FRESH BOMBSHELL FROM IYABO:Why I gave up on my dad — Iyabo Obasanjo

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62039

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

Another explosion rocks Port Harcourt FRESH BOMBSHELL FROM IYABO:

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D RE T HO SIVE LU C EX

Why I gave up on my dad — Iyabo Obasanjo •Obasanjo to VANGUARD: "You're bloody idiots" •Iyabo confirms letter; flays denials on social media •Yoruba elders, others speak

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR, DAPO AKINREFON, PETER DURU, & BASHIR ADEFAKA

•Yes, Iyabo discussed her letter with me — Osoba L

AGOS — WITH echoes of the open letter to former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo from his daughter, Iyabo, reverberating nationwide, the

Continues on page 5

•P.25

COLUMNISTS: Is'haq Modibbo Kawu•P.17

Josef•P.19

Omorotionmwan

zChief Obasanjo

Mr & Mrs

NATIONAL CONFAB REPORT—President Goodluck Jonathan (left) receiving the final report from the Chairman Presidential AdvisoryCommittee on National Conference, Sen. Femi Okurounmu while the Secretary of the committee, Alhaji Akilu Ndabawa (right) watched during a ceremony at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

PDP CRISIS: 37 nPDP Reps decamp to APC 15

National Conference holds early next year — Jonathan 8

2 — Vanguard, THURSDAY,

C M Y K

DECEMBER 19 , 2013

Vanguard, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19 , 2013 — 3

4 — Vanguard, THURSDAY,

DECEMBER 19 , 2013

Vanguard, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013—5

POCKET CARTOON

APC—Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, flanked by the National Chairman, APC, Chief Bisi Akande (L) and Former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as he briefs journalists after a closed-door consultation between him and other leaders of the party at his residence, Asokoro, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Why I gave up on my father — Iyabo Obasanjo Continues from page 1 daughter yesterday gave reasons she gave up on her father ever changing.

Senator Iyabo Obasanjo spoke against the background of mixed reactions from Yoruba elders and politicians on the import of the letter which she said was the last communication with her father.

The former president himself was furious

when approached by Vanguard, yesterday, as he hurled invectives at the newspaper. The exchange between Vanguard and the former president ran thus: Vanguard: Sir, we tried reaching you all through yesterday, to no avail, over the letter written by your daughter, Iyabo, to you.

Chief Obasanjo: You are a bloody idiot, you have published the paper and you are now

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

The challenges in a space, are directly correlated to the solutions and possibilities and consequent prosperity obtainable therefrom.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Write out a list of all the things that you are good at, to act as reminder to yourself that you are at least good at some things! Then, when you’re feeling that your confidence is on the wane, take the list out, read it, and add something new to it. If you’re struggling to think of things to add to your list, then it’s possible you’re missing the obvious or being too harsh on yourself— K.McIntosh Being positive is all in the mind so you have to make yourself think positively. But if there are positive people around giving you advice, building you up, and pushing you in the right direction, then thinking positively will come more easily and your confidence will naturally increase as a result. So, if you are aware that the people you mix with tend to bring you down a lot, then do something about it by getting some new friends.

Make an effort with your outward appearance; this will make a massive difference to how you feel.

However, what you feel from inside of you is really more important in boosting your confidence.

Try to be grateful for all the good things in your life when thoughts of worries are clamouring for attention. If you’re in a place where you’re constantly undermined or lacking a challenge, then your confidence is hardly going to be sky high. If that’s the case, then it’s probably time to move on and find a more challenging role.

looking for me, you are an idiot, don’t call me again. When Iyabo finishes you in court.... (hangs up).

Senator Obasanjo nevertheless flayed the orchestrated attempt in the social media by a network of associates of her father to separate her from the letter.

Aremo Olusegun Osoba, former governor of Ogun State, who was cited in the letter, confirmed the meeting between him and Iyabo in Massachusetts, United States but distanced himself from the plot allegedly cited by her father to empower her with the ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC for the next round of elections.

Besides, Aremo Osoba, several prominent Yoruba elders spoke on the development among whom were Afenifere leader, Chief Rueben Fasoranti, Afenifere bigwig, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, Chief Ebenezer Babatope and Hon. Femi Kehinde, a former member of the House of Representatives.

Senator Iyabo Obasanjo had written an open letter to her father accusing him of being a liar, manipulator, wifebasher and hypocrite who was desperate for a third term despite his denials to the contrary.

Following the hoopla over her letter,Iyabo spoke severally to Vanguard, yesterday. Asked

to respond to claims that she had denied the authorship of the letter written to her father, Iyabo, who holds a doctorate in epidemology and now resident in the United States, said: “No, no, no, that is not true. How can you live by social media? That is part of the problem with Nigeria, people want to be flying rumours. I have not told anybody o!

It is early morning here and I just woke up and if I were you I would just ignore them,” Senator Obasanjo said.

“People are calling me and telling me that they called Baba but if I say I am not talking to someone (her father), how can you say you called the person and the person will tell you what is on my mind?” she asked Giving reasons on why she broke off, she said that after a break from relating with Obasanjo, she found out days ago that her father would not change from the manipulative person she had known all along.

“The whole of last year I didn’t speak to him and I just started speaking to him recently, and the last time he was trying to manipulate me to say, this, say that. I can't be saying no when you say no.

“The last time I spoke to him was three days ago and I decided that I was not going to speak to him again after that.

That was the communication through which I realized that this man would never change from manipulations for himself.”

Dismissing her unsolicited canvassers on social media, she said: “I was surprised that they would say that they called Baba, and I said to myself, are these people mad? How can you call the person that I said I am not talking to, to ask him whether I wrote a letter or not and he is going to speak for me?

“Nobody can say that I told him that I didn’t write it. I am not a liar. I will not back away from what I wrote and there is nothing that is there that is a lie. In the last four years how many of them have spoken to me? They are all mad people,” she said.

At press time last night, close associates of the former president who spoke under conditions of strict anonymity told Vanguard that Iyabo had

not called her father to deny that she wrote the letter.

Iyabo did the right thing — Fasoranti, Afenifere leader Leader of Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, Chief Reuben Fasoranti commended Iyabo, saying she has done the right thing.

In a telephone chat with Vanguard , Chief Fasoranti said: “I think she has spoken the truth, she is his daughter and I think what Obasanjo said in his letter about Jonathan is highly provocative. He is creating the impression that he is a holierthan-thou person. He is not right. Other elder statesmen in other countries keep things like this to themselves, they do not make any comment. He should stop haunting those who are in office because he is creating the impression that he is the best person. It is wrong. What Iyabo has done is perfectly right.”

Iyabo spoke her mind — Adebanjo Also, Afenifere bigwig, Chief Ayo Adebanjo said what Senator Iyabo Obasanjo did should not surprise anyone.

In a telephone chat, Chief Adebanjo said: “What people like us have been saying about the man (Obasanjo) is being confirmed by the daughter. There is nothing she has said in that letter that is not true or that will be a surprise.

The daughter has also confirmed it that he (Obasanjo) likes hypocrites to surround him and he (Obasanjo) does not like to hear the truth.

There is nothing strange in what she has said.

She has only spoken her

mind in a clear and logical manner. She has said that it was their mother that struggled for the education they got; that they have never benefited from his (Obasanjo’s) position.”

It’s a fabrication — Fasehun On his part, founder of Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, Dr. Fredrick Fasheun said the letter was fabricated.

Fasehun, who spoke with Vanguard on the telephone, said “I do not believe Iyabo would write that kind of letter to her father. I do not believe it, it is a fabrication.”

Iyabo’s letter, a vital document — Babatope In his reaction, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, who was reluctant to comment on the Iyabo’s letter affirming that it was a family affair between a daughter and her father, however said: “What I am concerned with is the fact that he also wrote a letter to the President which was based on dissemination of falsehood and rumour mongering.

So, I don’t want to comment about Iyabo Obasanjo’s letter being a family affair of the Obasanjos. But I can tell you that Iyabo’s letter is a vital document, which can be a reference source for anyone who is interested in the politics of Nigeria at the moment,” he said.

It’s food for thought — Kehinde Hon. Femi Kehinde, a former member of the House of Representatives said: “Iyabo’s letter is food for thought. It teaches fathers a lesson that Continues on page 60

6 —Vanguard ,

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

Man in court over occult activities

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AGOS — A 33-yearold man, Bode Oluewu, yesterday, appeared before a Shomolu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, over alleged unlawfully possession of live ammunition and engaging in occult activities.

Oluewu is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, illegal possession of ammunition and breach of the public peace.

The prosecutor, ASP Akinlabi Adegoke, submitted that the accused, who resides at 9, Bolowosere St., Bariga, Lagos, committed the offence on November 30.

Adegoke told the court that the accused and others at large carried out occult activities in Bariga and intimidated the community members.

He said the police arrested Oluewu following a tip-off.

“The accused was on November 30 reportedly seen publicly engaging in unlawful occult activities,” the prosecutor said.

Adegoke said that an investigation revealed that the accused also had in his possession 15 live AK-47 cartridges.

According to the prosecutor, the offences contravene Sections 42, 328 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

The Magistrate, Mrs Bola Osunsanmi, granted him bail in the sum of N300, 000 with two sureties in like sum, and adjourned the case to January 22, 2014 for mention.

12 arrested for setting Catholic church building ablaze zTwo priests scale fence to escape death

BY OKONKWO EZE

O

NITSHA — THE Parish Priest of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Nkpor in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, near Onitsha, Rev. Fr. Martin Onukwuba and another priest-inresidence, Rev. Fr. Ben Oguejieofor, yesterday, escaped death by whiskers when some suspected arsonists invaded the church premises and set the priests’ house ablaze.

The incident, according to sources, occurred while Fr. Onukwuba was celebrating a morning mass inside the main church building, while Fr. Oguejiofor was in the fathers’ house.

It was not yet clear, at press time, who the arsonists were but the police at Ogidi Division have arrested no fewer than 12 suspects, including some workers at Our Lady’s Bread Bakery and Industrial Centre within the compound.

Frs. Onukwuba and Oguejiofor confirmed to newsmen at the scene that when they noticed unusual movements within the church compound, they scaled the fence and jumped into neighbouring compound in order not to be burnt alive.

They also confirmed that the attackers who they suspected to be security operatives guarding the compound, started their operation in the early hours, shooting sporadically in the air and into the two-storey building where the Reverend Fathers reside.

According to them, when the attack became too hot for them, they escaped by jumping through

the fence into an adjacent compound.

They further confirmed that although there were some gun shorts,Tuesday night, around the area, the main attack came in the early hours of yesterday.

Specifically, Fr. Onukwuba disclosed that the Ogidi High Court had earlier issued an order that the blockages mounted by the security officers inside the Our Lady’s Industrial Centre to block vehicular movements to the priests’ residence be dismantled, an order which he said did not go down well with the security men.

Onukwuba further disclosed that when the attackers could not get him or the residenct priest, they set the two-storey building ablaze and also burnt the boy’s quarters.

The Parish priest, however, said those arrested by the police were just members of staff of Our Lady’s Industrial Centre and bakery as the security guards who attacked them were on the run.

It would be recalled that the proprietor of Our Lady’s Industrial Centre, Mrs. Onuora, built the church single handedly and donated it to the church many years ago. It was commissioned

by Cardinal Francis Arinze, the then Archbishop of Onitsha.

But recently, one of her daughters who was said to have left the Catholic church and joined a pentecostal church has been itching to throw out the Catholic faithful from the premises, to hand it over to her new denomination.

The counsel to the church, C. J. Asiegbu also told newsmen that he was seriously suspect-

ABOVE: The two priests and BELOW: The burnt building ing the security operatives in the compound who are in the employ of the land lady who he said was in court with the church, prior to the incident.

The Divisional Police Officer at

Physically challenged persons protest in Imo

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI— ECONOMIC ac tivities again suffered setback, yesterday, in Owerri, Imo State capital, as scores of physically challenged persons blocked the ever busy Library Roundabout to protest what they called

gross deceit of the citizens by the Rochas Okorocha administration.

Vehicular traffic equally halted for several hours, while most civil servants and other commuters were forced to trek to their respective homes at the close of

the day’s business.

Yesterday's protest came on the heels of the reopening of commercial banks forcibly shut by the state government for allegedly failing to pay withholding tax.

The effect of the road block stretched from the Library

Two arraigned over theft of lady’s handbag

S

ANGO-OTA (OGUN) — TWO men, Ahmed Joseph, 21 and Kayode Olusola, 34, who allegedly stole a handbag containing N15,000 and other valuables, were yesterday arraigned in Ota, Ogun State.

The accused whose addresses are unknown, are facing a threecount charge of conspiracy, assault and stealing at an Ota Magistrates’ Court.

Ogidi, Mr. Yusuf Abdul who confirmed the incident, said he had deployed some policemen to the church premises to effect more arrests.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Rosemary Brown, told the court that the accused committed the offences on December 12 at 5.00 p.m. opposite Living Faith Church, Canaan Land, Idi-Iroko Road, Ota. She said the accused stole the bag belonging to one Adekemi Olagbaju which contained N15,000, two wrist watches, four pairs of earrings, and a gold necklace with a pendant, rings and

bunch of keys.

According to Brown, the offences contravene Sections 351, 390 (9) and 509 of the Criminal Code, Revised Laws of Ogun, 2006.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Magistrate, Mr Alliu Soneye, granted the accused bail in the sum of N200,000 each with two responsible sureties each in

like sum.

He said the sureties should be resident within the court’s jurisdiction and should also show evidence of gainful employment.

In addition, Soneye said the sureties should provide evidence of payment of tax payment to Ogun Government.

The case was adjourned to February 17, 2014 for mention.

Roundabout to Port Harcourt Road, Onitsha Road, Okigwe Road, Wetheral Road and Douglas Road.

Some of the placards carried by the protesters read: “We are tired of Okorocha’s deceit”, “We are tired of Okorocha’s many disappointments”, “We want jobs for our qualified members” and “Reinstate our Patron, Sir Jude Agbaso.”

They sang anti-government songs, even as they vowed that they “will never be fooled again by anybody or group that does not mean to improve the welfare of the citizens.”

One of the protesters, who simply gave his name as Stanley, lamented that the subventions which previous administrations used to give to their group had inexplicably been stopped by Okorocha.

Vanguard , THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013— 7

Four sibblings, one other killed in Plateau village attack TAYE OBATERU & MARIE-THERESE NANLONG

J

OS— FIVE people, four of them children of the same parents, were yesterday killed when gunmen attacked their home at Foron village in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of

Plateau State.

A resident of the community said the attackers got to the residence of the victims at night while they were asleep and shot them.

Confirming the incident, the immediate past Management Committee Chairman of the local government area, Mr.

Emmanuel Loman, described the incident as sad.

The Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Plateau Police Command, ASP Dominic Esin, also confirmed the killings.

Esin said that four of those killed were children while a member of the community’s vigilance group also died.

He added that the man was killed when he came out to as-

certain what was happening after hearing gunshots.

Two of the four persons injured, according to Esin, are the father and mother of the four children who were killed by the attackers.

He said the injured persons were now receiving treatment at the Plateau Specialist Hospital, adding that investigation to unravel the identity of the killers had begun.

NSCDC intercepts pipeline vandals with fuel laden trucks

BY OLA AJAYI

I

BADAN — THE hope of some pipeline vandals to make brisk business before the end of the year has been dashed as the Oyo State command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, intercepted their fuel tankers before delivery.

The premises of the command at Railway Quarters was almost filled up with hijacked trucks which they seized from vandals.

Speaking with newsmen, yesterday, in his office, the state commandant, Mr. Shem Obafaiye, said his men apprehended a 33,000-litre Iveco tanker with number plate LAGOS XZ 375 FST used by suspected NNPC pipeline vandals at Ajagba village in Oyo East Local Government Area of the state.

According to him, a Dyna lorry with number plate XA 943 EDE was arrested on December 13, 2013 with 144 empty kegs at Ogbomosho South Local Government Area.

He said:”The vandals are at rush hour to make money being the end of the year, while we are ready to curb their dastardly act.

Obafaiye then warned all vandals in the state to stay out of NNPC pipeline right of way and all Federal Government infrastructures in the country.

Before the latest seizure, the command had paraded two trucks with 15,000 and 48,000 litres capacity at Ajagba in Oyo East Local Government Area of the state.

The number plates of the trucks, according to him, were Oyo XB 7340 YRE and Lagos XT 121 KSF.

Fuel trucks seized by NSCDC

Two die in auto crash in Asaba

A

SABA — TWO people were, yesterday, crushed to death during an auto crash involving an articulated vehicle and a 911 truck in Asaba.

The driver and the conductor

N1.4m fraud: EFCC asks court to convict octogenarian

L

AGOS— THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has asked an Ikeja High Court to convict an 88-yearold man, Olusola Alaba, over the N1.4 million fraud charge preferred against him.

The EFCC counsel, Mr Jamiu Musa, stated this, yesterday, while delivering his final address at the trial of Alaba before Justice Lateefat Okunnu.

Musa said the prosecution had proved its case against Alaba, who was a member of the defunct Western House of Assembly in the First Republic, beyond reasonable doubt.

He said the evidence before the court and the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses had sufficiently established the charges against the accused.

However, Alaba’s counsel, Mr Olawale Kareem, prayed the court to discharge and acquit his client.

Kareem argued that there was no direct evidence linking the octogenarian to the alleged fraud.

Following their submissions, the judge adjourned the matter till February28, 2014, for judg-

ment.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the EFCC had on January 23, arraigned Alaba on a five-count charge of obtaining money by false pretences and

forgery.

He was charged for allegedly defrauding one Mrs Olutoyin Ogundipe of N1.4 million on June 20, 2011 in Lagos.

Travel agent docked over N1.4m visa fraud

L

AGOS — A 46-year-old travel agent, Godfrey Akhigbe, yesterday, appeared before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos over alleged N1.4 million visa fraud.

Akhigbe, who does not have a fixed address, is facing a twocount charge of fraud and stealing.

The prosecutor, Inspector Haruna Ibrahim, said the accused obtained the sum from Mr Lanre Adekeye on the pretext of obtaining a Canadian visa for him.

Ibrahim told the court that the Akhigbe neither secured the visa for Adekeye nor refunded the sum.

He said the accused committed the offence in February at Ojokoro in Lagos, in contravention of Sections 285 and 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Akhigbe, however, pleaded not guilty.

The Magistrate, Mrs E. Kubenje, granted him bail in the sum of N250,000 with two sureties in like sum.

of the articulated vehicle were trapped under it at about 7.00 a.m.

The accident happened at a junction near the Nigerian Prisons office, Asaba.

The vehicle, with number plate GTU 70 XA, was loaded with diesel while the truck had number plate XC787 NEN. Mr Morrison Wenyimi, an officer of at the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), said the command received the news of the accident at about 5.30 a.m.

He said the articulated vehicle, which was coming from Onitsha, was trying to negotiate a turn return when the accident occurred.

“It was fatal, the driver and the conductor of the tanker died and are still trapped under the tanker.

“The 911 truck driver was seriously injured and has been taken to the hospital for treatment.’’

However, we are not sure of what happened to his conductor for now because we have not seen him,” Wenyimi said.

Suspected cultists kill OOU lecturer

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

BEOKUTA— TRAG EDY struck, yesterday, at the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, in Ijebu North area of Ogun State when a lecturer, Dr Segun Onabanjo, was shot dead by suspected cultists.

Onabanjo who until his death was a senior lecturer at the Department of Sociology in the university, was said to have been killed by the assailants who stormed his residence in Odomolasa area of Ilese-Ijebu and broke into his home at about 1:00 a.m.

Vanguard gathered that while his assailants were attempting to break into his house, he was reportedly shouting “e bami gbe ibon mi (kindly bring me my gun)” to his kids and relatives in an attempt to scare away the armed men.

The gunmen eventually, in the wee hours, shot the lecturer dead and carted away some personal items.

It was learnt that the body of the deceased had been desposited at the mortuary.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the killing, saying the command was on the trail of the suspected killers who escaped through a nearby bush and would do everything possible to bring them to justice.

The police spokesman said some of the suspects sustained injuries in the gun duel and urged members of the public to promptly report anybody found with bullet wounds to security agents.

An accident scene involving an articulated vehicle and a truck at a junction near the Nigerian Prisons office in Asaba, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN.

8—Vanguard, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

Doctors' strike paralyses health services

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE, OLA AJAYI, RACHEAL OLAYIWOLA & FAITH OYIBOTIE

T

HE five-day warning strike called by the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, took its toll on healthcare services in public hospitals, yesterday, as patients waited long hours without getting attention from doctors who stayed away from their duty posts.

The strike, which took off on a slow pace in most hospitals in Lagos and Ibadan, later became total.

At Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Idi-Araba, only senior medical consultants, nurses, ward aides and other ancillary staff were observed attending to patients in the wards and the accident and emergency unit.

The institution’s outpatient clinics, which were open for the day’s business, were devoid of the usual activities.

A hospital source disclosed that contingency measures were in place to cushion effects of the strike.

At the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute-Metta, attention to patients was later suspended as doctors complied with NMA's directive.

A similar scenario played out at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Ikeja, where dozens of patients that had booked appointments were told to go home after waiting for hours without getting attention.

In a reaction to the development, Chairman NMA, Lagos State branch, Dr. Francis Faduyile, said: “It is a full blown strike. This is the first strike called by the NMA in the last 10 years.”

At the University College Hospital, Ibadan, several patients, except those on emergency, were turned back and forced to seek alternative medical attention.

Confab holds early 2014— JONATHAN z Says it'll end all open letters

BY BEN AGANDE

A

BUJA— PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, declared that the proposed national conference will hold early next year, saying “by the time we conclude this conference there will be fewer open letters that Nigerians will read.”

He spoke, yesterday, when the Senator Femi Okurounmu-led Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue submitted its report.

According to the President, his administration will partner with all stakeholders “to convene this dialogue, which outcome will add value to the process of building a stronger, united, more democratic and stable Nigeria.

“This discussion process is for the benefit of the entire nation. Every Nigerian or group has an important role to play to ensure its success.

“I have no personal interest in this dialogue or conversation or the conference. I will allow the will of Nigerians to prevail.

“The submission of the report of the advisory committee marks another milestone in our march towards building a better cohesive society for us and our children.

“I am told that majority of Nigerians, who participated in the interactive sessions that you conducted in 13 major cities across the country, expressed agreement with our commitment of an indissoluble united and stronger Nigeria.

“In order to meet the yearning of Nigerians and provide our people the platform they desire, government will study this

report and act recommendation.”

on

its

Directive to Finance Minister

President Jonathan said he had already directed the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Ngozi OkonjoIweala, to make adequate

financial provisions so that the conference can take off next year.

He informed members of the committee that to hasten the work on the report, “the Office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation will call some of you from time to time to help us quickly understand this and set up the team that will carry on with the assignment.”

Chairman of the committee, Okurounmu, who refused to give an insight into the

WEEKLY: From left— Petroleum Resources Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke; Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu; Special Duties Minister, Alhaji Taminu Turaki and the Transport Minister, Senator Umar Mohammed, at the weekly Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: Abayomi Adesihda.

Okonjo-Iweala presents 2014 budget estimates to NASS today

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU, JOSEPH ERUNKE, LEVINUS NWABUGHOIGU

A

BUJA— PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has delegated the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to present the 2014 budget at the joint session of the National Assembly.

This was contained in a letter President Jonathan wrote to the Senate, yesterday, where he notified the upper chamber that the minister would be performing the budget

NNS Thunder returns from Australian Fleet Review

BY ONOZURE DANIA

L

AGOS— THE Nigerian Navy Warship, NNS Thunder, arrived the country yesterday four months after setting sail as the only African Navy to participate in the Royal Australian Navy ’s International Fleet Review in Sydney.

The sea exercise, according to the Nigerian Navy, had not only helped in showcasing NN's prowess and potentials in furtherance of the nation’s foreign policy objective, but had professionally enhanced

c o m m i t t e e ’ s recommendations, also dispelled insinuations that there was a minority report by a member of the committee.

He said the incidence in Benin, where there was a rowdy session as a result of the position of the governor against the committee, was an indication that the governor was not in touch with the feelings of his people, majority of who support the national conference.

the skills and competence of her crew to a large extent.

Welcoming the 164 crew members on board the ship, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba, explained that the trip, among other advantages, helped in fostering cordial relationship between the nation and other international maritime space.

Represented by Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogbor, the CNS said the international fleet review also authenticated the ship's combat readiness.

He further stated that NN's participation in the review had

boosted the nation’s allies commitment to global peace and security challenges.

The ship and her crew according to him, were outside the shores of Nigeria for four months and 10 days.

He said the ship navigated a distance of 22,614 nautical miles, spent 1,8334 hours underway and visited nine foreign ports.

Speaking at the event, the ship’s Captain, Clement Atebi, described the voyage as hitch free, adding that none of the crew members fell ill or died during the voyage.

presentation, which is expected to take place today.

The letter, which was read by the Senate President, David Mark stated: “I have delegated the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance to lay before the distinguished Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria the 2014 budget estimates.”

Vanguard had recently reported that the Coordinating Minister would present the 2014 budget, following the insinuations that some members of the House of Representatives had planned to embarrass the President.

The presentation was made possible after the intervention of the leadership of the National Assembly over the disagreement on the oil benchmark between the Senate and House of Representatives.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives, in a unanimous vote, suspended all its relevant rules to enable it welcome the Minister of Finance today for the budget presentation.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013—9

NAFDAC AWA R D S :

ASUU-FG crisis not over —AGBAKOBA

From left— Mrs Mary AnneAdeeko, Mrs Abiodun Falana, Dr. Paul Orhii, Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, and Mrs Stella Denloye, Director Laboratory Services, receiving their awards at NAFDAC's Annual Merit Award 2013 at the agency's headquarters in Lagos. PHOTO: Biodun Ogunleye.

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

F

$49.8bn not missing; records reconciled, says Okonjo-Iweala

BY CLARA NWACHUKWU, JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

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HE Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, yesterday, declared that the missing $49.8 bilion has been accounted for.

The declaration followed evidence provided by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, which indicated that the alarm raised by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, over the “missing” $49.8 bilion may have been a ruse.

The development followed the conclusion of a two-day crucial Revenue Reconciliation Meeting, during which the relevant ministries, departments and agencies, took a thorough assessment of their records.

The closed-door meeting, which held at the instance of the Presidency, comprised representatives of CBN, NNPC, Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, the Budget Office of the Federation, and the ministries of Finance and Petroleum Resources.

CBN Governor, Mallam Lamido Sanusi, had in a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan, declared that about $49.8 billion could not be accounted for from crude oil exports by NNPC from January 2012 to July 2013.

However, at a joint press conference in Abuja, OkonjoIweala said the preliminary findings of the joint reconciliation exercise reveals that the said missing proceeds were not missing, but intact and in the system.

In attendance at the briefing were the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke; the Group Managing Director, NNPC, Engr. Andrew Yakubu; and Sanusi.

‘Everything's reconciled’

Okonjo-iweala said: “There are perhaps some misconceptions or misunderstandings that led to this number, and we have been able to come to the conclusion that we can account for this amount.”

She said the meeting arrived at this conclusion after a closer and extensive scrutiny of the books by all the parties involved.

She added: “I just want to say that this reconciliation is still an ongoing matter. But we thought at this point, after working last night, we could share with you some of our thoughts and clarifications on this issue.

“And that is why we are here to resolve this and get to the bottom of this.

“So the bulk of the sum of $49 billion has been accounted for and that is what the reconciliation exercise is about.

So it is very clear that it is not missing.’’

NNPC’s clarification

Responding on the same issue earlier at a hearing with the Senate Committee on Finance, NNPC’s Chief Executive, Yakubu, had clarified how CBN arrived at the amount quoted.

Yakubu said: “Funds attributable to NNPC meant for the Federation Account have been remitted consistent with existing petroleum arrangements in the industry.

“The Corporation has obligation to remit funds from direct equity export proceeds as well as value of domestic crude allocation into the Federation Account.”

Statistics Yakubu

gave

further

breakdown: equity export totalling $14.14 billion remitted; realisable value for the domestic allocation of $28.21 billion or N4.37 trillion, the sum of N2.26 trillion remitted; about N2.11 trillion subsumed in unrealised inflows attributable to N1.31 trillion subsidy claims, N128.05 billion crude and product theft.

About N48.42 billion strategic reserves holding cost; about N18.41 billion pipeline security and vandalised pipelines repair cost; about N12.59 billion alternative crude supply cost and N9.65 billion for other costs (fees, levies, charges).

Yakubu also listed other “outstanding legacy claims of N1.1 trillion due to NNPC, predating the period under review of (January 2012 to July 2013) being reviewed and reconciled with all stakeholders including PPPRA, FAAC, FOF. “The net effect of consolidating NNPC's claims against the cost of domestic crude allocation before and during the period under review is now N500 billion in favour of NNPC.” He further listed other streams captured as remittances to the Federation from the NNPC to include: tax oil due to FIRS, $15 billion lifted and proceeds remitted directly into FIRS PPT account with CBN; Royalty oil due to DPR, $2 billion lifted and proceeds remitted directly into DPR royalty account with CBN; NPDC production due to NPDC, $6 billion lifted and proceeds remitted into NPDC account being the sole risk operator of its licences; Third party financing and trial marketing volumes, $2 billion lifted and proceeds remitted into Project Escrow account from where the share of the Federation is transferred into the consolidated crude oil revenue account with the CBN.

He said these are consistently reported to FAAC. Pan Ocean, $0.095 billion lifted

by NNPC on behalf of the JV and NNPC equity of 60 per cent is remitted into the Federation account with CBN.

CBN’s defence

In his defence, Sanusi blamed the controversy generated over the “missing” money on the leakage of the letter to Mr. President, which according to him, was not meant for the public.

He said: “It is the first time I am speaking about this matter in the public. I think it is important to give a little context.

