration, Captain Abdullarahim; Regional Director, Africa, Mrs Stella Obinwa; Manager, Mr. Talal Al Suwaidi; and Assistant Manager, Mr. Hamad Al Shirawi, all of Dubai Tourism Board, at Dubai tourism road show in Lagos.

TVC ON DSTV: From left— Chief Operating Officer, Lemi Olalemi; Chief Executive Officer, Nigel Parsons, and Chief Commercial Officer, Lindsey Oliver, all of Continental Broadcasting Service, at the briefing to announce the launch of TVC channels on DSTV and GOTV in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Akeem Salau.

ARCHITECTS’ FORUM: From left— Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Architects, Lagos State Chapter, Mr. Ladipo Lewis; President, Architects Registration Council of Nigeria, Mr. Umaru Aliyu; Brand Ambassador, Nigerite Limited, Lanre Ashaolu; President, Nigerian Institute of Architects, Mr. Tonye Braide, and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing, Mr. Bayo Dipe, representing Governor Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos State during the Nigerite exhibition at the Lagos Architects Forum in Lagos.

PRAISE CONCERT: From left— Chairman, The Counselling Ambassadors Organisation, TCAO, Engr. Ademuyiwa Obasa; President, Superfluk Group, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi; Chairman, Committee on Tourism, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Desmond Elliot; and former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, and President, TCAO, Pastor Iyabo Obasa, at the 9th praise and worship concert, tagged Victorious Songs, Victorious Dance, organized by TCAO in Lagos. PHOTO: Bunmi Azeez.

DIGITAL AFRICA: From left— General Manager, Regulatory Affairs, MTN Nigeria, Mrs Oyeronke Oyetunde; Secretary General, Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation, Shola Taylor; Human Resources Executive, MTN Nigeria, Mrs Amina Oyagbola, and Acting Director-General, National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, Mrs Alheri Saidu, at the digital broadcasting Africa forum.

VISIT: From left— Legal, Public Affairs and Communications Director,

Nigerian Bottling Company Limited, Mrs. Folasade Morgan; Chairman, Commerce and Industry Correspondent Association of Nigeria, CICAN, Mr. Toba Agboola, and Corporate Communications Manager, Nigerian Bottling Company, Mr. Akomen Omijeh, during a courtesy visit by CICAN to the company in Lagos.

C M Y K

FCMB'S ACADEMY: From left— Head, Training Academy of First City Monument Bank, FCMB, Limited, Mrs. Nana Odejayi; Second Vice President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, CIBN, Dr. Uche Olowu; President/Chairman of Council of CIBN, Otunba Debola Osibogun, and Divisional Head, Human Resources and Strategy, FCMB, Felicia Obozuwa, at CIBN’s presentation of accreditation certificate to FCMB’s Training Academy in Lagos. PHOTO: Akeem Salau.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016—37

E T I S A L AT :

Specialist, Corporate and Social Re s p o n s i b i l i t y, Chiweta Uraih (right); Manager, Regional Distribution, South-East, Francis Nnaike (left), both of Etisalat Nigeria, and a beneficiary, at the distribution of insecticide-treated nets by Etisalat at Achara community in Enugu.

Anambra community raises alarm over herdsmen invasion, destruction of properties

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

O

NITSHA—VILLAGERS of Aboji Akanano of Oba, a community in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State have raised alarm over what they termed a systematic invasion of the area and attendant destruction of their farm crops, streams and installed water tanks, by those they identified as Fulani herdsmen and their cows.

Chairman of the village, Nze Dozie Nweke, who disclosed this to newsmen in his residence, said the herdsmen, armed with AK-47 rifles and other sophisticated weapons and numbering up to 500, usually invade Oba community with their cows from nowhere by 1a.m. and operate freely till about 3a.m. before leaving, after wreaking havoc on their farmland.

Nweke disclosed that the herdsmen had, on a number of occasions, came to a compound with a water tank and opened the taps for their cows to drink to their satisfaction, until the entire tank would become empty before they leave.

He added that on one occasion, the owner of the compound was around and when he asked who they were, their reply to the owner was ‘shut up’ and the next thing they did was to open fire in his direction.

Begs Buhari

According to Nweke, “ we want these herdsmen to stop harassing us.They threaten our people at the wee hours and forcefully occupy any isolated area from where they will invade our streams and farmland with their cattle and if any one protests, they will shoot at him with their guns.

“We do not want to authorise our youths to attack the herdsmen.

Government should assist us to tell C M Y K

President Muhammadu Buhari to call his men to order before it degenerates

into a bloody battle.

“The herdsmen are boasting that Buhari is their brother and

that there is no shaking. They enter our farmland and destroy everything.”

Media professionals tasked on digital skills

By Vincent Ujumadu

A

WKA—MEDIA practitioners have been urged to endeavour to constantly improve their skills to be able to fit into the ongoing digitisation in the industry.

Managing Director of the state-owned Anambra Broadcasting Service, ABS, Nze Uche Nworah, who spoke at the opening ceremony of a three-day workshop on news gathering and dissemination for the staff of the organisation in collaboration with Ebubechukwu Foundation, a

non–governmental organisation in Awka yesterday, observed that there was intensified competition in the industry in which only those well equipped would succeed.

Nworah said: “We live in a world that is dynamic as every new day presents us with new challenges and opportunities.

“As Nigeria confronts new social, political and economic realities, it is our responsibility as journalists to interpret the developing stories for our various audiences in a timely manner and in the format that they can easily access.

“The journalist today requires a different set of skills and mindset to be able to operate. Modern day newsrooms require an attitude, creativity and discipline that see them adopt the concept of convergence, gathering and disseminating news through multiple platforms.”

The station’s director of news and current affairs, Mr. Gab Okpalaeze said ABS decided to organise the workshop to avoid being caught unprepared by the nuances of modern journalism.”

Monarch tasks S-East govs on unity

By Anayo Okoli

U

M UAHIA— THE traditional ruler of Alaoma Omoba Autonomous Community in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of Abia State, Eze Godwin Nwankanma Nwankpa, has called on the South-East governors to work as a team and speak with one voice for the good of the zone.

According to Eze Nwankpa, it is only by working together that the governors can jointly and effectively tackle the numerous problems of economic hardships, deplorable condition of federal roads, threat of herdsmen and other societal challenges.

The monarch noted that solving these problems requires the cooperation of the governors and team spirit of the people of the South-East.

Nwankpa warned that if the

governors are not united, they would not achieve much, just as he called on them to make the welfare of their people a priority.

He condemned the

insecurity in the country, vowed to fight all acts of criminality in his domain and condemned the recent killings in Nimbo, Enugu State, by Fulani herdsmen.

Police begin aerial surveillance in Enugu

E

NUGU—AS part of efforts to forestall a repeat of the Fulani herdsmen invasion of Nimbo community, in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State that led to the slaughter of about 46 natives, Enugu Police Command has commenced routine aerial surveillance of the three senatorial zones of Enugu North, Enugu West and Enugu East.

The newly-posted Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Ojukwu, made the revelation in a statement to newsmen yesterday, adding that the aerial surveillance will be sustained to proactively fish out would-be mischiefmakers in the society.

A statement made available to newsmen by the Police Public Relations Officers, DSP Ebere Amaraizu, said: ”We have as part of measures to ensure that the entire Enugu State and its environs are made safe and secured.

“The state command through the Airwing of the Nigeria Police Force, have begun an aerial surveillance of the three senatorial zones of the state.

“This exercise will offer us a platform to fish out would-be mischiefmakers, have proper sight of all the nooks and crannies of the state for effective crime prevention and control.

“We advise members of the public not to entertain fear or panic as the helicopter patrols their areas.”

Two women feared dead in Aba auto crash

By Ugochukwu Alaribe

A

BA—TWO female passengers of a commercial bus in Aba, Abia State, are battling for survival at an undisclosed hospital in the city after their bus collided with a truck.

Eyewitnesses told Vanguard that the accident, which involved the commercial bus with number plates Abia ABA 288 YG, and a Mack Truck with number plates Rivers XY 713 PHC, occurred Tuesday morning.

Some of the passengers

sustained minor cuts, while the two women were unconscious.

Narrating the incident to Vanguard, one of the passengers in the bus, Patience Abanjoubo, said they were heading to Aba from Uruakpan, Akwa Ibom State, to sell palm oil, fruits and vegetables at the Good Morning Market in the city when their bus crashed into the truck.

She further stated that the driver of the commercial bus had been arrested by the police.

In a chat, Aba Unit Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, ACP Okora Awassam, attributed the accident to speeding and carelessness of the driver even as she blamed the inability of the truck driver to put caution sign at the back of the truck to warn other drivers of the broken down truck.

Awassam said that her agency was making efforts to tow away the two trucks which broke down on the same portion of the road to avert another accident.

She warned motorists against speeding and overtaking at sharp bends.

38—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

RICE MAN RETURNS: Says I'll restore old glory L

By Omeiza Ajayi

AWYER, educationist, and philanthropist, Barrister Ken Imansuagbon yesterday became the first to pick the Edo State governorship nomination form of the APC vowing that he would also be the first in the race to Government House, Benin.

Accompanied by a huge entourage of supporters Imansuagbon, famed as the Rice Man and lately as the i-pad Man for his seasonal distribution of rice and recently i-pad to the less privileged said he would restore the lost glory of the state if elected into office.

Imansuangbon picked the Expression of Interest form at the APC national secretariat in Abuja. Affirming the primacy of the APC in the state, the aspirant said the state chapter of the party is united to ensure that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP is not returned to power.

“I am the number one person to pick the form and God willing I will be the number one person throughout the general election.

“I have been consistent since 2004 because I believe that the people of Edo State need an experienced person to create jobs and address other issues. All my

•Kenneth Imansuangbon (left) collecting the nomination form from the APC National Organizing Secretary , Sen. Osita Izunaso while Director of Organization, Abubakar Kari and others look on. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan life I have been committed to creating jobs. Since 25 years ago when I left university, I have been creating jobs, and that is my cardinal objective when I take over from Adams Oshiomhole.

