KANO SUICIDE BOMBING: I packed my intestines with my cloth — Survivor

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61842

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

166 feared dead in Akwa Ibom boat mishap KANO SUICIDE BOMBING: •Pg.6

NEW POPE—Italian cardinal Angelo Sodano (R) puts the Fisherman's Ring, made of gold-plated silver, on a finger of Pope Francis during his grandiose inauguration mass yesterday at the Vatican. AFP Photo: See more on Page 32.

N150

COLUMNISTS:

•P.17

DEAR BUNMI •P.34

ROTIMI FASAN •P.19

OGAGA IFOWODO

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I packed my intestines with my cloth — Survivor ABDULSALAM •I spoke with the suicide bomber before he struck— Survivor BYMUHAMMAD •We saw death, Govt must arrest the perpetrators — victims ANO—AS Nigeri K ans continued to •UK, Reps, CAN, OPC, others condemn suicide attack express outrage over Monday’s suicide bomb-

•It is callous, atrocious, ungodly — Ekweremadu

ing at a bus park in Kano which claimed over 60 lives, survivours of the bomb attack, yesterday on their hospital beds, recounted their harrowing experiences and agony, saying they saw

Continues on Page 5

Mr & Mrs

SURVIVORS— Abdulaziz Baban-Lamma (L) and Emmanuel Bassey (R). AFP photos. More pictures on Page 16:

Court declares deregulation of downstream sector illegal•Pg.8

2 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20 , 2013

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POCKET CARTOON

Harcourt-bound bus when a blast ripped through, and the rest I knew was that I found myself in the hospital where the doctor was telling me to remain calm”.

NIGERIA SUMMIT 2013 —From left: Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke; Group Managing Director/CEO, First Bank Ltd., Mr. Bisi Onasanya; Minister of State for Works, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda and Minister of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala at the Nigeria Summit 2013 Conference held at the Eko Hotels & Suities yesterday in Lagos.

Kano bombing: I packed my intestines with my cloth — Survivor Continues from Page 1

death.

Abdullahi Maiagogo Gayawa, a 70 year-old wrist watch seller who was affected by the blast said: “I was at the motor park as usual for a rou-

tine business when in a middle of the transaction, I heard a loud bang that sent me sprawling on the ground. Initially, I could not comprehend what happened but rose and took to my heels only to notice that my

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

YOU can lead at any level. Leadership is about performance, not position. If you take people to where they would not have gone by themselves…. you are leading.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Y

OU must find the place inside yourself where nothing is impossible – Deepak Chopra You do not need to strain; push or struggle for anything, the energy of trying too hard can drive good away from you, while the strength of gratitude can draw positive things to you.

According to Doreen Virtue, you can accomplish a lot by holding the feeling and thought of being thankful that your wish is already granted and don’t worry about how this dream will come true; the more fervour you can put into your gratitude the more quickly you will make your dream come alive.

Every longing of a wish fulfilled sends a version of itself into the universe while its essence stays next to you and solidifies into form but remember too that doubt, fears and pessimism erase it faster from materialising.

Today, this moment nurture your dreams goals and aspirations by putting sincere feeling in your thanks, say thank God, be grateful for everything and everyone in your life, even the so called adversaries is your teacher, know that you are never alone. If you open your eyes and heart to divine love you will feel the support in your life at all time. Ella Randl

stomach was ripped open,with my intestines gorging out. I quickly packed my intestines with my cloth and was trying to escape from the scene when suddenly I woke up in the hospital surrounded by a team of medical doctors”.

We saw death — Survivors The Septuagenarian, looking frail and worn out told Vanguard on his sick bed: “I saw death at a close range and I had almost given up hope of living but all praises to Allah for His intervention.

Gayawa further explained that “as you can see I am still active and I struggle hard to feed my family and this particular motor park where the incident occurred is my place of business and I had been getting serious patronage from the travelers.”

In the stretch of my life spanning seven decades, I have never seen this kind of trouble, the bang was so loud that I saw many going down, covered with their blood and the wailing that followed was such that I thought the end of time

has come”.

Another lucky survivor, Magawata Goje, 45, told Vanguard on his sick bed thus: “I was inside the Lagos-bound luxury bus when the blast occurred. I was seated at the back seat, and it was Allah that understands how I survived the blast.

“I heard people saying that I was dead because I was covered with blood and I could see a lot of people in comatose position and I had to raise my hand to draw the attention of the rescuers before they attended to me. Goje who sustained second degree burns then appealed for quick intervention of government to save his life.

In pains, he struggled to raise his burnt neck and hand and looked through the window pointing at where his children and members of his family were anxiously waiting and monitoring his health from the sideline. “Look at my wife and children watching from outside and you can imagine what will become of their lives if adequate measure is not taken to save my life”.

Also speaking to Vanguard in the same vein, Hamisu Usman, another survivor, told Vanguard that “I was in a Port

I spoke with the suicide bomber before he struck —Emmanuel Bassey, 40 years old tout.

In his account, Emmanuel Bassey, a 40year-old bus park tout who survived the blast revealed to Vanguard his encounter with the suicide bomber before he struck.

Bassey who claimed to work for Ezewanta Group of Motors stated that “the guy came in a blue Golf car, I could recall that he was dark in complexion and appeared to be in his mid 30’s. He was calm during my brief interaction with him and did not look harmful. I asked him where he was going, and he said, ‘I have not decided’, and in no time some of my colleagues at the park were rushing towards him and suddenly he sped off, applied brake close to a loaded vehicle and in a twinkle of an eye, I heard a loud bang that sent me sprawling on the ground”, Bassey explained.

He revealed that four of his colleagues who were running after him to ascertain which part of the southern part of the country he wanted to go all died on the spot due to the impact of the blast.

Bassey who suffered second degree burns cried out: “Men, I saw hell and believed that I was going to die before some good Samaritan brought me to the hos-

pital.

Bassey lost his skin and his stomach was ripped open by the blast but has undergone several procedures and appeared to be in a stable condition. Bassey who complained of excessive heat on his sick bed displayed a deep hole on his stomach saying: “I was simply not lucky on the day of carnage but all the same I give glory to God that I am alive but I hope government will do their best to bring the perpetrators to book”.

In the meantime, Kano State Government has offered to foot the medical expenses of those affected by the blast.

Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the Acting Governor gave the assurance in Kano shortly after paying a visit to the injured victims at the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano.

“The carnage perpetrated by whoever is behind this is totally condemnable, this is not religion, and definitely this is not the teaching of Islam. It is there for everyone to see and it remains the basic truth”, Ganduje stressed.

UK, Reps, CAN, OPC, others condemn attack

BY OKEY NDIRIBE, HENRY UMORU, EMMAN OVUAKPORIE, ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH, VICTORIA OJEME & CALEB AYANSINA IN his reaction to the bomb blast, UK Foreign Office Minister for Africa Mark Simmonds condemned the attack and Continues on Page 44

6—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

Police kill suspected kidnappers in Benin

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BY EMMAAMAIZE

SABA—POLICE in Del ta State have shot dead a suspected kidnapper and arrested four others in separate offensives against criminals in Benin City, Edo State and Ogwashi-Uku in Aniocha South Local Government Area of the state.

One of the seized suspects is Chiejine, 36, a kidnap kingpin, whose gang shot dead their victim, 71-year-old Mrs. Regina Obi in Edo State after collecting N2 million ransom from her family.

He was arrested, Monday, in Ogbe-Ofu quarters, Ogwashi-Uku, by police officers, who acted on a tip off.

Commissioner of Police, Delta State, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, told Vanguard, yesterday, “Efforts to arrest other member of the gang are in progress.”

He confirmed that one of the suspected kidnappers died in a gun duel in Benin City, while a cousin to the victim died in custody of the kidnappers in Okada, near Benin City, Edo state.

Kidnappers release housewife after collecting N.5m ranson

BY EMMA AMAIZE & AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE

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ARRI—FORTY-FIVEYEAR-OLD housewife, Mrs. Baby Obiokor, who was abducted, last Sunday, by a four-man kidnap gang in Udu area of Delta State, regained freedom, on Monday, after her family paid N500,000 ransom.

Mrs. Obiokor was traveling to her country home, Okwagbe in Ughelli South Local Government Area with her younger sister, Mrs. Patience Mode, in a Honda SUV, when she was taken hostage by the gunmen that ambushed them.

The kidnap gang established contact with the family and demanded for N1 million ransom, while the husband, Mr. Obiokor, reportedly, said his family could only raise N300,000 A family source confided in Vanguard, yesterday, that “Mrs. Obiokor was released at Arhavwarien bush in Ughelli South Local Government Area on Monday night after a ransom of N500,000 was dropped somewhere in Mosogar bush in Ethiope West in the evening as demanded by the kidnappers.”

Explosion kills 6 JTF soldiers, injures 4 in Maiduguri One soldier dies, 2 injured — JTF

BY NDAHI MARAMA

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AIDUGURI—BARELY 24 hours after the brutal murder of four teachers in their various schools in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, a bomb blast yesterday hit the patrol vehicle of men of the Joint Task Force, JTF, at the Roundabout of Kashim Ibrahim Way at noon, killing six JTF soldiers, while four others were injured.

After the blast, according to reliable source, other soldiers and policemen rushed to the scene to evacuate the remains of their dead colleagues.

But the Spokesman of the JTF, Leuitenant Colonel Sagir Musa insisted that only one soldiers was killed while two others sustained injuries.

The Sir Kashim Ibrahim Way/ Roundabout is a busy area as there is a concentration of banks, including UBA, Union Bank, Fidelity Bank, First Bank and Unity Bank among others.

Another eyewitness who does not want his name mentioned told Vanguard that he wouldn't know whether the occupants of the vehicle were killed or not, but the blast tore the JTF patrol vehicle into pieces, while passers-by scampered for safety.

Vanguard gathered that about five minutes after the blast, the

Roundabout area , including the four roads leading to the

Governor Kashim Shettima (in white), listening to explanations from the Chief Medical Director, UMTH, Prof. Tahir Othman, during a visit to victims of the attack on JTF.

place for about five hours.

Vehicles and pedestrians were forced to take the Post Office Area and Government Reservation Areas, GRA, roads by soldiers.

However, a University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, UMTH, source said two bodies of soldiers were brought into the Hospital, while the other four who sustained severe injuries were admitted at the Accident and Emergency Unit, A&EU, for treatment The UMTH A&EU attendant, who does not want his name in print said: “the bodies of soldiers and injured ones were brought in two Hilux Patrol vehicles.”

The spokesman of the Joint Task Force, ‘Operation Restore Order’ Leuitanant Colonel Sagir Musa in a statement said, a patrol vehicle of the JTF was attacked by suspected Boko Haram members around First Bank Roundabout.

He said, the suspects used Improvised Explosive Device, IED, which was targeted at the patrol vehicle killing one soldier and injuring two other JTF personnel.

He said the area has since been cordoned off with a view to apprehend the culprits.

Kidnapped ex-lawmaker killed in Imo...after family pays N5m ransom

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI—THE corpse of a two-time lawmaker and former majority leader of Imo State House of Assembly, Mr. Dan Nwagwu, who was kidnapped last January, has been

dumped along the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway.

This sordid tale came barely seven days after the lifeless body of an Oguta-born hotelier, Mr. Emeka Aseme, was similarly dumped at Umunoha by his abductors and eventual killers.

Vanguard investigations revealed that while the relations of Aseme doled out about N2.5 million as ransom to save their bread winner, the Nwagwu family coughed out about N5 million.

In the two instances, nothing was heard from the kidnappers

after collecting the ransom until the corpses of the victims were dumped.

Vanguard recalls that the former lawmaker, a native of Umungwa, Obowo local council area of Imo State, was kidnapped in his Umuahia, Abia State base,

Parents urge police to fish out killers of daughter

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

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DO EKITI – PARENTS of 25-year-old nurse and mother of two, Mrs Moyinoluwa Osire, who was murdered by unknown persons in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State capital last Sunday have called on the security operatives to fish out the killers of their daughter Moyinoluwa who was a staff nurse in one of the government hospitals at Ise Ekiti was killed in a mysterious manner in her

Deceased nurse

family residence at Ayedun Quarters in Ado Ekiti.

Police have, however, arrested and detained her estranged husband, Mr Abayomi Osire as prime suspect at the Oke Ila Police Station, following alleged frosty relationship between them.

Narrating the circumstances that led to the death of the deceased, her step- father, Mr Olawale Ogundare, said occupants of the three-bedroom apartment building had gone to church but Moyinoluwa decided to stay behind to take some rest after weeks of examination His words: ’’When we returned, we knocked the door and when she did not answer, I peeped through the window and saw that the way she lied was not normal and we found the main door was already opened.

“When we entered, we found her in pool of her blood . We tried to reach out to the husband, but

he switched off his phone not until Tuesday when he called us with one strange number.

166 feared dead in boat mishap

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boat traveling from Oron in Akwa Ibom State to Malabao in Equilateral Guinea, yesterday, capsized at the Calabar Waterways with no fewer than 166 passengers feared dead.

Eyewitnesses said the passengers were traveling in a “giantsized wooden boat” when it capsized at 40 nautical miles along the coast of Calabar off Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, waterways”.

Investigation shows that 45 corpses of some of the victims have been deposited at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, UCTH, mortuary.

But Mr David Akate, the Assistant Director, Information,

Cross River Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, who confirmed the incident, did not give further details.

The eyewitnesses said the boat was carrying 168 passengers, adding that rescue efforts were still going on.

A marine transporter at the Calabar Inland Waterways, Mr Ikechukwu Egwu, also confirmed the incident. He said the passengers of the boat were mostly Igbo traders who were heading for Gabon, adding that they were mostly from the South East states who headed to Oron in Akwa Ibom to board the wooden boat because it was cheap.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013—7

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

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ORT HARCOURT–IT was gory sight yesterday in Mgboshiminu community in Obio/ Akpor Local Government of Rivers State as Charity Ovudah, 36, allegedly stabbed her husband to death after first poisoning his food.

The alleged murder said to have taken place in the night before was reportedly provoked by the deceased, Peter Ovudah’s attempt to bring a second wife into the matrimonial home he had shared with the alleged killer.

A family source said the decease had already concluded plans to bring the new wife, who was pregnant, into the family houset before Charity’s fatal reaction.

Mrs. Igbokwe Onyeka, a neighbour to the Ovudahs revealed that; “The family had been quarreling over the issue of a second wife but no one anticipated that Charity would be so angered killed her husband.

A 19-year-old housemaid to the Ovudahs, who gave her name as simply Loveth said she witnessed how Ovudah died, saying she first noticed that Charity added something to her husband’s food that fateful night. she said: “I was the one who served the food for my aunt’s husband but my aunt added something that looked like salt and mixed it together.

“So when Oga came back and started eating I was monitoring

Wife poisons, stabs husband to death over second wife him. After about 30 minutes he started behaving strange and fell off the dining chair, rolling on the floor and shouting for help.

“That was when my aunt came

and stabbed him till he gave up”, she said.

The suspected killer was said to have disappeared the moment the housemaid alerted neigh-

bours of her action, but the remains of the deceased has been deposited at the Braithwaite Memorial Hospital mortuary in Port Harcourt.

The suspected human parts seller, Yemi Odun with some fresh human parts at Aro community, opposite Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta.

Suspected human parts seller arrested in Abeokuta

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA—MEMBERS of the Oodua Peoples Congress, in Abeokuta, said they have arrested a suspected human parts seller, Yemi Odun, with some fresh human parts in Aro community, opposite Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta.

Odun, 24, was said to have been nabbed following a tip off by residents of the area who were said to be suspicious of his movement.

Speaking with Vanguard, the State Treasurer of OPC , Wahab Moruf, said nemesis caught up with the suspect, when the officials of the body stormed the hideout located within the community in an abandoned building where he allegedly carried out the operation in conjunction with some of his gang members who were said to be at large.

According to him, the suspect attempted to run away when we wanted to arrest him, but luck ran against him, and further search revealed a number of human bones and parts.

“The suspect and other members of the gang usually disguised as lunatics while committing the crime.

“That is the reason why the gang decided to have their hideout in the abandoned building which is adjacent to the Neuro-

Psychiatric Hospital When Vanguard visited the Ogbe unit office of the OPC in Abeokuta, the suspect was found with exhibits comprising fresh

and dried human bones.

The suspect on interrogation, said he was a bus conductor and only sleeps in the abandoned building.

However, as at the time of this report, authority of Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, said the security agents had been contacted for onward transfer of the suspect.

110-yr-old grandmother kidnapped in Delta

Female police officer shot dead in Kano

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ANO – A top female po lice detective attached to AIG zone 1, Kano was shot death yesterday during the rush hour in the city.

The middle aged lady simply identified as Maimuna by security sources was shot at close range when she parked to attend to her flat tyre in front of a vulcanizer.

Late Maimuna was dressed in police uniform when the unknown assailant attacked.

The incident occurred barely 24 hours after a suicide bomber rammed into a Lagos bound luxury bus killing over 60 people.

Security sources confided in Vanguard that the late detective was trailed from her residence and as providence would have it she had a flat tyre on her way to the office.

“She was attending to the car when unknown gunmen on a tricycle shot her at close range,” the sources added.

Confirming the incident, the Kano Police Commissioner, Musa Daura said; “It is true a lady attached to zone 1 fully dressed in a normal police uniform on her way to the office had a flat tyre, stopped by vulcanizer and was shot at point blank.”

The police chief failed to give further details on the status of the slain policewoman, saying; “I have volunteered what I know about her demise.”

2 school children escape death as building collapses

Traditional ruler pleads for her release

BY EMMA AMAIZE

S

APELE—SUSPECTED kid nappers have abducted a 110year-old grandmother, Mrs. Elizabeth Ortisegbone, in Idejerhe, (Jesse), Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State.

The victim, mother of Americanbased chartered accountant, Mr. Henry Umudjane, was abducted, weekend, from her home at Oyobru-Jesse by a kidnap syndicate.

The oil community was thrown into confusion since Sunday when the kidnappers, who rode on motorcycles, stormed her residence and whisked her away.

One of her children, Mrs. Elizabeth Oritsogbone, told newsmen that kidnappers invaded the house by the midnight of Sunday, March 17, and dragged the aged woman out through the window.

They reportedly took her away towards River Ethiope axis through Ahalopkpe, a neighbouring village in Okpe local govern-

ment area Mrs. Oritsegbone said the kidnappers called a grandson of the centenarian, Mr. Phillip Apete, a Sapele-based businessman, 24 hours later, demanding for ransom from the family.

However, police officers were already tracking the kidnappers, while a member of the family was helping security agents in their investigations.

BY OLA AJAYI

Meanwhile, the Ovie of Idjerhe kingdom, HRM, Erhiekevbe 1, PNM (JP), has appealed to the kidnappers to release the aged woman.

He had reportedly sent palace chiefs, led by Chief Mudiaga Orits Adegor to the family of the victim to remain calm them, as the palace was working closely with the police and other security agencies in the area to ensure her release.

Rain wreaks havoc in Asaba

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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SABA, Delta State capital re corded a torrential rainfall on Monday leaving in its trail several buildings, household property, vehicles and electric poles damaged.