“First of all, it is important to remember that the CBN never issued a public statement on this matter. The CBN wrote a letter to the President, which unfortunately found its way to the press and was at best, an invitation to begin investigation.

“It was not an end or a conclusion of an audit or investigation. Conclusions drawn before investigation were premature.”

He explained that the purpose of the letter was to address perceived gaps “between what we had in our records as the value of crude shipped by NNPC and the amount repatriated as equity to the federation account.

“What we had in our records was $65 billion shipped by NNPC and about $15 billion returned as equity to the Federation Account,” he added.

Sanusi said the reconciliation meetings have provided a clearer picture of the transactions to the apex bank.

Earlier, before the Senate Committee, Sanusi noted that the ongoing joint reconciliation exercise will help resolve and explain the outstanding issues.

ORMER President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has called for a holistic solution to the recurring crisis in the tertiary education.

Reacting to Tuesday’s resolution of the sixmonth industrial action embarked by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Agbakoba feared that the crisis might recur in 24 months time when the government reneges on the terms of agreement as usual.

Hinging enduring solution to the crisis on privatisation of the institutions with the government offering grants to indigent students and getting banks to give out education loans, he said the problem was systemic.

Agbakoba said: “The time has come for us to have a debate on the education crisis. I hope it comes up at the National Assembly.

“The issue is not ASUU’s problem. It is a question of a failed state.

In military parlance, we are in a low grade civil war. Everything has decayed.

“Now, N200 billion has been deposited with the Central bank of Nigeria, CBN, ASUU has returned to the classes. In two years if government defaults in the agreement what happens?

“We have to attack the problem systematically.

The problem has to be tackled diagnostically not problematically.

“The problem in Nigeria is the failure of the component parts to agree on ideology. As a left of the person, I understand the issue.

“If I were the President, I will create a model that sees to it that government will be removed from operating any aspect of the Nigerian economy, especially education.

“Anybody who wants to float a university can do so provided he meets the requirements of the National Universities Commission, NUC.

10—Vanguard, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

Soba residents to curtail pipeline vandalism

Court quashes suit by lawmaker caught with fetish objects

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HE Landlords and R e s i d e n t s Association of Soba in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State have vowed to curb the menace of pipeline vandalism in the area.

The association also pledged to ensure continuous peace and security in the community.

Addressing Annual General Meeting, AGM, the association’s chairman, Otunba Gani Adams said the association was a child of circumstance because it was only formed after the negative activities of pipeline vandals led to an explosion in Soba on January 7, 2005.

Adams, who is also the Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, National Coordinator, said: “The major problems we faced at the beginning were armed robbery, heavy duty trucks damaging our roads and the last was the pipeline vandals.

Rev. Ayoola Akeeko for burial today REV. AYOOL A Olabode Akeeko, 85, is dead. He died November 21, 2013.

According to the family statement, he will be buried on today, December 19, 2013, at his residence: 1A Ojekunle Street, OkeKoto, Agege, Lagos.

Late Rev. Akeeko is survived by wife, children and grandchildren.

Late Rev. Akeeko

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

KURE — AN Akure High Court, yesterday, struck out the suit filed by the suspended member of Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon. Fola Olasehinde, challenging her suspension for being in possession of fetish objects.

The state House of Assembly had placed a six month suspension on the lawmaker over her involvement in fetish activities which they said, had DEMOLITION: Now homeless homeowners, and sympathisers after the demolition of their brought serious embarrassover 600 houses, at Atinporomeh, Mowo Phase 2 Badagry, Lagos State. Photo: Bunmi Azeez ment to them.

The suspended lawmaker representing Ose State Constituency not satisfied by the suspension dragged the House of Assembly to court.

Olasehinde in the suit

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI saying that security operatives of of hotels, eateries and other tour- alleged that the state the state government had started ism outlets in different parts of the legislature did not give her a fair hearing before AGOS — LAGOS State arresting those involved in the state." placing her on indefinite Speaking on the old policy, the government has illegal taxi business. suspension. commissioner said: "The state According to Opeifa: "Illegal taxi attributed the spate of She equally said she government would issue taxi operations are a source of kidnapping in the state to the was not guilty of the said illegal and unauthorised taxi kidnapping. It is legally wrong to licence to the taxi owners in the offence for which she state, noting that it was designed operators, even as it concludes operate taxi business within the was being crucified. to bring order in the state state jurisdiction without proper plans to re-introduce metering Justice Olaseinde registration with the state's Vehicle transport system and ensure in cabs.

Kumuyi in his ruling on protection of lives and properties Commissioner for Inspection Service,VIS. the five issues in the state."

"We have issued a directive in this Transportation, Mr. Kayode formulated for Opeifa added that the new regard which is different from the Opeifa, stated this, yesterday, determination, said the policy was designed to create Lagos Road Traffic Law enacted in while unveiling the Lagos suspended lawmaker State Public Transport 2012. It is a directive of the state more jobs and wealth across the failed to substantially strata of the state, noting that with Management System, government and we have started prove that she was not 10,000 registered taxi cars, the enforcement.

LSPTMS, a new public given a fair hearing state government can create more "The taskforce has started transport policy at a before approaching the stakeholders' meeting in Ikeja, arresting those parking in the front than 100,000 jobs in the state.

The commissioner explained court.

He pointed out that the that the state government has also concluded plans to introduce allegation against the meter system starting from 2014. complainant could not be Every taxi will have a metre with regarded as a private one which the pricing of a distance because she was an elected public officer. covered will be determined.

Lagos worries over kidnapping, re-introduces metering in taxis L

Tinubu decries lack of social security for elderly

BY MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO

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AGOS — SENATOR Oluremi Tinubu representing Lagos Central senatorial district, yesterday, said lack of provision of social security for the elderly by the Federal Government was responsible for the inability of the aged citizens to contribute to the nation’s development.

Tinubu added that this was also responsible for the country’s recent ranking of 85 of the 91 countries by the United Nation Population Fund, UNFPA, in its 2013 Global Age Watch index study.

The senator spoke at the 9th Town Hall meeting and 2nd edition of Elderly Citizens’ Assistance Scheme, ECAS, held simultaneously in the 13 Local Government and Local Council

Development Area, LCDA secretariats under the senatorial district.

Speaking at one of the venues - Eti Osa Local Government- she said: “Between last year and now, not much has changed for the elderly; the challenges are complete exclusion from national policies, especially those that affect their security, health, enabling environment, among others.

"Our traditional system of social protection which allowed younger family members to cater for the older ones can no longer be sustained because of the problem of gross unemployment.”

According to her: “Ageing in Nigeria is associated with the travails of poverty, disease, degeneration and disability.”

Imbibe lessons of Xmas — UACN boss AS Nigeria joins the rest of the world to celebrate this year’s Christmas, they have been urged to imbibe lessons of the season which are powerful, deep and fundamental.

Mr. Larry Ettah, GMD/CEO of UAC of Nigeria Plc, made this charge in his 2013 Christmas message to employees of the company.

Ettah maintained that the essence of Christmas remains the birth, reign, teachings and mission of Jesus Christ who not only personified but embodied humility, service, sacrifice, triumph and salvation for mankind. These virtues, according to him, are what should be allowed to guide people’s thoughts and actions.

“In a world where strife and chaos seem to tower over good sense and order, we cannot

pretend that the world does not need the grains of the season’s lessons even now than ever. No one can fault Christ’s insistent call for simplicity, restraint and contentment in a world that has become an apparent vanity fair.

"As we celebrate Christmas and look forward to the New Year, we must remember that the lessons of the season are still as relevant and timely today as Christ intended them for humanity centuries ago.

"We must seek to live together in harmony and do unto others what we want them to do unto us” he said, counseling further that Christmas requires people to do their utmost and contribute their own to give hope to those in despair, love to those in need and comfort to those at loss.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013—11

Ogun Assembly raises alarm over missing N11bn revenue

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA — THE Ogun State House Committee on Finance and Appropriation has raised an alarm over missing N11billion allegedly from the Pay As You Earn, PAYE, from the border areas under the much publicised Ogun State Residency Rule.

The Committee chaired by Olusola Bankole, on Tuesday, during the Internal Revenue Service, IRS, appearance before it to defend its 2014 financial estimates, seriously drilled the state Chairman of the agency, Babajide Odunbanjo over the N11 billion which allegedly developed wings.

Abiodun Akovoyon, Chairman Committee on Public Accounts, who laid the allegation, disclosed that the revenue document in his possession showed that the monies generated from the PAYE so far this year was about N21 billion, but the agency claimed to have paid over N11 billion to the consultants handling the scheme.

Akovoyon alleged that the agency ’s action was questionable and dubious because it could be seen from all indications that the agency had committed a financial blunder for paying over 50 per

cent of about N21 billion to the consultants handling the project.

He said; "What we see here is that the consultants generated about N21 billion and were paid over N11 billion which is more than 50 per cent of the total revenue on PAYE. "Can we now say your action is financially prudent?” he asked the chairman.

Reacting to the allegation, the Chairman of IRS claimed

PAYE consultants was only paid on the first cheques delivered to the IRS. “The consultants really helped in recovering lots of nearly lost revenue, they brought some cheques which Ogun State might have lost to Lagos State, that was why we gave them such a percentage on the first cheque,” Odubanjo responded.

PRESENTATION: Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right), presenting the Executive Bill on creation of additional 27 Local Governments to the Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Honourable Najeem Salam, at the Hallowed Chamber of the House, Osogbo.

PDP chieftain wants Ondo to support Oke's leadership O

KITIPUPA — MEMBERS of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ondo State have been enjoined to identify with the leadership of Chief Olusola Oke, the party's governorship candidate in last year's election, in order to unify the party after the demise of the former Governor Chief Olusegun Agagu.

The appeal was made by Ayodele Lijoka, a PDP chieftain during Oke's thanksgiving service at Okitipupa, Ondo State.

Lijoka commended Chief Oke for finding time to thank God in spite of the fact that he lost the governorship election to Governor Olusegun Mimiko of the Labour Party.

He said: "Chief Olusola Oke is a godly man that any state will not like to miss and it is high time the people of Ondo state threw their weight behind him as the person to

that the N11 billion was not missing but was spent on 50 per cent of Pay As You are Earn, PAYE revenue for consultants.

He said that his agency paid about 50 per cent to the consultants that handled the State PAYE project because they were able to recover lots of revenue that would have been lost to Lagos State.

He added that the claimed 50 per cent payment for the

continue from where Chief Agagu stopped.

According to him: "One of the attributes of Chief Olusola Oke is that he has never at anytime betrayed Chief Agagu and only a united team with Oke as head, can take the Government House, Akure from the Labour Party."

TASCE threatens to sue TASUED over name

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

BEOKUTA — TAI Solarin College of Education, Omu Ijebu has threatened to drag the management of Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ijebu Ode to court for allegedly usurping and confiscating their assets.

TASCE, an NCE awarding

Why Fayemi wants re-election — Commissioner

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

A

DO EKITI — Ekiti State Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mr. Tayo Ekundayo has given continuity and the need to complete most of the projects embarked upon by the state governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi as the motive behind his seeking second term in office The Commissioner gave the hint in Ado Ekiti,

yesterday, saying never again would the state be relegated to the dustbin of history in the area of socio-economic and political development of the country.

Ekundayo equally stressed that never would the people of the state allow people of questionable credentials to hold the position of governorship and derail the revolution that has been pioneered by Fayemi.

institution, was founded in 1978 and was elevated as Tai Solarin University of Education, TASUED, in March 2005 by the immediate past governor of the state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel who ordered its relocation to Omu. Addressing newsmen in Abeokuta, yesterday, Chairman of Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, COEASU, Omu Ijebu, Mr. Dan Oludipe said, "TASUED cannot continue to use the name 'Tai Solarin,' since the TASUED’s foundation, TASCE, had been been removed in October 2008."

He said: “If we are not answered by them, we have to go to court. We have enough evidence to show that Tai Solarin College of Education owns Ijagun. The government came up with another thing and they called it TASUED without repealing the one, TASCE, transformed to university."

Homeowners' Charter for devt, not revenue drive —Amosun

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OVERNOR IBIKUNLE Amosun has reiterated the commitment of his administration to engender orderly estate development of Ogun State.

Amosun, who made the statement at the launch of the Ogun State Homeowners’ Charter, said it was borne out of a genuine desire to develop the state and not revenue drive.

Amosun lamented that the culture of building without approval had been rampant with sheer volume of development not being monitored and asserted that the consequences of building without approval are extremely serious both for property owners and government.

LG boss rebuilds collapsed school building

O

GUN STATE Commssioner for Education, Mr. Segun Odubela has commissioned a new building named after a student that was killed when a building collapsed recently.

The commissioned school building reconstructed by Mr. Rotimi Rahmon, the Executive Chairman of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government replaced the building that collapsed last month where a student, Abdul Qayyum Badiru was killed.

Among other dignitaries at the commissioning were the Permanent Secretary for Education, Mr. Ishola Ambali, SUBEB representative, Mrs. Modupe Lawal, Baales, among others.

The commissioner and the local government chairman commiserated with the deceased’s father, Mr. Taiwo Badiru, whose son the school building was named after.

Mr. Rotimi Rahmon also gave the family a cheque of N500,000 as a palliative and a scholarship for the deceased’s elder brother.

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

Alleged double registration: Court hears suit against Obiano January 29

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA—JUSTICE Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday, adjourned hearing on a suit challenging the qualification of Anambra State governor-elect, Chief Willie Obiano, for election on ground that he allegedly possessed two voters’ cards.

The court had earlier ordered the service of all the court processes on the gubernatorial standard bearer of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, and declared winner of the November 16 governorship election, Chief Obiano, to enable him to appear and enter his defence to his alleged involvement in multiple registrations prior to the election.

Equally joined as defendant in the suit was the

Edo communities laud NDDC over social ammenities

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN— SOME com munities in the three oil producing local government areas of Edo State, yesterday, commended the state office of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, for ameliorating their hardship through the provision of infrastructure.

The communities gave the commendations shortly after an inspection of on-going projects in the oil producing local governments by the state Commissioner for NDDC, Mr. Henry Okhuarobo They noted that although Edo State had had NDDC commissioners in the past years, he had done more than his predecessors in the provision of infrastructure facilities for their communities.

Chairman, Ugo Community Development Association, Larry Enobakhare, said since the NDDC commissioner assumed office, the commission had built a police station at Ugo. He said: “From what I am told by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), the station is like the ones you see in Abuja.

It is the best in Edo State

Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. In the suit, the plaintiffs, Ugochukwu Ikegwuonu and Kenneth Moneke, contended that the voters’ card Obiano tendered before his party, for which he was allowed to participate in the party’s screening exercise, was not the same as the one he submitted to INEC. In a supporting affidavit, the plaintiffs claimed that Obiano has two voter’s cards, the one he purportedly obtained in Lagos, which he tendered during his party ’s screening exercise in August and another he claimed to have obtained in Otuocha, Anambra State, on September 3 this year, which he allegedly presented to INEC. According to Ikegwuonu, the Voter ’s Identification Number (VIN) on the first one is 90F5815E7D3738200332 and that on the second one is 90F5B12B01296204172.

Therefore, the plaintiffs are praying the court to go ahead and determine whether by his al-

leged conduct, Obiano, was still qualified to vie for the election by virtue of the provisions of Sections 12(2),

16(2)(3) and 31(5) of the Electoral Act, among other reliefs.

More so, they maintained

that Obiano’s claim to having a single voter ’s card, as contained in the documents he submitted to INEC, was untrue.

DELTA BUDGET: Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State (right) presenting the 2014 Budget proposal to Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, when the governor presented the 2014 Budget Proposal to the Delta State House of Assembly, in Asaba, yesterday. Photo: Henry Unini.

Amaechi advocates true federalism

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME PORT HARCOURT— GOVERNOR Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State has called for the enthronement of true federalism in the country, saying it would enable all states and local governments to develop at their own pace.

The governor spoke at the 2013 Physicians Week organised by the state chapter of Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, in Port Harcourt, the state capital, yesterday.

He said the exclusive legislative list placed a lot of restrictions on states.

He said: "Part of the problem of Nigeria today is beyond corruption and is the totalitarianism whereby one man is in Abuja and decides whether you will feed or not and we are saying

no, it’s wrong. A substantial part of the problem in Rivers State today is the fact that the police commissioner is being manipulated from Abuja.

"But in a true federalism, a state is supposed to have its own police. When I went to Kenya, I saw county police there. Africa has left us behind. Before, we used to lead Africa, we were referred to as giant of Africa.

Nigeria is not a giant and can never be a giant until we have good leadership.”

While assuring that his administration would continue to give priority attention to health care in the state, the governor appealed to doctors to always do their best.

“Please be committed. If you want to be a good doctor you have to show commitment, sympathy or empathy. We are saying you have a contract with us, we have fulfilled our own part of the bargain, if you refuse

to fulfil your own, are you being fair? Rivers State Government doctors should please go to work because many patients will die because you are not at

work,” he said.

Earlier, Chairman of the state chapter of NMA, Dr. Ibitrokoemi Korubo, had said that the essence of the programme was for doctors

to see how they could improve on their performance in the coming year and commended Amaechi for his performance so far in the health sector

Vanguard, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19 , 2013 — 13

14 — Vanguard, THURSDAY,

C M Y K

DECEMBER 19 , 2013

Vanguard , THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013—15

PDP CRISIS: 37 nPDP Reps decamp to APC

BY EMMANOVUAKPORIE&

LEVINUSNWABUGHOIGU

A

BUJA—MEMBERS of the House of Representatives in the new Peoples Democratic Party, nPDP, a faction of the ruling party, yesterday formally defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC. The drama of the defection started immediately the plenary started, the House went for a 10 minutes closed door session, the shortest in the history of the 7th Assembly.

However, immediately the plenary commenced after the closed door session at about 11.56am, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, announced that the House had adopted the report of the joint Committee on Harmonisation of the benchmark for the sale of crude oil and the MTEF. Tambuwal explained that “in our closed door session this morning, we discussed the MTEF and the benchmark for the sale of crude oil and adopted $77.5 for the 2014 budget estimates.”

After this announcement, the speaker asked leader of the House, Mulikat Akande-Adeola, to move a motion to allow the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, be allowed entry into the chamber to present the 2014 budget on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan.

It was immediately seconded by the Deputy Leader, Leo Ogor, PDP, Delta.

have decided to join APC as a result of the problems in our party and we have merged with APC according to Section 68 of our 1999 constitution. “ At this juncture, Kingsley Chinda, PDP, Rivers, raised a point of order, citing Order 9 Rule 52 of the House which borders on the fact that there was a judicial matter still pending in court over defection of PDP members to APC. Chinda was properly booed by APC members who shouted him down.

While responding to his point of order, Tambuwal said “I’ve listened to you attentively and I’ve taken note.“ This answer gave rise to another round of ovation which overwhelmingly swallowed the voices of PDP members.

Announcing the names

The speaker went ahead to announce the names of all those

who defected. And this led to another round of joyful noise by the APC members as Tambuwal listed their names.

Each member as his name is being announced, received a loud ovation from APC members.

This development in the House automatically places the ruling PDP in the minority in a House of 360 members.

Before the defection yesterday, the original PDP members were 208 and with this new development, the PDP now has 171 members, while the APC has 175.

With 175 members, the APC has a clear majority and will need 6 fresh members to take over the leadership of the House.

APC and more members

If the APC can garner six more members to meet the required 181 members, then it can conveniently change the present

leadership structure of the House.

Facts, however, emerged on Tuesday night that the nPDP and APC met at different times to perfect the defection of the 37 former members of the PDP. With this development, there is likelihood of leadership change in the House as some APC members were already hell-bent in effecting some changes among the principal officers in the House.

It was also gathered that some major APC lawmakers in the House held a meeting from morning to afternoon, Tuesday on the issue.

It was observed that most of the who-is-who in APC in the House were not at Tuesday’s plenary.

They included Minority leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, and his deputy, Suleiman Abdulrahman Kawu, among others.

Defection

At this point, the speaker announced the defection of 37 members of the PDP into APC. This was welcomed with a loud ovation by APC members.

In the letter read before the House by Tambuwal, the members alleged that they decamped because of the sharp division in the ruling PDP. Reading from the letter, the speaker said: “ Our 37 colleagues elected under the platform of PDP

REGISTRATION: From left, Hajiya Aminat Sambo, wife of the Vice President, Mrs. Cecilia Yahaya, Director of Operations, National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, receiving temporary national identity slip from DirectorGeneral, NIMC, Mr. Chris Onyemenam, after the first lady registered for the new national identity card in Abuja.

We’re not broke —EFCC

BY SONI DANIEL,

REGIONALEDITOR, NORTH B U J A — APPARENTLY trying to play down on its true financial status, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has said it was not broke.

The commission had come under pressure from its sponsors, which regarded the claim of poor funding as an attempt by the Federal Government to weaken the graft war, one of the allegations contained in the the controversial letter written to Jonathan by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

It was learnt the

A

leadership of the commission had been hard put to explain why such a claim considered disparaging by the government was made by its top official in the public.

The commission in a statement yesterday said it was not true that it had less than N2 million in its account.

Spokesman for the commission, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said reports credited to the secretary to the commission, Mr. Emmanuel Aremo, during an appearance before the National Assembly, was a misrepresentation of what the scribe actually meant.

Wilson said: “The mention of N2 million by Aremo was not in respect of the total financial health of the EFCC, but a direct response to a remark by the chairman of the Committee, Senator Victor Lar, to the effect that his committee had observed during an oversight visit to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, that it had no power generating set, while its ceiling had caved in.

“To this, Aremo remarked that the commission had complained to the committee during the visit on the state of its finances and that the situation has not improved.

Jonathan withdraws Ondo NDDC nominee

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU&JOSEPH ERUNKE

A

BUJA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has withdrawn the Ondo State representative on the Board of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mr. Benson Enikuomehin, for undisclosed reasons.

The President replaced the former nominee with Mr. Benson Adegbenro who is said to be the candidate of the state governor, Olusegun Mimiko.

Speaking after the screening and clearance of the second nominee, Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, James Manager, said the committee decided to clear the governor ’s nominee for Ondo State on the board of the commission on merit after his clearance was delayed on technical ground.

Senator Manager explained that Adegbenro’s screening and clearance were delayed due to the controversy that greeted the first nominee, Mr. Benson Enikuomehin, for the position, which prompted his withdrawal by the President.

Court restrains Tukur, PDP, INEC from declaring defecting members seat vacant

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU & JOSEPH ERUNKE BUJA—THE Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday, granted an interlocutory injunction restraining the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, its chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the Senate President and Speaker of House of Representatives from declaring vacant the seats of the defecting federal lawmakers to the All Progressives Congress.

The leadership of the PDP had gone to court praying that the seats of its members who defected to the APC should be declared vacant.

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16 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

Protest to reinstate Enejere paralyses activities at UNN

BY TONY EDIKE AND

CHINENYEH OZOR NUGU—ACTIVITIES at both the Nsukka and Enugu campuses of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, were paralysed yesterday as more than 1000 members of the university community abandoned their offices and converged on Nsukka campus to protest the suspension of the institution’s ProChancellor, Dr. Emeka

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CARNIRIV: Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area, Rivers State contingent performing at the CARNIRIV 2013 International Aquatic Fiesta, at the Tourist Beach, Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Enejere by the Federal Government.

They said that they would not open their offices for academic activities until the government brought back the council chairman.

The aggrieved workers comprising members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, and the Non-Academic Staff of Universities, NASU and National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT, among others, demanded the immediate reinstatement of Enejere.

Joint trade union

The joint trade union of the university noted with dismay that the Supervising Minister for Education, Mr. Nyeson Wike and the executive secretary of National U n i v e r s i t i e s Commission, Prof.

Julius Okojie were bundles of intrigue, maladministration and abuse of office at the detriment of Nigeria universities.

The workers further explained that the two officers had been meddling into affairs of universities through ‘’unconstitutional, and uncivilised strategies to frustrate universities,’’ and then demanded the immediate removal of the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Barth Okolo, whom they accused of masterminding the suspension of Dr. Enejere, who had prevented some fraudulent activities by the present administration on campus.

The suspension

Enejere was suspended on Tuesday by the Wike for yet to be disclosed reasons.

The workers, who carried placards with different inscriptions including “Pro-Chancellor must come back,” “Enejere must come back,” “Batho must go,” during the protest which lasted for hours, chanted anti- Bartho Okolo slogans, demanding that he must be urgently removed to prevent the collapse of the institution.

Vanguard observed that

the workers shut their offices and joined the protest in solidarity with the suspended prochancellor who had been championing their course since the inauguration of the council through his anti-corruption crusade.

Call for Okolo’s removal

Briefing newsmen after the protest, the spokesmen for the unions including Dr. Ifeanyi Abada, Godfrey Ugwu and Onwu decried the leadership style of Prof.

Okolo and made a strong case for his immediate removal.

“We have to reiterate that the UNN under the leadership of Prof. Batho Okolo is in ruins. The history of the university today is the history of maladministration, financial impropriety and recklessness, contract splitting and money laundering,” they alleged.

The union leaders asked Minister Wike to explain the justification for the suspension of Dr. Enejere while allegedly shielding and encouraging the vice chancellor, whom they accused of engaging in acts capable of ruining the university.

Wike, Okojie challenged

“We challenge the supervising minister of education and his partner/ adviser in chief and collaborator, Prof. Okojie to explain the following: Why he hastily suspended a council chairman without any form of query.

“Why he is encouraging corruption in the universities. Why he is shielding and encouraging corrupt vice chancellors and tainted officers in his ministry.”

They vowed to paralyze every activities on campus if Dr. Enejere was not reinstated immediately.

“In view of the foregoing, the unions demand the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of Dr. Emeka Enejere as the chairman of UNN governing council.

“We have had enough of this impunity, we request Mr. President to intervene and call the minister to order,” they said.

According to the joint trade unions “we have reiterate that the UNN under the leadership of Prof. Bartho Okolo is in ruins.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013— 17

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HESE cannot be the best of times for President Goodluck Jonathan. It is just not raining for the helmsman, it is pouring big time! Whichever of his retinue of priests also doubles as his fortuneteller must also be sweating in his regalia at the moment. He could not have predicted a moment like this. There has been a whole series of woes bedeviling the presidency, that Goodluck Jonathan must honestly be the most flustered individual in the land today. In a sense, the president’s plight, even when most of the issues have been self-inflicted, has somehow made me feel a humane token of sympathy for this most bashed presidents. But it is the nature of the political space, that we cannot for a moment allow our emotions to get the better of the rational discourse which the political process demands, in the interest of our country.

When the online news medium, PREMIUM TIMES exclusively broke the story of Obasanjo’s open letter to President Jonathan last week, it was genuinely one of the most important developments in both journalism and politics. In the days before there had been the frontal accusation by House of Representatives Speaker, Tambuwal, that President Jonathan was lily-livered in his commitment to fight corruption.

That had also been followed by the very scandalous allegation from CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido, that the NNPC failed to remit $49.8billion into

Obasanjo and Jonathan: The messenger and the message emergence as Nigerian president? It was a reminder of that ingrained delusion and the hurt amour propre that is haunting and hurting Obasanjo. The “Man Friday” he expected to turn to Otta for direction about presidential duty obviously did not remember his lines from the script. Not only is Jonathan doing things his own way, no matter how wayward they might appear to Obasanjo, but the man has been serially demystifying the old soldier: knocked off his perch as BOT chairman; his loyalists eased out of party positions and even the PDP in Ogun state was taken away!

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Unfortunately, Obasanjo cannot wash his hands clean of all that afflicts this land today. Central to Obasanjo’s politics is a self-serving opportunism which renders his patriotic pretenses very shallow. If he gets whatever he wanted from the Jonathan presidency, he would not have seen evil nor would he have felt the need to speak

the Federation Account. This was more or less a corroboration of allegations which state governors have been making for weeks. There was of course the uncomfortable silence from President Jonathan about “Bullet Proof ” Stella Oduah and her infamous procurement of BMW limousines. It was looking like the presidency was beginning to sink under the weight of sleaze; but by releasing his 18-page letter, Obasanjo opened up and freshen Jonathan’s wounds while adding a liberal helping of salt to ensure that the pain really hurts!

There have been loads of reactions to Obasanjo’s letter, as he old correctly predicted. But I think Femi Falana had put it very correctly, when he described Jonathan as a student of the Obasanjo School of Politics. For those who are prepared to give Obasanjo a benefit of the doubt, they must still be quite worried about the messianic delusions of the man. That is on the one hand; on the other, is the selective nature of his memory about political events in the country and his place in them and his assumption that we are collectively stupid and with very short memories, thus making it easy for him to manipulate the facts to suit his current political needs. These do not vitiate the importance of the issues he raised in themselves, but Obasanjo is such a damaged good and an unscrupulous political operative, that we must always give ourselves the pause to place him in the proper context about issues he wrote so copiously about. And an 18page letter certainly reflects the state of the man’s mind: a troubled mind. But there are no simplistic reasons for his troubles. For students of political psychology, Obasanjo’s letter reveals a man who has to seek refuge in patriotic indignation (isn’t Obasanjo’s type of patriotism described as the scoundrel’s last refuge?), in order to fight an open war with Goodluck Jonathan?

And what better way to put President Jonathan on notice than through a reminder of his role in the man’s C M Y K

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A few years away from when he had been described as “founder ” of modern Nigeria by Chief Olabode George and therefore deserving of a Third Term in power, Obasanjo is sliding alarmingly into irrelevance in the political scheme of things and he needed to fight back.