“Secondly, my duty would be

to strengthen our school system.

Our school system is very weak.

Gov. Oshiomhole has done his best, but that is not where we want to be as a people. I am wellequipped as an educationist to make schools work and give

teachers hope and restore their pride. When I come in, schooling would be very interesting to students in Edo State.

“Thirdly, we would go back to till the land. I will boost agriculture. I will be the chief

PDP govs still confused

Ogbemudia’s EMM gives direction June 8

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HE waiting game on Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia’s Edo Mass Movement, EMM seems to be reaching a climax.

The EMM had earlier expressed its determination to produce an aspirant to win the governorship ticket of any of the major political parties.

The EMM according to sources had in fact worked out an arrangement that should its plans to use any of the major parties fail that it would collaborate with the Social Democratic Party, SDP or the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA to actualise its ambition. The resort to SDP

it was understood was not unconnected with the influence of Alhaji Usman Shagadi, a major political leader in Edo North.

The group inside sources reveal, is to make its

intentions known on June 8.

The EMM’s decision to reveal its intentions comes against the background of allegations that some leaders of the APC have vainly

G

OVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole’s alleged plans to enthrone a reliable successor could well be threatened by the overflow of developments in the Edo State

House of Assembly. Esan political leaders in the governor’s APC, according to sources, are peeved by the governor’s failure to restore the former speaker of the state House of Assembly, Victor Edoror to office, a development

Airhiavbere, Odubu pick forms

By Omeiza Ajayi

T

HE PDP 2012 governorship candidate, General Charles Airhiavbere yesterday fully showed his political transformation when he picked the 2016 governorship form of the APC. He immediately pledged to abide by the outcome of the primaries of his new party as he urged fellow contestants to play by the rules.

Airhiavbere spoke when he picked the Expression of Interest form at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja.

C M Y K

sought to get Ogbemudia to resolve the crisis in the APC triggered by differences between the governor and a number of the leading aspirants.

Esan APC leaders plan revolt

By Simon Ebegbulem

“I want to call on my member of the House of colleagues to accept whatever Representatives, Samson might be the outcome of the Osagie was also at the primary election and rally secretariat to pick the form on round the winner. I am ready behalf of the state deputy to do that and I enjoin them to governor, Pius Odubu. do extend s a m e courtesy to me should I emerge t h e candidate of the party”, he stated.

•Airhiavbere: It's APC •Odubu: Collected Earlier, a now former form by proxy

farmer in Edo State. I will take everybody back to the farm. We will create farm industries. There will be rice plantation in Auchi, Agenebode to be precise and other riverine areas across the three senatorial districts.

“Rather than arm the police, I will arm our young ones to be in the farm,” he said.

He promised to send at least 1,000 youths to Thailand to understudy their rice farming system with a view to replicating same in the state and exporting the produce back to Thailand.

Asked on how he would source the finance for his programmes if elected, he said his administration would plug all revenue leakages and that having been in the private sector for years, funding would not be a challenge to him.

He said his mission is to improve on what Gov. Oshiomhole has done “so that we would have a better state for our children and grand-children.”

On the issue of zoning, Imansuangbon said he is not an apostle of zoning, but a believer in the need to get responsible and credible people into political offices. He hailed the leadership of the party for providing a levelplaying field for all aspirants, saying if that continues “I will become the governor.”

that saw the speakership being moved from their zone to Edo South Senatorial zone.

On account of what they perceived as their political marginalisation the political leaders from the region say they would spite the governor by supporting a rival candidate to Mr. Godwin Obaseki, generally acknowledged as being the governor’s chosen aspirant.

The anger of the Esan people was further stoked when they also lost out in the opportunity to produce the next Vice Chancellor of the Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma.

Vanguard learnt that efforts by APC leaders from Edo Central to persuade lawmakers to return Edoror so as to balance the political tripod in the state failed.

However, Vanguard learnt that there are plans by some powerful APC leaders in the area to jettison Obaseki and back a rival aspirant in the forthcoming primaries of the party.

By Simon Ebegbulem

T

HE determination of PDP governors to ensure that the party emerges victorious in the forthcoming governorship election is said to be increasingly challenged as they are seemingly confused over who of the four aspirants to support.

The confusion of the governors follows earlier indications that the leadership of the party including Chief Tony Anenih, had narrowed their preference to Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

However, that inclination has lately been challenged by assertions to the contrary with reports that even former President Goodluck Jonathan has thrown his weight behind another aspirant who is believed to be closer to him and his wife, Patience.

That is despite the fact that Pastor Ize-Iyamu was the president’s coordinator in the 2015 presidential election in Edo State.

•Anenih: PDP leader

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016—39

Ward-off militants from Gbaramatu, Otuaro tells youths •Gbaramatu kingdom not militant den, says monarch •Army hands 5 ‘suspects’ to police •Chevron meets families in Warri to avert hostile response

By Emma Amaize, Festus Ahon, Akpokona Omafuaire & Brisibe Perez

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ARRI- CHAIRMAN of Advocacy Committee against Oil Facility Vandalism and Deputy Governor of Delta State, Mr. Kingsley Otuaro, has appealed to youths of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area of the state to rise up and secure oil facilities in their domain, whether or not they were part of Niger Delta Avengers, the militant group responsible for the renewed attacks on oil facilities in the Niger Delta region.

Otuaro made the appeal at a Town Hall meeting with the youths and ex-militants in Oporoza, after he conferred with the traditional ruler of Gbaramatu kingdom, HRM Williams Ogoba, Oboro Gbaraun II. He also charged the people of Egbame Kingdom, Delta State not to engage in the destruction of oil facilities so as not to further cripple the economy that is already facing serious challenge.

workers arrested by soldiers soon after the bombing of the facility.

Dependable sources hinted that top Chevron officials met with the workers at the company’s office in Warri.

Meanwhile, the Chevron contractor, who the ‘suspects’ work for, Gabriel Emiko, has given account of how soldiers arrested the workers. Speaking to Vanguard on phone, Mr. Emiko said: “Following the explosion on the pipeline, the Chevron Single Sign-On, SSO under Utunana sent the boys to identify the spot on the platform that was attacked.” He said that they were arrested while carrying out the task.

Meanwhile, HRM Ogoba had earlier told the deputy governor and his team that the manhunt for ex-militant leader, who is one of his subjects, was political motivated and urged President Muhammadu Buhari not to see Tompolo as an adversary to facilitate the peace process.

The youths, who also spoke, told the deputy governor that they were not militants and complained about harassment of innocent citizens of the kingdom by the military. One of their leaders, Moses Yabrade, noted that they were ready to join forces with government to fight pipeline vandals despite constant harassment by soldiers.

He noted the unwarranted arrest and incarceration of five pipeline surveillance workers by soldiers under the pretext that they were members of Niger Delta Avengers, saying that such harassment would not help the situation. The youth leader stated that over 80 per cent of pre-Amnesty issues were unattended to by government.

The youths also expressed concern that people of the region, deemed close to the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, were being hunted, among them Tompolo, who is zealously protecting oil installations from vandals.

Pipeline vandalism Otuaro, gave the advice, yesterday, while addressing people of the kingdom in Ogbudugbudu community, Warri North Local Government Area of the state, when he led members of the Advocacy team as part of the sensitisation against pipeline Vandalism.

The deputy governor who spoke to the people in Ijaw language, said pipeline vandalism would have negative effect not only on the nation, and state but also on the communities in the kingdom as well. While condemning the rate of the dastardly act going on in the riverine area, he said that no government would attain meaningful development with the destruction of its oil facilities.

Also, the five Ijaw/Itsekiri surveillance workers arrested by soldiers in connection with last Friday bombing of Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, pipeline in Makaraba community, Gbaramatu clan, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, have reportedly being handed over to the Delta State Police Command in Asaba. Soldiers had earlier combed the creeks to the 19th Battalion, Nigerian Army, Koko, Warri North Local Government Area last Saturday, barely 24 hours after the incident.

Army authorities alleged that suspected were members of the Niger Delta Avengers, the militant group bombing oil installations in Delta State and other parts of Niger Delta region. Also, to avert a backlash, Chevron entered into closed-door meeting with the families of five surveillance C M Y K

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State (left) and Delta State Commissioner of Police, Alkali Usman (right) decorating Mr. Frank Longe, the aide-de-camp (ADC) to the governor on his new rank as Deputy Superintendent of Police at Government House, Asaba. Photo: Henry Unini.

Senate mourns Oba of Benin •As Ekweremadu leads delegation to Commiserate with the Royal Family

By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

T

HE Senate, yesterday, paid tribute to his Royal Majesty Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa, the Oba of Benin on his demise, just as it observed a one minute silence in his honour.

Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, would lead a high powered delegation to Benin to commiserate and condole with the Crown Prince, HRH, the Edaiken of Uselu, Prince Eheneden Erediauwa, the Benin Royal Family, the people of Benin Kingdom, and the Government of Edo State.

To accompany Senator Ekweremadu are the Senate leader, Senator Ali Ndume; Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Francis Alimikhena, APC, Edo North; Chairman, Senate Services, Senator Ibrahim Gobir; Senator Olugbenga Ashafa,

APC, Lagos East and Senator Jeremiah Useni, PDP, Plateau South East.

These resolutions were sequel to a motion by Senator Matthew Urhoghide, Edo South and cosponsored by Senators Francis Alimikhena, APC, Edo North and Clifford Ordia, PDP, Edo Central. In his presentation,

T

I

N line with its strategic aspirations to enhance the Group’s focus in creating more value in terms of market leadership vis-a-vis its five-year strategic expansion plan, Coscharis Group has announced the appointment of Fred Amobi as the Group Executive Director-Operations.

