GAY MARRIAGE LAW: Canada cancels Jonathan's visit

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62061

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014

Rivers boils again; Ogoni under siege 11

BY VICTORIA OJEME

GAY-MARRIAGE LAW:

Canada cancels Jonathan's visit

•Homosexuality will not advance us—Gulak •Jonathan must not be intimidated — Prelate

L

AGOS—THE fu rore arising from President Goodluck Jonathan’s assent to the bill prohibiting homosexual marriage reverberated on the diplomatic circles, yesterday, as it emerged that Canada has cancelled a scheduled state visit to that country by President Jonathan.

The cancellation was

Continues on Page 5

We'll make NNPC account for missing $10.8bn —Okonjo-Iweala

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•P.17

COLUMNIST:

LES LEBA —P.40

Mr & Mrs

UDUAGHAN WINS AWARD IN IRELAND—Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State was, weekend, at the prestigious Doubletree Hotel by Hilton, Dublin, conferred with the Outstanding International Leadership Award by Metro Eireann, Ireland's only multicultural newspaper. Governor Uduaghan, (left) receiving the award from Dr Daire Keogh, President of St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, Dublin, with Roli, his wife in the middle.

PDP chairman to emerge today •He must be fearless — Tukur

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2 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014 — 3

4 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014

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POCKET CARTOON

One of the vehicles damaged during the crisis in Rivers State, yesterday.

Canada cancels Jonathan's visit Continues from page 1 described as a reaction to President Jonathan’s decision to give assent to the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill 2013 which penalizes homosexual partnerships in the country.

Online news portal, Saharareporters.com had first published the story on its site weekend.

The cancellation nonetheless, Special Adviser to the President on Po-

litical Affairs, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak upheld the president’s action, saying that there was no way homosexual marriages will accelerate the nation’s socio-economic progress.

Despite the challenge from the diplomatic arena, further commendations came the way of the President for assenting to the bill. The latest commendation came from the Prelate and Moderator of the General Assembly of The Presbyterian Church of

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

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HE chief beauty about time is that you cannot waste it in advance. The next year, the next day, the next hour are lying ready for you, as perfect, as unspoiled, as if you had never wasted or misapplied a single moment in all your life. You can turn over a new leaf every hour-if you choose — Arnold Bennett When we see beyond the everyday seemingly trifling, to observing the beauty and miracle occurring in our lives momentarily, every experience becomes a gift that unwraps treasures to new beginnings and greater adventures, and a lever, that launches into new vistas! This life is precious, make the best of it.

A person should strive to consciously remember at all times that everything that we desire in life is already in existence, so why be limited by the actions of another, an event, or circumstances. It is always a choice to just be. Challenges and obstacles are stepping stones, we can allow ourselves to be cowered by them or find the resilience to rekindle the flame of enthusiasm in finding newer and better solutions to uplift and improve upon our circumstances.

After all as the saying goes, “where there is a will , there is a way” but an added value may be accepting inner or divine guidance and doing all you can possibly do but surrender your will to a higher force. Keeping a beautiful heart is a way of life for me... I do not know how to be anything else anyway. And the gains from a loving heart is immeasurably beneficial in every way, if you let your heart be a beautiful place of love, life becomes sweeter and graceful!

Nigeria, Most Rev. Emele Uka who described it as a bold step aimed at reforming the society along godly ethics.

The president’s visit to Canada which is at the instance of the Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper was scheduled for February.

The cancellation follows the harassment of Nigeria’s diplomatic staff in the Nigerian High Commission in Canada by the homosexual lobby in that country.

The decision to cancel President Jonathan’s state visit to Canada was communicated through the Nigeria High Commissioner to the Supervising Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Viola Onwuliri who in turn passed on the message to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.

Special Adviser to the President on Media, Dr. Reuben Abati in his reaction, yesterday, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would respond to the development.

Gulak slams US, Canada, others

Calling on the international community to respect the cultural sensibility of Nigerians and other African countries on the issue of same sex marital relations, Gulak in an interview, yesterday, said that “the hostile reaction of Europeans and the United

States to the recent signing into law of the bill that outlaws marriages and sexual relations between people of the same sex has not taken into consideration the socio-cultural differences between people of different racial backgrounds, and more importantly the religious beliefs of our people.

“What the anti-gay law has tried to achieve is to protect and promote family values as we know them from the start; we accept that the Europeans have reached the height of their civilization, we are yet to see how marriages between persons of the same sex will accelerate our own socio-economic and technological advancement of our people.

"We value the bilateral and multilateral relationships between Nigeria and its international partners and we believe that no unnecessary pressure will be brought to bear on us to accept what our people consider to be abhorrent.”

“We are yet to see how this same sex practice will reduce inequality, reduce the grinding poverty facing our people.

Same sex rights and privileges will not generate employment, enhance health care, improve education and technological growth which is what we need now. We know that those who are into this practice are in the minority, the US and EU should respect the sensibilities of those in the majority who abhor the practice of same sex relations.

“The law makers deliberated carefully on the bill before passing it and sending it to the president for his assent. We cannot dictate to Europeans on what bills they choose to make; they have been passing legislation to regulate migration of Africans into their countries without any complaints from any other country, some states in America have legalised the use of marijuana for medical purposes, ordinarily we should see that as a welcome development since we have people who grow the weed here, but for the sake of the health of our people, we cannot say what is good for America or Europeans must be good for us.

“I think it is a big distraction for these countries to assume that same

sex marriage is our utmost priority at this stage of our development.

“Nigeria will continue to respect the rights of its citizens but those who want to engage in mercantile promotion of human relations that the society does not accept may be incurring the wrath of the law”.

The European Union and the US had threatened to review their economic assistance to Nigeria for signing the bill which they had lobbied hard to stop.

The Presbyterian Prelate, Most Rev. Uka in a statement in Calabar, Cross River State, described as unacceptable, the increasing global incidence of ungodly homosexual relations and the legal adoption of same-sex marriages.

“There are over 600, 000 same sex families in the US with about 115, 000 of them raising children who shall eventually become homosexuals,” he said.

“Homosexuality as one of the greatest human deviant behaviours has been with man from earliest times. Man has fought it for a long time but it refuses to die. For instance, about 40 years ago, homosexuality was listed as a mental disorder by the American Psychiatric Association. Today, it is considered a normal sexual behaviour and a human rights issue.

The Prelate charged President Jonathan to remain focused and not to be intimidated by the opposition of the western world to his assent to the bill.

On steps to address the issue of homosexuality, Most Rev. Uka said that the way forward is to follow the biblical panacea of seeking the Lord while He may be found, fleeing from sin and confessing to attract God’s forgiveness.

“Thank God there is hope, a cure for the sins of homosexuality, lesbianism, incest, rape and adultery. We should note

that these mentioned perverse sexual lifestyles attract God’s punishment. For such, God warns that hell, not heaven is the final destination. And how is God’s cure received? In exactly the same way as other types of sinners receive forgiveness through confession and repentance.”

The Prelate admonished that, "as modern man wallows in his rottenness and extreme carnality, as they become far removed from the divine and the glorious, as they begin to ravage the world and seek to exterminate it, let us do our best to resist the devil and he will flee from us."

Economic and diplomatic ties

Canada's grouse is that more than 30 people have been arrested, since the law was signed on January 7, 2014 and there are worries that more arrests will follow.

Until Jonathan signed the law, prosecution of gay people had largely been centered on the predominantly Muslim north, where gays have long been punished under Sharia law. Canada does not have substantial economic interest in Nigeria but the country has been wooing Canada to invest in the mining, rail transportation, sea ports reform, education, and infrastructure. Both countries expect trade volume from these sectors to generate over 16 billion dollars in 2015. The relationship between both countries has been buoyant as they have maintained high level diplomatic contacts.

It will be recalled that in April 2012, Nigeria’s former Foreign Affairs Minister Olugbenga Ashiru visited Ottawa, where he signed the Memorandum of Understanding to establish a Bi-National Commission, which covers four major themes: political relations, commercial relations, security cooperation and development cooperation.

6—Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014

Land tussle: Lord's Chosen church pastor drags IG, others to court

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

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AGOS — THE General Overseer of Lord's Chosen Church, Pastor Lazarus Muoka, has dragged the Inspector-General of Police before a Lagos High Court in Igbosere over a land tussle.

Other respondents in the suit are: Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Yaba; Inspector Festus Elelegwu and Mrs Oluwatosin Ogundipe (2nd-5th respondent).

According to the suit marked M/541/2013, the Incorporated Trustee of the Lord's Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministry and its pastor (Applicants) were threatened to be arrested by the police following a petition written

by Oluwatosin alleging that the church bought her land in Ikotun area of Lagos.

The applicants, in their written address, contend that they bought the land from Oluwatosin’s husband, adding that he died some years later after he validly sold the land and gave possession and titled document to them.

In the suit, the applicants maintained that when Oluwatosin’s husband died, problem started in the deceased’s polygamous home as members of his family tried to outwit each other in the scramble for his property.

A fuel tanker exploded at Zoom Communication Company near National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos while off-loading fuel into another tanker, yesterday. (INSET): Some of the burnt tankers. PHOTOS: Biodun Ogunleye.

Kirikiri Prisons life jail inmate earns bachelor's degree L

AGOS — A MIDDLE aged man, Tunwase Kabiru, serving life sentence, Saturday, graduated with 4,308 students who bagged various degrees at the third convocation of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in Lagos.

Kabiru, who came in company of the prison officials, was awarded a Bachelor's degree (BA) in Human Resources Management.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria that he was currently serving a life sentence at the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons, La-

gos, after being found guilty of murder.

He said: “I want to thank God for what he is doing in my life. I have always had hope in God and that is what inspired me to enroll.

I was actually imprisoned after being found guilty of committing murder and I have served 11 years so far.

“I am still hopeful that things will turn around one day for the better, having achieved what I have today.”

The Assistant Comptroller-General Nigeria Prisons, Chuks Afejue, hailed the courage displayed by the graduating inmate,

Gunmen kill Accord Party stalwart’s guard

BY OLA AJAYI

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BADAN — THE Oyo State Police Command is investigating the killing of the house guard of a prominent member of Accord Party in Ibadan.

The guard, identified as Pa P. A.Oyadotun, was killed by yet to be identified gunmen who invaded the Sawmill residence of his boss, Mr. Soji Oladejo, a chieftain of the party in Ibadan, in the early hours of yesterday.

Though the politician claimed it was an assassination attempt on him, the police said they could not conclude yet on what actually led to the crime.

According to the Police Public

Relations Officer in the state, Deputy Superintendent of Police Olabisi Ilobanafor, who confirmed the incident, the police would not limit their investigation to robbery attack.

The hoodlums reportedly broke the walls of their victim’s house at Ogbere Moradeyo, Sawmill area of Ibadan but could not get Oladejo.

Speaking on the attack, the politician said he escaped death narrowly. He said he was in a nearby church praying when the attackers struck.

He said: “The assassins struck around 2.05 a.m and forcefully entered my house

after breaking through the fence. They killed the guard and threatened to kill all members of my household if I was not produced.

“They thought I was inside my car so they fired several shots at it.

“After dealing with my household and confirmed that I was not in the house, they left taking away one of my children’s laptops.”

The remains of the killed guard were still in the house at press time.

Meantime, men of the state command, weekend, in two different operations, killed four suspected robbers after gun battles.

adding that he was the first to enrol and kick start academic activities at the prisons study centre.

According to Afejue, this will prove to people that the prison is not just a dumping ground for those who seem not to have any more hope.

He said: “The prison is a place where reforms and rehabilitation take place. Currently, we have a total of 48 inmates who are enrolled in all the four major prison study centres across the country.

“It is an exciting exercise and we want to seize this opportunity to plead with the Federal Government to try and temper justice with mercy, having achieved this feat."

The Study Centre Director, Mr Ladan Babakodong, said two other inmates were to join Kabiru to graduate but that they were unable to meet up the minimum graduation requirements.

He noted that research had shown that the performance of the inmates were better when compared to their counterparts outside because their only job while in the prison was reading.

Lack of support

He said: “A lot more of the inmates are very eager to enroll but have no support. The only ones that are able to enroll are doing so, based on the support they get from NGOs. “There are still many of them

that are very qualified for enrollment but are constrained by cash. It is because of this challenge that the NOUN is giving 50 per cent discount to all inmates just to encourage them.

“I want to appeal for support from the general public to fulfill the dreams and aspirations of this category of people in our society.

“This is the only programme for prisons in the whole of Africa, apart from South Africa.”

Earlier in his welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Vincent Tenebe, noted that the NOUN had been a significant operator in open and distance education.

Tenebe said it was determined to be at the forefront of making higher education accessible and affordable to all.

He said: “The university will also continue to establish study centres that meet the minimum standards required for establishing study centres for organisations, communities and institutions."

Tenebe who graduated the first set of students of Law and Mass Communication at the occasion, pleaded with the Federal Government to increase the allocation to the institution to enable it to tackle its various challenges.

He also emphasised the need for advocacy and acceptability of the learning model in the country.

The VC said the certificates of all the graduating students were ready and would be collected at the venue of the event.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014—7

Reps to give Budget 2014, PIB priority attention

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE & LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

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BUJA — THE 2014 Appropriation Bill and the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, will be given priority attention by members of the House of Representatives when the House reconvenes tomorrow after their Christmas recess.

House Committee Chairman on Media and Public Affairs, Rep Zakari Lafia Mohammed (APC, Kwara) who disclosed this, weekend, said the lawmakers have resolved to take the budget head on as soon as they resume to fasttrack its passage.

Mohammed said members would act based on the report of finance committee which had issued 50 questions to Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on the state of the economy last year.

Although OkonjoIweala had responded to the 50 questions last week in a 102-page response, House finance committee said it would x-ray waivers granted by the ministry for three years.

The lawmakers had last year raised an alarm over the 2013 budget implementation and performance, saying it was below 40 per cent. But Okonjo-Iweala had insisted it was over 70 percent.

The legislators could not consider this year ’s budget as it was laid before them a bit late on December 19, the day they proceeded on their Christmas break.

Half of Nigerian politicians should not be in politics —Jonathan

BY BEN AGANDE

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BUJA — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, passed a damning verdict on Nigerian politicians as he said half of the people parading themselves as politicians were not supposed to be in politics.

He spoke at the Aso Rock Chapel during the post national pilgrimage thanksgiving service in Abuja.

Jonathan was apparently responding to the sermon by Primate of the Anglican Church, Nicholas Okoh, who said politicians were often very unforgiving.

According to the President, half of Nigerian politicians are not supposed to be in politics although they have no choice but to have a forgiving spirit as they may find themselves having to work with those who wronged them in the past.

He said: “The chaplain accused us, politicians, that we do not forgive or that some politicians don’t forgive. Apparently, the Bible said this, but politicians are the people who forgive.

“Politicians are those who forgive because in politics, whether local or international, you don’t have permanent friends or permanent enemies but permanent interests.

“If somebody is your enemy today and there is a change of interest and he becomes your friend,

first of all, you have to forgive otherwise you cannot have a friend that you cannot work with.

“But politics is just like some kind of trade. More than 50 per cent of us who are into politics are not supposed to be politicians.

“For example, in nursing and teaching profession, people with wicked heart and un-

D

UTSE— GOVERNOR Sule Lamido of Jigawa State has accused the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, leadership of deviating from the democratic tenets of the nine founding fathers of the party and playing politics of hate, deceit and nepotism.

Lamido, who spoke in an interview with Vanguard, yesterday, said the intractable crisis

thing by signing the anti-gay bill into law despite apparent pressure from “outside.”

Yesterday’s church service was attended by the President’s wife, Patience; Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State; Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Yomi Awoniyi; Supervising Minister of Defence, Labaran Maku; Minister of Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade and senior presidential aides.