In the long run, it is about using attack as the best form of defence, because his eight-year rule between 1999 and 2007 cannot stand close scrutiny. Obasanjo committed too many crimes against the

Nigerian people he must be central to the political process so those years of dubious privatization and monumental

Once upon a time....Obasanjo and President Jonathan. corruption, must not be investigated, so he does not end his days in prison! ut the more things have changed, the more they have stayed constant or in fact, worsened. The Nigerian people have continued to witness the Obasanjo politics of impunity in a more sinister manifestation, in the hands of Obasanjo’s political son, President Jonathan. This is the context within which the letter now begins to make sense. Obasanjo has raised very relevant issues that touch the lived realities of the Nigerian people today. He was right in outlining the central place of the

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The North-East, 2015 elections

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president in the Nigerian scheme of things and was similarly correct to list the glaring failures of the Jonathan presidency. The main issue for Jonathan is the ill-disguised ambition to run in 2015 and a lot of the scandals associated with the administration have been rooted in that project. The largescale corruption, which Hakeem BabaAhmed described as perhaps the nation’s growth industry, has been central to the survival tactics of the Jonathan administration. There has become exceedingly, corruptly enriched, a tiny crop of ethnic-based elite around Jonathan. They operate a mindset of “it is our turn to chop”; and from that perspective, four years cannot be enough. An extra four-year tenure gives them the opportunity to take even more from Nigeria. And to ensure their suzerainty, every dirty trick in the political chapbook is being exploited.

Obasanjo mentioned the manipulation of the North-South divide and the

HIS week, INEC revealed that elections might not take place in the Northeast in 2015, if the security situation does not improve. Attahiru Jega said: “the situation under a state of emergency is that you cannot do a free and fair election.

Ideally, you cannot conduct election under a period of emergency”. As VANGUARD newspaper of Tuesday, December 17, 2013 noted, over 10 million registered voters might be disenfranchised in such a setting. Certainly that will not be in the interest of democracy consolidation in the country.

For those who don’t know, there are whispers in the North, that part of the electoral strategies of the Jonathan administration in 2015, is to ensure that a huge swathe of Northern Nigeria should be in such turmoil, that elections cannot be held there. The assumption is that the president is so unpopular in the region he is likely to fare badly in any free and fair elections. So it is much easier to hide behind the security situation to ensure that people are unable to cast their votes than face an electoral meltdown. It is clear that the president cannot face the country, but the North in particular, on the basis of his record in power. Such a backdrop has helped conspiracy theories to fester. I really hope that such fears will be allayed by renewed efforts to find means to end the insurgency. The government has to think outside the box to find far more innovative means to end the state of war in the expansive areas of the North. A very innovative strategy will centre on bringing the huge population of young people into an economic process which allows this segment of population to become hopeful and find a stake in society.

When the insurgents re-entered Maiduguri a few weeks ago and successfully attacked the airforce base and were operating for about six hours, it was clear that we were faced with a far more serious challenge than the Nigerian state had thought through. Reports that the insurgents use far more sophisticated weapons than our security forces, also tell a story of the interconnectedness of political phenomena in the continent. In 2011, the Jonathan administration broke from the position of the African Union, to support the imperialist powers’ invasion and removal of Muammar Ghaddafi in Libya. The consequent chaos and destruction of Libya also saw the dispersal of huge caches of sophisticated arms from Libya to Northern Mali; Niger; Central Africa and as we are now seeing, Northern Nigeria.

We supported imperialism and brought home ant-ridden faggots which invited the lizards of terrorism. The Nigerian people in the Northeast must not be disenfranchised under whatever guise in 2015!

Christian-Muslim contradiction. Again, he was spot on!

The most weighty allegation against Jonathan was where Obasanjo talked of: “keeping over 1000 people on political watch list rather than criminal or security watch list and training snipers and other armed personnel secretly and clandestinely acquiring weapons to match for political purposes like Abacha and training them where Abacha trained his own killers…” And in response to “the issue of corruption, security and oil stealing is concerned”, Obasanjo added that: “it is only apt to say that when the guard becomes the thief, nothing is safe, secure nor protected in the house”. And the Nigerian house, under Goodluck Jonathan has seen theft at a level which must scandalise even the most hardened criminals on the prowl! Never has Nigeria seen the level of theft in the governmental system as is taking place today. And with eyes fixed firmly on 2015, we are on verge of one of the most monumental regimes of theft and banditry in African history!

Unfortunately, Obasanjo cannot wash his hands clean of all that afflicts this land today. Central to Obasanjo’s politics is a self-serving opportunism which renders his patriotic pretenses very shallow. If he gets whatever he wanted from the Jonathan presidency, he would not have seen evil nor would he have felt the need to speak. It became convenient for him to ride piggybacked on the pains of the Nigerian people under Goodluck Jonathan to maximally injure his enstranged political son politically. Such opportunism makes ruling class politics especially hypocritical, because in the long run, the people’s interests are marginal and often overlooked. Our patriotic indignation is being exploited and manipulated to settle political scores. But in the long run, not much will change for the better.

So much for the message and the messenger! Liberation from the politics of deceit, opportunism and the wholesale theft of the resources that can end underdevelopment is the greatest challenge confronting the Nigerian people today.

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

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HE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has severally failed to tell Nigerians what its challenges are. It is doubtful whether INEC is interested in its challenges, and tackling them to free itself from bungled elections and the threats they present to democracy.

INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega thinks INEC ’s challenge is funding. He budgets billions of Naira, he gets it, and INEC organises a worse election than the preceding ones. Those who defend INEC list the size of the country and difficulty in accessing certain terrains as INEC ’s headaches during elections.

They seemed to have a point until INEC started conducting one-off state elections.

Since the 2011 elections, INEC has held governorship elections in Adamawa, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Edo, Imo, Ondo, Kogi, Sokoto – they all had the same complaints as the general elections. Materials arrived late, or were inadequate, even in the state capitals, from which they were distributed to other locations.

INEC personnel were ill-prepared.

Losers claim distribution of materials is

INEC Can’t Get It Right manipulated to deny them victory in their strongholds. Election results, most times, cannot stand basic scrutiny for fairness. The elected get into office bearing the burden of INEC ’s lassitude. INEC has no tenable defence for these lapses. Why would voting material arrive late for every election? Why is this problem entrenched to the extent that when INEC conducts elections for senate or seats, in constituencies that are one-third of a State, it has the same challenge as in elections spread throughout Nigeria?

Nobody understands how elections work in Nigeria. Elections are mysteries. Politicians only criticise if they lose. INEC is a law to itself, though it should account to the National Assembly. Its periodic promises of improved

performances are indications that INEC knows the public has long faith in its ability to organise free and fair elections. It reclines to the most ridiculous excuses for its failing.

From the registration of voters to voting, the processes are flawed. Election riggers take advantage because INEC ignores sanctions the Electoral Act prescribes.

Perpetrators of electoral fraud, Jega once said, had been punished quietly. Who are they?

How would the public know they were punished?

Prof. Jega is optimistic over the 2015 elections. What are the bases of the optimism?

He has promised to use governorship elections in Osun and Ekiti States in 2014 to conclude his experiments.

Voters’ education, which INEC relegates to the background, is critical to improvements in conduct of elections. INEC has funding from international donors for voters’ education.

How is it used? INEC can move from its sordid past by educating its officials, enlightening voters and prosecuting electoral offenders, as a foundation on which to build transparency for the 2015 election.

OPINION

BY KUNLE OYATOMI

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AST week, the media reported the British Deputy High Commissioner as saying that the State of Osun is a viable destination for any investor who is looking for a safe place to put his money in Nigeria because, according to him, “the State is peaceful”.

The High Commissioner did not stop at that; he said, “ within three years of his administration, what the government of Ogbeni Aregbesola has done in terms of infrastructural development and how the governor has been attracting businesses and industries is IMPRESSIVE, PRAISEWORTHY AND BOASTFUL for FUTURE of the State”, (emphasis mine).

For a country now accustomed to negative stories from mischievous quarters, painting the State of Osun in the most unfavourable light, this statement from Mr. Peter Carter, Britain’s Deputy High Commissioner in Nigeria should put the lie to the misinformation and disinformation fed to and promoted by a section of the media.

The reader will recall that less than a month ago, some scary noises came out of a religious organization in the State of Osun, warning of chaos if the governor’s education reform agenda was not immediately scrapped, and a return to status quo effected. However, what scares these religious people in the education policies of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has been applauded by the British Deputy High Commissioner, who has this to say about standardisation of education in Osun:

Giant strides in Osun “The British Council because of the GIANT STRIDES made by the administration in the area of education has trained over 200 teachers in teaching English language and the Council is also keen to continue the work it has already started in training more teachers”. The truth could not be more clearly stated.

What’s going on in the State of Osun in virtually all departments is really and truly “giant strides” in development.

However, a vocal minority enamoured of and sated by the miserableness of conditions that Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola met, are getting serious and sizeable media attention as they hysterically demand a return to the status quo created by their People Democratic Party (PDP) friends.

These people live in the past and they have practically lost their legitimacy as “promoters of the good” for at each stage of the Aregbesola revolution every step taken by the governor was viciously condemned, his person maligned and the State placed in the dumps by the opposition party and their surrogate. In fact, many respectable citizens who were misled to buy into the false stories coming out of Osun got a sense that a radical Islamists had emerged in Osogbo who must be checkmated.

That was some two years ago. We had worked as hard as we could to change the pathetic image which the PDP and

their friends tried disingenuously to create of the State of Osun. As you read this, that strainous effort is not over, because there are people in high and low places who have a preference for lies and continue to buy into the falasies that PDP and their surrogate tell about Osun. They keep the negative stories alive and they swear by their goddess of lies that Aregbesola is destroying Osun.

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ome people, awfully limited in their perceptive ability, call that politics; blind, deaf and unenlightened politics perhaps. When you sit back in the fraudulently acquired opulence of your wealth to tell senseless lies about your own state, or you junket media houses with utterly false stories about how the state is being run, all for the purpose of tarnishing the image of the government in power, in the long run you qualify to be described as a terrorist. You are in the business of mentally terrorizing your community. That is not politics; it is crime!! But the good thing is that these lies and those who take pleasure in propagating them have not succeeded even in fooling ordinary people in the state who see, hear, feel and delight in the incredible level of progress that the All Progressives Congress (APC) government led by Ogbeni Rauf Aragbesola, continues to make in Osun.

Every person who denies the progress

going on in the State of Osun is a criminal. But people who know what is happening, whose source of information is not the political illiterates assembled in the opposition party, will tell you that the state is making giant strides. And no less a personality than the British Deputy High Commissioner has said just that.

Let the enemies of progress bow their heads in shame. They have eyes to see what is going on in their country but they deny what they see. However, their denial has changed nothing and will stop nothing.

Giant strides in Osun continue. The world is acknowledging it. The people are delighting in it. The streets of our cities tell the story. Business is bubbling. The pace of commercial activities in the last three years has more than doubled. There is no single family in Osun today that is not positively affected by the giant strides which the Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola led government is taking. The scaremongering of the opposition, the lies of their surrogate, and the evil machination of their supporters from distant lands cannot and will not be allowed to stop these giant strides.

Finally, a word of warning and advice: Those who seek to undo these giant strides which the people of Osun cherish should be prepared to face the wrath of the people.

•Mr. Oyatomi, legal practitioneer is Director of publicity, research and strategy, APC, in Osun State..

Vanguard, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013— 19

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HIS is a spill-over from last week. It is becoming clearer what people mean when they talk of running from pillar to post. In 2011, the ink on President Goodluck Jonathan’s inaugural papers had hardly dried when he started toying with the idea of a single tenure – first, of eight years; then seven years; and finally, six years.

At that time, we were told about the numerous advantages accruable from the single tenure and that the incumbent President, Governors, and Assemblymen would not benefit from the measure.

This idea was taken to the town hall meetings, so called, but it was thrown out of the window in virtually all the constituencies.

Suddenly, at a time when the popularity of the ruling party is waning fast, Senator Ike Ekweremadu must quickly resurrect the idea, except that this time around, the incumbent are permitted to benefit handsomely from their iniquities. This is simply

the masthead of illogic.

Wouldn’t it have been safer to deepen their research on new election rigging technics?

Whoever tells them that they can muster the extra-ordinary majorities required to pull the absurdity through?

Again, the President is not alone in this trickery. Ekweremadu probably sees in the design, a way of easing out other contending forces at the Enugu gubernatorial front. This is a quick aside. It is not the topic for today.

Meanwhile, the lawyers in Edo State are visibly angry and justifiably so. The Medical Doctors are also annoyed. These professionals render their humane services to all, including the bad elements. But these bad people turn round and kill, maim and kidnap their members with impunity.

When they go on their escapades to kidnap lawyers, judges and doctors, they sometimes receive gunshots in their encounter with the police. Some of them get

arrested and charged to court. The wounded ones are rushed to the hospitals for treatment by doctors; while the lawyers are asked to go and defend the ones arrested.

The professionals are now beginning to say, “Our mumu don do. For how long shall we continue to help those who give us hell?.

Enough is enough!”

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he bag won’t contain it but the native doctor won’t let go.

Yes, the country’s Constitution is laced all over with guarantees of the right of the suspect to fair hearing and legal representation, particularly on crimes that carry the ultimate punishment of death.

However, the same Constitution also protects the lawyer on the choice of who to defend and who not to defend. It would also be more painful to watch a notorious armed robber or any of these professed kidnappers set free on the defence lawyer’s technicalities.

And this is not the first time in

Chime’s breac h of pr otocol breach pro

BY ROMANUS OKEREKE

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HE burial of the mother of Senator Ayogu Eze, Mrs. Paulina Eze, has certainly come and gone, but the political undertones and dusts still linger.

First, the ability of federal legislators from Enugu State led by the Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu to get President Goodluck Jonathan to attend the burial speaks political volumes, especially in the face of the rising political overbearingness of the State Government on many of the lawmakers. It is indeed one presidential visit the Governor of the State, Sullivan Chime did not find funny, especially since he had decreed that no second term federal lawmaker from Enugu would be reelected.

The other and, maybe, the fallout of the first was the failure of the Governor of the State, Sullivan Chime, to recognise the Office of the Deputy President of the Senate while observing protocol during his remarks.

Sadly, this happened in the presence of the President himself and drew the ire and loud murmurs of disapproval.

On the one side are those who feel that Governor Chime, especially being a lawyer, understood the implications of such breach of protocol and therefore could not have deliberately committed such a blunder. On the majority divide where I belong to, however are those who believe it was one breach too many. It was not the first time the Governor would descend that low. I remember vividly that such incident occurred at the inauguration of international commercial flight operations at the Akanu Ibiam international Enugu in August this year.

At the said airport event, Governor Chime

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only recognised the Governors, Ministers, and other dignitaries and went on to educate the gathering on the role he felt that he played in the realisation of the international airport, but which he felt were all being ascribed to “some people”. Whereas he did not mention Senator Ekweremadu’s name, the audience knew he was referring to him and the South East members of the National Assembly. The action was also a direct response to the remarks by the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, who had extolled Senator Ekweremadu highly for his roles. Unfortunately, as if everything conspired to rub pepper into the Governor’s wound, the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala who was oblivious of what transpired before she joined the occasion, said that the quest for an international airport for the South East would probably have remained a pipe dream, but for a goalgetter like the Deputy Senate President.

Even though politicians are permitted to have their differences, there is however a minimum finesse expected of him or her.

Only last November, the media widely reported that the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and his estranged “former” National Secretary, Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola embraced each other at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. Both men are certainly at daggers drawn (politically speaking), but they nevertheless understand that decency and their gray hairs required them to show some maturity. Thus, as Governor, and a lawyer for that matter, Chime’s action was quite childish. More so, when failure to recognise the Senator did not change the fact that the Office was present at the event and that guests already acknowledged that. And people should

this country that lawyers are showing their distaste to a criminal gang. It would be recalled that the Lawrence Anini saga of the 1980s terrorised this part of the defunct Bendel State, to the extent that when members of the gang were eventually arrested, lawyers did not want to touch their case even with a tenfoot stick.

Benjamin Iserhienrhiien, a bright upcoming lawyer who was then fresh from law school, took it upon himself to defend them. To the rest of society, Benjamin’s effort was more like a suicide bid and he was never the same after that. People looked at him with disdain and he was literarily renamed Anini’s lawyer and everywhere he went, he was booed until he finally relocated to the USA. In a society where evil is predominant, selective enforcement is also evil. Lawyers who refuse to defend kidnappers should have no moral justification in defending politicians who rig election and merchants of death who deal on fake and adulterated drugs.

It is painful to think of the harm that these evil men bring on society but the problem inherent in refusing to defend them also weighs heavily on society. For one thing, we know not of many trial judges who would still proceed with a case when the defendant is not represented by counsel. To the chagrin of society, we are going to witness an alarming increase in cases of awaiting trial and the concomitant prison congestion in the months ahead.

For another thing, we see the non-appearance of lawyers for suspects as a valid ground for cases to collapse on appeal in which case, the courts will just be a

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Who w ants tto o def end wants defend Kidnappers?

It is painful to think of the harm that these evil men bring on society but the problem inherent in refusing to defend them also weighs heavily on society

One would have thought that a funeral should afford men the opportunity of sober reflections; hence the Bible says that it is better to go to the house of mourning than the house of feasting. If therefore the vanity of life, the ephemerality of power, the nothingness and the folly in grandstanding and arrogance did not dawn on a man in such a somber atmosphere, then there is irredeemable

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learn to accept what they cannot change.

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urthermore, our politicians need to separate the offices occupied by their perceived political contenders from the individuals themselves. For instance, you are free to dislike the person of a public officer the much you like, but you are obliged to accord that office the respect intrinsic in it.

Thus, if mentioning Ekweremadu’s name was such a big deal, all he should have done was to smartly say “The Deputy Senate President”. But for Governor Chime to

revolving door for the criminals that we say we don’t want to be recycled to our streets.

More importantly, there are cases where innocent people are accused unjustly. Should these ones also be allowed to die?

There is a way out of this jam lock – Let the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Edo State Chapter, rescind its decision and take on the suspects, if only to fulfill all righteousness; so that those who merit to die can, indeed, die quickly!

Elsewhere in the advanced world, the right of the suspect to counsel and his right to information have long been established at every level – from arrest to conviction. We are quickly reminded of the case of Miranda v. Arizona 384 US 436 (1966), where Ernesto Miranda was arrested and charged with kidnapping and rape. At the police headquarters, he was identified by the complainant. He was interrogated for two hours by detectives who admitted at trial that he was not advised of his right to counsel. Miranda signed a written confession and was subsequently convicted at the lower court.

The Supreme Court, however, held that the confession was improperly obtained and he was therefore discharged and acquitted. The basic principle established by this landmark case has since remained that prior to any questioning, the person must be warned that he has a right to remain silent; that anything he says may be used as evidence against him; and that he has a right to the presence of a lawyer, either retained by him or appointed for him where he is too poor to afford one.

totally ignore the office because of the person occupying it was a massive disrespect to the President, the lawmakers, and indeed the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which prescribes the office in the first place, and which the Governor swore to uphold.

Meanwhile, I do not know what Chime’s political hangers-on might have told him after that blunder. It is most likely that they would clink glasses and say “Anyi emee ya eme” (we have shown the man). But as one who admired the Governor in his first term, it is only proper to counsel him that his action was totally unnecessary. At least, not so soon after the recent matrimonial imbroglio involving him and his estranged wife, Mrs. Clara Chime. Let me further remind the Governor that his Clara was widely quoted in the media as swearing that “I will never go back there again; I will not even wish my enemy to marry in that kind of place again”.

The impression out there is that whatever made an average Nigerian woman to walk away from life in a Government House, forsaking all the affluence, attention, and power that comes with being a Governor’s wife, must be truly unbearable. It is therefore not in the governor’s interest to give further credence to that impression. He should stop giving himself away as the arrogant, and the troublemaker.

Besides, one would have thought that a funeral should afford men the opportunity of sober reflections; hence the Bible says that it is better to go to the house of mourning than the house of feasting. If therefore the vanity of life, the ephemerality of power, the nothingness and the folly in grandstanding and arrogance did not dawn on a man in such a somber atmosphere, then there is irredeemable.

*Mr. Okereke, a public affairs commentator, wrote from Enugu, Enugu State.

20—Vanguard, THURSDAY,

DECEMBER 19 , 2013

Vanguard, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013 — 21

Badagry Customs generates less revenue in November

M

From left: Mrs Veronica Ebinum, Director, Prime Innovation Institute of Technology (PIIT); Mr. Adesodun Akindele, MD, Billoptions (Media Partner) and Mrs Ngozi Odoh, Director, PIIT at the media briefing of Prime Innovation Institute of Technology, PIIT, Lagos.

NEXIM Bank to increase operational funds of mining sector to 10% M

anaging Director, Nigeria Export-Import (NEXIM) Bank, Mr Robert Orya, said the operational funds to the mining sector would be increased to 10 per cent to develop the sector.

Orya, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, said that the operational cost was increased from three per ent to 10 percent to fast track development in the sector.

He said that a lot of potential, which had not been fully harnessed abound in the sector. “What we are doing, the little operational funds in NEXIM, we are deploying at

114.1

-0.6

2,774.00

-6.00

16.03

-0.24

108.38 97.47 CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL DOLLAR POUNDS EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYA KRONA SDR

154.72 252.6113 213.266 174.667 1.5016 0.306 237.1906 25.4813 41.2499 28.5746 238.7639

155.22 253.4277 213.9552 175.2314 1.5064 0.316 237.9571 25.5641 41.3832 28.6669 239.5354

least 10 per cent. Two years ago, we had targeted three percent of our total loanable funds to that sector. But because of the importance, because of the huge potential, we have been able to move that from three per cent to 10 percent of loanable funds. “Again, we are trying to unveil commercial lines of credit from other NEXIM banks in the world, so that we can bring it as investment capital to supplement what we are doing,” he said.

He said that due to the huge potential in the sector, the government would one day decide to have specific intervention funds to make the

-18.00 -0.01 SELLING 155.72 254.244 214.6444 175.7959 1.5113 0.326 238.7236 25.6469 41.5165 28.7593 240.307

CBN Exchange rate as at 18/12/2013

sector competitive. Orya said that with the intervention funds, commercial banks would begin to fund the sector.

According to him, the bank will allocate 10 percent of what it generates annually to the mining sector to enhance its operations. He stressed the need for miners to continue to partner with NEXIM bank and other financial institutions to improve their activities.

“It is a sector that has a lot of potential and it also has a lot of challenges.

“But the minister has done so much in reforming the sector.

Some of the structural challenges we have, I am sure a lot of them

have been addressed.” Orya said that with the discovering of 44 minerals in commercial quantity across the country, if developed, would boost the revenue base and create a lot of job opportunities for jobless Nigerians. He said that South Africa, which had less mineral resources than Nigeria generated 60 percent of its GDP from the mining sector. The managing director expressed regret that the contributions of the sector to the country’s GDP was less than one per ent.

NAN reports that the Miners Association of Nigeria on Monday had its 2nd Miners Stakeholders Forum and 2013 Dinner”where Orya and other

people were given awards for contributing to the development of the sector. They include the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Musa Sada and the Executive Chairman of ETAZuma Group, an indigenous mining firm, Dr Innocent Ezuma.

Alhaji Sani Shehu, the president of the association, said that Sada was honoured for his contributions to the development of the sector. The minister in his address had urged the miners to collaborate with mining institutes to upgrade their knowledge as “skill is key to the development of the sector”.

r Willy Egbudin, Area Controller, Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Command, has disclosed that the command generated N540.1 million as revenue in November.

Egbudin, who made the disclosure in Badagry, added that the revenue was less than the N656 million generated in October.

“The revenue for the month of November is lower than that of October due to low patronage. Certainly, things will pick up because this is the last month of the year and trading activities are very high, “ he said.

Egbudin said that the command generated more than N7.98 billion in 2012, an amount less than its target of N8 billion. The Controller expressed optimism that the command would realise its set target of N13 billion for the year.

“Already, we have been able to generate N700 million for the month of December and we still have over two weeks to go. I am very sure that by the end of the month, we would generate over one billion, “ he said.

Egbudin said that the command also made 118 seizures in November, with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N64.7 million.

He listed the seized items to include cars, bags of rice, vegetable oil, second hand clothes, frozen poultry products and general goods.

Egbudin said that the command arrested three suspects during the period over alleged smuggling.

EFCC repatriates over $200m in 10 years

By PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

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he Economic and Financial Crime Commission,EFCC, said it has repatriated over $200 million to foreign victims of Advance Fee fraud including cyber crime between 2003 and June 2013.

The Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde disclosed this to Brand Journalists in Abeokuta, saying “ The commission has been pursuing a vigorous prosecution of advance fee fraud cases to project the image that Nigeria is not a country that condones cybercrime.”

According to Lamorde, who spoke on the topic: Cyber Crime and Management of Nigeria Image, the commission has arraigned 678 cases in court out of which there were 286 convictions while 17 cases were discharged and five extradited to United States to face charges between 2003 and June

2013. “We have returned over $200 million as restitution to foreign victims in line with due legal process. Between 2003 and June, 2013, the Lagos unit of EFCC arraigned 678 cases in court, out of which 286 cases were convicted while 17 cases were discharged. five fugitives were extradited to US,” said Lamorde who was represented by the Head, Advance Fee Fraud of the EFCC, Lagos Command, Chukol Abdulkarim.

The EFCC boss added that following the rating of Nigeria as one of the most corrupt countries by the Financial Action Task Force(FATF) in 2005, countries in Europe, America and Asia whose citizens have fallen victim of cybercrime see Nigeria as a country where fraud is a source of national income, but “through vigorous enforcement initiatives, we always project the image that we are not a country that condone cybercrime,” he explained.

22—Vanguard, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

CBN approves Sterling Bank’s licence for non-interest banking STORIES BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

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he Central Bank of Ni geria (CBN) has grant ed Sterling Bank an operating licence to commence non-interest banking (NIB) services in the country. The bank had in the last two years invested in human and material resources to justify its clamour for this specialised banking service.

Group Head, non-interest banking, Dr. Basheer Oshodi, said with this development, Sterling Bank, has emerged the pioneer national commercial bank to fully explore the non-interest banking space as an effective means towards achieving wholesome financial inclusion in the country.

Oshodi explained that the bank has already developed a bouquet of specialised banking products to meet a wide range of customer needs and expectations. The range includes various transactional accounts, savings and investment account options involving profit sharing, partnership contracts, trading contracts and lease contracts.

Furthermore, the bank has assembled a crop of seasoned professionals to drive the process of ensuring that Sterling Bank maintains its pride of place in this specialised area of banking services.

His said “Given our understanding of the need to address a huge market of adult Nigerians presently excluded from access to formal banking services and support, Sterling Bank started looking at this

specialised market about two years ago and embarked on an in-depth research to stay ahead of competition in servicing customers in a manner that positively exceed their expectations with resultant delight. It is our belief at Sterling Bank that non-interest banking can seriously contribute to wealth creation in the country; while in the same breath reducing poverty and unemployment”.

He added that ‘the bank would acquire and deploy a different information technol-

ogy (IT) base and segregate the Non-Interest Banking customers’ accounts from those of regular banking customers’: a requisite condition for proper non-interest banking service which the Bank is poised to render to customers with its operational base.

The CBN had earlier opened the banking space for non-interest banking in Nigeria; given its numerous benefits as presently practiced in other economies around the world; be it Asian, Eastern or Western and it is traditional-

ly favored by Muslims requiring banking services that are compliant with the principles of Sharia and more recently, entrepreneurs who see added value in its underlying risk-sharing business and project finance models as a laudable alternative to conventional Banking services and offerings.

November 2011 in pursuit of its growth and expansion plans. The bank currently operates out of 165 branches, about 4,648 POS and 241 ATMs across the Nigeria.

From left: Chairman of Board, Enterprise Bank Limited, Sir. Ogala Osoka MFR; Managing Director/CEO, Enterprise Bank, Mallam Ahmed Kuru; wife of former Enterprise Bank Chairman, Mrs. Theresa Kenechukwu, and her husband/Former Board Chairman of the bank, Mr. Emeka Onwuka at a dinner the incumbent Chairman organised in honour of his predecessor in Lagos …weekend

AfDB, Japan boos at or with $1 00 boostt African priv privat atee sect sector $100

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he African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Government of Japan have signed a bilateral Exchange of Notes for a loan of 9.48 billion Japanese yen (about US$ 100 million) to boost private sector on the African continent.

In a statement announcing the deal, AFDB said, “This is the fourth loan to the bank under the Enhanced Private Sector Assistance (EPSA) for Africa Initiative, which supports entrepreneurship, job creation and economic growth in Africa.”

The Exchange of Notes was signed by Dr. Donald Kaberuka, AfDB President, and His Excellency Mr. Juichi Takahara, Ambassador of Japan to Tunisia. Immediately following the signature of the Exchange of Notes, the relevant Loan Agreement between the AfDB and the Japan Interna-

tional Cooperation Agency (JICA) was signed by Mr. Charles Boamah, AfDB Vice President for Finance, and Mr. Atsushi Asano, Chief Representative, JICA Tunis Office.

AfDB President said, “This Fourth Private Sector Assistance Loan is the first under the Second Phase of EPSA, is not only in line with Japan’s commitment at the G8 Gleneagles Summit in 2005 but also a concrete realization of the outcome of the TICAD V in Yokohama. I was fortunate to participate in the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V) and had the opportunity to meet with Prime Minister Abe to discuss deepening the collaboration between Japan and Africa through trade and investment. This loan will help in accelerating private sector growth, create employment

opportunities, support economic and social infrastructure development, and the investment climate. I would like to express our sincere appreciation to the Japanese government and panese people for their generous support and the vote of confidence it represents for our continued partnership under the EPSA Initiative.”

His Excellency Mr. Juichi Takahara, Ambassador of Japan to Tunisia, said that: “Sustainable development of Africa is one of our common concerns and it is imperative to develop the African private sector to accelerate economic growth and create jobs. Indeed, the main theme of the TICAD V in June 2013 was promoting the private sector in Africa. I hope that this Fourth Private Sector Assistance Loan will contribute concretely to the development of

the African private sector. I also want to reiterate the commitment and willingness of Japan to continue its support and to assist any development effort in Africa. I take this opportunity to renew my gratitude and recognition to the AfDB, through its President, Dr. Kaberuka, for the fruitful cooperation with Japan.”