The heavy downpour came with heavy flooding as some motorists were trapped in flood.

BY ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD

Roofs of some buildings were pulled off while big trees were uprooted by the storm and fell on some vehicles and buildings.

State Commissioner, Bureau for Special Duties, Dr. Tony Nwaka told Vanguard yesterday that “yes, the storm caused some havoc but officers of the State Emergency Management Agency, SEM,) are already going round assessing the damage”.

I

BADAN – A three-year-old boy escaped death yesterday in Ibadan when a mud house suddenly collapsed on him and another 15-year-old girl.

The incident happened when they were going to school. The names of the school children were Emmanuel Oketunbi (3), Rashidat Popoola(15).

Oketunbi, according to a source attends Ifeoluwa Nursery and Primary School, while Popoola is a student of the United Secondary School, Idiose, Ibadan.

They were said to be rushing to their schools when the building collapsed on them.

But divine providence saved them as a passer-by alerted others that the building fell on two children who were going to school.

Following the alarm raised, residents of the area quickly organized a rescue team that pulled the two children out of the rubble.

8—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

‘Corruption, insecurity hurting economy'

BY EMMA UJAH, Abuja Bureau Chief

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BUJA—CENTRAL Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has cried out over the hurting effects of corruption and insecurity on the nation’s economy, as their effects were identified as major risk factors affecting output performance.

Speaking at the end of the Monetary Policy Committee, MPC, in Abuja yesterday, Governor of the CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who announced retention of the 12 percent Monetary Policy Rate, said the corruption perception of Nigeria by the outside world was negative.

He said: “The Committee (MPC) was of the view that although the GDP growth projection remained high, there were a number of risk factors that were likely to affect output performance.

“These include perception of increased levels of corruption and impunity in the country, insecurity particularly in the northern part of the country, and mixed signals from power and petroleum sector reforms.”

Sanusi also raised concerns about oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta region, which he said had continued to reduce the oil sector ’s contribution to the nation’s overall GDP.

SUMMIT: President Goodluck Jonathan (right) and Mr. Luiz Lula Da Silva, former President of Brazil, during the 2013 The Economist's Nigeria Summit in Lagos, yesterday. STATE HOUSE PHOTO.

Court declares deregulation of downstream sector illegal

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA—A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday, held that the Federal Government lacks the power to deregulate the downstream sector of the petroleum industry.

In a judgment he delivered on a suit filed by a Lagosbased activist, Mr. Bamidele Aturu, Justice Adamu Bello said it was constitutionally incumbent on the Federal Government to, at all times, fix the price of petroleum products sold across the country as stipulated in the nation’s statutes.

Bello maintained that the deregulation policy was in

conflict with Section 16(1) (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which provides that the government should control the national economy in such a manner as to secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every citizen on the basis of social justice and equality of status and opportunity.

Other defendants in the suit are the Minister of Petroleum Resources and the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation.

Aturu had in the suit he instituted at the time when government increased the pump price of petroleum products from N65 to N110 in 2012, challenged the decision of the government to hands off fix-

ing prices of the products in Nigeria.

Specifically, he prayed the court to determine whether the attendant prohibitive hike in petroleum products would not make freedom of movement guaranteed by Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution illusory for the generality of Nigerians.

He urged the court to declare that the Federal Government’s policy decision to deregulate the downstream sector by not fixing prices at which petroleum products may be sold in the country as unlawful, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.

He also sought an order restraining government and its collaborators from deregulating the downstream

Court's judgment

CBN remits N186bn to Consolidated Fund

BY OKEY NDIRIBE & EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

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BUJA—GOVERNOR of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Lamido Sanusi has said the apex bank remitted over N186.9 billion in 12 years into the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

Speaking at a commendation meeting held, yesterday, in honour of the best revenue generating agencies, Sanusi said: “We have a tradition of paying all our IGR since 1999 and within this period we paid N186.9 billion.”

House committee on Finance, at the meeting, singled out CBN, Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, and Nige-

sector of the petroleum industry or from failing to fix prices of petroleum products as mandatory requirement by both the Petroleum Act and the Price Control Act. In its defence, Federal Government had through the Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, challenged the suit, insisting that the plaintiff lacked the locus standi to institute the action.

Adoke urged the court to strike out the suit, pointing out that it not only lacked merit, but failed to disclose any reasonable cause of action.

Adoke also faulted the manner the plaintiff commenced the action, contending that the suit was legally defective.

rian Television Authority for praise for being up to date in their revenue remittances to the Federal Government.

It, however, accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, of not running an open system, saying the corporation has questions to answer about how it manages revenues that it is generating.

The company was scheduled to appear before the Finance Committee but failed to show up. No reason was given for the absence.

Presenting an award to the three agencies, Chairman House Committee on Finance, Mr. Jibrin Abdulmumuni, noted that

CBN, FRSC and NTA deserved the commendation of Nigerians for being the only agencies that have religiously remitted their revenues to the Consolidated Account as prescribed by the Fiscal Responsibility Act. Figures remitted to the Consolidated Revenue Fund by the three agencies are: NTA, N1.8 billion, FRSC, N4.9 billion and CBN N186.9 billion.

Sanusi, FRSC Corps Marshall, Mr. Osita Chidoka and NTA Director-General, Mr. Musa Mayaiki were present at the event.

Abdulmumuni lamented that most agencies were violating the Fiscal Responsi-

bility Act by refusing to remit revenues generated. According to him, this had affected the projection of the Federal Government.

He particularly criticised NNPC for failing repeatedly to remit monies due to the Federal Government’s coffers, arguing that such act was not in the best interest of the economy. He said the House was ready to praise any organisation or institution that respects the laws of the country.

Abdulmumuni said: “We are having a handshake with these three agencies because they are law-abiding.

"We will not shy away from recognising excellence.”

However, Justice Bello in his judgment yesterday dismissed the preliminary objection that was filed against the suit by the Federal Government, just as he granted all the reliefs that were sought by the plaintiff.

The court further ordered the Federal Government to continue to fix, regulate and regularly publish prices of petroleum products across the country.

The judge ruled “that the policy decision of the defendants to deregulate the downstream sector of the petroleum industry by not fixing the prices at which petroleum products may be sold in Nigeria is unlawful, illegal, null, void and of no effect whatsoever being in flagrant violation of the mandatory provision of Section 4 of the Price Control Act, cap P28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”

Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013—9

Jonathan insists on fuel subsidy removal Says rice importation ends in 2016

BY YINKA KOLAWOLE & GODWIN ORITSE

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AGOS—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, in Lagos, unveiled a platform of economic development for the country that must be predicated on full removal of fuel subsidy.

Speaking at the Nigeria Summit 2013 organised by The Economist with the theme Enabling and Implementing Change, Jonathan said the fuel subsidy just have to be removed, but after discussing with the public about the easiest way to do it.

He said: “We cannot continue to waste resources meant for a greater number of Nigerians to subsidise the affluent middle class, who are the main benefi-

ciaries.”

It would be recalled that attempt by the Federal Government to remove the fuel subsidy on January 1, 2012 led to widespread protests in the country, forcing the government to partially reinstate the subsidy with fuel price set at N97 per liter from N65, prompting an increase in last year’s budget by N161 billion to accommodate the subsidy.

3-pronged security plan

The president also disclosed that the Federal Government had adopted a three-pronged approach to addressing insecurity and fighting acts of terrorism in the country, and said that importation of rice into the

country will stop by 2016.

He said the three approaches to tackle insecurity are: counter-terrorism by working with neighbouring countries, openness to political dialogue with the disgruntled, provided they come out to the open, and economic inclusion that will ensure that restful youths are gainfully engaged and therefore not susceptible to negative social or religious manipulation.

“There can be no development without security, which is why a large portion of this year’s budget was devoted to security,” he said.

Jonathan said government is working on massive production and storage of rice in the country, adding that

the priority of his government is food security, hence the need to boost rice production which is Nigeria’s staple food.

He also noted that an improved agricultural sector will also boost job creation.

Jonathan said: “Our agenda on job creation is mainly focused on the agricultural sector. We are working hard to boost production of rice, sugar, cassava and oil palm. By 2015/2016, we should stop importation of rice into the country.

“Our aim is to go back to agriculture not only to export raw produce but to process and add value.”

He said Nigeria has what it takes to be self-sufficient in the production of these commodities, being blessed with arable land and favourable climatic condition all year round.

He declared that it was as a result of the tremendous progress that had been made in grains production that ensured that the prices of food items have remained stable in spite of the floods of last year.

Bogus agencies at ports

CAMPAIGN: From left— Mr. Olu Akanmu, Chief Marketing Officer; Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, MD/CEO; Mr. Deepak Srivatsava, Group Operating Officer; and Mr. Inusa Bello, Chief Sales Officer, all of Airtel, at the launch of the company's network coverage thematic campaign in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Lamidi Bamidele.

Vigeo pays $32.25m for Benin DISCO

BY CLARA NWACHUKWU

W

ITH about 48 hours into the Thursday March 21 deadline, Vigeo Power Limited has paid $32.25 million to the Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, being 25 percent of the $129 million bid price for the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC. The payment for the Benin DISCO, which covers electricity distribution in Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti states brings to six the number of the power companies unbundled from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, which were recently put up for sale by BPE. Although the Bureau said it could not confirm the payment, a top management of Vigeo Power, who spoke with Vanguard in confidence, insisted that the amount had been paid

through its lead banker, StanbicIBTC. The source told Vanguard on the telephone: “I am sure by tomorrow morning (today) BPE and NCP would have received the confirmation for payment. Our bank, StanbicIBTC has confirmed the payment to us and has even sent us the proof of transfer.”

Vigeo Power is one of the consortia that emerged as core investors in Federal Government’s privatisation programme in the power sector, having clinched BEDC in the open and internationallyacclaimed competitive bid process held in 2012.

Benin Disco bid was particularly controversial, as the state governors, who failed to clinch the company, criticised the exercise.

The governors were forced

to accept their fate after it was disclosed that they flouted the rules of the game by submitting multiple bids for the same company contrary to the provisions of the guidelines for the submission of bids.

With regard to the delay in the payment, our source argued that the most important thing is to beat the deadline before the close of work on Thursday, and not necessarily a display of affluence by paying much earlier.

The source said: “It doesn’t make economic sense to pay a week ago or even a month ago because of the high interest rates accruable.

“No matter how long ago the money was paid, it will not make any difference to BPE as long as it is within the deadline.”

Meanwhile, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, at the summit, lamented the return of some sacked agencies into the nation’s ports.

The minister said the return of these agencies “is not good for business as their presence at the ports has made the clearance of goods more cumbersome and expensive.”

She explained that the issue of Customs and the ports had not been an easy one, adding that the government had concluded plans to computerise the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, with a view to reducing or eliminating physical contact with stakeholders.

He said: “All kinds of agencies are currently in the ports and this has brought about high cost of clearing goods at the port. It has been a constant fight against these agencies because the issue of ports reform is a global trend.

“When you think you have gotten rid of some of these agencies, they come in again under another disguise. This situation is not good for business that is why the government is making move to computerise the Nigeria Customs Service.”

NJC grills Justice Talba over pension scam verdict

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA—NATIONAL Judicial Council, NJC, yesterday, kickedoff probe into allegation that the convicted pension thief, Yakubu Yusufu, bribed Justice Abubakar Thalba to secure a slight sentence after he confessed to stealing about N23 billion from the Police Pension Fund.

Investigations by Vanguard revealed that the Council, presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, in an emergency session it held yesterday, grilled the embattled judge four several hours.

However, a source at the meeting disclosed that Justice Thalba had already engaged the services of 14 senior lawyers, including four Senior Advocates of Nigeria, to defend him before the council.

Talba is being investigated following a petition against him by a group under the aegis of the Anti-Corruption Network headed by a former member of the House of Representatives, Dino Melaye, who had described the slap on the wrist sentence Justice Thalba gave to the former pension boss as a miscarriage of justice.

Meantime, when the NJC’s panel of three members headed by a retired justice of the Court of Appeal, met yesterday, the embattled judge was put in the dock where he was examined and cross-examined.

It was gathered that the council gave the petitioner, Melaye the chance to question the judge. Melaye was said to have queried Justice Thalba on whether or not there was any arrangement between him and EFCC on a custodian order, which he ignored.

The panel adjourned sitting till today, when parties are expected to adopt their addresses.

10—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

Ofoegbu demands apology from Customs’ C-G over derogatory remarks

BY PROVIDENCE OBUH

L

AGOS — PROFESSOR Charles Ofoegbu, a geologist, has petitioned the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, demanding apology for describing him as a currency trafficker, law-breaker and a smuggler.

It would be recalled that Ofoegbu was arrested by officials of NCS at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos, on alleged possession $1.1 million and was said to have tried in vain to convince the officials on the source of the money and what it was meant for.

However, in the petition through his solicitors, Adroit Lex and Co, Ofoegbu said the action of the NCS officials was not only a false alarm as he was promptly released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, but that the arrest portrayed him as common criminal, among others.

He claimed that the action of NCS was malicious, among others because he was travelling to Kenya via MMIA with US$1.1 million cash in his brief case.

According to the petition “in full compliance and in accordance with the provisions of our laws and in particular Sections 12 and 13 of the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act Cap F34 Laws of the Federation, he made a full disclosure and declaration of the currency, and completed forms CDFIA and CDFIB; unfortunately your officers, unlawfully stopped him from bearding Kenya Airways flight number QR542; thereby disrupting his appointment and commitment to international partners and associates in Kenya.”

FAAN terminates lease agreements with Bi-Courtney

By LAWANI MIKAIRU & DANIEL ETEGHE

L

AGOS — THE Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, yesterday, terminated two leases granted Bi-Courtney Limited at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja for the development and management of a four-star hotel and conference centre, respectively.

This was contained in a statement by the General Manager, (Corporate Communications), Mr Yakubu Dati.

Dati said FAAN had, in two separate letters, dated April 19, 2012, informed Bi-Courtney that the leases granted it in respect of the two projects had been terminated as a result of breaches committed by the company in the agreements it signed with FAAN on the two projects.

He also said: “That by the said agreements, the two projects were to be completed in 2008 but FAAN graciously extended the construction period to July, 2009 but Bi-Courtney still failed to complete the two projects at the expiration of the extended period, pointing out that by the termination order, the demised premises, in respect of the two projects, have reverted to FAAN automatically, in line with the terms of the agreements.”

Bi-Courtney asks FAAN to be law-abiding However, reacting to the development, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, BASL, asked FAAN to be law-abiding by respecting a subsisting court order restraining it from taking over the two facilities.

BASL spokesman, Steve Omolale-Ajulo, described it as

FG sues bank, two staff for allegedly conspiring with alleged drug barons

BY INNOCENT ANABA

L

AGOS — THE Federal Government has instituted a charge before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, against a new generation bank and two of its top staff for allegedly conspiring with some alleged drug barons to conceal large sums of money, allegedly realised from illicit dealing in hard drug.

The bank, its staff and others

ENOWNED journalist and economist, Peter AdioneEgom, 70, who died on March 3, 2013, will be buried on Friday, at the Vaults and Garden, Ikoyi, Lagos.

A statement on behalf of the family by his son, Pierre Egom Aagaard, said a service of songs holds tomorrow at Kings College Hall, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, while a requiem and funeral mass hold Friday morning at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Victoria Island, Lagos.

According to the statement, “Egom passed out with a first

class degree in Social Anthropology from the prestigious Downing College, University of Cambridge, England. Thereafter, he obtained the ‘Cand. Oecon, in

The late Peter Adione-Egom

continuance and/or completion of any actions in respect of taking over possession of and/or interfering with applicant’s possession of the four-star hotel and the conference centre under construction at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two, Ikeja, Lagos, pending the hearing and determination of the applicant’s application for interlocutory injunction.”

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State (2nd right); Lagos State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr. Adebiyi Fatai Mabadeje (left); his Education counterpart, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye (2nd left), and Chairperson, International Affairs Committee for Africa and Middle East, Ms Poonam Sachdeva during the 9th CII-Exim Bank Conclave on IndiaAfrica Project Partnership in New Delhi, India, Monday.

are being tried by the Federal Government through the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, and are standing trial on a five-count charge. The matter is before Justice James Tsoho.

The accused are Diamond Bank, Lasisi Abayomi, Hillary Ojukwu, Oni Oil and Gas Limited, Onoche Ikenua and his wife, Lizzy Chinyere Ikenua.

In the first count, Diamond Bank staff were said to have failed to verify the true identity of Oni

Egom, renowned journalist for burial, Friday

R

laughable, as “Justice S. J. Adah of the Federal High Court, Ikeja Division, had, following BASL’s application on April 23, 2012, issued an order restraining the Attorney-General of the Federation, Inspector-General of Police, Managing Director of FAAN and FAAN itself (all defendants in the suit) from commencing, continuing and/or completing any actions or permitting the commencement,

National Oekonomi’ — a higher degree in economics from the University of Aarhus, Denmark, that qualified him to teach the subject at the university.

He later taught at the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in the early 1970s following his initial appointment as Financial Adviser to the Government of Tanzania headed by the late President Julius Nyerere.

He started his journalism career at The Guardian and moved on to the African Guardian as Economic Editor in 1985.

Oil and Gas Limited, Onoche Ikenua and Lizzy Chinyere Ikenua, before opening an account for their company, and also entered other fiduciary relationship with them, an offence contrary to Section 3 and punishable under Section 15 (2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act of 2004.

In the second count, Mr and Mrs Ikenua were alleged to have falsely presented themselves as directors of Oni Oil and Gas Limited, just to open an account with the bank, while in the other counts, the bank and its staff were alleged to have conspired with other accused to convert various sums of money..

When the matter came up, yesterday, the prosecution told the court the matter was adjourned for trial, but that he was informed that Onoche Ikenua was seriously ill.

It added that at the last adjourned date as well, the second accused, Lasisi Abayomi, was equally absent which stalled the trial.

The prosecution asked for another date, when all the accused would be present in court, consequent upon which the court adjourned till June 18 for trial.

Lagos restates commitment to fight maternal and child mortality

BY CHIOMA OBINNA & OLASUNKANMI AKONI

L

AGOS — LAGOS State Government, yesterday, called for concerted efforts to check the twin-issue of maternal and child mortality even as it reiterated its commitment to fighting the issue.

This came as the Japanese government concluded partnership arrangement with the state Ministry of Health to tackle the twin-issue by providing medical equipment such as delivery beds and ECG machines to 10 of the designated 57 flagship Primary Health Care Centers, PHCs, in the state.

Briefing journalists, Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, who announced that the state would tomorrow, hold a town hall meeting for people in Isolo-Oshodi Local Government Secretariat, said the high rate of maternal mortality was unacceptably high.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013—11

S-West PDP denies purported move to remove Tambuwal, Onwe

BY LAJA THOMAS

L

AGOS— SOUTH-WEST chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has condemned reports about purported moves by PDP to remove the Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr Aminu Tambuwal and the Acting National Secretary, Onwe Onwe, from office.

In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Waheed Lawal, the party described the report as “fabricated and misleading.”