Fred Amobi brings on board over 25 years experience covering consulting, finance, sales/ marketing and general management in different sectors including FMCG, Packaging, Food and Building/ Construction in diversified conglomerates and multinational organisations such as UACN, Nigerian Bottling Company and Lafarge.

Prior to joining Coscharis Group, he was the Executive Director/Director, Readymix Operations with Lafarge Africa Plc. Fred is a fellow of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria. He graduated with a Distinction in Accountancy from the Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu. He also holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Enugu State University of Science and Technology. Mr. Amobi has attended many senior and executive management programmes at Harvard Business School and Management Centre Europe.

EFCC seals off Bayelsa MDGs helmsman property in Yenagoa

By Emem Idio

Senator Urhoghide said, “The Senate: Notes with grief, the passing of Oba Erediauwa, the Oba of Benin to the great beyond to be with his ancestors as announced by the Iyase of Benin Kingdom, Chief Sam Igbe, on Apri 29, 2016. He reigned for 37 years.”

Reps okay Petroleum Varsity law HE House of Representatives has considered and adopted a report on a bill to establish the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Delta State.

The bill which transited from the 7th House to the 8th finally saw daylight in the Yakubu Dogara led 8th House.

The bill, which was promoted

by Rep Evelyn Omavowan Oboro ,PDP, Delta, during the 7th Assembly, was committed to the committee of whole for consideration last month. Part of

Amobi joins Coscharis Group as group executive director

the provision of the bill was to free the indigenes from the present state of monolithic dependence on importation of refined oil products and that the university shall be a training institution for the development of the middle and high-level manpower for the oil and gas sector.

The university, which is to be domiciled in the federal ministry of petroleum resources, is also to encourage the advancement of learning.

Y

ENAGOA-Officials of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, sealed off a property allegedly belonging to Senior Special Assistant on Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, to Bayelsa State Governor, Mr Apere Embelakp, in Yenagoa.

It was gathered that officials of the anti-graft agency numbering three and accompanied by some mobile policemen stormed the property located on77, Azikoro Road, in the state capital at 4p.m., before inscribing on the fence of the building, “ Property under EFCC investigation, keep-off.”

Confirming the development, a young man who works in the building and pleaded anonymity told Vanguard that he was not around when the EFCC officials visited

40—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

Veteran actor, Elder Maya down with liver disease

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LL APPEARS not to be well with veteran Nollywood actor, Martins Njubuigbo, popularly known as Elder Maya.

Reports have it that Elder Maya, who is arguably the longest surviving Nigerian actor, is down with a liverrelated problem as the actor is down with a swollen leg, which causes him pain.

The actor, fondly called Papa Labista, who is popular for his village chief priest’s roles in movies, was reportedly diagnosed with liver disease at an undisclosed hospital in Lagos State.

This was disclosed by his fellow colleague, actor Ernest Obi, through his Instagram account.

According to him: “Elder Maya is currently down with a liver-related problem.”

He also started a campaign aimed at collecting funds for the treatment of the ailing actor

Mr. Martins Njubuigbo, aka Elder Maya

Police arrest man for stabbing friend to death in Ogun

By Daud Olatunji

A

BEOKUTA—THE Ogun State Police Command has arrested 25 year-old Samson Tella for allegedly stabbing his friend, Abiodun Abdulkareem, 25, to death at Iyesi Ota,in Ado- Odo Ota Local Government area of the state.

It was learnt that the suspect and the deceased had engaged in a hot argument last week Tuesday before the suspect stabbed his friend (deceased) with a bottle on his neck.

The victim was reportedly rushed to the hospital and confirmed dead by the doctor on duty.

C M Y K

Egbeda murder: Autopsy attributes death to respiratory seizure, head bruises

By Emma Nnadozie & Evelyn Usman

T

HE MUCH anticipated autopsy report on late Ronke Shonde, the mother of two allegedly killed by her husband, Lekan, two weeks ago in Egbeda area of Lagos, during a scuffle, is out.

The report, as reliably gathered, reached detectives at about 8.45p.m. yesterday.

Although police authorities kept mum over the content of the report, Vanguard was reliably informed that it attributed late Ronke Shonde’s death to some injuries in the head. It also revealed that water clustered in her head.

Again, the report which was reportedly signed by one Dr. Shoyemi, a Pathologist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Ikeja, disclosed that late Ronke Shonde died as a result of respiratory seizure.

But it ruled out the possibility of her death due to violent marks on her face.

to the absence of the Chief Pathologist, who reportedly travelled out of the country.

While he was being expected, an inconclusive report, which emerged Tuesday, however, showed that the bruises on the corpse could not establish the cause of her death.

However, sources said further medical checks finally attributed the cause of her death to “respiratory seizure as a result of water in the head and some injuries also in the head.”

With the report, sources said detectives would then continue with the next line of investigation, which reliably will include, among others, the mental stability of Lekan, who is still in their custody.

Recall that Lekan, who initially went into hiding after the incident, gave himself up to the Police in Lagos, where he denied culpability over his Lekan and late Ronke Shonde before the tragedy wife’s death.

The autopsy was conducted last Thursday, with its He was later transferred to the State result expected to be out in three days.

Criminal Investigations and But Vanguard was informed that it was delayed due Intelligence Department ,SCIID, Yaba.

Retired army officer hangs self in Calabar that his father had committed

By Emma Una

C

ALABAR—THE remains of a retired captain of the Nigerian Army, Friday William, found dangling on a mango tree outside his apartment in Calabar, have been taken to his hometown in Mkpat Enin, Akwa Ibom State.

The father of eight, according to a neighbour, Abasi Imoh, allegedly tied a rope on the mango tree outside his apartment at 34, Edim Otop Street in the night while his family was asleep and hung himself for a reason yet to be ascertained.

“We woke up in the morning to behold the body dangling on the mango tree outside the compound and we do not know what was responsible for his action”. Abasi stated.

The neighbour said before hanging himself, that the retired captain reportedly sent a text message to his son, who lives in Port Harcourt at about 10pm, to

condole with him over his death and advised him to be strong to take care of his siblings.

“He sent the text to his first son at about 10 pm to condole with him over his own death, but the son did not see the message until he got a call the next morning

suicide and I feel he had tied the rope ready for the act before he sent the text”.

Abasi said the man had about three cars and got a lot of money from his retirement benefits two years ago and was living well

Gunmen in police uniforms kill ASP in Bayelsa, abduct 2 men in Rivers

By Samuel Oyadongha, Davies Iheamnachor & Emem Idio

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ENAGOA—THERE was tension in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, yesterday, following the murder of a senior police officer, identified as Mathew Akpos by gunmen described as “special Police Squad.”

Akpos, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, was reportedly murdered by gunmen close to the OMPADEC school field in Amarata suburb of

Yenagoa at about 5pm on Monday.

In a related development, unidentified gunmen, yesterday, invaded Rumukwachi community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State and abducted two residents.

The yet to be known gunmen who visited the community made away with one Mr. Lucky Amadi and Mr. Rotimi, his neighbour.

It was also gathered that stray bullets from the gunshots fired by those who attacked Akpos allegedly hit an elderly woman on the leg and in the stomach, before she was reportedly rushed to the Federal Medical Centre,

Suicide attempt: Police rescue mother, child

By Esther Onyegbula

O

PERATIVES OF Rapid Response Squad (RRS), yesterday, evening prevented a mother of four from committing suicide by jumping into the Lagoon with a 12 – month old baby.

The lady, 27, (names withheld), was restrained by two Response riders from plunging into the Lagoon from the Third Mainland Bridge.

A cab driver had drawn the attention of the RRS riders on routine patrol of the area to the woman, who was carrying a 12 – month old baby at about 5p.m. on the busy bridge.

which is the reason many people are surprised with his action.

‘He was not poor because he had three cars and had built a house in his village and was generally doing well that is why we were surprised with his action.”

The woman (left), after the rescue.

Victim’s account The woman, who disclosed that she trekked from Medina Estate in Gbagada to the Third Mainland Bridge, said she heard a voice calling out to her to come to the Third Mainland Bridge.

The woman reportedly said she decided to hearken to the call because it was constant.

The mother of four, a University of Lagos, Yaba, drop-out, said before the incident, she had issues with her husband before relocating to her parent’s house in Gbagada, Lagos.

The lady along with her baby had been released to her relatives.

FMC, where doctors were said to be battling to save her life.

An eye witness and resident of the area who identified the gunmen as “Special Police Squad” from an unknown police division said: “The gunmen dressed like men of special police squad. They wore the outfits of the Special AntiRobbery Squad, SARS, and police bullet-proof vests and drove into the community in a black Hilux vehicle before hitting their target.

“There were gunshots all over the place. I was at a supermarket directly opposite the scene of the incident. The way they drove into the community was suspicious and sent panic waves all over the place. The gunshots caused commotion in the area as people even youths who were playing football abandoned the game and scampered for safety.”

Another source from the community said the gunmen trailed the victim to the area and wanted to force him into their vehicle, adding that while Akpos was being dragged into the car, he resisted his assailants and in the process pulled out his pistol from its casing.

However, he said: “One of the gunmen, who was standing close to the Hilux van, immediately pulled out his gun and shot the victim."

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016 — 41

Somaliland wants world recognition of its independence

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HE semi-autonomous region of Somaliland is renewing calls for internationalrecognitionofits self-declared independence from Somalia.

Somaliland on Wednesday celebrated 25 years since the region proclaimed independence from Somalia.

Thousands of civilians and militarypersonnelparadedin front of dignitaries in the capital Hargeisa as the government showed off its Soviet-era military arsenal.

Somaliland asserted

Opposition supporters clash with riot policemen during a rally to demand a referendum to remove President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela, yesterday. Photo: REUTERS

Trump willing to talk to North Korea’s Kim

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EPUBLICAN presidential candidate Donald Trump said on Tuesday he is willing to talk to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to try to stop Pyongyang’s nuclear program, proposing a major shift in U.S. policy toward the isolated nation.