This fourth Private Sector Assistance Loan will help fund the Bank’s private sector (non-sovereign) operations supporting African SMEs and investments critical to private sector growth and development. This includes public-private partnerships for the provision of essential economic infrastructure and direct investment by the Bank in key African financial institutions and enterprises.

CeBIH members commence International certification on e-payment

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lectronic banking profes sionals under the aegis of Committee of e-Banking Industry Heads (CeBIH) have commenced the international certification on e-payments from the International Academy of Cards and Payments (IACP).

This followed a five day intensive executive management training programme organised by IACP in collaboration with CeBIH. “The certification is in line with our objectives to promote electronic payment in line with global best practices”, said Chuks Iku, Chairman, CeBIH, “The collaboration with IACP is a demonstration of the commitment of CeBIH to ensure that its members are well trained and equipped for the delivery of excellent electronic payment services in the country”, he added.

The IACP is an internationally recognised body that trains and certifies professionals in the cards and payment industry and its curriculum has been specially designed by the IACP Global Advisory Board of senior cards and payments professionals and academics. The academy’s certification program is in three stages- Foundation, Intermediate and Expert; leading to the award of the Certified International Cards and Payment Professional (CICPP).

The CICPP curriculum sets out to share industry best practices in face-to-face classroom seminars and offers a formal cards and payments certification that indicates to customers, colleagues and the regulators a commitment to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism worldwide.

Established July 2009, CeBIH comprises all heads of ebusiness/e-channels and cards services of all the banks in Nigeria. The primary objective of the Committee is to promote electronic banking services in line with global best practices and serve as a forum for sharing ideas and experiences by the E-banking industry Heads. With this certification, trained CeBIH members would use the designation “Certified International Card & Payments Professional”(CICPP) recognised Worldwide.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013 — 23

Time-Tell unveils expansion plans in Nigeria

BY WILLIAM JIMOH

T

•Scene of a collapse building in Abuja.

Builders beware: N150 per block is inferior

BY FRANKLIN ALLI

you want to build a “IFresidential or com-

mercial house, you had better mould your own blocks rather than buy from moulders. And when moulding, use one bag of cement for 30 blocks instead of 45 to 60 blocks.”

This was the reaction of Dr. Joseph Odumodu, Director General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, to barrel of questions on collapsed buildings.

The questions were fired at him by stakeholders after his presentation on ‘Global Standards in local production,’during the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment workshop for Business Editors and Correspondents.

“Each time building collapses in Lagos, Abuja or other parts of the country, Nigerians are quick to blame the agency not to have done its work, but SON is not to be blamed,” said Odumodu.

He narrated the story of a Nigerian businessman who sells iron- rods, one of the raw materials for building houses.

“When this man wanted to build his own house, he went to his fellow in the business to buy the ironrods.”

The audience busted into laughter; they got the sense of what the director general was saying. The man was selling inferior iron-rods to unsuspecting builders.

He doesn’t want his own building to collapse; hence he bought the genuine ones from his fellow dealer.

“Building collapse is a sad commentary on our

country and it cast aspersion on the regulatory agency,” said Odumodu.

According to him, tests carried out by the agency’s officers at the sites of collapse building, reealed that inferior block and reinforcement steel bars were used in the construction, especially commercial buildings.

“The fact is, any bock, whether it is nine or six inch sold for N150 per one by block makers is inferior while, quality blocks cost N250 and above,” he stated. Earlier in Lagos, at a parley with operators in the block industry, Odumodu said: “We are set to sanitise the sector through the application of Nigeria Industrial Standards for building and c o n s t r u c t i o n Industry and we want to carry everyone along. ”Every block moulder must be a registered member of Moulders Association or we won’t allow you to operate, and

henceforth we would monitor the ratio of every input vis - a - vis sand, cement and other raw materials.

Dr. Samuel Ortom, Minister of State for Industry and Trade, said “Uses of inferior blocks and concrete have resulted in colossal untimely death and destruction of property.

He declared that hence, federal government has ordered certification of blocks and concrete sector of the economy by Standards Organisation of Nigeria under its Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme, MANCAP, for local manufacturers.

This is to checkmate incessant building collapse in the country. A l l sandcrete block moulds must be certified under MANCAP. “Only those who are dully certified will be allowed to remain in business from next year,” he

warned.

ArchAbimbola Animasaun, general manager Lagos State Building Control Agency, she urged people in the business not to compromise quality for the sake of profit making.

“We must not allow building collapse to be a clog in the wheel of progress.

Building collapse is a global and national tragedy; in Lagos, it is one too many as it occurs 15 times in a month compared to the UK once in 16 years, “she stated.

Kunle Awobodu, National President, Building Collapse Guild, called for effective policing of moulders noting that regulation and Task Force notwithstanding, some members will still not comply with standards.

In view of the foregoing, next time, if buildings collapse in your area, who should be blamed- the regulatory agency, or the builder?

Dangote gives Lagos N50m to stimulate economy

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HE Dangote Group has donated N50 million to the 2013 Lagos Count Down, a project of the state government, meant to stimulate the economic activities during this year end and help showcase the natural richness of the state.

A statement from the Group said that the decision of the company to support the state was in line with its avowed commitment to contribute significantly to efforts at creating avenue for economic boom and enhancement of the welfare of the people.

It stated that the Lagos

Count Down would generate economic activities within the period and lift the peoples’ spirit while at the same time exposing the tourism potential of the state as the event takes place at the Lagos beach.

Countdown, which is packaged by the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA), marks the crossover from a year to the next in spectacular grand style.

The Managing Director of LASAA, Mr. George Noah, who spoke at the pre-countdown parley with sponsors and ambas-

sadors, said players in the entertainment industry, sponsors of the event and government officials were already on ground to assure the public that this year ’s event would be great.

Giving the history of the event, he explained that the first countdown took place in New York in 1903 with 200,000 people in attendant, saying that as at today over one million people grace the occasion annually in the US, with about $5 billion pumped into the nation’s economy.

IME Tell Nigeria has concluded plans to extend its presence to two more regions in the country by first quarter of 2014.

The company is the exclusive representative of Grant of London wrist watches and American Fruit of the Loom wears across West African subregion.

Briefing the press in Lagos, the Managing Director/CEO of the company, Mrs. Lami Abdulkadir, said the expansion was in line with the mandate of the company to reach the whole sub-region with the company’s products.

“Time-Tell opened its branch in Ibadan last October and will continue to spread its presence till the company is well represented all over West Africa.

“Because expansion is our focus, we hope to be in two or more other regions of Nigeria come first quarter of 2014.

“And since our mandate is not limited to Nigeria, we also look towards the end of next year to launch our branch in other West African Country.

“The strategy for us is to be everywhere in Nigeria and that is what we are working towards now,” she said.

Fielding question on what the company is doing to support the local market, she stated “ We

ensure that all the products that we make available to our customers are of high quality if you buy any of our fruit of the loom products, you will use it and pass it to the next person, this way, we ensure that we give our consumers value for their money.

“Nigeria did not have enough capacity to feed the local market, because of this, there is still need for importation of these products. And with our mandate to feed countries across this region, we intend that if we get things right, local production can begin to take place and that is actually how it works with most of these brands.

“Most people are scared to come to Nigeria because of inconsistency in policy.

When they begin to see consistency in government policy and the right business environment is made available, they will not only increase their investments through importation, but will come and produce in the country.

“We should not run away from the truth; in as much as we are trying to encourage local production, we must make the environment conducive for business to grow and build the capacity to be able to feed the local market, then we can reduce our importation and that will improve our economic growth,” Abdulkadir added.

P&G to merger overseas business

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ROCTER & Gamble is planning an extensive reorganisation of its overseas business units as parts of efforts to cut down costs. The news of the reorganisation will be announced next year.

An online statement from the company, said the changes focus on Europe, Africa, the Middle East and India.

“The reorganisation will see the Africa and Middle East business unit merged with the India business unit, to form a second significantly increased unit.

The streamlining should serve to make significant back office savings, as well as help to cut down on certain logistical and distribution costs that can also be shared.

If the move should happen, the number of business units will remain at five- which is currently accounted for by North America, Latin America, Western Europe and CEEMA business unit, which accounts for Central and Eastern Europe together with Middle East and Africa.

Procter and Gamble has had a tough couple of years with consistent expansion during the prior ten years period resulting in a business that now looks over-stretched and in need of restructuring.

At the beginning of the year, the company said that former CEO A. G. Lafley would once again be returning to the position in an attempt to turn around the fortune of the business, ousting Bob McDonald, who oversaw the company during several years of falling sales growth and profitability.

Last month, the company said it was putting a plan in place to restructure its brand back on the road to recovery after the company’s performance in the all important North America market continued to decline. The plan will focus on revamping the Olay and Patntene brands , with CFO John Moellwer revealing that recent gains in the company’s other beauty segments had been offset by their performance.

24 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

Seme Customs seizes N11m worth of rice in one weekend STORIES BY GODWIN ORITSE

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HE Seme Border Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) last weekend seized over I,200 bags of rice valued at N11.7million at the Kotomeji area of Badagry.

Disclosing t his to newsmen in Lagos, the Command’s Comptroller, Mr. Willy Egbudin said that the seizure was made possible following intelligence reports.

In the course of the operation, it was said that the smugglers jumped into the waters on sighting the men and officers of the services.

The Command according to Egbudin, its set up his dragnet with a view to arresting the smugglers so as to deter others from the act.

Egbudin explained that the anti-smuggling functions of the Customs is a strategic move by government aimed at protecting the local economy and preventing the influx of prohibited items, arms and hard drugs.

His words “ By smuggling what Nigeria has the capacity tom produce locally, we are inadvertently sustaining the employment of some unknown foreigners else where while working to also keep some of our able bodied youths out of job.

BRIEFS NPA partners ALCO on HIV/AIDS

BY MARIAM EKO

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AWARD : Assistant Comptroller General, Customs Headquarters, Abuja, ACG Tahir Musa, presenting the Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN) Excellence Award to the Customs Area Controller, Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Charles Edike, in Lagos.

NPA records 2.6% increment in cargo traffic in 3rd quarter T

HE Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has recorded an increase of 2.6 percent in cargo throughput for the third quarter of 2013 representing a total increase of over 500,000 containers above the 2012 statistical data.

In a statement signed by the Assistant General Manager Public Affairs of

the authority, Mr. Musa Illya, said that the cargo traffic for the year under review stood at 19,849,258 million metric tones as against the preceding year of 19,340,901 Million metric tonnes Meanwhile, cargo throughput of 19,849,258 million metric tonnes of cargo was handled showing an increase 2.6% over the 2012 3rdquarter figure of 19,340,901 Million metric tonnes excluding crude oil terminals.

This increase in cargo traffic has been attributed to the deepened Lagos port channel which is currently being handled by the Lagos Channel Management Company Limited.

The port channel according to the statement, is currently at 13.5 meters which has made it possible for bigger vessels to sail into the ports without

itches.

The development Illya said has provided shipping companies with a high level of efficiency and economic space which has enhanced their turnover and turnaround time.

Generally, stakeholders and shipping companies have confirmed that the channel management and conservancy function of the Authority has continued to improve Statistics showede that the containerized cargo throughput handled amounted to 3,559,453 million metric tonnes, “showing an increase of 12.3 per cent over the 2012 3 rd quarter figure of 3,168,412million metric tonnes”.

The total Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) shipment handled in the period under review amounted to 4,859,453

million MT showing a decrease of 20 per cent from the 2012 3rdquarter figure of 5,828,281MT. The Refined Petroleum shipment handled was 4,804,184MT showing a growth of 24 per cent over the 3rdquarter of 2012 figure of 3,869,923MT. A total of 76,598 units of Vehicles were handled in the period under review showing an increase of 13 per cent over the same period of 2012 figure of 67,804 units.

Dry Bulk cargo handled at the Ports in the 3 rd quarter of 2013 amounted to 2,585,902 MT”.

General Cargo handled at the ports in the 3 rd quarter of 2013 amounted to 2,977,347MT indicating a decline of 16 per cent from the 2012 3 rd quarter figure of 3,466,311MT.

...Commences payment of tally clerks

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HE management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has commenced the payment to stevedoring companies operating in the country following agreement reached between the authority and the National Association of Stevedoring Companies (NADC).

Confirming this to Vanguard in Lagos, the President of the group, Mr. Bolaji Sunmola said

that the authority’s Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Mr. Olumide Oduntan is working round the clock to ensure that the payments are made before the end of the year.

Sunmola also said that their bills are being process as some of the members have also confirmed the receipt of some of the payments.

He explained that bu-

reaucratic processes at the NPA have also slowed down the processes adding that some of their documents for payments are being fished out from the various departments.

It will be recalled that the Maritime workers had threatened to shut down the nation’s seaports due to the backlog of salaries of tally clerks and On Board security that were being owed.

HE Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and a non- governmental body, Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Organization (ALCO) has conducted a free HIV/AIDS test for stakeholders operating in the maritime sector to mark this year’s World AIDS day.

The sensitization campaign tagged, ‘’Getting to zero,” held at the Tin Can Island port complex was attended by truck drivers, commercial sex workers, freight forwarders, food vendors and truck owners.

In a chat with Vanguard, NPA HIV Committee chairperson, Dr Comfort Datong stressed that it is important for stakeholders to know their HIV/AIDS status adding that everyone is prone to the dreaded disease.

NIWA’s image maker promoted General Manager

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HE image maker of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA); Mr. Tayo Fadile, has been promoted to the position of General Manager (Corporate Affairs) of the organisation.

A letter signed by the Managing Director of NIWA, Hajiya Inna Maryam Ciroma which conveyed the promotion to him, the Managing Director said the Minister of Transport has approved the promotion of Mr. Fadile to the position of General Manager –Corporate Affairs (GL.17) and hoped that he will be sufficiently motivated to lift his performance to a greater height for the attainment of the Authority’s goals and objectives.

It will be recalled that in 1997, Fadile left the services of Nigerian Shippers’ Council to set up a new public relations department for NIWA, the Federal Government agency responsible for navigation and safety of Nigeria’s vast inland waterways.

The new general manager, has for the past 15 years developed an enviable public relations profile for the NIWA, sustaining a very good image, especially during and after the dredging of River Niger project where he was able to get all stakeholders on board.

A frontline member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Mr. Fadile has undergone various training programmes in the U.S, U.K, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana and UAE (Dubai).

Vanguard, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013 — 25

•Festus-Iyayi

ith twelve days to the end of 2013, it has become imperative for us at Vanguard Learning to take stock of issues and events that shaped the nation’s education sector, while projecting the way forward.

Education in retr ospect: Strikes, sacks and deaths

Budgetary allocation Two months to the end of 2012, President Goodluck Jonathan, in Abuja, presented the 2013 budget before a joint session of the National Assembly. According to the budget proposal entitled: Fiscal Consolidation with Inclusive Growth, of the total expenditure of N4.92trn earmarked for the 2013 fiscal year, education got N426.53bn (8.67 per cent), the highest

when compared to previous years. The allocation amounted to 0.24 per cent increase from the 2012 allocation of N400.15bn, representing 8.43 per cent of the N4.7 trillion total budget for that year.

By the budget, education was earmarked to gulp more funds than other key sectors. While some applauded the government for the

BY AMAKAABAYOMI, LAJU ARENYEKA & IKENNA ASOMBA

W

gesture, saying that proper implementation is key rather than the figure earmarked, a few others lamented that such amount is a far cry from the 26 per cent recommended by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) for any country which intends to record rapid growth and development.

of essor Prof ofessor essorss mak makee case ASUU sstrik trik e: W trike: Wee have Pr really lost so much – for Igbo Language sustenance Students ——Page Page27 27

— Page 28

Three new universities While Nigerians were basking in the euphoria of the New Year, pondering over challenges ahead, the approval of three new federal varsities in Gashua (Yobe), Birnin Kebbi (Kebbi) and Gusau (Zamfara), which was

Continues on page 26

We’re tr ying ttoo be a trying Var sity without w alls arsity walls — Margee Ensign — Page 34

26 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

meant to increase access to tertiary education, was greeted again with mixed feelings.

Rising from its Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, said only 10 per cent of school leavers gain admission into higher institutions due to limited space available, saying that skeletal services are to start as soon as possible in the new varsities and academic work should start by 2014/2015 academic year.

Providing further insight on government’s decision, the former Minister of Education, Professor Rukayyatu Rufa’i, said out of 1.3 million school leavers that seek entrance to higher institutions every year, less than 200,000 gain admissions into existing institutions.

However, opponents of this move then, argued that rather than increasing the quantity, the quality of the existing universities should be increased.

Early warning signal As early as January 2013, industrial unrest was in the offing as staff unions across the nation’s public tertiary institutions had started issuing threats to down tools if the Federal Government (FG) does not accede to core areas of their various demands.

First was the non-teaching staff under the aegis of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, which gave the FG up to the end of January 2013 to pay its members their unpaid Earned Allowance or risk a protracted industrial unrest in the nation’s university system.

The Western zone of SSANU in a meeting at the Delta State University, DELSU, Abraka, Delta State, decried the failure of government to fully implement the agreement reached with its workers since 2009.

Illiterate corps members Another bombshell was dropped on January 17, when the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Brigadier-General Nnamdi Okere-Affia, lamented that most corps members could neither read nor write.

He said: “We have corps members who can hardly communicate in English language, let alone being able to teach in the classrooms.

The level of academic deficiency among corps members has heightened corps members’ rejection and redundancy. This worrisome development has resulted in a situation whereby members

Education in re trtrospect ospect trik es, sac ks and deaths retr ospect:: SStrik trikes, sacks

of the public wrongly condemn the NYSC for the poor academic standard displayed by these corps members.”

Dispelling rumours of scrapping JAMB, NECO The media was awash with news of the planned scrapping of NECO while JAMB would be reduced to a mere administrative structure that would set standard for minimum requirements on how various varsities would conduct entrance examinations.

Other decisions taken by government on the Oronsayeled committee include the following: The functions of NECO would be assumed by the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, which will also take over the structures of NECO nationwide.

In order to make up for the deluge of students who sit for the external examinations of Neco, WAEC would be expected to conduct two external examinations, one in January and another in November for external students while still running its internal examination programmes for secondary school students.

ASUP strike cripples activities Activities in polytechnics were crippled in April, with the indefinite strike action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, over issues bordering on the CONTISS 15 Migration for lower cadres, Needs Assessment of Polytechnics, release of white paper of visitation to federal polytechnics, discrimination between polytechnics and university graduates in job

they killed residents at will.

Provost of the College, Molima Idi Mato, said: “They attacked our students while they were sleeping in their hostels. They opened fire on them.”

,

Continues from page 25

It has always been promises upon promises and we can no longer tolerate the action, thus the need to embark on the nationwide strike until these demands are met

Sack of Minister of Education President Goodluck Jonathan on September 11 took Nigerians by surprise when he announced the immediate reshuffling of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

The reshuffling affected six ministers and three ministers of state, including the Minister of Education, Prof.

Ruqayyatu Rufa’i.

,

placement and career progression and the constitution of Governing Councils to federal polytechnics.

After series of meetings and intervention by the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Education, the union suspended its strike on July 17. However, to the chagrin of stakeholders, three months later, it threatened to resume strike as it alleged that government has failed to address the issues it brought before it since after the strike was suspended.

Yobe killing of students Gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram sect members went on rampage in Gujba community, Yobe State where they opened fire on students of the College of Agriculture, Gujba, at 3a.m. as they slept in their hostels. They later moved to other houses, where

ASUU strike: Matters Arising What started like a child’s play, unfortunately ended as a full blown face-off between the Federal Government and university lecturers under the auspices of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU. On Monday, July 1, 2013, the union called out its members on a total, comprehensive and indefinite strike, which unfortunately lingered for five months and two weeks.

The National President, Dr. Nasir Issa Faggae explained that the union after its NEC meeting comprising 51 out of the 53 ASUU branches across the country, decided to down tool until the FG provided adequate funds for the revitalization of the university system; progressive increase of budgetary allocations to the education sector by 26 per cent; transfer of Federal Government property to universities; setting up of research and development units by the companies; renegotiation of the signed agreement; and paid the earned allowance it owes its members.

According to Faggae, the

Earned Allowance, which covers inconvenience and work overload, among others, was an average of N12,500 per month per lecturer.

“It is disheartening that government had refused to pay the allowance to any lecturer in the last four years.

ASUU has met government several times on this allowance issue and other ones as contained in our 2011 MoU which was the fallout of the 2009 agreement. It has always been promises upon promises and we can no longer tolerate the action, thus the need to embark on the nationwide strike until these demands are met.”

To ensure that ASUU members return to classroom, government, on July 26, invited ASUU to a closeddoor meeting which lasted three hours, leaving out the agitating non-academic staff unions of polytechnics, SSANIP and NASU, which were still on strike.

Determined to put up appropriate conditions necessary for academics in the nation’s tertiary institutions, the Federal Government had during the meeting inaugurated the Universities Needs Implementation Committee, headed by Governor Gabriel Saswam of Benue State, with a mandate to prioritize requisite exigencies.

But despite the committees and two deadlines to suspend the strike, ASUU stuck to its guns that there is no going back till government does what’s needed for the education system.

Their struggle paid off after five months with the lodgment of N200bn into an infrastructure revitalisation funds in an account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). This led to the suspension of the strike on December 17.

Iyayi’s death The roundup of events would be incomplete without mentioning the demise of former ASUU president, Professor Festus Iyayi, who died in the course of the lingering strike.

Iyayi, 66, died along the Lokoja-Abuja highway on his way to the National Executive Committee meeting where a vote was likely to be taken on whether the ongoing strike should be suspended in an accident involving the convoy of Kogi State Governor, Idris Wada.

The late university teacher was among ASUU leaders who met with President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja a week before to deliberate on how to end the then four-month-old strike by lecturers.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013 — 27

ASUU sstrik trik e: W trike: Wee have really los lostt so muc muchh —Students

BY AMAKA ABAYOMI & LAJU ARENYEKA

N

igerian students have received with mixed feelings the news of the suspension of the strike.

UNIBEN SUG Chairman, Mr. Osasere Osifo said: “It is good that the strike has been called off, but I am not necessarily jumping for joy about it, because we have already lost so much.

Who will compensate us for the six months that we have lost? As for the results of the strike, only time will tell whether the sector will be better for it.

ASUU said that they were fighting for our good, so now we will watch more closely to see how the results of the strike will benefit the sector and Nigerian students as a whole.”

A year two Computer Engineering student of the University of Lagos, Uche Oragui, said he didn’t loose anything but, rather, gained more knowledge and skills.

“I thank God the strike is almost over and I’m glad I was able to use the period to study and develop myself by taking a course on web development. I know once we resume on January 4th, we’ll start with tests and continuous assessments while exams would commence on January 26. But I’m not scared because I’m very much academically prepared for whatever may come up.”

For a final year student of the University of Ibadan who

•Christmas party for Children of Heritage Orphanage declined to give his name, time lost can never be regained, especially when trying to cover up for five months of study.

“Though it’s hard to cover up for lost time, and with resumption, lecturers would want to rush up and this would affect understanding, but I thank God I used the period to study beyond by course of study so as to prepare myself and be more knowledgeable.”

For Chinedu Nicholas, a student of LASU, “I placed my books at the sideline because anytime I picked up those materials to read, I realised I was talking to myself. I had to drop those books because it’s kind of funny going crazy

Errata T

he following error has been found in last week’s publication of this column: Correction ‘Are you a staff here?’ for ‘Are you a member of staff here?’

Note that a unit of staff is not referred to as ‘a staff ’ but as ‘a member of staff ’ (British English) or ‘staff member ’ (American English). The correct expression is ‘Are you a member of staff here?’ A staff may refer to a long stick used as a support for walking or as a symbol of authority.

Covert covet Covert and covet are two different words. A single letter is often significant enough to mark the difference between one word and another. The presence or absence of ‘ r ’ marks the difference

in my room reading with no platform for delivery. Besides this, I lost time which I can never regain.”

For Folashade Dairo, a student of University of Lagos, reading was never on her agenda as she busied herself with house chores and television.

“To cover up, I’ll just have to read extra hard by burning the midnight candle and make sure I don’t miss any lecture”, Folashade said.

In agreement is another student of LASU, Garuna Kanyinsinuola, who said “seriously, I’ve lost almost everything if not everything.

You can imagine six months at home without books, knowing fully well that you

between the two words. Covert means ‘secret or hidden’. The opposite of covert is ‘overt’ which means ‘done in an open way not secretly’. Covet means ‘to want something very much, especially something that belongs to somebody else’. Do not confuse covert with covet.

Examples: When I was in the secondary school, I had a covert hatred for our Mathematics teacher.

He stole a covert glance at the lady across the table.

You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife.

(Exodus 20 vs 17) Is there anyone who does not covet long life and prosperity?

I earnestly covet God’s grace in the life of Apostle Paul.

Cut your coat according to …

Many Nigerian users of English often say Cut your coat according to your size. This is a Nigerian variation of the English idiom Cut your coat according to your cloth. An idiom is a combination of words that have a figurative meaning that is separate from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made.

Though idioms are often metaphorical and make the language more colourful, the words constituting them are fixed. The standard British equivalent of the Nigerian variation of the idiom is Cut your coat according to your cloth not “size’. Cut your coat according to your cloth means ‘to do only what you have enough money to do and no more’. In other words, ‘Let your

are one leg out, one leg in because it keeps coming 2 you that you are still an undergraduate.

“Well, to cover up, I’ll have to start from the scratch, which is going to be hard, but it’s a matter of determination and hard work on my part. You have to decide what you even after ASUU has thrown this at us. Failure would just be using ASUU as an excuse and we’ve come too far from where we’ve started from to fail.”

ASUU strike was the greatest struggle of the year—ERC Speaking to Vanguard, the National Coordinator of the Education Rights Campaign, ERC, Mr. Hassan Soweto,

said the strike has been the greatest struggle of the year.

“We congratulate the members and leadership of ASUU for this victory. Most especially we congratulate ASUU for showing exemplary perseverance, courage and determination while the strike lasted. This victory is an inspiration to students, youth and the working masses that struggle pays. But vigilance must be maintained to ensure that this agreement is implemented and the promised funds are not looted.

“No doubt, the ASUU strike is the greatest struggle of the year 2013. But as students prepare to return to campuses

by January 2014, they must also be prepared to mobilize to reclaim their students unions and NANS from the pro-government cabal that has taken them over. We need a NANS that can fight courageously like ASUU for the interest of its members.

“Victory of ASUU is merely a dress rehearsal for bigger battles to save public education. To start with, the 2009 agreement still remains largely unimplemented. Also, the N200bn released is still too little if one dispassionately considers the terrible crisis of decayed facilities and infrastructures afflicting our public universities. This notwithstanding, if the N200bn is judiciously utilised, there is reason to hope that a little of the problem can at least be solved. But even this can only be possible with democratic control and management of the education sector.”

expenditure be determined by your resources’.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN AMERICAN AND BRITISH ENGLISH (VOCABULARY) Apart from spelling differences, there are vocabulary differences between British and American English. Some words mean different things in the two varieties. Sometimes, different words are used for the same idea. Your dictionary will note whether the vocabulary item is used in British or American English. The following list represents such vocabulary differences between the two varieties of English.

AMERICAN ENGLISH (Am E) BRITISH ENGLISH (Br E) Truck Trunk Apartment Bar Cab Candy Closet Crib First Floor Hood Gas Elevator Eraser Flashlight Garbage Can Kerosene Movie Patrol Man Side walk Trash

Lorry Boot Flat Pub Taxi Sweets Cupboard Cot Ground Floor Bonnet Petrol Lift Rubber Torch Dust Bin Paraffin Film Constable (Policeman) Pavement Rubbish

28 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

Professors make case for Igbo Language sustenance

BY DAYO ADESULU

N

o fewer than three professors from the University of Lagos, UNILAG, have vowed to ensure that Igbo Language and culture are sustained among Igbo children whether in Igbo-speaking states or not, charging parents to rise to the task.

Speaking with one voice at maiden Lecture and Igbo Cultural Day organised by the Department of Linguistics, Akachi Ezeigbo, a professor of English, University of Lagos, Anthony Ekemezie Mereni, a professor of Music, UNILAG, Iwu Ikwubuzo, Associate Professor of Linguistics, African and Asian Studies, UNILAG and Adaora Ojo, principal, International School, Lagos (ISL) said: “Igbo culture must be sustained.”

Professor Ezeigbo pointed out that the language which a country identifies with is the live wire of the nation. She lamented the relegation of Igbo Language and culture by the people themselves urging them to reverse the situation urgently for posterity’s sake.

“I urge parents, particularly mothers who have closer contacts with their children, to imbibe the habit of speaking the language to their children and putting them through the rich culture of the people. It is wrong for parents to shirk this all-important responsibility.”

Ezeigbo charged students to learn the Igbo Language

and the culture, noting that even if students travel abroad for studies, they still need to know the basic culture of their people.

Also speaking, Associate Professor Iwu Ikwubuzo blamed the near-relegation of Igbo Language on the poor attitude of the Igbos whom he accused of preferring to speak other languages at home instead of Igbo Language.

“Parents have much work to do; they must encourage their children to speak the language. You can’t be strong in the culture if you do not speak the language.

"Parents must not push off their responsibility of teaching their children the Igbo Language to teachers in school. The major problem is lack of interest in speaking the language.”

The Love Angels Foundation for the Less Priviledged (in red) and Father Christmas with Sunra Nurery & Primary School children during the end of year party ogranised by Love Angels Foundation at the Sunra Nursery & Primary Shool Ajegunle, Lagos. Photo: Diran Oshe

Auc hi PPolyt olyt ec hnic breaks jinx at 221s 1s Auchi olytec echnic 1stt convocation

BY SAM DADA

T

he 21ST Convocation ceremony of Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State which held on Saturday, December 7, 2013 will go down as one with a lot of panache.