The statement read in part: “We are constrained to express disgust at reports making the round in a section of the Nigerian media which suggest that members of the party in the South-West geographical zone at a reconciliatory parley held in Ibadan had resolved to remove Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and acting National Secretary, Hon. Onwe Onwe.

“The report is disturbing and everything a fair report should not be. For the avoidance of doubt, the main agenda for the meeting was how to reconcile aggrieved members of the party to strengthen and reposition the party in the South-west. We wish to note with gladness that tremendous success was recorded in the reconciliatory efforts during the National Chairman’s visit."

1,585 Nigerians in Norway prisons over drug trafficking, says Holm

By LAWANI MIKAIRU & DANIEL ETEGHE

L

AGOS— LEADERS of the delegation of Norwegian Intelligence Service and Customs officials, Mr. Kai Arild Holm, yesterday, in Lagos, said no fewer than 1,585 Nigerians were arrested and detained in Norwegian prisons between 2000 and 2012 over drug trafficking offences.

Disclosing this development during the team’s visit to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in Lagos, Holm said the visit to the antinarcotic agency was to enhance collaboration with Nigerian authorities in counter narcotic smuggling, money laundering and human trafficking.

According to him, “in 2012, we arrested 432 Nigerians in Norway and deported 95 over drug trafficking. We need your help in dealing with the problem of West African criminal networks in Norway. Most Nigerians arrested over drug trafficking are based in Europe. They engage in drug smuggling and launder the money back home.”

Chairman of NDLEA, Ahamu Giade, said the decision to collaborate with the Norway was reached after a meeting with a

delegation of Norwegian Police and Customs officials that visited the agency in Lagos, Monday.

He said: “We need to enter into a memorandum of understanding to deepen our collaboration with the Norwegian government. Drug trafficking is a common problem and we need to embrace the principle of shared responsibility

in addressing it. The technical details will soon be perfected.

This will lead to improvement in arrests, prosecution and assets forfeiture.”

The NDLEA boss who condemned the involvement of Nigerians in criminal activities abroad, promised to take necessary steps in boosting the

image of the country.

The steps, he added, included effective collaboration in counter narcotics, financial and assets investigation and anti-drug education.

The delegation will spend some days in Nigeria while details of the memorandum are being worked out.

From left: Chief of Staff to the President, Mike Oghiadomhe; President of Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigema; Senate President, Senator David Mark; Gov. Obi of Anambra and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs at the executive wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja shortly after their return from the Vatican City for Pope’s inauguration, yesterday.

House summons CAN leaders over alleged plot to Islamise Osun

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

O

SOGBO — OSUN State House of Assembly has called on religious leaders in the state to be wary of unscrupulous politicians scheming to use religion to destabilize the state.

This came as the House resolved to invite the leadership of the state chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, to substantiate allegations that Governor Rauf Aregbesola was planning to Islamize the state.

Speaking on a matter of

Ajasin varsity holds convocation lecture using Yoruba language

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

KURE —THE Ondo Stateowned Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, AAUA, will today make history as the first academic institution in the country to host the presentation of a convocation lecture using a Nigerian language as the medium of delivery.

The lecture, entitled “Kini a Fe Fi Ede Yoruba Se?” which literarily translates to “What Do We Do With Yoruba Language?” would be delivered by renowned academic, Professor Akinwumi Isola, to mark the fourth convocation of the 13-year old institution.

Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Olufemi Mimiko, said the choice of the topic and the language of delivery, was borne out of the desire of the university to do things in its own unique way to draw attention to the course and make other institutions do same.

Three personalities are to be given honorary degrees and they include Reverend Bolanle Gbonigi, retired Bishop of the Akure Diocese of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion.

urgency raised by the lawmaker representing OlaOluwa State Constituency, Mr. Ajibola Akinloye, on allegation raised by the state chapter of CAN, that Governor Rauf Aregbesola was planning to Islamise Osun, Speaker Najeem Salaam said religion was sacred to faithful, sensitive in nature, and personal to the adherents, arguing that using it as political weapons portrayed desperation of highest order.

Salaam expressed reservation on the statement credited to the leadership of CAN on the perceived restiveness in Osun, when atmosphere in the state was peaceful, noting that most of the issues raised in the statement “ were politically manufactured, ill-conceived, and quite unfortunate.

According to him, "I have my reservation for the statement credited to the state chairman of CAN, Superior Evangelist Abraham Aladeseye, because if a governor with Christian deputy, 10 Christians out of 14 Commissioners, nine Christians out of 10 Special Advisers, and 16 Christian out of 26 lawmakers is accused of ‘Islamization’ agenda, then all indicators point to the illogicality of the argument.

"And it is obvious that the

issues raised were politically manufactured, ill-conceived, and quite unfortunate.”

Int'l school educators hold confab

L

AGOS — THE Association of International School Educators in Nigeria, AISEN, will tomorrow hold a one-day conference tagged AISEN Conference 2013.

According to the Chairman of the conference, with the theme: "Succession Planning: 30 Years On," Dr. George Hickman, “the conference will emphasise the importance of succession planning in schools and create awareness of benefits that can be accrued from good succession planning.”

Hickman, in a released, said while the Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, would be the special guest of honour, an American and expert on succession, Dr. Jeff Bradley, would address the conference participants.

12—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

NYSC trains Corps members in martial art

D

IRECTOR General, National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Brig-Gen. Nnamdi Affia, has emphasised the need to train corps members in self defence.

Affia, during a visit to Akwa Ibom State NYSC permanent camp, noted that due to reports of kidnapping in the country, self protection had become mandatory for everyone.

He said the introduction of martial art was to expose all corps member to various ways in which they could protect themselves.

Affia urged corp members to understand the community they are posted to after their three weeks in camp and shun acts of confrontation with village idols in the name of religion.

He charged corps members to dress decently and avoid night parties and unnecessary travelling.

Guber candidates in Bayelsa accuse Dickson of abandonment

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

ENAGOA—TWELVE governorship candidates in the February 2012 election in Bayelsa State, who allegedly negotiated a pact with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, prior to the poll, to ensure stability and rapid socio-economic development of the state, have accused Governor Seriake Dickson of abandoning them.

The candidates, who rose from a meeting in Yanegoa, lamented that Dickson had refused to fulfill his part of the agreement reached with them before the election.

The candidates, under the aegis of Committee of Bayelsa State Governorship Candidates 2012, said they had to jettison their ambitions to endorse the PDP candidate after he promised them a unity government.

Chairman of the group, Chief Shagamu Eberiye, said Dickson, by the pact, promised to make the candidates his advisers after the election, but noted that since they threw their weight behind him and

he emerged as the governor, its members have not been carried along in anything in the state.

The group said it had exhausted all measures to let the governor reason with its members, adding that some of the governor's aides had continued to prevent them from gaining access to the

governor.

Eberiye, said the neglected agreement between them and Dickson had made it difficult for them to react to what he referred to as many “misgivings and deficiencies of the Dickson’s administration.”

Narrating how the agreement

was reached, Eberinye, said: “He (Dickson) pleaded that since President Goodluck Jonathan was from this state and that if we have misgivings about PDP and voted against him, we would end up disgracing our brother at the national level."

AWARD: From left: Member, Board of Trustees, Stephen Oluwole Awokoya Foundation for Science Education, Mr. Fola Awokoya; Awardee, Prof. Augustine Esogbue; Chairman Board of Trustee, SOAFSE, Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye; and Chief Joe Anyigbo, during the 18th annual lecture, award of honours and postgraduate scholarships, in Lagos, yestersday Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

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PUBLIC NOTICE

SCRIPTURE FAITH CHURCH WORLDWIDE This is to inform the general public that the above named church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act Cap C20 Laws of the federation of Nigeria, 1990.

Board Of Trustees: 1. Pastor Umoren Daniel AARON - President 2. Mrs.Ibironke Elizabeth AARON - Vice 3. Sister Chika Chioma ANEKE - Secretary 4. Sister Olufunke Juliet AJIBIKE 5. Sister Glory Nneh AARON 6. Evangelist Loveth KANEEM Aims And Objectives: 1. To propagate the gospel of Jesus Christ around the world 2. To prepare believers for the second coming of Jesus Christ 3. To collate, publish and distribute faith materials Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Pastor Umoren Daniel Aaron 50, Wilmer Crescent, Olodi-Apapa, Lagos.

08023528010, 08165993396

Delta Poly Rector vows to expel cultists

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—RECTOR of Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, Dr. Jacob Oboreh, has vowed to expel any student of the institution, caught involved in cultism, examination malpractice and other antisocial vices.

Speaking at the 13th matriculation of the institution, during which over 2,500 students took their matriculation oath, Oboreh said his vision was to build a world

class technological institution, where teaching, learning and research were directed towards meeting the new challenges of economic, social and technological development of Nigeria.

He said: “Our mission is to offer technologically driven programmes and provide a conducive learning environment suitable for training and equipping students with hand-on-skills to generate enterprises and be self-employed as well as employers of others

through snugly packaged National Diploma and Higher National Diploma programmes.

“Students are expected to be proficient in com-

A-Ibom SSG disowns political campaigns

S

ECRETARY to Akwa Ibom State Government, SSG, Mr. Umana Okon Umana, has disassociated himself from ongoing political campaigns in the state by a group named Akwa

Sapele Athletic Club set to celebrate centenary

S

APELE Athletic Club, in Sapele, Delta State, is set to celebrate its centenary with the theme, Age is Beautiful, later in the year.

Chairman of the Centenary Committee, Chief Faith Gbagi, who spoke through the Secretaty, Media and Publicity, Mr. Onome Gbemre, said: “The centenary is a once in a life time celebration as the activities will be unprecedented. There will competition in foot-

ball, lawn tennis, golf, table tennis, badmitton, among others.”

He added that it will also be an opportunity to raise funds to develop and upgrade dilapidated facilities in the club.

He said the Orodje of Okpe, HRM Orhue I, in whose domain the event will take place and who also is a life member and now patron of the club, had been briefed by the Centenary Committee during a courtesy visit to

puter and information communication technology so as to cope with the challenges of the 21st century."

his palace in Ororekpe.

In another development, the club has held its Annual General Meeting, where a new management committee was elected to run its affairs for the next one year. Mr Mike Eboh emerged President, Taiye Ighile, Augustine Ivwighregweta, Sanusi S. K. Ikpe David, Ugbo Solomon, Douglas Abinum, Austin Uwawah, Uba Tony and Bola Allison were also elected.

Ibom Focus Initiative, seeking to “draft him into the 2015 governorship race in the state.”

Denying any link between Umana and the political group, Mr Iboro Otongaran, spokesman for Umana, in a statement, said: “We want to restate the well-known position of the SSG that he has not declared any intention to run for office of governor of the state.

Mr Umana is currently engaged with his duties as SSG and is preoccupied with assisting his boss, Governor Godswill Akpabio, to realise his vision for the people of Akwa Ibom State.”

He added that the group carrying on with the “draft campaign” and claiming to be “earnestly asking” Umana to run for governor has no authorisation to do so.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20 , 2013 — 13

C M Y K

14— Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

24 Nigerians languish in Vietnam prisons — Nigerian Envoy

BY TONY EDIKE

ENUGU—THE Nigerian ambassador to Vietnam, Mazi Mathias Orji Okafor, disclosed yesterday that no fewer than 24 Nigerians were currently languishing in different prisons in Vietnam.

Okafor, who disclosed this during a Special Business Forum/Interactive Session between the Vietnamese business delegation and members of Enugu Business Community at the ongoing 24 Enugu International Trade Fair, said one of the Nigerian prisoners in Vietnam who was

earlier sentenced to 25 years imprisonment, was later handed a life jail when the Nigerian Embassy in the country appealed the judgment.

He warned Nigerians who intended to do business with Vietnam to stay away from

drugs.

He warned Nigerians who intended to do business with Vietnam that there was no room for drug peddling in the country and also advised Nigerians residing in the country to stay away from drugs.

The ambassador disclosed that anybody caught with drugs would either receive a death sentence or be given a long term imprisonment.

Vietnam, he further warned, had no mercy for drug peddlers, stressing that anyone indulging in such an

illicit trade was doing so at the risk of his life.

Okafor recalled that when he assumed office in Vietnam, he visited all the prisons where Nigerians were incarcerated and gave them his moral support.

CP Asadu killing: Nsukka youths threaten to sue IGP

BY CHINENYEH OZOR

N

SUKKA — TENSION heightened at the university town of Nsukka, yesterday, as youths in the area

threatened to sue the Inspector General of Police (IGP) over the gruesome murder of Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Chinwike Asadu, at his AmorjiNike residence in Enugu.

Speaking in an interview with Vanguard, Chairman, Nsukka Youths General Assembly, Mr. Chidokwe Attama, said after the killing of the Commissioner nearly one month ago, the police were yet to unravel the circumstance surrounding his killing.

Attama noted that the killing of CP Asadu did not go down well with youths of Nsukka and warned that youths would not hesitate to drag the Inspector General of Police to court, if investigations into the murder were not concluded and the culprits brought to book.

He debunked claims that the CP was allegedly killed because of his intention to contest the Igweship title of his

community, explaining that there was never a time he indicated interest to vie for the traditional stool of Ihe/ Owerre Nsukka Local Government.

“The traditional stool of the community has been contentious since the death of the traditional ruler, late Igwe John Attama, three years ago.

"The late CP never indicated interest on who would succeed the late traditional ruler. Let me warn the purveyors of quiet lies to desist from them and stop distracting police investigations on the killing of Chinwike Asadu,” he noted

'Only credible gov can sustain devt in Anambra'

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA — THE Catholic Bishop of Awka, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor, has said that only a credible and worthy successor to Governor Peter Obi would sustain the stability, peace and tempo of development in Anambra Sate.

Speaking while receiving N30 million cheque from Governor Obi for the renovation of some second-

ary schools returned to the Church, the bishop said only the election of such a credible person could prevent the state from experiencing the problems it went through before Obi became the governor.

Lorreto Secondary School, Adazi-Nnukwu; Girls’ High School, Agulu and St. Michael’s Secondary school, Nimo were among the schools that benefitted from the government's largesse.

Zone C Customs gets 7 vehicles to enhance war against smuggling

BY ANAYO OKOLI

U

M UA H I A — T H E Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs has provided seven Hilux patrol vans to the Zone ‘C’ Owerri, Headquarters of the Nigerian Customs to beef up its activities against smuggling.

According to the Area Comptroller of the Zone, Mr. David Victor Dimka, the Comptroller General is impressed with the activities of the men in the zone

hence the provision of the vans to do more.

Inspecting the vehicles, he called for a synergy among the Customs, other sister agencies and the public to curb activities of smugglers in the zone.

He announced that the Zone had redoubled its effort to eradicate smuggling in the area because of its negative effects not only to the economy of the nation but also to individuals.

Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013 —15

FG terminates BFIG’s offer to buy ALSCON ....BFIG returns to Supreme Court to enforce deal EMMA UJAH, Abuja Bureau Chief & SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North

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BUJA — The Federal Government has terminated the offer it made to the BFI Group, BFIG, to buy majority stake of the Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria, ALSCON, IkotAbasi, Akwa Ibom State.

A statement by the Head of Public Communications of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, Mr. Chigbo Anichebe, in Abuja, yesterday, indicated that the cancellation was sequel to BFIG’s failure to execute the Share Purchase Agreement, SPA, as well as, non-payment of the 10 per cent of the bid price.

Meanwhile, BFIG has returned to the Supreme Court to seek redress over the cancellation of the offer, claiming that the BPE had refused to comply with the order of the court, in refusing to execute the SPA, and its refusal to furnish the proposed investors with the bank details into which to pay the initial 10 per cent.

Interestingly, RUSAL, the Russian company to which BPE sold ALSCON and which has been running the plant since 2008, yesterday, at a separate briefing in Abuja, also announced it had to suspend aluminum

No minister 'll be cleared without a PDP membership card — Tukur

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA — National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, said yesterday that, henceforth, any Nigerian who failed to produce membership card of the party will be denied ministerial appointment.

Answering questions from leaders, stakeholders of PDP from the North East zone, Alhaji Tukur, who was apparently angry that ministers from the zone shunned the meeting, however, warned that there must be total loyalty from members to the party, reiterating that the party was supreme and bigger than any individual, irrespective of his or her status.

production until the vexed issue of ownership was resolved, among other factors.

BPE’s statement reads in full: “The National Council on Privatisation, NCP, has approved the termination of the offer to purchase 77.5 per cent of Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria, ALSCON, by BFI Group Corporation following their inability to pay the agreed 10 per cent of the offer price within 15 working days of the execution of the Share/Sales Purchase Agreement (SPA) as directed by the Supreme Court.

“The deadline for the

execution of the SPA and payment of the 10 per cent of the offer price elapsed at midnight Nigerian time on the 18th day of March, 2013 and as at that deadline date, the BFIG had neither executed the SPA nor made the initial mandatory 10 per cent payment of the bid amount.

“As you may recall, the Supreme Court of Nigeria, in a July 6, 2012 judgment awarded ALSCON, located in Ikot-Abasi, Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria, to BFI Group Corporation.

“In compliance with that judgment, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), as

a responsible and a law abiding government agency, transmitted an offer letter and the Share Sales/Purchase Agreement (SPA) in respect of ALSCON to BFIG. This followed the directive of the National Council on Privatisation, NCP, chaired by the Vice President, Arc. Mohammed Namadi Sambo, which met at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on January 22, 2013.

“BFIG, the plaintiffs in the suit at the Supreme Court, were expected to execute the Share Sales/Purchase Agreement (SPA) and pay the agreed 10 per cent of the offer price of $410 million (which is

Prof. Attairu Jega, INEC Chairman (right), chatting with Chief Chekwas Okorie, United Progressive Party, UPP, Chairman, immediately after doing same with Chief Olu Falaye, Chairman of Social Democratic Mega Party, SDMP, during INEC meeting with Chairmen of political parties, in Abuja. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

$41 million) within 15 days of the execution of the SPA as directed by the Supreme Court.

“The BFIG, in total disregard of the apex court, drafted and executed an agreement that was different from the one ordered by the Supreme Court”.

Meanwhile, After many months of intrigues, the BPE, yesterday, rubbished the July 6, 2012 order of the Supreme Court transferring ownership to the BFI Group, by cancelling the Share Purchase Agreement it was dangling to the Bancorp Financial Investment Group, BFIG, of America.

But as at the time the BPE was making the statement, the American group was already back at the Supreme Court in Abuja, drawing the apex court’s attention to the refusal of the agency to comply with the terms of the July 6, 2012, order given by the court in relation to the implementation of the SPA. The company in a motion on notice, dated March 19, 2013, prayed the court to order BPE to fully enforce and give effect to the meaning of the July order of the court by signing and executing the proper SPA with the firm.

It also prayed for an order compelling BPE to take full control of the Assets and premises of ALSCON and prepare same for hand-over to BFIG subject to the payment of the prescribed fees.

2013 Budget: Presidency, NASS on collision course

BY OKEY NDIRIBE & EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

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BUJA — THE sharp disagreement between the Presidency and National Assembly, NASS, over the 2013 Budget re-echoed yesterday with the arrival of the long-awaited letter from President Goodluck Jonathan requesting the lawmakers to reverse themselves on some key areas in the fiscal document.

