Govs accuse BPE of fraud, reject firm

...towards a better life for the people

**

VOL. 25: NO. 61735

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

MORE TROUBLE FOR OTEH:

Ondo 2012: Soldiers ordered Senate urges to shoot troublemakers •P. 3 Jonathan to ....As NBC threatens biased stations

sack her

•P. 15

PHCN BID:

Govs accuse BPE of fraud, reject firm

BY CLARA NWACHUKWU AND HENRY UMORU

A •Edo, Ekiti, Delta, Ondo govs slam Indian firm •Accusation reckless, unfounded — BPE •We can't be involved in unethical transactions — Vigeo

BUJA—FOUR states, yesterday, rose against the award of Benin Electricity Distribution Company to an Indian Company, Vigeo, describing it as a total fraud and unacceptable.

Governors Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State; Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State said the privatisation process was a racket.

Vigeo Power Consor-

Continues on Page 5

DONU KOGBARA: Total Tedium •P.17

Mr & Mrs

LAUNCHING— Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN (2nd right); his wife, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola (right); Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris (3rd right); Maternal and Child Mortality Reduction, MCMR, ambassadors, former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Princess Sarah Sosan (2nd left) and member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adefumilayo Tejuosho (left) at the launch of MCMR handbooks in Lagos, yesterday.

Explosions rock Bauchi church as four die in bus attack •P. 48

NJC fails to •P. 48 reinstate Salami

2 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012—3

1 DAYS TO GO

Air speculative results and lose licence, NBC threatens stations STORIES BY DAYO JOHNSON HE National Broadcasting Commission NBC yesterday said that it would sanction any broadcast station speculating or projecting result in tomorrow ’s governorship election in Ondo State.

It said at a media briefing in

T

Akure that any broadcasting station that contrived the provisions of the code of political broadcast would be fined N500,000 and N1m for subsequent breach, suspension or revocation of licence.

The Deputy Director, Monitoring and Enforcement

Soldiers ordered to shoot on sight Violence:

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

HEAD of tomorrow ’s governorship election in Ondo State, the General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Major Gen. Mohammed Abubakar yesterday ordered soldiers to shoot any trouble maker, who resists arrest.

Abubakar also warned trouble makers to steer clear of the state during the governorship election.

The GOC while addressing Soldiers deployed to the state for the election at the 32 Artillery Brigade Akure declared that nobody would be allowed to carry arms to the polling station while directing them to arrest anybody who violates the order.

According to him, there would be “no movement on that day except for those on essential duties and those on election duty. No hunting on the Election Day. I am happy that the IG has said that there would

be no fishing during the poll. I don’t want to hear that I am going to the bush to hunt.

Anybody with arms must be arrested. If he resists arrest, shoot him I give you the order.”

Abubakar said that movement would be restricted from 6pm to 6am but explained that motorists traveling across the state to other parts of the country would be allowed passage after they must have proved that they are not going into the state.

The GOC said that he had received petition from a political party that one of the contestants had bribed some soldiers to allow his party to rig during the election, pointing out that he was not a party to that and warned any soldier who is a member of any political party to say so. ”Any soldier found colluding with any party would be severely dealt with. No amount of money they promise you will turn you to Abiola or Dangote."

of the commission, Mrs. Bunmi Cole, said that the period of campaign broadcast ended yesterday night, adding that any form of interview, highlight or programme with display of any political party logo or symbol insignia would attract appropriate sanction.

Cole pointed out that live discussion programmes during the election should be handled by matured and experienced presenters while stations should avoid the use of alarming words or

statement that could lead to pandemonium in the society.

She added that news broadcast should be mindful of principles of pluralism by giving equal airtime and comparable representations to all political programmes, adding that negative adverts should be avoided.

According to her the commission had discovered that broadcast stations in the state had not provided a level play ground for all the political parties via commercialisation of political

broadcasts, glamorisation and praise-singing of candidates, intolerance of opposing views and predominance of indecent and abusive languages.

Cole therefore called for high sense of responsibility and professionalism on the part of all broadcasters knowing the potency of broadcasting to any society.

“We should not allow our zeal to satisfy anyone override our professionalism which is the only thing we can boast of while we work.”

The National broadcasting Commission therefore appealed to all operatives in the industry to play the game according to the rule to avoid red card.

Muslim groups urge members to vote best candidate

BY WAHAB ABDULLAH

O

*Professor Attahiru Jega promises free, fair and credible poll in Ondo State

NDO State Chapter of the National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations, NACOMYO, an umbrella body for all Muslim youth organisations, has called on entire Muslims in the state to vote the best candidate in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

NACOMYO, which stated that it has put machinery in force to access all the candidates, appealed to Muslims to cast their vote with the collective interest of the state and the development of Islam.

PPA suspends candidate over anti-party activities

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ESS than 48 hours to the Ondo state governorship election, the Governorship Candidate of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Olatunji Omoregha, has been suspended for anti-party activities.

Omoregha was accused of making disparaging statement against a former chieftain of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Segun Ojo, who has now decamped to the ruling Labour Party (LP).

According to a statement by

the Ondo State PPA Chairman, Alamurin Ogunmodede, the PPA candidate has been suspended and would not be regarded as its flagbearer for the election.

“For some time now, Mr. Tunji Omoregha has not been

discussing party issues with the leadership of PPA apart from financial requests. The PPA, Ondo State chapter can categorically say that Mr. Omoregha is on his own and should not be regarded as speaking the mind of the

Group tasks INEC on credible polls

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HE Centre for Human Rights and Ethics in Development (CHRED) yesterday called on INEC to be transparent in the handling of tomorrow ’s governorship election in Ondo State and allow all the votes to count as it expressed concern over the

level of insecurity in the state.

The Executive Director Moshood Erubami said in Akure that INEC should endeavour to provide full information to all stakeholders in a manner that would be accessible.

Erubami said part of the

Fawehinmi family back Mimiko

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HE Family members of the late legal luminary and human right activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) have thrown their weight behind the reelection of Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko.

The Fawehinmi family in a statement by the wife and son of the late legal icon, Mrs. Ganiyat C M Y K

Fawehinmi and Barrister Mohammed Fawehinmi respectively, said Governor Mimiko had in the last three and half years implemented programmes that had direct impact on the life of the common man, which is what late Gani Fawehinmi was known for in his life time.

moves to be made to make the election transparent was for the commission to undertake open, timely and efficient

accreditation of election observers, and allow observers access to all stages of the electoral process.

PPA,” Ogunmodede said.

But in a swift reaction, Omoregha said there was nothing the party could do him at this point as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recognized him as the PPA governorship candidate, threatening to go to court should the party take any action against him.

His words: “I remain the gubernatorial candidate of the PPA, recognized by INEC, whatever anybody says is not necessary at this point."

Ondo indigenes rise for Mimiko in Abuja

By ABUTU AGADA

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NDO State indigenes in the Federal Capital Territory, FC T, over the weekend threw their weight behind the re-election of Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

Speaking under the aegis of Ondo indigenes in the Diaspora, convener of the forum, Mr Toyin Aladegbami said it decided to drum up

support for Governor Mimiko to keep the tempo of development in the state.

While urging indigenes both those resident at home and those in the diaspora to preform their civic responsibilities, Mr Aladegbami said “our gathering is to sensitise Ondo indigenes in the Diaspora and to draw attention to the

Saturday election; and the need for us to play our roles as indigenes of the state, to go home, support our people and perform our civic rights.

For those that did not register at home, they can pray and call their people at home to vote. We also want to emphasise that we need to take steps that will enhance our well being and not the one that can destroy life”.

4 — Vanguard, FRID AY, OCTOBER 19, 2012 FRIDA

Obama was considered potential target — AP G

A

Bangladeshi man snared in an FBI terror sting considered targeting President Barack Obama and the New York City Stock Exchange before settling on a car bomb attack on the Federal Reserve, just blocks from the World Trade Center site, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Thursday.

The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the investigation and talked to the

AP on condition of anonymity, stressed that the suspect never got beyond the discussion stage in considering an attack on the president.

In a September meeting with an undercover agent posing as a fellow jihadist, Quazi Mohammad Rezwanul Ahsan Nafis explained he chose the Federal Reserve as his car bomb target “for operational reasons,” according to a criminal complaint. Nafis also indicated he knew that choice would “cause a large number of civilian casualties, including

Quazi Mohammad Rezwanul Ahsan Nafis women and children,” the complaint said.

The bomb was phony, but authorities said that Nafis’ admiration of Osama bin Laden and aspirations for martyrdom

Rwanda wins Security Council seat

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WANDA, along with Australia and Argentina , has won a seat on the U.N. Security Council on Thursday, despite accusations by a U.N. expert panel that the Rwandan defense minister is commanding a rebellion in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.

Rwanda was unopposed in its bid for the

African seat on the council that South Africa will vacate at the end of December, but still needed approval from two-thirds of the U.N. General Assembly members present to secure the two-year term. It won 148 votes.

Argentina also was elected to the council unopposed, winning 182 votes in the 193-nation assembly. Australia won a

Libyan Islamist says he was at consulate during attack

A

Libyan militia com mander who U.S. officials say is under investigation in connection with the attacks on the American consulate in Benghazi which led to the death of the ambassador said he was present during the incident but was not one of the ringleaders.

Some American newspapers have quoted unnamed Libyan officials as pointing to Ahmed Abu Khattala as the leader of the attacks on Sept, 11.

The newspapers also reported that the officials said Abu Khattala’s whereabouts were unknown.

U.S. government sources told Reuters that Abu Khattala is being investigated as a suspect in the Benghazi consulate attacks though U.S. investigators are not clear at this point if he played a role in leading or organizing the attacks.

The killings of Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three colleagues in Benghazi have become a flashpoint in the U.S. election cam-

paign, with Republicans seizing on the issue to accuse President Barack Obama of failed leadership.

In an interview, Abu Khattala told Reuters he had only heard he was a suspect through news media and was surprised that officials had told journalists he was at large.

seat as well with 140 votes. At least one further round of voting was taking place to decide the remaining two seats up for grabs.

Cambodia, Bhutan and South Korea are competing for one Asia-Pacific seat. With Australia’s victory secured, Finland and Luxembourg are up for the other remaining seat available in the “Western European and Others” group.

A confidential U.N. report, seen by Reuters on Tuesday, cast a shadow over Rwanda’s election to the 15-member U.N. powerhouse - which has the ability to impose sanctions and authorize military interventions.

were not.

FBI agents grabbed the 21-year-old Nafis — armed with a cellphone he believed was rigged as a detonator — after he made several attempts to blow up a fake 1,000pound the bomb inside a vehicle parked next to the Federal Reserve Wednesday in lower Manhattan, the complaint said.

Nafis appeared in federal court in Brooklyn on Wednesday to face charges of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and attempting to provide material support to al-Qaida. Wearing a brown T-shirt and black jeans, he was ordered held without bail and did not enter a plea. His defense attorney had no comment outside court.

OOGLE has threatened to exclude French media sites from search results if France goes ahead with plans to make search engines to pay for content.

In a letter sent to several ministerial offices, Google said such a law “would threaten its very existence”.

French newspaper publishers have been pushing for the law, saying it is unfair that Google receives advertising revenue from searches for news. French Culture Minister Aurelie Filippetti also favours the idea.

She told a parliamentary commission it was “a tool that it seems important to me to develop”.

Google France had said earlier that the plan “would be harmful to the internet, internet users and news websites that benefit from substantial traffic” that comes via Google’s search engine.

It said it redirected four

Google threatens French media ban over proposed law billion clicks to French media pages each month.

Print newspapers have seen their incomes gradually eroded in recent years as consumers and advertisers turn to the web. Previously the French government has considered introducing a tax on online advertising revenues but it later dropped the plan, worried it would hurt small local companies more than global internet giants. “France has a track record of enacting laws to protect its local media interest that seem out of step with the conventional wisdom in other markets,” said Adrian Drury, an analyst with research firm Ovum.

South African President Jacob Zuma has called on workers to return to their jobs after a series of violent strikes. South African mining has been hit by a wave of wildcat strikes

Appeals court rules against Defense of Marriage Act

A

U.S. appeals court in New York on Thursday ruled that a

Tens of thousands of people rallied across Greece Thursday to protest further tough austerity measures, as a general strike essentially shut down much of the country’s transportation network.

U.S. law defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman unconstitutionally denies federal benefits to lawfully married same-sex couples.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is now the second federal appeals court to reject part of the Defense of Marriage Act. It upheld a lower court ruling that had found a central part of the law unconstitutional.

Appeals in several cases are currently pending before the U.S. Supreme Court, which could choose to take up the issue in its current term.

Two members of a threejudge panel ruled in favor of Edith Windsor, an 83-year-old woman who argued that the law discriminates against gay couples in violation of the

U.S. Constitution.

They found that gays and lesbians are entitled to heightened protection from the courts, based on the history of discrimination the group has suffered.

“Homosexuals are not in a position to adequately protect themselves from the discriminatory wishes of the majoritarian public,” Judge Dennis Jacobs wrote for the majority.

Landslide kills children in Peru’s jungle

S

EVERAL children were among the victims when a mudslide sent a mass of tree and rock debris crashing into homes in Peru’s jungle Wednesday, killing at least 11 people.

Ten more people are unaccounted for, according to the country’s state news agency.

Heavy rains set off the natural disaster in the San Martin tropical forest in Peru’s northeast, which destroyed “at least

10 houses and a pedestrian bridge,” Andina news agency reported.

Six of the 11 bodies recovered so far appear to be children. Residents are working with civil defense officials and the military to find victims in the rubble, but the flooding of a local river is hindering their efforts.

Peru’s government is sending humanitarian aid, including tents and sheets, the state news agency reported.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012—5

POCKET CARTOON

PHCN BID: Govs accuse BPE of fraud, reject firm Continues from page 1 tium has, however, put up a strong defence, arguing that in view of the reputation of companies under the group, which included the African Finance Corporation, AFC, there was no way it could be involved in unethical transactions.

Speaking with journalists, yesterday, in Abuja, at a joint press conference, the governors, who faulted the entire bid exercise conducted by the Bureau for Public Enterprises, BPE, alleged that the process saw the company, which did not win, being given the distribution company to manage, adding that the procedure was fraudulent and failed credibility test.

As a result, the governors noted that since they were not considered in the process as host states, they were fully prepared to stop the bid winner, Vigeo Power Consortium from operating in their respective states.

Governors’ verdict Edo, Ekiti, Delta and Ondo states bid for the Benin DISCO under the name, Southern Electricity Distribution Consortium, but Vigeo Power won a process they described as suspicious

and lacked transparency, adding that it goes contrary to President Goodluck Jonathan’s talk about transparency, openness and rule of law.

According to them, “the entire process was a racket that’s inconsistent with running a transparent government. The BPE used a set of criteria that have never been used before.

“The figures put forward by Vigeo were shady and we observed that funny things started happening even before the bids were opened.

We know the importance of power and we cannot allow a mediocre to take over the destiny of our people.

“A number of technical issues are at stake in this exercise. The winners of the bid have little knowledge about the environment in which they want to operate. The BPE manipulated the process in favour of the preferred bidder.”

According to the governors, besides lacking the technical know-how to operate the company, sponsors of Vigeo do not have the required financial capability to handle the project, adding that having invested huge taxpayers’ money from their various states in the electricity distribution projects, they are not

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

I

NNOVATION distinguishes between a leader and a follower – Steve Jobs. Think through and think through to your future.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth, but if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely —Roald Dahl

G

UY Finney, says the behavioural patterns dis played by some people indicate which company to keep away from. This way, we begin the process of liberation from everything inside of us that stands in the way of knowing the peace, happiness, success, and love that we long for.

Stay away from people who drag up old painful events and then revel in the anger, resentment, or bitterness that such unhappy memories hold. Stay clear from malicious persons who think they pull themselves up by pulling others down. They love to gossip, criticize, judge, and denigrate anyone who ever had the misfortune of spending time with them.

They love to feel their own pain, which they feed by involving everyone they can influence.

going to sit by and watch their people’s investments go down the drain.

The governors wondered how Vigeo’s technical partner, NDPL with operational scope of 510 square kilometres managed to win a bid to operate a 57, 000 square kilometres service territory in an area like the Niger Delta region without any knowledge of its volatility.

They said Vigeo does not even know the area, yet they want to do something in five years that they have not been able to do in 11 years in an urban 500 kilometre territory they are currently operating in.

“Our consortium(Uttar Gujarat Vij Company Ltd- India) is led by the industry leader in India covering 4328 villages and 43 towns. It won the Gold Shield Award for the Year 2011 for utility excellence, posting the highest loss reduction ever in Asia (6.6 percent in 2010) and (10.12 percent in 2011).”

The four state governors also accused the BPE of attempting to further cripple the power sector by manipulating the bid process in favour of individuals with the “right connection” but without the required financial muscle and technical know-how to operate the project.

The governors further alleged that the bid winners quoted forged figures and cooked up the books in order to win, and stressed that the people in their states would be made to suffer if the manipulation was allowed to stand and that the government of the day would also suffer the backlash.

They added: ‘’In our region, you cannot succeed in operating the utility without the participation of the state governments, knowledge of the environment and relationship with the different stakeholders like the youths, community leaders and others. Our consortium passed all these tests but others did not.

“Our states have invested heavily in power generation, transmission and distribution across the length and breadth of our respective states as we recog-

nise the importance of power as the precondition for socio-economic growth and industrialisation of our states.

“It was for this reason that we participated in the bid process and came out as the most technically competent with the consortium that is most suited to the peculiarities of our region.

The BPE should not play with our collective future.”

Experts urge governors to lose gallantly However, some experts who commended the transparency in the opening of the commercial financial bids conducted by the BPE on Tuesday urged the four state governors to adopt the spirit of sportsmanship with regard to the result of the bids.

They noted that other state governments, which also participated and lost in the bids, have not condemned the process because they lost.

A former Executive Director, Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, Mr Bisi Oyinloye, told journalists in Lagos that the selection process for the winners of the DISCOs was very transparent, and urged the BPE not to be daunted by the governors’ criticism and see the process to the end.

He said: “From what I saw on the television, the process couldn’t have been more transparent; the guidelines were given to everybody and they also took a risk.

Some quoted low loss rates, while others quoted high loss rates.

So, I don’t know why the people that lost out are kicking against the process.

“Nigerians will always be critical, but the truth is that everyone was given the guidelines and they all had equal opportunities.”

In his opinion, what the BPE and governors should worry about is whether the bid winners will be able to meet their loss rates.

Also speaking, the Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Mr. Bismarck Rewane,

commended the Federal Government for opening up the power sector to private firms.

He argued that “Private owned firms are far better than public owned ones. State monopoly is the worst structure in any country. As long as people are paying for what they are using, Nigeria will be better off.”

A former Head, Transmission and Systems Operations, PHCN, Mr. Abayomi Adekunle, expressed surprise at the governors’ attack, saying, “I am surprised that some of the governors are raising eyebrows over the selection process. There is no way anybody could have gone behind to influence the process. The exercise couldn’t have been more transparent. You have to be an entrepreneur to commit funds to be able to meet the loss target used in judging the top bidders. This is what will guarantee good staff and remuneration that will reduce the loss ratio.

“The governors lost because they did not want to commit funds to be able to accommodate the loss. But they still have 30 per cent, so I don’t see any reason why they should be worried,” he said.

Promoters of Vigeo Consortium

Vigeo Power is chaired

by Mr. Victor Gbolade Osibodu, husband of the Managing Director, Union Bank Plc, Mrs. Funke Osibodu, with Mr. Abu Ismail Ejoor, as Business Head, Power Division, and has the following members: *Vigeo Holdings Limited (‘VIGEO’) Consortium Lead and Equity member *Global Utilities Management Co. Ltd (‘GUMCO’) Equity member (Local) *African Finance Corporation (‘AFC’) Equity member

Technical Partners *TATA Power Delhi Distribution Limited (‘TPDDL’), Technical Service Providers for Benin DISCo *The Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation Limited (‘CESC’) Technical Service Providers for Ikeja DisCo *Global Utilities Management Company Limited (GUMCO) providing Technical Service Provider on the commercial side.

Consultants/Advisers PWC, India - Transaction Advisers Banwo & Ighodalo Legal Advisers Advisers.

Accusation reckless, unfounded — BPE

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EACTING sharply to the governors’ accusation, a spokesman of the BPE, Mr. Chukwuma Nwokoh, said the accusations of a flawed process and irregularities were unfounded and reckless, adding that the process was transparent and credible.

“The accusation of a flawed process and irregularities against the BPE in the privatization of PHCN distribution companies by the governors are unfounded and reckless. Our process was transparent and we were guided by the provisions of the request of proposals for the transaction.”

6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

Senate moves to end casualisation of workers

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

I

Vice President Namadi Sambo (right) and Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State during a meeting of the sub-committee on funding of the Police Reform at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

2013 budget: Senate concludes debate, refers to c'ttee on appropriation Nigerians must know facts and figures from oil earnings — Mark Senate gives c'ttee three weeks to report back As Senators pick holes on sectoral allocations

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA —THE Senate, yesterday, concluded debate on the general principles of the 2013 Appropriation Bill of N4.92 trillion as the aggregate expenditure, and referred it to the Committee on Appropriation for further legislative tinkering.

The Senator Ahmed Maccido-led committee was given three weeks to report back to the general House on their findings and recommendations.

After debating the performance of the 2012 budget and an in-depth analysis of the 2013 Appropriation Bill, the Senate, however, blamed the executive for poor implementation of the previous budget, just as the lawmakers called for effective implementation of the 2013 budget.

Facts and figures on revenue earnings from oil Meanwhile, Senate President David Mark, yesterday, told the committee that time was ripe for Nigerians to know the true facts and figures on revenue earnings from oil as well as ensure that what was released to the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, had cash backing.

He said: ‘’Revenue generation is extremely important because we can

continue to assume that we are producing so many barrels and that so much has come in, but if we don’t touch the heart of it to make sure we are dealing with facts and figure, then we would be talking about imaginary figures.

"I think the committee on finance should get to the root of that to know how much we have realised at the end of the year and then we would know how much has been utilised. It is one thing to say that so much has been released to MDAs, but if they are not cash backed, then that release is merely on paper.

While urging the Senators to ensure that they carry out an effective oversight to assess the level of budget implementation, Mark said: "Whatever we say about the budget, if we pass it and can implement exactly what we passed faithfully, then, we would not have the complaints that we have."

Earlier in his lead debate on the budget, Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, PDP, Cross River Central, noted that there should be slight change in the 2013 budget to accommodate the huge losses recorded through flood in the country. He, however, argued that the $75 oil benchmark set by the executive “is designed against the backdrop of global economic uncertainty as the global economy is at a very slow pace."

Senators pick holes on sectoral allocations Senators in their contributions to the Bill, however, picked holes on the sectoral allocation by the Executive to some MDAs. In his contribution, Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Abdul Ningi, PDP, Bauchi Central said: "This budget is like any other budget seen in the last 10 to 12 years. It has not shifted in focus. We must be able to tell about the performance of the previous budget and what you intend to achieve with the new one. This Assembly must wait for the executive to return unutilised funds.

"Our interest should be how to eradicate poverty through job creations and not how international bodies have perceived Nigerian economy as having progressed. On the geo-political balancing, I think North East was cheated but in the last two years, the South East has propped up but that of the North East has remained low. The poorest zone should be propped up to be at par with others.

Also in his contribution, Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Publicity, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, PDP, Abia South said: "Looking at this budget, I am inclined to agree that there is not much

that is new from what we have seen in the past."

For Senator George Thompson Sekibo, PDP, Rivers East: "We are not making proper inroads in harnessing our natural resources. The word ‘diversify’ does not make any meaning any longer.

Depending on oil alone will not bring desired development. It was also observed that the budget of NDDC is fixed; it does not increase from about N50 bilion."

LORIN — THE Senate is currently putting finishing touches to a Bill that would ensure job security for Nigerians and put an end to casualisation of workers by some employers.

Chairman of Senate Committee on Labour and Productivity, Wilson Eke, said this in Ilorin when the committee visited Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies, MINILS, on oversight function.

Other members of the committee at the MINILS were Senators Dahiru Awaisu Kuta and Christopher Nwankwo.

Eke commended the Director General of the MINILS, Dr Niyi Olanrewaju, for his r e m a r k a b l e achievements at the institute since he assumed office and for his prudence in management of resources and dexterity in executing various projects of the institutes.

Eke said the decision to enact the law became necessary because of the untold hardship many Nigerian workers were going through in the hands of many shylock employers.

He said: “For those employers who derive pleasure in employing workers for perpetual casual labour, the end of the road has come when

the bill becomes law in Nigeria which is going to be soon. It would be illegal to have casual workers who have spent specified years in Nigerian industries.”

Eke explained that when the law becomes operational, it would make it mandatory for employers of labour to offer permanent job opportunities to those workers on casual employment after spending some minimum number of years on the job.

He noted further that the laws guiding employment in the country should protect workers rather than exposing them to the risks of job insecurity.

Eke said: “The issue of job security is very vital.

It is primarily caused by lack of enough job opportunities which the Federal Government is presently addressing.

So, government must indeed create more jobs because lack of job is the major cause of workers taking up casual jobs in Nigeria.

“But despite the situation, there should be a law to stipulate the minimum number of years with which a worker should work as a casual worker. Besides, such workers must be compensated if they are not given permanent appointment. We are working on this as members of the Senate Committee on labour.”

NHRC asks Oshiomhole to halt execution of two inmates

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA — THE National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, has asked Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State to suspend the planned execution of two inmates on death row in the state.

Executive Secretary of the commission, Prof. Bem Angwe, in a letter to the governor, said the commission received petitions of planned executions of the two inmates, Messrs. Calistus Eke and Olu Fatogun, who have already appealed against the death sentences passed on them by an Edo State High Court.

Angwe said there was an urgent need for

Oshiomhole, who has already signed the execution order of the two inmates, to rescind the decision immediately pending the final determination of the appeal filed by the two inmates.

In a letter to the Governor, dated October 18, 2012 and entitled, “Re-Planned execution of Calistus Eke and Olu Fatogun,” the NHRC boss drew the attention of Oshiomhole to the pending appeals the convicts lodged before the Court of Appeal.

He said “executing them could be unconstitutional and a denial of their rights to appeal and fair hearing under Sections 241 and 36 respectively, of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

“Recall that the National

Study Group On Death Penalty in 2004 advised that there should be a moratorium on execution in Nigeria and this position has been officially adopted by the Nigerian Government.

“In view of the above, we urge Your Excellency to rescind your execution order on the inmates, pending the final determination of the appeal.

“We look forward to an immediate halt to the execution to ensure that the judicial process takes its full course in this matter.”

Likewise, an international human right body, Avocats Sans Frontières France, yesterday, equally urged Governor Oshiomhole to suspend the executions.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012 — 7

C M Y K

8—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

THE RAGE OF FLOOD Anambra spends N40m to evacuate 25,000 victims

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

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WKA—ANAMBRA State government has spent N40 million to evacuate the over 25,000 victims of the flood that ravaged eight local government areas of the state to the 23 camps located in parts of the state.

Vice-chairman of the state inter ministerial flood disaster coordinating committee and Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Professor Chinyere Okunna, at a news briefing in Awka, said part of the money was spent in the day to day running of the camps to ensure the victims were well catered for.

According to her, all children of school age were enrolled in schools close to their camps to ensure that their education was not disrupted.

The state government also provided uniforms and books to the pupils and increased the number of teachers in the affected schools.

She expressed satisfaction with the condition of the camps, adding that a seven – member sub committee made up of the traditional ruler of the area, the community ’s president general, the clergy, the transition chairman of the local government, as well as the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, was also set up for each of the camps.

Okunna, however, warned against the politicisation of the flood disaster, advising those willing to donate towards the rehabilitation of the victims of the flood to liaise with members of the commit-

tee for proper coordination.

Meanwhile, it was observed yesterday that many people in the camps have started returning to their homes following the receding of the flood.

Some of them told Vanguard that they would still keep in touch with the flood disaster committee with a view to monitoring when the disbursement of the palliative funds promised by President Goodluck Jonathan would begin.

Dan Etete Foundation delivering relief materials to communities in Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA of Bayelsa State that have been ravaged by floods, yesterday.

Delta communities appeal for relief materials

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BY EMMAARUBI

ARRI—GOVERNOR Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has been called upon to send relief material to Ugborodo communities to assuage their sufferings occasioned by flood that has submerged all its communities.

Similarly, residents of Ugbori, Ekurede Itsekiri, Ugbuwangue, Old Ports,

Okumagba layout, G.R.A, especially around the High Court and Central hospital areas of the oil city, yesterday got their share of the flood experience as the express road was overtaken by flood.

Niger Delta activist and former spokesperson of Itsekiri National Youth Council, INYC, Mr. Mathew Itsekure, said the flood currently ravaging some new areas of the state had been

Deserted neighbourhood at the Azikoro suburb, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

a perennial occurrence in Ugborodo, Escravos aixs, saying they, like other victims now been rehabilitated, also need government’s attention.

Mr. Itsekure, who decried the state government’s disdain towards Ugborodo yearly flood problems, wondered why they now took special interest in flood matters, leaving out the Ugborodo case.

He said Chief Ayiri Emami had been in the forefront in the call on government to construct shore protection for communities located at the mouth of the Atlantic ocean in Warri SouthWest council area of the state.

He noted that Ugborodo oil rich communities were on the verge of being wiped out of existence by the Atlantic ocean, as oil majors in the area have their premises fully protected.

Meanwhile, food stuff prices that sky-rockected in the wake of the flood disaster in parts of the country have reasonably normalised.

Rotary to partner with Anambra govt on flood

BY ENYIM ENYIM

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NITSHA—THE zone 4 of the Rotary Club International District 9140 in Anambra State is to partner with the state government on measures to resettle and rehabilitate flood victims in about eight local government areas in the area.

President of the zone, Mrs Helen Obi, who stated this yesterday at Government Lodge, Amawbia, when the group paid a courtesy visit to Governor Peter Obi, said they were there to see how they could assist the state government relocate and resettle the flood victims.

She said: ”The Rotary Club International will partner with you to see that this problem is a thing of the past.We will inform our

headquarters and they will assist your government in this direction.

We are going to assist in the area of medical services, houses, water among others.”

Responding, Governor Obi said government was doing its best to make sure that the flood

victims were given adequate care, saying they would be relocated and rehabilitated as soon as the flood receded. ” My worry is that nobody wants to give service to humanity especially at this crucial moment when some of our brothers and sisters affected by the flood are

suffering.

“We are appealing to good spirited wealthy people in our state to help these people. We should have a sense of service to humanity because that is the only contribution one can make in his life time.”

Rep assures victims of continued support

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OMADI—THE Member representing Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Nicholas Mutu, has pledged continued material and financial support to his constituents suffering from the hardship occasioned by flooding of their communities.

He gave the assurance while presenting relief materials including food items and mattresses to the victims who are located at the Ogbe-ijoh camp in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State. He stressed that his mission in the National Assembly was to cater for the less

privileged.

Mutu was represented by Mr.Kelly Penawou, a former Bomadi Local Government Council boss. He advised the victims to be law abiding adding that, the Federal and state governments would continue to touch their lives even after the flood.

Dan Etete Foundation assists flood affected communities

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O alleviate the plight of those displaced by the recent flooding in Bayelsa State, the Dan Etete Foundation, DEF, yesterday, donated relief materials to the six displaced communities.

The first phase of donation to over 10,000 families has been sent to Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA. Additionally, a disaster relief fund will be distributed to the remaining affected LGAs. The basic relief materials provided by DEF includes bags of garri, rice, blankets, tents, mats, common salt, and medicine.

Chief Etete said: "The Niger Delta has always been important to the Nigerian economy and the Dan Etete Foundation is proud to be giving back. Over 63,000 people have been displaced by the flood. Most of them are squatting in over 8,000 makeshift centres. We must rise to the occasion to provide the necessary help and ensure swift recovery of the affected communities in the region."