In a wide-ranging interviewwithReuters,Trump also called for a renegotiation of the Paris climate accord, saying he disapproved of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions in eastern Ukraine, and said he would seek to dismantle most of the U.S. Dodd-Frank financial

Zika virus may reach Europe this summer issuing any new travel

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HE Zika virus could spread to Europe this summer, although the likelihood of an outbreak is low to moderate, the World Health Organization has said.

Areas most at risk are those where Aedes mosquitoes may spread the virus, like the Black Sea coast of Russia and Georgia and the island of Madeira.

Countries with a moderate risk include France, Spain, Italy and Greece, while the risk in the UK is low.

The UN agency is not

advice at this time.

The WHO is calling on countries to eliminate mosquito breeding sites and to make sure that people particularly pregnant women - have information on the potential harmful consequences of the disease.

The agency says most countries that could be affected are well prepared to pick up any new cases and deal with them quickly - but others must bolster their ability to diagnose the virus.

regulations if he is elected president.

The presumptive Republicannomineedeclined to share details of his plans to deal with North Korea, but said he was open to talking to its leader.

“I would speak to him, I would have no problem speaking to him,” Trump said of Kim. North Korea’s mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump’s remarks.

Trump, 69, also said he would press China, Pyongyang’s only major diplomatic and economic supporter, to help find a solution.

“I would put a lot of pressure on China because economically we have tremendous power over China,” he said in the interview at his office on the 26th floor of Trump Tower in Manhattan.

independence in 1991 after the overthrow of Somali dictator Siad Barre. The region has experienced relativestabilityandeconomic prosperity over the years, even though neighboring Somaliahasbeenwrackedby deadly violence.

“Wedonotwantanyspecial treatment form the international community,” said Sa’ad Ali Shire, Somaliland’s foreign minister. “We simply want recognition of the reality that has existed in Somaliland for

Libyan unity govt forces retake checkpoint south of Misrata

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IBYAN military forces said on Tuesday they recaptured one of the main checkpoints south of the city of Misrata from Islamic State, reversing some of the gains the militant group made earlier this month.

Seven members of the armed forces were killed and 19 were wounded, including three who died in a mine explosion as they took control of the checkpoint of Abu Grain, Misrata hospital spokesman Aziz Issa said.

Islamic State fighters had overrun the Abu Grain checkpoint, town and several nearby villages after carrying outcoordinatedsuicidebomb attacks on May 5.

Abu Grain is about 140 km (85 miles) west of Islamic State’s Libyan stronghold of Sirte, on the main road leading south from the port city of Misrata.

The military has yet to take full control of the area, however.

“There are skirmishes from

time to time against the militants,” said Mohamed alGasri, a spokesman for an operation room set up by Libya’s U.N.-backed unity government. adding: “We will keep making progress to clean Abu Grain town of those militants.”

25 years.”

The celebrations came as Somaliland’s main port, Berbera, is set to receive a substantialamountoffunding from the United Arab Emirates. The two countries signed a development contract on May 9 that includes the planned renovation of Berbera, which connects Somaliland to Ethiopia. The total deal is reportedlyworth$400million.

Among those attending the celebrations Wednesday was KenyanlawmakerMohamed Shidiye, who told The Associated Press that for him “the (Somali) government in Mogadishu is clinically dead.

It doesn’t exist.

“I’m here to celebrate together with the Somaliland people their achievements in the past 25 years and to call on the international community to recognize them,” he said.

Tanzania orders herders to leave national parks

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ROUGHT-afflicted herders have been ordered to remove their cattle fromTanzania’snationalparks, where they had moved in a bid to find new food sources, theTanzaniangovernmentsaid late on Monday.

Thousandsofheadsofcattle, goatsandsheephavecrossed into Tanzania from neighbouring Kenya and Uganda in recent months searching for water and fresh pasture, according to governmentofficials.

This has placed increasing strains on the east African

nation’s wildlife and has affected the tourism industry, they said.

Allherders-bothforeignand Tanzanian - have until June 15 to remove their animals from the protected areas, Tanzanian vice president, SamiaHassanSuluhu,saidon Monday. ''Failure to vacate the national parks will result in forcefuleviction.

“We would not want to see anylivestockfromeitherwithin or outside the country encroachandtamperwithour national park ecosystems,” Suluhu said.

Gay groups barred from attending UN aids conference

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GROUP of 51 Muslim countries has blocked LGBT rights organisations from attending a United Nations conference on AIDS next month.

Egypt, representing the Organization for Islamic Cooperation, wrote to the General Assembly president to object to the participation of 11 groups.

US, EU, and Canadian officials have written to the president of the 193-member organisation in protest.

Egypt’s representatives did not give a reason for requesting the ban.

USAmbassadorSamantha Power said the groups appeared to have been chosen for their involvement in gay or transgender causes.

“Given that transgender people are 49 times more likely to be living with HIV

than the general population, their exclusion from the highlevel meeting will only impede global progress in combating the HIV/Aids pandemic,” Mrs Power wrote to general assembly president Mogens Lykketoft.

She added that efforts to block participation of nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) is becoming“epidemic”andthis severely damaged the credibility of the UN.

Women march in a procession to celebrate the 25th anniversary of proclaimed independence in the capital Hargeisa, Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia

UAE woman fined,deported for checking husband’s phone US boosts Nigeria’s Counter-Narcotic effort

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WOMAN in the United Arab Emirates has been finedanddeportedafterbeing found guilty of breaching her husband’sprivacy,reportssay.

Localmediasaidthewoman checkedherhusband’smobile phone after becoming suspicious he was having an affair.

Thehusbandcomplainedto the police and his wife was prosecutedunderacybercrime law, Gulf News reported.

The unnamed woman - an Arab expatriate in the UAE was fined 150,000 dirhams (£28,000; $41,000), the report said.

She admitted to the court that she had accessed his phonewithoutpermissionand transferred photos to her device, her lawyer told Gulf News.

Thelawyer,EmanSabt,said the couple were in their 30s and of Arab origin, but gave no other information.

By Vera Samuel Anyagafu HEUSgovernmenthas T donated 11 trucks and transport vans to Nigeria’s

National Drug Law EnforcementAgency(NDLEA) to help boost the country’s counter-narcoticefforts.

Special Forces take fight to ISIS in Libya

I

T is a tiny, remote aircraft hangar, carved in the Sicilian rock decades ago, but now home to a new and vital front for the United States against ISIS. U.S. Special Forces and

surveillance flights are operating on the ground and over Libya as the West moves to boost security operations in the country to bolster Libya’s increasingly desperate fight against ISIS.

Thevehicleswhichwerethe latest US donation to the NDLEA, according to US Consul General Francis John Bray,whohandedthevehicles to NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Col. Muhammad MustaphaAbdallah,said:“The United States will continue to support the NDLEA and the countryofNigeriatocombatthe proliferationofdrugs,trafficking and drug abuse. This is a responsibility we share as democratic nations.”

42—Vanguard,

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

Festival of India: bridging cultural gap between two nations

By Japhet Alakam

T

HE Indians are rich in culture and tradition, but how much do people know about their culture, do they love and cherish it. These and others were brought to the fore last weekend at the Civic Centre Lagos, when the India community and other culture lovers gathered to catch a glimpise of what will be showcased during the first Festival of India, a celebration of cultural unity in diversity scheduled to hold in Lagos.

It was a real show of love for ones culture as many of them dressed in their Indian traditional garb responded to the reverberating tunes of various Indian songs, and to crown it, their response during a superlative performance of a classical piece in form of a prayer by two young girls.

The festival which is coming on the heels of its successful outings in major cities of the world like San Francisco, New york, London, Russia, Durban etc, is organised by the India Disapora in Lagos in partnership with International Society of Krishna Consciousness

• A special performance

by Indian youths, the type of what to see during the festival

(ISKCON). The festival which will showcase a rich display of Indian culture tagged International annual tourism extravaganza for Africa’s model mega city is scheduled to hold on the 13th of August, 2016 at the

It is more of an indoor Nigerian experience where the best of India, Bollywood, Nollywood, best in music from both countries will compete side by side

Tafawa Balewa Square, Onikan, Lagos.

Speaking at a briefing which was attended by representatives of the various India communities (Samaj), and others, chair-

man, organising committee and CEO of Gaurapad Charities, Bolaji Rosoji said the festival is designed to bridge the cultural gap between India and Nigeria. “ We want to create an event of global proportions that, in addition to the efforts of the Lagos state ministry of culture and tourism will help catapult Lagos State to a notable tourist destination,” he said.

He also said the goal of the festival is to “celebrate cultural unity and diversity for national and global peace – vasudhaiva kutumbakam (the world is one family). The Festival of India, with the Ratha Yatra (chariot)

'Young talents could bring better future for Nigeria'

By Prisca Sam-Duru

I

T was an honour to have worked with the children this year on the Lagos @ 50 project . I’m really impressed because a couple of children were able to pick things that we adults would never even think about while describing Lagos.

The quality of works by these children are amazing. A few of the paintings are very striking.

The lines and strokes very smooth and well done. Also, their imaginations put down in art form were really nicely done.” Those are the words of performance poet and author, Iquo Diana Eke, a member of panel of jury for the 2016 Vision of the Child, VOTC competition, in Lagos.

Literary arts competition Diana who spoke during a live painting and literary Arts competition by the children, further expressed optimism that the children would use the talents being nurtured today for a better future of the country. “Its fantastic seeing a child telling you that Lagos is ageing gracefully as a woman who is old at 50, enhancing her looks with make up, push-up bra and butt enhancement. Believe it or not. It is not that the poetry was written in lewd or rude manner but you see a child’s ability to interpret what they see going on around them and describing it C M Y K

perfectly is very very amazing. Even when talking about Lagos ageing gracefully they were able to pick out things you would regard as mundane, everyday thing that doesn’t mean anything to you,” she said.