The President had sent an amendment to the Budget Act and Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) for 2013 to the National Assembly.

The President’s attachment to the covering letter read as follows: “A Bill for an Amendment to the 2013 Appropriation Act to authorise the issue from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the federation the total sum

N4,987,382,196,160 only of which N388,063,000,000 only is for statutory transfers, N591,764,000,000 is for debt service, N2,418,976,391,494 is for recurrent (non-debt) expenditure, while the balance of N1,588,578,805,197 only is for contribution to the Development Fund for Capital Expenditure for the year ending on 31st day of December, 2013.”

In the letter, entitled “Submission of the 2013 Amendment Budget Proposal and the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) Amendment Budget Proposal” addressed to both the President of the Senate Senator David Mark, and Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, the President expressed dissatisfaction with the provisions of the Budget Act relating to the Securities

Exchange Commission (SEC) and some other clauses.

The President had complained about clause 10 of the Appropriation Act which stated that “all revenue however described including all fees received, fines, grants, budgetary provisions and all internally and externally generated revenue shall not be spent by SEC for recurrent or capital purposes or for any other matters, nor liabilities thereon incurred except with prior appropriation and approval by the National Assembly.

Jonathan insisted that the clause ought not to have been inserted in the first place.

According to him: “Considering the fact that the budget of SEC does not form part of the core 2013 Federal Budget as presented to the National Assembly, I believe that this clause ought not to have been inserted in 2013 Appropriation

Act in the first place.

"Secondly, the import of the clause is tantamount to shutting down the business of the Commission with a potential negative impact on the Capital Market.”

Nevertheless, the President had thanked the federal lawmakers in his letter for speedily passing the 2013 Appropriation Act. It would be recalled that the National Assembly had refused to make appropriation for SEC in the 2013 Budget and also barred the Commission from spending funds accruing to it from any source whatsoever.

It was learnt that the clause on SEC was among the factors which delayed the President’s assent to the budget. The budget was passed by the National Assembly last December, submitted to the Presidency mid January and signed into law by President Jonathan last month.

16—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

KANO SUICIDE BOMB ATTACK

Carcasses of luxury buses after a suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden Golf car into bus-loads of passengers at New Road motor park in Sabon-Gari, killing about 60 people and injuring many in Kano, Monday. AFP PHOTOS.

Abdullahi Ganduje, Deputy Governor of Kano State (middle) and others, with a survivor at Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital in Kano, yesterday.

New Road motor park after the bomb attack.

Residents, witnesses.

Passengers' property.

— 17 Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013—

“It is the enemy who can truly teach us to practice the virtues of compassion and tolerance.”— Dalai Lama

decision has left the President fighting a whole nation and an international community that has thrown diplomatic niceties overboard in its indignation.

Of all the most damaging rationalisations which followed the pardon of Alamieyeseigha, none would alarm Nigerians and the world more than the excuse that it was informed by the pivotal role which the former felon plays in maintaining peace and security in the Niger Delta. People will ask what exactly the former governor does that is so vital that the President would risk all this odium. Is the region safe and secure? What happens if, say, he becomes disgruntled with Jonathan’s administration, or any other administration for that matter? What does this pardon say about President Jonathan’s control over Niger Delta affairs if Alams has to be pardoned and released into mainstream politics to stabilise the region? Just what does stabilisation mean in this context, and what does it cost?

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Beyond pardon

and overhaul them. If he is at the heart of the weaknesses in the process, he needs to be hard with himself, and ask whether he really should give it another go in 2015.

Take the Borno-Yobe visit. Given the background of a damaging perception of a President who was indifferent to the plight of citizens (and voters) in the region, or, what is worse, afraid to visit, and having been badly upstaged by APC governors, the visit should have been preceded by the most elaborate preparations. These should have included analyses of security and political situation reports, very detailed discussions with the two state governors, scrutiny of all speeches and statements that will be made, and excellent intelligence on moods and dispositions of virtually everyone the President was to meet. All these would have prepared the President to realise that the request for amnesty for insurgents and dialogue will be singularly the most important issue he would confront during the visit.

A good intelligence brief would have hinted at a community that is a major victim of an insurgency and the JTF, but is unsure whether being left at the mercy of either is a good option. The clamour for clemency and dialogue with those elements of the insurgency that was willing to dialogue represent a plea from a desperate people to the only source they see as capable to stopping the destructive war. An informed background briefing should have raised the possibility that elders and politicians in Borno and Yobe feel helpless (and given their history, frankly embarrassed) over the insurgency, and this was not the first time they were making the case for dialogue and amnesty. A good security report would have included projected scenario of this conflict, and may have advised the President that preserving the status quo was the worst option for the state and the community.

On the whole, the President would have been prepped to go to Borno and Yobe with a sympathetic mien, a range of options which he should table, and some reassuring words on curtailing some of the excesses of the JTF. He would have held closed–door meetings with elders, politicians and opinion leaders during which he would place all options on the table, and encourage them to be part of the search for peace. Some semblance of engagement with ordinary folks could have been engineered, to avoid the embarrassing image flashed across television screens of cities completely locked down, with citizens as far away from their President as was possible.

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erhaps some or all these were done, and perhaps not. But the President went to Borno and Yobe and left everyone with the worst option possible. He left behind a angry community that felt that he told them as victims to hunt for the criminals; a JTF abandoned to the insurgency; an insurgency emboldened by the

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President Goodluck Jonathan seeming distance between the Federal Government and the community it is holding hostage, and a nation dangerously divided between those who thought he did well to let large parts of the country burn; and another which thinks that there is more to his attitude towards this insurgency than just an intolerance for people who

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o mething is seriously wrong at the highest decision-making levels of President Goodluck Jonathan’s government. A number of elementary but expensive errors of judgement are being made which, cumulatively, will cost the nation very dearly. As for the President, as a politician, he should know that even with a faulty electoral process and a party sitting rather uncomfortably in his pocket, he will have to assure Nigerians that his best meets at least the lowest levels of their expectations and approvals. As things stand, the most friendly advice that could be given to the President is to look critically at the processes which inform the decisions he takes,

The President went to Borno and Yobe and left everyone with the worst option possible; he left behind a angry community that felt that he told them as victims to hunt for the criminals

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throw bombs at the communities in which they live.

But the Borno – Yobe disaster was made worse by the decision to pardon A.S.P Alamieyeseigha and others. A decision such as this could have been better timed, if it had to be taken, that is. The unforgivable sloppiness in the process which produced it is an embarrassment with rare parallel. The somersaults to justify it showed that it was poorly conceived and executed. The impact of the

aturally, a few voices from the Niger Delta have been heard in support of the pardon.

Hopefully, it will not escape the attention of the President and his circle that he is running an increasingly restrictive administration with the Niger Delta as focus and facilitator. In the midst of all the rumpus created by the pardon of Alamieyeseigha, the President went to his village and raised N6 billion for a church, the bulk of it coming from private sources and PDP-run states. All these will make sense if there is in place a strategy to isolate the President from the rest of the nation, and bond him more intimately with his “community”. But you have to ask, for what purpose?

This is a President who, for all intents and purposes is already in the race for 2015. His party is in serious disarray, facing massive hostility in the North, drying up in the South-West and standing precariously on one foot in the South-East. Even in the South-South, the aggressive nature of his supporters and his kith and kin is alienating many people. His record so far as President does not stand up to critical scrutiny. Between Boko Haram, kidnapping, oil theft, increasing communal conflicts all over the nation, and rampaging criminals, the capacity of the Nigerian state to provide security for life and property under his watch has been virtually eroded. A single civil servant has reportedly evaded arrest by the entire security paraphernalia of the nation, and the President is involved in a spat with Western nations over Alamieyeseigha, a development he ought to avoid since he so desperately needs their support in the risky Malian adventure and other issues. His political future is by no means as secure as his party and small circle let him know. He is going to have fight every inch of the way with strong and ambitious members of his party from the North digging in. The opposition has smelt blood, and will attempt to evade all the tricks and subterfuge thrown at it to merge and take on the PDP. Above all, he risks going to 2015 with a very poor record.

President Jonathan is being poorly served by the manner his decision-making processes operate. There is an obvious and damaging disconnect between him and the public service which should work to improve the quality of his administration and shield him from avoidable political gaffes. His political circle appears to be shrinking, and assuming a patently parochial coloration and outlook. This is not good for a President who tells the nation he is on a mission to transform it. If President Jonathan does not radically improve the manner he leads, Nigerians may tell him sooner than he thinks, that his flaws are beyond pardon.

OPINION

BY TONY NWAEZEIGWE Continued from Tuesdayviewpoints N other words, Nigerians will like to know on what basis the amnesty would be granted? Will it be on the basis of the Federal Government acceptance of the demand of the Boko Haram for the establishment of an Islamic State bound by sharia laws in the same manner the demands of the Niger Delta militants were accepted; or will it be on the basis of an outright denunciation of the global jihad project which is sanctioned by the Holy Quran and enlivened by the February 23, 1998 Fatwah of Osama bin Ladin, which called for an unstoppable jihad against Jews and crusaders?

The importance of these questions to His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, is that beyond the global jihad project, Nigerians are not unaware of the internal historic position of the Caliphate to the status of the present Nigerian federation vis-à-vis who governs. The one fact which cannot be denied, even though most Nigerians have become addicted to being e conomical with the truth, is that by the Fulani jihad thesis of Uthman bin Fudi, for Nigeria to have an all-time peace and security, it must wear the political and religious cloaks of the Sokoto Caliphate. And if this imputation be a lie the Caliphate is hereby challenged to controvert the following statements of fact.

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Sultan's amnesty therapy: Playing hand of Esau, voice of Jacob (2) First, is it not true that in 1942, the Council of Northern Emirs addressed the then West African Students’ Union (WASU), in answer to the latter’s request for their support to independence struggles, stating that: “Holding this country together is not possible except by means of the prophet. If they want political unity, let then follow our religion”. This same position was reiterated in 1944, when the Sultan himself told the WASU delegation that the only basis for a united Nigeria was for all the constituent ethnic groups of the nation to embrace Islam.

That was not all. In 1948 the eloquent and golden-voiced Parliamentary Leader of the Northern Peoples’ Congress (NPC) and later Prime Minister of a united Nigeria, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa stated during a Legislative Council session that, “Since 1914 the British Government has been trying to make Nigeria into one country, but the Nigerian people themselves are historically different in their background, in their religious beliefs and customs and do not show themselves any sign of willingness to unite.

Nigerian unity is only a British intention for the country”.

At the budget session of the same Legislative Council,

Balewa went further to conclude: “Many (Nigerians) deceive themselves by thinking that Nigeria is one, particularly some of the Press people. This is wrong. I am sorry to say that this presence of unity is artificial and it ends outside this Chamber”.

The Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello was quoted by the Parrot newspaper issue of October 12, 1960 of stating in thus in a most contemptuous manner that “the new nation called Nigeria should be an estate of our great grandfather Uthman Dan Fodio. We must ruthlessly prevent a change of power. We use the minorities in the North as willing tools and the South as a conquered territory and never allow them to have control over their future”.

Three months before his death, the Sardauna wrote: “The father of enlightenment and Good in this land was the Prophet, Uthman Dan Fodio and the work of salvation for all the people which He so nobly under took has now been handed to me. I dedicate myself to its completion”.

Continues on pg 18

*Dr. Nwaezeigwe, is a snr reseacher fellow at the Institute of African Studies, UNN.

18 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013 NIGERIANS cannot forget the 2012 floods.

According to official figures, 360 people lost their lives with more than two million rendered homeless. Some displaced people are still in camps in Delta, Kogi, and Lagos States. The flooding began in July, at the peak of the rainy season, when the nation usually recorded the first of its double rainfall maxima, and lasted till December, when the dry season should be underway.

The worst hit states included Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Kogi, Kwara, Osun, Oyo, Lagos, Ogun and Niger, and when the nation started counting losses, assets worth N300 billion had been lost. It was the most wide spread flooding in the country, and the worse in more than 80 years.

Yearly, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NIMET, makes public its weather predictions. It did so on February 15, noting excessive rains in Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger and Kwara States. “Predicted rainfall for the North West areas of Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara and environs is likely to be above normal in comparison to 2012,” NIMET said.

More Flood W arnings Warnings Rainfall however is not the only source or cause of flooding. The state of the dams is another major source of flooding. At least 39 people died from flooding of the Lamingo Dam near Jos. It swept across a number of neighbourhoods, and about 200 homes were submerged.

Dams sometimes accumulate water beyond their capacity, to avoid such dams from bursting; the water they hold is measuredly released. This can cause flooding as has been witnessed in Jigawa, Ogun and Lagos States.

Early March, the Federal Government ordered immediate evacuation of people living on the River Niger to avert another flood disaster. The evacuation is necessary because the Jebba and

Kainji dams had attained their highest water levels in 29 years.

All tiers of government should sensitise Nigerians to the dangers ahead. The people should also heed flood warnings. In our towns and cities, some people empty their garbage into drains, or the municipal authorities fail to collect refuse promptly.

These practices could block drains and enhance flooding.

Besides, as towns and cities offer more opportunities, the rural-urban drift is on the increase. The demand for more land for housing has led to indiscriminate constructions, mostly illegal, near water bodies. In many instances, entire flood plains have been filled and converted to housing estates. Water thus displaced during the dry season will return as flood during the wet season.

Ministries of Environment in all the States have to be more alive to their responsibilities. Many of the affected areas are yet to recover from last year’s flood. These warnings should be heeded urgently as the rains are already here.

OPINION

BY TONY NWAEZEIGWE Continued from pg 17

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N FACT, it was on account of this vision and mission that the Premier politically changed his name from Ahmadu Sardauna to Alhaji Ahmadu Bello on the eve of Nigeria’s independence, a move which appeared to have provided him with a psycho-historical link with Usman Dan Fodio’s first son and successor, Muhammad Bello.

There is no gainsaying the fact that Boko Haram is the climax of the jihadist vision and mission of the Caliphate, which first found expression in the unilateral admission of Nigeria to both OIC and D-Eight, followed by the Shari’a controversy and, then the present Boko Haram insurgency. It could be said therefore without any equivocation that the script of Boko Haram was written by the Caliphate, rehearsed by the Hausa-Fulani politicians and then handed down to the ideologically bankrupt and corrupt economically deprived youth to stage the performance. It is explicitly a case of the voice Jacob, here represented by the Caliphate, and the hand of Esau, represented by the Boko Haram.

The Sultan need not issue the order

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Sultan's amnesty therapy: Playing hand of Esau,voice of Jacob (3) to hearing of every member of the public, just as the Great Oba of the respected Benin kingdom, Omo n’ Oba Uku n’ Edo Okpolokpolo need not speak himself before his orders are carried out. The Isekhure does that for his Majesty. So when the former Emir of Gwandu, His Eminence, Alhaji Mustapha Jokolo, a retired major, called for a jihad against the regime of President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2005, (See Insider issue of May 2, 2005) , he was not speaking as Major Mustapha Jokolo (rtd) as a person, but as the second -in-command to the Amir al-Muminum, the Sultan of Sokoto.

Put straight in his words: “We (Muslims) have been pushed to the wall and it is time to fight…. Obasanjo is trampling on our rights and Muslims must rise and defend their rights. The more we continue to wait, the more we will continue to be marginalised”. Beyond the fact of being the traditional deputy to the Sultan of Sokoto, as the Emir of Gwandu and scion of Usman Dan

Fodio’s younger brother, he shares power with the Sultan of Sokoto in the control of the Emirates,hence his utterances cannot be overlooked.

In an interview published in the Tell magazine of March 12, 2012, the former Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki was not economical with the truth in his obvious support for the cause of the Boko Haram when he stated: “What are they fighting for?

When they increased fuel price, what did we do? We went out to protest because that was injustice to us all.

Let us call a spade a spade; the government is not doing justice to the people. These people we don’t even know who they are or where they are.

The country is rotten”.

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he question here is, could the former Secretary-General of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and later President in his capacity as the Sultan, by the above statement, be saying that the only means of fixing the nation right is by military insurrection? All the same,

whether the former Sultan knows the identity of the Boko Haram or not, is immaterial at this point in time. The fact is that there can be nothing more convincing of the Caliphate’s support of the Boko Haram insurgency than the statements of Alhaji Mustapha Jokolo, a former Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki, a former Sultan of Sokoto, and Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi Nigeria’s "Central-cumIslamic Bank Governor" and unofficial heir-apparent to the Kano emirate thrown, who once blamed the Boko Haram insurgency on the perceived economic deprivation of the HausaFulani youth.

The three personalities no doubt represent the soul and body of the jihadist vision and mission of the Caliphate.The Caliphate cannot deny them. Neither would they be speaking out of context with the Caliphate interest. Their voices are the voice of the Caliphate, unless otherwise stated by the sitting Caliph, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar 111.

The Federal Government is therefore enjoined to carry the burden of solving the Boko Haram inferno to the Court of the Caliphate.

Concluded *Dr. Nwaezeigwe is a senior reseacher fellow at the Institute of African Studies, UNN.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013— —19

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N Wednesday March 13, 2013, Rebekah Havrilla, a former sergeant and bomb disposal expert in the US Army appeared before the US Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel investigating sexual offences. In her evidence she recounted how she was raped by a colleague in her unit who later on posted images of her assault on the internet. Havrilla’s experience would lead to her departure from the military.

The committee also heard the case of James Wilkerson, a lieutenantcolonel and fighter pilot who had been sentenced to a year in jail, dismissed and made to forfeit his pay by a military court that found him guilty of sexual assault only to be recalled on the orders of Craig Franklin, a lieutenantgeneral and commander of the 3rdAirforce. Havrila made no official report of the attack on her due to the hostile and sexist situation that allegedly existed against women in her unit. Her case was one of many in the US military where ‘sexual

harassment’ is said to be common.

On the day Havrilla gave evidence of her experience in Washington, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina was being installed as the 266th Pope of a Catholic Church that has been riven by allegations of sexual abuse among other corrupt activities involving senior priests of the Church. A twovolume, 300-page report, the Relatio, which chronicles sexual offences in the Vatican awaits His Holiness’ attention and action.Keith O’Brien, the disgraced Archbishop of Scotland, was only stopped at the last minute from participating in the conclave that elected the new pope after he admitted to homosexual cravings of which he was a vociferous critic.

On the same as day as Bergoglio ascended the throne of Peter, indeed just hours before this, Dave Lee Travis, a prominent broadcaster with the BBC was rearrested on allegations of sexual offences. His arrest followed the report, a day before, that Jimmy Savile molested hundreds of girls

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and boys over a 50-year period without detection until his death.

There are yet more prominent people slated for arrest on allegations of sexual crime in the UK. Earlier in the last week, Ram Singh, one of the six men arrested for the brutal rape of the 23-year old medical student in New Delhi in December last year was found dead in his prison cell. The rape and eventual death of the Indian student had outraged the world and drawn attention to the all too frequent rape of women in India.