From left: Mother of the President, Madam Eunice Jonathan; First Lady, Dame Patience Goodluck; President Goodluck Jonathan; Executive Secretary, National Christian Pilgrims Board, Mr John Kennedy Okpara, and Hon Ndidi Elumelu, at the 2013 post national pilgrimage to Jerusalem thanksgiving service at the Aso Villa Chapel, State House, Abuja, yesterday. On the right is Pastor Abba Mishella praying for the President and his family.

STATE HOUSE PHOTO

...to appoint Tukur Defence Minister

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

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BUJA — STRONG indica tions have emerged in Abuja that ousted former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has been penciled down

by President Goodluck Jonathan as the next Minister of Defence.

While announcing Tukur’s retirement and displaying the envelope containing the letter last week, President Jonathan, who is the leader of his party, re-

vealed that he was going to reward the former chairman with a very tough appointment.

Security sources told Vanguard, yesterday, that contrary to the belief that Tukur was asked to resign as PDP chairman because he ended up causing disaffection within the party, President Jonathan only told the former chairman to step aside to enable a wholesome resolution of perceived grievances

PDP has deviated from democratic tenets of founding fathers —Lamido

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH

forgiving spirit are not the kind of people who should be nurses or teachers, but we find them there.

“So, most of us who are in politics are not supposed to be there but because we have no other thing to do. So, if you see a politician that cannot forgive, he is an impostor.”

Okoh had commended Jonathan for doing the right

in the ruling PDP had stifled Nigeria’s democratic drive and dented the nation’s image before the international community.

According to Lamido, the PDP has failed to use the power given to it

by Nigerians to address the basic problems confronting them but has turned the party into a tool for promoting sycophancy and blackmail. ‘’Those who are making noise in PDP today have no idea of how the party came into being and do not also have any knowledge about Nigeria’s history.

“My fear is that the current PDP cannot address Nigeria’s problems if it cannot, as a party, ensure transparency and accountability in the way the party is run. When the party fails to be run on established democratic principles, it cannot meet the genuine desires of Nigerians,’’ he said.

Although Lamido ruled out the possibility of defecting to the opposition APC, he nonetheless said the PDP must first clear the filths that had enveloped it in recent years.

of various camps who cited Tukur as the problem.

The decision to reward the one time governor of old Gongola State, according to the sources, followed Jonathan’s conviction that Tukur is not only a detribalised Nigerian, having worked with him at close range, but that the former chairman is somebody that cannot be bought over no matter the incentive.

His dogged loyalty and resolve to stand by President Jonathan even when governors, including those of the G-5 who defected, allegedly approached him with mouth watering incentives to join the fray of those wanting to stop the President from contesting the 2015 election, was cited as one of the reasons.

Furthermore, Vanguard was told that in the coming days and months leading to the 2015 elections, tough times regarding issues of security challenges are expected because security agencies are already in the know about plans by certain groups and elements to cause chaos and

destabilise the peace of the nation for selfish and political interests.

According to the source,“the fact that the north eastern part of the country has been the hotbed of terrorism, leading to the declaration of a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states last April, with some elders of the area, who are allegedly sponsored, claiming that the military onslaught on Boko Haram has ulterior motive” is also said to have played a role in the President’s decision.

“With Bamanga Tukur as Minister of Defence, and overseeing the quest to have a terror-free society and revival of peace and security in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, the so-called elders and groups who are politicizing very serious security threats to the nation and its citizens will be made to understand that government's intention in the North-East is noble,” the source added.

If he takes over as the minister, Tukur would become the second PDP chairman to be appointed Defence Minister after the appointment of former chairman, Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed, to that position in the past.

8—Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014

Next chairman, to emerge today, must be fearless — Tukur zMy actions’ll vindicate me

BY HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA — THE immediate past National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, yesterday, prescribed a strong heart for the next chairman of the party, saying that he went through tough times in his 20 months on the saddle.

Tukur spoke as President Goodluck Jonathan, PDP governors and other major stakeholders met in Abuja, last night, on the choice of the next chairman of the ruling party that is to emerge today.

It was learnt, yesterday, that a consensus was increasingly moving towards the enthronement of a candidate from any of Yobe, Borno or Adamawa states, the three states not controlled by the party in the Northeast where the office is zoned to.

Among the leading candidates

that were under consideration at a second meeting by the stakeholders were former Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly matters, Senator Abba Aji, and Alhaji Mohammed Wakil.

Speaking, yesterday, when some clerics visited and prayed with him at his Wuse 2 residence, Tukur urged Nigerians to pray for President Jonathan, stressing that but for the doggedness of the PDP it would have long collapsed, because of what he described as ‘evil plots’ by certain members to completely destroy the party.

Tukur was also unapologetic over his actions as party chairman, saying he stood by every decision he took even as he insisted that he made a huge sacrifice by his decision to resign last week.

“I did my best to bring PDP to good standard and international best practices on politics. I came in with the mind-set to reform

the party by promoting the principle of election instead of selection and the idea of consensus instead of imposition.

“Alas, I was proved wrong by those who believed that the old order in PDP must be retained, not for any good thing, but for their selfish interests.

“Some members got so desperate that they turned to the media and funded all negative reports against me. If you are familiar with all the negative media reports, none attributed any wrong doing to me. The reports only echoed the views of the sponsors that I was unbending in my desire to change the bad situation in PDP. “They even attempted to use the media to get me in confrontation with Mr. President.

I never spoke to anyone about issues, yet the media would attribute some reports to me. But we knew those who were behind it all. They had forgotten that what ever goes round surely

must come round.”

He also dismissed reports that governorship aspirants bought him bullet-proof Sports Utility Vehicles, SUVs, for the purpose of receiving favour in the governorship primaries.

“How could I do such a thing, when indeed, I was the one advocating change in PDP. I waged war against the idea of imposition or selection of candidates for elections in our party. We did that successfully in Adamawa and it is working.

We conducted transparent elections in Anambra and the best candidate won. We never favoured any candidate during the process.

“All the same, those who benefited from the rots within the party in the past stood on our ways. My conviction is that very soon, Nigerians will know the truth. It then matters what the country would do with such truth.”

The meeting between

President Jonathan and party stakeholders it was learnt, was aimed at finding common ground among party chieftains that would avoid rift in the party ahead of the 2015 presidential elections.

Among those gathered at the meeting were the Chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT, Chief Tony Anenih, the BoT Secretary, Senator Walid Jubrin, some former PDP national Chairmen, leaders and stakeholders.

A source told Vanguard that at the first phase of the meeting, consensus was not reached on a particular name for the position, just as two names were said to have been presented to the governors for discussion. The names presented were former Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly matters, President, Senator Abba Aji and former leader of the House of Alhaji Representatives, Mohammed Wakil.

NCAT students demonstrate over accommodation problem

BY LAWANI MIKAIRU

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FORUM: From left, Nigeria's First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan; Hon. Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, High Chief Edem Duke; Chairman of occasion, His Eminence, Cardinal John Onaiyekan; Senate Committee Chairman on Women and Children, Senator Helen Esuene, and Director General, National Orientation Agency, NOA, Mr. Mike Omeri, during a one-day National Forum on Mainstreaming Gender in Governance by NOA, in Abuja.

HE NIGERIAN College of Aviation Technology, NCAT, Zaria, has been hit by acute hostel accommodation which led to students’ demonstration, last week.

Rector of the College, Capt.

Chinyere Kalu, blamed influx of students into the college for the shortage of accommodation in the institution.

Kalu explained that a block of 70 rooms was commissioned last year while an executive hostel was opened two years ago to cater for more students, but this did not solve the problems.

NNPC must account for missing $10.8bn oil revenue — Okonjo-Iweala

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE, CLIFFORD NDUJIHE & IKENNA ASOMBA

M

INISTER FOR Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has said that the ministry will make sure that the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, accounts for the missing $10.8 billion oil revenue.

She spoke, yesterday, in Lagos at a session with the South South Professionals, adding that it was her job to ensure that every money belonging to the Federal Government goes into the Federation Account.

The Minister said that the ministry played the right role in the case of the missing oil money raised by the Central Bank Governor, Mallam Lamido Sanusi, by helping to reconcile the revenue shortfall, to the outstanding balance of $10.8

billion.

Okonjo-Iweala, however, said that although she was not the supervising minister for petroleum, “as Coordinating Minister, I am to bring the other ministers together to resolve issues.

"It is not my duty to do the job of other ministers, but to bring them together to resolve issues. ”We have the Federation Allocation Accounts Committee, FAAC, which is chaired by the Minister of State for Finance, with state commissioners for finance, NNPC, and FIRS as members.

"Whenever there is a case of revenue questions we turn to the FIRS and NNPC for explanations, and we don’t need to make noise about it on the pages of newspapers.

“And that is what we did in in the case of the missing oil revenue. We have reconciled the accounts and we are still reconciling, and the outstanding is $10.8 billion. The NNPC said

that the money was used for operational expenses, but we have asked them to account for how the money was spent and what it was spent for, so as to ascertain that there is no case of unauthorised spendings. ”So we played our role, and the ministry should be credited.

We are for professionalism and transparency.

Our job is to ensure every money belonging to the federation comes in, so we will ask NNPC to account for the $10.8 billion. ”On budget implementation, the Minister noted that there were challenges in the nation’s budgeting process, which must be resolved.

“Sometimes you get budget that is not easy to implement because of the way things have been solved around.’’

She further stressed that the budget also needed to be submitted on time and approved on time, so that implementation would commence at the

beginning of the year.

Responding to the issue of state of infrastructure, especially the East-West Road, Okonjo-Iweala said that the present administration had come under serious attacks, but noted that efforts were being made to complete the road before the end of the current administration.

She said: “The President has always insisted that the ministry incharge works very hard to complete the East-West road.

"We agree that more work needs be done, and I think the Minister of Works is taking the issue of the road construction seriously. This is the most difficult road network, but also the most strategic.

"We have been able to get about N50 billion from African Development Bank to ensure this project is completed before the end of this administration. ”Even with all the efforts put in place so far by this administration towards a better

Nigeria, it has come under serious attacks. These attacks especially from the opposition make us stronger. This administration is on the right path towards transforming this nation, therefore we need not be distracted.

"We have always appealed to Nigerians that, 'let us leave our parochial interests but let us come together to make this country a better place for all.'”

At the event were President of the SESSPN, Mr. Emeka UgwuOju, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (rtd), Professor Green Nwankwo, Governor Peter Obi, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, Dr. Goddy Uwazurike, Chief Fred Agbeyegbe, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Gari Igariwey, Dr. Oba Otudeko, Professor Anya O. Anya, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Professor George Obiozor, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa and traditional rulers from the South-East and South-South.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014—9

Taxation: Lagos govt captures additional 1.1 million adults

BY MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO

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AGOS — LAGOS State government said 1.1 million additional adults have been captured into the state’s tax net, increasing the number of tax payers to 4.2 million.

It will be recalled that the state government, last year, said that the number of taxpayers in the state had increased from the previous figure of 2.7 million to 3.1 million, adding that it resulted into a six per cent revenue growth for the state.

Chairman of Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Babatunde Fowler, who disclosed this in an interview with Vanguard, said that the "ratio of tax payers in the state is increasing daily."

This came barely few days after the state governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola said that 70 per cent of the current budget would be financed through tax and levies collected in the state especially through LIRS. Fowler said: “We now have 4.2

million adults in our tax net. And this testifies to the fact that the residents can now see the importance of paying tax through various projects that have been embarked upon by the state government.

“We just want to encourage more Lagosians, especially

women who haven’t started paying taxes to start immediately. And those that have been paying should continue to do so.

“We want to appeal to some women who call themselves house-wives and who don’t pay tax, to start paying taxes.”

On the ratio of those who pay taxes in the state, Fowler said: “Those who are paying taxes have improved tremendously. I have just given you the right figure that about 70 per cent of Lagosians are complying with the payment of taxes.”

CONFERENCE: From left, Mr. Abimbola Ilori, GM, Human Resouces; Dr. Adebayo Jimoh, GMD, and Alhaji Niyi Badmus, ED, Finance and Planning, during the valedictory press conference by the Group Managing Director of O'dua Investment, Dr. Jimoh. Photo: Dare Fasube

Results delay: Lagos Assembly probes LASU

BY EBUN SESSOU

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AGOS — LAGOS State House of Assembly has instructed its House Committee on Education, Science and Technology headed by Wahaab

King to investigate the nonissuance of degree results by the Lagos State University, LASU, with a view to resolving it.

In a petition forwarded to the Lagos Assembly, part time students of 2005/2006 academic

session from Ikorodu centre of the university, urged the lawmakers to assist them over the non-issuance of degree results by LASU management for Ikorodu campus part time students.

Corruption: Kalu calls for Obasanjo's arrest, prosecution

BY DANIEL ETEGHE

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ORMER GOVERNOR of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, yesterday, called for the arrest and prosecution of exPresident Olusegun Obasanjo, alleging that he started active corruption in Nigeria’s political circle.

Speaking at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Dr. Kalu pointed out that he wonders why former President Obasanjo was still walking the streets free, stressing that after the reply of his letter by President Goodluck Jonathan, he (Obasanjo) should have been arrested and prosecuted.

According to him, the $16billion power sector fraud was done by ex-President Obasanjo, affirming that he could not even show good leadership as President during his tenure, adding that he used his position to fight political enemies.

He said: “Well, let me tell you, Obasanjo is part of the problems of this country. The earlier he goes back to his farm the better.

He caused all the problems that we are going through. He was worse than Jonathan and any other president of this country.

In 1999 when he was elected President, instead of giving leadership, he went to fight political war. The goodwill this country had, he squandered it, and this is what we are suffering from today because if he had

given qualitative leadership without pursuing political enemies, we would have grown.”

Commenting on the resignation of the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamango Turkur, Dr. Kalu said that it was a good development for the Nigerian democratic process.

Youth Corps member donates to widows, orphans

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SERVING member of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, in Kwara State, Miss Glory Oguegbu, has donated a cassava processing factory to about 200 widows and orphans in Shao, Kwara State.

Oguegbu handed over the factory in Shao, Moro Local Government Area of the state, where she is doing her primary assignment.

Speaking during the handing over ceremony, the Corps member expressed gratitude to God for giving her the opportunity to touch the lives

of the people in the area.

She said that when she was posted to Kwara to serve, she was not happy as she had wanted to serve in Abuja.

“I had wanted to go to Abuja, but I did not know that God had a reason for posting me here. If I had gone to Abuja, lives would not have been transformed here in Shao Community,” Oguegbu added.

Oguegbu said proceeds from the factory would be used to pay stipends to some of the windows, and reach out to orphans in the community.

The letter read in part: “Students of Lagos State University, Ikorodu campus who were admitted and graduated between 2005/2006 to 2008/2009 academic session respectively hereby seek for your intervention on the refusal of the management of the institution to issue our result which had been overdue for four years ago."

The aggrieved students said they needed the results urgently to enable them secure employment for those not yet employed or promoted in their various workplaces.

“We have taken several steps both individually and collectively to get these results but the effort proved abortive," the petitioners said.

In a related development the House also directed the Committee of Education, Science and Technology to investigate the non-payment of outstanding 18 months salary arrears of the staff of the Lagos State Colleges of Education academic staff union.

The petitioners attached the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the state government and the union on March 22, 2013.

The union therefore sought the intervention of the House in order not to embark on industrial strike action.

The Committee was given two weeks to report back to the House with a comprehensive report.

Fashola orders probe into forced eviction in Bariga BOSE ADELAJA & MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO

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AGOS — Worried by the allegation that residents of eight houses in Bariga Local Council Development Area, LCDA, were forcefully evicted by an illegal court injunction, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, ordered full investigation into the purported court injunction.

The residents of the eight houses who were allegedly evicted by some officials of the Ikeja High Court, Ikeja, last Wednesday, January 15, claiming that the court had ruled that the property be vacated by the occupants.