••Lawmaker donates to victims

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URUTU—MEMBER, rep resenting Burutu Constituency II, in Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Kennedy Daubry, has donated items worth millions of naira to the people and communities affected by flood in his constituency.

The lawmaker, who was at Tuomo, distributed 100 bags of rice, 100 bags of garri and other edibles through the chairmen and leaders of the various affected communities.

He noted that such arrangement was to ensure that the donated items were delivered directly to the actual victims. He charged them to ensure that the items got to the communities affected.

Vanguard , FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012 —9

From left: AVM Olufunso Martins, chief launcher; Sir (High Chief) Olufemi Daramola, author of the book; Chief (Mrs.) Mosunmola Daramola, Chief Olu Falomo, Chairman of the occasion and HRM Oba (Dr.) Noah Adejuwon Omonigbehin Okinbaloye 11, the Olomu of Omu Kingdom, Ekiti State, at the formal launching of the book "Doctor On Bicycle" written by Sir Olufemi Daramola, at the Island Club, Lagos. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

Digital migration: African countries may not meet deadline

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HE DIGITAL D i a l o g u e Conference recently held in Johannesburg, South Africa has shown that African countries have very little chance of meeting the 2015 deadline for migration from the analogue broadcast platform to the digital one.

The conference, held at Johannesburg’s Sandton Convention Centre on October 11, was organised by pay TV giants, MultiChoice.

By the deadline date, television users will have to acquire the new generation set-top box (DVB -T decoder) to receive television signals.

While the analogue platform currently in use would have become obsolete, Nigeria is one of the numerous African countries lagging behind in the march towards the migration deadline.

Also, it was submitted that migration, as identified by participants at the conference, offers a variety of benefits, just

as failure to meet the deadline will ensure that the benefits, both economic and social, will not be enjoyed.

On offer are advantages like increased spectrum efficiency, enhancement of access by overcoming coverage problems, since it allows hybrid models that are difficult to apply in analogue environment.

Migration will also boost job creation, something many African countries could do with, through the commitment to manufacture Set Top Boxes domestically.

From left: Dr. Dele Shobowale and Mr. Felix Adenaike at the occasion, at the formal launching of the book "Doctor On Bicycle" written by Sir Olufemi Daramola, at the Island Club, Lagos.

Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

Fashola launches child care programme L

AGOS STATE Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, yesterday launched the Maternal and Child Care Mortality Reduction Programme in the state, noting that the state has built eight Maternal and Child Care (MCC) Hospitals in the past five years to provide life saving services to mothers and children.

The Governor, who spoke at the Blueroof Hall, LTV 8 Complex Agidingbi, said five have gone into full operation, while out of the

remaining three, two have been completed with training of staff that have been specially recruited to be familiar with the equipment and the facilities before being deployed as is currently going on.

Governor Fashola said government is not done yet as at this year it has awarded another two MCCs in Badagry and Epe to ensure that the project to reduce distance to hospital for pregnant women, is statewide and all embracing.

Governor Fashola, who took a retrospective look at the programme, said it is a project within a comprehensive programme that started in 2007.

He added that when he was elected as governor one of the challenges he resolved to confront was the unacceptable index of women of children or both who losing their lives in the process of childbearing.

He said his interactions with professionals in the medical fields both within the state service and

Robbery attacks: Ogun Police refute media report

By DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA — THE Ogun State Police Command yesterday, debunked media report that some banks in Ijebu -Igbo in Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State have closed for fear of robbery

attacks.

The Command also denied that the newly acquired Armoured Personnel Carriers, APCs, have been g r o u n d e d .

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi and made available to

newsmen in Abeokuta, the report is a misrepresentation of the whole scenario on ground.

"The banks on Monday only acted on a rumour that the brand new APCs in Ijebu were faulty, thus, there was a threat of robbery attack, which

did not go down well with the Command.”

Speaking further, he urged members of the public to disregard the rumour and go about their lawful businesses, saying the command is adequately prepared to provide security during this ember month period.

UK court asks Nigerian couple to keep stolen baby

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COUPLE, who could not have children, have been told by the High Court in United Kingdom they can keep a baby born in Nigeria, despite tests showing they were not the child’s biological parents.

The mother said she was tricked by a doctor into believing she had given birth while sedated, after she went to NiC M Y K

geria for fertility treatment.

But the judge ruled they were victims of an “appalling scam.”

The presiding judge Mr. Justice Coleridge added the case was “extraordinary, bizarre and worrying.”

Charities meanwhile have raised concerns about the judgement, warning it may encourage trafficking.

At the High Court on Thursday, Mr. Justice Coleridge ruled that the pair, who he described as people of the “highest calibre”, should be given custody of the girl who is nearly two years old.

The couple - who live in London but cannot be named for legal reasons - failed to conceive a child despite undergoing IVF treatment in the UK. They were said to be

“desperate and distressed”.

In 2010, the couple travelled to Nigeria where the woman received fertility treatment at a private clinic.

She told the court that when she returned to the clinic months later she was sedated. When she regained consciousness she was handed a baby and told she had given birth.

On her return to London, a GP raised concerns. The child was taken into care and a DNA test proved the child was not related to the couple.

They then launched legal proceedings to get custody.

The court was told that such “baby exchange” frauds were common in Nigeria.

private sector showed the many causes of infant and maternal mortality which were many and varied.

Among them were the issues of diet, lifestyle, undiagnosed noncommunicable diseases like hypertension and diabetes, complications during pregnancy, quackery, distance to properly equipped hospitals which sometimes lead to fatalities during emergencies.

The Governor who gave a status report on each of the factors said as at today, government has resolved a number of them and still has its hands on the plough to overcome those that are still receiving attention.

On diabetes and hypertension screening and treatment which was one of the first to be flagged off at Ifako – Ijaiye on assumption of office, between 2007 and July 2012, a total of 96,468 people have been screened and sreening is still continuing.

“What was most revealing was the lack of knowledge about our people and women of child bearing age about the lifestyle choices and what they eat and how this pre-disposes them to risk during pregnancy.”

“Of course, there were cultural issues about the gender preference in our society and not a few women have lost their lives in order to have a child of a particular

10—Vanguard ,

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

Chief Judge: Osun PDP commends NJC for rejecting Lagos judge

BY ABUTU AGADA

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HE PEOPLE Democratic Party in Osun State has commended the National Judicial Council (NJC) for rejecting the nomination of a serving judge in Lagos State as Chief Judge in Osun State over and ahead of his seniors in the state.

The party in a statement said the decision of the NJC has reinforced sanity in the judiciary and brought into question what it described as the governor’s penchant for foisting people from Lagos State into senior positions in Osun State.

The Director of Media and Strategy for Osun PDP, Prince Diran Odeyemi, in the statement issued in Osogbo, added that the decision of the NJC would further boost the morale of legal practitioners and

particularly those working in the judiciary in Osun State.

The party stated: “The intention of Ogbeni Aregbesola is for some hatchet man’s job and lord him over many judges who are his seniors in the bench which is very ridiculous and capable of rubbishing the judiciary and its structures.

"The other two more senior judges in the state confirmed that Aregbesola does not have the fear of God. “We therefore want to join NJC in calling Aregbesola to comply strictly with the seniority arrangement in the Osun State judiciary as we continue to wonder why our governor does not believe in the ability of anyone residing in Osun State when it comes to appointment into positions of authority.

“This mind-set gives

bad impression about residents of Osun State and depicts them as inferior to those in Lagos State, it will be good if Aregbesola will learn from this shameful rejection and begin to appreciate people of Osun State and allow those in Lagos to face their business.”

Ondo guber poll: NHRC raises alarm over violence

BY SONI DANIEL

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ITH ONLY a day to the conduct of the gubernatorial election in Ondo State, the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, yesterday raised talarm over possible electoral violence in the state and called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and security

Widow of slain engineer recounts five days as wife

By EVELYN USMAN

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IDOW OF the 36y e a r - o l d engineer who was allegedly shot dead by policemen five days after his wedding in Gbagada area of Lagos, Mrs. Joan Ugochukwu Ozua, has described her

shortest experience as a wife with her late husband as the best days of her life.

This is just as members of the bereaved family currently await the outcome of the Special Investigative team set up by the Inspector-

Students disrupt peace at Ibadan OLA AJAYI

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BADAN - THE peace that Oyo State residents had been enjoying since Governor Abiola Ajimobi assumed office was ruptured yesterday as students of the Government College (GCI) and Apata Community Grammar School engaged in a free-for-all which left no fewer than 15 students injured and 20 vehicles vandalised.

The violent clash which happened at Apata area of Ibadan, temporarily paralysed commercial and vehicular activities.

The vehicles vandalised were destroyed when the angry students reportedly pelted one another with stones. While this lasted, some vehicles plying the roads had their C M Y K

windscreens shattered.

As at 5.20p.m; some of the sticks and stones used littered the roadside.

Trouble erupted in a hide-out where some students from both schools had gone to engage in gambling.

The information had from Apata Community Grammar School was said to have cheated in the course of the game on Wednesday.

The following day, which was yesterday, some of the students of Government College Ibadan, who reportedly lost their money to the boy from the other school on Wednesday, allegedly went to Apata Community Grammar School and started beating the boy.

This led to free-for-all.

From left: Otunba Lamidi Gbadamosi, Chairman of Ikorodu Oga Development Association, IKODASS; Chief Babatunde Benson, Asiwaju of Ikorodu and HRM, Oba Salaudeen, the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, as IKODASS marked its 21st anniversary by laying the foundation of IKODASS Civic Centre, at Ikorodu town. Photo: Shola Oyelese.

General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar to unravel the circumstances surrounding the late engineer ’s death and bring the perpetrators to book.

Recalling the incident of September 20, 2012, which truncated her joy, Joan in a written tribute at a memorial service held in honour of her late husband, Wednesday evening at the King’s College , Lagos, where the deceased obtained his Senior Secondary School Certificate in year 1993, described her late husband as her friend, brother and mentor.

The widow, who is yet to come to terms with the demise of her husband, stated in her tribute: “Sweet, so it is true that you are no more. I can’t believe that you have gone so soon. You were my husband, my brother, my friend and mentor.

"I can’t forget that fateful night of September 20, when the police shot you in the chest and left you to die in cold blood.

“Baby love, you were a caring, loving, Godfearing, calm and a thoughtful husband."

agencies to take necessary actions to forestall any setback.

No fewer than 12 political parties are presenting candidates for the crucial poll but only three of them, drawn from the Labour Party, Action Congress of Nigerian and the Peoples Democratic Party are believed to be the main contenders for the plum job.

At a media briefing in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Prof. Bem Angwe, warned that the anticipation of fraud being amplified by allegations against INEC and security agencies by the parties, particularly ACN, might spark violence during and after the election.

At the briefing, attended by stakeholders

and civil society groups, the NHRC boss also drew the attention of those saddled with the conduct of the election to the cases of violent attacks against officials and campaign offices of political parties.

He noted that the attacks were still inflaming passions a few days to the election.

Angwe said: “Allegations of ‘fake’ voter register and cards and arrest of some individuals with such cards are likely to lead to confusion at the polling centres.

“Effectiveness of INEC in the deployment of electoral personnel and distribution of electoral materials is a major determinant of electoral security.

"There has not been consistent improvement

in this area as was the experience in the recent Edo election characterized by delay in the deployment of personnel and distribution of materials that nearly marred the poll. “ I n t r a - p a r t y disaffection leading to the defection from one party to the other has also been recorded and this may also result in violent attack against individuals seen as political traitors."

To checkmate the potential threat to the poll, NHRC asked for a joint meeting of INEC and security agencies to be convened today to appraise the threat level in the state and to adopt measures to tackle any anticipated inadequacy that might mar the election.

Pa Alimi for Pa Ogunleye goes home burial

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A EMMANUEL Alimi, Kuyoro of Ijebu North Local Government of Ogun State, is dead, aged 92..

A statement from the family said he will be buried today after a funeral service at his 103, Igan Road, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State home.

He is survived by children, grand-children and great grandchildren.

Late Pa Alimi

Pa Ogunleye PA Joshua Adeyemi Ogunleye, father of Mr..

Gbemiga Ogunleye, of Television Continental, who died in his Bodija, Ibadan residence on September 10, will be buried at Ayere, Ijumu Local Government of Kogi State, Friday November 9.

A statement from the family states that Christian Wake Keep will be held at his Bodija, Ibadan home, on

Wednesday, November 7.

Ogunleye, popularly called Lord Bishop, attended Ondo Boys High School and worked in the Premier’s Office in the old Western Region as one of the confidential secretaries of late Obafemi Awolowo.

He worked in the Western Region Civil Service and was the confidential secretary to two attorney-generals: Dr. F.A Ajayi and Dr. Lateef Adegbite.

Ogunleye was later transferred to the defunct Western Region Court of Appeal as the personal secretary to the court’s president, Justice Kayode Eso. He is survived by his wife, Ebunoluwa Ogunleye, children and grand-children.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012—11

INC warns against hijack of relief materials

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VISIT: Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State (left), and Mr. Tony Agenmonmen, Marketing Manager (Lager), Nigerian Breweries Plc, during a courtesy visit by Gulder Ultimate Search 9 contestants to Akwa Ibom State governor, host of the competition, in Uyo.

Soyinka laments killing of UNIPORT students

BY JIMITOTA

ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT— NOBLE laureate, Professor Wale Soyinka, has described the murder of four students of the University of Port Harcourt as the height of man’s inhumanity to man.

Soyinka, who spoke yesterday, in Port Harcourt, at the public presentation of Port Harcourt as UNESCO World Book Capital for 2014, said it was painful watching the video clips of how the students were butchered.

He said it was worrisome that the killing took place before silent spectators and passive participants in the community, adding that the incident was another indication that there was war between the forces of darkness and light in the country.

Soyinka noted that Boko Haram and other allied movements waging war against civility

and enlightenment were fighting against humanity.

The literary icon advised the country not to succumb to forces of evil.

Congratulating Port Harcourt for hosting the World Book Capital for 2014, he said the development had brought honour to the nation and Africa in general.

He said: “I believe, quite frankly that this country is at war. The war is between the forces of darkness and the forces of light; the forces of intellect, the forces of

rationality and the forces of atavism, retrograde thinking and the forces of hatred against humanism.

“I believe that if we surrender to these banal forces in our society, we cease to be human beings because we succumb completely to fear and it is the same message we must take to those in this nation, who believe that books are wrong.

“I don’t care whether they call themselves the final defenders of the pure road and the ulti-

Police parade 24 suspected criminals in Bayelsa

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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E N A G O A — BAYELSA State Police Command has arrested 24 suspected criminals for various offences ranging from gun running, armed robbery, murder, illegal possession of

arms to cultism in the state.

Parading the suspects at the command headquarters, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kingsley Omire, said they were nabbed in separate raids carried out in Yenagoa and its environs by men of the command.

Computer trainers threaten NDDC, consultants over unpaid fees

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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ARRI—TRAIN ERS of the Graduate Computer Training Programme, GCTP, a Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, initiative, have threatened a showdown with the commission and its consultants in Delta State over unpaid fees.

mate salvation or call themselves Boko Haram.

“Boko Haram and all organisations, all movements that wage war against books, against literacy, against education and enlightenment in any form, have declared war, not on the state, but on humanity itself and in spite of such setbacks, in spite of such horrors, we have the responsibility to support and sustain efforts such as that being made by Rainbow Club and allied societies and organisations."

Consequently, they issued a 14-day ultimatum to NDDC to pay them or they would institute legal action against the consultants and commission.

In a letter addressed to NDDC chairman by Prince Edema of Esigbemi Computer Centre and Orioko Benedicta of NIIT Centre on behalf of eight other trainers, they la-

mented the attitude of the consultants.

They said: “We are using this medium to peacefully make our last demands to your office to honour the contract agreement and pay our entitlements within fourteen days of your receipt of this letter, failure of which we shall take legal action against NDDC.”

Among those nabbed, the state police boss said, were members of a 5-man robbery gang who specialised in robbing bureaux de change operators in the state capital.

The hoodlums, he said, had gone to rob Rahama Bureau De Change on Aretalin Street, at Ovom suburb of Yenagoa, when luck ran out on them as they were nabbed by men of the State Anti-Robbery Squad, following a tip-off.

According to him, items recovered from the gang members included local and foreign currencies such as dollars, pound sterling, euros, and naira.

Others are two locally made pistols with one AA expended cartridge, a Mazda car with plate number DEC 105 XA, two police belts, one army belt and one 14" television, amon g others.

JAW National Con gress, INC, has warned against hijack of relief materials to flood victims in the Niger Delta by faceless groups.

INC, Lagos, through its Chairman, Chief Patrick Keku and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Eppeh Kpobiri, alleged that relief materials to the people were being hijacked.

The statement read in part: “It is worthy of note that INC is the umbrella body for all Ijaw organizations and units in Lagos. Therefore, distribution of relief materials without collaborating

with INC would result in abuse of the exercise.

“It has been observed that funds meant for flood victims are being surcharged by some individuals, which is morally and humanly unjustifiable.

“In the past, agencies and third party groups connived to annex funds and materials to themselves.

"We regret that a major Ijaw socio-cultural organization like the INC is not represented in the various committees in Delta and Bayelsa states."

Delta 2015: Group roots Rising from a meeting for Monye in Asaba, the group, in

BY TOMMY ANADUAKA

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POLITICAL pres sure group in Delta State, Forum for Good Leadership, comprising professionals, academicians, leaders of thought and stakeholders, has urged Special Adviser to the President on Performance Monitoring and Evaluation, Professor Sylvester Monye, to contest for the governorship position of the state in 2015 gubernatorial elections.

a communique by its spokesman, Olorogun Akute Obanyedo, said the call became necessary as Professor Monye had been found to be one of the most qualified to move into Delta State Government House in 2015.

The group remarked that there was need for all other ethnic groups and political parties to join hands with the aspirations of the forum to enable the presidential aide get the well deserved support.

Delta PDP chieftain donates N1.5m drugs to flood victims

BY FESTUS AHON

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G H E L L I — CHAIRMANSHIP aspirant under the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, Dr. Chris Oharisi, yesterday donated drugs worth N1.5 million to flood victims in Ughelli camp.

Presenting the items,

Oharisi said the donation was his token contribution to assist the victims, adding that the donation of the drugs was to guard against possible outbreak of communicable diseases.

He said his private clinic was also opened 24 hours for free treatment of all ailments for the flood victims for cases beyond what the camp clinic could handle.

....As Oshiomhole's aide assures on improved conditions

BY SIMON ADEWALE

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ENIOR Special As sistant to Edo State Governor on Public Affairs, Mr. Henry Okpamen, has assured flood ravaged communities in the state of improved living conditions. He gave the assurance during an assessment tour of communities affected by the over flow of River Niger

in Etsako and Esan South- East of the state.

Briefing newsmen, Okpamen said he was overwhelmed by the level of devastation which he estimated to be worth several millions of naira and commended Governor Adams Oshiomhole and State Emergency Relief Agency for acting fast in the distribution of relief materials to victims of the flood disaster.

12—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

US envoy lauds Amaechi on devt

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NITED States Consul General in Lagos, Mr. Jeffrey Hawkins, has extolled Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State for embarking on numerous people-oriented projects and showing enthusiasm on Niger Delta issues.

He spoke to journalists in Port Harcourt during a tour of some projects by the Amaechi administration, on the sidelines of the US-Nigeria Bi-National Commission meeting held in Port Harcourt.

Hawkins, in company of a US delegation for the US-Nigeria Bi-Na-

tional Commissio, said he was deeply appreciative of Governor Amaechi’s efforts.

He said: “We are very appreciative of all that Amaechi has done. We are quite clear that addressing the issues of the Niger Delta, the challenges require focusing on things like education development, agriculture, health, all sorts of issues, and the governor was kind enough to show us, on the ground, some of the projects the government of Rivers State is working on. So, we are very deeply appreciative of his support.”

VISIT: United States Consul-General, Lagos, Jeffrey Hawkins (left); Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State (middle) and other members of the U.S delegation during a visit to the new dental hospital in Port Harcourt, as part of their tour of some government projects in the state.

Four corps members die in C-River

Oshiomhole fires Perm Sec, 41 Education Inspectors

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BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN—GOVER NOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has approved the removal of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mrs Caro Edo-Osagie, from office with immediate effect for alleged dereliction of duty.

In a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Louis Odion, the former Permanent Secretary was directed to hand over all government’s property in her care to her immediate subordinate within 24 hours.

In continuation of the on-going sanitisation of the state education sector, Governor Oshiomhole, yesterday, an-

nounced the removal of 41 Zonal Inspectors and Chief Inspectors of Education and Local Government Education Officers over alleged non-performance and negligence of duty.

The decision, according to him, is the outcome of a continuing performance audit. Also, the governor announced the demotion of the Vice Principal of New Era College, Mr. S. E. Akhabue, from Grade Level 15 to Grade Level 14, for allegedly being a perpetual late-comer.

Meeting with the affected school inspectors and officers at Government House, the governor disclosed that the administrative details of the change in the school inspectorate would be made known in the next

few days.

It will be recalled that the governor had paid series of unscheduled visits to public schools across the state in the last two weeks where he made mind-boggling discoveries bordering on absenteeism or dereliction of duty by teachers.

Addressing the inspectors, Governor Oshiomhole said: “It’s obvious from what I’ve seen today and from what you’ve told me, that you’ve all breached your basic duties, which are to monitor schools and file basic reports which, among other things, should include reports on those present and absent so that government can take steps to assist those who want to work to remain and those who don’t want to work to go

Soldiers arrest oil worker’s son, 5 others for alleged car snatching

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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ARRI—A 17year-old son of an official of Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, and five other members of a kidnap/armed robbery gang have been arrested by soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, Nigerian Army, Effurun, near Warri, Delta State, for alleged car snatching.

Commanding Officer of the Battalion, Lt-Col Ifeanyi Otu, who paraded the suspects before reporters, yesterday,

said soldiers seized the suspects in Warri and Benin where they allegedly carried out their operations.

He said their modus operandi was to kidnap people for ransom and snatch cars in Warri, which they sell to a Kaduna-based buyer through his front men in Benin.

The six suspects are aged between 17 and 27.

The Chevron staff was said to have disowned his son before now because of his wicked

ways.

Otu said luck ran out on the gangsters when a victim reported, last week, how his Honda Accord car was snatched on Sunday and soldiers of the battalion at a checkpoint intercepted the vehicle, while the bandits were driving it to Benin.

One of the suspects, who simply gave his name as Tare, 17 years, in his confession, said they used wood to obstruct road and rob unsuspected victims of their vehicles at gunpoint.

home. “ Edo state government has lost millions of naira of taxpayers’ money because of your failure to perform your duties."

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU ALABAR—FOUR members of the 2011 Batch 'C' National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, who served in Cross River State died during the service year, State Coordinator of the agency, Mr. Nkereke Ibangha, has said.

Ibangha, who disclosed

this at the passing out ceremony of the 2011 Batch 'C' corps members in Calabar, yesterday, expressed sadness at the loss of the young people while serving their father land.

He said of the 1,997 members who passed out, 20 distinguished themselves, thereby winning the state governor ’s award.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012—13

Imo govt to build seven new cities represented by the Com-

O

WERRI—IMO State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has reiterated his resolve to develop seven new cities in the state before the end of his administration.

The governor gave the assurance while addressing the people of Emeabiam in Azarobiato community in Mbaitolu LGA, the native land owners of Okwuagbara – a land (measuring about 50 hectares) designated for a Rescue Mission satellite town.

Okorocha, who was Cross section of Nigerian delegation at the sixth seession of the high authority of the Nigeria-Niger Joint Commission for Cooporation, led by President Goodluck Jonathan (4th right) in Niamey, yesterday. Photo: State House.

Senate lauds Ebonyi SUBEB on project implementation

Anambra PPA kicks against imposition of caretaker c'ttee chair A

BY ENYIM ENYIM

O

NITSHA—THE pro tracted crisis in the Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA, in Anambra state has taken a dramatic twist as various factions within the party have united to battle the acting National Chairman, Chief Sam Nkire, over alleged imposition of caretaker committee while litigations among the factions were still pending in court.

This followed allegations by party members that some gubernatorial aspirants for the 2014 governorship election in

the state have been lobbying the national leadership and former governor of Abia State and founder of the party, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, for PPA ticket.

Following the allegation and recent appointment of a new caretaker executive for Anambra State, the two factional chairmen headed for the court to demand that contempt of court charges be preferred against Nkire.

One of the factional chairmen, Chief Anthony Frank Igboka, told reporters that he was not aware of the appointment, adding that as far as he was

concerned, he remained Anambra State chairman of PPA, following a Federal High Court ruling that the status quo should remain.

He said: “I read in one of the daily newspapers that one Emeka Orawike is claiming that he is the

state chairman of the PPA in Anambra. First and foremost, he is not known in the party. He is not a member of the party and I do not know him as a member of the party and where he comes from.."

BY PETER OKUTU BAKALIKI— CHAIRMAN, Senate Committee on Education, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, yesterday commended Ebonyi State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, for its comprehensive and detailed documentation of education projects being imple-

Prices of food iitems rise in Umuahia UMUAHIA—PRICES of some items have skyrocketed in markets in Umuahia and environs following the rising demand occasioned by flooding in some neighbouring states.

A survey conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, yesterday in Umuahia Main Market, Orie Ugba and Ahiaukwu Olokoro markets, showed that price of garri and plantain have increased.

Mrs Eucharia Ikoro, a garri dealer, said that a measure of garri, which sold for N9, 000 about two weeks ago, was now N18, 000.

“Since the sudden hike, we now sell the custard bucket measure of garri for

N600 against N300, while the two and half cups measure now sells for N100.

“Our customers from Rivers, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom states, who complained that flooding had made their cassava to rot,

are the ones causing demand for garri to go up here,“ she said.

Ikoro said that “a sizeable bunch of plantain“ was now between N1,300 and N1, 700, depending on the customer’s bargaining power."

We 're determined to achieve zero accident rate in Nigeria —Aviation minister

A

BUJA—AVIATION Minister, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah, has restated government’s determination to achieve a zero rate of air accidents in the country.

She made the pledge in a keynote address at the 6th D-8 Working Group on Civil Aviation and Directors General Meeting in Abuja, yesterday.

The Minister lamented that in spite of all the current effort being put in place to enhance air safety in the country, the Dana crash of Sunday, June 3, 2012, underscored the fact that safety was a journey and not a destination.

The minister said: ‘’This

missioner for Lands Survey and Urban Planning, Uche Nwosu, said the Ministry of Lands must acquire the land first and duly hand over the C of O and other related documents to the next relevant ministry for smooth and immediate takeoff of the project.

He commended the peoples civility and wisdom on the appointment of Barr. Chima Anozie and Co, as their attorney, stressing that with Barr.

Anozie, their compensations would get to them without hassles.

accident happened notwithstanding all our past efforts to promote safety.

This clearly underscores the fact that safety is a journey, not a destination.

“There is only a departure, there is never an arrival with safety. We must remain focused and continue in our determination to achieve the goal of zero accident.’’

She informed her guests that the country has worked extremely hard to reposition the industry in the past six years through a comprehensive safety reform agenda which focused on the recertification of the industry and resuscitation of aviation infrastructure.

mented across the state.

Chukwumerije, who made the commendation during the visit of the committee to the state, as part of its oversight function to education institutions, recalled that during its visit to other states w i t h i n the South East, only Ebonyi and Abia states were able to give and send detailed account of all their expenditures and projects to UBEC. He stated that the reason for their visit was not witch hunt anybody within the education sector, but to create a forum for exchange of information and ideas that would assist the committee contribute its quota towards the advancement of education in the country.

Passage

T

HE DEATH has been announced in Lagos of Princess Ruth Anjola Olufuwa (Iya Olobi).

She died peacefully in her Agbowa-Ikosi home at the age of 85. A devout Christian and trader.

She is survived by her children and other relations, including Prince Olusegun Olufuwa and Engr. Dayo Olufuwa.

Late Ruth Olufuwa

14—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

Two Nigerians arrested with drugs worth $33,300 in Bangkok B

ANGKOK—TWO Nigerian men, suspected of being part of a drug smuggling ring, were arrested, yesterday, with 500 grams of crystal methamphetamine, also known as ‘ice,’ valued at an estimated Bt1 million (about $33,300) in eastern Bangkok’s Ramkhamhaeng area,

according to narcotics suppression police.

Identified as Ahamefule Cosmos and Iriegbe Chinonso, the two Nigerian nationals were detained at a convenience store near Ramkhamhaeng Soi 24.

Police took them to their apartment for further investigation and found 28

packages of crystal meth, weighing in total 500 grams valued at $33,300.

The arrest followed the arrest of Thai national Polsingha Putthasri, who held 100 grams of ‘ice,’ saying he bought the illegal drug from a Nigerian drug syndicate.

According to the initial

investigation, the detainees claimed that their friend smuggled the drug for them to sell it to party-goers and tourists in Bangkok’s Ratchada and Nana areas.

Initially, the two Nigerians were charged with possessing illicit drugs for sale.

JP Morgan invests in Jumia Africa

BY CHINEDU IBEABUCHI

L

AGOS—J.P. Morgan Asset Management has completed an investment into e-commerce firm, Jumia Africa with a view to strengthening the latter’s operation in Nigeria and across the Africa continent.

In a statement by Jumia Nigeria, signed by Uche Ajene, the investment is a real turning point for Jumia and e-commerce in Nigeria.

Uche said the investor will take a stake through a German holding company in an all cash-for-equity investment.

Commenting on the deal, Jumia’s cofounders and

joint-CEO’s, Tunde Kehinde & Raphael Afaedor said: “With this investment, we will strengthen our current footprint, offering our customers more brands, more categories and more services as well as improving operations; we are among the pioneers of e-commerce in Nigeria and this investment confirms that Nigeria will become a very large market in the very near future.”

Jumia was launched in spring 2012 and offers a wide range of general merchandise. The company currently operates in Nigeria, Egypt and Morocco.

Company was launched with the support of Rocket Internet- the European incubator of internet startups.

Firm awards scholarships to students in host community

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM &OGIEVA OYEMWENOSA

B

CAMPAIGN: From left: Mrs. Adetola Santos-Anjorin, Principal, Araromi Senior Secondary School, Orile, Lagos; Mrs. Chinyere Ob-Obasi, guest author and Miss Suszan Obi, PRO, Julius Berger Nigeria, during a writing workshop for the students of Araromi Senior Secondary School as part of Literacy Campaign by the firm in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

Power: MEA leads interstate mgt team

L

AGOS—THE Metro politan Electricity Authority, MEA, of Thailand is set to lead the Interstate Consortium management team bringing to bear its decades of experience in managing electricity distribution companies in advanced environments.

MEA is expected to give the technical fillip and focus that will make electricity the backbone of economic development in the areas Interstate operates.

The Interstate Consortium which was given the nod to manage the Abuja and Enugu electricity distribution companies, is to throw the weight of its combined balance sheet of $20 billion and its strong experience in the management of over 3 million consumers in Bangkok, Thailand to drive capacity in the two electricity distribution companies ( Abuja and Enugu). The Interstate Consortium comprises Metropolitan C M Y K

Electricity Authority of Thailand, MEA, Chrome Energy, Power House International Limited.

A detailed insight into the structure of the company shows that the Metropolitan Electric Authority of Thailand will run the company while Chrome Energy and Powerhouse International are co-investors. ‘’Interstate Consortium will run

Abuja and Enugu in the best professional wayglobal best practices’’, a top official of the consortium explained yesterday. “They are our technical partners”.

Interestingly, MEA currently services three (3) million customers in Thailand while the customer base of Abuja and Enugu combined is less than one (1) million.

According to Mr. Kester Enwereonu, Chairman, Powerhouse International Limited, a member of the Interstate Consortium, the combined balance sheet of the consortium members is in excess of $20 billion, which shows that they have the financial muscle to finance the acquisitions and upgrade both networks.

Oko Poly to honour Oduah, Mailafiya, Offor, others

BY VINCENT UJUMADU WKA—THE Minis ter of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, her environment counterpart, Mrs. Hadiza Mailafiya, and oil magnet, Chief Emeka Offor, are among those to be honoured during the third Alex Ekwueme annual lecture at the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State, today.