Three major high points of the convocation was, first, breaking the jinx associated with combined convocations, second the Rector ’s acknowledged successful stewardship and third, the ovation that heralded the cheering news about the commencement of degree programmes by the school.

For so long, Auchi Poly has formed the obnoxious habit of having combined convocations where two or three sets of graduands convoke at the same time.

According to stakeholders, such developments often resulted in delayed issuance of certificates. The graduands are then forced to parade the labour market in search of elusive jobs with ordinary letters of attestation many years after leaving school.

In her speech, Dr. Philipa

Idogho enumerated the challenges she faced in her determined bid to reposition the school, stating that they later became the tonic which propelled her into action and, today, the school is a lot better off than she met it.

“In the past few years, Auchi Poly has attracted attention from admission applicants

across the country and this is evident in the geometric increase in the number of those seeking admission into the school. Also, the school consistently maintained its premium position on the Webometrix ranking index as the second best tertiary institution in Nigeria and on the polytechnics category, the

school ranked best in Nigeria and in Africa.”

She also revealed that Auchi Poly signed a memorandum of understanding, MoU with Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State on the award of degrees in 11 courses in a bid to enrich the school’s academic content and attend to growing needs.

SS ANIP ur ges go vt ttoo implement ffive ive yyear ear SSANIP urges govt earss single tterm erm ffor or R ect or Rect ector or,, other otherss

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

F

ederal and state governments have been advised to implement the five-year single term for principal officers in Nigerian polytechnics.

The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) gave the advice at its 43rd National/General Executive Council meeting in Abuja.

The association, in a statement by its National Public Relations Officer, Adebanjo Ogunsipe, noted

that since the policy has been implemented in the university, polytechnics should not be left out because the policy is capable of guaranteeing speedy progression of officers in relevant cadres in the polytechnic system as well as promotes industrial harmony.

The Council commended the effort of the Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Dr Mas’udu Kazaure for the successful revision of the polytechnic scheme of service and the full implementation

of CONTISS 15.

It, however, urged the NBTE secretary to direct all federal, state and privately owned institutions to comply with new trend and pay the accruable arrears.

The National/General Executive Council of SSANIP however condemned in strong terms, the assassination of Comrade Frank Moses, the Secretary of the Federal Polytechnic, Ekuwe, Bayelsa State branch of the association.

Nnamdi Azikiwe varsity student emerges 2013 Best Marketing student

A

400-level student in the Marketing Department of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Miss Constance Nkechi Atueyi, has emerged the winner of this year’s National Institute of Marketing/Unilever Best Marketing Student Award, held in Owerri, Imo State.

Atueyi came tops out of the five marketing students from various institutions of higher learning short-listed for the award.

Speaking at the event, the President and Chairman of Council of the institute, Mr. Ganiyu Koledoye, explained that the award, sponsored by Unilever Nigeria Plc, was conceived by one of the previous administrations, led

by Taiwo Fagbemi, as a deliberate strategy to create a competitive synergy between various schools offering marketing or marketing-related courses.

He added that the award is also designed to identify and nurture marketing talents in the nation’s tertiary institutions from the cradle, in order to promote the profession and expose students in tertiary institutions to the reality of professionalism in marketing practice.

Ireti Doyle speaks on image building, self discovery

BY EBUKA UKOH WILLIAMS (AUN)

I

n a world where image is highly priced, the understanding of who one really is can be quite difficult especially for a young person, says Ireti Doyle of Tinsel fame.

The popular Nollywood actress who spoke on Image Building at the American University of Nigeria, noted that every person was his/her own brand.

“We live at a time where image is everything. Image could mean different things to different people. It could be one’s personal identity, appearance, or brand.

However, building an image will require making choices, some of which if wrongly taken, are capable of messing things up. My mission is to be an open book so that any young person can read and get useful information,” she said.

Doyle said it was important to “be cautious of our outward appearance, because the world sees things the way they appear and understanding who we are in the picture helps us to rethink our decisions.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19 , 2013 — 29

30—Vanguard, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

Imo commends Airtel’s educational development

BY AMAKA ABAYOMI

T

he Imo State Government has lauded Airtel Nigeria for providing sustainable platforms to uplift underprivileged children in the society and for its enormous contributions to the development of education in the state.

Speaking at the commissioning of Airtel’s adopted Community Primary School in Amumara, Ezinihitte Local Government Area, the state’s Commissioner for Education, Dr. Uche Ejiogu, commended Airtel for partnering with the state to develop the school as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility.

“The initiative is a highpowered show of patriotism that has brought development to Imo State. Therefore, the government has opened the doors to Airtel more than ever before, for more business relations geared towards expanding your reach to the benefit of Imo people,” the commissioner said.

She noted that the partnership will not only guarantee positive business

networking and development of human and material resources, but will also complement the efforts of the state government.

While showering encomiums on the leading telecoms operator, the commissioner charged teachers and pupils of the school to make good use of the materials and

opportunities provided for them by Airtel.

On his part, Airtel’s CEO, Segun Ogunsanya, represented by the company’s Regional Operations Director, South Region, Godfrey Efeurhobo, said Airtel will continue to look for opportunities to partner with governments at various levels in the development of the

education sector.

“At Airtel, we seek to connect with our customers in various ways and our intervention in Community Primary School, Amumara, Imo State attests to our commitment to provide empowerment for underserved communities and also contribute to the development of our country.”

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

L

Students of Jextobam Secondary School, Ketu, Lagos, at their school's end of year party

Nigeria FFrenc renc eholder ain renchh Language ssttak akeholder eholderss vow ttoo maint maintain present fees

By DAYO ADESULU

H

eads of Department of Colleges of Education at the Nigeria French Language Village, Lagos met for three days at the institution’s conference room to chart the way forward.

The meeting served as a springboard for the rebirth of new relationship between the Nigeria French Language Village and the inter College Association of French teachers (INTER-CAFT).

At the end of the stakeholders meeting presided over by the Ag Director-General, Nigeria French Language Village, Dr M.I Alawode a Communique was issued and signed by the Ag. Director-General, NFLV and Mr Uche Sholokwu, Inter College Association of French Teachers (INTERCAFF) president.

During the meeting, it was agreed that to attract students of French Language to the institution, the school should endeavour to maintain the current fees paid by the students for sometime before further review.

The stakeholders who lamented the lack of participation of some teachers C M Y K

Rising demands have overstretched facilities in public schools —Lagos commissioner

in capacity-building said: “Provosts were enjoined to encourage teachers of French Language in their colleges to participate in capacitybuilding training.” They said that French Language teachers should be motivated to desire the workshops, seminars and conferences

organised in the Nigeria French Language Village or elsewhere in and out of the country.

It was also pointed out that the good relationship between the French Embassy should be resuscitated in order to reflect the initial francophone environment of the institution.

Moreover, the stakeholders who deliberated on the importance of TETFUND to development of education sector, argued and agreed that efforts should be made by the Nigeria French Language Village to get TETFUND subsidy for Colleges of Education students Language Immersion programme.

Ghana to host int’l jury meeting DStv Eutelsat Star Awards

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ollowing the success of the national judging of this year’s entries to the DStv Eutelsat Star Awards, MultiChoice Africa and Eutelsat announced that the international jury meeting of this pan-African schools competition will be held in Ghana on February 5, 2014.

This year ’s jury will be chaired by the Italian ESA astronaut, Paolo Nespoli who undertook his first flight into space in 2007 on the Discovery Space Shuttle before spending over five months in space aboard the International Space Station where he was responsible for a range of scientific and technological experiments and educational activities.

“Africa is still a continent of contradictions with pockets of world-class innovation co-

existing with a lack of resources and skills, particularly in fields which require Maths and Science. As a company born and bred in Africa, we recognise that technology will be one of the key

drivers of the continent’s growth story and that Africans need an education system that will produce young people who are creative and innovative thinkers who can think out of the box.

Fashola commissions classrooms, school buses

BY FREDRICK OKOPIE

THE wife of Lagos State governor, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, has commissioned a storey building of 12 classrooms and two 36-seater coaster buses to enhance transportation of students to and from schools at Ijora Olopa in Apapa Local Government of Lagos State.

The ultra modern building

has well equipped nursery classrooms, convenience, a library, a water source and a cafeteria.

Fashola advised the students to make good use of the facilities provided by the Apapa Local Government chairman, Mr. Ayodeji Joseph. She commended the effort of the local government boss for putting smiles on the faces of the people.

agos State Government has said that facilities in public schools were being overstretched as a result of the massive transfers of students from private schools into public schools due to the apparent improvement in the quality of public education.

The state Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, stated this after inspection of various on-going projects in Lagos public schools during the week.

She said that government has, however, intensified efforts to complete over 30 ultra modern blocks of classrooms in furtherance of its objective to revamp and deliver quality education in public schools.

According to Oladunjoye, “Facilities in public schools are being over stretched as a result of the massive transfers of students from private schools into public schools due to the transformation that has taken place in the public schools in the state.

“As I speak with you, the number of students seeking admission into Lagos state public schools is increasing daily. They are from private schools in the state and others from neighbouring states."

Uduaghan, Pius Ayim grace Funke Egbemode’s book launch

BY IYABO AINA

D

elta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, led other prominent Nigerians to grace the book launch of respected columnist, Funke Egbemode, titled Conversation with my country, which is a compilation of the author’s well read column of Sunday Sun newspaper .

Speaking at the launch, the Chief Presenter of the book, Uduaghan described Egbemode as a respected and seasoned journalist whose column attracts wide readership.

He implored other journalists to always give their best so we can have a country where there is freedom.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19 , 2013 — 31

32 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

Impact Factor and the Nigerian University System By: P-J Ezeh [Department of Sociology & Anthropology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka]

Continues from last week

How governments, NUC and ASUU ruin Nigerian univer sities (2) universities The first part of this series ended with the following statement. “If N1 billion was meant for capital and recurrent expenditure [in the nine universities the Federal Government created in 2011], it was clear that neither manpower development nor research would take place in those universities. And, in my trips throughout Nigeria, I have entered at least seven public universities, names withheld, and made straight for the science laboratories.” Now read on.

T

hen, I had gone on the internet to find out the contributions to scientific research from those universities. The paucity of research materials had been matched by the output. None of the professors or lecturers had an entry in their fields of endeavour worthy of note. All the Nigerians cited were teaching in foreign lands or in the first generation universities or three Nigerian private universities. None of them will ever become a Centre of Excellence by grabbing only N16 million. None.

One of the most baffling aspects in this matter has been the role of Nigerian academics in this educational backwardness. To the best of my knowledge, since 1999, and perhaps before that, the Federal Minister of Education, except Dr Oby Ezekwesili, had always been recruited from the nation’s university campuses. They were intimately conversant with the steady decline in university education before they got into office. Vicechancellors of federal universities are drawn from the ranks of great scholars, either at the same university or from another university. The same can be said about state universities. Olabisi Onabanjo University, in Ogun State for example had been unable to release the certificates of people who graduated three years ago. It might not be the only one. State universities are also headed by academics – although nepotism is common at state universities. Yet, with the exception of a few examples like Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, FUNAAB, most are in steady decline – for two inextricably lined reasons.

The first reason, as everybody knows is funding. Depending on whether the universities are federal or state, their fate is tied to the revenue generation by the states and the priority given to university education by each administration governing the state. There is little continuity and long range plans, which are indispensable for great research work is lacking everywhere. When the Federal Government increased the number of universities in one day by 25 per cent without increasing the allocation to university education by the same percentage, simple arithmetic should point out that all the universities would suffer as a result. Some would argue that the quest for admission by increasing number of applicants forced the Federal Government to take that measure. Certainly, the pressure was there and will remain for years to come. Whether the problem is solved by lowering standards and impeding research remains to be addressed. One thing is, however, indisputable. It is impossible to produce excellence without investing in the determinants of it – infrastructure and human resources. And, we cannot continue to depend on handouts from the World Bank and the global community to drive excellence in our universities. We must find a way to undertake the bulk of the work ourselves.

Several universities have had problems with accreditation of courses and thousands of Nigerian 'graduates' cannot be admitted to the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, because they are holding on to worthless certificates

,

That leads me to the NUC, the body charged with regulating university education in Nigeria. Professor Okojie, succeeds several academics who had graced the office since Professor Jubril Aminu was in charge. His tenure of office had witnessed the greatest explosion in the number of universities established at any time since University of Ibadan was first established in 1948. The most obvious question to ask is: has the NUC grown its own human resource capacity in tandem with the quantum leap in its responsibilities? Put another way: can the staff adequate to monitor the activities of 40 universities be considered sufficient to handle 128? This is where we are. Can the same number cope with 200, which is where we are going in a few years?

Already, questionable lapses are showing; the most urgent relating to accreditation of courses. Several universities have had problems with accreditation of courses and thousands of Nigerian “graduates” cannot be admitted to the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, because they are holding on to worthless certificates. For those under 30 years, their future hangs on the resolution of this matter. As it is, they can neither obtain employment from reputable organisations; nor can they run for elective office in the future. That is a stiff penalty to pay for the mistakes of adults starting with the NUC. Visit: www.delesobowale.com C M Y K

H

enry Onwubiko, a Professor of Biochemistry in University of Nigeria, Nsukka, has been writing in the newspapers to promote Impact Factor as the Hobson’s choice for the assessment of quality in academic journal publication. His decision to bring this topic to the public space is likely to serve a useful purpose, whatever imperfections his own views on the matter might harbour. The basic thrust of his position is that a journal publication has no quality if it is not captured by a bibliometric agency using the Impact Factor measurement.

The key merit of Professor Onwubiko’s article is that it may trigger the muchneeded public debate in Nigeria on what history is certain to remember as one of the most inimical propositions for effective knowledge production.

Nigeria is tardy to such an important debate. Production of knowledge is so central to development that no issue affecting it should be ignored.

The international community began the debate on Impact Factor almost as soon as this philistine device that is disguised as a scientific qualitymanagement tool was brought in by some Americans 38 years ago.

Happily, as I will demonstrate presently, the Americans themselves have also become one of the most vociferous critics of the proposals after witnessing its grave disappointment as an intellectual qualitymeasurement tool.

It seems advisable to say a word about what Impact Factor is, since this is a mixed audience. Impact Factor aims to rank journals in a bibliometric agency’s database by calculating the frequency of readers’ citations of such journals in the reckoning period following, usually, two previous publication years. But in a typical case, a journal has first of all to apply to the bibliometric agency to be so included in its data base. A journal which hasn’t done this may be of the highest possible quality but is nevertheless excluded from the data base.

A journal so excluded can’t be ranked for Impact Factor. Indeed, numerous such high quality journals that are not ranked, although they enjoy great respect of researchers in their areas of specializations about in Nigeria and overseas. In Nigeria, Western Africa Journal of Archaeology, famous throughout the world and published in University of Ibadan, Nigerian Journal of Engineering and Technology which has continuously published for more than 30 years are only two of many examples. In the US, Proverbium, the number-one authority in the world in the field of Paroemiology is one.

Enumeration of journals that opt out can yield a list that is long enough to fill a big book. So, pace Professor Onwubiko, it is not true that journals that reject Impact Factor are mediocre.

The situation may actually be in reverse for most of such journals.

On 16 December 2012, a conference of some of the foremost scientists on our planet was held in San Francisco, United States, and a declaration condemning the use of Impact Factor was issued with the name, San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment, with the acronym DORA. Among the original 233 signatories to the document were some European, Asian and American scientific journals

of the first water, including Cell Structure and Function (a Japanese journal), Journal of Cell Science, Journal of Neurochemistry, Molecular Oncology, The Journal of Experimental Biology, and so many others.

I will return to DORA shortly but I just mentioned it here to assure Professor Onwubiko who might be new to this sort of discourse that caution in the use of Impact Factor did not originate with Nigerians whom he accused of parading antediluvian ideas, whatever that means. Those who advise against the use of Impact Factor in the assessment of quality of research reports or other intellectual products are actually in a bigger company in current global objective intellectual thinking. Out of DORA’s original 233 signatories I saw only one person from Africa; from Morocco; none from Nigeria, or even sub-Saharan Africa.

I’d like to look at some of the prominent defects of Impact Factor as a device for measuring quality of research articles before I return to some of Professor Onwubiko’s unfair generalizations about intellectual products in Nigeria. The cardinal criticism against Impact Factor is that it is not a valid measurement tool for individual articles that appear in a journal. If an article is cited, the reason can be that it is of good quality but it can also be that it has poor quality. As for the journal where such an article appears, a large number of readers do not ipso facto say anything about quality. The history of Impact Factor reveals an unmistakable consumerist bent on the part of those who fashioned the instrument. As noted in the San Francisco Declaration, with regard to the Thomson Reuters model, “The Impact Factor, as calculated by Thomson Reuters, was originally created as a tool to help librarians identify journals to purchase, not as a measure of scientific quality of research in an article.” There have been two experiments that proved Impact Factor to be manipulatable to a level where it can lead to fraud, or at best, unreliable. Two cases may suffice here for paucity of space. In a case that was reported by HK Scuttea and JG Svec in 2007, one journal that had an Impact Factor of less than 1 decided to cite all the articles it had published in the previous two years, it automatically got an Impact Factor of 14.4 in the next count as a result. Bob Grant writing for the journal, The Scientist, has also reported an interesting case in 2008 where another journal carried an article prodding readers to cite that particular article in reaction. The urging produced 6,600 citations to increase the journal’s Impact Factor from 2. 051 before the publication to 49. 926 after the publication, bettering that of Nature that had 31. 434. Ordinarily Nature was reputed to have the highest Impact Factor score in the world but this smart journal easily demonstrated how simple it is to manipulate the scores.

Clearly, number juggling is not what serious science or scholarship should be about. Actually DORA was only the climax of the global outcry against Impact Factor as a qualitymeasurement strategy.

Dr. Ezeh teaches anthropological linguistics at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and is the Coordinator of the Social Sciences Unit, School of General Studies of the University. continues next week

Vanguard, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19 , 2013 — 33

34—Vanguard, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

We’re trying to be a Varsity without walls — Margee Ensign

By EBELE ORAKPO

Y

ola, Adamawa Statebased American Univer sity of Nigeria (AUN) played host to people from all walks of life between November 29 and 30, 2013 on the occasion of its 8th Founder ’s Day during which the founder and Nigeria’s former VicePresident, His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar was celebrated for his immense contributions to education. Addressing journalists Friday, the President of the institution, Professor Margee Ensign spoke on why AUN which started in 2004, is different from other universities in Nigeria.

American-style school: Describing AUN as an American-style university, Ensign stated that what they are trying to do differently is to be a development university. “This means that all of our students are required to work in one of our community development projects. Community service is a graduation requirement for all students regardless of their major. We are really trying to be a university that teaches students to understand Nigeria’s challenges, to be a university without walls.

As Nigeria’s population doubles every 35 years, we cannot build enough schools so we are trying to build a model for Nigeria.”

Some of the key programmes that set AUN apart, Ensign said, include the Adamawa Peace Initiative set up to ensure peace in its environs, Sustainability Initiative which aims to spur local economic development by providing hands-on training for local people while at the same time protecting and enhancing the natural environment; STEM, STELLAR and ICT projects.

Adamawa Peace Initiative: Many have wondered how Adamawa State, especially Yola, has been able to remain peaceful despite being in a zone noted for insecurity due to Boko Haram insurgency.

Ensign gave the reason: “This place (venue of the Press conference) is the Peace Room. In January 2012 during the fuel subsidy strike, it was pretty tense here, people were not talking to one another and I was wondering if we will reopen. The then Board Chairman, Ahmed Joda and I called on Moslem and Christian leaders, Igbo traders etc., and everyone sat for hours on campus and we thought we better do what we can to make sure we maintain peace. ToC M Y K

day, we are celebrating our third Yola Annual Peace Day,” said Ensign. About 3,000 people took part in the event which featured Yola Peace Day Run, a fundraiser. You run or sponsor somebody with N1,000 and the money goes into projects such as youth empowerment initiatives to keep vulnerable youths in Adamawa State busy and out of harm’s way.

“We have a television show and whenever we get a message that something is happening, we race up to the station and have a discussion.

I have to say that as an American and an outsider to your culture, I learn more from our Peace Council meetings in this room than from anything else I do,” she said.

Sustainability Initiative: “In our sustainability project, we are working with 20 secondary school students in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programme. There is also the STudents Empowered through Language, Literacy and ARithmetic (STELLAR) project to raise the academic achievement of primary school students in the state.

The children are given preloaded tablet computers with English and math for content.

“We have trained about 80 women in the waste-to-wealth programme so you will not see any waste plastic around this part of town because the women pick them up and turn them into plastic yarns and weave them into beautiful items for sale. In the ICT project, we have trained 1,200 vulnerable youths. The founder said a big part of his vision is to get these children off the streets and give them something so we are doing IT and entrepreneurship training for about 1,600 people so far. We have helped over 500 unemployed youths with their own football teams. It has been touching for me to meet these young men and women in their 20s and 30s and for them, it is a big deal to come to campus and be welcomed and get a t-shirt. This is the population we are trying to reach.”

On the guest speaker, Professor Gilbert Bukenya, former Ugandan Vice-President and a medical doctor, Ensign said he was chosen because “he is the kind of what we hope our AUN students will become.

He introduced a whole version of upland rice in Uganda which reduced poverty and malnutrition.” Bukenya in his speech noted that “education

*From left: Dr. Gilbert Bukenya, H. E. Atiku Abubakar, President Margee Ensign and AUN Interim Board Chairman, Mr. Akin Kekere-Ekun standing for the national anthem at the event. is important to development and must be an engine for research. It must be a tool for social change at the community, national and international levels.”

Fees: “We are criticized for charging more than everybody else in Nigeria but that is not true.

There are secondary schools in Abuja that charge more; nevertheless, in a poor country, it is high. We pay about N1m a semester for everything – tuition, board, food, e-books etc but for most people in Nigeria, that is out of reach but 80 per cent of our students pay in full and we use part of it to create scholarships for 15-20 per cent of the poorest kids you can imagine who are sometimes the best. We do admission tests around the country to find these kids.”

AUN which has a primary, secondary, undergraduate and graduate schools, has a total of about 16,000 – 17,000 students. “Tui-

tion doesn’t cover our costs because the challenges of running a university in Nigeria are enormous. We provide power, security, water, sewage etc. So the gap between what we are taking and what we have to pay out is made up by H.E, Atiku Abubakar every month. The US Peace Corps said two years ago when Atiku got the Peace Corps global award that no private businessman in the world has done more for democracy and education than Atiku Abubakar.”

AUN is sustainable: Ensign said AUN has been put in a trust; “it is not a family business so when he passes on (we hope it is a very long time), the profits from one of his companies will sustain AUN. We are also in the final stages of an Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) loan in the USA. This is important because they loan at 3-5 per

cent unlike in Nigeria where interest rate is 14-15 per cent, so if we can get that source of borrowing and with his unbelievable commitment, we are fine. We have outstanding Board members and all of them contribute in one way or the other like scholarships.“ Bright future for Nigeria: “We are training these young Nigerians so you have a crop coming up who can take over.”

Atiku who also celebrated his 67th birthday with AUN community, host community, friends and well-wishers, was full of praises for Prof. Ensign for taking AUN to such an enviable height.

“Education must be a tool for social change at the community, national and international levels”

Rector calls for repackaging of Nigerian ter tiar titutions ertiar tiaryy ins institutions

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE, OSOGBO

T

he Rector, Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, Dr. Jacob Olusola Agboola has called for a national education summit urgently where issues concerning education problems in the country would be discussed.

Agboola, who also decried the standard of education in the country, called for a holistic repackaging of tertiary institutions in the country.

Speaking at a press conference of the fourth combined convocation of the polytechnic, Agboola stressed the need for all stakeholders in the education sector to meet on how to resuscitate the education sector in the country. He noted that the

level of decay in the education sector was high. Highlighting the recent achievements recorded by his administration in the last one year, Agboola disclosed that 36 programmes of the institution cutting across both National and Higher National Diploma levels have been fully accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and other relevant professional bodies.

He informed that the efforts of the institution at complementing the state government’s vision of vocational and technical training has yielded positive results as the institution would soon commence courses in Arts and Design and Tourism Management at the National Diploma level.

Also, he disclosed that the

institution had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sussex University in England for an exchange programme, adding that many students of the polytechnic have benefited from the programme. He said that an MoU had also been signed with the Pinnacle College in the United Kingdom to enable graduates of the institution convert their diplomas to bachelor ’s degree.

Agboola stressed that the students of the polytechnic have been instilled with the ethos of virtue as indecent dressing, examination malpractice and cultism have been curtailed among the students.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19 19,, 2013—35

World class medical facility coming — FG

BY OKEY NDIRIBE

T

HE Federal Government has taken a step towards establishing a world class medical facility designed to reduce the huge foreign exchange lost daily through medical tourism.

To actualise this goal, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim has inaugurated the Board of Trustees of Nigeria Centenary Charity Trust Fund with former military Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon as Chairman.

Speaking after the inauguration of the Board, Gowon said: "Good health is what all of us desire and deserve. Health is a significant component in the fight against poverty for indeed poverty, disease and illiteracy can be said to be related.

Celebrating Nigeria by giving back to Nigerians a world class health facility is innovative and welcome."

"We deserve a centre where every new born child in Nigeria with peculiar health challenges could be cared for in Nigeria.

We need these and more. Our Board is to ensure that when the fund is raised from the public for the provision of these health facilities, it will be used judiciously for the benefit of all Nigerians."

Other members of the BOT include former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Emeka Anyaoku who would serve Vice Chairman and former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Ahmadu Ali.

Also in the Board are King A. J Turner; Mrs. Fatima Abubakar; Mrs. Ekaette Akpabio; Abdulsamad Rabiu; Austin Ufomba; Ijeoma Nwaogwugwu; Doyin Abiola; Sam Nwaobasi and Kingsley Esegbue who would serve as Secretary.

Anyim said that the focus of the Nigeria Centenary Charity Trust Fund is to improve health care in Nigeria and to complement existing programmes and projects of the Federal and State governments.

School saves lives at LASUTH with vital signs monitor

A

S part of efforts to further improve pa tient care and treatment outcomes for patients in critical condition, the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Ikeja, has acquired a brand new state-ofthe-art vital signs monitor courtesy Management of Taqwa Private Schools, Ifako, Agege, Lagos.

The device, which is to be installed at the Intensive Care Unit, ICU, of the health facility, will enhance chances of survival

• Assistant Director, Nursing Service, LASUTH, Mrs. Modupe Shode (2nd left) and an official of the health institution displaying the vital signs monitor while the Governing Board Chairman, Taqwa Private School, Ifako, Mr. Lere Alimi (2nd right) and the Schoop Proprietress, Mrs. Maryam Alimi, look on.

of patients with burns, head injuries, strokes, pregnancy/delivery complications, very ill children and generally patients in very bad condition.

Proprietress of the School, Mrs. Maryam Alimi, said the gesture became necessary in recognition of the high level of poverty within the citizenry coupled with dwindling government resources necessitating support of the private sector.

The Chairman, Taqwa School’s Governing Board, Mr. Lere Alimi called for all hands to be on deck towards providing quality healthcare delivery to the citizenry.

“The important thing is the value it delivers if we are able to save lives, then it has been worth it. The motive behind the geture is to please God and serve humanity.”

Assistant Director, Nursing Service, LASUTH, Mrs. Modupe Shode, said device is specially designed to monitor vital signs of patients in critical condition on admission in the ICU. “It is a monitor that can quickly help determine if a patient’s parameters such as blood pressure, temperature, pulse, respiration, oxygen content, etc., are going up or down.

“The monitor makes it easy for a doctor to observe the patient’s progress at a glance, and quickly enables the caregiver to intervene if the patient is not improving as expected. If we have more of this, it will be very useful, ” Shode stated.

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36 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19 , 2013

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013 —37

I N S I D E

Employees sue company over termination of appointment — Page 39

INEC lacks power to withdraw certificates of return issued (3) — Page 39

Impeachment Call: Is APC's statement treasonable?

BY DAYO BENSON & ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

O

N the heels of a scathing 18- page letter which former President Olusegun Obasanjo, wrote to President Good luck Jonathan on the state of the nation, All Progressive Congress, APC, the unsparing opposition of ruling Peoples Democratic Party ,PDP, asked the National Assembly to impeach Jonathan.

Expectedly, the call which was contained in a statement issued and signed

by APC acting National Publicity Secretary , Alhaji Lai Mohammed, elicited angry reaction from the presidency.

Senior Special Assistant to the president on media, Dr. Reuben Abati responding to APC said opposition leaders should be prepared to face treason charge for making such a brazen call.

Questions then arise: Is the APC statement treasonable in the eyes of the law?

What actually constitute treason and what are the ingredients?

We juxtapose the two separate statements with the relevant sections of the Criminal Code on treason as well as views of senior lawyers.

According to Lai Mohammed in the statement, “Our country is drifting dangerously and our people are divided now perhaps more than at any other point in our history, with the exception of the civil war period. There is a total failure of leadership, even as insecurity, unprecedented corruption, palpable impunity, mas-

•David Mark, Senate President

•President Goodluck Jonathan ber that all it takes to torpedo this democracy is for this increasingly-paranoid government to get a pliant Judge to put a judicial stamp on just one of its litany of illegalities, thus setting the country ablaze. And there are many such Judges as we can see by some recent events, despite our warnings that the efforts of the current CJN to clean up the judiciary must not be sabotaged by a few pliant Judges.

“One such scenario is the present challenge in court by the PDP of the defection to the APC of five state governors.

The PDP has gone to court fully aware of the ruling of the Supreme Court after the party (PDP) attempted to make then Vice President Atiku Abubakar to lose his seat and to also strip him of his privileges following his defection to the ACN.