The landlords and tenants, however, argued that they were not aware of the court injunction delivered on their behalf.

Court orders status quo in Ibeju-Lekki land tussle

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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LAGOS High Court has ordered parties in a civil suit, involving hectares of land in OkoOlomi, Bogije area of Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos to maintain the existing peace, pending the hearing and determination of the case.

Justice Kazeem Alogba, who gave the order in suit LD/1633/2012, between Oba Tajudeen Elemoro, Princess Totin Eleku, Femi Bakare and six others, also ordered the parties to maintain existing statusquo.

Justice Alogba’s order is coming on the heel of a similar order in suit LD/ 1946/2012 between Princess Toyin Eleku and three others and Justice Atinuke Ipaye, in which the court ordered that “all construction activities of whatever nature shall cease forthwith on the subject property, pending the hearing and determination of claimants’ motion on notice for temporary restraining orders.”

10—Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014

Obasanjo insists on criminal allegations against Kashamu

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA — FORMER President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has called the bluff of chairman, Mobilisation and Organisation of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the

South-West, Buruji Kashamu, insisting he can go to court over his comment that he is wanted in the United States of America.

Obasanjo through his lawyer, Wale Ajayi in his reply to a letter written to him by Kashamu through his counsel, Alex

Izinyon (SAN), alleged that Kashamu had no moral name worthy of any protection.

According to the former President: “The portion of his letter which referred to Kashamu in his open letter to President Jonathan is correct

BIRTHDAY: Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (2nd right), his wife, Olufunso (right); Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Suraj Adekunbi (left), and the celebrant, Iyalode Alaba Lawson (2nd left), during the 63rd birthday celebration of Iyalode Lawson, in Abeokuta, weekend.

Fresh crisis brews in varsities

BY OLA AJAYI

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BADAN — A fresh crisis is brewing in the university system as the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has directed its members nationwide to refuse filling forms issued by the authorities on a new method of payment tagged Integrated Payroll and Personal Information System, IPPIS. The directive was given by the University of Ibadan branch of ASUU, through its Secretary, Dr. Deji Omole.

The method of payment was before now, roundly condemned in the health sector after flaws in the system were noticed.

The university lecturers have just called off a five-month strike which grounded academic activities across the country.

The academic union warned the National Universities Commission, NUC, boss, Professor Julius Okojie to focus on facilities and infrastructure needed in universities rather than pre-occupy himself in alleged fraud related forms.

The lecturers cautioned the NUC not to distract them now that they were trying to recover lost grounds occasioned by the five month strike.

Declaring that the method of payment negated the principle of university autonomy agreed upon since 1992, the union said:

“Our attention has been drawn to an NUC circular directing university staff to fill IPPIS forms. This is to remind you that the union’s position on IPPIS has not changed. Until NEC reviews its earlier decision, no ASUU should fill the form. NEC is to discuss this issue in February and give further directive. United we bargain, divided we beg.”

Buttressing the stance of the union, the Chairman, UI Chapter, Dr. Olusegun Ajiboye said: “Integrated Payment System does not take into consideration the peculiarity of the work of academic staff and it negates the principle of autonomy which ASUU won since 1992.”

and not misleading," saying he is ready to justify any aspect of the correspondence which according to him, is already within the public domain.

The former President in his reply entitled, 'Re: Defamatory publication, injurious and malicious falsehood and unbridled vendetta against Prince Buruji Kashamu,' dated January 14, said: “The letter does not suggest any form of vendetta and not malicious or misleading in any material particular.”

Buruji in his letter dated December 14, 2013 to Obasanjo complained that the former President in his December 2, 2013 open letter, ‘Before it is too late,’ written to President Goodluck Jonathan, had maligned his character, urging Obasanjo to retract the statement, failing which he threatened to drag him to court.

According to Izinyon: “Those false and malicious statements, which are too extensive to set out in this letter, held our client out to public odium and portrayed him as a criminal involved in narcotics related criminal activities who would have been in jail but for the protection given by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from extradition to and prosecution in the United States of America.

“If however, you choose ‘to sit don look’ we have further instruction without any further notice to you to seek legal redress,” he said.

But, in his reply, Obasanjo’s lawyer, Abeeb Ajayi said that, “the letter referred to and dated December 2, 2013, to Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was authorised by him and the opinion expressed therein particularly with reference to your client is in the interest of the country, Nigeria.

“That his letter does not suggest any form of vendetta and not malicious or misleading in any material particular.

“That the portion of the letter which referred to your client are correct and not misleading and our client is ready to justify any aspect of the reference which is already within the public domain. “ That he is not ready whatsoever to make any retraction of the said words mostly when it was done in good faith and in the interest of the country.

“In the foregoing therefore, we urge you to be most professional in doing the bidding of your client who only admitted in his open letter to our client that the allegation against him is that of mistaken identity.

2015: I'll decide after nationwide consultation — Atiku

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BUJA — FORMER Vice President, Atiku Abubakar said, yesterday, that he would within the next weeks begin a nationwide consultation as part of ways of determining whether he would contest the 2015 presidential election or not.

In a statement, the 2011 Presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said: “As we begin a new year, our nation has to begin anew.

“As you are aware, I have been engaged in formal and informal meetings with Nigerians for a while.

“And for the next few weeks, I will be travelling across the country in continuation of the consultative process. I will continue to listen to the hopes and fears of our people, so that together, we can build a future that we all can be proud of.

“The times we are in call for hardwork because Nigerians matter and our country matters, too. I believe that this consultative process will reinforce our shared values and throw up a new way forward for our dear country.”

Abubakar had said while hosting the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in December last year that he would get back to them on his decision having brainstormed with his people, friends, associates, party members, aides, among others.

Two tankers explode near Lagos

BY SEBASTINE OBASI

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ARELY TWO weeks after the explosion caused by a petroleum tanker which killed several persons and destroyed property valued at millions of Naira in Lagos, a similar incident, yesterday, occurred around Arepo in the outskirts of Lagos.

According to the spokesperson of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye, the two petroleum tankers were burnt following the illegal attempt to trans-load petroleum products from one tanker to another.

Ibrahim said that the two tankers were totally burnt while the third one was partially impacted.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014—11

Why I faulted FG's centenary fiesta —FASHOLA

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Leave Sylva out of Bayelsa APC crisis —EX-CNPP CHAIR

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

ENIN—GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, in Benin City, Edo State, weekend, gave reasons why he disagreed with the planned country's centenary celebration by the Federal Government, just as the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Mr. Samson Osagie, alleged plans by the Federal Government to present a bogus budget in the name of centenary celebration with a view to squandering the money.

Governor Fashola and Osagie bared their minds on the proposed centenary celebration in Benin City, during a youth summit organised by the Edo State Government.

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CONFERENCE: From left: Miss Toyosi Akerele; Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State; Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin and Mr Festus Keyamo, at a conference on Nigeria's centenary organised by the Edo State Government in Benin City, yesterday.

Rivers crisis: 2 youths shot in Ogoni

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT— OGO NI area of Rivers State is the new theatre of war in battle for the soul of the state between Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s camp and those opposed to him. Weekend’s advertised rally by both camps was another reason for the latest round of violence that visited the state. Uncomfirmed reports said that two people lost their lives in the shootings that dazed the residents.

While the rally organised by the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, at Degema in the state was peaceful, that of the Save Rivers Movement, SRM, was aborted by suspected thugs and ceaseless shootings from some unknown gunmen. Both camps seemed to be agreed that two people were shot during the aborted rally.

Governor Amaechi in his reaction blamed the Rivers State police commissioner of police for the mayhem and for supporting those opposed to him. The Governor vowed to attend next Saturday’s rally of the SRM. The scene of last weekened shooting was Bori, the headquarters of Khana Local Government. The SRM applied for police permit on January 7, 2014 and slated its rally for yesterday, at the All Saints Cathedral, Diocese of Ogoni, Anglican Communion on Hospital road in Bori, headquarters of the local government.

Some youths who spoke to Vanguard said the shootings started at the venue of the rally at about 2am following an invasion by some PDP youths.

According to one Bright Ibobor the residents heard the first round of shooting at from about 2am to 3am, while the second round started at about 5am. Another source who spoke on condition of anonymity also blamed the rival youths over the incident. According to him, the shooting intensified at about 8.30am when some youths sighted the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. George Feyii, and

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA E N A G O A — A FORMER Chairman of Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, in Bayelsa State, Mr Sunday Frank-Oputu, weekend, described as false, claims that those involved in the leadership crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state, have the mandate of the former governor, Chief Timipre Sylva.

Frank-Oputu, a close friend to the former governor, said though those involved in the leadership tussle battle over the structure and leadership of the Interim Committee of APC served under the administration of Sylva, their actions and decisions to open parallel APC secretariat was a nullity as Sylva has not openly and officially applied for the membership of APC in the state.

Chief of Staff to Government House, Chief Tony Okocha at the venue of the rally.

However, the two top government functionaries were said to have escaped through a route in Bori that led to the East West road.

Deputy Speaker in the state House of Assembly, Leyii Kwanee who also spoke on the issue confirmed the shooting to newsmen, blaming the police for inaction.

Vanguard gathered that anti-riot policemen moved into the venue between 9 and 10am to maintain law and order. The police later took over the Hospital Road which stretches from Bridge area to School Land. Motorists plying the road were diverted to adjourning roads by the fierce looking policemen who disallowed pedestrians from walking through their barricades but advised them to take other routes to their destinations.

A youth leader in the area said the shooting at about 8am caused panic in the area as most people ran into the churches for refuge.

He also said the incident forced the market on Monsi Street in Bori to shut down immediately by traders and buyers who scampered for safety. At the All Saints Cathedral, Diocese of Anglican Communion, venue of the aborted rally, canopies erected the previous day by SRM for the rally were pulled down allegedly by the rival groups. At about 3pm some youths were seen dismantling the canopies under heavy security watch.

Reacting to the incident, the Interim National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Lai Mohammed, in a statement entitled "another violent attack in Rivers: President Jonathan’s sympathizers pushing Nigeria to the precipice," said the presidency was pushing Nigeria to the precipice. The APC also said that PDP-sponsored militants attacked a peaceful rally in Rivers State with guns and

other weapons, yesterday.

Mohammed, said "the hoodlums, who invaded the venue of the rally by the SRM in Bori, where the executives of the pan Rivers group in Khana Local Government Area of the state were to be inaugurated, attacked those in attendance and beat up some of the journalists who were invited to cover the event, damaging their vehicles and equipment in the process.

Protection of lives and property While the attack was going on, the police who had been formally informed of the rally and were expected to provide protection instead gave the hoodlums a free rein, in the most egregious and open display of partisanship by an institution of the state saddled with ensuring the protection of lives and property of all citizens."

Rivers State governor, Chibuike Amaechi, who spoke yesterday said he was going to attend a rally in the area on Saturday. He accused the President of failing to call the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Joseph Mbu to order in the state.

His words, “We heard Mbu called a meeting at the Police officers mess and declared war against the Rivers State Government and Rivers people. He is determined to ensure that they are not protected and warned them in advance not to protect anybody at the rally. The interpretation of that means that he knows that there is going to be an attack and he must have been part of the process of the attack."

In a statement signed on behalf of the Special Assistant to the state PDP Chairman, Mr Jerry Needam, the party said, "the Rivers State chapter of the PDP, has raised alarm over in-

creasing spate of violence in the state masterminded by the Rotimi Amaechi administration.

SRM and the APC to continue to create a state of insecurity to justify their call for the removal of the Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mbu. "The crisis which left two Ogoni youth shot and their conditions are very critical and unstable in a private clinic in Port Harcourt, according to reports, followed a local resistance of the APC, Rotimi Amaechi and the Save Rivers Movement by the Ogoni people today (yesterday) in Bori. One was shot on the leg and another shot in the stomach.

"The Rivers State chapter of the PDP is indeed miffed at this trend. We, therefore, call on the police to arrest the Chairman of Khana Local Government Area, Mr Bariledum Greg Nwiedam who on the instructions of Governor Rotimi Amaechi masterminded the crisis and shooting in Bori today. The PDP abhors violence and we shall continue to preach peace, unity and progress of Rivers State."

Meantime, the rally of the Grassroots Development Initiative, GDI slated for Degema local government area in the state held smoothly.

The GDI is a pro-PDP group in the state. The Supervising Minister of Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, who spoke at the rally said President Jonathan had the interest of Rivers people at heart; a situation he said informed his appointment of a Rivers man as Chief of Army Staff. Wike said that a man of his status was not supposed to do what he did. Executive Director, Finance and Administration of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mr. Henry Ogiri who also spoke called on the people of the state to support Jonathan.

N-Delta Ministry trains 86 indigenes in farming …doles out millions as start up-grant

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INISTRY of Niger Delta Affairs has trained 86 indigenes of the region in various fields of agriculture, as part of its efforts to arrest criminality and restiveness in the oil-rich region, by meaningfully engaging the youths.

The beneficiaries were trained at Galilee International Institute, Israel and Songhai Integrated Farms, Porto-Novo, Republic of Benin, in many areas of farming, especially in poultry and fishery, under the ministry’s skills acquisition training programme.

Already, the ministry has given N750,000 to each of the beneficiaries, drawn from all the states in the region, as a grant in addition to other business start- up materials.

The ministry promised to provide additional funds to performing beneficiaries upon satisfactory appraisal of their performance and the use of the initial grant.

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, handed over the cheques of the grant to the beneficiaries in Ekpan, Delta State, weekend.

12—Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014

FG sets up c'ttee to resolve Ugborodo crisis

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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SABA—THE Federal Government is to intervene in the crisis that rocked Ugborodo community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, over the multi-billion dollar, first Nigerian Gas City Project cited in the community.

Parties in the crisis who were earlier summoned to Abuja were asked to return to Delta State to talk with the committee, with a view of finding a lasting solution to the crisis.

At yesterday’s inauguration of the committee at the office of the Secretary to Delta State Government, were seven persons each from the warring sides, including the representative of the Navy, Department of State Services, DSS and Police.

One of the factions was led by a former Commissioner in the state, Dr. Alex Ideh, while Chief Thomas Eritoyo led the other faction.

Addressing the gathering before the two factions met with the committee behind closed doors, Secretary to the Delta State Government, Mr Ovuozorie Macaulay, said: “You are aware of the crisis over the gas project, which is a Federal Government project.

The presidency has intervened. Parties involved in the crisis were summoned to Abuja and a committee put in place by the Presidency by the then Chief of Naval Staff and the Inspector General of Police.

The end result of it was the setting up this committee, which is sitting here (in Asaba) today (yesterday) for the first time officially and we are to come back and resolve the issues.

“In the meantime, work at the site should not be disturbed and nobody should claim leadership of the community. So, our duty here is to commence talk on the issues, so that the

gas plant which is the largest and the first in Africa would go on smoothly without any disturbance from the community. I want to say here that with the setting up of this committee, the earlier committee that was announced on November 19, 2013 stands dissolved.

“With this committee, there should be stoppage of hostilities on both sides, not

in terms of killing anybody, but in terms of exchange of words, using the media in negative manner. All statements from parties must cease until we resolve the issues at stake. If we get any publication or any form of disturbance, the leadership at this level should be held responsible as that was part of the Abuja agreement.”

DONATION: Permanent Secretary, Cross River State Ministry of Education, Mrs. Anna Odey (middle); Ntufam Joseph Ebam (2nd left); Chairman, Cross River State SUBEB, Onyekwucha Ikezu (right); Zonal Business Manager, South-East, Airtel Nigeria, Mrs. Victoria Osung Bassey (left); Director of Inspectorate, Ministry of Education and Adefemi Adeniran (2nd right), PR Head, Airtel Nigeria, during the commissioning of a borehole donated by Airtel Nigeria to Presbyterian Primary School, Ediba in Abi Local Government Area of the state.