The lecture, which is part of the institution’s convocation ceremonies,

A

would be delivered by Senator Uche Chukwumerije, chairman, Senate Committee on Education.

Rector of the polytechnic, Professor Godwin Onu, who instituted the lecture series on assumption of office three years ago, said at a news briefing in Oko, that the aviation minister would receive award of excellence for her achievements in the aviation industry since she assumed office, adding

that Nigerian airports had improved tremendously in the last one year.

For Mrs. Mailafiya, Onu said her award was in appreciation of her hard work in safeguarding the environment through revolutionary measures.

According to him, Emeka Offor was being honoured for his contributions towards the improvement of education through the Emeka Offor Foundation.

ENIN CITY—AS part of their social responsibility in their host community, the management of Okomu Oil Palm Company has awarded bursary to seventy indigenes of the host communities and donated a six blocks classroom estimated at over N4 million.

Communities that benefited from the bursary include Udo, Inikirogha, Ofunama, Okomu and Madagbayo while the schools include, Mairoghionba Primary School, Egbema Primary School, Egbema Secondary School, Olodiame Primary School, Okomu Primary School and Okomu Staff School.

The bursary benefactors

are from tertiary institutions across Edo and Delta states.

Speaking, the state Commissioner for Education, Mr Ekpenisi Omorotionmwan, commended the company for the kind gesture and urged the community to reciprocate the gesture by ensuring that the company operates in a conducive atmosphere.

The Commissioner who was represented by the Deputy-Chief-Inspector, Ministry of Education, Ovia South West Local Government Council, Mr. Iyen Orobosa, explained that “the annual educational support programme is focused on the promotion of education and also to offer assistance to their neighboring communities within the area of operational jurisdiction.”

Hon G.M. Dumi for burial today

L

ATE HON. Gabriel Milton Dumi former chairman of Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State who died on April 11, will be buried today in his country home, at No 26, Atufe road, Sapele.

Late Hon.G.M.Dumi was a member of Nigeria’s Privatisation and Commercialisation Committee. He was also a parliamentarian at the Economic Community of West Africa States, ECOWAS, from 2000 to 2003. In July 2000 , he facilitated the setting up of a high-power judicial commission of inquiry

into the remote and immediate causes of the Okpe oil pipeline fire disaster in Delta State.

He is survived by 10 children and many relations.

Late Gabriel Dumi

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012—15

FG seeks D-8 partnership on air safety

BY CALEB AYANSINA

A

BUJA—FEDERAL Government has sought the partnership of members of D-8 group of countries in enthroning safety in the country’s aviation industry.

The D-8 group, formed in 2007 in Turkey to proffer solutions to challenges faced by member-states in the aviation sector, comprises Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, Turkey and Nigeria.

Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah, who made the appeal at the 6th D-8 Working Group on Civil Aviation and Director General Meeting in Abuja yesterday, said Nigeria would need D-8 countries’ assistance in the areas of capacity building, safety, security and provision of navigation facilities.

The minister said: “We are desirous of strong collaboration with other D-8 countries to further raise the level of aviation activities in Nigeria and make air

transportation, truly, our engine of economic growth.

“Other areas that Nigeria urgently requires cooperation and collaboration are training, airport operation, airline financing and operations.

“The new transformation agenda of the Federal Government of Nigeria in the last 16 months is revolutionising our airport experience and creating an aerotropolis— a new airport of the future.

“Nigeria is a veritable fertile ground for investment.

Our air transport sector has a great potential for growth with only 5 percent of the population flying and less than one third of the cities serviced by airlines.”

Nigeria’s Commissioner for D-8 and Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Martin Uhomoibhi, urged the meeting to evolve strategy that would enhance private sector-driven cooperation among D-8 countries, insisting that the private sector remained the engine of aviation industry growth.

Sack Oteh, Senate urges Jonathan

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA—SENATE, yesterday, urged President Goodluck Jonathan to sack Ms. Aruma Oteh, Director-General, Security and Exchange Commission, SEC, saying it would not have anything to do with the commission if she remained the head.

It also threatened not to screen members of the commission’s board.

According to a statement by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Capital Mar-

ket, Senator Ayoade Adeseun, ACN, Oyo Central, the move became imperative because of her reinstatement by the Presidency in flagrant disregard of resolution of the House of Representatives, which asked the President to sack her.

Supporting the position of the House of Representatives, the Senate Committee said: “You will recall that the House of Representatives, few months ago, set up an ad-hoc committee, which investigated the near

collapse of the Nigerian Capital Market.

“Consequently, the House passed a resolution based on the report of that Committee that the President should sack the Director-General, SEC, Ms. Aruma Oteh.

“The House further resolved that should the President fail to comply with its resolution, the House would cease to accord any recognition to the Ms. Oteh.

“You are also aware that instead of complying with

CERTIFICATION: From left: Mr. Ojo Ilesanmi, Head, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, Edo/Delta, presenting MANCAP Certificate to Mr. Joseph Iyere, Managing Director of Josama Engineering Company Limited, in Benin, yesterday.

Sacked NIMC staff storm NASS

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

A

BUJA—OVER 150 sacked staff of National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, yesterday, stormed the National Assembly to protest failure of the management to pay them full disengagement emoluments.

Three weeks ago, the same sacked staff had barricaded NASS’ gate demanding the sack of Mr. Mike Onyenemen, Director-General of NIMC. They stormed NASS at 8.55am chanting “We no go gree oh ...DG must be investigated by NASS.” One of them, Mr. Davidson Ekpa, told Vanguard: “What we are protesting is the injustice meted to us by this DG, who claimed we were paid N3 million each, whereas no-

body got more than N348,000.

“I got N300,000. The man that got the highest, which was N348,0000.00, had served the commission for 28 years and that was the paltry sum he was paid.

“The highest amount most sacked staff got was N177,000, which is a far cry from the N3 million the DG is bandying about that we got for disengagement.

“The claim that we were given a grace period to acquire a university degree was all lies.”

the resolution of the House, the DG was reinstated in flagrant disregard of the resolution.

“Again, on resumption from recess in September, the House re-affirmed its earlier resolution and gave a 14-day ultimatum for compliance by the executive arm of government. Till date, that ultimatum has been ignored.

Her ‘crimes'

“Furthermore, since Ms. Oteh’s resumption of duty, there have been series of protests against her manner of managing the agency.

“Rather than seek amity with the workforce, she has continued with the same style of administration for which even the Presidential Review Committee indicted her.

“Specifically, the staff have again accused her of highhandedness, sole administratorship, intimidation, insensitivity, malice and a headlong drive for vengeance.

“Consequently, the Senate Committee on Capital Market, at its meeting of September 26, considered these and other goings on at the commission, all of which could negatively affect the Nigerian capital market and came to the conclusion that if this trend is not arrested, the capital market might be brought finally to its knees, with attendant deleterious effect on the economy of the country.

“The committee, therefore, resolved to support the position of the House of Representatives that the D.G, SEC, be removed forthwith. The committee also resolved to have nothing to do with Ms. Arumah Oteh for as long as she remains at the helm of affairs at the Security and Exchange Commission.’’

Jonathan to open National Breakfast Prayers

BY OKEY NDIRIBE

A

BUJA—CHAIRMAN, Publicity Committee, Senator Ita Enang, has said President Goodluck

Jonathan will open the 2012 edition of the National Breakfast Prayer, scheduled for Thursday, October 25 at the International Conference Centre in Abuja.

Enang said: “The theme of the third Prayer Breakfast is Sacrifice with Righteousness: A Necessary Ingredient for Transformation.

“Leadership of the National Assembly, former presidents and Heads of State, former governors, political and religious leaders, the business and diplomatic community will be in attendance.”

16—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

15 Nigerian pilgrims die in S/Arabia

BY JIMOH BABATUNDE

O

NE of the pilgrims from Lagos State performing this year ’s holy pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia has died in Makkah, just as the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, said the country has lost 14 other pilgrims.

The Lagos pilgrim died, yesterday, after he took ill, was attended to by the medical team of the state’s pilgrim board, and then rushed to the

hospital.

At the time of filling this report, the cause of the death could not be ascertained as the head of the Lagos medical team, Dr. Akerele refused to give details. He referred this reporter to the Chairman of the Lagos Pilgrims Welfare Board, Abdul-Lateef Hakeem, for further details.

NAHCON’s Commissioner in Charge of Information and Research, Dr. Okenwa Saleh told newsmen in at the com-

mission’s headquarters that 14 pilgrims from Nigeria had died in the course of this year’s hajj.

Okenwa said nine died in Medinah, while the remaining six lost their lives in Makkah.

The dead

He said: “Knowing well that Allah is the giver and taker of soul, we announce that 14 pilgrims from Nigeria died at the holy cities of Medina and Makah. The break down show that nine of them died in

Medina, while six died in Makah.”

He gave the names of the five that earlier died in Makkah as Umar Dahir and Shuaib Malami from Katsina State; Ganiyu Ayinde from Ogun State; Abdullahi Mudi and Nana Garba from Sokoto State.

The Hajj commissioner further disclosed that 82,724 pilgrims from Nigeria arrived the holy city for the hajj rites.

Saleh said: “82,724 pilgrims from Nigeria are here in Saudi for this

year ’s pilgrimage and they have arrived safely.

They all arrived through ports at the cities of Jeddah, Medinah and Makah.”

He absolved the commission of complicity in the diplomatic feud that ensued between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia over the deportation of some female pilgrims.

He said: “This issue has been solved, but it is very important for me to say that the commission should not be blamed for what happened.

On Maharam

HYGIENE: Mrs. Roselyn Nnamdi-Ubani, Personal Assistant to the Managing Director, Unilever Nigeria (right), instructing pupils of Jewel International School on hand washing techniques, during the Lifebuoy Schools Engagement Initiative in Lagos. PHOTO: Lamidi Bamidele.

“The simple reason why I said this is that we have had a meeting with the Saudi authority in February where they told us all the necessary requirements for the operation. But nothing like the issue of Maharam (male guidance) for the female pilgrims was raised.

“In fact, we did not make any different preparation from what we did last year, when no issue of that nature was raised.

“Fine, we all know that in Islam a woman cannot, due to issue of safety and security, come alone for Hajj. But she can follow a group of women.

“Meanwhile, the issue has been resolved and we would work on that to make other Hajj operations more successful Insha Allah.”

Police nab Sudanese over FRSC officials' killing

BY ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD

K

ANO—POLICE in Kano have arrested a Sudaneese, Ibrahim Inusa, in connection with the killings of two Road Marshals in Kano last week.

A statement by the Kano Police Command, made available to Vanguard, alleged that the “serial killer” has confessed to the crime and other gruesome killings of security operatives in the ancient city in recent times.

The statement further alleged that Inusa, who the authority was yet to pin to a fixed address, confessed that he, in concert with two others, connived and sent a fake distress call to Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, over a ghastly accident along Madobi road and laid ambush for the Corps Marshal.

According to the statement, Inusa said: “We were waiting patiently for the Road Marshal when sud-

C M Y K

denly we noticed FRSC operation van rushing down to the fake site and we cut them with volleys of hot leads.”

The police statement said one of the accomplice in the act died of gun shot wound sustained during a combat operation to effect their arrest in there hide-out.

The police said the Suda-

nese, in a confessional statement, claimed that the attack on FRSC officials was to avenged the “audacity of the Road Marshal, who had arrested and detained their motorbike a couple of days back.”

The statement also revealed that the terror gang led by the Sudanese also confessed to have master-

minded the killing of mobile police officers at Gaida, Sheka, Madobi junction and Zoo road.

The statement said that eight other suspects arrested earlier at Dawanu general area in connection with the killings of two policemen escorting a Polio vaccinations team have a case to answer,

adding that assault rifles were recovered from them.

The police noted that the suspects have confessed to have participated in series of assault on security operatives in the city, stressing that the command had extended its drag-net to arrest those on the run.

... as Nigeria, Niger Republic begin joint border patrol

BY BEN AGANDE

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BUJA—TO check the security challenges posed by Boko Haram, Nigeria and the Republic of Niger agreed to the immediate take off of the joint border patrols.

Similarly, the two countries also agreed to equip their National Boundary Commissions with requisite logistics to ensure fast re-demarcation of the Nigeria-Niger boundary.

These agreements were

reached between the presidents of Nigeria and Niger at the end of the sixth session of the High Authority of the Nigeria-Niger Joint Commission for Cooperation, held in Niamey, the capital of Republic of Niger.

President Goodluck Jonathan led the Nigerian delegation as co-chair of the session. He was accompanied by the governors of Jigawa, Sule Lamido; Katsina, Ibrahim Shema and Borno, Kashim Shettima.

Others on the delegation included ministers of Transport, Water Resources, Environment, lnterior, State for Defence, Foreign Affairs and Works.

President Jonathan also signed a bilateral agreement on Defence and Security with the Nigerien government.

In a communique issued at the end of the session, yesterday, the two Heads of States expressed worries over the danger of terrorism in the region and em-

phasised the need to jointly tackle the security challenge in the sub-region, which is a big threat to peace and stability in the West African.

While Nigerian’s Foreign Affairs Ministers, Dr. Nurudeen Muhammad, signed on behalf of Nigeria, Mr. Mohamed Bazoum, Senior Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, African Integration and Nationals in Diaspora, signed for the Republic of Niger.

Silverbird, COSON settle out of court

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

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OPYRIGHT Society of Nigeria, COSON, has reached an out of court settlement with Silverbird Communications Limited overnon-paymentofroyalties to artistes whose works are being used on its television andradiostationsandalltheir entertainment outlets.

COSON had filed a multi-million naira suit in July against Silverbird, alleging that it failed to pay royalties to artistes.

At a briefing in Lagos, Chairman of COSON, Chief Tony Okoroji, announced its formal withdrawal, stating that both parties have reached an understanding on the payment of the royalties.

Group President of S i l v e r b i r d Communications, Mr. Guy Murray-Bruce, explained that its organisation delayed in payment of the royalties because it was waiting for the real group to be appointed the Collective Management Organisation, CMO. He expressed delight that the mandate fell on COSON.

Firm hosts students' ICT club

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S part of its commitment to youth empowerment and development through Information and Communication Technology, ICT, Vodacom Business Nigeria hosted the ICT Club members of Grace High School on a one-day ICT tour of its Lagos office.

The tour, which included a visit to the company’s data centre, was aimed at giving the students exposure to the technology behind the gadgets and applications they use on a daily basis.

Vernon Van Rooyen, Vodacom’s Executive Head, Network Operations Business Nigeria, said: “For these youngsters, devices like the iPad, Smartphones and video games are fast becoming a way of life.

“By taking them behind the scenes, we’re giving them a better understanding of the industry, how it works and where they can one day make a difference.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012 — 17

Sweet & SOUR

Donu Kogbara

D

ear Readers, I am totally bored with Nigerian is-

T

he list of our unresolved traumas is endless. And for me as a journalist who comments on current affairs for a living, it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep churning out columns - week in, week out - about the same old, same old, never-fundamentally-changing status quo.

This page is titled “Sweet And Sour ”. But sourness dominates with a dreary predictability because there’s hardly anything sweet to foC M Y K

Deziani Allison-Madueke, Petroleum Resources Minister

•President Goodluck Jonathan

Total Tedium cus on; and I frequently feel like dozing off before I’ve completed the first paragraph!

their jobs well? What is the point of constantly talking at brick walls?

,

sues!

Sure, there have been some interesting and radical new developments in recent years – such as the emergence of the first-ever Niger Deltan President, his appointment of the first-ever female Minister of Petroleum and the fact that millions of ordinary Nigerians can access the internet and own mobile phones.

But the bottom line is still the same as it was a decade ago. Nothing works properly.

Selfish, incompetent, greedy, corrupt government officials still get away with messing us up and still hypocritically trot off to churches and mosques every week, while continuing to be unrepentant amoralists.

And we’re still struggling with environmental disasters, serious poverty in every region, lousy roads/hospitals/ schools, power outages, shortages of decent housing, high levels of crime and violence, unpunished sexual harassment of vulnerable women by men who can make or break them. And so on.

Even the once-sensational Boko Haram phenomenon has become pedestrian, given that the authorities have not been able to prevent so-called Islamic warriors from inflicting death and destruction on a daily basis. Outrages that occur with alarming regularity gradually become norms and cease to shock.

The average Nigerian is so slavishly willing to put up with nonsense that the nightmares that are routinely dumped on the general public from On High are not likely to end any time soon

When I told a friend that I am suffering from a bad case of ennui and am sick to the back teeth of dwelling on Naija headaches in social gatherings and newspaper articles, he said it was my duty to rise above my disillusionment and continue to bang on interminably about our woes because, according to him: “This nation will never move forward if sincere professional commentators and thinkers like you lose the will to highlight the problems that are paralyzing us.”

I’m flattered that my friend thinks that journalists can play a useful role. But I really don’t see what value one adds by constantly repeating oneself to the point where one starts to sound like a soporific echo! When one has already analysed and complained about Boko Haram 20 times, what more can one contribute?

How often can one berate and beg politicians – most of whom arrogantly refuse to act on constructive criticisms - to get off their backsides and do

,

I often feel as if I am writing this column on auto-pilot because I write it without engaging my brain much. I can almost compose “Sweet And Sour ” with my eyes shut nowadays ‘cos I’ve said it all before and have nothing new to say.

The thing that depresses me most is the fact that the average Nigerian is so bovinely

Tot al frus tration otal frustration

T

HE PHCN cable that serves the area around my family home in Port Harcourt was stolen a fortnight ago. And those who have generators have been spending a fortune on diesel, while those who can’t afford generators are sweating it out.

I hear that this is not a rare occurrence and that the authorities are so unconcerned when cables mysteriously disappear that they don’t

•A PHCN sub-station

bother to investigate…and that it is widely believed that they don’t bother to investigate because they know that the cables were stolen by their

philosophical in the face of avoidable adversity and so slavishly willing to put up with nonsense that the nightmares that are routinely dumped on the general public from On High are not likely to end any time soon. And I wholeheartedly agree with whoever said that we get the leadership we deserve.

own officials…and that residents of affected neighbourhoods usually have to take matters into their own hands by putting money together to buy replacements.

Why is this country so warped?

I

spend a lot of time in United Kingdom and I’ve never heard of an electricity cable being stolen in the United Kingdom. And I can assure you that if it ever happens, the authorities will react speedily and

sympathetically…and not only immediately summon the police to aggressively search for the culprit but quickly provide funds for a new cable, to protect their constituents from inconvenience.

One crucial difference between politicians there and politicians here is that the former cannot get away with rigging elections and have to earn votes.

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

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012 FORMER Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ahmadu Ali, has been many things – Director General, South South Health Delivery Services, Senator, Director General of the National Youth Service Corps, federal Commissioner for Education in 1976, a retired Colonel of the Nigerian Army, and a medical doctor trained at the University of Ibadan.

He was never a government critic until four years ago, having been in too many governments in the past 40 years and admittedly part of the problem. He criticised attempts to privatise federal government colleges. Then he had been pushed off the revolving PDP chairmanship.

Col Ali made a major contribution to political discourse in January 2007 when he said that politics in Ibadan was garrisoned.

Anyone who wanted to be part of it had to line up behind Chief Lamidi Aribiyi Adedibu, a political gadfly who held the city to ransom until he sacked the elected Governor of Oyo State.

As Chairman of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, in

Ali Rat es FG F ailure Rates Failure 2011, he said, “The refineries are a problem and government cannot run this business,” Ali said during an inspection of storage facilities in 2011. “Government has failed. Let us call a spade a spade, government has failed. And that is why this problem has continued. It is time for all these companies started investing in the refining business in Nigeria because the country must refine its entire domestic products before it can get out of the problems of incessant scarcity of petroleum products.”

Why would he consider government, which his party, PDP, controlled in the past 13 years, a failure? What part did he play as party chairman in the failure? Was there

no fuel scarcity then? Did the refineries work? When did he discover this failure?

His thesis, days back, that bad governance was responsible for Boko Haram, the massacres in Mubi and Port Harcourt create an impression that governments in which he served took care of those situations.

Today’s failures cannot be divorced from PDP over which Dr. Ali presided with pronounced certainty about the infallibility of its actions. The PDP’s domineering craze for power was an end in itself. Unless otherwise proven, the PDP was only interested in grabbing power and sharing the spoils of office. PDP officials who lose in this enterprise complain. Nobody bothers about the growing pains of ordinary Nigerians.

It is more painful that a former chairman of the PDP, who has held influential positions in more than four decades, does not realise his own part in wastes that have been visited on Nigeria in those years. Dr. Ali’s outburst raises new concerns about the future of Nigeria under PDP’s guidance.

OPINION

BY BEN NKEMACHOR & JUDE NNADOZIE

T

HE current government is making very concerted efforts to transform the Nigerian agricultural sector in a bid to make the nation self-sufficient in food production, as well as to earn foreign exchange from the exportation of agricultural products. This, indeed, is a very commendable policy approach given the vast arable land, great agricultural potentials and abundant manpower the country is blessed with. Agriculture hitherto used to be a major contributor to the nation’s GDP, and a foreign-exchange earner, but the situation was reversed suddenly with the discovery of crude oil within the shores of Nigeria in the late fifties. The consequence was that Nigeria became a net importer of food commodities that could have been produced locally. Any nation that is not able to produce enough food to feed her population may, in real sense, be courting calamity.

The Federal Government’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda anchored by the Ministry of Agriculture is indeed an acknowledgment of this fact. However, to make the nation self-sufficient in food production will be no easy task given the fact that the nature of most of our agricultural activities are still at the subsistence level. The need would be on how to move from subsistence production to commercial production... How to improve the value chain, reduce wastage, increase productivity, and how to attract the

C M Y K

Agricultural transformation agenda: A case for agri-hubs necessary investments and entrepreneurial skills to the sector. The key will be to approach farming as a business that is viable and profitable beyond subsistence.

Agriculture is believed by many to hold great economic potentials for the nation but the right approach and the correct road map to this destination has remained difficult to fully conceptualise in policy terms. Successive governments have tried different approaches: incentives for farmers, inputs distribution, favourable land tenure system, strategic grain reserves etc. but with limited success. In line with the Federal Government’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda, the AGRI-HUBS approach is being proposed for consideration by the Ministry of Agriculture. This is a brainchild of a UK based consultancy company, A Plus Resources Ltd and Initiative or Diaspora Knowledge Transfer, IDKT, an Abuja-based development think-tank and policy advocacy organisation.

The premise of the concept is that public sector participation rather than sympathy is what is needed to set off a booming agricultural sector in Nigeria. The Agrihubs concept presents the agricultural industry as a purely business process capable of attracting profit-oriented investments on its merit. How it works is thus: The Agri-hubs will be independent institutions that will create meeting points for all major players and stakeholders within the agricultural sector while setting

up structures to address the following areas of operations: (a) farming services and farmers organisations; (b) sustainable production and food security; (c) access to finance and market information (d) policy engagement and gender in agriculture.

The Agri-hubs will be an aggregation of capital, skills and services in the form of growth corridors and agricultural clusters which address both the distance factor and the scarcity of skills and services in a mixed commercial/medium-scale model of production. The ‘core’ of such a hub would be commercial agricultural production and agro-processing (value addition and agribusiness entrepreneurial capability) that could yield financial returns to ‘pull’ private sector investments. If people eat food and use agricultural bye-products every day, then investing in the sector will by no means be a waste of time. The seemingly inadequate investments in the sector could be attributed to lack of attraction for investors. The Agri-hubs job will be to create such interests by organising relevant stakeholder meetings and workshops, providing information on access to supports, incentives, and finance to young farmers/entrepreneurs, creating extensive linkages between all players in the industry and giving feedback to government and research institutions.

N

igeria needs a roadmap to sustainable food production and security.

Farming and agri-businesses must be made

attractive for young entrepreneurs; investors must be interested in investing in the sector; creditors and lenders must be ready to lend to agricultural ventures; inputs suppliers and retailers within the industry must be ready to work according to global best practices. Nigerian agricultural products must meet international standards in order to harness the export potentials there-in. To achieve all these, a well-coordinated platform/ programme must be in place brought about by a well thought-through concept – and that is the Agri-hubs. This will be a central ‘marketplace’ where organisations, professionals, resources and knowledge come together to create an attractive space for stakeholders to meet, exchange information and connections, and find the answers to specific questions.

This will be achieved through innovation, learning, mentoring, coaching, coordination and harmonisation of existing efforts.

The Agri-hubs will be operating at different levels: federal, regional or state, as the case may be. It will be convened by NGOs with support from relevant agencies in order to put the agricultural sector in a more positive perspective, raise communiques, short term and long term goals and the roles of every player within the agricultural sector.

•Messrs Nkemachor & Nnadozie wrote from the UK.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012 — 19

H

OW can I describe the unfolding flood disaster in our country so that people outside the impacted areas can comprehend it as a catastrophe that it is? As news of the devastation of the Benue River in Adamawa, Benue, Kogi and Edo states reached us in Abuja, I began to dread what was going to happen to our people further downstream in the Delta. By the time news came that the Nigerian Immigration Office in Asaba which was more than at least a good two kilometres from the bank of the Niger River had been submerged, I had to pay a visit home.

As we flew over AnambraState in our approach to Asaba, I looked out through the window and saw that what used to be pleasant green farmlands of Anambra State had become an apparent marshland of the delta. For miles and miles, we flew over distant settlements below, where the only things peeping out of the water were the coloured roofing sheets of what were previously dwelling homes.

At Asaba, I got briefings that the communities of OkoAnala, OkoOgbele, OkoAmakom,Abala and others in the south of Oshimili South Local Government Area had been evacuated and were being camped at displaced persons’ camps in St. Patrick’s College Asaba and ICE, Asaba. In AniochaSouth Local Government Area, where I come from, the people of Olodu, where I had gone to commission a primary health

care centre built with support from UNICEF some years back, had been evacuated and the health centre with all the other dwellings in the settlement was completely submerged. Similarly, neighbouringEwulu community had been impacted but details were scanty. I planned, therefore, to visit the camp in St. Patrick’s and then swing to Olodu, Ewulu and then to Ashaka in Ndokwa which was the camp for the displaced people of Ndokwa East.

On getting to St. Patrick’s I was advised to deliver the relief materials I brought as they had the logistics capability to distribute these to all the camps. I was further advised that the AsabaKwale road, which would have been a 45-five minute drive, was impassable as the flood had taken over large sections of the road. To get to Isokofrom Asaba, therefore, I had to make a long detour to Agbor in the west, then swing through Abraka towards Warri before turning off through Isiokolo in Ethiope East to Afiesere in Ughelli North to take me back to Isoko. This took me more than three hours for what used to be a little over an hour drive on the now impassable Asaba-KwaleIsoko route.

I managed to reach Ewulu Grammar school where I met the displaced people from that community with their King who narrated how the flood had overtaken the town and destroyed all their fish farms and households and they managed to escape by river craft over what was previously dry land. I saw aged

,

people looking dazed and absolutely lacking in comprehension how their world had been turned upside down. The whole community was now cramped into classrooms and struggled to preserve their human dignity in the face of these odds. I commiserated with them, listened attentively to their pleas for water supply, mosquito nets and speed boats to return and see if any more property could still be salvaged from the community, after acknowledging the quick response of the State Government to their appeal for evacuation. Indeed, the State Deputy Governor who is in charge of the emergency team had just left the community before my arrival.

A

t St. Patrick’s, I was taken round to see the displaced persons and shown the efforts of the inter-ministerial committee dealing with the emergency. I was quite impressed by the coordination of efforts of the State Government and the frontline emergency organisations such as NEMA, Red Cross and so on. I could see the tiredness in the eyes of these officers who I commended and encouraged as

Aregbesola, Okojie, the PDP and UNIOSUN medical students

BY OLUREMI OMOWAIYE

I

T is sheer irresponsibility and gross recklessness to seek to play politics with the lives of our youth and children, for they are the hope and the future of our community. They constitute the pivot for any society willing and aspiring to develop. It was revealed recently that the Federal Government has consistently been sending beneficiaries of federal scholarships to study in Cuba, China, Japan, Morocco, Turkey, Ukraine, Serbia, Romania, Russia and Algeria, among other places. It is then a surprise when the Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission, Professor Julius Amioba Okojie, attacked the Osun State Government for sending some stranded medical students of the state university, UNIOSUN, to Ukraine to complete their studies. Okojie went as far as referring to the host university in Ukraine as substandard.

The Government of the State of Osun recently concluded arrangements for 98 medical students of UNIOSUN, Osogbo, who were long overdue for their clinical course to complete their study abroad on the bill of the state government. This was due to the non-availability of a teaching hospital for the university, contrary to the insinuation by apologists of the Peoples Democratic Party that Osun State University Teaching Hospital was cancelled. In fact, UNIOSUN had no teaching hospital.

The state government had proposed to upgrade the State Hospital at Asubiaro, Osogbo, to a teaching hospital. If well over N1.5 billion was spent to ensure the accreditation of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital in 2000/2001, the Osun State Government would have had to spend no less than N5 billion now to upgrade the State Hospital to a functional and standard teaching hospital for clinical purposes to

get the required accreditation. Personnel will no doubt pose a great challenge as well.

It took the pioneer medical students of LAUTECH 10 years to graduate owning to accreditation challenges.

It is therefore laughable for the PDP apologists to think that N850 million will put up a teaching hospital and secure accreditation. It is so sad that the medical students of UNIOSUN were stagnated for about two years as a result of nonavailability of a teaching hospital for the university. All efforts made to get them admitted to tertiary institutions like Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife; University of Ibadan, UI; University of Lagos, UNILAG; Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, for their clinical courses failed.

However, to save the situation of the medical students, the Rauf Aregbesola administration in Osun State settled for the overseas option. This was the most reasonable option available. The nobleminded progressive government decided to place all those due for clinical courses, that is, all 300 to 500 level medical students, on scholarship to complete their medical study in the prestigious V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Ukraine. This decision was reported many times in both the electronic and print media. Everyone was told that the scholarship will cost the state government N146 million and not N600 million as being falsely and viciously propagated by PDP. The state government was very transparent about this matter. A total of $7,000 is to be expended on each of the concerned students. This would cover tuition fees, return air tickets and other logistics.

The parents of the students would only take care of their wards’ upkeep while undergoing the courses. Karazin Kharkiv National University School of Medicine at the

Prof Okojie should not put politics above the interest of the nation and the future of our children; we should commend Aregbesola for not allowing sentiments to come to play in this great gesture by the state

,

BY CLEMENT OFUANI

,

This is catastrophe

What has happened and is still unfolding is a disaster of monumental proportions; indeed, this is a catastrophe

they were the first line of hope for the displaced people. They cannot afford to be tired or appear hopeless.

The same situation but worse was unfolding at St. Michael’s Grammar School, Oleh in Isoko South where the mass of humanity was trying to comprehend what was happening. As we were approaching Isoko, I called one of my associates, an undergraduate student at Delta State University, Oleh Campus to give me a situation report and to meet me at a convenient location so that we could go to the camp together. As we approached the camp, he received a phone call and I heard him tell his caller that he was in my company and that we were going to the refugee camp. I quickly corrected him, that it was displaced persons’ camp and not refugee camp.

However, semantics apart, it would appear that his was a more accurate description as our people have become refugees in their land. I guess I was really more frightened about that description and was in a state of denial when I sought to correct his description.

By the time, we left St. Michael’s, it was already 5pm and there was no way we could proceed any further to Tuomo. Returning to Asaba through the route we came was really out of the question, so we decided to gamble on the Isoko-Kwale-Asaba road which is being dualised by the State Government. A little after Kwale, we ran into the flood. Only one section of the dualised road was passable even though the water was hitting the bonnet of our SUV. Further down at Ossissa, I took the photograph of the old man paddling his canoe on the other lane of the road with his

,

moment has about 200 students on English Language training.