,

Any person who levies war against the State, in order to intimidate or overawe the President or the Governor of a State, is guilty of treason, and is liable to the punishment of death

sive unemployment and hunger stalk the land.

“Since the raison d’etre of any government is the security and welfare of the citizenry, and the present administration has failed to live up to the justification of its existence, there can be no other definition of gross misconduct than that.

“Therefore, the time has come for the head of that government, on whose desk the buck stops, to be removed through the provisions stipulated in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This is the patriotic thing to do.”

“It is necessary for anyone who may say the call for the impeachment of President Jonathan is outlandish to remem-

,

“What then can be the sole motive behind the PDP’s action: To plunge Nigerian into chaos! This is why we issued a strong warning in our statement of Dec. 5th thus: ‘We wish to state unequivocally that should the PDP go ahead with this plan, there will be widespread repercussions as the APC has resolved that henceforth, every act of impunity of the PDP and the Presidency will be met with stiff resistance in the form of a vociferous telegraphing of people power, the likes of which have not been witnessed in these parts. ‘’We reiterate those words today, and make bold to say that not even the revelation by former President Olusegun

Obasanjo, that snipers are being trained secretly and that 1,000 people have been placed on political watch, will deter us from saving this democracy, which was watered by the sweat and blood of many patriots, long before this generation of opportunists stormed the political scene.”

However, in his response, the Presidential spokesman, Dr Reuben Abati said: “We have noted with utter disdain, the reckless and irresponsible call by the APC for the National Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against President Goodluck Jonathan.

“Ordinarily, we would not have dignified Alhaji Lai Mohammed’s latest vituperations in the service of his paymasters with a response, but we thought it necessary to warn that the Federal Government will not standby idly and let the nation be plunged into unnecessary crises and political instability because of the desperation and apparent readiness of the APC spokesman and his gang of power-seeking desperadoes to sacrifice the well-being of the country on the altar of their selfish personal ambitions.

“The Presidency totally condemns the decision by Alhaji Mohammed and his party to move further beyond the bounds of honourable and acceptable political conduct with the senseless call for the impeachment of a President who continues to sincerely devote himself to the discharge of the sacred mandate freely given to him by Nigerians.

“The APC, which remains a minority party with doubtful credentials in the National Assembly, knows fully well that its attempt to hector and blackmail a Parliament dominated by loyal members of the President’s party, the PDP, into an impeachment process, will come to nothing.....

“The Presidency warns that the APC

•Tambuwal, Speaker, House of Representatives and any persons who make themselves its willing tools for the breach of public order and safety will be made to face the full sanctions of the law. Those who are threatening fire and brimstone should be ready for consequences of treasonable action.....”

But is APC statement treasonable?

Chapter 6, Sections 37, 41, 44, and 49 of the Criminal Code 1990 define treason and treasonable offences.

Treason and certain other Offences 37.(1) Any person who levies war against the State, in order to intimidate or overawe the President or the Governor of a State, is guilty of treason, and is liable to the punishment of death.

(2) Any person conspiring with any person, either within or without Nigeria, to levy war against the State with intent to cause such levying of war as would be treason if committed by a citizen of Nigeria, is guilty of treason and is liable to the punishment of death: Provided that nothing in this section shall prevent any act from being treason which is so by the law of England as in form in Nigeria.

Continues on page 38

EDITORIAL TEAM Dayo Benson (Editor) Innocent Anaba Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri

38—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

Is APC Statement treasonable? accordance with the provision of the constitution, that treason can come in.

Like, I said, it depends on how those who want to do it intend to carry it out. If they go about it in a manner other than what is provided for in the constitution, then it is; otherwise, there is absolutely nothing wrong. It is just a political call.”

Continues from page 37

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, APC Acting National Publicity Secretary. armed forces of Nigeria or any member of the police force from his duty and allegiance; or (b) to incite any such persons to commit an act of mutiny or any traitorous or mutinous act; or (c) to incite any such persons to make or endeavour to make a mutinous assembly; is guilty of a felony, and is liable to imprisonment for life.

,

41. Any person who forms an intention to effect any of the following purposes, that is to say(a) to remove during his term of office otherwise than by constitutional means the President as Head of State of the Federation and Commanderin-Chief of the armed forces thereof; or (b)to likewise remove during his term of office the Governor of a State; or (c) to levy war against Nigeria in order by force or constraint to compel the President to change his measures or counsels, or in order to put any force or constraint upon, or in order to intimidate or overawe any House of the National Assembly or any other Legislature or legislative authority; or (d) to instigate any foreigner to make any armed invasion of Nigeria or of any of the territories thereof; and manifests such intention by an overt act, is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for life. A person charged with any of the felonies defined in this section is not entitled to he acquitted on the ground that any act proved to have been committed by him constitutes the offence of treason; but a person who has been tried, and convicted or acquitted, on a charge of any such offence cannot he afterwards prosecuted for treason in respect of the same facts.

44. Any person who advisedly attempts to effect any of the following purposes, that is to say(a) to seduce any person serving in any of the

unanimous on their views that the call on the National Assembly to impeach the president does not amount to treason.

Professor Itse Sagay, SAN: “I was rather surprise. In a democratic setting, hard words between rival political parties does not

Impeachment is a term provided for in the constitution, so it cannot be a treasonable offence but it depends on the circumstances

49. In the case of any of the offences defined in this Chapter, when the manifestation by an overt act of an intention to effect any purpose is an element of the offence, every act of conspiring with any person to effect that purpose, and every act done in furtherance of the purpose by any of the persons conspiring, is deemed to be an overt act manifesting the intention.

Senior Advocates who spoke on the issue were

,

matter. It is like what they eat like bread and tea for dinner. And what should happen is that the political operators on each side should prepare well, so that they know how to throw feedback at the other side. If they say something, you will reply with something sharper and more deadly. That is democracy. When you begin to resort to threats, by using state power, it shows that you are not politically mature. So the threat

Prof. Itse Sagay, SAN of treason is totally out of place and uncalled for.”

Emeka Ngige, SAN “There is nothing like that in our law. The provisions of treasonable offences are well spell out in the criminal Act. They are trying to be mischievous and childish by such statement. Is impeachable offences for the executives not part of our constitution? So, does the call meant that the president is going to be removed.

“By calling for such punishment or proposing for such punishment against Lai Mohammed was showing that we are no more running democracy.

It also show that by saying somebody has committed such offence, meant that the presidency is not running democracy as well.

Are we not in democracy? It is an indication that the president is still thinking that we are in a military regime. Meanwhile, it is unfortunate that an educated fellow like Dr Reuben Abati can be issuing such statement, when I think he supposed to be well informed about what democracy is all

about.”

Prof. Fidelis Oditah, SAN “No treason if APC has members in National Assembly- ProfessorOditah S A N Why would it be treason, is it not what the constitution provides for? What is treasonable about saying someone is impeachable or asking someone to impeach someone else? I don’t see any treason there. To ask lawmakers to exercise their power is not treason.

“If APC comes up with the plan to impeach the President is no treason itself. Why would it be treason if APC has members in the National Assembly who are able to pass the resolution, why would that be treason.”

Tayo Oyetibo, SAN “Impeachment is a term provided for in the constitution, so it cannot be a treasonable offence but it depends on the circumstances. But ordinarily, calling for the impeachment of a sitting president or governor is not treason but when it is not done in

Femi Falana, SAN There is nothing treasonable for the call or demand for the impeachment of the president of the Republic of Nigeria or the governor of a state. It is an exercise of the freedom of expression by the man. Instead of such statement, the presidency should react to the serious allegations contained in former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s letter, in spite of the hypocrisy that characterised the letter that stated the presidency is training snipers and if it is found that such serious allegation is untrue, General Obasanjo should be arrested and prosecuted for given false information to Nigerians and if however it is true, it is criminal.

Bamidele Aturu “No, it is not a treasonable offence. Calling for the president’s impeachment certainly cannot be a treasonable offence.

Even though I do not personally agree with it in the sense that I will want the National Assembly to investigate properly and give the president time to respond to the issues that has been raised but that does not mean that anyone calling for the president’s impeachment is a treasonable offence. That is one of the most careless response I have gotten from the Federal government in recent time. So, I do not agree, I think it is wrong because we are in a democratic society. Nigeria is a constitutional democracy and we should not forget that. The constitution guarantees freedom of speech. So, when an opposition party calls for the impeachment of the president, whether rightly or wrongly, that should not be termed a treasonable offence. I think people are using those words carelessly, it shows we do not have democrats in Nigeria but

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013 — 39

INEC lacks power to withdraw certificates of return issued (3)

Continued from last week At pages 1459 – 1460 of the record the court below (Coram: Olotu, J) found as a fact that: The plaintiffs have shown vide affidavit evidence and Exhibits ‘KT 2 A-J and KT 3A – J that they are the candidates whose scores were declared and were returned by the 1st defendant on 9th/10th and 14th April, 2011 respectively in connection with the National Assembly elections which held on 9th April, 2011 … - The plaintiffs Exhibits KT 2A – J and KT 3A – J stand as proof for the plaintiffs as the candidates whose scores were declared and who were returned by the 1st Defendant at the election.

These are conclusive findings of fact, are not being contested by the parties, particularly INEC, the 1st defendant at the court below. The settled principle of law is that decisions of court not appealed against remain valid, binding, subsisting and presumed acceptable between the parties. See LSBPC v. PURIFIATION TECHNIQUES (NIG) LTD. (2012) 52 NSCQU (pt. 10 274 at 301 D-E. Paragraph 33 of the counter-affidavit of 5th - 15th defendants admit that the Court of Appeal is the final court as regards appeals from National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly Election Tribunal. This is an acknowledgment of Section 246 (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended.

Section 285 (1) (a) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, vests in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly Election Tribunal exclusive jurisdiction “to hear and determine petitions as to whether any person has been validly elected as a member of the National Assembly.”

The facts of this case suggest that INEC, the 1st defendant, conducted the election and declared each of the 1st - 10th respondents winner in their respective constituencies. INEC made the return after the conducting elections in those constituencies, which elections have not been nullified or invalidated. For each return, it issued a certificate of return to each of the 1st - 10th respondents. Thereafter INEC recanted, and purportedly withdrew the certificates of return issued to 1st 10th respondents, and issued to the appellants, each, a new certificate or return.

I had set out the facts in which the 1st - 10th respondents, as plaintiffs took out the originating summons; the essence of which is a judicial review of the powers of INEC, and the 12th - 14th respondents in this appeal.

The law is settled that it is the claim of the plaintiff that determines the jurisdiction of the trial court. See Emeka v. Okadigbo (2012) 18 NWLR (pt.1331) 55 at 89 & 101; Adeyemi v. Opeyori (1976) 6-10 SC 31; Anya v. Iyayi (1993) 7 NWLR (pt.305) 290; Anigboro v. Sea Trucks Nig Ltd (1995) 6 NWLR (pt.399) 35; Onuorah v. Okeke (2005) 10 NWLR (pt.932) 40.

I have read the claims of the plaintiffs and 1st-10th respondents and the facts on which the questions posed and the reliefs sought are predicated. I had earlier set them out in this judgment. I think, here, a distinction should be made between judicial review of administrative actions, which by dint of Section 6 (6) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, generally falls within inherent jurisdiction of court of law, and “the jurisdiction to hear and determine petitions as to whether any person has been validly elected as a member of the National Assembly,” which jurisdiction falls within the exclusive jurisdiction of the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly Election Tribunal by dint of Section 285 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

Judicial review is a central mechanism of administrative law or public law, by which the judiciary historically took constitutional responsibility of protecting against abuses of power by public authorities. It ensures that not only that no public body or authority is above the law, but also the protection of the rights of all those affected by governmental actions. The courts insist that they have a constitutional role and duty of ensuring that the rights of citizens are not abused by unlawful exercise of executive power. Lord Diplock had stated in Council of Civil Service Unions v. Minister for Civil Service (1985) AC 374 at 408E that “judicial review– provides the means by which judicial control of administrative action is exercised.”

The basis of judicial review rests in the free-standing principle that every action of a public body must be justified by law. See R (Beeson) v. Dorset County Council (2003) UKHRR 353. And that public officials or authorities must be governed by law and by law alone their actions be guided.

Employees sue company over termination of appointment STORIES BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

T

HREE former em ployees of a Lagos based aviation company, Caverton Helicopters Limited have dragged the company and its Business Development Manager, Mr. Lolade Makanjuola before an Ikeja High court for alleged wrongful termination of appointment, unlawful arrest and detention.

To this end, they were praying the court presided over by Justice Oludotun Adefowope-Okojie to declare that their alleged arrest and detention were illegal. Already the Court has fixed January 27, 2014 to determine whether or not it has jurisdiction to hear the s u i t .

The claimants led by Mr. Ebere Joshua Sokwa have sued Caverton and its Business Development Manager for wrongful termination of appointment, unlawful arrest and detention.

At the last hearing of the matter, the defendants, through their counsel, Mr. Akinwale Irokosu, had filed an application in which they challenged the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit.

Citing relevant provisions of the Constitution and the Trade Union Act(third alter-

ation) 2011, they had told the court that by this new law, the matter was an industrial one which could only be heard by the National Industrial Court (NIC).

In a writ of summons filed by their counsel, Akinwale Bajepade, the claimants, jointly and severally, are claiming N80 million as general damages for alleged unlawful arrest, detention, humiliation, embarrassment, harassment, slander and false imprisonment for between one and seven days at Area ‘A’ Police Command, Lion Building, Lagos Island.

They therefore prayed the court for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants either by themselves, agents, servants or privy not to interfere, disturb or hinder the peaceful enjoyment of some properties acquired while in the employment of the company.

They are also asking for unpaid salary arrears, three month’s salaries in lieu of notice, refund of contributions made to the National Housing Fund and Pension Fund and certificate of 5,000 units of shares issued to members of staff by the company.

The first claimant specifically and in addition, prayed the court to order the defendants to release

and give up possession of some properties including a Toyota Avensis salon car marked AX 799 FKJ, HP 17 inch DV7 Laptop Computer, N550,000, 100 dollar cash among others.

In their 85 point statement of claim, the claimants

denied being involved in any fraud while in the employment of the first defendant.

The defendants, in their 42-paragraph statement of defence and counter-claim denied the claims and the knowledge of what tran-

spired between the police and the claimants while they were at the Lion Building, pointing out that they only reported their suspicion of the claimants’ activities within the account department as responsible citizens.

“After the complaint to the police, the matter was outside the defendants’ sphere of authority or control and could not direct how the investigation or interrogation was to be carried out.” They stated.

Lagos advocates enabling law for people with disability

G

OVERNOR Raji Fas hola, SAN of Lagos State Government has called on the Federal Government and other states of the federation to establish laws that will protect the rights of people living with disabilities.

Speaking through the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, Governor Fashola, said it is necessary that other State Governments and indeed the Federal Government take a clue from the Lagos State “Special People’s Law 2011” and do the necessary to ensure its national embrace and implementation.

The speech by the Governor was to commemorate this year International Human Rights day celebrated in Alausa, Ikeja last week.

He said, “It is time to act and create awareness on the rights of people living with disability, they have to be safeguarded against all forms of discrimination and given equal rights and op-

Governor Raji Fashola, SAN portunities. To us in Lagos State, this year event is of particular significance. As you may be aware, the theme of this year’s celebration is ‘The Rights of People Living With Disability.’ This is a call for a development of an all-inclusive legal and socio-economic framework to cater for the welfare and well-being of physically challenged individuals in our society.”

He said it is instructive to note that Lagos State had seen the need to address the challenges being faced by special people as far back as 2011, by establishing the law to safeguard people living with disability against all forms of discrimination and to equal-

ize their opportunities in all aspects of living in the society.

He said further that prior to the enactment of the Law, the issue of special people was perpetually on the back burner of public policy, where they only attracted attention as a matter of statistics.

“Over the years, successive administrations at various levels of government had played lip service to the subject of special people.

Little attention was paid to the care, concern or needs of this set of people. This is despite the peculiarities of their existence.

“In theory, the Constitution of our great country, to which all of us profess allegiance, accords special people a pride of place. It is unequivocally stated in the Constitution that the State is to direct its policy towards ensuring that provision is made for public assistance in deserving cases or other conditions of need.

“However, the reality on ground appears to point in the contrary direction. If there is an issue that all of us as Nigerians are unanimous about it is the fact that our special people require special consideration. On daily basis, we are assaulted by the sight of adults and children of school age begging on our highways. We all are witnesses to the exploitation of our physically challenged on daily basis.

“It is against the backdrop of the above that the Lagos State Government is using the opportunity of this year ’s World Human Rights Day to re-affirm our government’s readiness to continue to uphold the rights of every Lagosian.

We believe that no individual is ‘able’ or ‘disabled’ by choice. The choice is beyond all of us. However, how we treat our disabled compatriots is our choice.

Our choice in Lagos State is to ensure that no one is discriminated on account of his disability.”

40 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19 , 2013

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19 , 2013 — 41

42—Vanguard, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

BY SEBASTINE OBASI, VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG, KUNLE KALEJAIYE & IFEANYI OKOLIE

I

Rush hours

Traffic into and out of Apapa has never been this bad, as it is now a nightmare to work in the once commercially attractive business city.

The situation is at its worst during the rush hours, especially in the morning and in the evening, when many workers and business operators are resuming work or going home at the end

Tankers on Mile 2-Apapa road. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

Agony as Apapa-Oshodi road traffic gridlock worsens zStakeholders blame chaotic situation on lack of parking space of the day’s business. In the process, several man hours that would have been used for other productive and meaningful ventures, are lost to the gridlock.

Menace of tanker drivers

Though construction work by Julius Berger has been going on since this year, thereby causing traffic jam in the past, the recent gridlock was said to have been caused more by tanker drivers waiting to load petroleum products at the tank farms located at Kirikiri and Apapa.

Consequently, residents of Kirikiri Town, who have been at the receiving end from the activities of the oil depot operators have called on government at the federal and state levels to either relocate the oil depots or stop them from storing and lifting highly inflammable petroleum products in the area.

The residents also expressed their displeasure over government’s insensitivity to the dangers posed by oil depot operations in the area which they claimed is residential.

They argued that Kirikiri town, which also has the nation’s number one prison facility, was designed mainly for residential purpose, claiming that the waterfront which originally belongs to the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, was not meant for petroleum storage facility giving the closeness of residential buildings to the waterfront.

Repeated calls, they said, had been made to government agencies saddled with the duties of regulating operations of oil depots in the country to reconsider their decisions of approving the continuous illegal operations of oil depots in Kirikiri town, but all to no avail.

A resident, Israel Ikudembu told Vanguard that the community now lives in fear of a possible fire outbreak.

He said: “Apart from the traffic

jam, we’ve had few signs of what is to come and God is only being merciful to us. Nobody knows when the next big fire will come.

We have seen two and one was only averted on Monday, November 26, 2013.

“A tanker carrying 33,000 litres of petrol lost control and fell into a drainage, spilled all it contents.

It took just the grace of God that there was no explosion, hence fire would have razed the entire community.

Danger lurking

“I am sure this is what govern-

,

N the past two months, driv ing through Apapa-Oshodi expressway, the gateway to the nation’s ports, has been a nightmare for road users, as it now takes about four hours between Sanya and Berger Cement Bus Stop.

A cross section of road users who spoke to Vanguard narrated their ordeals.

“It is horrible. It is frustrating.

It is annoying. I have not seen this kind of thing before. Can you believe I stayed for more than four hours in the traffic? I have been to several countries in the world, I have not seen a place where a road is being constructed and people are made to suffer like this. Why is our own different?” Berechi Okani, who works in a publishing firm in Apapa, said.

Okani told Vanguard that for two months now, he has been going through such harrowing experience daily on his way to work. He said on a particular day, he got to his office about 12.20 pm and since then, he has stopped going to work in his car.

Instead, he uses public transport, which affords him the opportunity to alight at will and take a motorcyle, popularly known as Okada.

Yunus Ajayi, a staff of a first generation bank, at Coconut area of Apapa is always unhappy when he remembers he needs to use the Apapa-Oshodi expressway to and from work.

He said: “When I was transferred to our Coconut branch early this year, I did not reckon with the enormity of the heavy traffic on the road. On several occasions, I arrived the office an hour behind schedule, such that the management has warned me orally and just last week issued me a query. It is so demoralizing that I have come to see my transfer to Apapa as a punishment.”

According to Ajayi, going through the gridlock daily is breathtaking as it is stressful.

He said: “The most agonizing part of it is that when one gets to Mile 2, you are confronted by street urchins and thieves who would break your car’s side glass, steal your belongings and may only leave you unharmed if you are lucky.”

Okani and Ajayi experience depicts the worsening traffic situation on the ever-busy ApapaOshodi expressway, especially in the last two months.

“This moment, all we need from government is to relocate them from Kirikiri or rather stop them from storing and distributing highly flammable petroleum products in Kirikiri town. Now oil depot operators are bent on buying over property from owners who are scared of living in the town.”

Another resident, Mr. Charles Ezugo, said the entire area is completely in a mess as residents now spend hours on traffic if they most go home.

He said: “Living in kirikiri town is now terrible and the truck drivers have made it that bad for us.

Living in kirikiri town is now terrible and the truck drivers have made it that bad for us.

They now park their trucks on the Kirikiri link bridge and block the road for hours without allowing residents access to their homes.

,

ment is waiting for before they would take decisive action against the illegal storage of petroleum products in Kirikiri town.

“I have gone through the Petroleum Act and it is very clear that the location of oil depot in a residential area like Kirikiri town his purely illegal.

“Their operations clearly contravene all the sections of the Petroleum Act, including water and air pollution. We have made several efforts to contact the authorities and we have not been able to get proper response from them. In most cases, the Lagos government will blame the Federal Government. But this is fraud. Whoever signed the approval of the construction of these oil depots in Kirikiri town ought to be prosecuted.

They now park their trucks on the Kirikiri link bridge and block the road for hours without allowing residents access to their homes.

They do this with the backing of the police who usually sit and watch them.

“The only time the roads will be free is when Navy officials from the naval base are on ground to free the roads.

“This is too bad and we can’t call on anybody for assistance.

When you go to the police they will tell you that they can’t control truck drivers, but people who are close to them have informed us that the the police allowed this because NUPENG officials that collect tolls from the truck drivers give back their returns to the police.”

Apapa is home to Nigeria’s two

foremost ports which are currently being managed by nine terminal operators. Between the two ports called Lagos Port Complex and Tin Can Island Port, more than 65 per cent of dry cargoes and about 90 per cent of the nation’s petroleum products are handled.

This is because it hosts about 25 tank farms. These are in addition to the many shipping companies, numerous banks and other businesses that are located in this port city.

The building of these tank farms and their subsequent attraction of scores of fuel tankers was not taken into consideration when the roads were initially constructed.

These obvious facts, more than ever, justify calls for lasting solutions to the issue of gridlocks on Apapa roads that ordinarily should be without any hindrance because they connect the ports, which are merely cargo transit areas.

Why trucks are parked on the road

Is there enough justification for trucks to park on the road? Mr. Sylvanus Opara, a licensed customs agent said the main reason why trucks park on the road, was because terminal operators, shipping firms, tank farm owners either do not have parking spaces for truck drivers coming to do business in their premises, or the ones that have, do not have enough space to accommodate all of them.

According to him, “let me ask you: do you want the truck drivers to carry the trucks on their heads? The Federal Government must compel the terminal operators, shipping firms, tank farm owners to provide enough space for all the trucks coming to do business in their premises.

“It must not only ask them to provide the loading bay, but it

Continues on page 43

Vanguard , THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013—43

Agony as Apapa-Oshodi road traffic gridlock worsens

Makers of Izobo I

Tankers on Kirikiri bridge, Lagos Continues from page 42 must give them deadline to provide it and punish those who fail to comply.”

Also speaking, Mr. Tokunbo Korodo, Lagos Zonal Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, which has the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD, is an affiliate, said the situation should not be blamed on tanker drivers.

Lack of parking spaces for trucks

He said: “We have observed the chaotic situation on that axis since over two weeks now. I have been there physically to inspect the situation. What I saw was very disturbing that I have to call the Lagos State governor and drew his attention to the issue and told him that there is need for us to meet with him urgently.

“He promised that he would soon meet with us. We are trying to avoid a situation where we have a confrontation with Lagos State Transport Management Authority, LASTMA. “However, what we have observed was that we noticed no free passage in that area. We went round and observed that it is not tankers per say that park on the road. We saw some containers, heavy duty articulated vehicles that park indiscriminately on that road.”

He also attributed the gridlock to lack of parking spaces for trucks.

He said: “Most of our petroleum depots are working as we speak. When the tanker drivers are given clearance to come in for loading and there is no free passage, there will be logjam on the road. That is what is happening. One of the major reasons for this chaos is lack of parking space.”

The labour leader explained that the space given to NUPENG at Orile has been reduced due to road expansion.

He noted: “We have where we were given at Orile known as

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Truck Terminal. As we speak, because of the expansion on the Badagry express road, it has reduced space to almost zero,that is why you find some of the tankers parked on the high way.

“That was what made us to draw the attention of Lagos State to the situation and for him not to see us as a little lawless. It is because there is no space for us to park again. If there is space, we will not be on high way.

Lagosians can bear us witness that since we were given that place (Orile), we maintained high level discipline in the way we parked our trucks.”

Also, the National Chairman Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), Mr. Remi Ogungbemi, said the traffic situation along the access roads to the port would remain the way it is unless government provides a parking space within the ports for its members.

According to him, “before the port concession, there were designated places where trucks were allowed to park. But the port concession arrangement has taken over those places. That is why you are now seeing trucks littering the whole place within the ports, that is, the Tin Can and the Apapa ports.

“All those trucks parking on the road, it is not in the interest of the owner or the driver, but the truck has to come from somewhere. Look at an aircraft that flies. We have airport. We have a tarmac. We have a hanger for planes. We also need a terminal for trucks designated within the ports.

Ports’ structure tampered with

“For me, this is what I know to be the permanent solution to the traffic situation within the two ports.”

“To a layman, you will say that the truck operators are the cause, but the major cause of the traffic is that the foundation or struc-

ture of the ports has been tampered with. So in the absence of a truck terminal at the port, you automatically find trucks parking anywhere they see a space.

“We cannot exonerate ourselves. We can only be managing the situation on ground pending the time we have the infrastructure in place.”

However, the continuous parking of trucks on the road by petroleum tanker drivers violates the Petroleum Act 1974, 1988,( as amended).

According to the Act, which Vanguard obtained, section 80 (1), states:“No tank vehicle shall be parked on the highway.

Sub-section (2) further explaines: “Where a mechanical breakdown or other cause prevents a vehicle from leaving a highway, the driver shall remain with the vehicle and take all reasonable precautions to prevent a fire or other accident; and in particular, he shall see to it that: (a) Two collapsible metal notice boards each bearing the word “DANGER” in red reflector glass are placed in the centre of the road, fifty yards ahead of, and fifty yards behind, the standing vehicle; (b) One red lamp is placed beside each of the boards mentioned in sub-paragraph during the hours of darkness; (c) The fire extinguishers in the vehicle are removed, if necessary, and placed where they may be readily available if the vehicle catches fire.

Recall that recently, the Senior Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on maritime services, Mr. Leke Oyewole, said that government was working on long term measures to address the issue.

According to him, apart from directing the contractors handling the road rehabilitation project to expedite action on the projects, efforts were also being intensified to complete the truck part project as quick as possible.

ZOBO in my native Esan is what Yoruba call Ebo; Ibo, Aja; Ibibio, Uwa; Igbira, Isovo, and so on and so forth. It is that collection of edibles and usables that one particularly finds at crossroads and busy spots, which the indigent, hungry, strays, ants, animals and ancestors feed from and make merry. In that happy mood, they all pray for the provider and God cannot afford to ignore such wonderful chorus of supplications.

Sacrifice, got it?

Then the white man, the perennial busy-body, happened.

Suddenly everything that was the black man’s mode of worship or intercession, became fetish. Now Izobo are so ugly and fit for Governor Fashola’s PSP trucks that the most hungry of madmen knows these left-overs to be healthy sources of cholera. Our ancestors must be wiser than lunatics, so today’s Izobo simply mess up the roads and foul the air until Mother Nature intervenes.

The kind of music Nigeria’s laptop-toting (CD-in-the-backpockets) singers make is nothing but Izobo. I mean the type that I suggested for the PSP trucks. In traditional African societies, art is not for art sake. Everything is done with the survival of the community as a primary goal.

But patriotism is not engendered by political demagoguery, and Nigerian leaders have breached the social contract. The result is that I belong to a generation that has learnt to say “me” before learning any language.

This generation of indigents and the living-dead (my apologies Kongi) takes today’s cholera-inducing Izobo as manna.

Nowadays that just a single (album) turns any unknown hustler to a millionaire musical star overnight, our ancestors must be more discerning than us. All I need to be rolling in millions is a good hook for my chorus. Forget about my croaking voice. There are software to polish it. So when I deign to perform live and the voice sounds different from what you hear on CD, your loss.

Suddenly some youths abroad discovered two facts: One, that they are Nigeria citizens; and two, they have musical talent.

But all they did was target their own share of the millions flying around by dedicating so-called talents to the norm of describing and suggesting uses for the female anatomy. Or, better still, coin a word or phrase that will keep the Izobo (sorry, I mean music) in the lapdogs’ consciousness for a few months before another hit single appears.

A creative artiste cannot be divorced from the society he/she evolves from. But that artiste

owes it a duty to improve on how that society functions. That the failures of successive Nigerian governments have produced an anti-establishment and countertraditional generation does not justify the confusion a parent (that still cares, anyway) will face when asked by these sharp children what “Kerewa” or “Eminado” means.