Nigerians detained in Indian hospitals over medical bills

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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ENIN—MINISTER of Health, Professor Chukwu Onyebuchi, weekend, said that Nigerians are being detained in Indian and other countries' hospials on account of their inability to offset their medical bills, adding that his office had been inundated with series of letters requesting for assistance.

He also expressed worries, at the alarming rate at which politicians and private individuals rush to foreign countries for medical treatment, which has led to the depletion of the country’s foreign reserve, adding that henceforth, only public servants, whose medical cases have been approved by his ministry would be allowed to seek treatment abroad.

It was gathered that over N78 billion was lost annually through capital flight by Nigerians and public officials seeking medical treatment abroad.

He said: “There are some Nigerians detained in other countries be-

cause they could not settle their medical bills. Some of them, their communities have written me letters for financial assistance as they cannot come back to Nigeria because they are owing. It is a big problem.

"There are things we have achieved in the last one year. For more than 10 years, we couldn’t do an open heart surgery in Nigeria, now two hospitals are doing it in Enugu and Ibadan.”

The minister, who was in Benin City, for the burial of the father of the President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr Osahon Enabulele, harped on the need for Nigerians to take advantage of the National Health

Insurance Policy, which he said should be made compulsory for all employers of labour for their employees.

On plans to curb unnecessary foreign medical trip abroad by public officials, he said “we have people who go abroad and they are in two classes, one are people, who are spending their private money, whether wellearned or not too well- earned.

There are others, who are sponsored by other persons including religious bodies.

"The others are those sponsored by government whether at local, state or federal levels, but it is government sponsorship.

“Recently, we did something which the President decided

with the Head of Service at the federal level at least. Regrettably, most of the reports from the states didn’t give us statistics because states also sponsor people abroad and it is reported as if it is the Federal Government that sponsors people abroad.

“At the federal level, rather than the old system, where the Permanent Secretary writes to the Head of Service after the normal medical board and government decide whether to sponsor someone or not, the Minster of Health must sign, but as a minister, if what you are going for can be done in Nigeria, we would not spend public money on such trip."

Delta community resolves crisis over FUPRE job

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HE misunderstanding between PresidentGeneral of Ugbomro Community, Mr. Raymond Olughor and the Ugbomro/Atata Youths body, led by Francis Obodo, over job slots at the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, FUPRE, has been laid

to rest with parties agreeing to work together in the interest of peace and development of the community.

Obodo spoke after a peace meeting of the community on the different views expressed by the two leaders

on the issue, said: “The youths and the PresidentGeneral are now on the same page. The parties have resolved their differences and accepted to work together in the interest of all stakeholders.”

My accident was an assassination attempt —EDO PDP CHIEFTAIN

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FTER a success ful med-ical treat ment abroad, the injured former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship aspirant in Edo State, Mr. Kenneth Imansuangbon, yesterday, returned to Nigeria, describing the accident he was involved in as an assassination attempt on his life.

He wants the Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, to investigate the accident.

Imansuangbon, who is also the chairman of Pace Setters Schools in Abuja, sustained multiple injuries on his arms, legs and back when a trailer owned by Dangote Group ran into his car and crushed same on the Benin-Asaba Expressway.

Although, no life was lost in the crash, the PDP chieftain was flown to London for medical treatment after he was stabilised at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH. Popularly called “rice man” because of his philanthropic gesture of distributing food to lessprivileged persons, Imansuagbon on arrival yesterday, was welcomed at the airport by friends, members of his family and PDP leaders from Edo State.

Singing songs of praise, the PDP leader told the crowd that it was God and the prayers of Nigerians that saved his life as the driver of the trailer seemed to be on an assassination mission.

He said: “The driver of the trailer with full load of cement, left his lane and hit my car, causing it to somersault several times. I thought I would die but God in His infinitive mercy heard my prayer and the prayers of my people and saved my life.

“Now I am completely healed and I would remain grateful to God and my people in Edo State and Nigerians generally.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014 — 13

Boko Haram: Ihejirika accuses Northern elders of insensitivity

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BY BEN AGANDE

BUJA—THE immediate past Chief of Army Staff, COAS, General Azubuike Ihejirika, has accused some northern elders of insensitivity to the sacrifice being made by the country’s armed forces and disseminating misleading information on the fight against terrorism Reacting to a statement credited to some Northern elders that he should be dragged before the International Criminal Court, ICC, for crimes committed by soldiers prosecuting the war against terrorism, the retired Army chief said such a call was misconceived and capable of demoralising soldiers making huge sacrifices for the nation, as well as jeopardising the war against terrorism.

Speaking with journalists at the State House, Abuja, after attending service at Aso Villa Chapel, Gen. Ihejirika accused the northern elders of not even bothering to send condolence messages to the military which had lost personnel fight terrorists in the North.

He said the elders should instead be thanking the military for making the sacrifices to keep the North safe, a situation the same elders stood to benefit more from.

He said: “My reaction to that is that their statement is illconceived, perhaps based on some misinformation.

“The northern elders should be thanking the service chiefs, my officers and myself for making huge sacrifices, first, to see that Nigeria is safe and the north in particular, since they are the first beneficiaries of the sacrifices being made.

“There is no senatorial zone in this country that has not lost a personnel of the armed forces. It is unfortunate that the same elders, if they are really elders, have not cared to send a single condolence message to the military.”

17 PDP senators ‘ll defect to APC this week —SEN JIBRILLA zPDP is determined to fight back —Ekweremadu

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU & JOSEPH ERUNKE B U J A — SEVETEEN Peoples Democratic Party, PDP senators are to defect to the All Progressives Congress, APC, within days after resumption tomorrow, Senator Bindowo Jibrilla, one of the senators defecting, has said.

His assertion was, however, countered by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who in an interview said the PDP was bent on defending its majority in the Senate and winning back what it lost in the House of Representatives.

Senator Jibrilla, PDP, Adamawa North, who disclosed the defection plans in a BBC Hausa Service interview at the weekend, said the defecting senators will communicate their plans through separate letters to the Senate President, David Mark, shortly after resumption from recess tomorrow.

The 17 senators are among the 22 others who had indicated their interest to join the APC before the Christmas and New Year break began.

H said he had already led the way by joining APC, saying he would announce it immediately after Senate resumption, after which others will follow.

He said: “To be candid, we are 17 senators that will dump PDP to APC in the Senate very soon. This

A

is a serious matter and not a joke, making me to lead the way by joining the APC already.”

He defended their planned action, saying the crisis that engulfed the PDP, leading to its factionalisation called for it.

Senator Jibrilla boasted that the PDP would suffer for the maltreatment it gave to the governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, and other governors that defected from the party in December last year.

He said: “The same thing that forced our governors out is what will force us, the affected federal

lawmakers out of the party. In the case of Adamawa, the elderly man (Governor Nyako) brought three senators and six House of Representatives to PDP as one of its leading lights but was maltreated and forced out” Although, he did not give names of the 16 other defecting senators, Vanguard gathered that the affected senators are Bukola Saraki and Shaaba Lafiagi from Kwara State, Magnus Abe and Wilson Ake from Rivers State, and Basheer Mohammed and Hayatu

Gwarzo from Kano State.

Others are Umar Abubakar Tutare and Aisha Jummai Alhassan from Taraba State, Senator Danjuma Goje from Gombe central, Adamu Abdullahi from Nasarawa West and the entire three PDP senators from Sokoto state.

Senator Ekweremadu, however, deferred saying that the PDP was determined to fight back the attack on it and restore its majority in the House of Representatives.

“We have seen some of these movements before, we are not worried. In the Senate, for instance, I’m not expecting that anybody will leave PDP in the Senate; it is unlikely. Senate is well coordinated and we are strongly behind PDP in the Senate.”

Passengers boarding the new Boeing 737-800 aircraft acquired by Med-View Airline, at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, weekend.

EU import from Nigeria hits 33bn Euros A

BY VICTORIA OJEME

BUJA—NIGERIA in 2012 recorded a trade surplus of 33 billion Euros with the European Union, EU, in overall trade volume of 44.4 billion Euros.

Similarly, out-going Chinese ambassador to Nigeria, Deng Boqing, said weekend that the trade volume between Nigeria and China was $13 billion in 2013.

The trade surplus with the EU resulted from EU’s export to the country which stood at 11.4 billion Euros.

The European Union, Managing Director for Africa, Dr. Nicholas Westcott, who disclosed the volume of trade between both parties in Abuja last weekend, also lamented the high level poverty in the country and described Nigeria as an important EU trading and development partner. “ The European Union imported 33 billion Euros of goods from Nigeria in 2012 and the same year we exported 11.4

billion Euros of goods to Nigeria. This is a big relationship,” he said.

The EU envoy further spoke of a long term EU investment plan worth 500 million Euros in Nigeria. She added: “We also have the biggest stock of investment in

Nigeria and European investors are still keen to come here and invest in the country.

“We also remain the significant development partner and have just agreed that over the next seven years, we will contribute over 500 million Euros in developing systems to

Nigeria which runs from 2014 to 2020. “ Nigeria is one of the Africa most important countries. It has its dynamic economic but it too, like European countries I come from, it faces significant challenges and we want to be a valued partner of

Court summons IG over alleged contempt

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA—THE Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, has ordered the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, to appear before him tomorrow to explain why he should not be committed to prison over his persistent refusal to respect court orders.

The court summon was sequel to a Form 49, a contempt of court proceeding

initiated against the Police boss by Lagos-based human rights activist and constitutional lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN. Abubakar was accused by Falana of disobeying the judgments of three separate High Courts in Abuja which barred police from intervening in the activities of a Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO, the Peace Corps of Nigeria.

Specifically, the Inspector General was said to have

bluntly refused to lift the purported ban placed by the police on Peace Corps since 2009, in spite of declarative orders by various courts of competent jurisdictions.

Consequently, aside asking the court to hand a two-year jail sentence to the IG to serve as an example to others in positions of authority, Falana further persuaded the court to invite the IG to appear and explain to the Chief Judge why the court orders were not obeyed.

14 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014

Bushfire razes school buildings, Principal’s house in Imo O

immediately disappeared when it started wreaking havoc.

Confirming the incident to newsmen, the Principal, Mr. Nath Iwunna, who was obviously shocked by the devastation, said the entire school would have been destroyed by the fire but for the intervention of sympathisers.

The Principal said: “Some sympathizers who trooped to the scene, made spirited efforts to save the buildings but when their efforts did not yield the desired

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

WERRI—THREE buildings of Amakohia Secondary School, Ikeduru local government area of Imo State, have been completely burnt by a ravaging bushfire.

Vanguard investigations revealed that the school principal’s house, the technical workshop and the engine room were consumed by the blazing fire.

It was also gathered that the fire was set by local hunters who

result, they opted to stop the fire from getting to other buildings.”

The school proprietor and Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, His Grace, Dr. Anthony J. V. Obinna, has expressed shock at the level of destruction and wondered how the Archdiocese would raise the required amount of money to rebuild the burnt buildings.

While appealing for help from

good spirited individuals, the Archbishop also said since the handover of schools to the mission, the Archdiocese had been working very hard to restore the schools to their prewar standards.

“It has not been easy to achieve this and efforts to get the state government to embrace the pre-war grants-in-aid policy

INDUCTION: From left: Mr. Dickson Umusu, Project Director, Kadick Integrated Ltd, MTN Trade Partner; Mr. Tsola Barrow, Sales and Distribution Executive, MTN and Chief Uzoma Obiyo, CEO, Multinet Systems Ltd, MTN Trade Partner, during the induction of Trade Partners into the Fortune 100, during the 2013 MTN sales conference in Lagos.

Enugu PDP dismisses suspension of SSG, members in the state.

Commerce Commissioners Chairman of the party Industry, Dr.

BY TONY EDIKE

E

NUGU—THE P e o p l e s Democratic Party, PDP, Enugu State chapter, yesterday, dismissed the purported suspension of Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mr. Amaechi Okolo, and four other members of Governor Sullivan Chime’s cabinet by Udi local government executive of the party.

The party described their suspension as “unconstitutional, m i s c h i e v o u s ,

unacceptable to the party hierarchy and of no effect.”

State Chairman of the party, Mr. Vita Abba, made this known in a statement he issued yesterday to clarify the issue which had raised some dust among PDP

in Udi local government, Mr. Uche Ogbodo, had on Friday claimed that the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Amaechi Okolo, the State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr. Chijioke Agu, the State Commissioner for

and Jude Akubuilo, the Special Adviser to the Governor, Mr. Sunny Agu, and his counterpart in charge of Industrial Parks, Mr. O.A.U Onyema, were suspended by the party for alleged anti-party activities.

Umeh’s removal: APGA chieftain faults judgment

BY VINCENT UJUMADU/CALEB AYANSINA BUJA—A chieftain of All Progressives

A

Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Willy Ezugwu, has faulted the ruling of Justice Kafarati of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which last week sacked Chief Victor Umeh as the party ’s national chairman.

This came on a day, the suspended national chairman of the party, Chief Victor Umeh, urged the party hierarchy in Awka not to lose sleep over last week’s judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which sacked him and the national secretary of the party, Alhaji Shikafi.

Ezugwu, who is also Secretary General of Conference of Nigeria

Political Parties, CNPP, warned that the ruling was a clear indication that Nigeria was gradually returning to the era of politics of brigandage.

In a statement issued in Abuja, Ezugwu said the National Judicial Council and the Chief Justice of Nigeria must immediately investigate to know how and why justice was sold in the matter, given the curious nature of the ruling.

According to him, the ruling amounted to passing judgment on earlier rulings of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court on the same matter.

have not been successful,” Obinna said.

It would be recalled that this school was one those seized at the end of the war in 1970 by Ukpabi Asika’s administration in the defunct East Central state.

This school was one of the many returned to their original owners

by Ikedi Ohakim’s administration in 2010.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014 — 15

16 Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014 CASES of kidney failure are alarming.

Afflicted Nigerians would appreciate efforts to ameliorate the situation. The Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, said more than 5,000 Nigerians travel to India and other countries monthly for medical attention.

More than 30 million Nigerians reportedly have kidney-related illnesses. Cases of pediatric kidney failure are rampant - more children are born with abnormalities like hyperplastic kidneys, where the kidneys are not properly formed, or ballistics kidney disease. It is not unusual to see persons at 10, 12 years of age with renal failure.

Statistics on medical expenditure of Nigerians abroad are staggering. While the NMA estimates N78 billion annually with N40.94 billion going to India alone, estimates from the Organising Committee of the Nigerian Centenary Charity Ball are as high as N250 billion. Most of the cases are kidneyrelated.

The first successful kidney transplant of the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, which remarkably bore the personal involvement of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, sets a new momentum that could be explored to make kidney treatment more

Delta – Meeting The Kidney Challenge accessible and affordable, instead of the mere promises improved medical services have become.

It provides an opportunity to pay more attention to kidney management, and harnessing resources at managing it. Dr. Uduaghan could have stopped at providing the resources to complete the teaching hospital that his predecessor started, but his participation in its first kidney transplant is part of his concerns for improvements in medical services. He could sustain the thrust by spearheading a co-ordinated confrontation of renal failure, as diseased kidneys are also known.

Kidney transplants in Nigeria are not new.

According to the Transplant Association of Nigeria, an estimated 200 kidney transplants have been successfully carried out in

Nigerian hospitals. The first kidney transplant was at St Nicholas Hospital, Lagos, in 2000. A consortium of surgeons from the teaching hospitals in Ile-Ife, Kano and Maiduguri performed one in 2010. In November 2013, doctors at Garki Hospital in Abuja successfully transplanted a kidney into a 19-year-old boy, from a 43-year-old man.

Two years ago, the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, OAUTHC, Ile-Ife, Osun State, introduced a package of one session of haemodialysis (renal dialysis) at N15, 000, while a transplant cost N2.5 million.

Nigeria has seven federal teaching hospitals equipped with facilities and personnel to undertake kidney transplant. These are inadequate, considering the number of cases, and more importantly the cost of accessing treatment.