T

he NUC Executive Secretary, Professor Okojie, misfired by referring to V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University as a substandard university. For a man who is in charge of granting licenses regularly to many substandard universities, this is a very interesting charge. If only it were true. It is worth noting that the university in question is one of the oldest and most famous universities in the entire Central and Eastern Europe. It was founded in November 1804 and today remains one of the largest research centres in Ukraine. It covers virtually all spheres of modern fundamental research and incorporates the Research Institutes of Chemistry, Biology, and Astronomy, the Institute of Physics and Engineering, and the Institute of High Technologies.

It is the only university in Ukraine that has trained and employed three Nobel laureates. How many of the universities that Okojie superintends have produced Nobel laureates? The university has produced Nobel laureates in medical biology, economics and physics. No single African country has produced a Nobel laureate in biology, economics or physics. Nigeria, with 160 million population, has only produced one Nobel laureate in Literature.

bicycle strapped to the canoe.

This was for me, the ultimate metaphor of what was happening.

Our road infrastructure in both north and south of the country that we were previously complaining about is being washed away, thus worsening the development challenges facing our nation. The national housing deficit is being compounded by the destruction of homes in different communities across the entire impacted States. The farmlands that used to provide food for our people from Benue State to the yam baskets of the lower Niger have been completely destroyed. Rice farms and fish ponds have been obliterated. The children cannot go to school and the schools that have been turned into camps for displaced persons cannot offer normal instructions under the current circumstances.

More crucial is the question whether this is a blip which will disappear to enable us begin picking the pieces of our lives or whether it is a new phenomenon arising from the much talked about global warming. Either way, what has happened and is still unfolding is a disaster of monumental proportions. Indeed, this is a catastrophe. Both the Federal Government and the state governments are completely overwhelmed as meager resources are being stretched beyond limits.

We need more media attention on this catastrophe to draw global attention to it and hopefully, international assistance may come as has happened to other nations that have faced similar devastations of nature.

*Mr Ofunai, a public affairs analyst, wrote from IAsaba, Delta State.

Okojie’s “substandard” university has graduated over 130, 000 students and has several times been named the best university among the over 800 degree-awarding institutions in Ukraine. The latest webometic university ranking placed Karazin Kharkiv National University among the best 1, 500 universities in the world. Not one of the universities under Okojie’s supervision is on the list of the best 2, 000 universities in the world. The University of Benin that led other Nigerian universities was ranked 2,485th in the world. Yet, Okojie says that Nigerian universities are better than the universities in Ukraine.

It is unfortunate that Okojie, a professor of forestry, who has been at the helm of affairs at the Nigerian universities apex body, the NUC, for seven years has not achieved the feat of moving any Nigerian university into the list of the best 2000 in the world. Yet, he was comfortable to make such derogatory remarks about the effort of the Government of Osun to secure the future of these innocent young ones, a gesture that has attracted the commendations and excitement of the residents of the State of Osun, particularly the parents of the affected students.

The President of the UNIOSUN Medical Students, Samuel Oluwatimileyin Owoeye, granted an interview in the Tribune recently expressing profound gratitude to the state government for the kind gesture. Samuel in his word said: “We also thank Governor Rauf Aregbesola for making sure that our future is still secured and our dream of becoming trained medical doctors is realistic. None of us, (the 98 medical students) will ever forget Governor Aregbesola”.

Professor Okojie should not put politics above the interest of the nation and the future of our children. We should commend Aregbesola for not allowing sentiments to come to play in this great gesture by the state. A unique factor of the scholarship for these medical students was that it was not restricted to indigenes of Osun alone. *Mr .Omowaiye, an IT consultant, wrote from Osogbo, Osun State.

20—Vanguard , FRIDAY FRIDAY,, OCTOBER 19, 2012

*Governor Fashola (inset) addressing commercial drivers at the Iyana Ipaja park during the sensitization campaign

CONFUSION OVER TRAFFIC LAW:

Governor embarks on grassroots campaign

By OLASUNKANMI AKONI

N

EWS of the introduc tion of the road traffic law in Lagos seemed to have been received with a lot of misgivings and trepidation by most motorists, especially commercial bus drivers and their commercial motorcycle counterparts popularly called “Okada riders”. Indeed they have had to embark on protest marches to the Governor’s Office at Alausa, Ikeja, demanding for more time to study and understand the law before implementation. They begged the Governor to relax the law as many of their members would eventually be deprived of their means of livelihood if it is implemented.

The reason adduced for opposing the proposed law is contrary to the claim by the Lagos State government that it was meant to restore sanity on road traffic in the state. The Lagos Traffic Radio 96.1 FM which was established to disseminate information on traffic management and control has in recent time been inundated by callers seeking clarification on the new road traffic law and what it entails.

But any hope that the state government would set aside the Road Traffic Law was foreclosed recently when Governor BabaC M Y K

tunde Fashola personally embarked on a campaign to mobilize the populace and to sensitize them on the imperative of total compliance to the law before the enforcement proper. He also mandated the chairmen of the 20 local government areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs, to begin grassroots advocacy of the law to the people without further delay.

Transport union workers While addressing traders and transport union workers at one of such sensitization campaigns during the “ Motor Park Safety and Health Programme” at Iyana Ipaja Motor Park, the Governor said that the success of the law would be determined by voluntary compliance, stressing that the objective of the law was not to fine violators and generate revenue for the state, but to ensure safety and order on the roads.

Imperative of the law was underscored by the fact that in the ongoing campaign around motor parks in the state, it was discovered that at least 441 commercial drivers in the state tested positive to cannabis (also known as marijuana) and cocaine; and 2,500 commercial drivers who were subjected to breathalyser

test to check their blood alcoholic content in the screening recently were also found wanting.

The state government recently threatened to prosecute and jail

motorists found to be driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol in the state. It has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with Guinness Nigeria PLC to sensitize the public on the negative effect of drunk-driving in the state.

At a stakeholders forum organised in partnership with the 20 LGAs and the 37 LCDAs on the new traffic law, Fashola said the measure was one of the ways citizens of the state could be better sensitized on the dos and don’ts of the new road traffic law. The Governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Gov-

ernment, SSG, Mrs. Oluranti Adebule, said: “Support for the law at the grassroots through voluntary compliance is key to the success of the new law across the state.”

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, in his address, said results of screening at motor parks across the state revealed that a good number of drivers took hard drugs and alcohol and suffered from serious health problems. He explained that the programme was to bring to the fore the inherent dangers as well as promote safety on the roads.

Commissioner for Transport, Mr Kayode Opeifa, said a good number of accidents were caused by non-adherence to traffic regulations, especially by commercial drivers, urging an attitude change to reduce the problem.

Mr Seeni Adetu, Managing Director,Guinness Nigeria Limited, said his organisation was interested in responsible drinking at motorparks, especially as drunk driving was a major killer in the country.

Mr Tajudeen Agbede,Lagos State Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers,NURTW, thanked the state government for the programme, saying it would promote a culture of safe driving among transport workers Mr. Akeem Idowu, a commercial driver along sango-Otta, to Oshodi, who spoke with Vanguard, hailed the traffic law, saying it would help check some of the excesses of some of the members who drive under the influence of alcohol and thereby save lives and property. He said: “I really want to commend our Governor for taking the pragmatic steps to introduce this law but what I will urge them is to give it a human face”.

Rotary harps on service to humanity, partnerships

By LAJA THOMAS

S

ELFLESS service to hu manity and building an enduring partnerships took centre stage at the 8th West African Project Fair, WAPF, hosted by Rotary International District 9110, penultimate weekend at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Festac, Lagos. The fair which was declared open by Senator Ganiyu Olarenwaju Solomon, who is a Rotarian, charged the participants from different parts of the world to continue to embrace the ideals of Rotary, adding that: “I have not known or seen any organisation which embarks on selfless service to mankind than Rotary.”

The chair, West Africa Project Fair Committee, Saliu Ahmed, a Past District Governor, PDG, set the ball rolling in his goodwill message. “The fair hosted on a rotational basis amongst the four Rotary International

Districts in West Africa brings West African Rotarians and Rotary clubs in close personal contact with international Rotarians and Rotary clubs for the purpose of cultivating friendships and partnership in community service implementation. It is gratifying to note that some of these partnerships have been sustained over the years and continue to serve as fulcrum for many more on-going projects,” he said.

The host organising committee chairman, PDG Deinde Shoga, in his contribution, explained that “the goal of the fair is to produce international partnerships on humanitarian projects that will help communities most in need to benefit”, adding that “the fair also gives Rotarians a chance to socialise with each other and take in some of the host country’s cultural and tourists attractions”.

While the District Governor, Dr. Kamoru Omotosho, called

for more assistance in projects sponsoring and donation than in the past. He said: “Your active participation in this fair will give the much desired opportunity to make a significant difference in the lives of less- privileged people”.

The Director, Rotary International, Gidi Peiper, lauded the service of Rotary to mankind.

He said: “It’s more than a century of service to mankind. Rotary has never stopped making advance. It has continuously discovered new ways to serve the community to keep helping those in need. At this event, you will have the opportunities to see, hear and discuss about Rotary activities and programmes in your beautiful part of the world”. Also speaking, past District Governor Robert Attah, from Ghana, expressed satisfaction with what Rotary International is doing in West African sub-region.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012 — 21

Food crisis: Lagos to get farm produce from neighbouring states

By OLASUNKANMI AKONI

F

From right: Mr Steven Evans, Managing Director, Etisalat Nigeria; Ms Zainab Ashadu, Head of Public RelationS, Lagosphoto; Mr Julian Hardym, MD, Porsche Nigeria and Chioma Onwuka at the Lagosphoto Private View Exhibition, in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

ARM produce from the newly acquired 10, 000 hectares of land from neighbouring states will be delivered in Lagos state before the end of December as part of strategy to stem hunger and poverty as well as increase sources of food supply in the state.

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos state, who made the remarks at the commemoration of 2012 International World Food Day Celebration at LTV ground, Ikeja, stressed the need for increased food production through sustainable cooperative activities.

This came on the backdrop of a recent alarm raised over pos-

AfDB pledges support for agricultural cooperatives devt play a significant role in defending farmers’ interest in the long term by fostering sustainable agricultural practices that ensure these natural resource assets are safe for future generations.

The official World Food Day theme, announced each spring by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), gives focus to World Food Day observances and raises awareness and understanding of approaches to ending hunger.

“Agricultural Cooperatives: Key to Feeding the World” is

By LAZARUS IBEABUCHI

T

HE African Development Bank said it is committed to supporting agricultural cooperatives in Africa achieve sustainable improvement in food security.

In a statement to mark the World Food Day 2012, the bank said with increasing threats to the use of Africa’s natural resource base and the growing foreign direct investment in land in the continent, cooperatives can

161.40

-1.40

2,383.00

-35.00

20.07

-0.10

113.50

-0.50

92.06

-0.03

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

154.76 250.2933 203.0451 167.6888 1.9667 0.2888 237.9465 24.7421 41.266 27.2134 239.553

155.26 251.102 203.7011 168.2306 1.9731 0.2988 238.7152 24.8225 41.3994 27.3013 240.327

155.76 251.9106 204.3571 168.7723 1.9791 0.3088 239.484 24.9029 41.5327 27.3803 241.1

CBN Exchange rate as at 18/10/2012

the formal wording of the 2012 theme. It has been chosen to highlight the role of cooperatives in improving food security and contributing to the eradication of hunger, the statement said.

“It is clear that the role of cooperatives and community organizations are critical in the fight for food security in Africa.

Cooperatives satisfy their members’ needs while pursuing profit and sustainability. They are often a key institution in rural life and for the marketing of farmer inputs and produce. Cooperatives are also crucial for

fostering democracy and good governance at the local level.

“The African Development Bank, through its agriculture, governance and private sector departments, is well placed to support the renaissance of the cooperative movement towards truly profit seeking entities working for agricultural transformation in Africa.

“The Bank undertakes to channel, where feasible, the use of local development

funds in projects and programs through existing and credible agricultural cooperatives on the continent,” the statement said.

Globally, nearly 870 million people (one in eight) are suffering from hunger and chronic under nourishment between 2010 and 2012, with 98 per cent of this number living in developing countries and 27 per cent to be found in Africa.

sible outbreak of food scarcity due to the present ravaging flood in some parts of the country that destroyed wide expanse of farmland.

According to Fashola, who was represented by Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Oluranti Adebule, “In view of the land constraints and need to ensure food security, the state started acquisition of agricultural land outside the state for dedicated production foodstuff beginning from Osun state. “So far, over 10,000 hectares of land have been identified in other states. The produce from these farms are expected in the state before the end of this year.”

Fashola, therefore, urged farmers and producers in the state to take advantage of the various initiatives in the sector as well as opportunities provided through cooperative societies for their personal and collective good.

Speaking on the theme of the event, “Agricultural Cooperatives: Key to Feeding the World”, Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal, said that considerable efforts have been made to improve productivity in agriculture by focussing on the whole value chain with emphasis on enterprises where the state has comparative advantage. He said; “Everyone knows that the state has irrigation, the green house technology and others. Whatever the federal government gives to Lagos state will be an addition to the infrastructure provided by the state government.

Interstate Consortium to leverage on $20bn balance sheet capacity

I

NTERSTATE Consortium, the firm which was given the nod to manage the Abuja and Enugu electricity distribution companies, is to throw the weight of its combined balance sheet of $20 billion and its strong experience in the management of over 3 million consumers in Bangkok Thailand to drive capacity in the two electricity distribution companies. The Interstate Consortium comprises Metropolitan Electricity Authority of Thailand (MEA), Chrome Energy, Power House International Limited.

A detailed insight into the structure of the company shows that the Metropolitan Electric Authority of Thailand will actually run the company while Chrome Energy and Powerhouse International are co-investors.

‘’Interstate Consortium will run Abuja and Enugu in the best professional way- global best practices’’, a top official of the consortium explained yesterday.

“They are our technical partners”.

Interestingly, MEA currently services three million customers in Thailand while the customer base of Abuja and Enugu combined is less than one million.

According to Mr. Kester Enwereonu, Chairman, Powerhouse International Limited, a member of the Interstate Consortium, the combined balance sheet of the consortium members is in excess of $ 20 billion, which shows that they have the financial muscle to finance the aqcuisitons and upgrade both

networks.

Apart from its financial capability, the group boasts of solid experience. For instance MEA distributes electricity in the Thai capital city of Bangkok and environs and is reputed to be one of the most efficient Third world power distribution companies with record technical and commercial losses of below 5 per cent over the past eight years.

The closeness of Abuja and Enugu makes it possible for the consortium to run them seamlessly. In the course of the bid, they proposed two sets of management teams – one for each. This shows that they were prepared from the beginning to acquire and manage both electricity distribution companies.

22 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

NSE records N571bn foreign investment in 9 months ….Local investors account for 40% of market transaction

BY MICHAEL EBOH

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HE secondary segment of the Nigerian capital market recorded a total Foreign Portfolio Investment, FPI, flow of N570.8 billion in nine months, from January and September 2012.

According to data released by the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE on its website, the amount is broken down into total inflow of N318.55 billion and total outflow of N252.24 billion.

The report disclosed that the NSE, between January and December, 2011 recorded an FPI inflow of N512.72 billion, outflow of N335.15 billion and a total flow of N847.9 per cent.

The total FPI flow of N570.8 billion in the nine months period of 2012 is 32.68 per cent less than the FPI of N847.9 billion recorded in the NSE in 2011, the outflow figure for 2012 is 24.74 per cent less than the total figure for 2011, while the total flow for the nine months 2012 figure is 32.68 per cent less than the total figure for 2011.

A breakdown of foreign participation in the capital market in the last five years, as contained in the report, shows that in 2007, total FPI inflow stood at N256.03 billion, outflow stood at N359.6 billion and a total flow of N615.63

billion.

In 2008, total FPI flow stood at N787.4 billion, represented by inflow of N153.5 billion and outflow of N633.93 billion.

In 2009, the NSE recorded FPI flow of N424.6 billion, comprising N229 billion and N195.6 billion inflow and outflow respectively.

In 2010, a total flow of N577.3 billion was recorded in the NSE, comprising inflow of N382.1 billion and N195.24 billion FPI outflow.

The report further revealed that the NSE recorded signif-

icant increase in local investors’ participation, rising to 40.2 per cent between January and September 2012, compared to 33.2 per cent participation recorded in the whole of 2011.

According to the NSE, with a total flow of N570.8 billion, foreigners accounted for 59.8 per cent of the total market transaction between January and September 2012, valued at N954.1 billion, while local investors accounted for 40.2 per cent of the total transaction.

A breakdown of local and foreign investors’ participation in

the market, shows that in 2007, local investors accounted for 85.2 per cent of transactions while foreign investors accounted for 14.8 per cent; in 2008, local investors accounted for 83.5 per cent of the total transaction, while foreign investors accounted for 16.5 per cent.

In 2009, foreign investors accounted for 31 per cent of the total transaction while local investors accounted for 69 per cent; in 2010, local investors’ participation dropped to 63.9 per cent, while foreign-

MasterCard seeks growth of Nigeria’s payments industry

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From left: Mr. Dickie Agumba Ulu, Indendent Director, Union Assurance Limited; Mrs Olufunke Osibodu, Chairman and Mr. Godwin Odah, MD/CEO, at the 13th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Union Assurance, in Lagos. Photo: Diran Oshe

....Adds 3 banks’ stocks to Market Making progamme

BY LAZARUS IBEABUCHI

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HE Nigerian Stock Ex change, NSE has added United Bank Plc, Ecobank Transnational Plc and Skye Bank Plc stocks into the list of stocks to be traded by the market makers.

In a statement signed by Wole Tokede, its Head/Media Relations, this will take effect from Thursday, October 18, 2012.

He said this is in line with the promise made by The Exchange that all the stocks quoted on the Exchange that are trading above par value will be added to the Market Making programme over a period of six months.

He noted that the nation’s stock market has been reacting positively since the commencement of Market Making on the Nigerian bourse. For instance, the market capitalisation and All-Shares Index that stoop at N8.077 trillion and 25,373.83 respective on the eve of the commencement, stood at N8.628 trillion and 27,077.66 at the close of trading activities on Monday, October 15, 2012, representing an increase of 6.8 per cent. The initiative which kicked off in September 2012

ers accounted for 36.1 per cent.

Local investors’ participation dipped further in 2011 to 33.2 per cent while foreign investors accounted for 66.8 per cent of the total market transactions.

Continuing, the NSE said, “However, between January and August 2012, we observed that domestic investors have increased their share of the market from 33.2 per cent in 2011 to 37.3 per cent in 2012.

Domestic investors can be categorized into either institutional or retail investors.”

with 16 stocks had nine other stocks added two weeks back.

The additional three additional stocks now bring the number of stocks that Market Makers are making market on to 28.

The stocks covered by the initiative now are: PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc; Nigerian Bag

Manufacturing Company Plc; Presco Plc; International Breweries; Lafarge Wapco; Fidson Healthcare Plc; Redstar Express Plc; Zenith Bank Plc; Sterling Bank Plc; D.N.Meyer; Diamond Bank; FCMB; Fidelity Bank Plc; Nigerian Breweries Plc; Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and UAC Nigeria Plc.

(UACN).

Others are: Access Bank; Academy Press; Custodian & Allied Insurance; First Bank Plc; Dangote Sugar Plc; Union Bank Plc, NASCON and Nestle Nigeria Plc as well as AIICO Insurance Plc and the three newly added ones, the statement said.

Unity Bank targets 5 states for third zonal draw

BY PROVIDENCE OBUH

U

NITY Bank Plc has an nounced plans to take its third zonal draw of the Aim, Save & Win saving promotions to five states across the federation.

The draw billed for Saturday October 20, 2012 will take place in Lagos, Rivers, Sokoto Nassarawa and Bauchi States respectively.

Head, Corporate Communications Unity Bank Mr. Sani Mohammed Zaria said that the promotion is a strategy to reward the bank’s loyal customers for their loyalty, as well as to help the nation grow utilizable capital for development.

According to Zaria, the promo would help Nigerians develop a savings culture, adding that the processes leading to the selection of winners would be transparent reflecting the bank’s commitment to integrity as an institution that pride itself on the timeless principles of probity.

Regulators such as the National Lottery Commission, Consumer Protection Council (CPC) and an independent auditor, PKF are all expected to be at the draw venues to ensure a successful outing while the draws would be witnessed by qualifying customers, stakeholders and other members of the public.

Winners will go home with

motorcycles, Plasma Television sets, Generators, Bicycles, Refrigerators and telephone handsets.

The bank held the first and second zonal draws in May and July, this year respectively and the first national version on June 30, this year where one of the Savers, Mrs. Bikudamai Joura in Maiduguri won one of the star prize of Hyundai Verna car while the second national draw produced Mrs. Iruadfemi Mary from Edo state and Abubakari Usman from Jigawa state went home with Hyundai Verna Car each.

Others won motocycles, LCD Television, bicycles, refrigerators and similar gifts.

IGERIAN banks, mer chants and other payments industry stakeholders expressed renewed enthusiasm for the country’s planned move towards a cashless society, after attending a series of intensive workshops hosted by global electronic payments company,MasterCard Worldwide.

The workshops, held over five days in the city of Lagos, were attended by more than 200 merchants and payments industry stakeholders from the hospitality, retail, healthcare andtravel sectors, as well as churches.

The training focused on card acceptance best practices, with an emphasis on card security, fraud identification and management, signage at points of sale and cardholder support,giving delegates the knowledge to understand the benefits of electronic payments. Attendants of the workshops received a certificate of completion by MasterCard.

“MasterCard envisions a world beyond cash, a goal that mirrors the Cashless Policy conceptualized by the Central Bank of Nigeria,” says Omokehinde Ojomuyide, country manager, West Africa, MasterCard Worldwide.“We support this policy that aims to modernise the country’s payment systems. One of the key elements is reducingthe costs of banking services and the cost of cash, as well as growing financial inclusion by providing more efficient transaction options and greater reach.”

She went on to explain, “It also aims to curb the high cost of using and accepting cash as a payment method, and prevent corruption, l e a k a g e , m o n e y l a u n d e r i n g a n d other fraudulent activities that cash can enable.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012—23

Lifebouy tutors kids on handwashing technique STORIES BY PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

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NILEVER Nigeria Plc’s Lifebouy soap has taken kids aged five on handwashing technique.

Lifebouy, an anti-bacteria soap vowed in gathering of over 400 kids to protect them from germs.

The programme which marks the fifth birthday of Global Handwashing Day (GHD) – a day co-founded

by Unilever’s Lifebuoy to raise awareness of handwashing with soap as a simple but lifesaving habit.

To commemorate five years of GHD, Lifebuoy has announced the start of a new initiative to defeat diarrhoea in Nigeria. Lifebuoy aims to reduce the number of preventable diarrhoeal deaths in the country through hygiene interventions like handwashing with soap.

Speaking, David Okeme, Brand Building Director, Unilever Nigeria Plc, said that with little over three years to go for the Millennium Development Goals

(MDGs), including MDG 4, that Unilever has vowed to reduce mortality of children under five by twothirds.

He however called on governments, schools and communities in Nigeria to focus on handwashing with

soap as an intervention that can help save million more lives.

“Over the past two years, Lifebuoy has successfully changed the handwashing behaviour of 48 million people – edging towards its goal to reach one billion people by 2015. But Life-

buoy cannot do this alone.

With the support of Unilever, Lifebuoy aims to bring GHD to a wider audience and influence government policy, to make hygiene behaviour change educational part of every school curricula.”

NIMN boss pledges to reposition marketing body

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S the leadership cri sis within the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN) continues to drag on, the newly elected President and Chairman of Coun-

Between MTN, CSR & Passion I

N Africa, when a child is born it is celebrated, likely worldover, it’s a time when everyone, even enemies, make amends. The significance of the baby’s birth does not lie in the joy it brings alone, but the responsibility it behoves on everyone. The mother knows more than ever that her responsibility would be to feed the child, nurture him or her with love and care.

The responsibility becomes one with happiness when the parents watch the child grow, They want to be there when it says its first word.

So, also is the pain when a parent loses a child,this was almost the case on September 2, 2012 when Tai-

wo Lawal, a year old child was hit by a stray bullet. It was not surprising to a lot of people after the news that the child would need N500,000 for an operation.

MTN, one of the mobile operators in Nigeria, responded with the speed of lightning to save the life of the innocent child.

The network has always maintained that its passion is to meet the needs of its customers and enrich lives by making people love more, laugh more, and live more. This they demonstrated without considering whether the toddler’s parents were on the MTN network or on the network of competition.

This act has been replicated by this organization

in many other initiatives like the MTN Foundation, through which the company has assisted many public and private institutions, like the donation of Security Patrol Vehicles to Imo State at Government House, Owerri, Imo State and enriching the lives of the people of Mbaise community also in Imo State by supporting them to mark this year’s New Yam Festival, Iriji Mbaise 2012.

MTN donated five patrol vehicles equipped with security gadgets to the Delta State government as it collaborates with the government to combat crime in the state. The network also donated five brand new security vehicles to Anambra State Government,

through its Foundation because without adequate security many more toddlers and innocent people run the risk of being killed by stray bullets.

Saving the lives of people would be easier through prevention rather than reacting all the time when the event has taken place and this is the vision of the company. Every part of the country has enjoyed this caring gesture; MTN recently donated five fully equipped security patrol vans to the Ogun State Government. Akinwale Goodluck, Director, MTN Foundation, who made the donation, said it was aimed at contributing to the government’s efforts at improving security across the country.

cil, Mr. Rotimi Adeyeye has pledged to restructure and reposition the embattled institute and the marketing profession to compete favourably with other professions in the country.

Adeyeye said this in his acceptance speech while being sworn in at the Institute’s 2012 Annual General Meeting and Lecture in Lagos as the second president of the Institute to replace Mr. Femi Odufowokan, who have served out his two years term in office.

It would be recalled that the Council of the Institute has been polarized with Chief Lugard Aimiuwu one side claiming to be the genuine president of the Institute and Odufowokan’s, the immediate past President leading another camp.

Since then, the institute has remained a ship with two captains as both parties continue to assume responsibility for the profession.

24—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

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HE nation’s external reserves have continued its upward trend rising by $753 million to $41.989 billion in two weeks. This represents the highest level for the external reserves in two years.

Meanwhile the naira lost five kobo at the interbank exchange market on Tuesday as the interbank exchange rate rose slightly to N157.583 from N157.535 According the Central Bank of Nigeria the external reserves rose from $41.186 billion on September 26th to $41.939 billion.

The external reserves have been rising steadily since August 8th when it stood at $36.412 billion. Since then it has risen by 15 per cent. The last time the reserves experienced decline was August 7th 2012.

CBN Governor, Mallam Lamido Sanusi attributed the steady rise in reserves to the increase in excess crude proceed account (ECA) due to high oil prices as well as closure of fiscal leakages and stable exchange rate.

The increase in the reserves might unconnected to some measures introduced by the CBN in July and August to curb foreign exchange demand. For example at its Monetary Policy Committee Meeting (MPC) the CBN reduced the amount of foreign exchange banks can hold per time i.e. net open position (NOP) to 1.0 per cent of shareholders’ funds from 3.0.

In addition to this the CBN banned debtor banks from the official foreign exchange market. Consequently, the amount of foreign exchange sold at the bi-weekly foreign exchange auction from $250 million on august 1 st to $162.2 million, while the official exchange rate

External reserves rise by $753m in two weeks

From left: Executive Director, South East/Treasury, Skye Bank Plc, Mrs. Amaka Onwughalu; Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and Group Managing Director/CEO, Skye Bank Plc, Mr. Kehinde Durosinmi-Etti, at the just concluded World Bank meeting in Tokyo, Japan. dropped N155.75 per dollar from N155.86 per dollar within the same period.

Meanwhile the naira lost

five kobo at the interbank exchange market on Tuesday as the interbank exchange rate rose slightly to N157.583

Bribery, corruption dominant challenges facing emerging market — Ernst & Young

By PETER EGWUATU

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RIBERY, corruption and other fraudulent crimes have been identified as the greatest challenges facing emerging market like Nigeria.

Speaking on the unveiling of the fraud survey result in Nigeria, Linus Osita Okeke, Partner and Forensic Leader for West Africa at Ernst & Young, said, “ Governments across the globe are currently intensifying efforts towards

Union Bank promotes 636 staff, recruits 1000

U

from N157.535 On the international scene the euro rose above $1.30 on Tuesday for the first time in a

week amid speculation that Spain is moving toward asking for financial assistance, reducing concern the region’s debt crisis is worsening.

The 17-nation currency strengthened for a fourth day versus the yen after Germany was said by two senior coalition lawmakers to be open to providing Spain a precautionary credit line. The dollar and the yen fell against most of their major counterparts as U.S. industrial production rose more than forecast last month, damping demand for the safest assets.

The Canadian dollar fell against most major peers after Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney suggested he may reduce his economic outlook and delay raising policy interest rates.

“There’s a lot of news going around this morning suggesting that there will be some kind of help in the very near future for Spain,” Charles St-Arnaud, a foreignexchange strategist at Nomura Holdings Inc. in New York, said in a telephone interview.

“That’s helping the euro.”

The euro climbed 0.8 percent to $1.3049 at 1:24 p.m. New York time, after reaching $1.3061, the strongest level since Oct. 5. Against Japan’s currency, it gained 1.1 percent to 102.96. The yen slipped 0.3 percent to 78.90 per dollar.

NION Bank of Nigeria Plc has promoted 636 of its deserving staff, culminating in the promotion of 1,000 staff over the last three year in an exercise aimed at boosting the morale of its workforce.

And in a bid to inject fresh blood into the system, a total of 360 entry trainees have also been recruited, bringing the total numbers of trainees employed over the last three years to 1,000 under the current management led

by Mrs Funke Osibodu.

In addition, the bank has concluded arrangement to hire 200 experienced professional staff in addition to 140 already hired over the last 3years in order to consolidate the repositioning exercise, which has lifted the lender into the league of the top banks in the country.

The recent 360 entry levels staff recruited

according to a statement from the bank, have commenced two months intensive training in 3 batches with the first batch of 120 very close to concluding their technical training, and the 2nd batch recently commencing same.

A similar training was done for the 640 entry level staff initially employed two years ago.

These group of 640 staff are now about to commenced another two and half weeks advance level training.

To reward hard work, Union Bank has also commenced an appraisal system with payment of part of compensation based on performance. Consequently, staffers whose performance were assessed as below acceptable minimum standard are expected to exit the bank. It is gathered that some staff with poor performance have already been exited from the bank.

tackling bribery and corruption, among other fraud-related crimes head-on, as one of the dominant challenges facing many emerging markets. However, a lot still needs to be done.”

Okeke, who, spoke ahead of the 12th Ernst and Young’s crime global fraud survey, said, “Effective management of fraud risk and compliance exposure remains a critical business priority in the 21st Century workspace. With more than 1,600 fraud investigation and dispute professionals around the world, Ernst & Young is showcasing its broad sector experience and deep subject matter knowledge as well as the latest insights from our team of professionals worldwide to our existing and prospective clients.”

Meanwhile, the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, will be leading other global fraud and forensic experts to the formal unveiling of Ernst & Young Nigeria’s fraud survey result in Nigeria.

The event, which is on the

backdrop of Ernst & Young’s 12th Global fraud survey, released in May this year, is scheduled to take place on October 22, 2012, at the Four Point by Sheraton Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Ernst & Young’s 12th Global fraud survey is the largest survey produced by the firm in the series. More than 1,700 interviews were conducted in 43 countries (including Nigeria) between November 2011 and February 2012, and the results highlight important issues for organisations.

Chief executive officers, finance directors, chief finance officers, heads of internal audit, heads of investigation, regulators, law enforcement agencies, compliance officers, among others, will be in attendance at the event.

EFCC Chairman, together with Ernst & Young’s fraud and forensic experts such as David Stulb (Global Forensic Leader); Charles de Chermont (Africa Forensic Leader) and Linus Okeke( Ernst & Young’s West Africa Forensic Leader) will make presentation at the event.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012 — 25

C M Y K

26—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

Why Nigerians 're suffering amid plenty — Alile H

IS assessment of Nigerian economy since independence As an emerging economy,in 1960, Nigeria was doing well but unfortunately, we got it all wrong because of the discovery of petroleum and a lot of rent we collected from it. So, we forgot the developmental curve we were supposed to go through. Instead of developing the agricultural sector we were into earlier we jumped over it because of the temptations stearing at us.