As Nigerian children countdown to this year’s Children Day celebration, the commemoration in Lagos promises to be a double one. The day will bring to the climax, the 2016 VOTC painting and literary arts competition to be held at the Civic Centre, Ozumba Mbadiwe, Victoria

I'm really impressed because a couple of children were able to pick things that we adults would never even think about while describing Lagos Island, Lagos. It is dedicated to the golden jubilee celebration of the creation of Lagos State, hence, Lagos@5o. Lagos State Government which is one of the supporters of the project will have its Executive Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode declare open the celebration on May 27, 2016.

Festival as its central spectacle, has an inestimable impact on the minds and hearts of literally countless casual visi- • Some of the beautiful faces expected tors and active partici- to grace the festival pants in major cities worldwide. tors and local participants exThe Ratha Yatra (chariot) Fespected. “It is more of an indoor tival originated in the holy city Nigerian experience where the of Puri, India, and has been celbest of India, Bollywood, ebrated for thousands of years.

Nollywood, best in music indusIt is a grand culmination of a tries from India and Nigeria. We series of celebrations spread are going to have Indian expos over the summer and the side by side with their Nigerian monsoon month and is the most counterparts. Moreover, the splendid of them all.” best of Indian and Nigerian culAccording to Rosiji, the festitural troupes will compete in an val would be an international amazing stage designed,” he one that will witness an exploadded. sion of stars as dignitaries will It will also feature a carnival be coming from all over the like procession that will display world with over 50,000 visian unprecedented, colourful and very rich cross-cultural IndoNigerian mix of ethnic troupes which will promote bilateral synergy and collaboration in various sectors- economic, cultural, entertainment and diplomatic.

Fashion and culture

•Catch them young-- A scene captured during VOTC live painting in Lagos This sets off a series of commemorative events that will reaffirm the place of Lagos as the multicultural capital of the African continent.

It was therefore in preparation for the grand finale of the competition, that the 50 finalists were on 13th May at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, engaged in a live painting and literary Arts competition, based on the theme, Sisi-Eko@50, Ageing Gracefully? Or Na SoSo Pancake’. 30 of the students in the painting category were presented with work tools to illustrate their literary presentation in the complimentary medium of painting. The other 20 who featured in the literary category presented their works in poem, essay short story, spoken word, etc.

The finalists representing 30 schools from different parts of Lagos State emerged from 500 student- participants drawn from 200 primary and secondary schools, after a three-day intensive audition in April.

Panel of eminent jury include, Popular Nigerian batik and textile designer, Nike Okundaye, former Ondo State Commissioner for Arts and Tourism, Tola Wewe, Iquo Diana Eke, etc.

Aside the fun aspect of the day, it will be a day of glory for participating students in the VOTC competition as the exhibition of their works on SisiEko @ 50 will be formally opened at the Civic centre, Lagos and thereafter, exhibited at different locations in the state for a period of one year.

Prizes for the competition will be donated and presented by Diamond Bank and Honey Well Flour Mill Plc. Unlike in 2015 in which the prize was awarded on the aggregate of the two creative media, there will be three prizes in all vis a vis, painting, literary arts while the prime prize will go to the combined product of the pupil’s dexterity in both painting and literature.

The Festival of India’s stage will host the best of Bollywood, Nigerian superstars, internationally renowned traditional and contemporary stars from India, Indian cuisine, fashion and culture as a whole.

Some of the cutting-edge programmes and exhibitions which the festival of India is known for in other climes would also be on display at the TBS, including: the best of Indian fashion, cuisine; health, beauty and wellness; India philosophy and theology; music and dance; transcendental art and Yoga. He also revealed that his organisation is collaborating with Lagos State, through its Ministry of Culture and Inter-Governmental Affairs, for a successful festival.

Highlights of the festival will include procession display of various Indian costumes, dressing and dance groups representing different states in India.

Attendees can also expect things liked sumptuous, vegetarian feast, transcendental art and bestselling books on yoga and meditation. On their part, the leaders of the different communities promised to provide their support for the success of the festival.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19 16 — 43 19,, 20 2016

A cross section of Nigerians protesting the recent hike in the pump price of Petrol.

FUEL PRICE HIKE: Labour movement on trial •As Federal Government meets NLC factions

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

T

HE new N145 pump price of Petrol, announced by Federal Government on Wednesday, May 11, has not only put labour on trial, it also weakened the already wanning public perception of of labour in the country. There is no doubt the hike elicited varying reactions from all strata of the Nigerian society.

While some including organized private sector, OPS, supported the government, saying the policy was the right way to go, others including organized labour and its civil society allies rejected it and took up arms against government over the new policy.

Divided house Labour’s threat to resist the hike attracted divergent responses from Nigerians and some civil society groups who claimed labour leaders compromised and betrayed them in 2012 during a similar struggle when the then President Goodluck Jonathan government increased the pump price of petrol.

One needed to read through the comments on social media to appreciate the feelings of these Nigerians.

The new pump price regime did not just come suddenly, but it put labour movement in the country on a collision course with itself and compounded the internal wrangling in Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC. Time shall tell if the movement will return to the ideals of the C M Y K

founding fathers as a united house, or it will be a case of to your tent oh Israel.

The first blow to the unity of labour to effectively fight the hike came from a very critical section of the movement, and indeed, unions in the Oil and Gas industry- Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, and its Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, counterpart. These umbrella bodies for workers in the sector, did not only support the deregulation policy, also their body language was clear that they were opposed to any form of strike on the matter.

In fact, they said dialogue was the best option to addressing the issue. So, for labour, it was like a nation going to war with a divided army.

To worsen the matter, it was gathered that while government invited leaders of both factions NLC and TUC to a meeting to find a way out of the logjam, Wabba faction was said to have refused to hold a meeting with government alongside the Joe Ajaero led faction.

This forced government, it was gathered, to hold separate meeting with Ajaero's faction that one of its affiliates, NUPENG, earlier backed the deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry.

One had expected NLC to be united on issues such as this and not to be blindfolded by ego which government has now taken advantage of. The immediate implication of this is that labour leaders due to their drive pride and

aggrandizement, have helped government to endorse the factionalization of NLC. NIC restraining order: As if this was not enough, National Industrial Court, NIC, President, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, on Tuesday May 17, issued a restraining order to the NLC and TUC stopping them from going ahead with the planned strike scheduled to commence yesterday, pending the

The immediate implication of this is that labour leaders due to their pride and aggrandizement, have helped government to endorse the factionalization of NLC

determination of a suit the federal government lodged before it .

Justice Adejumo further ordered all the parties to maintain status quo until the legal dispute was settled.

The order followed an ex-parte application that was filed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of

Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN. However, leaders of NLC under Wabba Joint Action Front, JAF, insisted on going ahead with the planned strike, describing the NIC order as a “Black market injunction.”

One of the labour leaders of NLC who attended the NEC meeting said: “Our decision not to suspend the strike was further fuelled by today’s (Tuesday) injunction by the Industrial Court, restraining us from proceeding with the strike.”

Corroborating the position of Wabba led NLC , JAF vowed to disregard the restraining order stopping anti-fuel hike strike.

According to the Secretary of JAF, Abiodun Aremu, ‘’the mass action is on! Let them come with the injunction we would disobey whatever useless injunction they are coming up with. We have a responsibility to own our country.

There is nothing they will explain to us why the black market injunction must stay. By 12am, Wednesday, May 18, we will kick start and this action must continue until there another decision or information from Abuja.”

Agreement with NLC faction Meanwhile, the Ajaero faction of NLC whose members insisted that Wednesday was too close to mobilize for an effective nationwide strike, negotiated with government on a way forward. At the end of the meeting, Ajaero said among others, “ we agreed that a committee should be set up to among other things, look at the issue of minimum wage; look at

the issue of N500billion social investment; look at the issue of setting up or reconstituting the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, board and review the N145 new pump price of petroleum product. The committee is to report back in two weeks time.”

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State who spoke on behalf of the government team, said among others, that "we would work towards setting up a framework for the review of the national minimum wage because we all agreed has to be a tripartite body.

Number two, that labour appreciates the decision of the federal government to set up half a trillion naira in the 2016 budget to cover what the Minister of Budget described as social investment. Now, with respect to the management of this social investment and various components of the social investment, the two parties agreed that labour should be involved in this process and come up with some suggestions.

“Now, for us to deal with this and other matters, the committee comprising representatives of organized labour and of the federal government under the chairmanship of the nominees of the federal government would meet and within two weeks resolve to discuss these and other relevant issues including the setting up of the PPPRA board which we all know what its statutory responsibilities are in relation to the issues under focus.

Final decision We have agreed that both parties should work as quickly as possible but in any event not later than two weeks and the report of this joint technical committee would be submitted to what you might call Committee of the Whole to deliberate and make a final decision for presentation to the federal government.”

Among those on the government team at the meeting were Governor Oshiomhole who mediated between the federal government and Labour, SGF, David Babachir Lawal, Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, Budget and Planning , Udo Udoma, Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, Minister of State, Petroleum Resources,, Ibe Kachikwu as well as Senator Ita Enang among others, were part of the government team.

At a later meeting between government and the Wabba led faction of NLC, the faction insisted on the strike.

However, at the meeting between government and TUC leaders, TUC decided to align with the agreement reached with the Ajaero led faction and subsequently, pulled of the strike.

How did the strike go? How has it affacted the image of labour? what are the implications?

To be concluded.

44 — VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

Don’t blame Judiciary for Nigeria’s woes — GADZAMA, SAN CHIEF Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN, is a frontline candidate in the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, election slated for July this year. In this interview, he expressed the hope that the signing of the budget into law by President Muhammadu Buhari will reduce poverty and the economic tension in the nation.

He berated those attacking the judiciary for the country’s woes, noting that they were ignorant of the principles of separation of power and have no respect for the concept of the rule of law.