For the size of the country, major initiatives like the one in Oghara are essential. They should be followed up with reduction of cost of treatment. More importantly, management of factors that pre-dispose people to kidney failure is critical to reducing the number of cases.

OPINION

BY MUSTAPHA ABDULLAHI

I

T is an old story in Nigeria-the story of ‘political farmers’ who routinely hijacked every incentive or initiative introduced by the government for Nigerians in the agriculture sector. From fertilisers to soft loans; from the east to the west and the north to the south, the real farmers were always schemed out of projects or programmes meant to encourage agriculture activities. That was the order of the day for well over four decades until the Jonathan administration came on board; or so, the Federal Government says.

Without doubt, everybody is aware that something is happening in Nigeria’s agriculture sector. But what exactly is happening? If the Federal Government is to be believed, there are unprecedented changes taking place in the sector.

However, it is expected that the government will blow its own trumpet; and, so to determine the true nature of things, one should look to objective third parties who have nothing to gain from the government.

For this reason, it is noteworthy that late last year, the well-regarded international magazine, Forbes, named Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, Africa Person of the Year 2013.

It was reported that Dr. Adesina defeated four other nominees from across the African continent to win the prestigious prize.

It is even more noteworthy that Dr. Adesina was nominated because of the many achievements in Nigeria’s

Jonathan’s agriculture revolution: Matters miscellany agriculture sector, including encouraging more than six million farmers across the country to practise agriculture as a business, and not as a development initiative without any incentive for growth.

As a cabinet minister, who serves at the pleasure of President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Adesina has been at the forefront of implementing the president’s Agriculture Transformation Agenda (ATA). Among its many achievements, the ATA is responsible for upturning the sad and despicable practice where real farmers were deprived of agriculture inputs such as seeds and fertilisers year in, year out, for over 40 years.

Clearly, things are no longer what they used to be in the agriculture sector. The reasonable question for watchers of agriculture to ask is: who are those benefitting from the changes that are being carried out?

Lest the facts be lost to history or mischievous myopia, Nigerians should recall that the Jonathan administration took only 60 days to bring about a total revolution in Nigeria’s fertiliser distribution system. Before then, for well over four decades, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development procured and purportedly distributed fertilisers to farmers. It is on record that under that system, only 11 percent of Nigerian farmers received fertilisers. The ‘political farmers’ got the greater bulk of the fertilisers, leaving the real farmers to

wring their hands in despair. Today, fertilisers are sold straight to the farmersnot to any government ministry and not to middlemen.

As President Jonathan said in his New Year message to Nigerians, “We are witnessing a revolution in the agricultural sector and the results are evident. We have tackled corruption in the input distribution system as many farmers now obtain their fertilizers and seeds directly through an e-wallet system. In 2013, 4.2 million farmers received subsidised inputs via this programme. This scheme has restored dignity to our farmers.” Indeed, farmers not only have restored dignity, they also are winners in the agric revolution.

D

ue to the tendency of some people to belittle even major achievements of the Jonathan administration, it is pertinent to place the facts of the agriculture revolution on record.

Moreover, this will allow Nigerians to judge the President on his performance and not the vituperations of those who never see anything good in relation to the government.

That Nigeria produced over 8 million metric tonnes of additional food, and inflation dropped to its lowest mark since 2008 are noteworthy facts. According to the data contained in the President’s New Year broadcast, “Our food import bill has also reduced from N1.1 trillion in 2011, to N648 billion in 2012, placing Nigeria

firmly on the path to food selfsufficiency.”

Also worth placing on record is that in 2013, thousands of new jobs were created in the agriculture sector. Still speaking on agriculture, President Jonathan said, “Last year, we produced 1.1 million metric tonnes of dry season rice across 10 Northern states; and over 250,000 farmers and youths in these States are now profitably engaged in farming even during the dry season.”

An area that is closely related to the agriculture sector is water resources management. The Federal Government has made impressive strides in this direction. President Jonathan said, “In 2013, we completed the construction of nine dams which increased the volume of our water reservoirs by 422 million cubic metres. Through our irrigation and drainage programme, we have increased the total irrigated area by over 31,000 hectares creating jobs for over 75,000 farming families while increasing production of over 400,000 metric tons of assorted irrigated food products.”

Taking into cognisance the facts captured above, it bears repeating that Nigerian farmers across the country, irrespective of tribe or region, are indeed the real winners of Jonathan’s agriculture revolution.

*Mr. Abdullahi, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Yola, Adamawa State.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014 — 41

C M Y K

42 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014

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Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014 — 43

C M Y K

44—Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2013

O

N Sunday, December 15, 2013 at about 6.00 am, I arrived at the newly reconstructed General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja on my way home to begin my annual vacation. At the entrance to the departure hall, a couple of ladies smartly decked out in the charismatic uniform of the Nigerian Army, all smiles, approached me with army rosettes, offering to pin one on my shirt front. Usually, for this favour, you pay a token sum of money to support the army. The most charming military chicks around are picked for this event, which is a cherished tradition worldwide.

Instinctively, I brushed past them, not just because I was in a hurry to obtain my boarding pass to be on my way to Owerri Airport. Since I learnt about the event which it symbolises in the sad and bloody history of Nigeria, I have always shrunk from any sort of contact with the rosette and its flaunters. It brings back bitter memories which time, the greatest healer of emotional and psychological injuries, has only recently started to lay to rest after nearly fifty years. I will come back to this shortly.

After obtaining my boarding pass and checking in my luggage, I was about to get into the queue to the waiting hall when I suddenly decided to go and get the

I bought an army rosette, at last!

15th has two sides to it: one bitter, the other one sweet. But for the section of Nigerians to which I belong, both sides of January 15th are bitter all through. Let me start with “Nigeria as a whole”. On January 15th, 1966, the army made its first foray into our political arena. The cream of the ruling party – the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) – were killed. The coup (or revolution, as its authors dubbed it) flopped, but the military was effectively in power as the civilian dispensation was completely swept out.

Soon, ethnic and religious sentiments were used to colour the way the killings were handled. It was termed an “Igbo

,

And since Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan assumed power, he has systematically re-professionalised the army and security agencies. It is no longer the Northern Nigerian Army but the Nigerian Army

,

rosette. The ladies were still at their charming best when I requested for one, paid my token and went to wait for the flight to be called.

Once the Armed Forces Remembrance emblem is launched towards the end of every year, the rosette goes on “sale”. The countdown to the Armed Forces and Remembrance Day starts. In Nigeria, the event used to be staged on November 11th.

In the former British Commonwealth of nations, it was simply known as the Remembrance Day to honour those who fought during the World War II. When independent Nigeria fought its own “war to keep Nigeria one”, the date was shifted to January 15th.

Now, for Nigeria as a whole, this January

coup”, and Igbo people were targeted for pogroms both within and outside the military barracks. A northern counter-coup was staged on July 29th 1966. Since the Federal Military Government under Col Yakubu Gowon seemed unwilling or incapable of taking steps to ensure the safety of Igbos, the Military Governor of the defunct Eastern Region, Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, yielded to pressure from his people and declared an independent Republic of Biafra. A civil war ensued between (basically) the Igbos and the North with the total backing of the rest of Nigeria, powered by Britain and most of its Western allies (except France), USSR and Egypt.

On January 15th 1970, the war ended with

the collapse of Biafra.

So, January 15th, for Nigeria, marks the beginning and end of an ordeal that threatened its very existence as a united nation. January 15th 1970 was a day of victory; a day when (as late singer, Sonny Okosuns put it, Nigeria “won the war of unity”.

But for those on the other side of the conflict, January 15th is a day of sorrows.

Apart from ushering in massacres of defenceless and innocent Igbos in the north, and from there on to the civil war that led to the perishing of millions on both sides, it also symbolised the end of a dream.

Biafra, “the Land of Freedom”, had to surrender to a mass national and international gang-up and superior firepower. It was a loss too painful to be described with words.

The most painful aspect of the January 15th phenomenon for the Igbo people was that the January 15th 1966 coup came virtually on the verge of an unfathomable economic opportunity for the defunct Eastern Region. The North had their groundnut boom; the West had their cocoa boom. Both thrived in prosperity and the East was the poorest of the regions before the war. But just before the first coup, the East was on the threshold of embracing the oil boom and would have benefited immensely as the catchment region of the boom in line with the fiscal arrangements of the 1963 constitution. The East would, by now, have been the Dubai of Africa, perhaps more!

January 15, 1970 was, for the Igbos, the end of the shooting war and the beginning of a deeper, more insidious and evil conflict in which public policy and governmental machinery were deployed to keep them away from being relevant in

the power equation. The new military class which was in charge was primarily a tool of the north with the west as their willing lackeys. Political and economic powers were centralised and neither the Igbos nor their Minority neighbours, in whose territories the oil resources were primarily situated, had a say as the oil boom enriched people far away from their region who carted its benefits to develop their home states.

The post-war Nigerian armed forces became an agent of oppression, first directed at the former Biafrans, but as other Nigerians who had played roles in the war to keep Nigeria one started asking for their shares of the loot, it was also used to pound them into the ground. The various failed coups were attempts by the Minorities of the North to assert their weight as the main cannon fodder in the war. But the Arewacontrolled army purged the alleged perpetrators mercilessly. June 12 was an attempt by a Yoruba big shot, Chief Moshood Abiola, to assert his right to rule Nigeria after he was duly voted by the electorate. The army annulled the election and murdered him in detention.

The Ogonis protested their neglect and agitated for internal autonomy to use their oil wealth to develop their land. The army rounded up nine of its leaders, including playwright, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and ignominiously hanged him.

But by 1999, the sectional Nigerian army played its last card by bringing out Olusegun Obasanjo from jail to become a surrogate president for a second time. Once he assumed office, Obasanjo rendered the sectional army into a toothless bulldog. Its capacity to plot coups and change governments on behalf of a section the country was nixed.

And since Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan assumed power, he has systematically reprofessionalised the army and security agencies. It is no longer the Northern Nigerian Army but the Nigerian Army. It is no longer an ethnic or sectional cat’s paw but a dignified national institution able to defend the nation from external aggression and internal insurgency. It is now an army that any president from any part of Nigeria will feel at home to be its Commander-in-Chief. When I look at the new Nigerian Army, I can see everyone there at all levels of command, not just some people. That is my army! And that’s why I bought the rosette.

OPINION

BY EDWIN UHARA

E

ACH time I talk about Nigeria celebrating 100 years of nationhood in most youth organizations, the response I usually get from my fellow youths is “ how come we are celebrating Nigeria at 100 when we just finished celebrating Nigeria at 50 in 2010”?

This display of ignorance shows the lack of adequate awareness and publicity the great event is yet to enjoy across the spectrum. It also reveals the disconnection between our past and our future in the minds of some of our youths. If it is only the elite and the functionally literate Nigerians who know the difference between celebrating Nigeria at 100 and the past celebration of Nigeria at 50, it means that, the Centenary Committee still has a lot of work to do!

However, celebrating Nigeria at 100 means that, we are celebrating the symbolic and the historic amalgamation of the northern and the southern protectorates by the then Governor-General, Sir Frederick Lord Lugard in 1914. It was this amalgamation that secured a place for us on the map of the world, thereby, giving us the password to be known and addressed as a nation-state. Hence, from the 1st of January 1914 to the 1st of January 2014, if you calculate it right, it gives you 100. This is why we are celebrating Nigeria at 100.

The previous celebration where we celebrated Nigeria at 50 in 2010 was simply an independence

Nigeria @ 100:Challenges for the youths anniversary celebration. It will be recalled that Nigeria got her independence from the Great Britain on 1st October 1960. So, these are two different great events worth celebrating in our country! While the similarity is that, they both took place on the 1st day of their respective months; the difference is nationhood and independence.

Nonetheless, the youths of this century have failed to learn the great lessons of history which Nigeria is richly blessed with! In fact, history has shown that, most of the events that shaped the destiny of Nigeria were influenced by our heroes during their youthful ages.

For example, late Chief Anthony Enahoro became the first Nigerian to move the motion for selfdetermination during his youthful age of 27 in 1953.

Late Margaret Ekpo led the popular Aba women riot of 1929 in her youthful age. General Yakubu Gowon, a man I described as the “Living legend” led Nigeria through the civil war and kept us united and one indivisible and indissoluble nation during his youthful age of 33. They are numerous Nigerians who made us proud during their youthful years! One of the factors that always make me to respect and

hold them in high esteem is that, they were able to accomplish these great feat during their youthful ages; a time they had no access to the mobile telephony (GSM) and the information super high way, the internet which has made life easier and every struggle simple, yet, they were still able to achieve their set goals.

Nigeria at 100 comes with many opportunities for the youths! The youths who are on the right side of history will be the drivers of Nigeria in the next 100 years. They will be the captains of industry, the Chief Executive Officers, the Ministers, Senators, administrators, civil servants and leaders of Nigeria in various fields in the next 100 years whose journey had just started from the first of January 2014. Like the Holy Bible said in Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavour, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men”.

The journey that will redefine and shape the destiny of Nigeria in the next 100 years has just begun; any young man or woman who wants’ to feature in the future of Nigeria should start imagining the picture of the country in his or her heart now, and set goals and targets and not get involved in wanton destruction that politicians would want to use them for.

*Mr Uhara, a social activist, wrote from Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014— —45

L

ET us start by acknowledging, the fact that; good and credible elections can only take place, under an atmosphere of peace. The way the opposition, APC is going about wresting power from Jonathan's PDP, will only alienate them from the people and win sympathisers to the side of Jonathan. Because they want power, they are intent on desecrating the institution of the presidency, the symbol of the country's unity and sovereignty.

The opposition must truly come together and state their mission and vision for the country and how they intend to see it through.

They should let us know, how a combination of strange bed fellows, like we have in APC, can successfully forge ahead to give the nation, the much desired leadership. Enough of the distractions, the polity is overheated; street gangs have been co-opted and lives are lost on a daily basis, like we have seen in Kano and Rivers states.

If we disrespect Jonathan, the symbol of Nigeria as President of the country, we are demeaning, the institution of the presidency and this may cause chain reactions. He has been duly elected into office, the office of the president, as an institution, must be given all due respect.

It is very obvious that, there is a deliberate conspiracy by some elements, to disgrace Jonathan out

of office. Maybe, because of his perceived meekness or the part of the country, he is from. The opposition, in the past few months, have been goading him with un becoming statements and comments, testing his resolve and expecting a predictable reaction, but he has disappointed them so far with his response. It is a shame.

The question we should ask here is; were Jonathan to emerge from any of the big tribes, will such campaigns of calumny and treasonable actions be tolerated?

Can't we campaign and reach the people without inciting them to violence? Our opposition should go back and study Mandela's politics, especially, the after jail period.

Jonathan is not the brightest and best candidate the south-south had to offer, in terms of competence, experience, focus and so on, he was propped up by a combination of several factors, one of which, was the agenda of Obasanjo, to rule this country by proxy.

What has happened in Jonathan's government, in terms of the negatives, is not half of the heights of impunity, we experienced during Obasanjo's government. Why, the campaign of calumny? The politicians must not mislead the people, as that will not be in the interest of the whole country.

Politics must not be a do or die affair, except, the one is narcissistic and megomaniacal.

That Jonathan has an agreement to do one term, should not be a

We must focus on what we have to offer, not to plot sabotage and conspiracies conspiracies that were evident in the G5 governors actions, Tambuwal's dillydallying, Obasanjo's letter and Sanusi's Judas Iscariot betrayal

,

reason to hound him and disrupt the smooth flow of government.

Apart from the pariah regime of Abacha, no government has been sabotaged as much as that of Jonathan. Some have sworn to make the place un governable for Jonathan and have truly kept to their vows. It is like, the opposition wants him to fail at all cost, any measure aimed at bringing succour to the people, must be shot down.