In the late 1970s, we betrayed ourselves as a post industrial economy and forgot agriculture. In early 1980s, we started to import food ranging from cassava, Rice, fish and so on. In the late ‘80s, we even started to import palm oil from Malaysia.

So, I will say that after going through this valley, we now begin to recognize that 70 per cent of our population is still in the rural sector and unfortunately the predominance of the 70 per cent are our grand fathers and grand mothers who cannot cultivate any longer. The youths have abandoned the rural areas for the urban area seeking the industrial sector to absolve them. I think we have done badly by jumping the developing curve to declaring ourselves a post industrial economy. But I am very happy that this present administration has recognised the importance of agriculture in our emerging economy. I just hope that a lot of interventions being carried out in the agricultural sector will be properly managed.

On military interventions as cause of the decay There must have been a reason while the military came in. They came in possibly to correct certain things they felt were wrong.

Unfortunately, it was a self imposed assignment. There was no public sector management.

Theirs was to manage gun and ammunitions, not really the economy and society. So they took upon themselves things they were not really trained for.

In the process, they missed a lot of opportunities. So, it has become part of our history. But it slowed us down. You get the government that you deserve.

Nigeria is so blessed and at the same time unblessed by having that 1960 independence on a platter of gold. You and I were born by a woman who had to shed blood before we were born.

Any good thing coming, if you don’t shed blood, you won’t get it. Our three leaders in the 1960s, our Patriarch Azikiwe, Awolowo and Ahmadu Bello signed an agreement with the British called the “ Anglo-Nigeria Defence Pact” that they can use our Airspace to test British planes,

FORMER Director-General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Apostle Hayford Alile, in this interview with Vanguard, spoke on how Nigerian economy has fared since independence, security challenges, political economy and issues in the financial sector especially the Nigerian capital market among others. Excerpts:

•Alile: Nigeria is so blessed which was one of the preconditions for independence. For other countries seeking independence, they would have refused. I was the Secretary General of National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) then. I got to know of such an agreement.

We discussed it at our executive meeting that we must oppose it.

We organized national strike.

Our national leaders then talked to the British that we don’t want it. So for the military to have intervened, a lot of things were in decay. If they intervened and quickly conducted re-elections, we wouldn’t have been where we are now.

On the Boko Haram menace in the country Whomever they are, they are not robots or machines, they are humans created by God. And God does not command them to kill any human being. So my duty as well as that of other religious leaders, Christian or Islam, is to pray for peace to reign. But for whatever reason, they are not supposed to be doing what they are doing.

In addition, the government has the duty and responsibility to protect lives and properties of the people and they must use whatever strategy to curb insecurity. We have a lot of work

to do to take our people out of poverty. And for Boko Haram to complicate and make situation in the North worse, they should stand out and tell the almighty God, this is not what you destined for us.

On the banking sector Bureaucracy also crept into the banking sector. We need to take a second look at the role the banks are playing, that is, the Nigeria Agricultural Banks of the past.

These developing banks need to be set up and managed properly to tap into the emerging sector of our population called the entrepreneurs. Nigerian youths are very creative. The Micro Managers and policy makers of our environment need to capture this useful sector of the population. These developing banks should be equipped to support them.

His assessment of the stock market over the last 51 years of its existence and whether it has performed up to expectations I won’t say yes or no. All the market in the world in the last three years dipped. The Nigeria stock market is not interlinked to the major market of New York, London, Tokyo so that if anything happens to those ones, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) remains insulated. But

unfortunately, we made a mistake here.

All the banks loaned money to some of the stock brokers that they did not bother to investigate who they were. Just a few years to the turn down of the market, the international portfolio managers came into the market to exploit the high performance of the market.

Yes! Market is market and should be perfect with m i n i m a l interference from micro managers.

I remember when privatisation was taking place in UK under Margaret Thatcher, British Petroleum was being privatised and Kuwaiti Investment Organisation bought about 20 per cent then.

Lady Thatcher, who was overseeing the privatization exercise, had traveled out when the deal was done. When she came back, she cut the deal and reversed it in the interest of Britain.

We ought to have done the

,

BY PETER EGWUATU & CHINEDU IBEABUCHI

Unfortunately, afterwards, a lot of speculators were allowed to come in. And immediately they found out things were not in the right shape, they quickly sold.

From the arithmetic I got, those speculative hedge fund managers came to the market with about over $1 billion.

But the value had climbed to over $3 billion Dollars when they sold off. So, they created a black hole in the market. That black hole is still there. We pray that the new management at the exchange will be able to do something good and turn the place around.

How did the NSE perform during your period as Director General?

When I had the opportunity to work for the Stock Exchange then, I used to hear of captains of industries. But I found out that these so called captains of industries are not entrepreneurs, except for few people like Akintola, Ojukwu. But most of those who enjoyed the limelight were not entrepreneurs, they were Commission Agent. As at that time, we had about 30 companies listed on the market.

They were primarily foreign promoted companies.

Only about two or three of them were Nigeria promoted companies in the likes of The Nkalagu Cement factory, etc. So, we had to work hard to see that more Nigeria promoted companies were listed.

That was why we had to set up a second tier securities market in the late ‘80s, with some relaxed listing requirement to accommodate Nigeria entrepreneurs to come to the markets and raise long term

You get the government that you deserve, Nigeria is so blessed and at the same time unblessed by having that 1960 independence on a platter of gold

same thing here. I still remember that I once sought the assistance of our NSE President, MKO Abiola at that time to talk to our Military President Ibrahim Babangida, to amend our Investment Act to tolerate portfolio investors in the market.

And he obliged to give us a new law. So he gave us a new administrative write up for portfolio managers intervening in our market.

However, in a free market like that, there are some dangers as experienced in our market over the last three to four years. When I was there, if a foreign investor wants to come to the market, I tell the Broker to go and find out from his client if he wants to stay in this economy; not just to come and speculate.

,

capitals, with a view to expanding and graduating their companies to first tier market. In the last few years I spent in the NSE, out of about 34 Nigerian companies listed on the second tier market, about eight of them graduated to the first tier market.

I believe we still have a lot of Nigerians who are entrepreneurs and who can be given incentive to come to that market to raise capitals for expansion or introduction of new ideas and partner with large foreign companies.

But we should not lose the focus on agriculture because we are still basically an agricultural country. By and large, I think we have tried to see that within the next four to five years, we reverse the trend.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012 — 27

NEXIM boss visits Origin

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ANAGING Director of Nigerian Export Import Bank (NEXIM), Mr. Robert Orya, has visited the facilities of Origin Group in Lagos. The visit, according to him, was a duty inspection visit to selected private sector players in a bid to boost the development of the non-oil sector through export promotion programmes of value added products.

Orya spoke of the numerous efforts of NEXIM Bank in supporting the vision 2020 of the Federal Government especially through increased

export trade activities in the West African sub-region; speaking about different in-country trade barriers and among ECOWAS member states, especially in formalising trade activities that are hitherto going on across Nigerian borders without being captured in national trade statistics.

Orya said the potential of the agricultural sector and other non-oil sectors for employment creation and national development is very huge and must be given priority attention through consistent institutional sup-

ports and risk mitigation frameworks by relevant government agencies.

He inspected the tractor assembly plant of Origin Automobile Works (a subsidiary of Origin Group) where about 1800 tractors of dfifferent capacities shall be assembled for a special agricultural development project tagged 'Tractorise Nigeria'. He also visited the proposed factory site for tomato paste dilution plant of Vegefresh Company Ltd (another subsidiary of Origin Group), export processing facilities of the group and furniture manufacturing factory among other things.

CONSERVATION — From left: Ag. Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Mrs. Adebola Afun; Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Environment, Dr. Taofeek Oladiran Folami; President, Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), Chief Izoma Phillip Asiodu; Council member, NCF, Justice Bukola Adebiyi and NCF Council member, Mr. Desmond Majekodunmi, during the 2012 Walk for Nature programme with the theme 'Sustainable Energy for Us All' orgarnised

by Lagos State Government and NCF, held in Lagos recently.

ECOWAS reassures on AfT T HE ECOWAS Commission has assured representatives of the ECOWAS member states of its commitment to engage in wide consultations during the formulation process of the ECOWAS Aid for Trade (AfT) Strategy.

Mr. Kola Sofola, Principal Programme Officer in the Directorate of Trade made the commitment while representing Dr. Gbenga Obideyi, Acting Director of the Department during a three-day meeting of the ECOWAS Working Group on AfT which considered the draft background paper on the ECOWAS AfT Strategy with member states and partners.

During the meeting, the first in a series of consulta-

tions to finalize and adopt the regional AfT strategy, participants deliberated on the Global AfT initiative, the Enhanced Integrated Framework, as well as the preparation and operationalisation of the ECOWAS AfT Strategy.

Participants, among others, agreed that the strategy should be concise and focused with an emphasis on regional initiatives.

They proposed that the AfT strategy, which aims to maximize the opportunities of the Aid for Trade initiative by strengthening instruments for its effective implementation, should have the capacity to provide guidance for future actions, assist in coordinating trade related programmes, as well as provide a basis for resource

Minya-Ikono raises alarm over pollution

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HE people of Minya-Ikono village, in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have raised alarm over massive pollution and destruction of farm lands occasioned by laying of gas pipelines by East Horizon Gas Company, a subsidiary of Oando Oil Plc. Speaking to newsmen, the village head, Chief Albert Akpan Obot, said despite the general pollution and destruction of aquatic life which is the only source of revenue to the villagers, the community was allegedly subjected to intimidation and harassment by soldiers and police in the services of the company.

According to him, “Minya-Ikono has lost everything given to them by God. The only source of drinking water that supplied almost five neighbouring communities has been destroyed by the gas pipeline.

“Fishing and farming C M Y K

which are the major occupations of the village have been destroyed. There are no roads and developments. The village deities destroyed, as a result of the laying of the pipelines had resulted in deaths and sicknesses in the community.”

Also speaking, Mr. Akpan Etuk, a community leader resident in Lagos, regretted the alleged neglect and hardship inflicted on the community by the company in the past two years.

He said the company had refused to implement the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, after series of meetings with the community.

According to Etuk, “the community is now appealing to the respective government agencies and Federal Government to save the community from total disaster and come to our aid by compelling the company to provide the necessary developmental amenities and make life bearable for the community.”

28— Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

IN DEFENCE OF AWOLOWO:

Matters arising from Achebe’s Civil War Memoir I

HAVE not yet read the con troversial personal history of Chinua Achebe, and as a professional historian, I don’t really think it is ethical to speak on a work one has not read. However, I have endeavoured to read Noo Saro-Wiwa’s review of the book posted on The Guardian of London on-line. I have also read the numerous comments on the book with specific reference to the roles of Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the civil war published on the Saturday Vanguard of October 13, 2012.

I could recall that this subject of Achebe’s attack on Chief Obafemi Awolowo was the Dr. Frederick Fasehun’s welcomeaddress to me during my meeting with him on Thursday, October 11, 2012, at his Century Hotel, Okota, to discuss the subject of Igbo Presidency in 2015. Still on the same subject matter, while en route Nsukka by Ifesinachi Luxury bus, just few kilometers to Ore, I received a call from Ghana, this time by the renown Igbo literary critic and mathematician-turned historian, Professor Chinweizu, imploring me to comment on the controversy.

Over-flogged and irrelevant subject I have, therefore, decided to comment on a subject I strongly feel is both over-flogged and irrelevant at this point of our history. However, to the professional historian, no literary work is an end to itself, not even the one coming from such literary icon as Professor Chinua Achebe. Every work of literary art is, therefore, to the professional historian, a means to an end, a tool and source-material for the professional historian in pursuit of the end. That end is definitely the solution to the intractable political socio-economic, and allied problems of mankind.

Achebe no doubt, like other writers and commentators has done his bit of contribution towards that end. However, whether Achebe’s contribution is adjudged to be positive or negative in orientation, it remains a matter literary conjecture, since every writer is entitled to his personal opinion based on his exclusive perception of a given subject matter. In this regard, the title of the book is self-explanatory. One does not, therefore, un-

derstand why the personal view of an individual will constitute a whole lot of an enveloping controversy. Or, could be because such a comment is coming out of the mouth of a “Professor Chinua Achebe”? Just like a Julius Caesar crossing the Rubicon, or a Mungo Park discovering the source of River Niger. I ask this question because the subject matter is no longer new, as it has over the years formed one of tools against possible Igbo-Yoruba common front against a perceived common enemy.

The fact remains, however, that the issue of Chief Awolowo’s antiIgbo roles during the civil war is highly over-bloated with irreconcilable body of evidence. This issue was fully explained in my October 1998 Guest Lecture to the Department of Political Science, University of Lagos, titled: “Ethnicity and the Politics of IgboYoruba Relations: case of a celebration of defeat?”

In the first instance, the Igbo first lost the golden opportunity to have Chief Awolowo fully on their side when, neither General Ironsi nor Col Ojukwu failed to see the wisdom in releasing the former from prison custody in Calabar. Chief Obafemi Awolowo had to wait for the six or seven months before he could be released and granted amnes-

,

By TONY NWAEZEIGWE

Prof. Chinua Achebe Chief Obafemi Awolowo

nounced on Thursday, May 25, 1967 that the Northern troops will be withdrawn from the West Region.

However, that withdrawal eventually meant the withdrawal of troops at Ibadan and Abeokuta for the reinforcement of the Lagos garrison as well as for the strategic cities of Jebba and Ilorin. Even the acting Military Governor of the Western Region at that tme, Col. Adebayo, in his subtle protest on May 26, described the presence of Northern troops at Ikeja as “this outstanding problem,” and pleaded with his people to exercise patience since he was discussing the matter with General Gowon.

It was under this charged political atmosphere that Gowon announced the following day, May 27, the creation of the 12State structure. That action eventually led to the fission of Yoruba minds towards secession, particularly since the indigenes of the new Lagos State saw their new status as a freedom from the domineering image of Chief

In speaking of Awolowo’s roles in the civil war, objectivity demands that reference be made also of such Yoruba-born pro-Igbo partisans of the war, like Professor Wole Soyinka and those who chose to fight and die for Biafra like Colonels Banjo and Ademoyega

ty by General Yakubu Gowon, who subsequently elevated him.

There was no doubt that the Yoruba under the leadership of Chief Awolowo were ready to secede along with the Igbo, had circumstances on ground not prevented the scheme. Fundamental in that circumstance was the presence of the Northern troops in Ibadan, Abeokuta and Lagos.

Since the Yoruba at that time lacked the needed military presence in the army to confront the occupying forces, there was little they could have done. The Yoruba leaders had actually demanded for the withdrawal of the Federal troops from their territory to enable them carry out their scheme of secession. It was actually on account of that demand that the Federal authorities an-

,

Awolowo. The subsequent elevation of Chief Obafemi Awolowo to number two position was to erase the idea of a Yoruba secession.

It could also be recalled that on March 03, 1967, the Biafran leader, Col. Ojukwu, then still acting on the capacity of a Regional Governor, affirmed this evident incapacitation of the West by the occupying Northern troops.

Ojukwu had said that both Governors of the two Southern Regions of West and Midwest were in full support of his position against the North, but could not do much because of the presence of Northern troops in their territories.

Chief Awolowo’s inability to carry out his threat of secession if the East seceded could not there-

fore be interpreted as an act of betrayal. Beyond the matter of sentiments, objective judgment agrees that there can never be secession without a back-up military force. Comparatively, the Yoruba had thrown a much stronger loyal support to the leadership of Nnamdi Azikiwe than the Igbo ever exhibited toward Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Thus in speaking of Awolowo’s roles in the civil war, objectivity demands that reference be made also of such Yoruba-born pro-Igbo partisans of the war, like Professor Wole Soyinka and those who chose to fight and die for Biafra like Colonels Banjo and Ademoyega.

Gruesome experiences There was no doubt that Professor Chinua Achebe, from the accounts of his civil war experiences was a privileged Biafran citizen who only watched but never suffered the gruesome experiences of hunger, diseases and homelessness during the war. If the father of African literature actually wants to be objective concerning the conduct of the civil war, then he should first focus his literary search-light at the internal mechanisms of the conduct of the war on the side of Biafra.

In other words, if any blame were to be apportioned for the defeat of Biafra and the suffering of the Igbo masses, it cannot be targeted at external forces such as Awolowo, but at the internal elite who masterminded the failed civil war policies of the leader, like Achebe himself. One would want Profesor Achebe to explain to Nigerians in general and the Igbo in particular, what happened to the millions in foreign currency raised abroad in support of Biafra but which never got to the shores of Biafra? How much of such money were actually raised and who were those Igbo leaders of Biafra entrusted with the duty of bringing the fund to Biafra?

What also happened to the millions given to such people as Dr. K.O. Mbadiwe and Mojekwu, a relative of Ojukwu for the pur-

pose of purchasing arms and ammunition to prosecute the war?

Did they not carte away with the money and never returned to Biafra until after the defeat?

Where again could one place those who sold relief materials meant for the poor and suffering citizens of Biafra, when it was meant to be distributed free? Were all these atrocities against the Igbo equally masterminded by Chief Obafemi Awolowo?

Viewed critically, even the literary icon himself, acting on the capacity of Biafra’s Minister of Communication, could not have supported any policy that would have given the Federal Government undue advantage over Biafra. Even the Federal Government’s policy of an all-round twenty pounds exchange cannot be faulted by any economic theory given the undetermined value of the Biafran currency.

It is important for Professor Achebe to know that the Igbo of today fully understand who their actual friends and foes are in the present Federation.

Abandoned property saga The 1966 pogroms against the Igbo were Hausa-Fulani schemes and not those of the Yoruba. Many Igbo lived unmolested in Yorubaland throughout the war. The coup d’etat that toppled General Aguiyi-Ironsi was a Northern act and not a single Yoruba soldier was involved. The abandoned property saga did not take place in Yorubaland.

Above all, although there could exist a situation of mutual rivalries between the Igbo and Yoruba, such competitions never for once degenerated into a state of anti-Igbo riots, with countless loss of lives and property. The Igbo thus know who their friends are, and they know that the Yoruba are not their foe. In conclusion, it is important to let Professor Achebe understand one evident fact: if any Igbo leader could have one-quarter of Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s vision for the Yoruba, then the Igbo are saved the pains of recurrent political idiocy.

•Dr. N. Tony Nwaezeigwe is Senior Research Fellow, Institute of African Studies, University of Nigeria,Nsukka.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012—29

J’ Odie: Making waves with African woman •2face endorses album

S

BENJAMIN NJOKU

ENSATIONAL singer, J’odie, born Joy Odiete Eseoghene has described her electrifying maiden album, “African Woman” which she released few weeks ago as “timeless and a testimony that African music has come of age.”

The singer cum fashion designer made this remark, just as 2face Idibia endorsed the new album on the social networktwitter.

“My African Woman” album is a testimony that African music is classic and timeless” she said. J’odie first graced our television sets as contestant on the West African Idols in 2007, alongside Timi Dakolo and Omawumi.

The Delta State born singer dropped the album more than a year after she released the video of her “Kuchi Kuchi(Oh Baby)” single. She blamed the delay in releasing the album on her desire to give her fans a quality music.

Speaking with WG recently, Jódie said, the album has been in the works for a number of years. “I am not in a hurry to drop my album. It took me time to build up the album, and it’s not a cut and nail work. It has quality and everything everybody would want to listen to. Every party freak will love my album,” she boasted. The 10-tracker which explores genres ranging from new age to folk proves the African Woman knows no bounds.

Continues no page 30

Alleged online picture:

Not me – Lagbaja T

BY MUKOSOLU NZOM

WO weeks ago, news went viral online that Nigerian Afro beat musician Lagbaja whose real names are Bisade Ologunde has finally removed his mask. The picture which everybody believed was Lagbaja’s true identity was not it after all.

Speaking in an interview session on AIT last Sunday, the masked musician declared that the picture circulating online was not him. He explained that the person captured in the picture was much younger than himself, adding that “people are free to believe what they like but that is not him in that partic-

ular picture.”

Talking about his facelessness, Lagbaja said the poor and the oppressed are faceless in the society. His mask is used as an icon of man’s facelessness. The mask and the name symbolize the faceless, the voiceless in the society, particularly in Africa.

When asked why he parted-ways with his favourite vocalist, Ego, Lagbaja replied, “it is natural for one to want to pursue a separate ambition after a long stay together.”

He also disclosed that he is married with kids

•J’ Odie:

Aliko Dangote finds fun at Ikoyi Boat Club •Lagbaja C M Y K

Apple may debut with Mini iPad next week

30—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

Movie of the week

CONCERT:

Evening of music, dance and drama, as Vitaform celebrates Golden Jubilee

BY MUKOSOLU NZOM

I

T was an evening of classical music, dance and drama penultimate Saturday as Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, celebrated its golden jubilee in grand style.

The50th anniversary concert which held at Shell hall of the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos, was punctuated with pot-pourri of activities that re-echoed the mission statement of the company; to show commitment to excellence and service reliability as the basis for current success and future growth.

The evening, was flagged off with a performance by the Golden Duo, shortly after the national and Vitaform corporate anthems were recited by the large audience.

Performing such old tunes as “The Prayer”, by David Foster and Carole B. Sager, “Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina”by A.L Webber and All I Ask of You”

by Andrew LIoyd Webber, the Goldern Duo set the tune for the evening’s concert.

Their performance, which was greeted with thunderous ovation saw the audience yearning for more . Thereafter the Trio took the floor and

thrilled the audience with breathtaking tunes including “Study war no more” by Anonymous and “O Sole Mio”

by Eduardo Capua/Giovanni Capurro.

The audience erupted and sustained applause when the Greenland Chorale mounted the stage to render “Love Changes Everything”by A.L Webber/D. Black/C Hart and “Climb Every Mountain.”The group, which repertoire ranges from works of the great masters to the Nigerian contemporary composers and folklores from different works cultures thrilled the audience with songs conducted by Olumide Dada.

Solo performance by Babatunde Sosan, one of the nation’s leading pianists took the audience in a musical Odyssey that reaffirmed his mastery of the keyboard.

Dada did not disappoint the audience as gave a good account of himself on stage.

Then, came Deborah Awunor, whose solo performance equally was moving and stimulating. Her performance was warmly received by the audience.

Just as the mood of the

evening changed as soon as Segun Sofowote, who dubbed as chairman of the concert committee mounted the stage. Conducting the SS Spectrum, the quintessential singer and composer reeled out old numbers that saw the senior citizens in the audience taking to the floor to dig it out.

He rendered such old numbers like “Eddie Quansa” by The Peacecocks/Lyrics which his group adapted, Rex Lawson’s “Love M’Adure”, “Aiye Gbeye”by Ignace de Souzas and Olojo Nka ‘Jo”by Roy Chicago with new lyric by Sofowote among other evergreen songs.

Also, the evening witnessed a dance drama by the Guild of N i g e r i a n Dancers(GOND), Lagos State chapter as well as cultural display.

SYNOPSIS

T

The Meeting

HE Meeting, produced by Rita Dominic tells the story of a corporate executive who flies to Abuja to make an important 9:30am meeting with the Honorable Minister of Land and Resources and is scheduled to return with the afternoon flight same day to his office.

He is faced with unexpected challenges from the Minister ’s secretary( Rita Dominic) and is forced to stay in Abuja on the insistence of his boss( Jide Kosoko) so as to ensure the Minister signs all necessary documents that would save his company.

While in Abuja he meets up with a young lady who introduces him to the city and for the first time since after his wife’s death, he begins to fall in love.

Movie Schedule

Oct 12th – Oct 18th

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, LAGOS The Meeting: 2:30pm, 6:30pm The Dictator: 11:10am , 12:50pm, 10:20pm.

Resident Evil: Retribution In 2D : 11:00am, 4:00pm, 8;40pm, 10:30pm.

Safe: 11:20am, 2:00pm, 8:20pm, 10:20pm Single & married: 1:10pm, 6:00pm Step up 4: 3:30pm, 5:40pm.

English Vinglish (Bollywood): 5:30 Bourne legacy: 11:10am, 3:50pm, 8:35pm.

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, ABUJA The Meeting: 12:20pm, 2:40pm,6:20pm, 9:00pm.

Ted 12;00pm, 4:20pm, 8:40pm.

Resident Evil: Retribution 12:10pm, 4;45pm, 9:20pm.

Savages 12:45pm, 3:20pm, 5:55pm, 8:30pm.

Total Recall: 11:50am, 4:15pm, 8:45pm, Bourne legacy: 1:00pm, 3:40pm,6:25pm, 9:10pm The Dictator: 1:10pm, 3:10pm,5:10pm, 7:10pm, 8:55pm .

Single & married: 2:05pm, 6:40pm Step up4: 2;10pm, 6:35pm.

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS CEDDI PLAZA , ABUJA The Meeting: 11:30am, 1:50pm, 6:50pm, 9:10pm Resident Evil: Retribution 2:20pm, 9:00pm.

Single& married: 4:10pm.

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS PORT HARCOURT The Meeting: 12:40pm, 3:20pm, 5:45pm, 8:10pm.

Savages 12:00Pm,2:50pm,5:50pm,8:20pm Bourne legacy: 12:50pm, 3:30pm, 6:10pm, 8:50pm The Dictator: 1:10pm, 3:10pm, 5:00pm, 7:05pm, 9:00pm.

Single & Married: 12:20pm, 2:30pm, 4:40pm,6:50pm, 8:00pm.

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS UYO Stepup4: 12:30pm, 2:40pm, 4:55pm, 6:55pm Resident Evil: Retribution: 11:40am, 1:50pm Udeme Mmi: 1:30pm, 5:20pm.

Total recall: 3:55pm, 6:40pm.

Single& Married: 11:30am, 3:20pm, 7:10pm

Music Maestro, Segun Sowofote conducting the Greenland Chorale at the Vitafoam @ 50 Music Concert, held at the MUSON Centre, penultimate Saturday)

J’ Odie: Making waves with African...

Continued from page 29 The songbird losing her mind on her songs, said they are songs that are perceived to be my kind of songs. And when I worked on those tracks I immediately realised it was time for me to drop my debut album.”

J’Odie, who is recently signed with DUN Entertainment said, she’s planning to shoot the video. This is the first time, J’ Odie will signed under any record label.

According to her, her ability to diversify has given her music a new boost. Apart from doing soul RnB, and pop, she has blended it with her African lyrics. “ If you listen to my song, you will discern some elements of RnB, pop and African lyrics,” she narrated.

J’ Odie’s fans and critics alike should look out for the love ballad “Biko”, a power ballad with actual power and emotion. The songbird explores different tones of her voice, layering them beautifully to build up the emotional intensity achievable due to the vulnerability of voice with spinetingling ad-libs. J’odie gets her ‘Enya’ on for “Akpona Igbunu” sung mostly in her native dialect ‘Urhobo.’ The vocal wonder shows her expansive range, pitch-perfect scaling, vocal layering and transposition fuelled with emotion so effortlessly she makes singing looks like child’s play.”

OZONE CINEMAS LAGOS The Meeting: 1:35pm, 6:20pm.

The Dictator: 4:10pm, 8:30pm.

Resident Evil: Retribution 11:55am.

Savages: 1:55pm, 8:20pm, Stepup4: 12:50pm Safe: 4:30pm, 6:30pm Bourne legacy: 1:35pm, 5:55pm.

Single & married: 11:305am.

Madagascar 10:00am.

GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS LAGOS The Meeting: 1:00pm, 5:20pm, 9:05pm Safe: 2.50pm,7.00pm Single and Married 3:10pm,8.20pm Resident Evil: Retribution 3D: 12:30pm, 5:05pm, 9:30pm, 11:40pm STEP UP 4 in 3D: 10:20am, 2:50pm, 7:15pm GENESIS CINEMAS PORT HARCOURT The Meeting: 12:25pm, 5:20pm, 7:35pm.

Single and Married: 2:05pm, 8:20pm Resident Evil: Retribution: 9:00pm Step UP 4: 12:05pm, 6:20pm GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS ENUGU The Meeting: 10:30am, 12:50pm, 3:10pm, 5:30pm.

Single and Married: 10:10am, 3:10pm,8.30pm Resident Evil: Retribution: 12:45pm,5:15pm STEP UP4 10:00am,2:00pm.

GROOVE EXTRA

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012—31

OFF-CAMERA

Tonto Dikeh releases 2 singles

BY MUKOSOLU NZOM

E

VERYBODY has his or her own talents but what matters is how do you exhibit yours. She is known to be an actress even though people see her as a controversial lady. She doesn’t mind all she does is doing what she knows how best to do and that is acting and interpreting her role very well.

We can recall that when Patience Ozokwor released her album “make we jolly ”Tonto Dikeh featured in the video. May be, that was when she started dreaming to become a musician.

This time around, she releases her two singles titled Hi” and “Itz Ova”, against her fans’ advice that she should not do so.

Yvonne Nelson on holiday in Nigeria

•Tonto Dike

MCSN sues NCC ffor or N1 00m oover ver rights N100m abuse ...to claim N1m daily for property seized

•Yyvonne Nelson

P

OPULAR Ghollywood actress Yvonne Nelson is in the country holidaying, reportedly taking time out to relax in Lagos.

WG gathers that the sexy actress was in Lagos to attend the premiere of the new Ghollywood movie ‘Single & Married’at Silverbird Cinemas, but chose to stay back after the premiere to hang out with friends before returning to Ghana. She was spotted

recently in the Festac area of Lagos with some female friends having a good time.

Yvonne Nelson is wellknown in Nigeria, but recently became even more popular following rumours of an alleged romance between her and singer Iyanya, after he mentioned her name in his song ‘Ur Waist.’ We’ll be on the look out to see if these two will be hooking up while she in town!

T

he Musical Copyright Society Nigeria (MCSN) has filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Lagos to enforce its fundamental and constitutional rights and those of its officials, asking for an award of N100 Million as damages against the Nigerian Copyright Commission and 4 others. It has also demanded that the NCC should within seven days return all materials, files,

documents and computers illegally removed from its offices in a recent raid, otherwise it would be claiming One Million Naira per day for the number of days which the materials remain in the custody of the NCC. In Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1163/ 12 filed on 3rd October 2012, MCSN and its 6 other officials, namely, Olukayode Ajayi, Benson Yusuf, Omolara

KICC celebrates Praise Rampage

BY EBUN SESSOU

R

esidents of Lekki, on the Lagos island witnessed an evening of grace and prayers as Kingsway International Christain Centre, KICC, organised its first ever praise concert called “Praise Rampage”with over four hundred people in attendance.

Minster in-charge, Pastor Kenny Adenugba, said, the programme is strategically organised at the eve of 52 independence anniversary to praise God even as the nation is experiencing series of challenges.

According to him, it was a time to praise God regardless of our

circumstances. This nation has experienced tremendous challenges but God has been faithful, he kept us together. It was a time to appreciate God even as the nation has

experienced 52 years of independence, challenges, trouble, turbulence but God has kept us together as one.

“People in this nation have that resilient to keep on. At the beginning of this year, we had so much problems including increase in fuel pump price, protest, Boko Haram but God has been faithful.

“We believe that, praise has a way of changing things around and that is the essence of what has happened. We know that the hand of the Lord is strong on this nation for good and it will be well with Nigeria”, he added.

Banjo, Halim Mohammed, Louis Udoh and Mayo Ayilaran are asking for the following reliefs among others: An Order of perpetual injunction restraining the Respondents whether by themselves, officers, agents and privies from further harassing, intimidating, detaining or further arresting the Applicants or any of its officers or agents in the course of performing their lawful and legal duties and administering their property rights, an order of the Honourable Court awarding compensation for the Applicants and against the Respondents (jointly and severally) in the sum N50 Million for unlawful disruption and interference in 1 st Applicant’s lawful businesses and an order of the Honourable Court awarding compensation for the Applicants and against the Respondents in the sum of N50 Million (jointly and severally) for threat to arrest, unlawful arrest, detention, intimidation and harassment of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th 7th and 8th Applicants.