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n Nigeria, a cursory look at any newspaper would reveal reports of another crime of a sexual nature, including, even if less frequently reported, of politicians snatching one another’s women, rejecting paternity of children, involved in homosexual relations, if not sleeping with their own daughters or sons-in-law. One could go on and on. But the bottom line: Sexual offences are a fact of human and increasingly modern

Yes, I pardoned a serial treasury looter but what can you do about it?

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RESUMABLY, President Goodluck Jonathan and the members of the National Council of State who granted a state pardon for the convicted former governor of Bayelsa State, D. S. P. Alamieyeseigha, are aware of Section 14 (2) of the Constitution which states that “The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be a State based on the principles of democracy and social justice,” and accordingly “sovereignty belongs to the people … from whom government … derives all its powers and authority.” It is possible that Jonathan’s image-makers, better known as his “attack lions”, believe in this principle, just as much as they believe that the people are always ignorant, misinformed, mischievous, unpatriotic and wrong. Jonathan may also remember Abraham Lincoln’s famous definition of democracy, which we all learned in secondary school, as “government of the people, by the people, and for the people”.

Still, it is clear to the world, now more than ever before (assuming that further and better proof were ever needed), that Jonathan thinks or knows very little of the concepts of democracy and the people.

Neither matters to him in his sordid game of power-for-its-own-sake. Thus, no deed appears to him too indefensible to warrant discretion. He may very well be a king since he operates by the credo of might is right.

Indeed, that is what he meant when he said “I don’t give a damn” about transparency and leading by example. And that is what he has told us again by pardoning a confessed and convicted fellow who also happens to

be his former boss. By this latest show of contempt for the will of the people, Jonathan thumps his chest and sneers: “Yes, I pardoned a serial treasury looter. What can you do about it?”It explains why he hardly tried to hide his hand. For, he has to have known that his ruse of granting absolution to a poster-face of corruption by simultaneously pardoning persons “previously pardoned” would be exposed before long. But, then, Jonathan does not give a damn about what the people think; does not believe the people can think. He does not care if the world thinks as Transparency International does, that his “decision undermines anti-corruption efforts” and “encourages impunity”. Those blokes at Transparency International, like the ignorant fools under his rule, assume, erroneously, that he has to prove his anticorruption bona fides by strengthening and not relaxing sanctions against treasury looters.

One might be tempted to say that Jonathan has hammered the final nail into the coffin of the war against corruption, but that would be admitting that there was ever such a war.

In any case, rather than review his action, he has set his attack lions loose on the people.I think I know now the source of Jonathan’s ill-advised bravado, strikingly unbecoming of one whose ascent to power has been more a matter of sheer good luck (I can’t tire of the pun) than merit or accomplishment. In being so dismissive of Jonathan as weak, clueless and totally out of his depth as president, we may have

unwittingly created a political monster. Like the poor boy picked upon by every kid in t h e schoolyard a n d neighbourhood and who, to restore his dignity, finally takes a stand,

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The ICPC/NUC report and sexual harassment in Nigerian universities(1)

In Nigeria, a cursory look at any newspaper would reveal reports of another crime of a sexual nature, including, even if less frequently reported, of politicians snatching one another’s women

existence and there are regulations/laws, however inadequate, to take care of sex offenders. This should not be surprising because sex itself is at the heart of human existence, even animals.

People may try but it is a subject that will not be silenced. It is of priority even in the lives of those who choose to deny it a space as we increasingly see with clerics caught in the web of their own making. Often a private act, sex is at the centre of public discourse.

But the attention it generates and the priority it assumes changes from one context to another. The way a religionist, say a priest, will view and discuss sex is not the way a lawyer or an accountant would, to say nothing of an academictalking from a professional angle.

Where this last point is not taken into consideration in the discussion of sex (offences) avoidable confusions set in. Which is the case with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC and the National Universities Commission, NUC, report, based on a pilot study into problems facing tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

Although aware of this joint ICPC/NUC initiative and having witnessed one such visit by the team, I am yet to see this report.

But first some clarifications.

Tertiary institutions are by definition post-secondary institutions, not necessarily universities and this point is recognised by UNESCO. The Punch newspaper editorial of March 12 titled, ‘ICPC on corruption in universities’, which relies heavily on this report, seems to limit its definition of tertiary education/institutions to universities. One would not know therefore if Punch’s use of the word impresses negatively on

For Jonathan to prove his political manhood, he could have publicly declared his assets, thereby assuming the role of commander-inchief of a real war against corruption

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Jonathan is now totally blind to reason or consequence. He will take on all comers, even if every one of them be twice his weight; even if he must spit in the face of the people at every turn. At least, then he can go to bed beating his chest and saying out loud, “I did it!

T

hat should teach them to call me weak and clueless!” Every serious decision has become for him an occasion to assert his political manhood. The unreflective display of machismo is spawned by a desire to appear strong and decisive. In short, Jonathan is governed by the fear of being

university administrators than the writers of the report intended but my comments here while applicable to other tertiary institutions reflects the situation in our universities more.

Whatever the case is about the use of the phrase ‘tertiary institution’ the accent the report apparently places on sexual misdemeanour (sexual harassment- to use a common expression) as the most serious of the problems confronting university education in particular and tertiary education in general in Nigeria, is misleading, borne of serious ignorance and a cheap straining for sensationalism. Such conclusion is a result of slipshod thinking and betrays ignorance of the actual conditions of universities in the country and the reason universities exist. EkpoNta, Chair of the ICPC, was quoted in the editorial as saying: "Sexual harassment seems to rank extremely very high among corrupt practices uncovered in our universities" (my emphasis). The brief of the pilot study was to find out problems confronting tertiary institutions but what the sleuths in the ICPC/NUC uncovered are many cases of sexual harassment!

Only God knows how much of tax payers’ money was expended to uncover this cliché of a problem.

The editorialist expresses shock and sadness at this revelation and at how "citadels of learning have become havens for sex perverts".

The matter indeed calls for shock but for a different reason, namely, that of 50 problems unearthed by the study it is the matter of sexual harassment, not decayed or nonexistent infrastructure- illequipped laboratories, libraries filled with outdated books, crowded classrooms, dinghy offices, poorly trained and poorly motivated personnel, teaching and non-teaching, etc.

thought weak, like the tragic Okonkwo in Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. Yet, there are better ways for Jonathan to prove his political manhood. He could, for instance, have publicly declared his assets, thereby assuming the role of commander-in-chief of a real war against corruption. Or implemented all the recommendations of the Justice Uwais panel on electoral reform, thereby going against self-interest and the entrenched privileges of the powerful few who profit from rigged elections. Or prosecuted and jailed the trillion-naira oil subsidy thieves that bled the country white.

He could convene or facilitate a sovereign national conference at which, for the first time since independence, we as a free people would agree on the articles of association for a prosperous, peaceful and equitable nation. He could … but none of these would project the image he craves of a strongman in a tall hat; they smack of bending to the will of the people, which is incompatible with an I-don’t-give-a-damn philosophy of governance. Yet, for all the great wisdom we have been told informed the pardon, one crucial detail was omitted: an unreserved apology to Alamieyeseigha for his conviction in the first place. After all, how many treasury looters have been asked to explain the source of their instant wealth, never mind being charged to court? Bode George, Tafa Balogun …the few who did not get away scot free, must be wondering how much longer they must wait before getting their pardon.

20—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY,, MARCH 20 , 2013

Debate of the masses

Corruption should attract death penalty!

BY EBELE ORAKPO

T

*Stump and trunk of the fallen ancestral tree...awaiting traditional rite of cleansing before being cleared

Fear haunts community as 200-yearold tree goes down... destroys building •residents appeal to govt for assistance

BY PETER OKUTU, ABAKALIKI

I

T was indeed an amazing sight that stirred up mixed reactions from residents of 7b, Nnorom Street, Ntezi-Aba, Abakaliki at the weekend. The discovery that the 200 years old tree usually worshipped by most of them had fallen without any visible external force left them baffled.

The tree with its massive size, weight and towering height was a worship centre for some

Eze who is also a businessman noted that his family members were saved from the unfortunate incident because they had gone to Church when the tree fell. According to him, the only person who was inside the house when the tree fell was not hurt.

“We came back to see that the tree had fallen on the building and completely destroyed it and since then we have been suffering as we now depend on the mercy of neighbours to survive,” he said.

The landlord who lamented how

,

We cannot just enter the community and remove the tree; the elders will first of all appease their gods or carry out all the necessary cultural requirements before we can come in and assist them

residents, while others had described it as a deity responsible for the protection of the people of the area. Its location did not only serve as a point where sacrifices are offered but also a bus-stop for passengers who are leaving Ebonyi or coming into the State.

Speaking with Vanguard Metro, VM, the owner of a 12-bungalow building destroyed by the tree, Mr. Sunday Eze, called on the state government to quickly come to their aid by removing the tree and possibly assist them with basic amenities and reconstruction work.

VM gathered that the tree, which residents say had existed for over 200 years, fell on the fateful day, but fortunately it did not claim any life in the community.

C M Y K

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his family lost most of their valuables as a result of the incident noted that half of the building was affected by the disaster as the roof and the walls suffered irredeemable cracks.

He said he has written to the State Ministry of Environment on the incident even as he solicited assistance from government, wellmeaning individuals and organisations.

Residents of the area also called on the authorities to urgently remove the debris of the tree from the building. For Mrs Eugenia Abah, the tree meant several things to many people.

“They see it as a deity and it’s for this reason that its fall has brought fear to the residents,” she said.

A traditionalist who spoke with VM on condition of anonymity noted that the tree cannot be removed without the observance of some traditional rituals. According to him: “The tree was the spiritual shield of the area which protects the residents from evil and misfortunes”.

Reacting to the unfortunate incident and different appeals from the people of the area, the state Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Paul Okorie noted that the state government was prepared to assist the people in removing the fallen tree and restoring sanitation in the area.

He, however, insisted that the state government would allow the elders of the area perform the necessary traditional rites before the commencement of government intervention in terms of sanitation and reconstruction of building if necessary.

He said: “We cannot just enter the community and remove the tree on our own. The residents or the elders will first of all appease their gods or carry out all the necessary cultural requirements before we can come in and assist them. From what we gathered some of the resident of the area usually worship the tree. The tree is seen as their god.

“After they finish the necessary appeasement we can now come in and remove the tree. We can hire or bring in an excavator or bulldozers to come and remove the tree so as to help the environmental condition of the area.

“They have written to my office and we are ready to assist them as soon as they do what is traditionally necessary in the area. We do not want to entangle ourselves with any cultural misdemeanour simply because we want to assist a community. So let the first thing be done first and we will come in”.

HE hydra-headed monster called corruption, the bane of Nigeria’s development, was the topic of discussion by commuters in the Ikoyibound commuter bus popularly called Danfo this Monday morning.

An elderly passenger, Mr. Adeniyi, kick-started the discussion when he saw a very large rat running across the road into a nearby kiosk, apparently in pursuit of its daily bread. “If this one enters a rich man’s room, the man will go and sleep in a hotel for at least two weeks because he will say his enemies are after him.”

“As far as I am concerned, he is his own enemy. The poor rat is probably looking for food to eat. God made life so simple but man, especially the Nigerian variety, has complicated issues so that although we are richly blessed in both human and material resources, yet, majority of the people are poor due to what I choose to call greediness of our leaders and Nigerians generally,” stated another commuter by name, Obi. Noted Agnes: “Jesus taught his disciples to pray thus: ‘Give us this day, our daily bread.’ but what do we do today? We amass wealth for ourselves and generations yet unborn, meanwhile, millions around us, co-owners of the commonwealth, are wallowing in abject poverty. It is absolute madness! Yet, we have accepted it as our lot due to our complacent attitude and we are branded the happiest people on earth!

How can a few people steal our money and live big while majority are deprived of the basic necessities? Many lives have been rendered useless and we go about behaving as if everything is all right, hiding under the cloak of religion with the annoying cliché – ‘Oh, that’s how God wants it.’

This attitude churns my stomach because it gives the thieves the guts to continue,” said Iyke, anger written all over his face.

“This looting did not start today,” said Yemi.

Continuing, he said:

“During the days of Chief Festus Okotie Eboh, former Finance Minister in the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa administration, I heard that he was so flamboyant that the cloth he used to wrap around himself was about 36 yards long. When the coupists were trying to kill him, bullets could not penetrate his body so they tied him with his cloth, tied one end to a jeep and the other end to another jeep and drove the vehicles in opposite directions until he died. I also heard that Chief Samuel Akintola changed from man to different animals to avoid being killed but was eventually killed.”

“Ha! Africa Magic! Old wives tales!” exclaimed Joan. “Radio without station, go on.”

“Old wives tales or not, there is a lesson to be learnt in all of this. Nobody lives forever and when you die, you are taking nothing with you. Abacha looted so much but where is he today? Farouk Lawan, Dimeji Bankole, small boys of yesterday, were accused of stealing a lot of money and have not known peace,” commented Adeniyi.

Said Joan: “God gave us an example in the Bible.

In the wilderness, the Israelites were told to gather enough manna for each person per day. Nobody must gather more than he could eat. Some greedy ones amongst them gathered over and above their needs just in case the manna refuses to fall the following day. Lo and behold, it was an effort in futility as whatever remained went bad by morning. There is enough for everyone in this country to live comfortably but greed will not allow us.”

“Honestly, I think the only solution to this madness is death penalty for corrupt leaders. I tell you, they are as guilty as murderers because they have indirectly murdered so many people. When you deny a fellow human being food, shelter, clothing, education, etc., what is worse than that? Some people have committed suicide out of frustration,” said Obi. “Right on point my brother,” stated Lucky.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013 — 21

Opposition mounts over Bill on establishment of CISI

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

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PPOSITION against the proposed establishment of Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment, CISI, to replace the current Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, CIS, has continued to increase as more trade groups in the capital market are calling for quashing of the Bill.

The Bill, which seeks to replace the law that set up the CIS as well as bring other capital market operators under the supervision of CISI, is being sponsored by the former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Capital Market, Mr. Solomon Ganiyu, and would be up for hearing today.

The CFA Society Nigeria (CSN) had faulted the bill and asked the Senate Committee on Capital Market to reject it as drafted.

In a letter to the Senate Committee on Capital Market, the Association of Asset Custodians of Nigeria (AACN), said that the Bill was a violation of the constitutional freedom of association for all practitioners in the market to be forced to belong to an institute that is being sponsored by stockbrokers when they have nothing in common.

“The Bill if passed will make it an offence to operate in the market unless we belong to this institute being spon-

142.4

sored by a rival trade group.

No major stakeholder was consulted by the CIS in lobbying for this Bill that has significant implications for our survival and well being of the market. It violates the principle of fairness and fair play for a sub-set of the market to go behind everyone else and lobby for a Bill that would force everybody in the market to come under its own umbrella without any discussion or consultation with those it seeks to protect “Stockbrokers do not understand the market intricacies and challenges faced by the other trade groups who are specialists in their various

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110.41

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90.49

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CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL DOLLAR 154.75 POUNDS 232.4345 EURO 201.4226 FRANC 162.7234 YEN 1.6643 CFA 0.2907 WAUA 233.6674 RENMINBI 24.8677 RIYA 41.2645 KRONA 27.0103 SDR 234.4153

155.25 233.1855 202.0734 163.2492 1.6697 0.3007 234.4224 24.9485 41.3978 27.0976 235.1727

The group declared that with the criminal abuses that happened within the stockbroking community in 2008 and 2009, which led to some CIS members being bailed out by Federal Government, it was not aware of the institute investigating or delisting any of its members.

“We are therefore not convinced that the CIS has any moral or technical right to play the role of a model or super self-regulating organisation over other organisations operating in the capital market. On the basis of the above, we hereby wish to reiterate our opposition to this law”, the group declared.

•FROM RIGHT: Mr. Walter Drenth, Marketing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Olu Jacobs, winner of Industry Merit Award, Mrs. Biola Alabi, Managing Director, M-NET Africa and Mr. John Ugbe, Managing Director, Multichoice Nigeria at the post event press conference of the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) held in Lagos.

2,141.00 -3.00 18.06

fields. CIS will therefore not bring any value to these other bodies except to extract value by extorting compelled monopoly membership fees from them,” the group said.

AACN argued that in their general market interface, they often have opposing views, activities and motivations.

AACN added that they do not know of any country in the world where a chartered institute is the same as institute that licenses stockbrokers, trustees, investment bankers, fund managers, custodians, registrars, among others, noting that if we must pioneer that in Nigeria, it must be by consensus.

SELLING 155.75 233.9365 202.7242 163.775 1.6751 0.3107 235.1774 25.0293 41.5311 27.1848 235.9301

CBN Exchange rate as at 12/03/2013

Lagos targets N22bn monthly IGR …to prosecute tax defaulters soon

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AGOS State Internal Revenue Serv ice, LIRS, has said it planned to rake in N22 billion per month as internally generated revenue, IGR, even as it said it would start prosecuting tax defaulters any moment now. Chairman of LIRS, Mr. Babatunde Fowler, spoke during the presentation of awards to artisans in the informal sector and Abibatu Mogaji.

According to Fowler, the IGR on the average, two years ago, when audited, was N17.5 billion per month while the target was at least N22 billion per month in line with the budget passed by the state House of Assembly.

According to him “In line with the budget passed by the House of Assembly, the target is to generate at least N22 billion per month. The IGR on the average, two years

ago, when they audited the account, was N17.5 billion per month. We are here today because the compliance rate in the market is close to 100 per cent.

“In the newspaper, we had published that we will prosecute the people who do not pay tax. That is a law that has been on but we have not enforced that law. But from this year, anyone who does not pay tax will be charged to court.

“The challenges that we face is that nobody wants to pay tax, not only in Nigeria but in the world all over. That is the major problem. But you can see what is happening to Lagos State, the governor is carrying out his vision and things are working.

We have good roads, good schools, we have good security and others. All these come from tax payers’ money.”

Be hard on s, bank fraudster s NDIC urge judges

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HE Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has urged judges of the Federal High Court to be ‘hard on bank fraudsters’, so as to restore depositors’ confidence. Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, the Managing Director of the Corporation, made the call at a sensitisation seminar on “The Challenges to Deposit Insurance Law and Practice”, for judges.

Ibrahim said that the judges’ understanding was needed to abate the fraud in the banking system. He said that deliberate efforts should be geared towards quick dispensation of all pending liquidation-related cases.

Ibrahim said the corporation was faced with difficulties in the execution of court judgments. He said the corporation had a vulnerable funding base, as well as difficulties in recovering debt owed to failed banks by debtors.

According to Ibrahim, most of the problems stem from poor public awareness and inadequate legal framework.

“The Nigerian judiciary, legal practitioners and other esteemed stakeholders have important roles to play in ensuring that the mandate of the Corporation is realised.

As our partners and stakeholders, I urge you to use your good offices and privileged positions to ensure that the corporation is empowered to safeguard the Nigeria banking system.

In his opening address, Justice Ibrahim Auta, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, said the seminar was necessary to keep judges abreast of the operations of the NDIC, and the sustenance of the country’s economy.