O

ur politicians have travelled, all over the world, as they are fond of quoting copiously, but they do not bring these knowledge to bear, practically, in Nigeria. If the opposition is criticising a policy, there should be alternative views. In civilised countries, after election, everybody comes together, on how to move the nation forward. After the re-

I am No. 1000 on Jonathan’s political watch list

BY HAMISU ABUBAKAR

W

HEN former President Olusegun Obasanjo wrote that there was a political watch-list, many thought the grand old man of Nigerian politics was hallucinating. But thanks to the former Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, we now know that there is indeed a list.

In fact, el-Rufai says he is number seven on the list. And also, because he has seen the list, el-Rufai knows the name of those on the list. And most of them are of the All Progressives Congress (APC) top guns.

Never mind that the diminutive man, with delusions of grandeur, thinks he is so important that he should be number seven of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s political foes.

But I suspect that such a list exists. The list is somewhere either in the Library of the Navigator or the den of the Lion of Bourdillon and leader of the APC. I am miffed, and understandably so, at elRufai. A brief history will suffice here. I was in Abuja when the story made the rounds that Obasanjo gave the go-ahead to el-Rufai to roll out the bulldozers on demolition spree.

He was said to have gone to close the COJA Games (the All African Games) in the National Stadium in Abuja, during which he was booed by spectators who kept chanting Ole! Ole! Ole! Ole! Ole! (Thief!

Thief! Thief! Thief! Thief!)

Obasanjo was said to have maintained his cool as the embarrassment went on, but as soon as he was through, he was said to have asked an aide (some suspect it was the accidental public servant), who were those

disgracing him before the African public, and by extension, the international community. The aide was said to have fingered the residents of Gwagwa, Idu, Karmo (slums in the Federal Capital City).

That singular comment reportedly led to the blank cheque that was given for the demolition of those shanties and such others in the city and its suburbs. Others caught in the demolition saga, like former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Col. Ahmadu Ali, were collateral damages and part of a grand design to whip political enemies of Obasanjo and his favourite son, el-Rufai, into line.

It was not that the former minister did not prosecute the restoration of the master plan of Abuja with single-mindedness, but he added needless wickedness with a high dose of diarrheic garrulity, as he hurled insults at anyone who questioned him. His co-traveller and Lagos Governor, Raji Fasola, did much more than el-Rufai, but he managed not to elicit the kind of pathological hatred that is the lot of el-Rufai.

And to think that the same man, who sent a lot of Igbo men back home, went there a short while ago to attempt to monitor the Anambra governorship elections! Was he hoping to be attacked so he could point a finger of guilt at Abuja?

Perhaps, what has drawn my ire so much about this man who claims to be from Zaria, but who enjoys using the tweeter so much that he makes derisive remarks about his prophet and the Lord Jesus Christ, was the comment on tweeter when an airplane he was on almost crashed and other passengers, fearful about what was about to happen, resorted to calling upon the names of Jesus Christ and Allah. He found their

election of Obama, he reached out to Mitt Romney and all electioneering animosities, ended there.

How come, that, no single policy of Jonathan is good and he is receiving acclaims from abroad?

Does it mean, that, Jonathan's government has not done anything positive since he came to power?

Even the power to abuse the president as you like - which is common these days - is a dividend of Jonathan's democratic disposition. Please, let us learn to play politics without bitterness.

That was how, they played it in the politics of the 1960s, goaded by the press, everybody knew the outcome, of that kind of destructive politics. It started from the south west, with their propaganda machinery, the same is, now, repeating itself.

Unfortunately,most of them in the fore-front of the present negative politics,were very much alive then and some were active participants, in the politics of those days. We must exercise restraints.

The northerners appear to be aggrieved, If anyone is to be blamed for their present political plight, the blame should go to Obasanjo, as the master minder, planner and executioner - in the imposition of Yar' Adua and Jonathan on the nation. They should not vent their spleen elsewhere.

It is a shame that leading northerners, are now - coat in tail marching to and fro Obasanjo's Abeokuta villa, hoping to find succour. It is a vainless mission like they say in warri - " who be fool" ( who is the fool ).

Our politicians must sit down and think. Do they want the nation

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BY SUNNY IKHIOYA

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The dimunition of the Presidency

So if these prominent Nigerians, and others like Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano), Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto), AbdulFatah (Kwara), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Bukola Saraki, Danjuma Goje, etc. are on this phantom list, how did el-Rufai get to number seven; or was the list not in order of political importance?

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gesture funny and said so on his tweeter page.

What manner of man is this that thinks that people should not call on their God when in danger? This is the same man who always sought refuge under the cover of Obasanjo whenever he ran into trouble with his enemies, especially members of the National Assembly. It was better for him to run to his then political father, but it was wrong for others to run to the owner of the heavens and the earth.

B

ack to the political watch-list, if any, made popular by el-Rufai’s former godfather, Obasanjo. Many have said commentators and the presidency should concentrate on the message in Obasanjo’s letter rather than the messenger. But what if the messenger is actually the message? I mean, what if the message lacks credibility and the messenger throws his weight of dubious credibility behind the message?

That is a matter for another day. el-Rufai

to move forward? If yes, how do we do it? We must not engage in foul language and bring in tribal sentiments, everyone must agree that, we end the politics of negative god fatherism.

As for us in the south-south, the region is still disadvantaged in the present dispensation - look at the East-west road, Delta ports, the Ogoni's plight, employment et al they are still lagging behind, even the much trumpeted, militants rehabilitation, only favoured a few from the Ijaw stock. There are so many ethnic and tribal groups in the Niger-delta, not only the Ijaws.

So, I am not writing because Jonathan is Niger-deltan - we will support a credible alternative, if we see one - Whether he stays or leaves office, it makes no difference to us, but the truth must be told, if you are going to remove Jonathan from office, let it not be because of personal ambitions and regional interest. The sum of all, is greater than the individual states and regions. Anyone, aspiring to lead us must have this in mind.

We must focus on what we have to offer, not to plot sabotage and conspiracies - conspiracies that were evident in the G5 governors actions, Tambuwal's dilly-dallying ( we forgot that he was same deputy to Dimeji Bankole, all in it together ), Obasanjo's letter and Sanusi's Judas Iscariot betrayal ( wonder what he is waiting for?)

Nigeria collectively belongs to all of us and the interest of the whole is paramount. Let us be selfless- that way democracy will take root in our land.

*Mr. Ikhioya, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

claims that four other prominent Nigerians like former military head of state, General (retd) Muhammadu Buhari; former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu; the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and Interim Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Bisi Akande, are also on the list.

So if these prominent Nigerians, and others like Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano), Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto), AbdulFatah (Kwara), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Bukola Saraki, Danjuma Goje, etc. are on this phantom list, how did el-Rufai get to number seven; or was the list not in order of political importance?

Amaechi has claimed that he is number one on the list. He made the allegation at a rally of the APC held at the Liberation Stadium in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on December 28, 2013, where he formally declared for the party. He had said: “I read the President’s letter; he said Obasanjo should prove and name those on the list. I am number one on the list. I am number one.”

So Tinubu and Buhari are not that important to occupy the top numbers? In his tweet, el-Rufai said: “On this note, I am going to bed. I am number 7 on the GEJ (Goodluck Ebele Jonathan) snipers’ list; so I will only worry when GMB (General Muhammadu Buhari), Asiwaju, Amaechi, Akande, etc., are killed.”

Now I am a little confused; are we talking about a political watch-list or a sniper’s list?

Where is Obasanjo to iron out the differences? This is because as I was preparing to doze off last night, I saw a list, and I was number 1000 on the list, marked political watch-list (it could be sniper’s list); I am however sure that before they get to me, if the targets are to be hit in descending order, I would have flown to Russia for political asylum. May be Putin will give me a room next door to Edward Snowden.

*Mr. Abubakar, a pubic affairs commentator, wrote from Abuja.

46—Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014

Confab, Chime and my constituency,

by Ekweremadu •Says he earns about N600,000 monthly as Senator The Deputy President of the Senate and Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, CFR was in Enugu over the New Year holiday and took out time to speak on many raging political, developmental, and economic issues affecting the West African sub-region, the nation, South East and Enugu State. Our Correspondent was there. Excerpts:

W

HAT would you consider the biggest challenges in the review of the 1999 constitution?

Well, thank you so much. My approach to constitutional review from a position of experience is this: we try to look at what we have done in the past to see where mistake has been made and see areas of improvement that will achieve result.

And one of the greatest lessons we learnt is that if you try to take everything at the same time, we will run into problem. So we decided to do what we called a piecemeal approach. You will recall that in 2010 our major focus was on the issue of electoral reform and we did a lot in that regard, which led to a very successful 2011 election and we are prepared to improve in that regard, as we approach 2015. So, if there are areas that have to do with the elections, both in the electoral act and the constitution, we are also going to touch such areas.

Electoral reform Then moving from electoral reform, we believe that there are some other issues that are key for our development. We believe that our federalism has been distorted by long period of military regime and one of the major areas affected is sharing of power. So, for us, we needed to look at the legislative list of the federation and see areas of improvement. Today, as I speak, we have about 66 items in the exclusive legislative list.

This list is where the federal government only can make legislation, and then we have barely 12 on the concurrent list; that is where both the state and the federal government can make laws. And the constitution went further to say that even in those areas where states and federal government are allowed to make laws, if there is any conflict between the laws made by the National Assembly and those made by any of the states, the one made by the National Assembly will override to the

•Ekweremadu: We should reduce the power of the Federal Government

extent of that inconsistency. So, our federalism is structured so much in favour of the federal government. We believe that we need to strike a balance to take away some of these things from exclusive list and get them to the concurrent list.

We also noticed that there are some items that are neither in the concurrent list nor in the exclusive list such as health. You can’t find health on any of the legislative lists of the federation.

Therefore, we needed to bring health in and appropriately situate it within the concurrent list. We need to rework it, so this is what we have done in the recent constitutional amendment exercise.

Do you see the proposed national conference as an attempt to usurp the functions of the legislature?

Well, it all depends on what the executive wants to achieve. If what they want to achieve is to throw up a new constitution through that process and then whatever body they are trying to bring about to legislate on it, then that is not going to happen

because you can’t put something on nothing and expect it to stand.

There must be a foundation for everything we do. So, for us in the parliament, we are looking at it from the perspective that the president or the federal government is free to set up a group that can dialogue on how to govern this country much better. And this is within the right of the people to associate freely.

It is guaranteed in the constitution- freedom of association and assembly. To that extent, we don’t have problem with it. But we believe that whatever be the outcome of that dialogue or discussion, will necessarily come to the parliament for proper legislation because unless that happens then there will be no foundation for what they are doing and it can’t have any effect.

So what we expect is that at the end of the exercise, they will now make proposal to the National Assembly on areas they also believe that the constitution may be amended or to bring about a completely new constitution with what agreement that were

reached in that exercise.

Some thought that with you as the chairman of the Committee on Constitution Review, that the Southeast zone would get another state?

Well just as I said, our people have this idea that state creation still remains what it was during the military regime where the leaders will meet and then go ahead and announce states.

Regrettably, that is not the case. I wish it were the case and I will be happy to approach my colleagues and then appeal to them to give us one additional state in the South-East; I would have been the happiest man.

Regrettably, that is not the situation, so we have to go through the procedure as enumerated earlier on.

All I need to do is to urge our people to come together, agree on a state.

If they agree on a state within the region, what we can now do, all of us we will put our resources, our energy together and see how we can convince other levels of people that are involved in state creation exercise and try to get them to approve it at different levels.

So that’s one way to do it. But unfortunately and on till now, I have made this appeal severally.

The salary of a parliamentarian including mine and every other public servant fluctuates a bit because of tax deduction. But for me it is between N560, 000 to N600, 000 per month

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BY TONY EDIKE

we see how we pursue it and appeal to our colleagues to have it done.

How true is the speculation that you want to contest governorship of Enugu state in 2015? Secondly what do you earn as salary in a month?

On the issue of governorship, I think I have said this thing severally and I recall that in June, I made it clear that I’m not interested in governorship and nothing had changed since then.

I believe that all of us will work together to ensure that in 2015, we have a governor we will all be proud of.

Then on the issue of the salary, let me state clearly that the salary of a parliamentarian including mine and every other public servant fluctuates a bit because of tax deduction. But for me it is between N560, 000 to N600, 000 per month. So the last salary I was paid I think was about N580, 000 for December. So, nevertheless, I’m also entitled to a number of allowances including health allowance. That means that if I want to go to hospital, government will not pay for me. I will use that money to pay for the health bill of myself and my family and those around me.

Do you see the PDP imploding on account of the crisis in the party?

Let me say that PDP will never be a minority; certainly it is not going to happen soon. What you are seeing is not different from what we have seen in the past when election approaches. We have had this situation in the past, of people moving about. So I will not be surprised if those governors who left PDP come back to PDP. Just as I won’t be surprised if our colleagues in the House of Representatives who moved from PDP to APC return to PDP. That is the beauty of democracy and it is flexibility, which our system allows. I remember that my friend Comrade Chukwumerije sometime moved from PDP to PPA and then eventually

They have not been able to come up with a single state that we are going to pursue. So, what you find out is that each state is asking for a state or two. In that state of confusion, it is difficult for anybody to harmonize it. So we are just hoping that, maybe, at the level of Ohanaeze, or South East Governors Forum or any other such organization, they should be able to come together and come up with a state and then

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returned to PDP as a senator. So, we have seen such in the past.

What are your plans for 2015 and where do you stand on zoning in Enugu?

First of all, the issue of what will be my ambition after 2015 is only God who will decide it. He has never disappointed me, hence I always leave my ambition in the hands of God and I have always gotten a very good bargain. I Continues on page 47

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014—47

Confab, Chime and my constituency, by Ekweremadu Continues from page 46 am not worried about that. So, now I think I should focus on delivering the dividends of leadership to my people.

Am not thinking about 2015, that will be taken care of by God. I don’t have problem with that.

On the issue of the zoning, remember that PDP is not the only party in the state. So, for us in the PDP, we are believing God that our candidate will come from Nsukka, but you remember that in PDP just like any other party, we are conscious of the fact that the people have the constitutional right to aspire to be anything. So, while we are saying that this is what we want, we also take cognisance of the right of others to aspire. But we will also be praying and then be appealing to the other segments to respect that, but any person who feels that his right is being stopped or jeopardised is also free to exercise his •Ekweremadu constitutional right.

What is the relationship between you been that of succession and reelection.

Each time we have an election coming, and Governor Sullivan Chime?

I don’t think I should use this platform there is this agitation. There is always this to discuss the governor of my state. I think problem of the temperature going very he is still the governor of my state and we high. So, we must find a way of resolving have mutual respect for each other. I don’t it and one way for me to deal with it is to want to discus him in this public forum. ensure that there is a single term. I didn’t So, I will appeal that you excuse me from say which year. It can be five years, it can this. I believe that two of us working be six years it could be seven years, but it together, we can achieve more for our is something we have to sit down and discuss. state.

What I did was that I provided what I Your recent call for the extension of the tenure of the president and governors considered to be a solution. We can all sit has received mixed interpretations. Are down and work out the modalities on how this can work and I also gave example on you worried?

I see myself as a concerned Nigerian. I where it had worked before. I said that in am most interested in the peace of this Latin America, they found themselves in country, not someone who is looking at such situation as we have today and what the immediate political gain. When I made they did was to reflect and insisted on a that suggestion I also received some single term until their democracy stabilised. We can do that. interesting reactions.

You have been in the National Assembly for three terms now, what are your Interesting achievements so far? reactions I will situate it from different perspectives.

Let us look at it from the Somebody sent me a text from Kano and perspective of representing the people of told me that he is not supporting the single term because he did not want Kwakwanso Enugu West. I will like to thank God that a lot has changed between then and now to stay there longer than necessary.