On the key areas he will pursue if he becomes the next NBA president, he said “I plan to increase job opportunities for lawyers through strategic partnerships in different spheres of the society,” among others. He also spoke on other national issues. Excepts:

By Innocent Anaba

P

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has just signed the 2016 Budget. What are your expectations from the budget?

I expect to see 100 percent implementation of the budget. I expect to see the much awaited ‘change’ which the President promised Nigerians, to begin to manifest. I expect to see completion of ongoing or abandoned projects, revamping of decayed infrastructure, the economy re-jigged, jobs created, enhanced food security, poverty reduced and the economic tension permeating the nation, doused.

Make sacrifices You will remember that the President had at various times called on Nigerians to be patient and to make sacrifices while going through tough times. Having been patient and having made and continued to make sacrifices, I expect the peoples’ patience and sacrifices to pay off this time so that we can all say ‘the juice was worth the squeeze’.

The judiciary has been under attack for some time now and has in some cases been blamed for the woes of the country, what is your reaction to this?

To attack the judiciary or to even blame it for the woes of the society are the misguided and regrettable acts of overzealous elements who are ignorant of the principles of separation of power and have no respect for the concept of the rule of law.

Hierarchically speaking, I think the judiciary is by virtue of its role to the society the only ‘big brother ’ with the capacity to determine disputes between the other arms of government, the different tiers of

government, government and individuals and between individuals – themselves. How then, can the big brother be the cause of the problem?

For an individual or group of individuals to attack the judiciary, is to destroy public confidence in the institution. If the public has no confidence in the judiciary, no one will submit to the jurisdiction of the court to determine disputes and if that occurs, people will resort to self-help in resolving disputes. I do not think this is what any right thinking member of the society wants.

Unfortunately, that is what happens when we continue to attack the judiciary and blame it for the woes of the nation.

Conversely, the National Judi-

I intend to champion the establishment of a minimum wage baseline for the engagement of young lawyers, while taking different factors into account

cial Council, NJC, is responsible for the discipline of judicial officers. Although the NJC has performed well, there is still a lot more that needs to be done. And attacking the judiciary and blam-

ing it for the woes of the nation is not one of those things that need to be done. It is merely a form of distraction and the NJC can do without the distraction.

Therefore, if one has any grouse against a judicial officer, the appropriate thing to do is to resolve same through the NJC and not through electronic or print media.

You are one of the leading candidates for the position of NBA President , why do you want to lead the Bar? My aspiration to lead the Bar is driven by three major forces: sustenance or continuity, consolidation and new frontiers.

Business opportunities The outgoing administration of Mr. Austine Alegeh, SAN, has achieved so much within his two years’ administration on issues such as the NBA Stamp and Seal policy which weeded out fake lawyers and increased business opportunities for lawyers; NBA insurance policy which goes to a deceased lawyer’s family; different welfare packages especially for young lawyers; NBA Affinity Card which entitles lawyers to a wide variety of discounts; universal suffrage; e-voting; among others. I intend to sustain and consolidate on these achievements as leader of the Bar. I also plan to introduce new frontiers in my administration.

For example, I plan to increase job opportunities for lawyers through strategic partnerships in different spheres of the society.

On members’ welfare, I intend to champion the establishment of a minimum wage baseline for the engagement of young lawyers, while taking various factors into account.

I plan to introduce welfare programme for the aged, physically challenged and incapacitated members of the Bar. I plan to reestablish the place of discipline among members in other to renew public confidence in the NBA and her members. On continuing education, I plan to rejuvenate Continuing Legal Education (CLE) for member of the NBA. This will be achieved through Development of the CLE Curriculum; Introducing Moot Court Competitions and Mentoring Programmes for Young Lawyers and the introduction of Student Wing of the

•Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama NBA. In the last 10 years, you have been organising annual lecture series for lawyers, why do you do this?

The Annual Public Lectures our Law Firm organises is a part of the corporate social responsibility we owe to the society. Usually, the Annual Public Lectures centers on contemporary issues of public interest where we educate, enlighten and proffer solutions (where applicable) to the theme of the Lectures.

Issues of public interest In doing so, we usually invite resource persons from within and outside the country to serve as Guest Speakers. To God’s glory, the turnouts at these events have been overwhelming and the feedback we get from the attendees i.e. members of the Bar, private sector and general members of the public has been quite encouraging. Some keynote speakers at our past Annual Public Lectures include: Oba Nsugbe QC, SAN; Prof. Gerald Tanyi; Chief Afe Babalola, SAN; Prof. Jerry Gana; Alun Jones, QC.; Mr. Frank Nweke (Jr) and Justice C. C. Nweze, JSC. Why do you consider continuing legal education a vital experience for lawyers?

It is common truth that the only constant thing in life is change.

The same truth applies to the Legal Profession. In fact, one of the characteristics of law is that it is dynamic. It changes from time to time with the changing times.

If that is true for the profession, how then will the drivers of the profession stay on key current development without continu-

ing legal education?

It is when we go for continuing legal education that we learn about emerging markets, new trends in legal practice, what obtains in other jurisdictions and generally how we can improve on our legal practice. Continuing Legal Education is not only desirable but is a necessary programme which should be embarked upon by every lawyer who aspires to do better in practice.

Our firm for instance, habitually sponsors our lawyers to attend Continuing Legal Education courses organided by the NBA and other platforms such as the International Bar Association and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

Bringing the mentor together I encourage other law firms who are not doing this to start doing so. Why? When your increase your learning, you increase your earning.

While commissioning your law office, J-K Gadzama Court in Abuja, the CJN encouraged other law firms to emulate your mentoring programme for young lawyers, what is this programme all about?

The Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, JSC, (retd) Professional Training and Mentoring Programme was introduced by our firm to bring the mentor together with the mentee in order for the later to become better in a particular or some areas of legal practice. The mentor will do this by deploying his time, energy, experiences, and a belief in the innate capacity of the mentee, to

Continues on Page 45

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

— 45

Court order: Community petitions IG over land dispute

By Onozure Dania

D

AYS after a Lagos High Court, ruled in its favour, the Agunfoye village Igbogbo, an Ikorodu community in Lagos, has not known peace. Reason: The community has been under attacks by land speculators in an alleged connivance with the police, leading to loss of innocent lives and destruction of property worth millions of naira.

This followed a right of occupancy ceded in favour of the Agunfoye village Igbogbo headed by the Adeyoruwa family.

Trail judge, Justice Habeeb Abiru, now of the Court of Appeal had declared the Adeyoruwa of Agunfoye Idi-Orogbo in Igbogbo, Ikorodu as the rightful owner of the village being contested by Ishau Kolawole Ogunlana, Taofik Ijeni, Lateef Ijeni, Azeez Anifowose and Alaba Anifowose respectively.

Statutory right of occupancy In the judgement, Justice Abiru said that the Adeyoruwa of Agunfoye Idi-Orogbo had the statutory right of occupancy ‘in respect of the total area of land verged Red except the area verged green in Survey Plan No LAA/0327/07D/007 dated the 4th day of June 2007 drawn by L.A. Animashaun, Licenced Surveyor.

He said: “It is hereby declared that the defendants (Ishau Kolawole Ogunlana, Taofik Ijeni, Lateef Ijeni, Azeez Anifowose and Alaba Anifowose) are entitled to exercise any possessory or proprietary rights in respect of the parcels of land…and that the activities of the defendant on any part of the area of land amount to trespass.

“It is also declared that all sales, transfers of interest in respect of portions of the Adeyoruwa family land at Agunfoye, Idiorogbo carried out without the consent of the Adeyoruwa family are illegal, void and of no effect.

“It is hereby ordered that the

EDITORIAL Innocent Anaba ( Head) Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri Dayo Benson (Supervising Editor) dayobenson@yahoo.com

Adeyoruwa family is entitled to the immediate possession of all the portion of the Adeyoruwa family land at Agunfoye, Idiorogbo sold without their consent.”

Dissatisfied, the aggrieved party in another suit asked another court to invalidate the Justice Abiru’s verdict. But the judge, Justice M.A. Savage dismissed their application, saying that Justice Abiru’s judgement remained valid since it had not been set aside by any superior courts of record.

Justice Savage affirmed Justice Abiru’s position.

The court order was ignored as the police had been fingered in the alleged violence rocking the community following the judgement He said: “It is hereby ordered that leave of this court to levy execution on the the claimants/ Judgment debtors by the deputy sheriff of this court by taking possession of all portion of land at Agunfoye, Idi Orogbo in line with

L-R: Senior Partner, Punuka Attorney & Solicitors, Chief Anthony Idigbe, SAN; former Head of State and Special Guest of Honour, Gen. Yakubu Gowon; Chairman of occasion, Dr. Sonny Kuku; and Guest Lecturer from Harvard University, Prof. Robert Lawrence, at the 2016 Annual Lecture in Lagos. the judgment of this court is hereby granted.

“It is also ordered that the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State should assist the Sheriff to execute the judgement of this court by taking all possession of all portion of the Adeyoruwa family land at Agunfoye, Idiorogbo sold by the claimants/Judgment debtors with all orders made in the judgment therein.”

But instead, the court order was ignored as the police had been fingered in the alleged violence rocking the community following the judgement. The police, according to Mr. Gbenga Ojo, a lawyer to the family, comprising Mushin Ogijo, Isiu and Agunfoye-Igbogbo communities had allegedly connived with some land speculators to deprive the

family of the execution of the judgements.

Specifically, Ojo in a petition to the Police Service Commission, Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, National Security Adviser and other security agencies accused eight natives of the area of using the police to scuttle the court’s judgment in the matter.

Judicial process In the petition, Ojo accused the police and some other persons of working against the interest of justice. All, according to him, allegedly worked in tandem with the police to scuttle judicial process in the matter. He said: “On several occasions, some of this persons had

Don’t blame Judiciary for Nigeria’s woes — GADZAMA Continues from Page 44 help him become better.