“Acquiring such technical capacity will certainly enable us to make efficient, effective and informed decisions based on law for the interest of the nation’s economy,” Auta said. The court, which has exclusive jurisdiction over NDIC cases, handles the prosecution of directors and officers of banks suspected of banking malpractices.

22 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

Market Makers: Operator allays fear over price manipulation STORIES BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

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HE Managing Director of Partnership Investment Plc, Mr. Victor Ogiemwonyi, has assured that appreciation in the share prices of companies in the portfolio of market makers was normal, saying that people have different reasons for making investment decision.

Ogiemwonyi, who spoke recently in a forum with capital market correspondents, said that the more people there are playing the bad company role, the more liquidity that would be injected in the market.

He explained that activity of market makers would rather increase

investors’ confidence, adding it was already encouraging more people to return to the market.

“It is the duty of this group of people to educate the public, investors particularly, that there is no need to panic about the current position in the market. It is the duty of market makers to ensure price discovery in the market.

Besides, I may be privy to some information which other investors do not have that could warrant my investing a particular stock, not necessarily the fundamentals of that company,” he said.

He noted that the market has recovered only 50 percent of what it lost as at 2008 when it crashed.

“There is recovery that which is evidenced by

volume, the number of deal and value we are seeing in the market; that is going to continue for some time.

This also shows that the market is robust and confidence is gradually coming back. With this recovering, it seems as if everybody suddenly wakes up,” he added.

He emphasized that the stock market is so unique that nobody could correctly predict what the price of a particular security would be, saying, “We all have an idea what it is going to be, we have projections where is will be, but at the end of the day, it is the forces of demand and supply that will determine what a security price will be.

As a result of that, you will find occasional correction.

From left: Head, Research and Insight of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Plc, Mrs. Yemisi Faleye; Managing Director of R-Wells Media, Mrs. Jibe Ologeh and Corporate Affairs Officer of FCMB, Rafiu Mohammed at the Mother’s Day Fiesta sponsored by the Bank in Lagos.

UBA listed in FTSE ASEA Pan African Index

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NITED Bank for Af rica (UBA) Plc has been selected as one of the few securities from 19 African Stock Exchanges included in the FTSE African Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA) Pan African Index.

The FTSE ASEA Pan African Index which was created in December 2012 is a free float market capitalisation weighted series constructed from securities domiciled on African Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA) member Stock Exchanges and therefore represents the performance of eligible

securities listed on these Exchanges. This index series was designed after extensive market consultation to meet the needs of African investors and as the foundation of new tradable investment products.

According to Abiola Rasaq, an Equity Research Analyst at UBA Capital Research, the selection of UBA stems from the liquidity and tradability of its stock as demonstrated over the years.

“The purpose of the index is to measure the performance of eligible securities for African equity portfolios,” Rasaq said.

“The FTSE ASEA index is a welcome development as it provides a good benchmark for African Focused Fund, which currently uses the Morgan Stanley Composite Index Emerging/ Frontier Market Index as proxy for benchmark return. Interestingly, the FTSE ASEA covers stocks on 19 of the 21 African bourses, thus can be seen to be truly representative of the African basket,” he added.

The Index is designed to ensure sufficient liquidity in their underlying stocks, to match the requirements of the users.

An Appeal tto o the Oy o Oyo Stat e Go tate Govvernment T

HE River Ogun has its origins in Oyo North, the river offers abundant resources to the people of Oyo State. One of the resources is the lake created by the Ikere Gorge Dam. This dam is located on the River Ogun at Ikere Village, 28km northeast of Iseyin in Oyo State. The lake can and should be put to use by the Oyo State Government, OYSG, for the supply of potable water to Iseyin and the surrounding region and such that water from the lake will not contribute significantly to floods in communities along the River Ogun downstream of the dam. The Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NIMET, has issued forecasts indicating that the rainfall in Nigeria in 2013 would be as much as the rainfall in 2012 and in some places, the rainfall in 2013 is expected to be higher than the rainfall in 2012. Given the floods observed in 2012, the OYSG and other state governments should take steps immediately that would prevent future floods.

Fortunately, we are in a period when government is considering how to improve funding for water supply projects. Recently, the Presidency summoned a summit on Innovative Funding of the Water Sector. Before now, the European Union, EU, through its grants, has put into place an effective mechanism for the implementation of water and sanitation projects in Nigeria. With the EU mechanism, there are contributions from the Federal Government of Nigeria, FGN, the state government and the local governments in which a project is located in addition to the EU grant.

The Ikere Gorge Dam has not been completed, it has not been provided with gates that would make the maximum capacity of 565 million cubic metres of the water available in the lake. However, the volume of water available in the current lake is adequate for the Iseyin Regional Water Supply Scheme and the irrigation schemes that have been established by the Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority, OORBDA. Funding for the water supply scheme should be arranged with contributions from the FGN, OYSG, the local governments within the scheme area and loans should be obtained from the World Bank.

There are several reasons why the FGN should contribute towards the funding of this water scheme. The Ikere Gorge Dam was built by and is being managed by the OORBDA. One of the purposes of the dam is the production of 6MW of hydroelectric power for dam operations, irrigation systems operations, rural community electrification and the water scheme. With the provision of gates at the dam, it would be possible to plan for power generation.

Presently, under the existing laws, the OORBDA is not permitted to generate electric power. However the FGN and the OYSG can enter into a joint venture with a hydropower station operator for the installation, operation and maintenance of 6MW turbines at the dam. The daily operation of a hydropower component at the dam will assist in regulating flows in the river downstream of the dam and will be a substantial factor in preventing floods in communities along the River Ogun all the way to the Lagos Lagoon.

Furthermore, the irrigation schemes associated with the Ikere Gorge Dam use diesel generators and there is a need to reduce the operational costs as an incentive to the participation of private and commercial farmers in the irrigation schemes. The operations of the regional water scheme cannot also be based on diesel generators. An efficient water supply scheme has to be able to treat raw water, store and pump potable water for the 24 hours in a day. The FGN is involved in small power generation from winds and a small hydropower project at Ikere Gorge dam should also be executed.

The Middle Ogun Irrigation Project, located at Odo-Ogun near Iseyin, is one of the OORBDA projects. It was planned to cover an area of 12000 hectares with the land development over 3 phases. To date, only about 700 hectares has been completed for cropping by irrigation. Construction and procurement contracts for the first phase development covering 3000 hectares were put in place more than 20 years ago. The delay in project completion increases the project costs thus making it difficult to complete the project. The laws governing the operations of the River Basins Development Authorities has provision for an advisory committee whose membership includes the heads of the divisions for agriculture, irrigation, fisheries, forestry, veterinary services and livestock in the state ministries within the area of operation of an Authority. The OYSG should through this advisory committee at OORBDA bring forward proposals for developing the land for rain-fed agriculture in areas not presently covered by the irrigation scheme. The Iseyin area has good agricultural soil that can provide for self-sufficiency in food production. Some farmers in the area have over the years been organised to produce for a multinational company. The objectives of government are often stated as including rural employment and integrated rural development. The implementation of the Iseyin Re g i o n a l Wa t e r S c h e m e a s described above will go a long way in meeting government’s objectives for the Iseyin area.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013 — 23

DIARY Select ICT events Enterprise Connect 2013.

Holds 18-21 Mar 2013 in Orlando, USA.

EDITED by Adekunle Adekoya

Sterling Bank attains PCIDSS certification

GDC 2013.

Holds 25-29 Mar 2013 in San Francisco, USA.

BY EMEKA AGINAM

A

conhIT 2013.

Holds 9-11 Apr 2013 in Berlin, Germany. Prolight + Sound 2013. Holds 10-13 Apr 2013 in Frankfurt, Germany. GDC 2013.

HELIOS TOWERS AT MWC: From left: Tony Pretorius, Group CTO, Helios Towers Africa, Chandra Holds 25-29 Mar Modi, CTO, Helios Towers Nigeria, Azuka Ndulewe, CMO, Helios Towers Nigeria, and Kevin Koch (Group 2013 in San Fran- COO, Helios Towers Africa, at the recently-concluded Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. cisco, USA.

New inventions shaping life and living

Automatic Link monitors your car's health

Genotype change technology now in Nigeria — UNIBEN don Hope rises for sickle cell patients

BY EMMA ELEBEKE

D

The Automatic Link will not only track your car’s health, it will also remind you where is is parked.

It plugs into the car’s data port and communicates with the smartphone via the included app. It automatically connects to the smartphone each time the driver (with phone) begins a trip.

The device can track mileage and gas usage, retrieve engine trouble codes from the car’s computer and offer possible repair solutions. The built in accelerometer can detect different types of crashes and use the phone’s data connection to report the crash to 911.

Forgetful parkers can pull a map on their phone that indicates where they left their car.

R. Godwin Ba zuaye is a con sultant dermatologist and specialist in bone marrow transplants. He graduated from the University of Benin and trained in the same school. He later went to Swizerland for sub-spe-

I N World Bank S commits $300m to I govt's job D creation deal E

cialization in bone marrow transplantation. Currently, he is head of Human Dermatology and Co-ordinator of Stem Cell Transplant Unit at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH. During the recent visit by the National Good Governance Tour team to the Hospital, he

told Vanguard Hi-Tech in an exclusive interview,how the hospital successfully completed two stem cell transplants and how Nigerian can benefit from the technology locally, rather than going abroad to change their genoyype, especially sickle cell patients. Excerpts: What is stem cell Transplant?

It is a new model way of treating patients, where we have to transfer stem cells. These are cells that have the ability to produce new cells from a donor that is normal to a patient

,

,

Preview

leading Nigerian information security management firm, Digital Encode has guided Sterling Bank through attaining the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard certification (PCIDSS).

PCI DSS is an information security standard for firms that handle card holders' information for the major debit, credit and prepaid cards in addition to electronic purse, AutoContinues on Page 24

Dr. Bazuaye

Hitachi out with one-man robot car

who has one illness or the other, after we have destroyed bone marrows, so that the new cells from the donor will produce new cells in the patient, which is almost like that of the donor. So, if you have a patient, whose genotype is SS, we will transplant cells that are AA from a normal person; the cells in the person will start producing AA. How does it work?

You have to enable the body accept new cells to be transplanted. In this unit, you can change the genotype of a child or an individual from sickle cell

You can change the genotype of a child or an individual from sickle cell to AA. You bring a primitive cell from a donor to a recipient

to AA. You bring a primitive cell from a donor to a recipient. Before this time, you would have reduced the immunity in the patient to the barest minimum so that he can accept what you are giving to him, called stem cell. It can also be used for cancer patients. Major beneficiaries are sickle cell patients. Once it is done, they are no longer sicklers.

Are there risks involved?

We don’t collect blood from the veins; we have to use a needle on the bone marrow to bring out blood. Usually, the risk is very minimal. To the donor, there is no risk in the procedure, except the risk that has to do with going to the theatre. Apparently, the last one we did was a 14 year-old boy. By the third day, he had gone home and he resumed school the next day. For the patient, the risk is very

Continues on page 27

E-Library places TVC plans 24Uyo at advantage, hour pan-African says Gov Akpabio news channel

24 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

World Bank commits $.3m to govt's job creation deal

BY EMEKA AGINAM

A

S an intervention strategy in rising youths unemployment leveraging on Information Communication Technology, (ICT), the World Bank has disclosed that it would commit $300,000 in the Microwork for Job Creation-Naijacloud project that seeks to reduce unemployment and create wealth for Nigerian youths.

The Microwork for job creation naijacloud is an initiative targeted at unemployed Nigerians using the Technology platform.

The Ministry with support from the STEP-B project of the World Bank , under the Ministry of Education launched the ‘Microwork for Jobs Creation in Nigeria’ simultaneously in Lagos and Abuja to address the issues of employability and job creation using information technology.

At the unveiling of the project , the national coordinator of SPEP-B project of the World Bank who was represented by Seyi Agunbiade told the gathering that the Nigerian youths must leverage in the initiate to be globally competition in the job market.

“Any unemployed youth who leverages in this project will be self reliance. They do not need to look for job in the market.

ICT is power. Youths must embrace this laudable initiative. This is the time,”

she said.

Earlier in her remarks, the Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson with optimism said that in line with its mandate to create jobs by taking advantage of fast-growing ICTs in Nigeria was tapping into the Microwork opportunity in order to reduce youth unemployment, which currently is high at 60% level for youth.

‘Microwork for Job Creation in Nigeria’ initiative includes two aspects of Paid Crowdsourcing technology: Microwork and e-Lancing. Paid crowdsourcing is an expanding segment within the new virtual economy with significant job creation potential for skilled (e-Lancing) and semi-skilled workers (Microwork).

The estimated global size of the microwork market is $450 million to $900 million annually,” she added.

According to the minister, the unique selling point of this initiative is that participants do not have to be university graduates to attend as the the minimum requirement is basic computer skills and English.

The primary objective of the project is to create awareness about the work opportunities in the Microwork and ELancing space as well as create job opportunities for youths in Nigeria in order to reduce the unemployment rate.

Sterling Bank attains PCIDSS certification cash-less system gets Continues from Page 23 mated Teller Machines and Point of Sale terminals.

The Central Bank of Nigeria had in the wake of the cash-less policy made it a strict requirement for banks and e-payment institutions to comply with this standard.

In view of this, cash-less system stakeholders have been jostling to put processes and technology in place to be compliant.

Speaking on the milestone last week in Lagos , the Chief Operating Officer, Digital Encode, Mr. Adewale Obadare, said it was a positive sign that yet another bank in Nigeria had been PCIDSS certified through his company's information security guidance.

This, according to him, means that the security of card holders' funds and transactions have been further enhanced as the

traction, thereby boosting customers' confidence.

He explained that Digital Encode assisted Sterling Bank scale physical, administrative and technology hurdles required for the certification.

"Our strategic alliance with Qualys, a technology Approved Scanning Vendor and ControlCase LLC, a United Statesbased Qualified Security Assessor, audits organisations that store, process and transmit cardholders details with the requirements to meet the PCIDSS certification standard.

"We are indeed happy to have been a part of this success story with Sterling Bank." he said.

The Chief Technology Officer of the company, Mr. Oluseyi Akindeinde also recalled that Digital Encode had previously guided other organisations in the financial sector attained the PCIDSS certification.

H

ITACHI last week unveiled a robot vehicle that can pick up and drop off passengers autonomously. The tiny, single-seat Ropits (Robot for Personal Intelligent Transport System) is meant to travel on sidewalks, or even be used indoors for getting in and out of elevators.

It's equipped with GPS to find its way and relies on cameras and 2D and 3D laser distance sensors to avoid obstacles (sometimes also known as pedestrians) and slow down in narrow spaces. Gyro sensors help it stay upright on uneven surfaces.

Passengers climb into Ropits through a front hatch and specify their destination via a touchscreen tablet interface.

Ropits takes it from there. In case of emergencies, riders can control the vehicle with a joystick located in the cockpit.

Hitachi demonstrated Ropits in the Japanese city of Tsukuba and says it's aimed at the elderly and those who have difficulty walking. It's also easy to imagine it taking off as a nextgeneration Segway for the urban crowd, though there's no word yet on

Hitachi out with one-man robot car The Robot for Personal Intelligent Transport System is a single-person autonomous vehicle meant to travel on sidewalks. Just punch in your destination and it takes you there

The robot car, Ropits when you might be dodging the 450-pound device on a sidewalk near you.

Hitachi says additional trials of Ropits will be held in Tsukuba (considered a high-tech "science city") to improve

the device's ability to serve as an autonomous transporter of people and goods. The company plans to further detail the technology at the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers Conference on Robotics

and Mechatronics in May. Powered by a lithium ion battery, the little vehicle can travel at speeds of 3.7 mph and reportedly reach its destination with error margins of up to 3 feet.

— CNET

IDW: Intel bridges gender technology gap

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

M

ULTINATIONAL chip maker, Intel has declared that until the gap in access to basic Information and Communication Technology (ICT) between men and women is bridged, the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) may still be far away.

Driving its point home to Nigeria where its operations has blossomed over the years, it discovered that the gap has contributed to the failure of country to fully realize its potentials and become a major economic bloc in the African sub Region.

To provide a panacea, the company put together a three day technology and entrepreneurship training forum for the 21st century woman which held in Lagos at the weekend. The forum which was in conjunction with Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre (W-TEC) saw many notable speakers who proffered solutions on how the tech gap could be bridged.

In her remarks at the workshop, Executive Director, The Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre, Oreoluwa Somolu noted that “entrepreneurial forces are relatively strong in this country with women being at the hub of entrepreneurial

activities. The lack of jobs and the rise in poverty leave few other options for the average Nigerian more so the Nigerian woman. However there appears to be a critical role and place of technology in entrepreneurship towards the advancement of the nation, for which the woman plays a critical role.”

Somolu also stated that such an initiative with women empowerment as its focus is a welcome development and hailed Intel Corporation for throwing its weight behind the workshop. She added that for long issues bordering on women empowerment

has been treated as trivial.

Also speaking at the workshop, Corporate Affairs Manager of Intel, Osagie Ogunbor noted that the initiative was borne out of the desire to stimulate interests in entrepreneurship as an approach to establish businesses that will strategically place women on a globally competitive level and ultimately reduce the increasing unemployment problem in Nigeria.

“Empowering women through information and communications technology has been considered as critical to the attainment of the Millennium

Development Goals in Nigeria. The disparity between men and women in Nigeria with regard to access to basic ICT services has been a gross limitation to the country becoming a major economic bloc in the African subregion and indeed the world.” He stated.

Ogunbor also noted that as women about to enter or already fully functional in the labour market, the possession of technical knowledge on its own would not suffice, but ownership of complementary life skills to deliver the highest possible value in any field of endeavor was the ultimate task.

TRAINING: From left: Imanze Enabulele, Operations Manager, Xtreme Mindz, Fegho Umunubo, COO projectX, Int'l Executive CFI, Chimezie Ofodum and Int'l Secretary CFI at a world press conference to announce the free training for youths in Lagos.

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Etisalat, Ericsson seal 5-yr mobile management deal

BY EMMA ELEBEKE

E-Library places Uyo at advantage, says Gov Akpabio

BY EMMA ELEBEKE

D

URING the recent National Good Governance Tour in Akwa Ibom State, one thing that stands out among numerous projects inspected was the newly completed N7.5 billion electronic library, or e-Library constructed by the state government.

The Governor, who was represented at the occasion by the Secretary to the State government, Mr. Umana O. Umana said the administration was not naïve in embarking on the multi billion naira project but was informed by the decision to place Akwa Ibom state on an educational advantaged at an educational advantaged level among its peers.

The foundation of the 1,000 user capacity e-library sitting on a 4.8 hectres of land was laid on September 25, 2007 and commissioned last year on July 27, by the President.

It is a five story building with a basement floor supported by internet access that covers five kilometers radius real time and has over 70,000 subscription for electronic materials. It also has an inbuilt smart class and language learning centre.

According to the Governor, the edifice has an outstation facilities supported by 10 power generators as well as workshop.

It has over 30,000 materials that covers literature and facility for econferencing. This is backed by an outstations supported by mobile library. At these outstations, users can hook up with the central station to obtain whatever material they needed.