But, you see, some people are seeing it in terms of what we are able to do for the from a narrow perspective. Nigeria has to people of Enugu West. Basically we were exist first. It should not be about any short in infrastructure by the time I got to governor. This morning I was listening to the Senate to represent Enugu West.

But between then and now I think we the news on the television. I saw a call by have moved a lot forward. Today, we have the Ooni of Ife for prayers for Nigeria in 2015. He said he was worried. So, am also various roads. At the time I got to the worried like the Ooni of Ife and the rest Senate, there was no road all the way from other Nigerians about the way we are Oji-River for instance to Awgu, from Awgu to Ndiabor, from Ndiabor to Mpu, to moving towards 2015.

So, as somebody who is concerned I Okpanku to Akaeze, there was no road thought I should be able to proffer what I there. There was no road from Awgu to consider to be a solution and then it Ishiagu and there was no road between attracted debates, which I find very Nenwe and Oduma; there was no road interesting. I don’t get so worried myself crisscrossing Udi to Ezeagu.

But I can tell you that as I speak to you anyway. I felt I have done my part anyway today, we have federal government by providing a solution. presence in those places in terms of roads, Then even some of those people who are criticizing my position up till now they we have quality roads. Some are still have not come up with alternative solution ongoing and we are hoping it will be and we are moving towards 2015. So, they completed very shortly.

By the time I got into the Senate, there were just criticizing for the sake of criticism. What we want is to find a solution; was no electricity, not even one bulb in if you have a superior argument on what any part of Aninri Local Government Area we need to do to have a hitch-free 2015, I for instance, but today every community can boast of some level of electricity and will be happy to go with you.

But note that I didn’t ask for any we are still making progress and I’m particular number of years like seven. happy that the Local Government and What I said was look, our problem has State are also supporting in that regard.

Egyptians endorse new constitution LMOST everyone A who cast ballots supported Egypt’s new constitution in this week’s referendum, results announced at the weekend show, but a boycott by Islamists and low youth turnout suggest the country is still d a n g e r o u s l y divided.Nearly 20 million voters backed the new constitution, almost double the number of those who voted for one drafted in 2012 under the government of toppled Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.

Only a narrow sliver of voters — 1.9 percent — voted against the charter, after a massive government-sponsored campaign supporting it and the arrest of activists campaigning against it.

“Despite a milieu of intense social upheaval and acts of terrorism and sabotage that sought to derail the process, Egyptians have now marked yet another defining moment in our roadmap to democracy,” presidential spokesman Ehab Badawy said. “The outcome represents nothing less than the dawning of a new Egypt.”

Obama assures Germany of better ties

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RESIDENT Barack Obama told German television in an interview aired at the weekend that he would not allow America’s massive communications surveillance capability to damage relations with Germany and other close U.S. allies.

Obama made the pledge in a rare interview with Germany ’s ZDF television in an apparent step to repair the damage to America’s relations with Germany and other countries following reports that the U.S. National Security Agency had monitored communications of European citizens — even listening in on Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cellphone.

Merkel accused the U.S. of a grave breach of trust after reports about her cellphone emerged in October, and her government has been pressing for a “no spying” agreement with Washington since then. Her centerright party’s foreign policy spokesman, Philipp Missfelder, told reporters Thursday that revelations about U.S. spying in Germany had plunged relations with Washington to their lowest level in more than a decade.

Egyptians celebrating the announcement of the results of the referendum on the country's new constitution.

The expected overwhelming support for the charter is seen as key to legitimizing Egypt’s military-backed interim government, and the political plan put in place since Mor-

si’s ouster in July. Analysts say it also suggests military chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, who led the coup against Morsi, has enough popular support to make a rumored run for the presidency himself.

B/Faso opposition stages protest march

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URKINA Faso’s opposition staged the country ’s biggest demonstration in decades at the weekend to protest against an attempt by President Blaise Compaore’s party to abolish constitutional term limits.

The peaceful march, which was joined by dissidents from the ruling Congress for Democracy and Progress, steps up pressure on Compaore, who took power in a coup in 1987 and won an election in 2010 to secure his second and final elected five-year term under a constitution that dates from 2000. Opposition leaders say those polls were rigged.

A gradual deepening of democracy has contributed to increased stability and growth in some African countries, but Burkina Faso is one of a number of nations dominated by a leader of several decades’ standing.

It remains impoverished despite emerging as a significant gold producer, and has been an ally for Western governments concerned about the rise of militant Islamist groups in the region.

Opposition leaders said between 300,000 and 500,000 people joined the march through the capital. There was no official estimate but witnesses said it was the largest in living memory.

Eight candidates vie for CAR's interim presidency

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IGHT candidates are in the running for the interim presidency in the strife-torn Central African Republic, the transitional parliament announced yesterday.

Blaise Fleury Otto, head of a special electoral commission, said 24 dossiers had been whittled down to eight according to draconian selection criteria.

They include the mayor of the capital Bangui, Catherine Samba Panza, as well as two sons of former presidents, Sylvain Patasse and Desire Kolingba.

Ange-Felix Patasse was president from 1993 to 2003, preceded by Andre Kolingba, who came to power in 1985 in the impoverished coun-

try with a long history of coups, attempted coups and army mutinies.

Parliament will elect the interim leader on Monday to fill the void left when coup-maker Michel Djotodia stepped aside on January 11.

Excluded from standing for president are any political officials who worked for Djotodia, party leaders, active soldiers, and anyone who has belonged to a militia or rebel group in the last 20 years.

The new interim leader will be tasked with restoring peace to the former French colony, kick-starting a paralysed administration and enabling hundreds of thousands of displaced people to return home.

48—Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014—49

50—Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014

Report of the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue

Decision-making at the National Conference In our Friday edition, we published the strategies adopted by the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue in the execution of its assignment. Today we publish the fourth instalment.

Sense of belonging Thus the contending ethnic, religious, regional and economic forces take the forms of interest groups in Nigeria. As is usually the case with all multi-cultural societies, these contending forces have to be aggregated, and their demands on the state streamlined within reasonable limits in order to foster a sense of belonging and national unity.

•The Committee had, in the course oi its engagement with Nigerians been confronted with demands for inclusion, recognition and often, the need to redress certain imbalances in the Nigerian state. Many interest groups have staked their claims. These interest groups included, traditional rulers, ethnic nationalities, faith-based groups, civil society organizations, socio-cultural and regional organizations, women, youth, the physically-challenged, professional bodies.

•The various interest groups had demanded for inclusion at the National Conference through their representatives. Some have suggested for example, that all

ethnic nationality groups should have equal number of representatives at the Conference.

President Jonathan, VP Sambo and the confab committee leaders Others have suggested that, ethnic nationality groups and other inof the many pre-requisites for Committee observed that, duraterest groups need to be simply Forum, South-South Peoples Assembly, etc. credible, acceptable elections. tion of three - six months seemed accommodated in the main body Every State Government shall They also believed that, the out- to feature in most of the proposof the National Conference. nominate one Delegate and the comes may determine the forms als presented in memoranda subObservations: The Committee that the 2015 General Elections mitted to it. examined the issue of how the President through the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Recommendations: In view of may take, various contending interest shall nominate one Delegate for the above, this Committee now Proponents of convening and groups in the country may be repthe Federal Capital T erritory Aburecommends as follows: holding the National Conference resented at the National Confer•The National Conference after the 2015 General Elections ence. Members observed that, ev- ja. In the event that any State fails argued that, what is worth do- should hold for duration of not ery Nigerian has a right to be in- to nominate a Delegate, the President shall nominate a Delegate ing is worth doing well. They be- less than three months and not volved in the process, and this for the said State.

The Commitlieved that, Nigeria does not, as more than six months. must be duly protected. The Com•The convening of the Nationat the moment, have strong inmittee believed that there is need tee recommends that the total number of Delegates from the al Conference in the year 2014 stitutions that can manage two to proceed with caution so that the socio-political groups should not possibly between the months of landmark processes of holding a main objective is to foster nationexceed 36 at six per Geo-PolitiFebruary and July, thus concludNational Conference and Genal unity and strengthen the Nieral Elections in almost the same ing the exercise before the onset gerian union in ways that will cal Zone. The socio-political time, They held that, the weak of the 2015 electioneering camensure justice, peace and groups invited to nominate the Delegates should decide for institutions that will be brought paigns. progress. Members observe that themselves who their respective ToR5: To advise Government to bear on the two important proall interest groups must be carcesses may end up messing up on a Legal framework for the Naried along through the represen- representatives should be.

ToR4: To advise Government on both the National Conference tional Dialogue/Conference tatives chosen by them.

Reca time-frame for the National DiLarge sections of Nigerians and the General Elections, and ommendations: After a careful alogue/Conference who participated in the Interacthis may possibly lead to chaos appraisal of the issues involved As Mr. President clearly put it with unpredictable consequenc- tive Sessions, the Retreat and as wet! as their apparent comes. As for the time-frame for the through the Memoranda that plexities for national harmony, the in his address during the inauguration of this Committee, NiNational Conference, the Com- they sent to this Committee, have Committee recommends as folgerians are desirous of a platform mittee had received many sug- proposed that, there is the need lows: •That the structure of the Na- to talk to one another as mem- gestions ranging from one month for an enabling Act to give the to one year. Some have even National Conference legal backtional Conference as recommend- bers of one family in order to strengthen their union.

This Comgone ahead to propose the actu- ing. The common proposal on ed in Chapter Six shall make promittee’s engagement with Nigeal work plan for the National this matter expressed by Nigerivisions for representatives of inConference within the time- ans across the country is that, the terest groups through nomina- rians had revealed their enthusiasm on the need to hold the tion, so their total number comThe National Conference itself shall have pliments the number of the Dele- National Conference as soon as possible. gates to be directly elected the responsibility of setting out the said legal through universal adult suffrage. procedures and options for integrating its •The President should nomi- Myopic partisan interests nate the representatives from the decisions and outcomes of its deliberations identified key interest groups in into the Constitution and the Laws of the Many proposals for the timing active consultation with them of the National Conference have nation such that, the interest groups themselves do the actual presen- been put before the Committee.

President should send a bill to tation of the names of those the While some suggested that, the frame that they suggested.

Observations: The Committee the National Assembly which groups want the President to nom- National Conference should hold observed that, the issue of timing shall then enact an enabling law in 2014 before the electioneering inate as Delegates to the Nationand time-frame for the National to legitimize the National Confor 2015 General Elections begin, al Conference.

Conference is contingent upon ference. others wanted the Conference to •In addition to the interest The Committee understands groups listed earlier namely, hold after the 2015 General Elec- certain important variables. Some that, Nigerians want the enabling of these include the prevailing tions.

Proponents of the convoWomen, Youth, Traditional Rulers, law enacted as soon as possible.

Physically-Challenged, Profes- cation and holding of the Con- social atmosphere and political Observations: The Committee climate of the nation, the disposiference before the 2015 General sional Bodies, Organized Private observes that, although there apsector, Faith-Based Organiza- Elections, believe that, it will be tion of the key political institutions pears to be a near-consensus on whose support and action is of better to get it done as fast as postions, the Diaspora, Executive, the need to have an enabling act legislative and Judicial arms of sible so that, the momentum essence in the project, the quanto give legal backing to the Contum of resources that may be made among Nigerians to move their Government, Armed Forces and ference as well as guide its conthe Police, the credibility of the country forward over and above available for the conduct of the duct, some experts have suggestNational Conference, length and myopic partisan interests occaConference will be enriched by ed that the President can rely on complexities of the issues on the sioned by electoral politics, is susnominating representatives of the the provisions of Section 5 of the Conference’s agenda, among tained.

They also argued that, main regional socio-political or1999 Constitution of the Federal : ganizations such as the Afenifere, the outcomes of an early, pre-elec- others.

Republic of Nigeria to convene With respect to the specific timetion Conference may assist in Arewa Consultative Forum, the National Conference. frame for the Conference, the even correcting the inadequacies Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Middle-Belt To be concluded

,

b. 2 Representatives from each Geo-Political Zone; c. The Executive Secretary and other members shall be appointed by the President; d. The Conference Management Secretariat shall run the affairs of the Conference and supervise the elections to the Conference using the INEC Register. It shall manage all activities and processes of the Conference at all levels.

•The size and structure of the National Conference should be in accordance with option ‘C’ although Government may also consider ‘Option D’ as a possible alternative; ToR3: To make recommendations to Government on how representation of various interest groups at the National Conference/Dialogue will be determined •Nigeria is a plural society which is characterized by interplay of many contending forces: cultural, social, economic and others. One way in which this plurality is manifested is the ethnic, regional, religious and cultural diversity in the country. Each of the contending forces make common claims from the Nigerian state.

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Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014—51

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NCAT faces shortage of hostels •Rector blames students influx

By LAWANI MIKAIRU

R

ECTOR of the Ni gerian College of Aviation Technology, NCAT, Zaria, Capt. Mrs. Chinyere Kalu, yesterday, said the college was facing shortage of hostel accommodation.

Capt. Kalu who blamed the influx of students into the college for the shortage, which led to students demonstration last week, explained that though a block of 70 rooms was commissioned last year and an executive hostel was opened two years earlier, this has not solved the problems.

She said, “As we are commissioning, it is being filled up and students are here. We cannot turn them back. We have postponed a course for some students who want to come in two times because of accommodation problems."

The rector noted that the problem of accommodation was being addressed as “200 rooms will be ready to accommodate more students in the next six months.”

Influx of students Capt Kalu said the NCAT in the last 50 years has been accommodating one student per room but explained that pairing of students became necessary as a result of the influx of students in the college.

She said bunk beds will soon be introduced to accommodate students in the hostels pending when the hostels will be ready.

The rector, however, explained that accommodation was not compulsory for students as any interested student will have his or her refund to look for accommodation elsewhere.

On feeding of students in the college, Capt. Kalu said she was acting on directives adding that no federal institution in the country was feeding students. She said she had already addressed students on the issues and advised them to bear with the college.

On the development of the college, the rector said there have been tremendous achievements in the past few years ranging from awards to acquisition of a B737 plane for cabin crew training.

52 —

Vanguard, MONDAY JANUARY 20, 2014

I

Super Eagles: SWOT and Brazil 2014

,

T was my intention to share with you this week, an experience I had with one of the African Coaches who did NOT vote Mikel Obi. According to him “……….Forgive me, it was an individual award. It was like asking a coach, between Mikel and Yaya, who would you sign for your team in 2013?

The answer definitely will not be Mikel. On your argument that he won the Nations Cup with Nigeria, Mikel for me was not the best Nigerian player.

I rate Vincent Enyeama, Emmanuel Emenike and Victor Moses above him in terms of contribution to Nigeria’s success. Europa? Which one is that ?

It is an interesting piece that will not be late next week. This week permit me to surrender the column to Dan Osakwe who wrote in from Lagos on Super Eagles: SWOT and Brazil 2014. Enjoy him.

That 2013 was a good year for Nigerian Football remains a truism. IN 2013, Nigeria won the African Nations Cup, the Under-17 World Cup and qualified for the World Cup in Brazil. The recent CAF/ GLO award further epitomized Nigeria’s winning ways, where Nigeria and Nigerians carted away most of the prizes with the exception of African Footballer of the year going to Yaya Toure of Cote d’Ivoire.

Since Nigeria qualified for Brazil 2014, there have been suggestions and arguments as to how Nigeria should approach/prepare for the World Cup. The suggestions have really been very robust. However, there is one approach that the Nigerian Football family has neglected over the years. It is called the SWOT approach.

A SWOT analysis is a common tool for business or economic analysis and marketing/development plan.

The letter S stands for Strengths W stands for Weaknesses, O stands for Opportunities and T stands for Threats.

A careful application of SWOT analysis provides important bullet points and develops a compass for our football administrators and coaches to follow in the prosecution of the 2014 World Cup tournament.