Other Defendants in the suit apart from the Nigerian Copyright Commission are the Director General of the NCC (Afam Ezekude), Mr. Amodu Augustine Alewu, Mr. Mathew D. J. Ojo and the Inspector General of Police.

The suit was filed on behalf MCSN and its officials by Dr. Ope Banwo of Banwo & Igbokwe (Solicitors) and a hearing date was being expected.

32—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012 — 33

By AYO ONIKOYI E-mail: sayonikoyi@gmail.com

•Akinwumi Oladeji

•Sir Alex Ekwueme

A

buja, the federal capital territory is never a quiet city, especial, during the week days when power brokers and power wielders play the ding-dong power play that control the lives of

everything that breathes in the nation.

Tuesday, October 16 th was no different apart from the fact that the city witnessed an unprecedented in-flux of dignitaries from the four corners of the country and they were in the capital city for none other reason than for the birthday of former executive vice president of Nigeria, Sir Alex Ekwueme, who turned 80.

Sonny Odogwu not owner of 7-star hotel in Ikoyi C

hief Sonny Odogwu, the Ide Ahaba of Asaba is a vintage millionaire who is very much like a vintage wine, who gets better with time, in taste and style.

Though in his 80s the Asaba nobleman is not resting on his oars but instead building more dominions of wealth but the gist making rounds that the billionaire is putting up a multi-billionaire hotel in Ikoyi is not true.

According to a source, the purported hotel is not really a hotel but collection of mixed resorts and apartments and the project is being promoted by a small select set of individuals, including the honourable minister of culture, tourism and national orientation, Chief Edem Duke; the Chairman, Robert Dyson and Diket Ltd & SIO properties (promoters of this development), Chief Sonny Odogwu; General Manager Nigeria, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Alexander Gasseur; CEO Koray, Samil Capar; BIDC president, Bashir Ifo; President AfriExim Bank, Jean Louis Ekra; CEO Six Continents Travels and Tour, Yomi Jones; Yinka Akinkugbe the MC; Ken Odogwu; Obinna Ekezie, former NBA player and CEO

wakanow.com, to mention a few The Ide Ahaba is no doubt a part investor in the project through the SIO properties but not the sole owner as the rumour has been making out.

The SIO Properties, one of the subsidiaries of Odogwu Group Africa, developed, owns and manages Grand Hotel, Resort and Convention Centre, Asaba, Delta state.

SIO Properties previously owned Radisson Plaza, Manhattan Beach, LA and No. 1, Times Square, New York.

•Sonny Odogwu

The A-list of guests who converged at the THISDAY Dome would have taken the shine out of glamour and glitz associated with any top-class celebrity society soiree other than the gathering for the former number two man was a colloquium, to discuss the health of the nation and make prescriptions for treatments of its illness.

Discussants at the event titled “International Colloquium on ‘Nigerian Federalism: Building on the Ekwueme Legacy ” and moderated by THISDAY Newspapers Chairman/ Editor-in-Chief and President, Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Mr. Nduka Obaigbena, expressed divergent views on whether Nigeria should retain the extant six geo-political structure or not, as well as the focus of the ongoing constitution amendment process.

A

mong those who spoke at the occasion were President Jonathan; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola; Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi; Niger State Deputy Governor, Mr. Musa Ibeto, representing the governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu; Governor of Kano State, Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso, who was represented by his deputy, Alhaji Umar Ganduja; Leader of the South-south Peoples Assembly, Chief Edwin Clark; former Minister of Finance and Chairman of the Northern Leaders Political Forum (NLPF), Alhaji Adamu Ciroma; former Minister of Police Affairs, Brig-General David Jemibewon; as well as former Vice-President of the World Bank, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili.

Jonathan, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, described Ekwueme as one of the architects of modern Nigeria and a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The list of guests is endless and replete with movers and shakers of the country.

Akin Oladeji -Johnbrown

buried dad in style L

agos big boy and cerebral business executive , Akinwumi Oladeji-Johnbrown ,former Executive Director, Investment Banking and Financial Services of defunct Trans International Bank Plc, buried his father Pa John Agboola Ladeji in a grandeur ceremony couples of weeks back in his hometown, Ogbomosho, Oyo State.

The ceremony which was serene, saw in attendance, professional colleagues, friends and business associates. At his private residence later in the evening was a lunch put together by Just Occasions Ltd, Ibadan based top catering company.

Akin Oladeji- John Brown is noted for quite life while making money, spinning deals in Investment and money management abroad. He has paid his dues in the financial world and guests who attended the burial were not surprised about the money spent to entertain them.

Aliko Dangote finds fun at Ikoyi Boat Club

I

koyi Boat Club isn’t a place you get a call to visit every now and then if your income on annual basis does not have several zeros ending with it and you do not have retinues of aides or have a pleasure boat to blaze through the Atlantic every now and then or you run a maga company that holds the destiny of several families on its wings. It is a billionaires’ hangout and it is no surprise Africa’s richest black man frequents this joint.

The influential Nigerian, who sits atop a business empire with multibillion naira production strength, is said to be a very private man that loves the quietness of his Lagos home but has now chosen to frequent the Ikoyi club once in a while to hang out with friends.

Those who spotted him recently claimed he drove himself to the club in a Mercedes Benz wagon and wore a happy look expected of a man who h a s everything •Aliko Dangote going for him.

34 — Vanguard, FRIDAY , OCTOBER 19, 2012

I

n 2008, in the thick of presidential elections campaigns, American First Lady Michelle Obama was named, for the second time running

by Vanity Fair Magazine as one of the year ’s international best dressed, alongside earstwhile French First Lady Carla Bruni, Kate Middleton, Ivanka Trump and Angelina Jolie. Her sleeveless sheath dresses, shortish bobs and clean lines.

Over the years since she took residence in the White House, Michelle Obama has acquired the reputation for being the woman behind the successful man that Barrack Obama is.

Former American president the most beloved Bill Clinton, has made a punchline of it when he said during

US Elections: the Battle of the Dresses

the famous speech during the democratic convention, that the president was very smart to have “married Michelle” .

In fact, with women’s vote being so “crucial” (as if) to the coming elections, the public image of the first lady might go a long way towards deciding whether or not her husband returns to the white house.

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his applies, also, to the wives Mitt Romney, as well of those of Biden and Ryan r e s p e c t i v e l y.

Interestingly, a huge, huge part of that image is going to be formed by the impressions made by

the dresses they have worn to the debates and conventions. An incredible amount of attention has been paid to these outfits, with major, serious newspapers and publications the world over going into fresh debates over what was worn, where it was born and for how much.

Having come this far, with the second presidential debate done, it’s safe to make conclusions in this great battle of the dresses:-

Second presidential debate: Who wore the pink better?

Both Michelle and Ann wore the same disgusting shade of pink but who wore it better?

Michelle has black hair, which contrasted too much Michelle wore a single string of pearls Michelle wore a bolero Ann’s necklace was too chunky The pink complimented her softly layered hair Ann’s dress brought out the worst in her figure

•Second debate

Verdict- Michelle’s bolero made it look more like a church outfit than evening formal, and she was having a bad hair day. Ann’s dress was a little too short, a little too stiff. This was definitely a TIE.

First presidential debate

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t this point, interestingly, the idea seemed to be suggested that Michelle Obama and Ann Romney, though very different in personality and looks, have similar dress senses. For starters, they both favoured bob hairstyles, though Michelle’s is more structured and older, while Ann’s is tousled and blond. As in the second debate, they wore similar outfits for the first: colour blocks.

Ann wore white, which again looked good with her hair.

Michelle wore one of her signature little jackets, which made her look comfortable as a woman of style.

Ann’s suit, though highly praised, had too many lines and slits. The lines were not C M Y K

•Michelle Obama

The Conventions M

ichelle Obama was said to have had her best fashion moment ever at the democratic convention this year with a two-tone damask sheath with a flare twist, which she combined with pink suede pumps.

Ann Romney wore, for her speech, an unforgettable Oscar de la Renta dress that just simply wowed her audience. The fire red dress she combined with average heeled black pumps, which just about managed to tone it down.

Ve r d i c t : M i c h e l l e ’ s convention outfit was classic Michelle. It confirmed her minimalist style and made her look happy and confident.

Nevertheless, she might have done more with accessories, while Ann’s bangle complimented well the buckle of her belt.

Ann’s red dress was the right length, with the right sleeves, the right neckline and the right fit. It made her look more credible and took at least ten years off her 64 years. She looked beautiful and lovable. It was a close call, but ANN won here.

•First debate clean enough, though still managed to flatter her figure.

Michelle’s outfit sat extraordinarily well, and she was having a good hair day.

Ann’s double strings of pearls added class to the suit.

Verdict:Michelle added an interesting twist to the whole thing, with the little patterned blouse.

Ann added authenticity to the look with the genuine pearls.

Michelle was easy on the accessories, wearing only her wedding ring. It worked Ann’s suit, though simple, was over-lined and overpatterned. She wore a bogus wristwatch, which looked completely out of place.

MICHELLE clearly won this one.

•Michelle Obama convention

•Ann Romney convention

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012—35

Statistics N

ew statistics have emerged over Nigeria’s biggest health issue. Child mortality. A case study was done in Niger, a country in subSaharan Africa which is curbing the menace.

Regional Wawa Chair –Mrs Ubeku JP, MFR .

With Her Excellency- Orelope- Adefulire Adejoke (Mrs.)-deputy Governor of Lagos State on Go Gress Survival Campaign Sustaina ble eco-Friendly Bio-fuel Strategy to Empower Women And Youths Across Nigeria with Bene fits of Clean Cook Stove Over the fossil fuel alternatives, further engage women, low income households and other community dwellers during the Delegation -Network s of West African Women Association on Cour tesy Visit to Lagos State Secretariat Ikeja Rece ntly.

GULF women request more participation

BY DOTUN IBIWOYE

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he women of the Greater Umueri Liberation Forum (GULF), a professional group of natives of Umueri Community of Anambra have urged the state government and the oil exploration company to enable women to play a vital role in development.

It would be recalled that Orient Petroleum Resources Plc (OPR) designated Umueri land as the refinery while the oil exploration would be carried out at Aguleri Otu a neighboring community.

While commending OPR and for choosing their land as the

proposed Refinery, the group appealed to the oil firm to always negotiate with the host communities in its land acquisition According to the moderator, Onyebuchi Diboh (aka Biafra Diboh): “Women have proved to be excellent builders and administrators.

We particularly commend the effort of Mr. Peter Obi led Government of Anambra State in realizing this pacesetting project that would be beneficial to the people of Anambra State in particular and Nigeria in general.

The group also posited that the designation has indeed confirmed the widely held view that the State is blessed with human and material resources and therefore pledged to support the government towards ensuring that the goal of setting up oil exploration in the area is realized.

8.3 According to the WHO, 8.3 million children under five died in 2008 5.1% The mortality rate in children younger than 5 years declined significantly from 226 deaths per 1000

livebirths in 1998 to 128 deaths in 2009, an annual rate of decline of 5·1%.

2012 The 2012 Countdown profile shows that Niger has achieved far greater reductions in child mortality and gains in coverage for interventions in child survival than neighbouring countries in West Africa.

186th Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world, ranking 186 of 187 in 2011 on the Human Development Index.

•African children under 5 23 Countdown to 2015 for maternal, newborn, and child survival1 reported in its 2012 cycle that only 23 of 74 Countdown countries are on track to achieve the Millennium

Development Goal 4 (MDG 4), to reduce by two-thirds the mortality rate of children younger than 5 years, between 1990 and 2015.

Xpressions Nigerians want electricity, but why should they trust government?

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igerians are nervous, and with just cause, over the speed at which the privatization process of the electricity sector is proceeding. Electricity has been a touchy subject in the last two decades of our nationhood, with slow growing generation capacities having to be shared between hitherto unlit rural areas and constantly expanding urban metropolises.

With the shortages fuelled by the intense corruption with which the country has come to be associated and inveterately plagued, both private and

business publics have given up hope of ever having constant and fairly priced power supply.

Promises made by s u c c e s s i v e governments have ended in nought, with mind blowing sums of money invested. Along the way, a minister for Power under the Obasanjo administration was brutally murdered in his own bedroom in Ibadan, establishing the sector as a deadly one.

More recent probes have resulted in finger pointing, but no

•Atedo Peterside prosecutions have been made; no monies recovered.

In the midst of growing distrust of the World Bank/IMF and their recommendations, the mantra of handing over the business of

infrastructure to private hands meets with a sour mixture of scepticism and appreciation. The telecoms sector delivered cell phones, but bad regulations from the government end has meant limited development in terms of service delivery as well as tariffs, which has remained far too high for meaningful small business.

The same is the case with the ‘privatization’ of fuel delivery, with inconsistencies and scarcity being the order of the day, and the present scarcity finishing the already battered confidence of the people in the privatization process.

What are the guarantees that this will be different?

Kema Chikwe, Usoro, others for Woman of Fortune Hall of Fame A

rrangements have been concluded by the management of Kings Communications Limited (KCL), Publishers of The Nigerian Tycoon Magazine MMS plus weekly newspaper induct about twenty women of substance in the maritime, finance, oil and gas industries into MMS plus’ Woman of Fortune Hall of Fame.

Among the inductees are: Dr. (Amb.) Kema Chikwe,Woman Leader, Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP); Mrs. Mfon Usoro, Secretary General, Abuja MoU; Ms Hauwa Audu, CEO, Amyn Investment Security ltd; Ms Bolanle Onagoruwa, Director General, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE); Mrs.Jean Chiazor-Anishere, President,WISTA-Nigeria; Hajia Lami Tumaka, Deputy Director, Public Relations, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA); Mrs. Obioma Liyel-

•Kema Chikwe

•Bolanle

Imoke, Wife of the Governor, Cross River State.

The event is in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and is scheduled to hold on Tuesday, 23 rdat Ocean View Restaurant, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The event will be chaired by Alhaji

(Dr.) Bamanga Tukur, National Chairman, PDP; while the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina will deliver the keynote address.

Minister of Transport, Sen. Idris Umar is the Chief Guest of Honour; while the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Her Excellency, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope Adefulire is the Chief Host. Mrs. Faith TuedorMatthews, Group Managing Director (GMD), Mainstreet Bank Limited is the Guest Speaker.

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he Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Kings Communications Limited, Mr. Kingsley Anaroke hinted that MMS plus’ Woman of Fortune Hall of Fame is an initiative meant to X-ray and celebrate the sterling qualities and contributions of a chosen few women in their respective endeavours who have done so well in

nation building through projection of positive image.

He also noted that the objectives of the induction/inauguration is to assemble and continue to identify role models in order for younger generations to emulate their virtues of hard work, creativity, professionalism, perseverance and defined careers for greatness.

The occasion which will attract high dignitaries in the maritime, finance, oil and gas sectors is proudly supported by Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA); Nigerian Shippers’Council (NSC); Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA); ECM Terminals; APM Terminals; Fortune Business School; National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) and MMS’ Partner firm as Hemingway’s Safaris Africa.

C M Y K

36—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012 With PRINCE OSUAGWU princeosuagwu@gmail.com

Apple may debut with Mini iPad next week

• ipad-mini

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IGERIANS who have grown so much love for Apple products may soon have an addition in their love basket as the global smart devices maker is set to introduce its latest and long rumoured iPad Mini into the

market next week.

Indications emerged midweek that Apple may reveal its first expansion of the iPad line on October 23 with the Mini gadget.

Although Apple traditionally maintains a simple product

lines, the decision to go Mini, may not be unconnected with the successes other brands like Amazon, Google or even Samsung have been on the smaller tablet form.

However, the rumour is that the new, smaller version of the iPad, would provide a lowerprice entry point to the iOS tablet market and also increase pressure on Android devices such as Samsung’s Galaxy Tab line.

In fact, it is estimated that Apple may consider price of the new product between the range of US$250 and US$350.

This will surely challenge a number of Android devices available at a similar price.

Now that everything is going Mini, including the expected Mac Mini, a 13 inch Retina MacBook Pro to be released soon, Apple could have seen reasons to step down Steve Jobs’ stand that Apple didn’t need to go smaller than the normal iPad size. It was a favourite quote of Jobs that “a 7-inch tablet would require sandpaper to sand users’ fingers down.”

Global smar tphones cr osses 1 billion smartphones crosses R

ENOWNED technology analysts, Strategy Analytics has released new figures which pegged the number of smartphones in use worldwide above 1 billion..

The research firm says the milestone was reached in Q3, 16 years after the first smartphone was launched in 1996.

It also predicted that the next billion will be achieved in less than three years - that is by 2015.

According to the Executive Director of the research group, Neil Mawston, it is estimated that one in seven of the world’s population owned a smartphone in the third quarter of 2012.

However, he added that smartphone penetration is still relatively low because “most of the world does not yet own a smartphone and there remains huge scope for future growth, particularly in emerging markets such as China, India and Africa.”

•Smart-Phone-1

Corroborating him, senior analyst Scott Bicheno, recalled that “the world’s first modern smartphone, the Nokia Communicator, was introduced in 1996 and Nokia remained a dominant force in smartphones for over a decade until the arrival of Apple’s iconic iPhone in 2007,” But the analysts said that the number of smartphones in use worldwide reached 1.038 billion units in Q3, up from 708 million in the same quarter a year ago.

•Logitech Broadcaster Wi-Fi Webcam

Logitech’s new Wi-Fi Webcam mak es makes video blogging easy F

OR most Nigerian Bloggers, blogging is a hobby.

Those who call it business hardly put in the necessary efizzy that makes blogging an aesthetic art of disseminating news.

Many depend solely on text while a few only combine text and pictures. But serious bloggers in developed world use video and live streaming of events to communicate and entertain.

However, they also are within reach of powerful tools and technologies that aid this art and that seems the edge.

Interestingly, the rate at which smart devices are becoming unavoidable daily need of both the rich and poor, pushing the borders between the developed and the developing, just anybody who wishes could as well add a touch of class to his posts no matter where he is.

Now with your smart phone, just almost anything is possible and with the latest HD camera introduced by gadget makers, Logitech, bloggers worldwide are in for a good time.

The new HD camera is specifically geared towards bloggers. It is also designed to work with Apple products only. It integrates with a Mac’s existing webcam to bring more professional quality to live streamers and video bloggers.

The camera also works with iPhone and iPad for controlling and previewing videos. This is designed to make it easier to take the wireless camera around the room, record and stream more dynamic content to viewers.

Although built-in webcams are good for some jobs, a lightweight, portable camera can create much more diverse content and can help take videos to another level.

Switching between the built-in camera and Logitech’s Wi-Fi camera is done with a single button press. This makes it quick and easy to switch back and forth even during live broadcasts. It is capable of recording in 720p, which should further add to the professional feel of videos created with the webcam.

The Logitech Broadcaster Wi-Fi Webcam integrates with popular Mac apps for editing and recording. A user can use QuickTime or Photo Booth to record, and iMovie or Final Cut Pro for editing the finished product. It also aids video chat with Skype, FaceTime , and iChat.

Logitech says the new camera will hit the market later this month in Europe and US markets for US$199.

Vanguard , FRIDAY FRIDAY,, OCTOBER 19, 2012—37

Transcorp Hilton’s kitchen apprentice champion emerges

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gun ekoni Balo •Ganiyu S

•Ikogosi warm spring, Ekiti state

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NE of the major stakeholders in the water transportation and recreation in Lagos State is Ganiyu Sekoni Balogun, popularly called Tarzan the Boat man.

In this chat with Vanguard, he shares his travel experience. Here is an excerpt.

On how long he has been traveling I have been travel travelling since the 80s. I did my engineering courses in Belgium, I have been to a lot of places.

Most of the places I go to are where I can learn more.

The first time I went to France from London, I traveled by water. On that boat there was restaurant, night club and shops. We travelled all nights. I said this is something we can have here in Nigeria.

I just came back from Bangkok in Thailand; I have been to Italy as well. I like cities with water.

On his best city I like Pattaya in Thailand, it is a city like Takwa Bay here in Lagos . You see the water, boats, people and coconuts, I actually learnt more there about water tourism, I want to have this power gliding or sailing here too that is like bird in the air. It goes into the air. I saw that at the beach and will want to have it here.

On his best tourism destination in Nigeria Nigeria is a big country with diverse attractions. Ikogosi

Lagos beaches are unique — Balogun warm spring is a marvelous work of God where you have the cold and warm water together.

I

love adventure, I love This is a massive hill towering over Lokoja with about 15sqkm flat top where on could see the confluence point of River Niger and River Benue. Before, I travelled out of Nigeria; I had travelled to 19 states in one month exploring the tourist attractions. The

city I still like most is Lagos, because of the water. I can boat and the beaches here are unique.

On what he takes along on his travels These days there is hardly any city in the world you visit that you don’t have Nigerian meal, so what I take along is the memory that I am a Nigerian and that I need to go back.

On his best hotel

I have stayed in Marriot hotel before; I stayed in Meridian and different hotels. Recently in Orleans in United States, I was in Disney, it was not a five star hotel, but a nice one. I think Marriot is a very good hotel On his best airline I have travelled aboard many airlines; I think I will go for British Airways, followed by Emirates airline. Most often, I sleep on board.

fter series of theoretical and practical assessments of over 400 apprentices, 25 year old Abdulrasaq Tijani has emerged the overall best graduate and winner of the 2010 class of the Transcorp Hilton Abuja’s Kitchen Apprentice Program.

Tijani beats four other finalists to clinch the coveted first position at the final practical assessment which took place at the hotel’s Zuma Grill Restaurant recently.

The program was conceived by the hotel management to train and develop a pool of quality chefs for the hospitality industry. The winner survived the rigors of the 2-year intensive program to be eligible for the final assessment and graduation along side Oliver Gabriel, Adebisi Oladunni, Ayuba Umar and Helen Adaji, the only female apprentice.

The Zuma Grill Restaurant, venue of the dinner and practical assessment, played host to a large number of guests that made up the jury.

Everyone watched with excitement as the apprentices busied themselves in the kitchen. And one after the other, they dished out their menus, which they earlier chose by lucky dip, for the guests to assess.

After dishing out a 5-course menu to the culinary delight of the assessing guests, Abdulrasaq Tijani was announced the overall best graduate and winner of the 2010 Class of Hilton Kitchen Apprentice Program.

Rivers focuses carniriv 2012 on growth

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S preparations for the 2012 edi tion of the internationally acclaimed Rivers State Carnival, popularly referred to as Carniriv intensify, the Rivers State Tourism Development Agency, RSTDA has explained that this year’s event is targeted at impacting the economic prosperity of the people of the state.

Carniriv 2012 holds from Saturday 8 to Saturday 15, December 2012 at the Liberation Stadium, Elekahia, Port Harcourt.

Dr. Sam Dede, the Director-General, Rivers State Tourism Development Agency, RSTDA, speaking on the level of preparedness for Carniriv 2012, said government is desirous of making this year’s event one of the major platforms

to bring about significant economic wellbeing and empowerment for the people of the state.

He added that the prosperity of the people will ultimately result in exponential growth in the overall Gross

Domestic Product (GDP) of the state put currently at US$21,073,410,422.

With a population of 5.1 million people and GDP per capita of $3,965, Rivers State is Nigeria’s second largest economy after Lagos State.

ANJET re-organises, commits to viable tourism industry

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HE Association of Nigerian Jour nalists and Writers of Tourism (ANJET) has reconvened after a long absence from the tourism scene with a commitment to bring the vast wealth of the experiences of its members to bear on the industry and ensure that the cause of the Nigeria tourism industry is given the attention it desired across the country.

In a statement released by the body for travel and tourism journalists in Nigeria after its meeting in Lagos, the second for the month of September, the body urged its members to close ranks and work together for the good of the tourism industry and to avoid any politicking that would affect its becoming a united body.

38— VANGUARD, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19,

2012

Continues from last week

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OW big was the shock when the people entered the temple! They gathered inside watching in awe their gods broken in pieces. They wondered who might have done this? Then they all remembered that the young Ibrahim was talking evil of their idols. They brought him to the temple and asked him: “Are you the one who has done this to our gods?”

Ibrahim said: “No, this statue, the biggest of them has done it. Ask them if they can speak.”

“You know well that these idols don’t speak!” They said impatiently. “Then how come you worship things that can neither speak nor see, nor even fend for themselves? Have you lost your minds?”

They kept silent for a while, for he got a point there. Their minds and their senses were telling them that the Truth is with Ibrahim, but their pride prevented them to accept it, and reject the idols they were worshipping for generations.

This they thought would be total

Tel: 08098097290 email: isholaism@yahoo.co.uk

The story of Ibrahim and Kaaba (2) throw him into the fire. At that time, Angel Jibreel came to him and said: “O Ibrahim! Is there anything you wish for?”

Ibrahim could have asked to be saved from the fire, to be taken away, but no, he said: “I only wish that Allah be pleased with me.” The catapult was released, and Ibrahim was thrown into a burning furnance. But Allah would not allow His Prophet to be killed, He ordered the fire: “O fire!

Become cool and safe for Ibrahim!” And the miracle

,

"O fire! Become cool and safe for Ibrahim!” And the miracle happened. The fire obeyed.

Ibrahim came out from it as if he was coming out from a garden, peaceful”

defeat. They started yelling at him and shouting: “Burn him!

Burn him! Take revenge for your gods !”

The Miracle: Allah saves Ibrahim from the fire The decision to burn Ibrahim to death was affirmed by the priests and the king of Babylon, Nimrod. The news spread like a fire in the kingdom, and people were coming from all places to watch the execution. A huge pit was dug up and a large quantity of wood was piled up. Then the biggest fire people ever witnessed was lit. The fire flames were so high up in the sky that the birds could not fly over it for fear of being burned ! Ibrahim’s hands and feet were chained, and he was put in a catapult to

,

happened. The fire obeyed.

Ibrahim came out from it as if he was coming out from a garden, peaceful. His face illuminated, and not a trace of smoke on his clothes. People watched in shock and said: “Amazing ! Ibrahim’ s God has saved him from the fire!”

Ibrahim debates the Babylonian king, Nimrod Ibrahim’s notoriety grew bigger after this event and the king of Babylon felt that his throne was in danger, and that he was loosing power, because he was pretending that he was a god. He sent for Ibrahim. He wanted to debate with him and show his people that he, the king is indeed the god, and Ibrahim was a liar. He asked

Hajj terminal in Saudi Arabia

Ibrahim: What can your god do that I cannot?

-My Lord is He Who gives life and death.” Ibrahim said.

-I give life and death. I can bring a person from the street and have him executed, and I can grant my pardon to a person who was sentenced to death and save his life.” The king said proudly. Well my Lord Allah makes the sun rise from the East. Can you make it rise from the West?

The king was confused. He was beaten by his own game, on his own territory, before his own people! Ibrahim left him there speechless and went back to his important mission of calling people to worship the one and only God, Allah.

Allah blesses Ibrahim with a son to become a prophet Only a woman named Sarah and a man named Lot believed in Allah, and followed Ibrahim.

He realized that nobody else would listen to him, and decided to emigrate for the cause of Allah, and to spread His Message elsewhere. Before leaving, he tried once again to convert his father to Islam, but to no avail. Ibrahim said to his father and his people: “We are free of you and of whatever you worship besides Allah. We have rejected you and there has arisen between us and you enmity and hatred forever unless you believe in Allah and Him alone.”

Ibrahim, Lot and Sarah started their long travel. They crossed Babylon, went through Syria and Palestine calling people to Allah, helping the poor and doing good deeds. By that time Ibrahim married Sarah. Their hope was to have children who

would spread the Message of Allah after their death. As for Lot, he emigrated to the land of Sodom and settled there. Time went by and no child was born to Sarah. She accepted her fate and submitted to the will of

Allah. Ibrahim and Sarah moved to Egypt where the king gave Sarah a woman to be her servant. The woman’s name was Hajar. Sarah was seeing Ibrahim’ s hair turnning grew, and it grieved her to see his chance of having any child slipping away. She offered Hajar, her servant, as a wife to her husband, and prayed Allah to bless Hajar and Ibrahim with a child. And so came Ismail, a baby boy born to Hajar. How selfless Sarah was! For her, the need to have an offspring who would carry the message after Ibrahim was greater than her pride. Fourteen years later, Allah rewarded Sarah with a son, Ishaq in spite of her old age.

To be continued

Islamic foundation holds convocation, merit award

By Alade Aromashodu

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HE Islamic Computing Foundation (ICF), Lagos, has turned out a new set of graduates for the year 2012.

According to Alhaji Abdul Lateef Olalekan Folawewo, Rector/Director of Studies of the school, “practical training was the soul of business in this institution,” adding that typesetting in Arabic and recitation of the Holy Qur’an from computer were part of what students learn in the school.

The Rector stressed that the institution offered eight courses including Computer Appreciation, Data Processing, Information Management, Word Processing, Hardware Engineering, among others. He

noted that all the courses were taught in Arabic and English languages and would lead to the award of Diploma or Certificate.

In his own contribution, Guest Speaker of the day, Alhaji Chief Imam Basheer Raji, National Amir and Founder of AMSON, reiterated how the Holy Qur’an acknowledges Muslims with knowledge; and how it condemns Moslems without it.

He added that the emphasis the Quran places on knowledge is monumental, saying, “the Holy Qur ’an describes ‘knowledge’ in 162 places so that Muslims can make it a point of duty in their lives,” he said.

First 10 days of Dhul Hijjah

By HARUN RASAQ

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NE of the aspects of the Sunnah that has been virtually forgotten by the contemporary Muslims especially in Nigeria is that of the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah.

The days are virtuous and are regarded as the best days in Sahih Hadith. The importance of these blessed days is based on the following: Allah swears by these blessed days, which underlines their importance and the great benefits they contain. Allah says in Suratul Fajr: “By the dawn, by the ten nights”, (Q89:1-2).

Ibn Abbas, Ibn al-Zubayr, Mujaahid and others of the earlier and later generations said that this refers to the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah.

Ibn ‘Abbaas (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: “There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.” The people asked, “Not even jihad for the sake of Allah?” He said, “Not even jihad for the sake of Allah, except in the case of a man who went out to fight giving himself and his wealth up for the cause, and came back with nothing.”

DO’S OF THE DAYS: Among

the good deeds that a Muslim is expected to do during these ten days are: Performing Hajj and Umrah; Fast on the day of Arafah; Zikr (remembrance) of Allah, a lot. And to say it loudly in the mosque, the home, the street and every place that is permitted to remember Allah individually, not in unison, as there is no basis in Shar’ah for doing this according to Shykh Salih Munajid. Men should recite these phrases out loud, and women should recite them quietly; Offering a high quality animal in sacrifice on the day of Eid; Performing salat Eid; To occupy oneself with doing a lot of good deeds in general. For example salat, Qur’an, dhikr, du’a, sadaqah, ta’liim, honouring the parents, enjoining what is good, forbidding evil etc. at its appropriate time are highly encourage during these days.

DON’T’S OF THE DAYS: It is forbidden for a person who wants to offer sacrifice to remove or cut his/her hair or nails from the first of these days till he/she offer his sacrifice on the day of Eid. According to the Hadith in Sahih Muslim, 13/146.

(2) Also forbidden is using ram meant for sacrifice to fight another ram.

Vanguard Vanguard,, YOUR LUCK TODAY

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

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

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

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

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012—39

LEISURE

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

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HEfather has his own duty, just as the son too has his own. It is the same thing with God. The duty of God is to make provisioin for us. Our duty is to access that provision and take our share of it. Now let’s do this simple

God will provide exercise together. Are you living? I do not mean to embarass you.

I mean, in the real sense, can you honestly say you have fully utilised your God given endowment or talent?

Are you

TERROR MUDA

producing result with what you are doing now? Have you gotten to the height of your ability? Are you convinced you have gotten to the limit and you can’t go any futher?

in “Never say goodbye”

God is unlimited. He is a God of possibility and because you are made in His likeness and image, nothing should be impossible for you. If your life seems stagnant, examine your thought life because you were created to succeed.

Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

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

PISCES: If you priority is love, much of it would come your way as desired. But here is a better day for more ambitious in the business world. Don’t allow anybody to deceive you over money.

ARIES: Those of you with secret admirers within your working area will have the needed opportunities to make the needed moves. Resist the temptation to deceive others.

TAURUS: Although matters-of-the-heart may give you cause to smile broadly, if care is not taken, you would cause friction that can’t help you r case at work. This is the wrong time for unnecessary scheming within your working arena.

GEMINI: Those of your who are red-blooded for romance may have an exciting and satisfying day. Happenings within your social circles must be taken more seriously.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

CANCER: Confrontation may come your way in the circle but the heavens are working favourably for you. Some doses of romance is not too much for you on a day like this.

LEO: Provided you don’t allow your innate ability to be as diplomatic as necessary desert you, things work favourably for you to the betterment of your finances.

VIRGO: Many of you will be in sentimental mood and exhibit strong romantic desire openly. But then, if care is not taken, you may be carried away to the detriment of your finances. Serious minded lovers are in for happy day.

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

What’s my horoscope?

Dear Joshua,

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

I want you to give me my comprehensive horoscope, especially what my special gift is.

Which day of the week was I born? Where were my natal planets and their meanings? Who am I? Adebowale, Ogun.

Dear Adebowale, There is no space for comprehensive horoscope but what you’ll have here -under is answer to your questions/ You were born on a Thursday and your special gift is LEADERSHIP quality.

YOUR HOROSCOPE DATA Day Of Birth: Thursday Sun Sign: Virgo: Sun in 20th Degree of Virgo Moon Sign: PISCES: Moon on 10th Degree of Pisces Mercury in 16th Degree of Libra Venues in 5th Degree of Scorpio Mars in 13th Degree of Cancer Jupiter in 6th Degree of Pisces Saturn in 5th Degree of Aquarius Uranus in 2nd Degree of Virgo Neptune in 11th Degree of Scorpio Pluto in 10th Degree of Virgo North Node in 6th Degree of Leo South Node in 6th Degree of Aquarius Quality and Element Cardinal and air star signs hosted two planets each fixed and earth three each, no planet in fire while mutable and water star signs hosted five planets each.

Push-full influence = 20% Non- push-full element = 80% Final dispositor = Lucky Jupiter General Analysis Just 20 per cent of push-full influence in your chart can deceptively present you to others as a soft (or even timid) person but practical Virgo that hosted nothing less than three heavenly bodies when you were born and Astrological aspects between Mercury (mental focus) and aggressive Mars in you r chart are pointers to the contrary.

Commen3

by Lawrence Akapa

40—Vanguard , FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

INSPECTION: From left— Senator Bello Tukur; Senator Gbenga Ashafa, Vice Chairman; Senator Ahmed Zannah, Chairman, both of Senate Committee on Gas; Senator Nkechi Nwaogwu and Mr. Austen Olorunsola, Director of Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, during an oversight visit of the committee to DPR in Lagos, yesterday.

Labour flays FG over health agreements

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

A

BUJA—ORGANISED labour in the nation’s health sector, under the aegis of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, MHWUN, has flayed failure of the Federal Ministry of Health to respect collective bargaining agreements.

President of MHWUN, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, who spoke at the union’s 37th National Executive Council, NEC, in Abuja, lamented that the ministry’s attitude had led to two major strikes by the Joint Health Sector Unions this year.

He noted that it took the intervention of the Federal Ministry of Labour and National Industrial Court for parties to resume negotia-

tions.

He said: “No doubt, this ought not to be the situation in the sector given the very essential nature of health care delivery.

“It is my hope that these episodes are sufficient lessons to our employers, because it is always better to jaw-jaw than to war-war.”

Wabba quoted the Minister of State for Health as saying Nigeria was losing $500 million or N81 billion annually to other countries on medical tourism as they seek solution to their healthcare needs abroad.

He said the trend could only be reversed if both Federal and state governments holistically restructure healthcare administration and place premium on preventive healthcare.

Okorocha commends christians on support

G

OVERNOR Rochas Okorocha of Imo State

Burial

T

HE final funeral rites of Mr. Julius Adelaja begin tomorrow at Community Primary School, IdomilaIdomowo via Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State at 12 noon.

Sunday is thanksgiving service at St. Barnabas Anglican Church, Idomowo at 10am.

Adelaja, 63, died April 22 after a brief illness and has since been buried according to Christian rites.

He is survived by two children, Segun and Abiola.

Late Mr. Adelaja.

has commended churches for working towards the success and sustenance of his Rescue Mission in the state.

Commissioner for Lands Survey and Urban Planning, Mr. Uche Nwosu, disclosed this at a meeting he had with pastors of demolished churches, where he gave the pastors their allocation documents.

Nwosu said the churches developed on green belts along DeSam Mbakwe road Owerri have remained peaceful in spite of the demolitions.

He urged them to continue to support the Rescue Mission agenda.

Earlier, spokesman of the demolished churches, Rev. Austin Uchegbu, lauded Governor Okorocha for his support. He called on the people of the state to continue to give their unflinching support to Okorocha’s government.

CAMPAIGN: From right— Ms. Nneka Amankwe, Managing Director, Antroz Concepts Limited; Mr. Kelani Lukman, Managing Director, Mr. Kay Stores and Ms. Ampitan Glory, Customer Service Executive, Antroz Concepts, at the company's activation campaign for Shapes Sanitary Pads in Lagos.

Northern leaders've failed — Northern Brotherhood

BY SUZAN EDEH

B

AUCHI—ACTING Bauchi State chairman of Northern Brotherhood Movement, Aminu Danmaliki, has attributed problems bedeviling the north to lack of leadership and corruption.

Aminu, who stated this yesterday at a press conference in Bauchi, said the problem of the North was not lack of political power.

He said northerners had ruled the country for over 36 years with nothing to show, adding that the main problems of the region were corrosive corruption and lack of visionary leaders.

According to him, the Northern Brotherhood Movement was formed to promote peace, progress, unity and brotherhood among the various ethnic groups in the North.

He advocated the appointment of a competent leader such as General Theophilus Danjuma (rtd) to pilot the affairs of northerners.

Danmaliki added that Northern leaders had failed in their responsi-

bility, especially in uniting the people of the North by doing away with religious, ethnic or tribal differences. He said nearly 100 years after Nigeria was amalgamated in 1914, there was still no

unity in the North.

He said: “Since the exit of Sardauna, which organisation has promoted peaceful co-existence among Northerners?

Where have you seen?

Muslim and Christian

brothers living together in peace?

“Northerners failed to come up with a leader, hence our decision to champion the appointment of Danjuma as our solution.”

Canada donates $50,000 to flood disaster victims

BY KENNETH EHIGIATOR

C

ANADIAN govern ment has pledged to assist the Federal Government get out of the country’s current flood problems by providing the Red Cross and Red Crescent $50,000 to help those impacted by the disaster.

Canada’s Minister of International Cooperation, Julian Fantino, who announced this yesterday, said the Canadian government’s assistance would be routed through the Canadian International Development Agency, CIDA. Fantino said: “Canadians are caring people, and this support is a continuing demonstration of

Canadian generosity to provide humanitarian assistance to those affected by the floods in Nigeria.

“Through CIDA’s partnership with the Red Cross Movement, we are able to ensure that immediate and concrete action is taken to alleviate suffering and provide relief to those who need it most.

“Canada is providing $50,000 to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, through the Canadian Red Cross Society, to help those impacted by the disaster.

This funding will help provide housing and other immediate needs to those most affected.”

The Minister said the government of Canada will continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure basic needs were met as well as provide further assistance if required.

Heavy rains that began in August have led to the worst flooding in Nigeria in more than 40 years.

The Federal Government reports that as many as 623,900 people had been displaced by flooding in 30 of the 36 states of the federation.

Displaced persons are residing with host families or in makeshift camps. In addition, most of the schools in the affected areas are closed due to the flooding or are housing displaced persons.

Lawmaker lauds Jonathan over Itsekiri ex-militants

BY DANIEL GUMM

W

ARRI—THE member representing Warri Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, and Chairman, House Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Union, Mr. Daniel Reyenieju, has lauded President Goodluck Jonathan for acknowledging that formerly armed Itsekiri youths, who responded positively to the Federal Government Am-

nesty Proclamation within the stipulated time, were qualified to be accommodated into the post-amnesty programmes.

Reyenieju told journalists at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, on his way to Canada for the meeting of Inter-Parliamentary Union: “We must commend Mr. President not just for this display of statesmanship, but principally that he allowed truth to prevail over falsehood.

“This puts an end to the evil machinations of ethnic bigots, who have been peddling falsehood that formerly armed Itsekiri youths never availed themselves with the opportunity provided by the amnesty proclamation.”

The lawmaker also applauded the House of Representatives and its leadership, who on the receipt of the petition from the leadership of Itsekiri National Youths Council, INYC,

caused it to be investigated by its Public Petitions Committee.

He said the House further came up with a resolution confirming that the affected Itsekiri youths were qualified; and same sent to Mr. President for his consideration and implementation.

Reyenieju also lauded the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Matters, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, and the media.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012 — 41

•Mimiko: Leading Labour Party

T

OMORROW, October 20, the people of Ondo State popularly known as the Sunshine State will file out to either re-elect the incumbent Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, who is the fourth executive governor of the new Ondo State for a second term in office thereby breaking the second term jinx or bid him goodbye from the Alagbaka Government House, Akure.

Incidentally, three of the front runners in the contest – Mimiko of the Labour Party, LP, Rotimi Akeredolu of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN and Olusola Oke of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who are prosecuting the battle with all their might, are former graduates of the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU. Alumni of the university hail themselves as Great Ife. Chief Oke known as “Oke is Okay” graduated as a Law student at the prestigious OAU in1986, Akeredolu (SAN) popularly called “Aketi” had earlier graduated from same Law faculty in 1977 while Mimiko known as the “Iroko of Ondo politics” bagged B.Sc. Health Sciences in 1976 from the same University.

However, two of the gladiators have come a long way in the political history of the state having held many political offices spanning many years which invariably had prepared them for the plum position.

Oke and Mimiko are known names in the politics of Ondo.

On his part, Akeredolu, who attained the highest height in law practice, is not a new comer to Ondo affairs. He was the state’s commissioner for Justice

•Akeredolu: ACN candidate

Mimiko, Akeredolu, Oke lock horns •It's battle of three Great Ife graduates and Attorney General between 1995 and 1999.

The choice of Akeredolu as the ACN candidate was received with joy in Mimiko’s camp in the belief that he would be a walk over but the emergence of Oke was said to have made the governor’s camp uncomfortable.

The Mimiko camp had earlier written off the PDP in the state because of the three internal crises, which the party leaders alleged were sponsored by Iroko but the resurrection of PDP is said to have put Mimiko on his feet.

Since he assumed office in 2007, Mimiko had not lost any of the many elections be it in the House of Assembly bye election, House of Representatives or the Senatorial election. Only time will tell if he can still perform that feat in his own case.

As a medical doctor turned politician he has been able in the last four years to “cure” and nurture many political neophytes. It is to be seen if he would be able to diagnose his own political ailment and prescribe the right medication.

For now the battle, according to some political observers, is a three horse race among Mimiko, Oke and Akeredolu.

Areas of strength

The three candidates are from the three senatorial areas of the state which makes the poll interesting.

They are individually holding tenaciously to their strongholds and working to avoid poaching. Each of the

,

BY DAYO JOHNSON

•Oke: PDP candidate

However, two of the gladiators have come a long way in the political history of the state having held many political offices spanning many years which invariably had prepared them for the plum position

,

senatorial areas has six councils.

Oke is from the Southern area where the immediate past governor, Dr Olusegun Agagu hails from. For the same party which threw up Agagu to produce Oke again is seen by many as a minus for the PDP. But Oke is said to be a child of circumstances brought to save the party from the shame that Mimiko would have unleashed on the PDP if an unequal personality was fielded.

Akeredolu is from the Northern part of the state. His emergence rubbished the mouthed “Akoko Agenda” that was propounded by some leaders of the senatorial district to produce the governor.

Akeredolu is said to be more of an Ibadan person. He was said to have been registered as a voter in Ibadan and only transferred same to Ondo State of late Mimiko, the incumbent is from the Central senatorial district, where he is considered to be on ground while Oke is popular and loved in the South.

The election therefore is going to be the battle of the senatorial

districts. While Oke is ready to hold on to his stronghold, Akeredolu is working round the clock to make an incursion into the domain of Mimiko and Oke. Oke too is working to poach Mimiko and Akeredolu’s domains while Mimiko is sure that if he did not win any of the councils in the South he would get the required 25 per cent from the councils and win in the North especially. He expects victory in Irele, Odigbo and Ile Oluji/ Okeigbo areas of the South.

Oke is sure of winning in three councils in the South - Ilaje/ Eseodo and Okitipupa. But it should be noted that Odigbo is populated by people from Osun State and they may want to go the way of ACN, a move LP and PDP leaders have claimed to neutralize.

Where the votes will come from In the South, breakdown of the registered voters according to INEC is as follows: Ilaje, 114,235; Ese Odo, 57,255; Ile Oluji, 64, 219; Irele, 55, 231; Okitipupa,

102,044; and Odigbo, 120,014 totaling 511,998, which represents 33.12 per cent Mimiko’s incursion to Oke’s enclave may be boosted by the number of political appointees in his cabinet. Mimiko is equally cashing in on his achievements in the South to speak for him at this crucial hour.

Akeredolu is relying on his deputy, Dr Paul Akinterinwa, who is from Okitipupa, to have a foothold in South. However, Akinterinwa contested for the Senatorial election in the area recently and lost to the LP candidate, Hon Boluwaji Kunlere.

Breakdown of registered voters in the Northern area of the state shows that Akoko North West has 68,061; Akoko North East, 62,451; Akoko South East, 29,773; Akoko South West, 86,155; Owo, 110,100; and Ose, 62,386 totaling 418,926, which represents 27.10 percent.

Akeredolu is from the North and is expected to garner votes here especially in Owo. But Iroko and Oke are putting up a good fight because their deputy governorship candidates, Alhaji Ali Olanusi and Saka Lawal hail from the area. And the LP and PDP are targeting the four Akoko councils and Ose. The Central area, with 615,157 voters or 39.78 per cent of the registered voters of Ondo State is expected to fall for the LP because Mimiko concentrated in projects in the six council areas Continues on page 42

42—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

1 DAY TO GO

ONDO: The facts and figures

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

D

UBBED as the Sunshine State, Ondo, which was created on February 3, 1976, has a population of 3,441,024 persons (2006 census) distributed across 18 local councils within a land area of 14,788.723 Square Kilometres.

Located in the South-West geo-political zone of Nigeria, Ondo State is bounded in the North by Ekiti/Kogi states; in the East by Edo State; in the West by Oyo and Ogun states, and in the South by the Atlantic Ocean.

Ondo State is a multi-ethnic state with the majority being Yoruba while there are also the Ikale, Ilaje, Arogbo and Akpoi, who are of Ijaw extraction and inhabit the riverine areas of the state.

The state plays host to 880 public primary schools, and 190 public secondary schools and a number of tertiary institutions including the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State Polytechnic, Owo, Federal College of Agriculture, Akure and Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo.

Arguably, Ondo is one of the most resource-endowed states of Nigeria. It is agriculturally rich with agriculture contributing about 75 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The main revenue yielding crops are cocoa, palm produce and timber. Ondo region is now the core of the Nigerian cocoa belt accounting for about 60 per cent of Nigeria’s annual output.

Other tree crops include kola, rubber, coffee, oilpalm and exotics especially Tectona grandis and Gmelina arborea.

Arable crops like rice, cassava, maize, yam, pepper,

•Bamidele Olumilua: Former governor of Ondo State

•Adebayo Adefarati: Former governor of Ondo State

PAST RULERS OF ONDO STATE Name Ita David Ikpeme Sunday Tuoyo Michael Adekunle Ajasin Michael Bamidele Otiko Michael Okhai Akhigbe Ekundayo Opaleye Raji Alagbe Rasaki Bode George Sunday Abiodun Olukoya Bamidele Olumilua Mike Torey Ahmed Usman Anthony Ibe Onyearugbulem Moses Fasanya Adebayo Adefarati Olusegun Agagu Olusegun Mimiko beans, tomatoes and a host of other vegetables. are cultivated mostly in the northern part of

Title Took Office Governor Mar 1976 Governor July 1978 Governor Oct 1979 Governor Jan1984 Governor Sept 1985 Governor Aug 1986 Governor Dec 1987 Governor Jul 1988 Governor Sept 1990 Governor Jan 1992 Administrator Dec 1993 Administrator Sept1994 Administrator Aug 1996 Administrator Aug1998 Governor May 1999 Governor May 2003 Governor Feb 2009 the state.

The creeks and coastlands of the state are rich in prawns and

Left Office Jul 1978 Oct 1979 Dec 1983 Sept 1985 Aug 1986 Dec 1987 Jul 1988 Sept 1990 Jan 1992 Nov 1993 Sept 1994 Aug 1996 Aug 1998 May 1999 May 2003 Feb 2009 ????

lobsters and the state is said to have reserve for stock fish.

Ondo is also blessed with mineral resources such as

Mimiko, Akeredolu, Oke lock horns •How the battle 'll be fought, won and lost

Continues from page 41

and a large number of his political appointees are from the area.

The breakdown shows that Akure South has 248,953 registered voters; Akure North, 53,935; Ifedore, 63,242; Ondo West, 150,838; Ondo East, 37,469; and Idanre 60,720. The total number of registered voters is 1,546,081.

Likely surprises

Some surprises may occur in Akure South and North as both the PDP and ACN have many of their chieftains in the two councils, who are expected to mobilise their supporters.

Political observers opined that if the alliance between the two opposition parties, PDP and ACN had sailed through and was not thwarted by the National Secretariat of the PDP, who want to deal with the Asiwaju Bola Tinubu-led ACN with a long spoon, Mimiko would be facing a higher hurdle in tomorrow’s election.

With the death of the alliance, it will be pretty difficult to uproot the Iroko, who sees this election as the battle he has to win to shame his perceived detractors in the opposition ACN. But the ACN leaders are

boasting that tomorrow’s election will shock many pundits within and outside the state who had written the party off.

With the latest crisis of expulsion in the PDP the party is going into the election a divided house as the faction led by the immediate past Austria Ambassador, Prof Olu Agbi and five others have been expelled for anti-party activities. Those axed have pitched their tent with the incumbent describing him as the most qualified and prepared for the seat.

Less than 24 hours later, the Prof Agbi-led faction hit back and

announced the expulsion of Agagu said to be the arrow-head of the other faction which produced the state executive headed by Hon Ebenezer Alabi.

The ACN seems to have settled its internal squabbles that occurred as a result of the alleged imposition of Akeredolu as aggrieved party governorship aspirants have joined hands with him.

Reports had it that their campaign expenses were taken care of by the Jagaban-Borgu himself to pacify them. In the LP the party is losing some of its members to the PDP.

Party Military Military UPN Military Military Military Military Military Military SDP Military Military Military Military AD PDP Labou r

petroleum, tar sand (bitumen), kaolin clay, iron ore, granite and quartz sands.

These members according to findings were formerly of the PDP and from the Southern part of the state where Oke hails from and now that they are seeing light at the end of the tunnel all thanks to the choice of Oke, they have returned to their first love so as to support their own.

By tomorrow they will be able know if their choices were right or wrong.

While Akeredolu is depending on Asiwaju, his godfather, to make him governor, Oke is relying on the achievement of his principal, Agagu.

But Mimiko, the ‘orphan’ may have look up to his achievements in the last four years to save him from the claws of both the godfather and the principal. Only the electorate will decide on Saturday.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012—43

1 DAY TO GO

Those who'll shape the polls

BY DAPO AKINREFON

T

HE build up to the governorship election in Ondo State has been characterised by accusations and counter-accusations from the three main political parties participating in tomorrow’s polls.

There have been exchange of allegations, name calling and mud slinging among the participants in the poll-all in the name of garnering votes to secure victory at the polls.

It is worthy to state here that the Ondo governorship election has been tagged a three horse race with the Labour Party, Action Congress of Nigeria and Peoples Democratic Party as front runners.

The combatants, Messrs Rotimi Akeredolu, Segun Mimiko and Olusola Oke have gone to the nook and crannies of the state to sell their programmes to the people.

Aside the leading flagbearers, there are a host of gladiators within and outside the state who are expected to shape the outcome of the elections. But in the long run, the occupant of Alagbaka House will need more than a godfather to win the polls.

*Agagu

*Tinubu

Bola Tinubu

Being the national leader of the ACN, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has been in the forefront of leading his party ’s campaign in the Sunshine State.

It was gathered that the Jargaban Borgu relocated from Lagos State to Osun State to lead the campaign team of ACN flagbearer, Mr Akeredolu.

He has ensured that all political office holders in his party contribute immensely to his pet project.

With the entire South West, save Ondo State, in the firm grip of the ACN, Asiwaju Tinubu is leaving no stone unturned to extend his party’s territory in the region.

Segun Agagu

A former governor of Ondo state, Dr Olusegun Kokumo Agagu remains a force to reckon with as far as the PDP is concerned in his state.

Though, there have been alleged romance between Agagu and Tinubu to oust the Labour Party-led administration of Governor Olusegun Mimiko, the former has since denied such claims.

He has expressed optimism that his party, the PDP, will coast home to victory when the results of the election are announced.

*Obasanjo Agagu, a close ally of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has been working to reconcile and unify his party to win the polls.

Olusegun Mimiko

Governor Olusegun Mimiko and his Labour Party are working assiduously to ensure they retain the state in the election. The governor was said to have been having series of meetings with some other political parties for support to scuttle the plans of ACN. Mimiko was alleged to be lobbying the PDP to drop its governorship candidate, Olusola Oke, and support the Labour Party.

In addition to the PDP bargaining, it was gathered that Mimiko has met with President Goodluck Jonathan several times negotiating the election.

There were indications that Mimiko was

*Kuku instrumental to the delivery of bloc votes in Ondo State for President Jonathan in the April 2011 Presidential poll.

Goodluck Jonathan

As Commander-In-Chief of the armed forces, all eyes are on him especially as it relates to the gubernatorial election in the Sunshine State.

Despite the fact that he was commended for the conduct of the election in Edo State, the election in Ondo state remains a litmus test for the Bayelsa state- born President.

President Jonathan, who rounded off the PDP campaign in Ondo state, has restated the Federal Government’s commitment to conducting a free, fair and credible election in the country, which is the golden rule of democracy.

He has since warned that there would not be room for any form of violence on the

*Jega day of election as all measures had been put in place to curb act inimical to free and fair election.

According to him, “the Federal Government would not allow any thug to come out on that day. If you know that your son will be used as thug, if you know that your husband will be used as a thug, tell him to go away from Ondo State because nobody will allow thuggery. It is one man one vote, one woman one vote, one youth one vote.”

It was, however, gathered that the president is not disposed to allowing the ACN gain the upper hand at the poll as this will throw spanners in the wheels of the president’s 2015 ambition.

Kingsley Kuku

He is the presidential coordinator of the Amnesty Programme and also an

indigene of Ondo State. Mr Kingsley Kuku is another factor in the politics of Ondo State as he has been working relentlessly to ensure his party, the PDP emerges victorious at the polls.

However, he has been alleged to have imported exmilitants to the state to assist the PDP in the elections, a claim he has denied.

Olusegun Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has been silent on Ondo State but many are of the view that he can throw his weight around to ensure his party, the PDP gets the day in tomorrow’s election.

However, political pundits opine that the former war general is no longer strong in South Sest political equation owing to the perceived cold war between him and President Jonathan.

44 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

T

HE nation‘s annual Budget could be carefully captured or cynically viewed in the golden words of INCOME and EXPENDITURE. It might not be just ‘mere estimates‘ as a national legislator carelessly noted, but it is a serious job. That many Nigerians are, as voiced by some Senators recently, were unhappy about poor implementation of the 2012 budget is a proof that the Budget is taken seriously as a sort of panacea to all the national problems.

A realistic annual budget would critically examine the structure or proposals of the last one by stating the weak points and pointing out its failures and then, unfold the good tidings embedded in its own proposals.

Thus, the 2013 Budget should be expected to fill the gaps left in 2012 and proclaim good tidings in its proposals and execution. The Expenditure of N4.92 trillion proposed in the Budget for about 162 million Nigerians, though small, could mean a lot, if faithfully implemented, a rare occurrence in the Nigerian experience during the last decade.

The beauty of a budget is evident in its structure. Some people believe in a Balanced Budget where Expenditure matches the Revenue. In such instance, the amount expended on goods and services would be equal to amounts received in taxes etc. In an inflationary environment where full employment stage had been reached, it could be necessary for

BY ABDALLAH ELKUREBE

07059197616

THE NATION'S BUDGET:

Politics and the people the government to employ the strategy of a Budget Surplus (spending less than the amount collected). In such a situation, government expenditure is curtailed and the reduction in purchasing power would tend to reduce the pressure on prices.

Also, high personal and corporate taxes would tend to affect effective demand and investments.

However, in an environment of mass employment and idle plants, which might become a recession, it is usual for a wise government to employ the strategy of a Budget Deficit. This entails spending more (expenditure) than the taxes collected (income). This results in the activity of the government pumping more money into the economy, thereby stimulating

effective demand that would impact positively on plants and employment.

The objective is to encourage consumption and investment to the extent that production of goods would increase and employment would rise to the extent that full employment is reached. After this point, any increase in money supplies would cause inflation (rising prices) The excess liquidity in the system under the administration of a budget deficit policy has always been a problem to the Central Bank in the past. For example, the 2002 budget was severely criticized by the officials of the Central Bank. The former Governor of the Central Bank, Chief Joseph Sanusi was quoted as saying that, “the full

allowed to be frittered away on recurrent expenditure only, leaving no room for infrastructural development.

The capital budget takes a larger percentage than that of 2012, yet it is extra-ordinarily and disappointedly inadequate to transform the economy in an undeservedly tight monetary environment.

Unfortunately, the deficit in the 2013 budget could invoke the wrought of the Central Bank ‘classists‘.

An appeal is being made with members of the National Assembly to quickly pass the 2013 Budget after critically examining the proposals in the best interest of Nigerians. Also, the benchmark argument of the crude oil should be resolved in favor of more money being saved only for infrastructure development and not for sharing for conspicuous consumption by all the contestants. If N30.00 is saved on a barrel of crude oil and the saving is meant for the raining day and the increasing needs of infrastructural developments, then, the government‘s stand is justifiable. Any good budget is expected to be in the interest of the Nigerian people.

Do we have Nigerian people or a collection of tribalists? From recent developments, it is unfortunate but safe to conclude that there are no Nigerian people but a collection of tribes seeking individual welfare and tribal fortunes. The question is, how do you distribute the sum of N4.9 trillion among 250 tribes with lingering memories of past sad events?

Our privatization processes 've failed — Suleiman

ERSTWHILE Minister of Transport, Alhaji Yusuf Sulieman in an interview with journalists in Sokoto speaks on the infrastructure challenges facing the country and how they can be addressed.

Excerpts:

W

HAT are your observations on the infrastructure challenges in the country?

Talking of infrastructure concession without development, you are familiar with the issue of the failed FG’s arrangement with Bi Courtney over the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. These are all the issues I have been talking about; due diligence. You see, before you concession a public infrastructure to a private company, it has to go through due diligence, which is otherwise called due process.

If you do it in a very transparent and accountable manner, the operators that deserve to be handed over public infrastructure to and that government need to partner with in public private partnership, will get it.

But where things are done in a manner that is questionable, you always end like this. And I think this is the problem. Since 2000 that we began public private partnership, I think the only one people point at as a

implementation of the 2002 budget as approved by the National Assembly would dampen prospects for reestablishing macro-economic stability for sustainable growth during the year. We vouched on the need to sterilize the resultant liquidity by raising interest rates”.

The Finance Minister (Adamu Ciroma) was of the opinion that “the size of deficit (N437 billion) would be larger than the conventionally acceptable level and could be inflationary, thereby negating the objective of poverty eradication”. It could be observed that the Central Bank represented by its Governor and the Executive, represented by the Minister of Finance whose responsibilities were to grow the economy, turned to be disciples of classical economists of the 1930s. Their statements at that time showed a comical misunderstanding of the progressive principles of modern economic thinking – macroeconomic stability based on full industrial utilization of factors of production through stimulation of effective demand for goods and services.

It is a pity that the present Governor of the Central Bank, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and his officials are yet to be convinced about the iniquity of mopping excess liquidity in a dormant economy with high unemployment rate.

It is observable that the 2013 budget which exhibits some elements of deficit might not fulfill its obligations if such deficit is

*Suleiman successful PPP is Murtala Mohammed terminal. Murtala Muhammad is still operational.

But you see, if adequate knowledge is there, with the institutional understanding, institutional capacity, to develop these ideas, by today, most of our public roads would have been concessioned. Most of the things would have been working. Because you see, by the time concessioning gets its foot in this country, it is one way to create mass employment.

We keep saying PPP but we don’t have practical examples to show on how it is going to succeed in Nigeria. And for 12years that we have been talking about PPP all we can show today is Murtala Muhammad.

That is why I say it is time to sit down and take a critical look at the legislation and look at what is amiss. The ICRC act is unlike the Bureau for Public Procurement. The BPP involves in the analysis and has

direct control and participation.

ICRC must get involved from the beginning to the end of the process of concessioning any public asset in Nigeria.

These are the key issues that are amiss in the ICRC act.

There has to be a direct participation of ICRC in the analysis, in the evaluation and the final decision as to who gets what in terms of concession and public private partnership.

These are keys issues that need to be addressed. …And then, the issue of green field. There has to be a clear direction and a clear guide as to how you can come into Nigeria and establish a green field, whether solicited or unsolicited. People should have a facilitated access to invest their funds. You cannot bring money into the country and start going through bureaucratic processes.

So under the ICRC act, they need to provide for a process where genuine unsolicited bids can come and work. We have to open up the country for people to come and invest.

This is what is amiss in the present ICRC act. It has not stopped it but it is not promoting it. It has to come and promote it. It has to clearly show the investors that your money is safe, come in and invest. We are not just asking

you to come, we are soliciting for you to come and invest.

When you were the minister of transport, you spoke so much about government readiness to concession the ports and develop inland waterway transportat. Is it that the Nigerian Railways will continue to be a burden on government and not be concessioned or privatized?

If you look through all the publications of the Federal Ministry of Transport, even before I went there till date, the concession of rail corridors has always been a part of the strategy of the ministry. We have developed so many corridors for concessioning; Lagos-Abuja, Abuja-Kano, Port Harcourt-Maiduguri, the central line from ItakpeAjaokuta-Warri, all of these are available for concessioning but we didn’t want to go through the same experience we had with concessioning of the port infrastructure. We felt that with the knowledge and the experiences we had with the Nigeria Ports Authority infrastructure concessioning; that it would be good for us to first and foremost pursue the legal reform of the Nigeria Ports Authority; let’s have the Nigeria Railway Authority Bill passed into law.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012—45

NNEWI NORTH: Why people don’t sleep on trees again — Ubajaka MR. Patrick Ubajaka is the chairman of the Transition Caretaker Committee in Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State. in this interview he addresses issues of concern in the local government area and how the council administration with the assistance of the state government is addressing the issues. Excerpts:

W

HAT were the expectations you had when you were appointed?

I am a person that is driven by challenges; I was prepared to deal with any issue that would be thrown up by the system. I am grateful to God that I and my team have managed to keep things under reasonable control.

As you must have noticed, Nnewi is a peculiar local government due to the volume of commercial activities that are located in such not-verylarge space.

I would say that it is interesting to be here every day as new issues are always dealt with. It has been a great experience too for me, the knowledge that I have about this town now is enough to make me a professor if I am to write my papers on it.