As a firm, we acknowledge that the absence of formal and/or sufficient pupilage in Nigeria has created a lacuna that urgently needs to be filled. Most lawyers graduate from the law school with little or no idea of the realities in the legal field. Clearly, there is a huge gap that needs to be filled and this scheme is created for that purpose. And so far, it is yielding positive fruits.

Who and who are qualified to benefit from the programme?

To qualify to benefit from the Mentorship Programme, we target lawyers who are from one to 10 (1-10) years post Call to the Bar. However, we sometimes consider lawyers above this level.

As you move around NBA branches in the country canvassing for votes to become the next NBA President, what has the experience been like?

The experience has been eventful, insightful and interesting. It has given me the rare privilege of drawing closer to members of

the NBA at different branches and it has also given me the opportunity to feel their heartbeat on matters that pertains to their well being.

In the past few months, you have presented key note addresses in almost every branch of the NBA across the country, how do you you cope with your practice and these travellings?

It is not in as many branches of the NBA as you make it sound.

Competing demands In any event, it has been my privilege to be invited to speak at those functions. I feel humbled to be selected among equals to deliver those keynote addresses.

Usually, it is presumed that one knows it all but you know, that no one man knows it all.

Also, travelling across the country to present these keynote addresses has honestly not been easy in view of the competing demands for my time by both family and professional commit-

ments. However, I have come to learn that these are the kind of sacrifices that our past heroes made and I am delighted to make mine.

Your question reminds me of the next two keynote addresses I will be delivering later this month at Aguata, organised by NBA Aguata Branch and at Ado-Ekiti at the ‘6th Aare Afe Babalola Annual Public Lecture’, organised by NBA Ado-Ekiti Branch, both are scheduled for Wednesday, May 25, 2016 and Monday, May 30, 2016, respectively.

The incumbent President of the NBA, Mr. Augustine Alegeh SAN has achieved a lot for the Bar, how do you expect to fit into his big shoes?

Easy. You see, I am not coming to start up a new government for the NBA; I am simply coming to continue from where he stops, consolidate on his achievements and gradually, introduce my new programmes. I believe very strongly that government is a continous programme and that is exactly what I am going to do. I am only coming to add my own block to the building.

invaded our clients’ communities to molest innocent people living in the communities with the intention to forcefully disposes them of their land.

As a result of a series of these attacks on our clients, many innocent people have been killed and injured while valuable property worth millions of naira were also destroyed.

“Also in another development, despite the judgments of the court in Suits Nos. IKD/02/2007, IKD/ 24/2011 and IKD/68/2014 in favour of our client’s at Agunfoye village Igbogbo and a recent affirmation of the judgments by Justice Savage of the State High Court sitting in Ikorodu, some of these persons on April 23, 2016 allegedly led armed thugs and some policemen from Lagos State Ipakodo unit to invade the said village in defiance to the court order, in the process they shot and killed one of their thugs and caused the police to arrest 82 yearold Chief, Ishau Ogunlana and two of his children while their thugs took over the entire village.”

Detailed investigation Already, the Police Service Commission (PSC) which acknowledged Ojo’s petition had directed the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase to commence investigation into the allegations with a view to bringing the alleged perpetrators to book.

Particularly, PSC asked Arase to investigate the alleged role played by his officers.

In a letter dated May 6, signed

by Emmanuel C. Ibe, the commission said it requested an immediate investigation into the matter. It reads: “The complaint is against one Mutairu Owoeye and his cohorts, who are allegedly terrorizing and harassing some communities. Some Police officers—CP Akintunde and DCP Awoniyi have been accused too.

The complainant is also requesting a detailed investigation into the matter.”

46—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

Nigerians'll reap gains of fuel price hike soon—IPMAN

By Michael Eboh

A

FEC MEETING: Council members at the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: Abayomi Adeshida.

We increased fuel price because Nigeria's broke—LAI MOHAMMED

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

A

BUJA—THE Federal Government has said it increased the price of petrol to raise money to run the system, since the country was broke.

Government said Nigeria’s foreign earnings had drastically reduced in recent times and that the only way out of its present financial quagmire was to look inwards to generate more money.

Information Minister, Mr. Lai Mohammed, stated these while briefing newsmen at the end of the Federal Executive Council meeting, chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday.

Also at the briefing were Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, and Labour Minister, Dr. Chris Ngige.

Mr. Lai Mohammed said: “The current problem is not really about subsidy removal. It is about the fact that Nigeria is broke. Pure and simple.

“It is like when somebody who has been earning N100,000 a month is faced with a situation where his employer says, henceforth you will be earning N10,000 a month. He would need to make some very painful decisions and some very painful adjustments. That is the situation with Nigeria today.”

Also speaking, Dr. Ngige denied allegations that government was encouraging labour factionalisation by negotiating with both Ayuba Wabba and Joe Ajaero factions at separate meetings to forestall the strike.

Ngige said the door is still open for talks with the Federal Government, noting that “we are ready to discuss with anybody, even civil society groups. As a government, we C M Y K

...as Fashola justifies waiver for Dangote Construction will not encourage factionalisation.”

Similarly, Malami faulted the criticisms arising from the Federal Government’s legal approach for injunction against the industrial action, saying it was necessary, especially as NLC did not give the government the constitutional 15 days notice.

On the waiver granted Dangote Group for the

construction of a section of Lokoja-Obajana-Kabba-Ilorin Road, specifically the section between Obajana-Kabba Road, Mr. Fashola said the road was important for the infrastructure development of the country.

He said: “Companies are ordinarily supposed to pay income tax. There are existing policies in our laws which enable government to

consider and give tax incentives.

“Council considered and approved the proposal for Dangote Construction Company to build that section of the road because the tonnage of cement being produced from the factory has increased and the traffic in that area has increased; there has been unfortunate accidents also.”

$15bn arms cash: I was instructed via piece of paper to pay Bello Mohammed N300m—WITNESS

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor

A

BUJA— A witness in the ongoing trial of Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed, a former National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Yazidu Ibrahim, a Staff Officer, Accounts, Office of the National Security Adviser, yesterday, told the Federal High Court, Abuja, how he was instructed to pay N300 million to a company, BAM Projects and Properties Limited, owned by Bello.

Bello, his son, Mohammed, and their company, Bam Project and Properties Limited, are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for allegedly receiving N300 million from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).

At the resumed hearing yesterday, Ibrahim told Justice A. R. Mohammed that he received a written instruction on a piece of paper to prepare a payment mandate for BAM in the sum of N300 million.

Led in evidence by Adebisi Adeniyi, who stood in for Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), Ibrahim further stated that the piece of

paper had the account name, account number, amount and reason for payment (payment for safe houses).

According to him, there were two signatories on the payment mandate: Mohammed Sambo Dasuki, a former National Security Adviser, and S.A. Salisu, Director, Finance and Administration.

“After they have signed the paper, I would also sign before taking it to the bank (Central Bank of Nigeria),” he said.

During cross-examination

by counsel to the first defendant, Solomon Umoh (SAN), the witness told the court that he did not know if there was any contract between the defendants and office of the National Security Adviser, adding that “no documents for payments were made available, apart from the piece of paper sent to me.”

The case was adjourned to June 1 for further crossexamination of the witness by counsel to the second and third defendants.

NCC reads riot act to telecom firms on 2442 short code

By Emmanuel Elebeke

A

BUJA—THE Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, yesterday, warned all the mobile network operators in the country to comply by with its directive of dedicating a short code, 2442, on their networks for use by subscribers to opt-in to a database that would enable them register their numbers against unsolicited messages.

Executive Vice Chairman of the commission, Professor

Umar Dambatta, issued the warning at the 77th edition of the Telecom Consumer Parliament hosted by NCC in Abuja.

He noted that the directive was part of ongoing efforts by the commission to ensure improved quality of service to consumers in the country.

According to him, NCC had put in place other measures that will ensure that service providers meet the needs of consumers.

BUJA—THE Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, yesterday, disclosed that the country would start reaping the benefits of the new pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, also known as petrol, in less than one month, which might include a reduction in the price of the commodity.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja, President of IPMAN, Mr. Obasi Lawson, also called on Nigerians to ignore those calling for strike against the hike in the price, adding that the new pump price will liberalise the oil and gas industry and also engender competition, which would likely force price reduction of the product.

He, however, called on the Federal Government to release the proposed palliatives as quickly as possible to cushion the effects of the hike.

We’re boosting diversification —NEPC

By Oboh Agbonkhese

T

HE Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, said it had redoubled effort to grow the country’s export sector and also help in diversifying the economy, especially in the wake of the low price of crude oil.

Speaking at an interactive forum of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, Abuja chapter, the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of NEPC, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, said the quest to diversify the nation’s economy had generated increased interest now more than ever before, given dwindling oil revenue.

Represented by Director, Export Development and Incentives, Mr. George Enyiekpon, Awolowo said: “NEPC has redoubled effort to grow the sector through several intervention projects, such as one-state-one-product initiative and zero oil plan project.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016 — 47

We ‘ll break F/Eagles W/Cup jinx –Amuneke

By Jude Opara

C

*Amuneke

Iheanacho Continues from BP season, with the official website of the Citizens handing him three awards at their informal Alternative End of Season awards.

The Nigeria international picked up the Best Fluke Goal award for his strike against Swansea City in December. The ex-Golden Eaglets star was credited with the goal in added time after Yaya Toure’s curling effort deflected off him.

He was nominated for the Best Consolation Goal for his screamer against Southampton, but the award was eventually

handed out to Sergio Aguero for his goal in the 4-1 loss to Liverpool. The 19-year-old Iheanacho got an honourable mention in the Individual Performance of the Season for his hattrick versus Aston Villa.

Argentine star Aguero beat him to the accolade thanks to his five goals against Newcastle United.