Virtually all sub-sectors of Nigerian entertainment industry is still at its infancy, yet many youths have been taken off the streets by the industry and made millionaires. This is the more reason they should give back to that buyer that spends N100 on a CD by fighting a rotten system.

Majority of what I hear send me back to one small CD shop in Alaba. There you find yourself in the arms of those singers who can sing of and for the society, lark about love and heartbreak, and moan about hope and pessimism. But these philosophers belong in another era.

A few from my time used to prepare good old Izobo. But they had to adjust because Cash-RulesEverything-Around-Me and a generation of rudderless youths has to be fed. For soul-stirring Christian acapella music laced with humour and satire, you remember DC Envoys, made up of Gordons, Mudiaga (of Mudi Fashions) and a third guy. The next time you meet Maleke, ask him to sing “Small Small.” It was a ballad he did before leaving Edo State for Lagos.

Organised noises from caller tunes, CD stores and commercial buses make you yearn for GT Guitarman’s “Dreamer,” Mode 9’s “Cry,” Asa’s smokey voice and even Oritse Femi’s constant tears.

These days (oh! my Bon Jovi) Plantation Boiz’s oldies sound heavenly. No! I do not mean the Plan B album with which they defrauded fans. Only “Rather Be” has the original Plantation feel in that album. Sound Sultan has also shifted and one waits in vain these days for that gradual enveloping that 2Baba’s songs achieve.

Thank God the old can now tap into the booming market by crossgenerational collaboration, and the young can launch their singing career by re-doing evergreens. By the way, where is Soty? She gave me “Malaria” (never mind the bad video) and disappeared.

Oh! You accuse me of idolatry?

You are worse because your ring tone, which is the latest dance hall hit and describes how she should utilise “ what your mamma gave you” in unromantic and uncreative lyrics makes you principalities without taste.

What our ancestors will not smell, you consume with relish.

It is just my opinion.

44—Vanguard, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

Delta budgets N391.51bn for 2014

Nigerians tasked on patience

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

A

SABA— DELTA State Government, yesterday, announced a budget proposal of N391.51 billion for 2014 fiscal year.

Tagged Budget of Consolidation, Sustainable Economic Growth and Development, it comprises N159.78 billion (48.8 per cent) for Recurrent Expenditure and N231.72 billion (59.1 per cent) for Capital Expenditure.

The year 2014 budget proposal shows a

A

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Delta State, Dr. Pius Sinebe, has called on Nigerians to be patient and allow the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Conference to do its work of providing a platform for them to decide the future of the country.

Dr. Sinebe, who made the remark in his reaction to critics of the proposed national conference, said: “At this stage of our development and history, Nigerians should learn to think positive about the future of the country and work with the President to allow him create a platform for them to decide their future.

“I think this is the best time for Nigerians to decide the future of the country.

President Jonathan has good intention for this country and I don’t know what those who are against the conference really want.”

decrease of N80.49 billion, when compared to the year 2013 approved budget of N472.00 billion.

Presenting the budget proposal before members of the state House of Assembly, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan said “the main focus of year 2014 budget is to sustain the drive towards Delta State beyond oil initiative.

“We have in this respect put together a budget and business plan in line with the objectives and priorities we set out in the three-point agenda.

‘Bayelsa host communities neglected’

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

ENAGOA— BAYELSA State chapter of Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas, HOSTCOM, yesterday, described the oil-producing communities in the state as worse off in the Niger Delta with noticeable high crime due to neglect and endemic poverty.

Speaking at the fourth annual HOSTCOM workshop in Yenagoa, Chairman of Bayelsa State chapter, Dr. B. O. B. Nabena, called for the

establishment of a special commission to cater for the developmental needs of the oil and gas producing communities in the state.

He warned that the continued neglect of the communities was capable of encouraging criminality, which the government could hardly contain.

Nabena said: “The oil producing communities in Bayelsa State are the worst in the Niger Delta lacking basic infrastructure.

“Youth unemployment is very high, women are helpless, health problems are

Ozekhome becomes Benin chief

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

“Emphasis in 2014 shall be on the completion of ongoing key projects given the size of carryover projects.

“This is a result-oriented strategy, wherein an allocation to budget heads are tied to performing projects and programmes that can sustain development.

“This budget contains clear proof of our sound financial management and evidence of our commitment to good governance for the benefit of Deltans of today, and in the years to come.

ENIN— THE Benin monarch, Oba Erediauwa, has conferred a chieftaincy title on human rights lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome.

Chief Ozekhome was conferred with the title Enobakhare of Benin Kingdom, meaning Oba’s word is final.

Though Ozekhome is from Etsako East Local Government

Area in Edo North senatorial district, the Oba’s title places him as one of the high-ranking chiefs in Benin Kingdom.

He was decorated with the title by emissaries of the Oba, led by Chief Festus Osakpamwan.

Ozekhome was later taught the dance steps of a Benin Chief as well as the greetings of the Oba by palace chiefs.

The human rights lawyer

later danced through the streets around his Akhionbare residence in GRA as a way of informing the people about the title bestowed on him by the Oba. Prince Edun Akenzua, Chief Arala Osula, Commissioner for Arts and Culture, Annena Jemitola, Commissioner for Agriculture, Abdul Oroh amongst others, were at the occasion.

unprecedented and crime is on the increase as result of neglect and lack of human capacity development.

“Development of host communities required a systematic approach,” Nabena added.

2015: Lawmaker cautions PDP over rigging

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN— AHEAD of the 2015 general elections, a member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Rasaq Bello-Osagie, yesterday, warned Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, against using the instruments of state to violate electoral laws.

While calling for special prisons for violators of electoral laws, the member, who represents Oredo Federal Constituency, told Vanguard that the much talked about disintegration in 2015 might occur if PDP decided to rig the elections.

He said: “I am sure under

our electoral laws we have enough laws to deal with electoral matters.

“What I also think is that we may need to look at areas of sanctions where people should be tried; we may need to build some more reform centres so we can keep people who violate electoral laws there.

“We have enough laws to deal with electoral law violators, but we need to look at it.

“But one thing is certain, PDP as a party should avoid the temptation of using the instrument of state to violate the existing laws and the rule of law.”

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

“Mr. Speaker, I want to use this opportunity to restate our very strong desire to finish strong.

“With 2014 being the last full year of this administration in office, Deltans are desirous that the promises and hopes we have raised should be kept. We are determined that it shall be so.

“Without the appropriate strategies, it will be unwise for us to make ambitious revenue projections. During 2014 fiscal year, our Revenue Services will increase its focus on untapped revenue potentials.

“We shall review the provisions of the Delta State Internal Revenue Consolidation Bill 2009, which may not have envisaged current realities.

“New revenue sources are being identified and their rates need to be properly captured in the revenue law.”

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

On APC's call for Jonathan's impeachment

I

T is kindergarten display with grave ignorance about treasonable offences.

Why and how did these guys come this low in reasoning? I thought they were Ph.D. holders, yet they are displaying this level of ignorance about treason?— Ms. Oluchi John, Student.

W

HY is the 18-page letter and impeachment saga coming at the same time?

There is a connection.

He is always interested in who rules Nigeria. It is not about Jonathan, APC or PDP. This is about Nigeria and its people.— Mr. Eunan Ekong, Businessman.

T

HE President's media men do more harm than good to his credibility. A President is supposed to lead through thought and actions and, when criticised, should not be too eager to reply. Jonathan’s aides just go for blood every time.— Mr. Igwe Ndubuisi, Engineer.

C

ALL for the impeachment of a president is a constitutional option. The fast and furious reactions from the Presidency and PDP suggest that APC’s statement hit the target.

They were trying to needle the government.— Mr. Vitus Efosa, Musician.

T

HE call is another method of making Nigeria ungovernable.

God is watching you, trouble makers. Is impeaching the President solution to Nigeria’s problems? No. So why is APC coming up with impeachment suggestion?— Mr. Offia Cletus, Secretary.

W

HAT is the lawlessness in calling for the impeachment? The same constitution that makes it possible for him to be elected is the same that allows for impeachment. Let them make good the threat if they are serious.— Mr. Stanley Okafor, Personal Assistant.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013—45

2015: Delta guber not zoned to North —Ijaw leaders

Omo-Agege attributes PDP's success in Delta to Uduaghan

BY FESTUS AHON

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

U

F

ORMER Secretary to Delta State Government, SSG, and Chairman of Urhobo Political Congress, UPC, Chief Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege, has attributed the success of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the recent Delta Central bye-election to the achievements of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s administration in the past six and a half years.

Omo-Agege, who made the statement, yesterday at Orogun, Delta State, during a victory rally organized by Ughelli North chapter of PDP to celebrate the success of the party in the election which saw Senator Emmanuel Aguariavbodo emerging victorious, maintained that they would not have been celebrating today without Uduaghan's resolute support and leadership, which made the victory possible.

Edo women protest oil firm's alleged insensitivity

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—WOMEN of Iwevbo in Orhionmwon Local Government Area, Edo State, yesterday, staged a protest against Newcross Petroleum Limited, an oil company operating in the area, over alleged neglect of the community.

The protesting women, who displayed placards that bore inscriptions such as “Newcross, grant us our wishes”, “John Palmer must go”, “Newcross, deal with Mr. Sunday Efekomaraye”, noted that the community was yet to feel the presence of the company since the commencement of its oil exploration activities in the area.

They claimed that Iwevbo had granted power of attorney to Mr. Sunday Efekomaraye, Chief James Iyafe, Chief Joseph Ukweku, Mr. David Agwefiada, Mr. Austin Eyimofe, Mr. E Etakperhime and Edafe Edafetite, to represent the community in negotiations with Newcross Petroleum Limited or any other company, upon the termination of an MoU dated September 30, 2013, in respect of all matters relating to OPL 283 bloc in the community.

VISIT: Wife of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mrs Unoma Akpabio, exchanging pleasantries with PDP women after a reception in Uyo, yesterday.

Bayelsa releases N3bn back up fund for completion of 40-yr-old road

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

E N A G O A — BAYELSA State governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, has given December 2014 deadline for the completion of the multi-billion naira Ogbia-Nembe road, as he presented a cheque of N3bn as balance payment to the contractor, SETRACO Plc. Contract for the over 40 years old road was awarded about six years ago by Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, in conjunction with the Niger Delta Development Commission,, NDDC, but the project was stalled due to alleged poor funding.

Presenting the financial instrument during the monthly transparency briefing yesterday, at the banquet hall, Dickson said the timely completion of the project was dear to the heart of his administration due to the relevance of the area to the economic growth of the state.

He said: “The Ogbia-Nembe

road is leading to a very critical area of our state and country. That is the road that will lead us to Brass Island which is going to be the economic nucleus of not just our state and geo-political zone, but for the whole of this country and even for West Africa. ”But you can't get there unless you first get to Nembe. I know that some efforts were made to try and do a road from Nembe to Brass but the first thing to do by any pragmatic government, is to see how you construct a road from Ogbia to Nembe before linking Brass Island. That is the practical way to go about it.”

The governor commended the efforts of SPDC and NDDC at breaking the fallow ground, noting that it had become more imperative for the state government to intervene in order to alleviate the sufferings of the peo-

ple in the area. ”I am aware that SPDC and NDDC have been partnering on that road and I want to commend them for that partnership. But the partnership that has been going on for so long is making our people impatient and rightly so because we need to at least drive to Nembe while waiting for the road to get to Brass. ”When I look at the situation and hear the complaints from that area and see the sufferings of the people from that area and how, on a daily basis, innocent law- abiding people suffer indignities and inconveniences and sometimes attacks from sea pirates and other bandits who take advantage of the creeks and rivulets in that area, it becomes clear that the government means well for our people and must do something about it."

MISSING $49BN OIL MONEY: Stop playing politics with your job, Owie tells Sanusi

BY EMEKA MAMAH

F

ORMER Senate Chief Whip, Senator Rowland Owie, yesterday, lampooned the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, for allegedly playing politics with his job.

Owie said the recent controversy surrounding his letter on the alleged missing $49 billion oil money was an example of how not to play politics with the CBN. He spoke against the backdrop of the advice to the National Assembly, NASS, by All Progressives Congress, APC, to commence impeachment proceedings against President Goodluck Jonathan, based on the 18-page

open letter to Jonathan by former President Olusegun Obasanjo as well as Sanusi’s letter on the alleged missing money.

His words: "I wish to call the attention of all Nigerians to the dangerous politics of Lamido Sanusi, the CBN governor. I had warned him about three years ago that the CBN is not Kano Emirate. The fact that Sanusi’s letter on the alleged ‘missing $49 billion oil money’ came out at the same time with Obasanjo’s letter, makes it clear that Sanusi and Obasanjo are working together. ’’Therefore, he has no

business running CBN and playing APC politics. He should resign and go into active politics. Since Sanusi became governor of CBN, he has been behaving as if he is a saint. He carried his pride and arrogance to the floor of the Senate and there played to the gallery. My colleagues spared him then but I think he has set himself up for scrutiny this time and he should face the music. ’’If it is true that other directors of CBN are claiming ignorance of Sanusi’s letter to the President and if it is true that $49 billion is not lost, Sanusi should be dismissed and handed over to the police for prosecution.

G H E L L I — A GROUP, Ijaw Opinion Leaders, has said that 2015 Delta State governorship has not been zoned to Delta North as speculated in some quarters.

While condemning recent media reports credited to some groups in the state, the group said the governorship position had always been contested by the three senatorial districts in the state since 1999.

Chief Timi Johnson, a leader of the group, expressed regret that some minority ethnic groups in Delta South senatorial district that had enjoyed the support of other ethnic nationalities, especially the Ijaws, could say the governorship had been zoned to Delta North come 2015.

He said: “The fact that the incumbent governor is an Itsekiri man from Delta South senatorial district does not preclude persons from other ethnic groups in Delta South from contesting for the position of the governor in 2015.

“Governor Uduaghan could not have been governor without the massive support of the Ijaws and other ethnic groups within Delta South.”

Agbarha-Otor celebrates PDP's senatorial victory in Delta Central

P

EOPLE of AgbarhaOtor in Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, have celebrated PDP’s victory in the last Delta Central senatorial bye-election that produced Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo as a senator.

Speaking at AgbarhaOtor town hall, the commissioner representing Ughelli North and Ethiope East Local Government Areas, Chief Chris Obiuwevbi, thanked the people for their outstanding support in the poll.

He noted that Agbarha people performed very well in the election, adding that the total votes cast at Agbarha were 13,956, making it the kingdom with the highest votes in the bye- election.

46Vanguard , THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

PDP chieftain asks security agencies to invite Obasanjo over snipers’ comment

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BY JONAH NWOKPOKU

ENIN—A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State, Hon. Johnson Agbonayinma, has called on security agencies to invite former President Olusegun Obasanjo for questioning over his claim that the Federal Government was training snipers.

Agbonayinma, who made this call in a statement, said the allegation was very weighty and capable of creating panic in the country, adding that “the Presidency must not allow former President Olusegun Obasanjo to enjoy the luxury of making such sensitive and weighty allegation that has implications for security of lives and move on as if he has offered a noble public service.”

According to him, “Obasanjo should be invited to provide useful information about his training of snipers claim, where they are being trained and the 1000 persons on the Presidency watch list because, to me, the claim appears tendentious, mischievous and inciting.

“I have not forgotten the Obasanjo years when real and perceived political opponents were taken out in a series of assassination incidents in which the killers have not, up till now, been apprehended.

As of today, the killers of Chief Bola Ige, who served as Minister of Justice and Attorney General in Obasanjo’s government, who was murdered in his Ibadan home, are yet to be apprehended.

“Was it not under the Obasanjo administration that yet-to-beapprehended gunmen killed Chief Marshal Harry, a one-time SouthSouth leader of the PDP, who later moved to the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, to support General Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential ambition in 2003? What of another South-South PDP leader, Chief Aminasori Kala Dikibo, who was also killed on his way from PortHarcourt to Delta for a party meeting?”

Imo lawmakers shun budget presentation O

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

WERRI—THE planned presentation of Imo State 2014 Appropriation Bill by Governor Rochas Okorocha to the State House of Assembly turned out to be a farce, while journalists and all the invited guests went home disappointed.

Although no reason was advanced by Government House for the failure of Okorocha to present the budget, Vanguard, however, gathered that most members of the legislature were absent as at the time the presentation was to be read.

It was gathered that the few members of the House, which was not enough to form a quorum, expressed anger that they were not properly notified ahead of the presentation.

The budget presentation, which was originally billed for 10a.m., was later shelved as there was nothing to show that the lawmakers were ready to receive the governor.

The speaker, Mr. Benjamin Uwajumogu, arrived Ikemba Ojukwu Conference Centre, currently used for legislative functions, nearly one hour behind

schedule.

The governor’s aides, who were in the place early to ascertain the level of preparedness for the event, noticed that the lawmakers were not ready for the event and immediately sent the appropriate signal to

Government House.

Vanguard gathered from some staff of the Assembly that “most members of the House only learnt about the event from the state radio station and this is not fair to the legislators.”

A female staff, who equally spoke on strict grounds of

anonymity, told Vanguard that “the lawmakers felt deeply slighted that the governor did not properly inform the House about his official visit to the Assembly.”

Meanwhile, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the budget presentation has been shifted to tomorrow.

PRESENTATION: Zonal Head, Edo/Delta, First City Monument Bank, FCMB, Ltd, Mr. Chinedu Ogosi (left), presenting a cheque of N1million to Mr. Opia Peter Azubuike, a customer of the bank with the prize, at the South-East/South-South regional draw of the bank’s 30th anniversary promo in Asaba, yesterday.

FG urges pro-chancellors of Polytechnics to intervene in ASUP strike

A

BY LAIDEAKINBOADE

BUJA—THE federal government yesterday appealed to Committee of ProChancellors of Federal Polytechnics to mediate in the impasse between it and Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, in order to ensure that Nigerian students returned to school.

Supervising Minister of Education, Mr. Ezenwo Wike, made the appeal while addressing the Pro-Chancellors in a meeting in Abuja.

He said the Federal Government had met over eighty percent of the demands of ASUP, with the release of the white-paper, the only thing left to be done.

He said: “Contrary to insinuations by the union, the Federal Government holds the Polytechnic staff in high esteem, hence the setting up of the Needs Assessment to determine the level of decay in the schools and how much will be needed by the Federal Government to revive the institutions.

“The Federal Government has started the process of paying the N20.8 billion arrears owed Polytechnic staff, the funds will be released as soon as the procedures are concluded.”

Earlier, chairman of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, called on the minister to facilitate the resolution of the strike by ASUP. He also called on the Federal Ministry of Education to work

towards the release of the white paper of the Visitation Panels to Federal Polytechnics and pay arrears owed polytechnic staff.

The meeting was attended by officials of the National Board for Technical Education and chairmen of 14 governing councils of Polytechnics.

Meanwhile, in order to

ensure proper monitoring of the N200 billion that was part of the agreement reached with Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to call off its five months old, the Federal Government yesterday inaugurated a committee to monitor proper use of the money.

Wike, while inaugurating the committee, said it was part of the resolution reached between the Federal Government and ASUU. He said the setting up of the committee showsedthe commitment of the Federal Government in ensuring that tertiary institutions were properly funded.

Fears over non-remittance of N234m deducted from Imo LGs

BY CHIDINKWOPARA

O

WERRI—THE nonremittance of N234 million, which the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development deducted from the 27 local government councils for services rendered by Imo Broadcasting Corporation, IBC, has started fueling fears that “the huge fund may have disappeared in transit”, The current fear over the money may not be unconnected with the findings contained in a two-part report of the Chinedu Offor-led seven-man Technical Committee set up by the state government, vide GH/COS/ S.003/XIV/32 of October 19, 2012, and GH/COS/S.013/1/20 of October 29, 2012.

The signatories to the document, included former

commissioner for information and strategy, Mr. Chinedu Offor, Commissioner for Finance, Deacon John Chike Okafor, Commissioner for Local Government and Rural Development, Chief Gerry Okoli, the Accountant-General, Mr. George Eche, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Mrs. L.N. Asuzu, former Director-General of IBC, Mr. Alex Nwahiri and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr. Goddy O. Dike, who equally doubled as Secretary.

The shocking discovery was in tandem with the Committee’s first term of reference, which is “to determine the reason(s) for the non-payment of monthly

pension to IBC pensioners from 2010 to September 2012.”

On page six of the largely ignored report, the Committee recommended that the “Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development should be directed to release the outstanding sum of N243 million or N110,727,079 percommercialisation or N13.5 million commercialisation in its coffers, being the publicity packages/services rendered by the corporation to the 27 local government councils in the state since June to December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010.”

Vanguard can exclusively report that this staggering figure has since multiplied, especially as the monthly deductions continued, while no single kobo has been received by IBC management from the Ministry.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013—47

UNVEILING: From left, Ms Nonny Ugboma,Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation; Dr. Bola Oyeledun,Chief Executive Officer, Centre For Integrated Health Programme, CIHP; Michael Ikpoki, Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria; Dr. Nnenna Ihebuzor, Director, TRIBUTE: From left, Managing Director, CMC Connect, Mr. Yomi Primary HealthCare System of National Primary Health Care Development Agency; Amina Badejo Okusanya, in tete-a-tete with Nobel Peace laureate, Professor Oyagbola,Human Resources Executive, MTN Nigeria, and Mr. Akinwale Goodluck,Corporate Wole Soyinka, and Mrs. Yemisi Ransome-Kuti, during the 'Lagos Service Executive, MTN Nigerian, at the unveiling of MTN Foundation Yello Doctor, a Mobile Tribute to Mandela Night,' at Freedom Park, Lagos.

Medical Intervention Scheme, in Lagos.

FORUM: From left, General Manager, Wealth Creation and Priority Banking, Standard Chartered Bank, Mrs. Ijeoma Anusionwu; Secretary, Indian Professional Forum, Mr. Prashant Bhanawat; President, Indian Professional Forum, Dr. Jineshi Dugad, and Managing Director, Standard Chartered Bank, Mrs. Bola Adesola, at the Indian Professional forum cocktail, in lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau

HARVEST: From left, Shepherd, CCC Genesis Model Parish, Dr. Israel Oladele; Evangelist Emmanuel Awoniyi; Chairman of the Church, Evangelist Mike Gbejejume; Patron of the church, Most Senior Evangelist, Kayode Akinrogunde, and popular Juju Gospel singer, Yinka Ayefele, during the CCC Genesis Model Parish 2013 Harvest, at the church auditorium, in Alakuko, Ogun State. Photo: Diran Oshe

CELEBRATION: From left, Aare Kamorudeen Danjuma, Social Secretary; Prince Ademola Dada, Chairman; Alhaji Deji Salako, Vice Chairman, and Mr. Diji Veracruz, Honorary General Secretary, all of Island Club, at the Island Club Elders Days Celebration, in Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau

BANQUET: From left, Rev. Olajide Oke, Rev. Victor Akerele, Senior Pastor,Festac Baptist Church and guest minister, and Rev. Sunday Oladejo, Pastor, Triumphant Baptist Church, Akowonjo, at the 2013 edition of The Messiah's Banquet of Triumphant Baptist Church.

CONFERENCE: From left, Chief Commercial Officer/Acting Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willsher; winner of Etisalat Prize for Innovation (Most Innovative Product/Services), Adebayo Adegbembo; Director, Marketing Segment and Strategy, Etisalat Nigeria, Oluwole Rawa, and Manager, Executive Projects, Etisalat Nigeria, Zainab Abiola, at the Etisalat Prize for Innovation press conference, at Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, yesterday.

LAUNCH: From left, Mr. Viney Sharma, General Manager; Mr. Piyush Nair, Executive Adviser, both of Primlaks Group; Mr. Kunle Oketikun, MD,|CEO, Fortis Microfinance Bank Plc; Mr. Chris Shyers, Team Lead, GEMS4/DFID, and Mr. Ravi Hemnani, CEO of Primlaks Group, at the signing of Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, to launch the Fortis Micro-Distributorship Scheme for Fortis Microfinance Bank Plc, in Abuja.

AGM: From left, Director, Lagos Investment 2000 Limited, Mr. Akin Osuntoki; other Directors: Prince Segun Ajibola (SAN); Dr. Demola Sogunle, and Mr. Gbenga Badejo, at the 10th Annual General Meeting of the company, in Lagos.

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56 — V anguard Vanguard anguard,, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

BRIEFS Morsi faces trial for espionage

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Iran resumes nuclear talks today I

RAN says it will re sume expert talks with six world powers in Geneva on Thursday about how to implement a landmark nuclear agreement, a week after Tehran broke off the discussions in anger at a U.S. sanctions move.

Under the November 24 interim accord, Iran will curb its disputed nuclear program in exchange for a limited easing of sanctions that are battering its oil-dependent economy.

Technical talks - expected to involve nuclear as well as sanctions experts - will restart on December 19 and are meant to translate the political deal into a detailed plan of action for how to put it into practice.

Diplomats said the task is highly complicated but that progress was made during the last December 9-12 meeting in Vienna, even though differences remained. They said there is a real political will on both sides to carry out the agreement.

“It’s in the interests of the Iranians to go quickly because there won’t be an easing of sanctions until the agreement is implemented,” a senior Western diplomat said.

In a sign of this, deputy Iranian chief negotiator Abbas Araqchi said the expert talks were set for an initial two days but

.S. Embassy Abuja announced a streamlined, more convenient drop box renewal process for non-immigrant visas yesterday.

Applicants who meet the eligibility requirements listed on our web site may apply for a renewal of their U.S. non-immigrant visa without visiting the U.S. Embassy in Abuja or the U.S. Consulate in Lagos.

Applicants now simply apply online, print the renewal letter, pay the fee, and drop the letter, passport, application confirmation sheet, passport photos, and visa fee receipt at the appropriate DHL facility in Abuja or Lagos.

“I am delighted to announce this next step in providing superior customer service to our returning visitors to the United

news agency reported.

Prosecutors accuse Morsi of “espionage for foreign organisations abroad to commit terrorist attacks in the country,” the agency reported.

The trial appears to stem from an investigation into prison breaks during a 2011 uprising against strongman Hosni Mubarak, when Morsi and other Islamist prisoners escaped.

Prosecutors have alleged the jailbreaks were carried out by Palestinian and Lebanese militant groups, who had members imprisoned under Mubarak

China confirms near clash with US navy Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif (r) with his Deputy Abbas Araqchi discussing during the last negotiation in Geneva last November.W may continue into Saturday and Sunday if required, Iran’s Fars news agency said.

Last Thursday, Iranian negotiators interrupted the

talks in Vienna in protest against the U.S. blacklisting of an additional 19 Iranian companies and individuals under existing sanctions, saying the

move was against the deal’s spirit. U.S. officials said the move did not violate the Geneva agreement and that they gave Iran advance warning.

Mandela’s family resumes feud

A

N ongoing feud be tween some of the Mandela family members which has made headlines in the past year has taken another turn with a report that Mandla Mandela was locked out of the family’s homestead in the village of Qunu by relatives four days before his grandfather, Nelson Mandela, was buried there.

Drop Box: U.S. Embassy outlines new procedures

U

GYPT’s deposed pres ident Mohamed Morsi will be tried on charges of “espionage” that aided acts of “terrorism”, state media reported yesterday.

Morsi, an Islamist who the military toppled in July after a single year of turbulent rule, is already on trial over alleged involvement in the killings of opposition protesters.

Thirty-five other defendants, including former presidential aides and top leaders of Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood movement, would stand trial with him, the official MENA

States,” said Ambassador James F. Entwistle. “We have now rolled out this procedure in Abuja and Lagos, and we hope it underscores our commitment to facilitating legitimate travel for Nigerians who wish to make a return visit

•Mandla Mandla is also reported to have found his home on the Mandela estate without electricity and water on the day of his grandfather’s burial.

The Johannesburg tabloid The Times reported Tuesday that locks at Nelson Mandela’s home in the Eastern Cape hamlet were changed shortly after his eldest daughter, Makaziwe Mandela, arrived there on Thursday.

At the time, Mandla Mandela was keeping

vigil next to his grandfather ’s coffin while the anti-apartheid icon’s body lay in state at the Union Buildings in Pretoria for three days.

He escorted the coffin to Qunu on Saturday for Mandela’s funeral the following day.

Approached for comment on the report yesterday, Mandla Mandela’s spokesman, Freddy Pilusa, told The Associated Press: “He (Mandla) doesn’t want to confirm nor deny the report. He wants to focus on promoting and upholding the legacy of his grandfather going forward.”

Mandla and Makaziwe have been involved in a bitter public spat over the control of Mandela’s legacy and leadership of the fractured family.

S-Sudan offers olive branch

S

OUTH Sudan Presi dent Salva Kiir said yesterday he is willing to hold talks with his archrival former deputy he accuses of leading a coup bid against him.

Kiir has accused soldiers loyal to Riek Machar of staging a coup attempt in the oil-rich but deeply impoverished nation, which has struggled with instability since becoming independent in

2011.

“I will sit down with him — Riek (Machar) — and talk... but I don’t know what the results of the talks will be,” Kiir told reporters.

Machar has denied any attempt to topple the president, and has instead accused Kiir of using the violence as a pretext to purge any challengers.

The government said

10 key figures, many of them former ministers, have been arrested in the crackdown, and that others, including Machar, were on the run.

Kiir also said powerful military commander Peter Gadet — who rebelled in 2011 but then rejoined the army — had mutinied again, launching attacks in the eastern state of Jonglei in support of Machar.

China on yesterday confirmed an incident between a Chinese naval vessel and a U.S. warship in the South China Sea, after Washington said a U.S. guided missile cruiser had avoided a collision with a Chinese warship maneuvering nearby.

Experts have said the near-miss between the USS Cowpens and a Chinese warship operating near China’s only aircraft carrier, the Lia-

oning, was the most significant U.S.-China maritime incident in the disputed South China Sea since 2009.

China’s Defense Ministry said the Chinese naval vessel was conducting “normal patrols” when the two vessels “met”.