All in all, the reality on the ground would rather be described as the expected reality characteristic of such an urban environment as in most parts of the world with concentration of industries and general commercial activities with its own fair share of political,

educational and industrial heavy weights. It is a challenging and tasking environment, exactly how I like it.

What were the immediate challenges you met on the ground?

The challenges were numerous and the struggle is continuous. The two major challenges were security and environment. It is obvious that some criminals would equally find our environment attractive for their criminal activities.

The waste and general cleanliness of the entire local government has been tasking though under reasonable13 control now.

I am men, who pleased with the results that we are getting in these main areas now and our records show that we are getting better.

The other challenge is the random motor parks everywhere along the streets; it is most times very difficult to drive past our major roads. I am working very hard on that and I am very hopeful that we shall resolve that soonest.

Could you throw light on the

*Ubajaka security situation in Nnewi?

I want to assure you and indeed all other persons that are interested to come in for legitimate businesses that they will be welcome and that the security is seriously want tosituation rule Ondo under control. You need not be reminded that not too long ago, the Local Government was on fire due to the activities of criminals in the business of kidnapping, robbery and other major criminal activities. The town was under siege that genuine business people literally deserted the town.

Major investors with reasonable investment on the ground abandoned everything and ran for their dear lives. The

situation was terrible that even the local personalities from the town were all relocating. Please I need to appreciate the efforts and interest that the State governor has taken on this Local Government, I wish to state that as the local government Chairman that feels the pulse of the people, the response is very commendable and the people are very pleased with His Excellency the governor. In our language I say “Demee Sir”.

If one appreciates what has been done, the doer would have the mind and courage to do more. Having said all these, the only person that can guarantee life is God in heaven. Our responsibility as a government

AKWA IBOM AT 25:

Of a man who came, saw and beat them all…

BY IBIPOBONG UDOM

I

T was a dream come true; the end of an era and yet the beginning of another. It was the expected end to the marginalization of a people, the deserved climax to the drama of relegation to the background in which the good people of Akwa Ibom had played prominent roles. It was September 23, 1987, the day the creation of a new state to be called Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria was announced by the then military Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.

That announcement brought mirth to the lips of Akwa Ibom sons and daughters; they were gleeful and delirious because they had been given a platform to collectively achieve their aspirations and the dreams of their fathers before them. It was a creation that would bring about rapid development and changes in the lives of the people, a golden platform for change. The state was called the Land of Promise.

*Akpabio For the creation of state, Akwa Ibom people came, fought and conquered but their battles were just beginning. And 20 years afterwards, they continued to fight and crave for the achievement of their dreams for development. Such was the condition of the state and its people when the game changed.

To all intents and purposes, many leaders who governed the state after its creation played great parts in trying to see to the realization of the collective aspirations of its people. From the maiden governor, colonel Tunde Ogbeha, to the one who governed the state after return to civilian rule, they all, like master builders, built the state, yet it remained among the least developed because there were myriad of factors that worked against the development efforts.

But these factors would later give way to the vision of a man who was barely 25 years old when the state was created; where there is a will there is a way, the saying goes.

On 23 September, 2012, 25 years after the creation of Akwa Ibom State, history was revisited and also rewritten; what was once a land of promise had been turned to a land of fulfillment in a matter of five years. The laudable achievement of state creation had become pint-sized before the laudable transformation of the created state; as five years of a game-

changing leadership provided by Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio eventually proved to be the real reasons the people of the state could celebrate its silver jubilee.

Mr Infrastructure as Akpabio is now fondly adressed, who began his work as an architect of new Akwa Ibom 20 years after its creation, came on to the scene as a man on a mission. Irked by the deplorable state of infrastructure, poor standard of education, youth unrest and scary statistics of house-helps being produced by the state, Governor Akpabio after his election in 2007 embarked on a mission to rebuild, restore and transform but not many would have thought he would achieve so much in a few years as to stand Mathematical calculation on its head.

In the last five years of his administration, not only have testimonies abound about the massive transformation of the state but words have also been out that these last five years in the life of Akwa Ibom State have surpassed the first 20 years of its creation.

is to do all that is humanly possible to maintain security in the town, I want to assure all that the State government is doing a lot in this area and we are getting there. I need say again that the security challenges would please not be seen by genuine business persons or companies as reason not to come to Nnewi.

If there are concerns of any nature by any group, I would be very honoured to intervene and make sure issues are straightened out. If it is one that shall require the attention of the State government, the governor and his very capable team is there 24-7 to support things, there is nothing to fear at all. Evil can never be allowed to defeat us; we need these businesses to grow our economy.

What would you call your biggest achievements so far?

I need not blow my trumpet, I am an administrator and I understand that a straightened system is a working system. I have been trying to resolve so many fundamental mistakes as to make things easy for us. A part of that responsibility is a brand new council building right here in the local government headquarters to reduce the space problems for the local government staff. Good working environment you will agree with me encourages productivity.

This edifice was built in a record time, in less than 6 months. Within the next few weeks, the furniture will arrive and the civil servants here will work in better and friendlier environment.

But how can this be so? How can five years be equivalent to or even greater than 20 years?

The answers are validly and solidly rooted in the nooks and crannies of the state; they are etched on the transformed landscape in the state, the over 295 roads constructed across the state, the Ibom Power Plant to ease the power supply problems of the state, the Ibom International Airport which has made the state a commercial destination, the Topicana Entertainment Centre which has turned the state to a tourists’ destination, the E-library that is first of its kind in West Africa, the flyovers in Uyo, the Pipe-jacking underground drainage project in Uyo and recently Abak, the Treasury Headquarters building at the state secretariat and the City Centre Plaza in Ikot Ekpene.

Yes, five years were proved to be greater than 20 years during the celebration, because in those five years, the quality of the lives of Akwa Ibom people was improved upon, as the Promise Keeper, the name with which the people of the state know their governor, invested in human development. *Udom is a public affairs analyst based in Abuja.

46 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012 —47

CP Lagos opens up on Ozuah’s death L

AGOS State Commission er of Police, Umaru Manko has assured that police will unearth the true circumstances that led to the alleged killing of Mr. Ugochukwu Ozuah by gunmen suspected to be members of the force at the UPS Junction in Gbagada area of Lagos recently. The Police boss who spoke exhaustively on the issue told Crime Alert that they have no reason to twist facts if their men were truly involved in the killing.

Hear him; “The little pictures of that incident remains that the DPO in- charge of Anthony Police station reported to me that the chief security officer of that estate informed the station that someone had just been shot and, within a shot period of time, he led a team of policemen and patrol team of RRS to the scene and they found a young man lying on the ground with a bullet wound.

He was still breathing. As the police was trying to ask questions, somebody came out from nowhere and said he is the friend of the young man on the floor and he had gone to call the family of the victim from their house.”

“The man and the DPO made effort to take the man to a hospital chosen by the victim’s family and by the time they got to the hospital, the young man died. After his story, we were left with the responsibility of trying to find who shot him and the only eyewitness to that incident happened to be the friend to the deceased whom he came to drop at the bus stop.”

“Unfortunately, the DPO and that friend of the deceased were later told that the man had died and by the time they finished with the deposition of the corpse in the mortuary and for them to return to the police station to enable the DPO start initial action, that friend of the deceased was no where to be found. The next thing we heard was his own version of the story on social networks from England. The father of this young man who is the only eyewitness, is said to be a paramount ruler in Delta State.

He appeared with a retired Asistant Comptroller -General of Customs and introduced himself to me. He went further to quote his son as saying that he witnessed the killing of his friend and also narrated exactly what was reported on the social network, that a policeman said ‘hey who goes there, and the next thing was to pump bullet into the

.....assures police will unearth the truth

•Umaru Manko, Lagos State CP shot and the best thing he could do was to deposit his body in the mortuary and flee to England and start talking to the press from England, then we have a dilema here. “ hen the father came, I asked him why should the man leave without making statement with the police, we don’t have his statement.

And why was he making statements on the social networks instead of making it to the police. And if he does not want to make it physically because of one fear or the other, why didn’t he write his statement and pass it to the police. And why should he leave? The father said he was afraid, that he made statement against the police and I said where?

He was not afraid of going to the police station, of taking the police round when they were trying to see if they could save the life of the young man before he died. And why must he disappear immediately?

And the father said if I want his son to appear that I am going to give him a guarantee that his son was not going to be tortured when he comes.

Then I said look, who told you that the police torture people to get statement from them? If he wants to clear his son’s name, let him ask him to appear. Go and bring him before me and he is going to make statement in my office.

The fact that his fears are that he is going to be tortured is farfetched; nobody is going to torture anybody. That he made statement against the police is not an issue. He can be here and make his statement and every body will see. Of course, some of us here have been tested in other places and we have demonstrated some qualities since we arrived here. I see no reason why somebody who witnessed how his friend was killed, all he could do was to flee Nigeria to England and start making

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• Late Ugochukwu Ozuah youngman’s body.”

“Then I began to wonder.

‘Hey who goes there’, in the first place is not a police language. That is the language of the military, it is used in their own quarter guard if they want to checkmate the movement of people. I do know that the saying: ‘hey who goes there, advance for recogni-

,

BY IFEANYI OKOLIE

came here, officers and men of the command have been told of the position of the Inspector-General of Police on the use of fire arms and ammunition. Of course, you are aware that a Chief Superintendent of Police who shot and killed someone during the fuel subsidy protest is still in detention. You are also aware

‘Hey who goes there’, in the first place is not a police language. That is the language of the military, it is used in their own quarterguard if they want to checkmate the movement of people.

tion’. But all these things do not make sense. There is no trained police officer or a trained military man that will see a young man around 10 pm, not after mid-night, and say who goes there and before the man will answer, will start pumping bullets into his body.”

In Lagos state, I don’t know what it used to be but since I

,

that the Police Chaplain that shot some body the other time, we arrested him. And if you go to our cell at the State CID, you will find some policemen in detention for wrongful use of fire arms. So, while I am not holding brief for any one nor saying that the police did it, but if the only eyewitness who saw his friend, who had gone to drop him off being

noise from there. At any rate, I know my Inspector-General; he is a very straight forward person. Our men have come from Abuja to take over the case. I cannot be a judge in my own case and therefore, I am comfortable with the fact that the IG has sent down people to come and take over the investigation so that the two of us can have a level playing ground. You see, I watched somebody on the Television who said the police doesn’t want to condole with the family. So, how does one need to react to that. And I know that the facts surrounding this incident are very clear to me.

Any where we have done wrong, I will tell you we have done wrong.

If you remember when one of our policemen went and killed someone at Makoko during a demolition exercise, I gave him out. At this age, I can’t start learning how to lie.

I was at Makoko and I went to many other places. But, off course, the chief security officer of that estate who called in the police is still alive, he made statement to the police.

If at the end if it all, investigations are completed, who ever is at fault will bear the consequence.

Has this allegation in anyway distracted the command from investigating this case?

No, it has not, just as I told you, objectivity will not be compromised even if I am involved. I want to let every body know that. Even that of the CSP who is now in detention, was investigated by the police and in our findings, we did not compromise. The police of today have gone beyond and above what people used to think of them. We will continue with the investigation diligently, we will come out with an objective opinion that will not be faulted by anyone from the outside. But lets wait and see how it goes.”

48—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

Explosions rock Bauchi church as 4 die in bus attack

BY SUZAN EDEH

B

From left: Consultant Nephrologist/Head Nephrology, Lagos State University Hospital (LASUTH), Dr. Jacob Awobusuyi; Chief Medical Director, LASUTH, Prof. Wale Oke; Lagos Brewery Manager, Mrs Ethel Uche, and Consultant Physician,Head of Department of Medicine, LASUTH, Dr Richard Onyekwese during the commissioning of Dialysis Machines donated by Heineken Africa Foundation in collaboration with Nigerian Breweries Plc to LASUTH, in Lagos, yesterday.

Osun CJ’s nomination crisis deepens Aregbesola roots for Oyewole, outgoing CJ prefers Ojo I'm the most qualified candidate —Olagoke As NJC rejects Adamawa, Kwara nominees

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH

A

BUJA — RAGING crisis over who emerges as the head of the judiciary in Osun State has deepened following the rejection of the list sent in by the state government to the National Judicial Council to pick one of the nominees for the top job.

The NJC, at its meeting in Abuja, Wednesday, threw out the list of three nominees who were recommended by the Osun State Judicial Service Commission, when it could not decide who was the most qualified candidate for the post and asked that the list be forwarded based on seniority.

A competent source told Vanguard that the choice of a successor to the current CJ of the state, Justice Olaniyi Ojo, who is leaving office next month, had been complicated because of vested interests that had crept into the appointment.

The source said while the state governor, Rauf Aregbesola, recommended Justice Joseph Oyewole of the Lagos State High Court for the post because of the judge’s unquestionable character, the outgoing CJ, Olaniyi Ojo, prefers Justice Bola Ojo of the state High Court, claiming that she is the most senior judicial officer after him.

On the other hand, Justice Gloria Olagoke, who is the President of the state Customary Court of Appeal, is insisting that the post should be given to her since she has a ‘coordinate jurisdiction’ with Justice Ojo. Vanguard learnt that one of the female contenders for

the post had even petitioned the CJN, drawing her attention to the fact that it was the turn of a woman to preside over the Osun State judiciary for the first time and asked her to do all within her powers to give the post to her.

She is reported to have argued in her petition that she had been labouring and waiting patiently for the job and that it would be unfair to take the job from her at the threshold of her picking it.

I'm the most qualified — Olagoke Justice Olagoke, on the other hand, is said to have also reminded the authorities that it was her turn to take up the headship of the state judiciary, having been appointed the same day with her contender from the state High Court.

Her argument is that having been the head of the Customary Court of Appeal, she is more qualified than Justice Ojo, who is number two to the retiring CJ. It was learnt that because of the claims and counter claims from the possible candidates for the post, the NJC might be forced to pick an acting CJ for the state and that the post might likely go to Bola Ojo, who is the most senior judge after Olaniyi.

Why Aregbesola opts for Oyewole But many of the natives of the state are rooting for Joseph Oyewole, whom they see as an icon of incorruptibility having braced all odds to sentence

many top politicians to imprisonment without looking back.

Gov. Aregbesola is said to have opted for Oyewole believing that his appointment would enable him to sanitise the state judiciary and give a bite to the war against corruption as the judge has been doing in the Ikeja Division, Lagos.

But faced with the impasse, the NJC, it was gathered, would be forced to convene an emergency meeting next month to pick one of the nominees as the CJ for the state.

The criteria to be used would depend on when the candidates were called to the Bar, date of their first appointment by the state, outstanding judgements delivered and the level of integrity and courage

exhibited in the discharge of their duties.

NJC rejects Adamawa, Kwara nominees At the meeting of the NJC, the nominations for the appointment of CJ for Adamawa and Kwara states were also turned down.

The Adamawa nominee, a serving Federal High Court judge, is said to have personally requested that her name be dropped on moral grounds since it would be unfair for her to be the CJ while her husband was the head of the administration.

The choice from Kwara State was also thrown out since the NJC insisted that it would not bow to undue political influence in the selection of the CJ.

AUCHI — A twin bomb explosions rocked Gudun Hausawa and Zango areas in Bauchi Metropolis, Wednesday night, even as four persons were set ablaze in a bus attack in Gwatukuru near Dass.

Vanguard learnt that one of the explosions destroyed the pulpit of the COCIN Church in Zango and a building near the church while the second explosion destroyed a fence in Gudum Sayawa. There were no casualties in both explosions.

Vanguard learnt that the bomb planted in the pulpit of the COCIN church in Zango exploded at about 9pm Tuesday, almost at the same time with the one that exploded in Gudum Hausawa.

The man whose house was adjacent to the church in Zango was affected said he saw two men on motorcycle who came to the church that night but thought they were members of the church on patrol.

“The explosion occurred few minutes after they left, taking the two security men in the church by surprise,” the man who pleaded anonymity told Vanguard.

No life was lost in the two explosions but the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend Lawi Pokti said the development had sent fear and panic among residents particularly Christians in the state.

Pokti called on Christians to remain calm and watch

what they say and not imitate “this increasing evil and wickedness” just as he appealed to the security operatives to be proactive in handling the current insecurity in the state.

4 die in bus attack Meanwhile, some people suspected to be Fulani herdsmen have attacked a bus killing four people, yesterday, in Gwatukuru village near Dass Local Government Area in Bauchi State.

Nine people were seriously injured after the bus with number plate AA 82 TFB belonging to the Seyawa Council of Elders and Traditional Rulers was set ablaze.

Mr Bukata Zyadi, Secretary of the Sayawa Council of Elders, said the victims were burnt to ashes while the injured had been taken to hospitals in Plateau State and some in Dass.

He said four of the injured were rushed to Jos, five are undergoing surgery in Dass General Hospital, seven in emergency unit in Dass general hospital emergency unit while two are safe.

Zyadi said the attack was carried out by the “HausaFulani people, one of their normal attacks that have been happening almost on a daily basis in Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro Local Government Area.”

He said peace would continue to elude the area because the state government has shown bias and that “security has completely broken down as the presence of the JTF in the area has not stopped the killings.”

NJC fails to reinstate Salami Salami may be asked to withdraw cases in courts

BY SONI DANIEL & IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA — THE National Judicial Council, NJC, yesterday, failed to take a definite decision on the reinstatement of the suspended President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami.

The NJC, it was learnt, reasoned that taking any action on Salami would be prejudicial, as he had cases pending in the High Court and Court of Appeal.

A source at the meeting said, however, that Salami might be asked to withdraw the cases as a

precondition for the council to look into his matter.

According to the source, the NJC may summon an emergency meeting to look into the PCA case, once his cases were withdrawn from the courts.

It was widely believed that the NJC would use its two-day meeting in Abuja, which started on Wednesday to recall Salami, who was suspended since August 2011, because of the strong arguments the council put up in court that the Presidency does not have any role to play in the recall of the PCA. It was, however, learnt

that the members were divided when the matter was brought up for discussion. While some of the members said it was necessary to take a decisive action on the matter, others opined that it would amount to contempt of court to take any action during the pendency of the cases instituted by the applicant.

The source further revealed that though the issue of Justice Salami was not originally slated for deliberation in the course of the meeting, nevertheless, the issue dominated their discourse immediately it was introduced,

yesterday.

He said though the council under the leadership of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, ab-initio expressed intentions to recall the suspended PCA, the idea met stiff opposition from members of the council.

Vanguard gathered that in-view of the sharp division among its members on the issue of recalling the PCA despite the pending court cases, it was subsequently agreed that status-quo be maintained on the matter.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012 — 49

C M Y K

50 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012 — 51

52 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

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NEBIGWE—We, formerly known and addressed as Nebigwe family of Umudimonyibo kindred of Ufuene village in Enugu-Umuonyia in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State: Nebigwe Iloabuchi Jude, Nebigwe Chinazo Nichodemus, Nebigwe Tochukwu Michael, Nebigwe Ifeanyichukwu Joseph, Nebigwe Agnes Chioma, Nebigwe Ogochukwu Perpetual, Nebigwe Chibuzo Olivia, now wish to be known and addressed as AFUREKE family: Afureke Iloabuchi Jude, Afureke Chinazo Nichodemus, Afureke Tochukwu Michael, Afureke Ifeanyichukwu Joseph, Afureke Agnes Chioma, Afureke Ogochukwu Perpetual, Afureke Chibuzo Olivia.

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012 — 53

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54— Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

Mikel is great — Victor Moses

By JACOB AJOM Super Eagles and Chelsea new boy, Victor Moses has said although he dedicated the two goals he scored in Calabar against the Lone Star of Liberia to his baby, Brentley Moses, he would credit his performance and that of the entire team to the influence of John Obi Mikel.

Moses had featured for Coach Stephen Keshi on about three occasions before Saturday’s match in Calabar against Liberia.

Each outing had ended without a goal. Saturday was different. The dashing Chelsea winger did not only score but got two goals to his credit.

He would not, however, take all the glory. “I think Mikel was outstanding today and played a great role in the outcome of today ’s game. He made it possible for me to score my second goal. He was just massive for the entire team. He made all the difference,” Moses said.

The Nigeria international who joined Mikel at Chelsea on the final day of the summer transfer window in a nine million pound deal praised coach Stephen Keshi for recalling midfielder to the team.“Mikel is a great player if you look at the club he plays for and he has added a lot of value to the team..”

Moses also spared some good words for his Super Eagles team mates. “I think everybody was tremendous today. It was good we remained focused and won the ticket for the Africa Cup of Nations. It was important we got the ticket.”

He said the Super Eagles would ready for any opposition in South Africa. “The first thing, which is the qualification ticket has been achieved. Before the tournament, we would have had time to train together for longer periods to blend. I think we will make a good team. It will a different Super Eagles in South Africa,” Moses said.

Cole fined for Twitter outburst

A

SHLEY COLE has been hit with a £90,000 fine for his foulmouthed Twitter outburst towards the FA. The England defender, 31, blasted football’s chiefs on the day the governing body released the written reasons for John

Terry’s racism ban.

He wrote: “Hahahahaa, well don #fa I lied did I. #BUNCHOFT**TS.” Cole apologised soon after but has still been fined what equates to less than a week’s wages after admitting a charge of bringing the game into disrepute.

Terry apologises J THE TRINITY ••• Mikel, Obiora and Moses.

OHN Terry apolo gised Thursday for using inappropriate language during an onfield confrontation and will accept a four-match ban for racially abusing an opponent during a

Premier League game.

The Chelsea defender was suspended by the Football Association for abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand in a match last October.

FIFA’S scribe hospitalised in Rio Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke has been taken to hospital during a visit to Brazil to assess progress for the next year ’s Confederations Cup and the 2014 World Cup. Valcke was admitted to the Samaritano Hospital in Rio de Janeiro with a kidney problem on

Wednesday night, a spokesman for the hospital said on Thursday, and will remain there until further notice, although his condition is not considered serious.

The 52-year-old Frenchman had visited the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday, then flew to Porto

Alegre on Wednesday to inspect the Beira-Rio stadium before arriving in Rio. During his visit to Belo Horizonte, Valcke had voiced doubts that Brazil would have its six proposed stadiums ready in time for the Confederations Cup.

•Valcke

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012 — 55

o camp in P or tugal Nations Cup: Eagles tto Por ortugal

S

UPER Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has disclosed that he plans to stage a training camp for home-based players in Portugal, preparatory to the AFCON.This will be in addition to the training camp most likely in Zimbabwe prior to the Nations Cup in South Africa.

“My plan is to have the home-based players for at least two weeks at the adidas training centre (in Portugal),” he told MTNFootball.com “I have submitted my programme but we all know that time is not our friend.

“We have one friendly game against Venezuela in the US. And I am hoping that I should be able to have my foreign-based players for at least two weeks.”

It is believed that 22 players from the domestic league will make the trip to Portugal with the hope that some overseasbased players will also join up.

Hosts South Africa, 2012 AFCON runners-up Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana and defending champions Zambia are the seeded countries for Wednesday’s draw for the Na-

A

•BIG BOSS••• Coach Stephen Keshi keeping an eye on his wards. tions Cup. However, Keshi again maintained he is looking forward to facing any of them in the first round of the tournament.

“I am not scared of any country. Let’s be put in any group,” Keshi restated.

Keshi will be at the draw in Durban and will be accompanied by NFF technical committee chairman Chris Green and Eagles team secretary Dayo Enebi.

They will depart the country on Monday. They are due back in Nigeria

match coordinator for the 2013 Nations Cup qualifier, which was called off with the Ivorians leading 2-0 after 74 minutes.

“I have to take responsibility for what happened on Saturday given my role as match coordinator,” Lamotte said.

“So I have drawn my own conclusions and resigned.”

Nigeria’s joy at having one of its referees being in consideration for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil may be

A man who is president of Senegal’s Professional Football League says his role as match coordinator means he had a ‘share of responsibility’ for the events that unfolded at Dakar’s Stade Leopold Senghor.

After Didier Drogba’s second goal doubled the Elephants’ lead on the day, as well as giving them a 6-2 advantage on aggregate, Senegalese fans reacted by

Top seed tumbles Continues from BP the tournament’s 8th seed was too much for Capkovic, who had earlier boasted that he was in Nigeria to defend the title he won last year. In other Men’s singles quarterfinal matches,, Sherif Sabry of Egypt defeated Alessandro Bega of Italy 6-1,6-4, while Kento Takeuchi of Japan whipped Alessandro Petrone of Italy 6-1,6-3.

on October 26 after attending a seminar, the draw as well as a stadium inspection.

The Eagles training camp for the November 14 friendly against Venezuela in Miami will open on November 4.

NDRE Villas-Boas has denied he is out for revenge when Tottenham play Chelsea this Saturday.

The Portuguese was shown the door as Blues boss last season after just nine months in charge.

AVB is back in management now at Spurs but insists he will not be treating the fixture any differently to any other league clash.

The 35-year-old said: “In the end there is one thing which has been to a certain extent blown out of proportion in some ways — this is certainly not a personal matter.

“This game is not going to decide the future of both teams in the Premier League — after this game there will be 30 more games to play and both teams will have decisive matches in front

of them.

“It counts as three points. It doesn’t win us a trophy.”

AVB did though suggest his players may have revenge on their minds when they run out to play the European champions.

Chelsea’s first ever European Cup success meant Spurs missed out on this season’s Champions League despite finishing fourth in the league.

Spurs were also beaten 5-1 by their London rivals in the semi-final of last year ’s FA Cup and Villas-Boas feels his squad could be looking to get their own back.

Swiss Embassy frustrates Peter Edibe punctured following the continued frustration of Peter Elgam Edibe by the Swiss Embassy in Nigeria.

Senegal VP quits af aftter riot Continues from BP

AVB: I’m not out ffor or revenge

In other matches, women’s top seed, Nina Bratchikova of Russia defeated Zarah Razafimahatratra of Madagascar in three sets of 6-7(, 6-1, 6-3, Chanel Simmonds of South Africa beat Jia-Jing Lu in 6-0,61, Conny Perrin of Switzerland swept aside Alexandra Romanova of Russia in straight sets of 6-0,6-2, while Cristina Dinu of Romania beat Valeria Patiuk 6-1,6-2.

throwing missiles and lighting fires inside the stadium.

Ivorian fans dropped from the tribunes to the running track around the pitch before taking refuge with both teams, who were huddling for their own protection inside the centre circle.

The match was suspended for 40 minutes while police tried to restore order but the referee was eventually forced to call off the second-leg, final-round qualifier.

The Confederation of African Football has since banned Senegal from the 2013 Nations Cup, in accordance with its statutes, while confirming the Ivorians as 2-0 winners.

The Teranga Lions’ failure completes a miserable year for Senegalese football, with the national team losing all its matches at the 2012 finals despite arriving in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea as one of the favourites.

Despite a valid letter from world football-governing body, among other relevant documents that have been provided by the well-travelled and highly-respected Assistant Referee, the Swiss

Embassy is insisting that his application for entry visa into that country for an official FIFA Assistant Referee Course and Fitness Test has come too late.

•Villas-Boas

Mitchel Obi still fumes Continues from BP tion. After the minister ’s aide Julius called our Tony Ubani to complain about the acrimony in Adokiye’s reaction arguing that it was an honour to be invited to a national event, the minister also bared his mind and offered some explanations. ”We are determined to organise a successful retreat,” he began. ”It is the first time that a President of Nigeria is calling for a retreat to address problems in our sports and we all need to lend a hand because the President means well and he is leading the way. We had initial challenges which have now been sorted out. We didn’t have money for the retreat and it would have been difficult to cater for every participant without money. We were constrained when we wrote those letters but the President has now

given approval and the accommodation and transportation of the participants will be taken care of. There are even some people coming from abroad.

We are on course.

Commissioners of sports and state governors will all be there. I think that it is wrong to be looking back when we need to be going forward. I understand that people have animosity against the past. But this is a new beginning and we must discard the wrongs of the past to move forward and get it right. People should not take things personal when national issues are at stake.”

The minister was taken aback that Mitchel Obi, another veteran sports commentator, had not only withdrawn from the retreat but also castigated the NSC. Obi turned down their invitation with these words:

“Thanks for the invitation and the recognition.

It is a pity that I I don’t think a one day Presidential sports retreat can make any difference to the decay that is the sports sector. We have seen enough of this gallery play and I can’t fancy myself spending my hard-earned resource to participate in it. Indeed, it is an insult to those participating to be told to cater for their attendance.

Is it the practice in the many retreats that have taken place in this polity? I have been privy to a handful and the sports commission should not belittle our value. Again, I thank all who considered me worthy of this invitation. I have served in Presidential and Ministerial Committees in the past with undiluted diligence and I am at pain to imagine what additional value a retreat will serve. Best deliberation’’.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, OCT0BER 19, 2012

Senegal VP quits af aftter riot

T

HE vice-president of the Senegalese Football Federation has resigned after crowd trouble forced the abandonment of Saturday’s home tie with Ivory Coast.

Louis Lamotte was

AVB: I’m not out for revenge — P.55 •BATTLE GROUND ••• Scene of riot by Senegalese football fans.

Continues on page 55

Gov’s Cup: Top seed tumbles

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

M

EN’S singles top seed and former champion, Kamil Capkovic of Slovakia has been knocked out of the $15, 000 Governor’s Cup Futures I holding at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.

Playing on the Lord Rumens Centre yesterday, Capkovic lost his quarterfinal match to Egypt’s Mohammed Maamoun in straight sets of 4-6, 5-7, a result that represented the biggest upset of the competition Maamoun, who is

Continues on page 55

TODAY'S

Sports Retreat: Mitchel Obi still fumes •Minister explains, Jonathan intervenes

BY ONOCHIE ANIBEZE

S

PORTS Minister Bo laji Abdullahi said yesterday that his ministry which also doubles as the National Sports Commission has now gotten approval for the funding of the Presidential Retreat on Monday and hoped that the event would go on without any hitch.

Some of the invited participants had turned down the invitation because the ministry informed them that they would bear the cost of their attendance.

President Goodluck Jonathan had an-

PUZZLE

nounced the retreat last Wednesday while presenting 2013 Budget proposal to the National Assembly. The poor state of sports in Nigeria informed the President’s action. But Adokiye Amasiemaka, one of the invited participants accused the ministry of not wanting the President to succeed by asking participants to shoulder the cost of their participawe

Continues on page 55

•Abdullahi

•Pat Ekeji

•Mitchel

Nations Cup: Eagles to camp in Portugal — P.55 YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 2 Cabin (5) 7 Virtuous (5) 8 Ease (5) 10 Dirty (5) 12 Breach (3) 13 Sober (5) 15 Postponed (7) 17 Thrown (6) 19 Sicken (3) 20 Ordained (7) 23 Declare (4) 25 Entrance (4) 26 Soared (7) 30 Rug (3) 31 Erase (6) 34 Rid (7) 37 Booby-trapped (5) 38 Brown (3) 39 Liability (5) 40 Bring (5) 41 Sprig (5) 42 Revel (5)

DOWN 1 Maxim (5) 2 Foundation (5) 3 Evaded (6) 4 Informed (4) 5 Entertained (7) 6 Yawned (5) 9 Ballad (3) 11 Longed (7) 13 Vapour (5) 14 Advantage (5) 16 Untruth (3) 18 Erased (7) 21 Twelve (5) 22 Avarice (5) 24 Affair (7) 27 Conflict (3) 28 Death (6) 29 Change (5) 32 Supple (5) 33 Singer (5) 35 Consume (3) 36 Intense (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Anger 7, Stop 8, Odious 9, Tempt 11, Mar 13, Dud 15, Eden 16, Rid 18, Mere 19, Deliver 20, Neat 22, Taxi 23, Topical 25, Ewer 27, Tun 28, Ague 30, Rod 31, End 33, Wedge 36, Manage 37, Knew 38, Tense.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 1, Stead 2, Apt 3, Gum 4, Rot 5, Vim 6, Augur 10, Pail 11, Meander 12, Related 13, Derange 14, Devised 16, Remit 17, Divan 18, Met 21, Tor 24, Cute 26, Woman 29, Under 32, Pad 33, Wet 34, Dim 35, Eke.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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