The Taye Academy product won the Best Disallowed Goal for his cancelled goal against Bournemouth and the Best First Touch award for his strike against Crystal Palace after coming on as a late substitute.

Giwa

and its matches, played and not played shall be cancelled”. It is now left for the league to enforce this regulation.

Meanwhile the Jos Elephants have made a U-turn and agreed to play their Matchday 18 game against Enyimba that was slated for Ilorin yesterday afternoon. However, they have asked that the game be rescheduled despite Enyimba already waiting for them in Ilorin. A statement from the club on Wednesday afternoon showed that they want to remain in the league while asking for the LMC to review the circumstances leading to their recent travails. “Giwa FC has written to inform the League Management Company (LMC) that it has accepted to play its match with Enyimba,” said a statement from media officer David King.

Continues from BP the Jos club in Ilorin yesterday afternoon to bring to three the number of matches Giwa have failed to honour so far this season without any acceptable reason.

Wikki Torurists and Akwa United also walked over Giwa in Ilorin, where the Jos club were banished to following crowd trouble during a home game against Enugu Rangers recently. Last week, the League Management Company formally cautioned Giwa they risked expulsion from the league.

The LMC referred to Rule 13.28 which states as follows,” if a club fails to honour three matches cumulatively within the league season without acceptable reason to the LMC, such a club shall be expelled from the League

HIEF coach of the national U-20 team, Emmanuel Amuneke has said the present team under his tutelage is working hard to break the jinx where every successful U-17 team that graduated to the Flying Eagles have not been able to replicate that feat.

Amuneke who spoke yesterday in Abuja shortly before leading his team to Burundi for the 2017 African Youth Championship (AYC) said the calibre of players in the team are capable of doing the country proud at the world stage when they get there.

The former Super Eagles winger while speaking on the game in Bujumbura this Saturday said the plan of his team is to secure victory over their hosts so as to make the return leg in Nigeria a mere formality.

He stated that all the 18 players he selected are fit for the cracker including the 2015 Golden Eaglets goal merchant, Victor Osimhen who was an initial doubt after a shoulder injury during a friendly match with the Dream Team V1 in Abuja last week.

“We are going to Burundi with the aim of winning so that the return leg here will be a mere formality. We have trained very well and ready to go but our long term aim is to end this seeming jinx where despite doing well in the U-17, we are yet to repeat that at the U-20 level. But I am optimistic that with the support of Nigerians we can achieve this goal.”

Despite huge successes at the FIFA U-17 level with five titles, Nigeria is yet to win the FIFA U-20 championship as her best result was the second place finish at the Saudi ’89 tournament.

Anambra FA introduces 'Football Made in Anambra'

T

HE newly elected Anambra State Football Association under the leadership of Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah has unveiled a blue print towards fasttracking the transformation of the game in the state.

Amongst the programmes which are aimed at revolutionizing football in Anambra state is the highly anticipated “Football Made in Anambra” which seeks to foster grassroots football.

This competition, which will involve participants from over 50,000 families in Anambra state and in Diaspora, will set out to discover young and budding talents whose talents will

Green hails Edo FA over South South tourney

T

ECHNICAL committee chairman of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Chris Green

ITTF Premier Lotto Nigeria Open: Oribamishe dreams of a medal

By Okeke Chinwe

T

HE long-awaited 2016 ITTF Premier lotto Nigeria Open served off yesterday at Molade Okoya Thomas Indoor Sports Hall of Teslim Balogun in Lagos.

In the women’s singles, 38 players are jostling for the title. In one of the matches yesterday, Esther Oribamishe a 15year old, first year student of Ekiti

Enyeama Continues from BP take place on May 27 at the Adokiye Amesimeka Stadium in Port Harcourt.

He will feature for the Nigerian team against Yobo’s friends. Event coordinator, Waidi Akanni confirmed yesterday that Enyeama was ready for the testimonial game.

“We have a confirmation to that effect and there are many other goodies lined up for fans because Yobo is so passionate about this project,” Akanni said.

Another player who retired from Eagles last year, Emmanuel Emenike, has also confirmed to hit Port Harcourt for the Yobo Tes-

State University defeated Funmi Ajala 3-2 to advance to the next round.

In an interview with Sports Vanguard, Esther explained that although it was a difficult match as her opponent Funmi Ajala was a familiar foe, she was able to overcome her. “Actually, Funmi had beaten me once or so in the past and it is expected that such an opponent would be tough.

Thank God I was able to win the match,” she said, timonial match.

“Emmanuel is coming.

He spoke with me personally and I am so elated with the love shown by my colleagues,” the former international said. Top players who made name in various European leagues especially the EPL will be in Port Harcourt for the match.

The list of those who have confirmed for the testimo-

*Oribamise

nial include Samuel Eto’o, Didier Drogba, John Terry, Thierry Henry and Wayne Rooney, the Ayew Brothers: Dede and Jordan, Sulley Muntari, Djibrin Cisse and Tresor Lualua amongst others. Yobo featured at three FIFA World Cups and six AFCON tournaments, leading Nigeria to victory in his last outing in South Africa.

Okocha Continues from BP lan, Gudni Bergsson, Ricardo Gardner, Ivan Klasnic and Fabrice Muamba all turning out for the occasion.

Indeed, perhaps inevitably, it was Okocha who

be harnessed by the best hands in the country in an academy to be set up by the association.

“1 family-1 footballer” which is the theme of the programme aims to identify and develop one footballer from every family in a fiesta that will be hosted in every community for a period of two weeks with lots of giveaway prizes including over 50,000 branded footballs and jerseys for participants and their families. The programme is billed to attract legends from within and outside the shores of Nigeria as the association looks to completely change the face of football in Anambra state.

ended up stealing the show, scoring a hat-trick (two goals for one side, one for the other) and generally lighting up the game with his flair and technique as was his calling card back in his playing days.

has given a part on the back to Edo FA for putting together the South South champion of champions soccer tourney which is on-going at the Sam Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin.

Green said the tourney which will see all the FA Cup winners from the South South zone doing battle ahead of the national Federation Cup, is a great idea for which Edo FA deserves kudos.

“It would be three days of great football in Benin. Edo FA has done very well in coming up with the tournament. It has the backing of NFF and we hope other state FA’s would be this proactive,” Green said.

Meanwhile all the eight teams for the tourney has arrived Benin for the competition which is being bankrolled by Frot Group, a Lagos based company.

Chairman of Frot Group, Frank Momoh who would be gracing the opening and closing ceremonies disclosed yesterday that the winner of the tourney would pocket N1m while the runner up would smile home with N500,000.

Coach of Insurance FC, Roland Ewere said yesterday that the tourney would help his side prepare very well for the new season as the club strives to stage a return to the elite class of the nation’s league.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

Okocha dazzles, scores hat-trick T

HE great and good of the Bolton Wanderers alumni fraternity descended upon the Macron Stadium on Tuesday for a charity exhibition game in aid of the club’s Supporters and Community trusts.

The two sides were captained by Bolton old-timers John McGinlay and Tony Kelly, with likes of Jay-Jay Okocha, Jussi Jaaskelainen, Kevin No Continues on Page 47

Giwa FC expelled!

G

IWA FC have been expelled from the Nigeria Football Professional League(NPFL) after they stayed away from a third game yesterday in Ilorin.

Acccording to the rules of the Nigeria league, any club that fail to honour three fixtures in a season risk expulsion from the competition.

Enyimba walked over

*Ogunbote

Continues on Page 47

Enyeama, Emenike return to Eagles F

ORMER Super Ea gles skipper, Vincent Enyeama of Lille FC France, and striker Emmanuel Emenike of West Ham are set to don the colours of Nigeria again.

Eyeama who threw in the towel last year when Sunday Oliseh was coach of the Eagles will play for Nigeria again next week.

However, Enyeama is going to wear his gloves for the Joseph Yobo Testimonial match billed to

Iheanacho wins 3 Gongs *Man City End-ofSeason Awards

K

ELECHI Iheanacho has been recognized for his outstanding contribution to Manchester City over the course of the 2015-2016 *Enyeama

*Okocha

*Emenike

Continues on Page 47

QUICK CROSSWORD

T OD AY'S PUZZLE ODA

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

DOWN ACROSS 1 Place (5) 3 Send (5) 2 Sorrow (5) 9 Filament (6) 3 Knock (3) 10 Potent (6) 4 Revised (6) 11 Guide (5) 5 Image (4) 12 Region (4) 6 Child (3) 15 Yawn (4) 7 Lawful (5) 17 Delineated (7) 8 War-horse (5) 20 Cover (3) 13 Ebbed (7) 21 Shabby (5) 14 Pointed (5) 23 Pitcher (4) 16 Snapshot (7) 25 Essence (4) 18 Ate (5) 26 Twelve (5) 19 Ovum (3) 28 Obtain (3) 22 Cede (5) 30 Lament (7) 24 Rank (3) 33 Though (4) 27 Deny (6) 35 Expired (4) 36 Assumed name (5) 28 Dizzy (5) 29 Entice (5) 38 Leave (6) 31 Lubricated (5) 39 Steal (6) 32 Bordered (5) 40 Cash (5) 34 Singer (4) 36 Limb (3) 37 Tunid (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Recoup 5, Diesel 9, Saver 10, Barrel 11, Pound 12, Demon 14, Less 17, Dot 18, Eased 22, Tamed 23, Noticed 24, Cease 26, Never 29, Once 30, Job 32, Note 33, Cared 35, Mauled 36, Gauche 37, Debar 38, Called 39, Needle.

DOWN: 1, Rabble 2, Caress 3, Used 4, Paled 5, Depot 6, Iron 7, Scream 8, Lodged 13, Monitor 15, Eaten 16, Sense 18, Laden 19, Tenet 21, Doe 22, Ten 24, Cosmic 25, Actual 27, Voiced 28, Recede 30, Jaded 31, Began 33, Cede 34, Dare.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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