“During the encounter, the Chinese naval vessel properly handled it in accordance with strict protocol,” the ministry said on its website.

France proposes EU troops for CAR Some European countries will send troops to support a French-African mission to restore order in Central African Republic, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said as more violence was reported outside the capital Bangui.

France has deployed 1,600 troops to its former colony to prevent worsening violence between Christian militias and largely Muslim Seleka rebels who ousted ex-

President Francois Bozize.

Hundreds of people were killed in a week of bloodshed which began on December 5 in Bangui when fighters of both sides went door-to-door murdering civilians. Some victims were lynched or stoned to death, residents said.

At a European Union foreign ministers meeting on Monday, France requested more help from allies to bolster its peacekeeping mission beyond logistical and financial aid.

Pope Francis seeks support as Christmas beckons “Good Morning America” anchors Robin Roberts and Josh Elliott met Pope Francis today after he used his weekly audience in St. Peter’s Square to focus attention on the poor as millions of Catholics worldwide prepare for Christmas.

“I know when he came near us, and we had a chance to meet with him, we really were filled with a moment of reverence,” Elliott said. “There was a moment of calm and peace that surrounds him.”

“It was remarkable.”

Reflecting on the mean-

ing of Christmas, Pope Francis urged the faithful “not to place ourselves above others, but rather lower ourselves, place ourselves at the service of the poor, make ourselves small and poor with them.”

Quoting Matthew 25: 3546, the pontiff said “Whoever has nourished, welcomed, visited, loved one of the least and poorest of men, will have done this to the Son of God. On the contrary, whoever has rejected, forgotten, ignored one of the least and poorest of men, will have done this to God himself.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013—57

2015: It's our turn to produce next gov of A-Ibom —Oron Nation

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BY ETOP EKANEM

AGOS — THE Oron people have called for cooperation from all Akwa Ibomites in their quest for one of theirs to be the governor of the state, saying it is their turn to do so come 2015.

They spoke in Lagos through the Oron Union President, Lagos Branch, Mrs Felicia EssangOludare during this year’s 13th Oron cultural festival and special reception in honour of Prof. Atim Antai, Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Education, in Lagos.

Essang-Oludare advised the Oron people to do everything possible to take what God had set aside for them.

According to her, “There are many thorns and landmines on the road to 2015. Therefore, we must set aside all bitterness and come together to work for the good of all. We will achieve if we set our collective effort towards it. Yes, we we can and we will.

"Akwa Ibom State belongs to all of us. We all have a stake at developing our

state as well as developing the people where there is equal opportunity for Ibibio man, Annang man and Oron man, nothing more, nothing less.

"Let the people of Akwa Ibom State stand by Oro this time just as we supported Ibibio and Annang at their time. The last 26 years have seen us as a three major ethnic groups in Akwa Ibom—Ibibio, Annang and Oron— which was the basis of the

state creation.”

On her part, the state Commissioner for Education, Prof. Antai, said: "I am an Oron woman, if an Oron governor emerges, I will be very happy. There is nobody who would not want something good for himself. But I also know this as a Christian that all authorities on earth are from God. It is God who who will answer the aspiration of the Oron people.

If it is God’s will, then we will succeed.”

58 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

At 80, the voyage continues for J.P. Clark

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otable Nigerians trouped out en mass last week to celebrate one of their own, a literary giant whose works have contributed immensely to the development of Nigeria and beyond, in the person of Emeritus Professor JP Clark-Bekederemo who turned 80. Described as one of Africa’s leading authors and one of the most lyrical of the Nigerian poets, whose poetry celebrates the physical landscape of Africa, Prof JP, who is also, a journalist, playwright, and scholar-critic has conducted research into traditional Ijo myths and legends in addition to writing essays on African poetry.

This great writer and scholar, Prof. John Pepper Clark, turned 80 last Thursday, December 12, 2013. And to celebrate the man of letters, who was recently honoured as the 5th Living Icon Project at Didi Museum, Lagos, friends, relatives, colleagues, literary giants, and his admirers, gathered at the University of Lagos,(UNILAG) Akoka, to celebrate his life, times and works.

A whole lot of activities were lined up for the day and as was expected, the venue of the events were filled to the brim with notable personalities who gathered to celebrate with their own.

Reading for a literary inspiration and blessing An event which involved school children reading a selection of his poems at Afe Babalola Hall, UNILAG drew the curtain open. The event which was coordinated by Yinka Ogunde brought together children from selected schools in Lagos who came for the sole purpose of paying respect to a man whom according to them, is a literary inspiration and blessing to this generation.

As it turned out to be, the children did not disappoint their schools nor Prof JP Clark as they read and performed some of his poems to the admiration of the public. Some of the poems include, Abiku, Casualties, Night rain, Ibadan, Agbor Dancers, Song of a Goat etc. It was a wonderful experience seeing the children recite and perform some of the poems, they were exceptionally brilliant in their presentation and that earned the most outstanding of them

all, a reward from the celebrant.

Apart from readings from works by JP Clark, many poets were discovered as four children from Vivian Fowler Girls School, International School, UNILAG, Tom Caleb High School distinguished themselves by reading their own poems.

Some of the schools also presented birthday cards to the celebrant and at the end, they rendered a heartwarming birthday song.

Speaking at the event, Archbishop Amu who led a prayer session for JP Clark enjoined the children to endeavour to discover their talents adding that, “You can never discover until you explore, JP Clark discovered his talents and now he has explored, that is why we are celebrating him.”

In his remarks, JP Clark expressed joy for being in the middle of life and thanked the

,

By JAPHET ALAKAM & PRISCA SAM-DURU

Prof. J.P. Clark (middle) flanked by school children and their coordinator Yinka Ogunde during the cutting of his 80th birthday cake.

Yemisi Shyllon and a host of use words wrongly and ad- Also indicted were the photo others. vised that the right words be journalists and cameramen In his lecture titled Between used at all times. who position themselves durStill talking about wrong ing events, at the detriment use of words , Soyinka spe- of the audience.

Soyinka in the course of the cifically mentioned the word ‘severally’ which he said is lecture once more, reacted to always used wrongly by the issue of him and JP Clark many. According to him, sev- not attending Achebe’s burierally does not mean several al. First, he said they did not times rather it means serial- meet to decide on that, that it ly, one by one. He also made was because of personal reareference to his new play en- sons. More over, he pointed titled Alapata Apata, which out that Achebe was not the talks about the correct and in- person been buried that day, Censorship and the Critic, the correct use of some Yoruba as the funeral was hijacked writer as a genius, the Noble names. and turned to something Laureate as a trained teacher, The Noble Laureate also lec- Achebe himself if alive, would took out time to educate the tured on the way and man- not have attended. audience especially writers on ner the masters of ceremonies Earlier in his speech, Prothe use of English Language. and religious priest use words fessor Rahman Bello, the Vice He frowned at the way people and take people’s time at will.

Continues on page

You can never discover until you explore, JP Clark discovered his talents and now he has explored, that is why we are celebrating him

participating children for leaving their schools to come and rejoice with him. “I feel good that the children are here, I feel good that the elders are here too. 80 is not the oldest age here, I have people who are older than me here. So I am very happy to be in the middle of life.”, He said.

After the children reading session, the event moved to the main auditorium of the school where Emeritus Professor Wole Soyinka delivered a lecture in honour of the celebrant.

The hall was also, filled to capacity as people from all walks of life especially literary icons, came to shower love on the icon. In attendance were: Emeritus Prof. Ayo Banjo, Prof. Ralham A. Bello, Vice Chancellor of UNILAG; Prof. Alor, Prof. Hope Eghagha, Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education, who represented Gov. Emmanuel Uduaghan; Emeritus Prof. Tekena Tamuno, Prof. Remi Raji, ANA chairman; Prof. Gabriel Okara, Elechi Amadi, Prof. Duro Oni, Prof. Akachi Ezeigbo, Prof Ebun Clark, Ambassador Clark, Mr Sam Amuka, Prince

,

Celebrating art, life, achievements at Christmas

By JAPHET ALAKAM

A

fter holding four exhibitions in London, award winning artists and lawyer, Catherine Adenike FashesinSouza is set to hold her first solo exhibition in Nigeria.

The exhibition which is scheduled to open from December 21, 2013 till 30 at Didi Museum Victoria Island, Lagos will afford art lovers the opportunity to see what her art is all about.

It will feature all her works from the year 2008 to date done in Lagos and in London.

According to the artist, “My exhibition is more or less a journey through my experiences and life. It’s half a decade of works, half a decade of experiences, half a decade of challenges. The essence of my exhibition is an expression

of unspoken words and an untold story.”

For the self-taught artist for most of her career before she studied Oil Painting Parttime, “My art works are a combination of still life, landscape, abstract and portrait.

Most of my works are influenced by my emotions, environment and experiences.”

In her artist statement she said, “I love law and love being a lawyer. I also love being an artist, which is an in born talent. It’s a nice feeling when I am able to create something beautiful, because art has a way of bringing out the beauty in anything and everything. My message behind my works is that, ‘It is harder when you are doing the right thing but easier when you are not’.”

The practicing lawyer and painter also disclosed that

I am Ethiopian , one of the works to be exhibited she would like to use the art works as a means of giving back to the community and would be giving some of it’s proceeds to a trust fund which could be used to sponsor persons with life threatening illnesses; for their maintenance and operations.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19 , 2013 — 59

60—Vanguard, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

2015: APC leaders meets Atiku, to consult with Obasanjo soon

BY HENRY UMORU

BAUCHI BUDGET—From left: Speaker, Bauchi State House of Assembly, Alhaji Yahya Miya and Gov. Isa Yuguda of Bauchi, during presentation of 2014 Budget to the state Assembly in Bauchi, yesterday.

Why I gave up on my father — Iyabo Obasanjo Continues from page 5 they must take care of their children. The letter is a product of long, bottled-up anger, agony and anguish over a father that could have done much better. It is very sad that the first child of a president would be living in the boys quarters of the State House. That is an agony and it is nothing but a reflection of a family that is not united.”

It’s a plot to rubbish Obasanjo, says Tsav In his reaction to Iyabo Obasanjo’s letter to her father, former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abubabar Tsav dismissed it as the “handiwork of some faceless sycophants in the corridors of power.”

Tsav who spoke, yesterday, to Vanguard in a telephone interview in Makurdi, the Benue State capital said: “It’s all a desperate plot to rubbish Obasanjo. Nigerians can actually attest to the fact that the letter that was written by Obasanjo to the President was nothing but the truth of what we are witnessing in the country today. The truth of the matter is that some persons who are desperate to protect their interests and stronghold on the presidency can also go to any length to protect their interest in the looting spree that has become the order of the day in the country, so I’m not surprised. All I can tell you for now is

that former president Obasanjo remains a statesman who spoke the minds of all Nigerians and any attempt to rubbish him by some chicken-hearted persons will certainly be discountenanced by all Nigerians.”

Iyabo’s letter a gimmick — CNPP Similarly, the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, in Benue State described Iyabo’s letter as “another gimmick by the ruling People’s Democratic Party.”

Benue State Chairman of the CNPP, Mr. Baba Agan who spoke, yesterday, to Vanguard in Makurdi, said: “I see this unfolding drama as the biblical hand of Esau but voice of Jacob.”

According to Agan, “this is nothing but a clear indication that some persons at the corridors of power are getting desperate all in a bid to rubbish Chief Obasanjo.

“The purported letter is nothing but a gimmick that will serve no useful purpose because it was intended to distract Nigerians from the salient issues raised by the former president in the letter he wrote to President Goodluck Jonathan.”

While noting that former president Obasanjo may not be a saint, Agan observed that “this may not be far from being the product of a hatchet man and may

not have originated from the daughter of the former president.”

The opposition leader urged Nigerians to discountenance the content of the purported letter, adding that, “ we will also like to see a confirmation that the piece actually originated from the alleged writer.

“As you know, some desperate people can do some desperate things just to curry the attention and favour of the President for their personal gains; I believe strongly that Chief Obasanjo’s daughter will not write that type of piece to her father, considering the much he did for her as a daughter in recent past; Nigerians cannot be fooled,” Agan added.

ABUJA- AHEAD of 2015 Presidential election, leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday, stormed the Asokoro residence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as part of moves to woo him into the family of the opposition party.

Meanwhile, the leadership of the APC disclosed that it has concluded arrangements to meet with former President and past Chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT of PDP, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo at his hill top mission, Abeokuta, Ogun State as part of its membership drive.

Led by APC interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, the leadership of the opposition political party which has been moving round the country to get more members especially from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP stressed that it was determined to dismantle the PDP and rule the country in 2015.

Speaking earlier at the Asokoro residence of Atiku before the closeddoor meeting, Chief Akande, who noted that the team decided to visit the former Presidential aspirant on the platform of PDP having worked together in the past, said that it has become imperative for Atiku to join the APC to rescue the country, adding that Nigeria as a nation is suffering from credibility problem and all men of integrity must rise

up and save the country.

At the end of the meeting which lasted over one hour, Akande said that the existing relationship and comradeship between them and Atiku was well cemented and they were all moving together.

He said, “all of us that met here this morning were comrades in politics from time to time and we only came here to cement that comradeship and it is well cemented. We are all moving together to work for this country.”

On his part, Atiku, who noted that he had very fruitful discussions with the APC leadership, however promised that he will in the next week or thereafter get back to them on his decision after consulting with his people, friends, associates, party members, aides, among others.

Speaking earlier before the closed-door meeting, Atiku Abubakar who noted that his visitors were political associates having worked together in the past to fight the military and bring about democracy, however stressed the need for all men of integrity to rally around one another to rescue the country.

Atiku who disclosed that he was just back from South Africa, said that “we have a lot to emulate from South Africa against the backdrop that we have in common some features”, noting that in South Africa, they faced Apartheid, while that of Nigeria was that of colonialism.

The former Vice Presi-

Yes, Iyabo discussed the issues in her letter with me —Osoba

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN LAGOS—VETERAN journalist and former governor of Ogun State, Aremo Segun Osoba yesterday gave credence to the rumpus between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his daughter, Iyabo and confirmed the details of the letter as it pertained to him.

Osoba confirmed that the contents of the letter as exclusively published

by Vanguard were true and reflected discussions she had with the former senator and first daughter of the former president.

Osoba who visited the United States last Sep-

tember for the 73rd anniversary of the Niemann Foundation Fellowship said he met Iyabo who happened to be around where he was lodged. According to him, Iyabo eventually drove him in her car to his destination during which they had extensive discussions on issues relating to her father and the country.

“Iyabo was relating with me closely and it is true that we met, I confirm that and it is true that we had (a) conversation.”

“She didn’t tell me that I rigged election because I never rig elections, and in any case, I reported the meeting to the father in the church early No-

vember in the presence of the Awujale of Ijebuland inside the church. So, the meeting took place and I reported the meeting to the father which made the father to phone. After discussing with the father and telling him that I saw his daughter, he must have phoned his daughter,” Osoba said.

He, however, distanced himself from the assertions that Iyabo was being wooed with an APC senate ticket.

“The issue of she being given ticket by APC, I don’t know who promised that, please put my name clear from that,” the veteran journalist and former governor of Ogun State said.

dent who reiterated his support for a two party system, said that the process of having two party structure will be in the interest of democracy, adding that the country has enough that would go round for everyone.

He said: “Most of us have been friends and political associates for over two decades. I will call my stakeholders across the country, we will take a decision and now address the press and let you know.”

Atiku who hailed the formation of APC and the opposition it affords Nigerians, said: “I congratulated them and welcomed them because it will improve competition and governance. It is healthy for our democracy. Once you have one very strong party and weak ones there is no way the opposition can check the government in power. I think it will give Nigerians an alternative during elections, so I told them I will consult with my associates and brief the press later.”

Also speaking, former Head of State and 2011 Presidential Candidate of defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, General Muhammadu Buhari disclosed that the leadership of APC will as well visit former President Olusegun Obasanjo to brief him on why the opposition party was formed.

He said: “We have been visiting others like G7 governors, we have also visited some heads of state; we will also visit Obasanjo anytime he is available to ask for his understanding and brief him why we formed the APC.” Present at yesterday’s meeting with Atiku were former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari; Chief Bisi Akande; Former governor of Lagos State and APC leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Governor Ali Modu Sheriff; Governor Ibrahim Shetimma of Borno State; former Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nuhu Ribadu; Hon. Faruk Adamu Aliyu; Sen. Annie Okonkwo; Nasir Isa Wambai; Former Presidential aide to Chief Obasanjo, Dr. Femi FaniKayode and publisher, Leadership Newspapers, Sam Nda-Isaiah.

Also present were Sen. Nazeef; Boss Mustapha; Dr. Yakubu Lame; Senate Minority leader, Sen. George Akume; Musa Gwadabe; former governor of Kaduna State, Lawal Kaita and former Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Masari and many others.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013—61

Another explosion rocks judge’s car park in Rivers

BY IMITOTAONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT— ANOTHER explosion yesterday, rocked the car park of Justice C.N. Wali at the car park of the High Court premises in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The incident occurred barely 24 hours after a similar incident occurred at the office of the state Deputy Governor, Mr. Tele Ikiru and 48 hours

after giving a ruling ordering a member of the state House of Assembly , Mr. Evans Bipi to stop parading himself as Speaker of the Assembly.

Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari who confirmed the development to newsmen last night said it occurred about 3a.m. yesterday.

Mrs. Semenitari said one of the guards at the premises where the explosion occurred was still missing and expressed worries over the bombings which she said were primed to explode at about the same period of time.

She could not say what form of explosive was detonated at the High Court premises but sources said it was a dynamite.

CNPP opposes INEC’s plea to disqualify candidates

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

A

BUJA—THE Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, has opposed request by Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to be empowered by National Assembly to disqualify candidates.

Rejecting the demand in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, the CNPP insisted that the issue of disqualification of candidates must be left in the hands of the judiciary.

According to the umbrella body of registered political parties, “ we are saying no, based on the hard realities that the issue of disqualification of candidates should be left in the hands of the

judiciary; INEC as presently constituted is not only in the executive arm, but partisan, partial, inept and cannot earn better trust than the judiciary despite the judiciary’s weak links.

“It is our considered view that under a truly independent electoral commission and the regime of free, fair and credible elections, where the votes count, the political parties will be forced to embark on in-house censorship, and thorough screening of their candidates to meet up with the peoples’ expectation, and earn valid votes.

“This is the decent route in all liberal democracies, as empowering a less than transparent INEC will not only erase the little

gains made in our march to democratic growth, but lead to unmitigated disaster.

“We call on INEC to request for modern gadgets as a sine qua non to free, fair and transparent elections like electronic equipment; rather than requesting for despotic powers.

“We therefore agree with the patriotic statement of the Senate President, Senator David Mark that, “as 2015 draws nearer, our motivation remains that every valid vote cast during the election must count. The conduct of the election must not only be free and fair and credible and acceptable to Nigerians, but must also be acceptable to the i n t e r n a t i o n a l community.”

Residents lament epileptic power supply at Ikotun-Igando LCDA

L

AGOS—RESIDENTS of Ayewanle in Ikotun-Igando Local Council Development Authority, LCDA, Lagos State, are groaning due to poor electricity supply and irregular billings by electricity authorities at Ikeja.

Electricity consumers in the area said although most transformers were old and unserviceable, the issues had been left unaddressed even as they were made to pay for what they do not consume.

Among the streets suffering from lack of electricity include Ola Oguntuga, Amusa Ishola, Ademola Ashiru, Isaac Oladipo and Aduke Sariki.

Others include Yemi Ogunleye, Unity, Poultry, Sebill Oje and Inufele.

The residents said that people who claim to be working for electricity companies had of recent collected N1000 per house hold to influence the allocation of new transformers as the old ones had not been

replaced since 2007 without anything being done.

A spokesman for electric consumers in the area, Mr. Andrew Samuel said that the people had applied to the former Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, for years before the company was privatised, wondering why consumers were still being compelled to contribute towards maintenance of equipment belonging to private commercial companies.

62—Vanguard , THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

Yobe defies INEC on LG polls zSays Jega can’t halt citizens’ democratic wish

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH

D

AMATURU—YOBE State Government said, yesterday, that it would go ahead with its local government election slated for the end of this month despite the objection raised by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. The INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, had said, Monday, that it would not support the conduct of the local government polls by the Yobe State Government because of security concerns.

Jega even went further to warn that the commission would not conduct any election in any North-East state still under emergency rule in 2015, a declaration that has drawn the ire of the three states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.

But the Yobe State Government said in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media to the Gov-

ernor, Abdullahi Bego that it would proceed with the local elections notwithstanding the INEC boss’ objection.

Bego said: “For the avoidance of doubt, the Yobe local government election will

go ahead as scheduled.

The people at the grassroots level have yearned for this for long and the state government is determined to give the people the opportunity to exercise their right to vote and be voted for."

Vanguard, THURSDAY DECEMBER 19, 2013 — 63

Commonwealth wrestling champion vows NFF speaks on FIFA World Cup grant to defend title T N

BY SOLOMON NWOKE

IGERIA’S gold medalist in the Greco Roman style of wrestling at the last Commowealth Games in India Joe Agbonevbare of Edo state has vowed to retain the title in the Glasgow Games next year.

Agbonevbare who was beaten at the maiden Chief EK Clark Wrestling Classic in Warri early this year sounded very tough yesterday that there’s no stopping him from defending his title.

He spoke to Sports Vanguard yesterday for the first time after his illfated outing in the EK Clark championship in Warri. “Up till this time, I still cannot fathom what happened to me at that championship in Warri.

Let me say that I moved up to a higher weight class (96kg) from my normal weight class which is 84kg .

“Also I was not really prepared for that championship and wouldn’t have competed in it, but because of the clause by the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) that whoever did not wrestle in that championship would not have the opportunity to be considered in the last

HE Nigeria Football Federation has explained some financial matters on the country’s participation in the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals.

Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday, NFF’s Director of Competitions, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi said; “For the avoidance of doubt, FIFA will pay each participating member association the sum of $1.5million (about N240million) as preparation money, and

Awoniyi to fight for CHAN spot

U An unidentified Nigerian wrestler punishes his opponent in an international event.

C o m m o n w e a l t h tournament which I shouldn’t qualify for a Wrestling Champion- qualifies us for a palace place to defend my title ship in South Africa early in the Commonwealth in Scotland”, this month. But all that is Games in Scotland and I Agbonevbare said. gone and this is a new don’t see any reason why

Falconets battle-ready for Tunisia

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IGERIA’S U-20 girls know the ropes and are surely the overwhelming favourites for Saturday’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifying match against Tunisia.

The match comes up at the National Stadium, Abuja on Saturday, 14th

Messi Continues from B/P ‘easy group’.

In an interview with Supersport.com, the Italy based striker said he followed the World Cup draw and felt uncomfortable throughout the exercise.

“I was nervous from the beginning to the end,” he said.

What he made of Nigeria’s Group F opponents? Amadi was full of respect for the other teams.

“I have heard people say it’s an easy group but it makes me laugh,” he started, adding, “Argentina have won the World Cup twice before and with (Lionel) Messi, they can do impossible things. They also have

this is verifiable from all quarters, including FIFA headquarters.

“The amount guaranteed for each team’s participation in the championship is the sum of $8million, and no team will get this exact sum because the money will be subject to with-holding tax, deductions on accommodation and all extras, and some other deductions.

More importantly, this money will not be paid until after the World Cup finals.”

other great players like (Sergio) Aguero, (Javier) Mascherano and (Angel) di Maria.”

Oduamadi does not think less of Bosnia and Iran either. Said he, “Iran and BosniaHerzegovina are also very strong teams that can hurt us if we do not show them respect.

Small teams no longer exist in the modern day game and for those countries to have qualified, it means means that they have something to offer.”

On how far the Super Eagles can go in Brazil next year, Oduamadi said the team must take one game at a time. “We will approach things game by game and see where it takes us.”

December, starting at 4pm.

The North African girls raised not a few eyebrows when pounding their Moroccan counterparts 81 on aggregate (4-0 in Morocco and 4-1 in Tunis), but that still paled beside the 16-0 aggregate mauling that the Falconets handed out to their opponents from Sierra Leone.

The Falconets, silver medallists at the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Germany in 2010, also reached the semi finals in Japan last year and are considered sure bets for the seventh edition taking

place in Canada in August 2014.

The Tunisian delegation flew into Abuja on Wednesday aboard an Egypt Air plane and will depart Abuja on Sunday.

Referee Ziga Shriseine from Ghana will take charge of proceedings, to be assisted by Zulu Mercy from Zambia (1st Assistant), Ezodobe Ayawa Mana from Togo (2nd Assistant) and Aloreu Delight from Ghana (4th Official). The match commissioner is Pherese Manguele from Cameroon.

Bayern Continues from B/P Ballon d’Or nominee Franck Ribery, Mario Mandzukic and Mario Gotze at Stade Adrar.

The German giants will contest tournament honours with either home hopefuls Raja Casablanca or Atletico Mineiro of Brazil in Marrakesh on Sunday.

Bayern were frustrated for much of the first half against Guangzhou, with Ribery eventually

opening the scoring by tucking away an attempted clearance in the 40th minute.

Mandzukic doubled the lead soon after by heading home Thiago Alcantara’s cross just before the break.

Gotze then effectively killed off the tie by rounding off an attacking move initiated

by David Alaba barely two minutes after the restart.

-17 striker Taiwo Awoniyi has told MTNFootball.com he is willing to battle more experienced strikers so as to be at the 2014 CHAN. Awoniyi, one of the three Golden Eaglets called up to the Super Eagles ‘B’ team, specially told MTNFootball.com that as much as he respects the established premier league strikers in the squad, he does not feel threatened.

“I am not in any way threatened. Although I respect them as senior players, I am ready to fight for a shirt in the team,” Awoniyi said.

“So far, they have been very supportive in

helping me improve my game, which I must confess has improved in my few days in the Eagles camp.”

The player was also full of praise for the coach, Stephen Keshi-led technical crew, admitting the Super Eagles are a massive departure from the U-17s.

•Awoniyi

Keshi Continues from B/P Houston.

“I have proposed that we camp in the United States because by the time we would be opening our camping the US would have the same weather as Brazil,” Keshi said.

“There are several US cities that would be hot like Brazil and would have the same temperature like Sao Paolo, where we would be based at the World Cup.” The former Mali and Togo boss also said that he would like to play friendly matches with countries with similar play style with their world Cup group opponents - Argentina, Iran and Bosnia-

Herzegovina.

Keshi further said Japan are so far the only country that has shown interest in playing the Eagles. He said that he would also like to play countries like Peru.

“Considering the countries we have in our group, I would like the Eagles to play countries from the region that have the same play style.

But it would also depend on the availability of such countries because some of them may have concluded their friendly arrangements already,” he said. “ While in Brazil for the draws I was told Japan were interested in playing us. I would also like to play countries like Peru.”

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

Bayern reach Club World Cup Final B AYERN Munich booked their place in the Fifa Club World Cup Final with a 3-0 victory over Chinese side Guangzhou

2014 World Cup:

Keshi wants to camp in US C

OACH Stephen Keshi has disclosed he has proposed Nigeria set up training camp in the United States of America prior to the 2014 World Cup. The Super Eagles training camp will open on May

25.

Keshi said the Eagles would camp in cities with similar weather condition with Brazil and has picked two US cities - Maimi or

Evergrande in Morocco on Tuesday night.

The European champions advanced courtesy of goals from Continues on Page 63

Ribery is Bundesliga Player of the Year

B

AYERN Munich’s Franck Ribery has been named the 2013 Bundesliga Player of the Year.

The winger, who is also on the shortlist for the FIFA Ballon d’Or with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, adds the title to the UEFA Champions League Best Player and UEFA Best Player in Europe awards he won earlier in the year.

Continues on Page 63

Messi, Aguero scare Oduamadi •Says with them, Argentina can do the impossible

N

IGERIA forward, N n a m d i Oduamadi has dismissed suggestions that describe Group F of the 2014 World Cup which pits Nigeria alongside two time champions Argentina, Bosnia and Iran as an

Continues on Page 63

•Messi

TANGO: Guangzhou Evergrande player Muriqui (r) challenges Bayern Munich's Rafinha for the ball in the FIFA World Club Cup semi-final match in Agadir, Morocco. Bayern won 3-0.

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 4 Confess (5) 7 Plant (6) 9 Conifer (3) 10 Through (3) 12 Divine (5) 13 Dregs (4) 15 Renovate (5) 17 Bar (6) 19 Title (4) 20 Follow (5) 22 Butt (3) 24 Erased (7) 27 Underworld (3) 28 Kingly (5) 31 Atmosphere (4) 33 Grain (6) 35 View (5) 37 Rave (4) 38 View (5) 39 Faucet (3) 41 Wrath (3) 42 Package (6) 43 Begin (5)

•Ribery

DOWN 1 Postpone (6) 2 Rate (6) 3 Burst (3) 4 Assistant (4) 5 Flood (5) 6 Sleeplessness (8) 8 Fairy (4) 11 Portray (9) 14 Boss (4) 16 Tidy (4) 18 Rush (4) 21 Nudist (8) 23 Lake (4) 25 Insects (4) 26 Expensive (4) 29 Look (6) 30 Small (6) 32 Moving (5) 34 Harvest (4) 36 Wagon (4) 40 Vessel (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Spot 4, Dug 6, Sash 9, Lip 10, Capsicum 11, Idol 14, Hit 16, Sever 19, Reproved 21, Tenor 23, Denoting 24, Porch 27, Tab 31, Cede 33, Omission 34, Sue 35, Feel 36, Tin 37, Dark.

DOWN: 2, Plan 3, Test 4, Deceived 5, Game 6, Slide 7, Aid 8, Spoke 12, Group 13, Spoor 14, Hot 15, Tenet 17, Valid 18, Range 20, Donation 22, Rob 25, Obese 26, Creel 28, Host 29, Used 30, Door 32, Due.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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