As part of efforts to guarantee the sustainability of its operation, the administration said it has recently, engaged a consultant who will run and manage it in a more professional way. their interesting areas of the library are the children gallery and reading areas. To ensure that every user maximize the opportunity, every user is issued automated card for access. In case where books are stolen, Umana said an alarm will blow to alert the management.

Commenting on the project, the minister of

The Akwa Ibom E-Library information, Mr. Labaran Maku lauded the state government for embarking on the novel project, which he said would offer inestimable value to the citizens of the state and Nigerians in general.

He urged the state government to partner relevant organizations that

would add value to the services of the library to enable the people maximize the potentials. ‘‘I Think this is commendable. The state government should get in touch with Universal Service Provision Fund, USPF and connect with all the universities currently being connected

by the federal ministry of Communications Techno logy to interface with them.Will help a lot to ease access to materials.

The value is inestimable that only future will tell.

Children will become foreigners if exposed only to foreign content rather than local content.

Main One, Phase 3 take broadband awareness to P-Harcourt

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

F

RONTLINE provid er of broadband services, Main One seems to be widening its coverage with the announcement ofits presence in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, recently.

The company at a business forum tagged “Business Expansion: the Connectivity Edge”, held at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Port Harcourt, last week, showcased its broadband solutions to locally resident businesses. The launch was held in collaboration with partner company Phase 3 Telecom.

Phase 3 is a national long distance operator with aerial fibre optic cable deployed on high-voltage electricity power lines that extend Main One’s services from Lagos to various parts of the country including Port Harcourt.

With the launch, businesses and service providers in Port Harcourt and surrounding areas can now readily access the benefits of the reliable services that Main One provides.

Speaking on the impact its broadband solutions would provide to Rivers State, CEO of Main One, Ms. Funke Opeke stated,

Ms Funke Opeke, CEO, Main One “It is imperative that reliable and affordable broadband internet services are available in all parts of Nigeria for increased economic development and business growth. This is the reason we have sought to distribute more of our capacity in the Port Harcourt region where demand from our customers for such services is growing and critical as a driving force for their success”, Ms. Opeke added that the event is in line with Main One’s commitment to assisting Nigerian businesses in their stride for growth, and accelerating the rate of broadband penetration across Nigeria.

Main One is one of the

largest providers of Internet connectivity in West Africa, providing services in Nigeria and Ghana among other countries, to its growing customer base of service providers and Corporate customers.

On his own part, Mr. Otuya Okecha, Head, Business Solutions and Sales, Phase 3 Telecoms, stated that the partnership with Main One would result in a more efficient distribution and extensive reach due to strength of both companies, thus improving broadband availability in Port Harcourt.

“With connectivity from Main One and Phase 3, MDAs, ISPs, MNOs, corporate organizations and other businesses in Port Harcourt will have immediate access to high capacity broadband Internet services at very affordable costs. You can rely on the connection to a global IP backbone and integrated Fiber Network to ensure that your organizations gain the broadband connectivity edge to transform the way you do business, enhance the way your students learn and the way your branch offices communicate,” Okecha affirmed.

T

HE Etisalat Group has announced that it has entered a five year multi-country managed services agreement with Ericsson to manage its entire mobile networks.

Etisalat said it is aiming to develop offerings based on value-added services to its growing subscriber base, taking into account the specific requirements of each consumer and providing solutions tailored to their expectations. This agreement enables Etisalat to focus even more on their core business - delivering innovative offerings to their customers.

Etisalat CEO, Nagi Abboud, said: “With the evolution of the competitive landscape in our markets, we need to adapt our operating model to provide a better service to our end users. Adopting this business outsourcing model is therefore an important step in our group strategy execution that will be for the benefit of our sub-

scribers, who remain our top priority, and this will, as well, open new growth opportunities to our employees.”

On his part, the Head of Ericsson in region subSaharan Africa, Lars Lindén, says, “Managed services is a proven business model to support operators in growth mode and it is one of the most dynamic areas in our industry. Our work together will support Atlantique Telecom in defining a new generation of operators in Africa.”

The contract covers network operations, field maintenance, network optimization and spare parts management for Etisalat’ s multivendor mobile networks, including access, core and transmission, as well as value added services.

During the past decade, the number of mobile connections in Africa has grown an average of 30 percent per year and the growth pace is not slowing down.

Summit Brothers invests N6bn in online retailer, Jumia

BY DOTUN IBIWOYE

S

UMMIT Brothers, a London-based hedge fund growth equity firm that invests in rapidly growing companies will be investing N6 billion in Jumia brand in Nigeria, Egypt and Morocco, with new funds tailored for setting up more ventures across the African sub-region.

The head of Summit Partners, Mr. Scott Collins, in a statement in London said that Jumia has established itself as a fast-growing company, saying that Summit Brothers is pleased to partner with its management team.

According to Collins, “We seek to invest in companies around the world that build long-term value. Jumia has established itself as a fast-growing company earlier on, and we are pleased to partner with its management team.”

Reacting to the development, co-founder of Jumia, Mr. Raphael Afaedor, said: “As Nigeria’s number one online retailer, Jumia plays big within the Nigerian market, with a vision to being the solution to online retail in Sub-Saharan Africa. As a place for direct retail shopping online, we implement 24-hour availability, a local and global reach, with the ability to interact and provide custom infor-

mation and ordering, as well as multimedia prospects.

Afaedor added: “It is a no brainer for these investors to want to invest in this market, with its growing middle class and an increasing demand for goods. We have risen to become the 5th largest local content site according to web research site, Alexa.com, with our order volumes increased significantly we are the largest e-commerce player in this market.

For Mr. Tunde Kehinde, another Jumia co-founder: “We are excited to be joined by Summit Partners, a new investor that shares our aspirations for Africa’s e-commerce. This investment allows us to offer new categories of products, strengthen our operations, deliver to our customers even faster, and recruit the best talent.

“One can’t help but wonder what the way forward is from here, as even in such short time Jumia Nigeria has not failed to deliver on their service offering. It’s an exciting time for our customers, as this means more assortments of goods in addition to our already vast selection of goods, improved service delivery, and an assurance that one is rest assured that the best hands are always there to provide the best-in-class service”.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013 — 27

Genotype change technology now in Nigeria

TVC plans 24-hour pan-African news channel

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU& JOY OBOMASE

T

VC News is set to launch a 24-Hour pan-African News Channel that will offer a fresh perspective to African and world events.

Addressing newsmen during a facility tour of the station in Lagos, CEO of the station Parsons Nigel, said the news channel will focus on areas of News, Politics, Business features, documentaries, current affairs, interviews, sports and weather reports.

He said, “TVC News was set up to look at the world through African eyes. For so long, issues concerning Africa and Africans have been overwhelmingly reported by the foreign media. “The 24-hour pan-African News channel will serve as a voice for Africa and Africans on the street to be heard on the global scene.

“TVC News aims to become Africa’s leading News channel bringing you the latest new, breaking news and other informative programmes from across Africa and the world.

“TVC News is an African news channel by Africans that will project Africa’s voice at the global scene. It is a medium for all Africans living in Africa and the Diaspora to be heard. TVC News will look at the World ‘Through African Eyes’.

“To ensure viewers get the best quality programmes, TVC News will be broadcasting with the latest state-of-the-art equipment, with which it will be connecting its network of bureaus across the continent, Europe and the United States.

“TVC News has also contracted some top local broadcasters in Nigeria and other African nations, who will be joined by foreign expatriates and has commenced intensive training of more than 350 members of staff of the station.

TVC News classifies it target audience into A, B, C1, C2, D and E social classes. Our core target comprises the number of people in Africa who fit into all the social classes in between B and D. B social class which includes nouveau riche, financially strong and averagely travelled

individuals. The C1 social class, who are senior executives in organisations, financially comfortable and are averagely travelled, and the C2 social class who possess the basic characteristics of Line managers or small scale business owners who are exposed and ambitious. TVC news will also be target-

ing blue collar workers with little education who are financially challenged, who we categorize to be in the D class.

All together this amounts to be 67% of the entire African population representing 400 million people in Africa alone.

“TVC news will partner with satellite platform operators across the

world to project the channel 24/7. We will also partner with local broadcasters across Africa to use the channel as filler when off air. And a partnership with IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) operators to further enhances distribution in Europe and North America,” he said.

ACER BOSS VISITS NIGERIA: From let: Rafy Abrahamian, Regional Manager, West Africa; Mr. Amin Mortazavi, Vice President, Middle East and Africa; Mr. Eric Blom, Regional Manager, English-Speaking Africa and Mr. Agunbiade Seun Richard, Country Representative, Nigeria, all of Acer, during a working visit to interact with the company’s channel partners in Lagos.

NYSC members to benefit from Microsoft's partners in learning

BY EMEKA AGINAM

W

ITH its commit ment to skills development for Nigerian youth through YouthSpark, the software giant, Microsoft has said that it would engages teachers undergoing National Youth Service Corps in various states in partners and Learning program geared towards helping educators and school leaders connect, collaborate, create, and share so that students can realize their greatest potential.

The capacity building program was established between Microsoft Nigeria, the National Youth Service Corps, Mind The Gap and Future Enterprise Support Scheme at the weekend in Lagos.

Through partners in Learning initiative, Microsoft will provide professional development to government officials, school leaders, and educators around the world to help them take new approaches to teaching and learning, using technology to help students develop 21st century skills.

Microsoft YouthSpark is a global initiative that

aims to create opportunities for 300 million youth in more than 100 countries during the next three years.

This company wide initiative includes Corporate Social Investment (CSI) and other company programs both new and enhanced empowering youth to imagine and realise their full potential by connecting them with greater opportunities for education, employment and entrepreneurship.

Through this and as part of the commitments announced earlier this year through the Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative, Microsoft is creating a platform for youth to learn leadership and life skills that aim to address youth unemployment caused by lack of skills which is one key factor hindering economic growth in Africa.

This effort is put together by Microsoft Nigeria in partnership with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the largest gathering of youth in Nigeria; Mind the Gap, a job creation, employability and social entrepreneurship incubation programme; and Future En-

terprise Support Scheme, an online community where young people can come together to share knowledge, ideas, tips and resources.

The Microsoft Citizenship & PiL (Partners in Learning) Manager ,Anglophone West Africa.

Ugochukwu Nwosu at the unveiling of the project at the NYSC camp in Ikeja told the gathering that teachers serving at various schools under NYSC progran can also participate in partners and Learning competition that holds every year.

Also speaking during the launch of the initiative, Olayinka Oni, National Technology Officer, Microsoft Anglophone West Africa who represented Jeffrey Avina, Director, Citizenship, Microsoft Middle East and Africa, said, “We believe there’s never been a better time to invest in Africa and in Nigeria in particular. Microsoft sees tremendous potential in the youth of this country, and through YouthSpark and the 4Afrika Initiative, we are committed to being an enabler for this generation."

Continues from Page 23 low, as it has to do with the hard drugs, which the body could react to. For the patient, they are placed on very high drugs in the course of destroying the bone marrow. It could lead to side effects reaction.

How successful was your last procedure?

It was okay, the patient is a year and two months.

His genotype was AA and has not had any crisis since then and so, I will say that it was quite successful.

At what age can one qualify for this transplant.?

The therapy is used for both the sickle cell and blood cancer patients; in fact, anything that has to do with taking a cell from a donor to cure the patient. Really, for sickle cell patients, it is preferable when they are 15 years and below because when they are older, they tend to need a lot of blood transfusion, their organs may get damaged. Although, there is a new method we use for adult sickle cell patients; that is also to change their genotype to AS. How many of these procedures have you done so far?

We have done two. The first one is a year plus now and the second, we just discharged the patient.

Minimum cost?

Well, on the average, it costs between N8m-N6m,

depending on the number of supportive care. That is when we are doing a sickle patient. If we have the support of the Federal Government in the way of subsidizing the equipments in a space that is big enough to take five to10 people at a time, then it will reduce the cost. We need a good international centre with a lot of transplant rooms, so that if we are doing more than one, we can share the cost. Like now, we have to run generator for one hundred days for an individual. If it is for five individuals, it makes it easier and the cost will definitely trickle down to maybe N2m.

How long does it take to carry out a procedure?

It takes an average of three months or 100 days because at that period, you have a lot of tests and checks involved, though some may be discharged before one hundred days.

How many of you are trained in this specialty?

For now, I am the only one trained in the hospital.

Who are your major targets in this project?

The therapy is good for both sickle cell and anything that has to do with cell transplant. This is the first in West Africa and third in the whole of Africa, after Egypt and South Africa. This can be replicated in the six geo-political zones. India for instance, has about 20 centres. An average of N1 billion should be able to set up a centre.

Etisalat, Total link up to deploy service centres

BY JOY OBOMASE

E

TISALAT Nigeria, last week, partnered with global oil and gas organization, Total, to enable it deploy its experience center closer to its customers.

The strategy of the partnership is that Etisalat service centres known as touch points would be situated in every Total filling station nationwide.

CEO of Etisalat Nigeria, Steven Evans said the launch of the Etisalat mini experience centre will go a long way in giving customers qualitative service. He said “ we signed a memorandum of understanding with Total; we formalized their working relationship with the signing of a Master Lease Agreement. This partnership is another milestone for us at Etisalat in our ongoing quest to offer high quality products and

services to our customers, and to make access to those services and product as convenient as possible. This has also provided our customers with more access to our products and services in all the 6 Geo-political zones of the country”.

He noted that the partnership with Total will enable offering of the highest level of convenience for customers through the new experience centre at Total stations.

"It has always been our strategic objective to deliver world class telecommunications services relevant and aligned to the needs and lifestyles of our respective customers. It is for this reason that Etisalat has decided to partner with a global and reputable organization like Total with the relevant expertise and experience in delivering world class products and services."

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AYC: Nigeria vs Gabon

Obuh retains same line-up against Gabon

H

EAD coach of the Nigeria U-20 football team, John Obuh has revealed that he will not ring in any changes in today ’s African Youth Championship (AYC) game against Gabon.

The Flying Eagles were unimpressive in Sunday’s 0-1 loss to Mali with the team’s striker ’s attracting criticism for their profligacy.

However, Obuh has refused to single out any individual for blame insisting that ‘patience is the key’ if the Flying Eagles are to successfully retain their AYC crown in Algeria.

“There is no need to take any rash decisions. I have seen what the problem is and I will not start dropping players for the sake of it. I am an experienced coach and I know that in this case, patience is the key,” Obuh said.

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles must win against Gabon at the Stade A h m e d Zabana in their second preliminary game of the Championship to resurrect their chances o f qualification to the semi final.

Kickoff of today’s game has been set •Obuh for 8:30pm.

Nwosu charges Flying Eagles to forge ahead

F

ORMER Green Eagles skipper, Henry Nwosu has urged the Flying Eagles to focus on their make-or-mar encounter against Gabon and put their 0-1 defeat to Mali behind them.

Nwosu said in Lagos on Tuesday that the defeat did not mean that the Eagles performed poorly in the opening match.

He stressed that the match has come and gone, and the technical crew and the players must put it behind them and focus on their subsequent fixtures.

“Although we lost, I know this will serve as an eye opener and bring them back on course. “ We have played the match and it has gone and I urge both the technical crew and the players to put it behind them. “ They should work hard at •Abgo getting the maximum six points at stake in their remaining matches to make the next around,”he said.

WORLD CUP QUALIFIER:

Keshi must maintain momentum

— Adepoju

By SOLOMON NWOKE

F

ORMER international, Mutiu Adepoju has warned the Super Eagles to be weary of the Harambee Stars of Kenya as they set to battle for one of the continent’s slots for the 2014 World Cup this weekend at the U J Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

The former general Manager of 3SC Football Club of Ibadan urged the team to live up to their rating as African champions. He counseled the players to approach the match like a cup final.

He said, “the Eagles cannot but go for the best after winning the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa early this year. This is another opportunity for them to really prove they are champions of Africa. They should not underrate any team especially, Kenya who would want to prove a hard nut to crack for the Eagles.”

Adepoju who was fondly called ‘the Head Master’ in his playing days due to his efficiency in heading in goals, however,

admitted that the team has all it takes to qualify for the World Cup, but will have to work hard to earn the ticket by winning their matches.

“The players have all it takes to win all their qualifying matches, but they should ensure that they play as a team and not aspire for individual glory,” he said.

He also urged the players to play as a compact unit. “To achieve their objective of playing at the World Cup, they have to continue from where they stopped before the Nations Cup.Although they are topping the group, there is no doubt that the match against the Harambees Stars would be a game of guts as the pressure would be on the Eagles.”

The USA ’94 World Cup team member gave Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi thumbs up for the enlistment of nine home-based players in the squad, saying, “Keshi knows what he’s doing with the national team and should maintain the momentum.”

Mba ready for Kenya

N

igerian midfielder, Sunday Mba is pleased to have made the 24-man list of the Super Eagles for Saturday’s 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against the Harambee Stars of Kenya.

Mba, a subject of an intense transfer battle between two Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) sides, Enugu Rangers and Warri Wolves, had risked being dropped from the squad following declarations by the national team head coach, Stephen Keshi.

Keshi had threatened to drop the player as he had not yet resumed playing competitively despite the domestic season already in full bloom.

However, Mba has now been included in Keshi’s final squad alongside eight other stars from the NPFL and 15 overseasbased players.

“I am pleased and relieved to have •Mba made the list. As always I will give 200 percent.

•MOMENT OF JOY ... Super Eagles Players explode with joy after winning the Afcon trophy in South Africa.

Owen sets retirement date A

career that was launched a journey that like many young into orbit by a stunning goal players starting out, I could against Argentina in the 1998 only have dreamt of.”

World Cup will end meekly 15 Diminutive Owen had already years later after Michael Owen shown his potential at announced on Tuesday he will Liverpool when he thrust hang up his boots at the end of himself onto the world stage the season. with a sensational solo goal The former England striker, against Argentina in a 1998 who made his first-team debut for World Cup second round defeat Liverpool as a 17-year-old and in St Etienne. also played for Real A natural striker Madrid, Newcastle with a devastating United and Manchester burst of pace, Owen United, has almost went on to make 89 disappeared from view international at Stoke City for whom appearances, scoring he signed last 40 goals to sit fourth September. on the all-time “I now feel it is the England goalscorers’ right time to bring the list. curtain down on my Another famous career,” the injuryEngland performance prone 33-year-old said came in the 5-1 World on his personal Cup qualifying win in “I have been very Germany in 2001 fortunate in that my when he scored a hat•Owen career has taken me on trick.

AFN acquires latest device for Warri show A

THLETICS Federation Chairman, Solomon Ogba said yesterday that the latest timing device has been acquired for the Africa Youth Athletics Championships, AYAC 2013, holding in Warri from March 27 to March 31.

He was delighted about the high standards expected in the organisation of the maiden event of the youth’s competition in Africa. ’’We have just bought a Timetronics device for the Warri event. It is the first

time that we will be using EDM (Estimated Distance Measurement) device in Nigeria. I’m happy that we are moving forward and AYAC 2013 will be of high standards,’’ Ogba said.

It means that officiating officials will no longer use tapes to measure distances in events like Long Jump, Javelin etc. ’’Timetronics is the latest of them all.