Let’s consider the four letters of SWOT as it presently concerns the Super Eagles of Nigeria. The strengths of the Super Eagles are anchored on availability of good and experienced goal keepers; a good twin combination of attacking and defensive mid-fielders, team harmony and unity, an experienced head coach and a team of ex-internationals

Apart from Argentina, Nigeria has experience going to the World Cup

,

on the bench, an athletic team with speed as a selling point. Other strengths associated with the Super Eagles are that both the Super Eagles ,Golden Eaglets and the NFF are on the winning ways. There is also going to be a stiff competition for shirts - a development that will spring up a more dynamic and vibrant team.

The ever vibrant Supporters Club is always ready to cheer the Super Eagles all the way. President Goodluck Jonathan is so pleased with the Super Eagles and will lend his full support to the team.

A sizeable number of Nigerians are in Brazil and can be leveraged for good support for the team.

The team’s weaknesses can be outlined as weak defence and lack of creativity in the defence line; full backs have a perennial problem of not falling back quickly to defend when opponents attack, wasteful attackers that create problems for the midfielders, defenders and goal-keepers and the team’s inability to maximize the use of restarts like freekicks, throw-ins and corner kicks. Other weaknesses are lack of concentration within the first 5-minutes of the start and last 5-minutes of the first and second halves; inability to make tailored pull-outs from the wings and to deal with aerial balls on the part of the goal-keepers and defenders. In addition, most of our players except Mikel Obi are not

Adebayor fires Spurs to victory E

MMANUEL Ade bayor ’s revival under Tim Sherwood continued as he scored twice to pile pressure on injury-hit Swansea.

The Togo international headed Spurs ahead in the 34th minute and fired in his second in the 70th after Chico Flores had scored an own goal.

Wilfried Bony’s volley was little consolation as the Swans fell to their third consecutive Premier League loss.

Tottenham join Liverpool on 43 points after their fifth win in six League games under their new manager.

Adebayor ’s fortunes have turned around since the departure of former boss Andre Villas-Boas on 16 December.

After being largely sidelined under the previous manager, the striker has been given Sherwood’s backing and has repaid that faith with six goals in eight appearances.

This was Tottenham’s fifth consecutive away win in the league their best run since 1960 - and has taken them up to fifth in the table.

But while Sherwood appears to able to do no wrong, Swansea manager Michael Laudrup’s Midas touch has deserted him.

With five first-choice players sidelined by injury, the Swans have now gone eight games without a win, and are 15th, only three points clear of the relegation zone.

•Mba

the ultimate players in their clubs.

What are the opportunities open to the Super Eagles as they prepare to challenge for the World Cup in Brazil? Unlike Bosnia Herzegovina and possibly Iran, Nigeria is making its fifth appearance in the World Cup. Apart from Argentina, Nigeria has experience going to the World Cup. Again, Argentina is desperate to win the World Cup and might fail again like they did in 2002 with a galaxy of talented players. Iranians might find it difficult to control their temperament if they concede early goals to the Super Eagles. Bosnia Herzegovina players might find the football arena in Brazil too electrifying to handle. Nigeria will also like to surpass the World Cup records of Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana. More than ever before, the growing profile of the Super Eagles has opened a big window of opportunity for the NFF to partner with sponsors and advertisers by way of buying into the Super Eagles preparation and participation for Brazil 2014, because it will give them good visibility and mileage for their products and services.

Perhaps, of very significant to Super Eagles preparation for the World Cup in Brazil 2014 is the word ‘threat’. Argentina has a pool of talented and focused players. They have beaten Nigeria in previous World Cup meets and are ranked highly above Nigeria by FIFA. Bosnia Herzegovina is an emerging European team. From their geographical zone came Croatia and Davour Suker as debutants in 1998 World Cup in France where they took the whole world by storm. Most of our players are not being optimally used presently in their various clubs. The Eagles are poor when it comes to counter-attacks and shooting in front of goal. Other threats are problem of match bonus and code of conduct for players, delay in prompt payment of salaries of coaches, delay in releasing funds for the prosecution of the World Cup programme, transparency in managing funds released for the World Cup projects and delay in organizing international friendly matches for the Super Eagles. Perhaps the biggest threat will come from politicians and political office holders/seekers, who are already heating up the polity. Politicians and Nigerians should realize that the Super Eagles can only succeed in Brazil 2014 where there is peace and harmony in Nigeria- Dan Osakwe.

See you next week.

Onazi sent off in Lazio win

M

IDFIELDER Ogenyi Onazi was sent off in Lazio’s 32 win over Udinese on Sunday. Lazio came from behind twice despite Onazi’s dismissal early in the second half.

He received his first caution of the game in the 49th minute before he was sent off for the second yellow card in the 54th minutes.

Mba tastes victory with Bastia S UNDAY Mba final ly tasted victory with CA Bastia as they recorded a rare 1-0 away win over Nancy in the French Ligue 2.

The Nigeria saw 90 minutes of action for the Ligue 2 strugglers, but was taken off in the fourth minute off added time and was replaced with Jean Grimaldi.

A goal from Rivas Ma-

rouani in the 72nd minute helped the Noir et Blanc record their first league win in six games.

Prior to this game, Bastia had not recorded a win since they beat Nimes 1-0 away at the Stade des Costieres on November 8.

Mba was making a second appearance for the bottom-placed club, after walking straight into their starting line-

up on his debut which ended in a 3-0 home loss to Niort in the previous round.

•Onazi He was denied a goal by a timely block by Udinese defenders, before he was given the marching order after he hacked down Pereyra on the touchline.

Olaitan knocks on Eagles door again

M

ICHAEL Olaitan shone again for Olympiacos on Sunday to again stake further claim for an Eagles callup leading up to the World Cup.

The Flying Eagles attacking midfielder was the hero of his Greek Super League club when he scored in his team’s 2-0 win over Levadiakos to earn three points.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014 — 53

Australian Open

Ajom’s random notes

Ivanovic bundles Serena out

Cape Town of my dream

S

ERENA Williams is out of the Australian Open. Her grand slam ambitions, which seemed realistic only a couple of days ago – nailed on, in some estimations, although not her own - lay in tatters on Sunday at the feet of Ana Ivanovic, who had never won more than four games in a single set in their four previous meetings. It was the biggest upset of the tournament, by a distance.

Williams, the world No 1, had to be bullied, almost, into confirming later that she had considered pulling out of the match beforehand with a back injury that has been with her for at least a couple of days. She tried as valiantly to deflect questions about her fitness as she did to heap praise on Ivanovic, the 14th seed who did, indeed, play as well as she has done in a little while.

Ivanovic recovered from a tentative but energetic start then flourished, irresistible at the end against her stricken foe, to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 and go through to the quarter-finals.

Under persistent questioning, Williams conceded, “Yeah, I almost pulled out. I probably should have but I’m such a competitor. I guess the secret is out, but I obviously wasn’t hitting the way I normally would hit and wasn’t moving the way I normally would move.

It wasn’t the best.”

What was “it”, exactly?

“To be honest, I don’t know. I have no idea.”

How long had she had it? “A few days. It’s not anything that’s lifethreatening or anything.

I feel like it will get better. I just need a couple days off.”

If Williams had defended that well on court, she might have won.

“It was all Ana today,” she insisted. “I thought she played really well. I made a tremendous amount of errors [31 unforced, against Ivanovic’s 27], shots I

AGONY OF DEFEAT — Serena Williams agonises after her loss to Ivanovic

Eagles Continues from BP front.

Savouring yesterday ’s victory mattered to the team here last night and the feeling among the players was great here in Cape Town with 36,000 fans watching.

Petite midfielder, Ejike Uzoneyi was the man running the ring round the South Africans, trying to find strikers Ifeanyi Ede and Gbolahan Salami, who had a somewhat quiet night.

Eagles first chance at goal was scoffed at the death by Salami, who wasted time as goalkeeper Joseph closed in to save the lame shot. Ozoenyi was the provider of the ball that was wasted by Salami.

The Rangers midfield maestro appeared not

impressed with the missed chances as events would later show.

Not wanting to be outshone on their soil, South Africa also went on an offensive play but Bernard Parker ’s tame shot was calmly picked by goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim. But the moment that changed the game came on 21 minute when Uzoenyi unleashed a powerful left-foot shot that rested at the back of the Bafana Bafana net. It was a beautiful goal that set the tone for the things to come from Uzoenyi, who was unequivocally the man-of-the-match.

And it soon got better for Nigeria when Enyimba’s forward Ifeanyi Ede scored from the penalty spot in the 30th minute to send the Nigerians supporters into a frenzy celebrations. It

Eto'o Continues from BP United would have looked to get back into the match early in the secondhalf but the game was put well and truly out of their reach as Eto’o helped himself to his third just minutes after the re-start.

And it was again Cahill who played his part as he met Willian’s corner, De Gea could only parry and Eto’o was on hand to turn it home from close-range.

There was time for United to get on the scoresheet as substitute Javier Hernandez converted

what proved to be no more than a mere consolation for David Moyes’s side.

And to make matters even worse, United captain Nemanja Vidic was shown a straight red in injury time for diving in on Eden Hazard.

The three points sees Chelsea move back to within touching distance of leaders Arsenal and second placed Manchester City - although the win - Jose Mourinho’s 100th in the Premier League does mean the top-three are now six-points clear.

was turning out to be another easy walk-over of South Africa by Eagles.

In the second half Uzoenyi continued from where he stopped in the first half to net Nigeria’s third goal on 63 minutes.

The goal was a stunner in all sense and even though Parker scored to make it 3-1, the Eagles had done enough to send South Africa out of the tournament as Mali, who defeated Mozambique 21 joined Eagles as the two qualified teams from Group A. The victory reaffirmed Nigeria’s superiority over South Africa. It was a nervy finish for the African champions as even when the two teams ended the match with ten men apiece, the hosts dominated the final ten minutes.

The hosts were disappointing as most of their moves were wasted.

Surprisingly, Chigozie Agbim, the Eagles skipper and goal tender was fairly good just as the entire Nigerian team raised their game.

Solomon Kwambe, a stalwart in the Eagles defence was given a red after bringing down a South African player in the 74th minute.

Two minutes later, the referee evened the number of players on both sides as Yuyo Mere, spotting jersey number 11 for Bafana Bafana was sent off.

W

HEN after a long wait, the South African High Commission in Lagos granted me visa to allow me cover the African Nations Championship, my boss, Tony Ubani told me I was in for a good trip. His description of a good trip was hinged on the beautiful sights and sounds Cape Town would offer. “It is one of the most beautiful cities in the world,” my well travelled boss had assured me.

When the huge South African Airways Airbus touched down at the Oliver Thambo International Airport, Johannesburg Sunday morning, it was still dark. I could not see much of the city, but the airport was huge too.

Everything there works well, the floor gleams with a glossy freshness despite the ceaseless movement of human traffic. Immigration process was swift, even the luggage came out fast.

Away from Jo’burg we landed at the Cape Town International Airport about two hours later. From the airport to the city centre a first time visitor would not believe he is in Africa. The roads are wonderfully built with broad side walks, functional traffic lights and very civilised drivers. It is indeed a dream town for tourists.

Being driven along the Nelson Mandela Boulevard I felt a pinch of jealousy because back home, we cannot boast of any city near Cape Town. Even our most cherished Abuja has been corrupted with shanties, noise, wayward driving, street trading, dirty environment, etc.

The fear of Super Eagles....

The fear of the Super Eagles, is no doubt, the beginning of wisdom among football fans in South Africa.

The South Africans love their country’s national team, fondly called the Bafana Bafana. But when it comes to Bafana Bafana facing Nigeria, the news sends jitters down the spines of their fans.

James Mangwiro, a taxi driver who drove me from the Cape Town International Airport to my hotel, was full of praise for the Nigerian team.

He was sure the Bafana Bafana would not escape defeat in the hands of the Eagles. Even when in a veiled attempt to sound neutral, I told him the CHAN Eagles were a bad representation of Nigerian football and so were going to fall to their hosts who were by far the stronger team. The driver said no. ”I saw the Nigerian players,” the driver said, adding, “they are young and work very hard. Remember, Bafana Bafana have beaten your team only once and I don’t see them achieving that today(Sunday).”

In the same vein, another driver who took me to the Super Eagles hotel said Bafana Bafana were no match for the Super Eagles. The driver who simply identified himself as Abe said he could not understand where Nigeria’s confidence was coming from. “We have beaten the World Champions (Spain), but Nigeria does not respect us as each time we meet, they beat us.”

I sympathised with Abe, but told him that what Nigeria enjoys over them was beyond Spain. “We enjoy a psychological edge over South Africa, and that is what they can’t take away from Nigeria.”

54 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014 — 55

C M Y K

VANGUARD, MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014

Etomatic machine rolls over Man Utd Chelsea 3 Man Utd 1

S

AMUEL Eto’s first hat-trick in English football gave Chelsea a 3-1 win over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.

United had begun brightly, but it was Chelsea who broke the deadlock with one of their first attacks on 17-minutes as Eto’o saw a shot deflect off Michael Carrick and over a helpless David De Gea. De Gea could do little with Eto’o’s second which arrived just before

Eagles back to reckoning •Send S/Africa out

•HERO — Uzoenyi celebrates

BY JACOB AJOM in Cape Town

T

HEY were a pitiful sight in their first match here when they lost to Mali in their first match. A 4-2 victory over Mozambique raised their hopes and those of their fans at home. Anfer last night’s sweet 3-1 victory against hosts Bafana Bafana of South Africa, the talk in the Eagles camp here now is how to win the cup. But they have a quarterfinal match and possibly a semi and final matches before the title that will tag them African Champions on the local Continues on Page 53

•Eto'o the half-time, as United failed to clear a corner and Gary Cahill crossed for the Cameroonian star to fire home from sixyards.

Continues on Page 53

Today’s fixtures Burkina Faso Morocco

v v

Zimbabwe Uganda

6 pm 6 pm

Results EPL Swansea Chelsea

1 3

Tottenham Man U

3 1

Serie A Udineze Atalanta Bologna Catania Chievo Genoa Sassoulo

2 1 2 0 1 1 0

Getafe

2

Lazio Cagliari Napoli Fiorentina Parma Inter Torino

3 0 2 3 0 0 2

La Liga Sociedad

2

Ligue 1 Reims

0

Lyon

2

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Fashionable (4) 4 Lout (3) 6 Shortage (4) 8 Ready (6) 9 Passionate (6) 10 Girl’s (3) 12 Animals (5) 14 Cut (5) 15 Singer (5) 18 Maintain (6) 20 Pressing (6) 24 Irrigate (5) 26 Last (5) 28 Loiter (5) 30 Pig-pen (3) 32 Uproar (6) 33 Whole (6) 34 Stunt (4) 35 Faucet (3) 36 Consider (4)

DOWN 2 Stern (5) 3 Vie (7) 4 Curse (4) 5 Dread (4) 6 Embed (5) 7 Trouble (7) 11 Self (3) 12 Ocean (3) 13 Fix (3) 16 Novel (3) 17 Groove (3) 19 Relaxation (7) 21 Colour (3) 22 Allowed (7) 23 Attempt (3) 25 Deed (3) 27 On high (5) 29 Huge (5) 30 Chair (4) 31 Yap (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Bawdy 7, Ahead 8, Elder 10, Sound 12, Air 13, Never 15, Yearned 17, Eroded 19, Vim 20, Defiled 23, Duct 25, Deep 26, Erected 30, Awe 31, Demure 34, Obscene 37, Meter 38, Yak 39, Taper 40, Aspen 41, Agree 42, Stone.

DOWN: 1, Cheer 2, Based 3, Adored 4, Deny 5, Alarmed 6, Beret 9, Din 11, Devised 13, Needy 14, Voice 16, All 18, Descent 21, Debut 22, Upper 24, Tracked 27, Ewe 28, Demean 29, Abyss 32, Merge 33, Repel 35, Sap 36, East.

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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