It is good that we have it now in Nigeria,’’ Yusuf Ali, holder of Nigeria’s Long Jump record said yesterday.

•READY TO GO... Local athletes shaping up ahead of the African Youth Athletics Championship (AYAC) slated to hold in Warri

Heartland lack confidence to face Wolves

H

EARTLAND striker, Jolly Osas has said his side will not promise anything in the mid-week Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Matchday 2 encounter at Warri Wolves.

The Cup holders were humbled by NPFL newcomers, Nembe City on Matchday 1 in Owerri and on Sunday secured an unconvincing 2-1 win against visiting Gabonese side, Union Sportive Bitam in the CAF Confederation Cup. Osas said his teammates’ confidence level is too low going into the league clash against the Warri-based side.

“The spirit among my colleagues is low, I think we’re not in the right mood to make promises as we travel to meet Warri Wolves for the mid-week game in Warri.

“Any result we’re able to grab in the encounter could as well rank as the best result at the moment and the supporters will do well to live with it.

“Probably a psychologist is greatly needed at this trying period in our lives to psyche the players to see whether there is

Officials begin training for AYAC 2 013

M

ORE than 120 te officials who w chnical ill officiate during the Afr ica Youth Athle tics C h am p io n sh ip s in War ri w il l begin a two da refresher cour y training and se city of Nigeria today in the oil . ’’It is meant to prepare them fo ch am p io n sh r ip s in War ri ,’ ’ Commodore O matseye Nesia ma, the Technical Director of A FN said.

Two IAAF lectur ers, prof. Luca Ogunjimi and Alex Onyewen s wa and two CAA delegates, Viv ian Gungaram an d Aziz Dauda fr om M au ri ti u s an d M or oc co re sp ec ti ve ly w Mauritius to ha il l co m e fr om ndle the course Nesiama is the . facilitator. ’’This is good fo r the event, it is also good for Nigerian offici als who will benefit fr course,’’ Yusu om the refresher f Ali, a track and field buff said

any magic that will help us overcome the waning confidence and morale in the team.

“The team need motivation to keep the flag flying. We still have what it takes to fight ourselves back to reckoning both on the continent and in the league only that the atmosphere is killing the fighting spirit in us. I pray somebody somewhere does something urgently before it gets too late,” he said.

The Naze Millionaires have been reeling under severe financial strain and motivation has been at its lowest ebb as the team have continued to churn out unimpressive results in recent outings.

NAZE GIANTS ...

Heartland FC of Owerri players celebrating one of their goal during a CAF match in Owerri.

Modric: I feel settled

R

eal Madrid midfielder Luka Modric says he is pleased with how has settled at the club and looking to continue along the same path. The Croatian struggled to find his feet at the beginning of the season after joining the Whites from English side Tottenham Hotspur.

However, he has been influential for Jose Mourinho’s side in recent weeks, scoring the crucial equaliser during the 2-1 win over Manchester United in their Champions League second leg clash, before finding the back of the net against Mallorca over the weekend. ”Now I feel settled,” Modric told reporters. “The game against United helped me a lot, and I feel more confident now. “Before, I wasn’t heading in the right direction; now the key is to continue in this vein.” The Croatian international has scored three goals and provided five assists in 38 appearances for Madrid in all competitions this •Modric season.

Vanguard , WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY,, MARCH 20,, 2013— 29

28—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20,, 2013

AYC: Nigeria vs Gabon

Obuh retains same line-up against Gabon

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EAD coach of the Nigeria U-20 football team, John Obuh has revealed that he will not ring in any changes in today ’s African Youth Championship (AYC) game against Gabon.

The Flying Eagles were unimpressive in Sunday’s 0-1 loss to Mali with the team’s striker ’s attracting criticism for their profligacy.

However, Obuh has refused to single out any individual for blame insisting that ‘patience is the key’ if the Flying Eagles are to successfully retain their AYC crown in Algeria.

“There is no need to take any rash decisions. I have seen what the problem is and I will not start dropping players for the sake of it. I am an experienced coach and I know that in this case, patience is the key,” Obuh said.

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles must win against Gabon at the Stade A h m e d Zabana in their second preliminary game of the Championship to resurrect their chances o f qualification to the semi final.

Kickoff of today’s game has been set •Obuh for 8:30pm.

Nwosu charges Flying Eagles to forge ahead

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ORMER Green Eagles skipper, Henry Nwosu has urged the Flying Eagles to focus on their make-or-mar encounter against Gabon and put their 0-1 defeat to Mali behind them.

Nwosu said in Lagos on Tuesday that the defeat did not mean that the Eagles performed poorly in the opening match.

He stressed that the match has come and gone, and the technical crew and the players must put it behind them and focus on their subsequent fixtures.

“Although we lost, I know this will serve as an eye opener and bring them back on course. “ We have played the match and it has gone and I urge both the technical crew and the players to put it behind them. “ They should work hard at •Abgo getting the maximum six points at stake in their remaining matches to make the next around,”he said.

WORLD CUP QUALIFIER:

Keshi must maintain momentum

— Adepoju

By SOLOMON NWOKE

F

ORMER international, Mutiu Adepoju has warned the Super Eagles to be weary of the Harambee Stars of Kenya as they set to battle for one of the continent’s slots for the 2014 World Cup this weekend at the U J Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

The former general Manager of 3SC Football Club of Ibadan urged the team to live up to their rating as African champions. He counseled the players to approach the match like a cup final.

He said, “the Eagles cannot but go for the best after winning the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa early this year. This is another opportunity for them to really prove they are champions of Africa. They should not underrate any team especially, Kenya who would want to prove a hard nut to crack for the Eagles.”

Adepoju who was fondly called ‘the Head Master’ in his playing days due to his efficiency in heading in goals, however,

admitted that the team has all it takes to qualify for the World Cup, but will have to work hard to earn the ticket by winning their matches.

“The players have all it takes to win all their qualifying matches, but they should ensure that they play as a team and not aspire for individual glory,” he said.

He also urged the players to play as a compact unit. “To achieve their objective of playing at the World Cup, they have to continue from where they stopped before the Nations Cup.Although they are topping the group, there is no doubt that the match against the Harambees Stars would be a game of guts as the pressure would be on the Eagles.”

The USA ’94 World Cup team member gave Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi thumbs up for the enlistment of nine home-based players in the squad, saying, “Keshi knows what he’s doing with the national team and should maintain the momentum.”

Mba ready for Kenya

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igerian midfielder, Sunday Mba is pleased to have made the 24-man list of the Super Eagles for Saturday’s 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against the Harambee Stars of Kenya.

Mba, a subject of an intense transfer battle between two Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) sides, Enugu Rangers and Warri Wolves, had risked being dropped from the squad following declarations by the national team head coach, Stephen Keshi.

Keshi had threatened to drop the player as he had not yet resumed playing competitively despite the domestic season already in full bloom.

However, Mba has now been included in Keshi’s final squad alongside eight other stars from the NPFL and 15 overseasbased players.

“I am pleased and relieved to have •Mba made the list. As always I will give 200 percent.

•MOMENT OF JOY ... Super Eagles Players explode with joy after winning the Afcon trophy in South Africa.

Owen sets retirement date A

career that was launched a journey that like many young into orbit by a stunning goal players starting out, I could against Argentina in the 1998 only have dreamt of.”

World Cup will end meekly 15 Diminutive Owen had already years later after Michael Owen shown his potential at announced on Tuesday he will Liverpool when he thrust hang up his boots at the end of himself onto the world stage the season. with a sensational solo goal The former England striker, against Argentina in a 1998 who made his first-team debut for World Cup second round defeat Liverpool as a 17-year-old and in St Etienne. also played for Real A natural striker Madrid, Newcastle with a devastating United and Manchester burst of pace, Owen United, has almost went on to make 89 disappeared from view international at Stoke City for whom appearances, scoring he signed last 40 goals to sit fourth September. on the all-time “I now feel it is the England goalscorers’ right time to bring the list. curtain down on my Another famous career,” the injuryEngland performance prone 33-year-old said came in the 5-1 World on his personal Cup qualifying win in “I have been very Germany in 2001 fortunate in that my when he scored a hat•Owen career has taken me on trick.

AFN acquires latest device for Warri show A

THLETICS Federation Chairman, Solomon Ogba said yesterday that the latest timing device has been acquired for the Africa Youth Athletics Championships, AYAC 2013, holding in Warri from March 27 to March 31.

He was delighted about the high standards expected in the organisation of the maiden event of the youth’s competition in Africa. ’’We have just bought a Timetronics device for the Warri event. It is the first

time that we will be using EDM (Estimated Distance Measurement) device in Nigeria. I’m happy that we are moving forward and AYAC 2013 will be of high standards,’’ Ogba said.

It means that officiating officials will no longer use tapes to measure distances in events like Long Jump, Javelin etc. ’’Timetronics is the latest of them all.

It is good that we have it now in Nigeria,’’ Yusuf Ali, holder of Nigeria’s Long Jump record said yesterday.

•READY TO GO... Local athletes shaping up ahead of the African Youth Athletics Championship (AYAC) slated to hold in Warri

Heartland lack confidence to face Wolves

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EARTLAND striker, Jolly Osas has said his side will not promise anything in the mid-week Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Matchday 2 encounter at Warri Wolves.

The Cup holders were humbled by NPFL newcomers, Nembe City on Matchday 1 in Owerri and on Sunday secured an unconvincing 2-1 win against visiting Gabonese side, Union Sportive Bitam in the CAF Confederation Cup. Osas said his teammates’ confidence level is too low going into the league clash against the Warri-based side.

“The spirit among my colleagues is low, I think we’re not in the right mood to make promises as we travel to meet Warri Wolves for the mid-week game in Warri.

“Any result we’re able to grab in the encounter could as well rank as the best result at the moment and the supporters will do well to live with it.

“Probably a psychologist is greatly needed at this trying period in our lives to psyche the players to see whether there is

Officials begin training for AYAC 2 013

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ORE than 120 te officials who w chnical ill officiate during the Afr ica Youth Athle tics C h am p io n sh ip s in War ri w il l begin a two da refresher cour y training and se city of Nigeria today in the oil . ’’It is meant to prepare them fo ch am p io n sh r ip s in War ri ,’ ’ Commodore O matseye Nesia ma, the Technical Director of A FN said.

Two IAAF lectur ers, prof. Luca Ogunjimi and Alex Onyewen s wa and two CAA delegates, Viv ian Gungaram an d Aziz Dauda fr om M au ri ti u s an d M or oc co re sp ec ti ve ly w Mauritius to ha il l co m e fr om ndle the course Nesiama is the . facilitator. ’’This is good fo r the event, it is also good for Nigerian offici als who will benefit fr course,’’ Yusu om the refresher f Ali, a track and field buff said

any magic that will help us overcome the waning confidence and morale in the team.

“The team need motivation to keep the flag flying. We still have what it takes to fight ourselves back to reckoning both on the continent and in the league only that the atmosphere is killing the fighting spirit in us. I pray somebody somewhere does something urgently before it gets too late,” he said.

The Naze Millionaires have been reeling under severe financial strain and motivation has been at its lowest ebb as the team have continued to churn out unimpressive results in recent outings.

NAZE GIANTS ...

Heartland FC of Owerri players celebrating one of their goal during a CAF match in Owerri.

Modric: I feel settled

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eal Madrid midfielder Luka Modric says he is pleased with how has settled at the club and looking to continue along the same path. The Croatian struggled to find his feet at the beginning of the season after joining the Whites from English side Tottenham Hotspur.

However, he has been influential for Jose Mourinho’s side in recent weeks, scoring the crucial equaliser during the 2-1 win over Manchester United in their Champions League second leg clash, before finding the back of the net against Mallorca over the weekend. ”Now I feel settled,” Modric told reporters. “The game against United helped me a lot, and I feel more confident now. “Before, I wasn’t heading in the right direction; now the key is to continue in this vein.” The Croatian international has scored three goals and provided five assists in 38 appearances for Madrid in all competitions this •Modric season.

30 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

Insure your business against fire ROSEMARY ONUOHA

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AST week, Lagosians woke up to the news that another market had been destroyed by fire. And this time, it was the Ifelodun Plank Market in Ketu area of Lagos State. By the time the fire died down, over 300 shops filled with building materials were gone.

When he visited the victims of the fire disaster, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola assured them that government would assist them to build a more organised and safer market.

However, Fashola urged the market and warehouses operators in the state to insure their businesses in order not to suffer total loss whenever such unforeseen disasters occur.

“I use this opportunity to appeal to all markets and warehouses owners that we should use insurance companies to insure our businesses, stocks, stock-in-trade and our inventory of goods,” Fashola said.

But if truth be told, such traders and shop owners should not

,

be appealed to or begged to get insurance. If Nigeria were to be a normal society, Fashola need not tell shop owners or occupiers to insure their shops, because insurance of public buildings is compulsory under the Insurance Act of 2003.

Section 65 (1) of the Insurance Act, 2003 states thus, “Every public building shall be insured with a registered insurer against the hazards of collapse, fire, earthquake, storm and flood.

(2) Public building, in this section includes a tenement house, hostel, a building occupied by a tenant, lodger or licensee and any building to which members of the public have ingress and aggress for the purpose of obtaining educational or medical service, or for the purpose of recreation or transaction of business. (3) The insurance policy under subsection (1) shall cover the

Most Nigerians are averse to insurance because they don’t see any value in it, but the truth is that insurance offers a lot of value

legal liabilities of an owner or occupier of premises in respect of loss of or damage to property or bodily injury or death suffered by any user of the premises and third parties. “(6) An occupier or owner of premises who is in default of this section commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of not more than N100,000 or to imprisonment for one year or both.”

Although, the law is in place,

,

Nigerians still allow themselves to be cajoled to buy insurance even when it is obvious that it is for their own good.

To give bite to the law, the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, two years ago came up with the Market development and Restructuring Initiative, MDRI, aimed at deepening insurance penetration in the country.

Unfortunately, the MDRI which seeks to enforce the compulsory insurance products made mandatory by the Insurance Act of 2003 is still being resisted by the general public. But the attitude of the general public towards insurance has worked to their disadvantage.

Time has come for Nigerians to change their negative perception about insurance because the sector has changed for the better. Most Nigerians are averse to insurance because they don’t see any value in it, but the truth is that insurance offers a lot of value.

People think that insurance is an additional tax just as they think that putting on the safety belt is to prevent law enforcement agents from arresting them, whereas the purpose is to save their lives.

Perspectives on insurance

People don’t have that attitude to risk matters they just see it as an additional liability. People don’t see it as a safety precaution they just see it as a way of avoiding being apprehended, which is very wrong.

The era when insurance documents are written down in small prints and Shakespearean language is gone and the sector has embraced a new era and methods of doing things.

Hence, the public should always read their insurance policy documents because policy documents are now written in plain language.

Moreover, insurers have made the language of the policies they sell user friendly so that insurance buyers can ask questions where necessary before taking their final decisions.

by CYNTHIA MGBEOKWERE

Is your shop insured?

Mr. Moses Nwoba, (Business man)

My shop is insured with a third party insurance policy where by the first party is responsible for its own damages or losses whether caused by itself or the third party. Insuring ones property is very important and of great value. One can be sure of safety of ones property with an insurance company.

The insurance companies should enlighten the masses more on insurance; most of the traders are ignorant of it.

C M Y K

Mr. Daniel Olisadebe, (Phone seller)

There is insurance for my shop which is called the comprehensive insurance policy. This insurance policy covers the owner ’s property and in the event of any accident, one can make a claim in the insurance company.

Insurance gives a guarantee t h a t property which is lost can be replaced when the need arises.

Mr. Onyeka Nwafor, (Electrical materials dealer) I do have insurance for my shop and it is a third party policy. I think insurance is very vital for the safety of the goods and it protects from public harassment. So far, there has not been any damage experienced in my shop and so I have not made any claim to an insurance company, so there is no cause for alarm.

Mr. Silver Oke-neji, (Electronics dealer) There is no insurance here because the shops are owned by the local government, We pay the rents to the land owners and they give to the local government.

The government can decide to move the shops to another location and we will end up with great loses and so I don’t think it is necessary for me.

Mr. Ikechukwu Chukwumma, (Electrical materials dealer)

I am enlightened a b o u t insurance. When we talk about insurance in Nigeria, the common man is afraid because they think it that the insuring of ones property is for the rich and not for the poor.

Although I bought the shop. I am still under the local government because it was not given to us outrightly.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013, 2013 — 31

Why not write a Will today

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ransference of wealth has generally been a problematic issue in the African society due to reticence of many towards writing of Will and its administration.

To come down home, Nigerians are scared of writing Will because the general believe is that when a person writes a Will, he or she is about to die. Also, Will writing in the country has been grossly under utilised due to some obnoxious traditional and religious beliefs that must be discarded.

Another popularly held notion is that only the affluent need to write Will.

Despite these skewed positions, it is expedient that anyone above the age of 40 years must accord the posthumous instrument premium attention.

However, experience has shown that beneficiaries of deceased contributors in the Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS, have had to go through rigorous processes to lay claim to the retirement savings or pension benefits of the relatives who picked them as their next-of-kin.

Instances abound where beneficiaries of some bereaved contributors who have had to make claims for their entitlements have been frustrated by the cumbersome process of getting Letter of Administration. Some got frustrated to the point of abandoning their entitlements with the Pension Fund Administrators.

Most times, the frustration emanates from the delay in getting Letter of Administration from the Courts, which can last for months and even years. And if a beneficiary is financially handicapped to pursue the processes to a logical conclusion, all efforts will end up being wasted. The matter is made worse when 10 per cent of the entitlements must first be collected by the lawyer that will file for the letter of administration.

Consequently, a lot of beneficiaries have had to live in penury when they have wealth locked up somewhere.

Getting a letter of administration To get a Letter of Administration from any High Court in the country, a

beneficiary will proceed to the court with the death certificate of the deceased. Next, a form for Letter of Administration will

,

By ROSEMARY ONUOHA

be given to the beneficiary to be filled. The beneficiary is then required to place an advertorial in any national

It is worthy of note that writing of Will is germane to peaceful transfer of wealth from parents to wards or children and other beneficiaries

,

newspaper to declare that the deceased is actually dead. An interval of 21 working days will be observed to wait if anybody will come forward to counter the advertorial. If nobody comes forward to counter the advertorial, the beneficiary will then proceed to the court with the newspaper bearing the advertorial. Then, the beneficiary will be required to pay the lawyer an amount equal to 10 per cent of the total contribution in the RSA, which is the standard charge for getting a Letter of Administration in any High

Court in Nigeria.

After all these processes, the beneficiary will now wait until the court issues him the Letter of Administration. However, investigations revealed that due to the extended family culture in Nigeria, two or more Letters of Administration may spring up from one family which could halt or delay payment of benefits to next-ofkins.

Why you must write a Will today Due to the prolonged delay in getting a Letter of Administration and the unnecessary inconveniences which it can cause beneficiaries of the CPS, contributors should prepare a Will to forestall such occurrences. It is worthy of note that writing of Will is germane to peaceful transfer of wealth from parents to wards or children and other beneficiaries.

It is advisable not to die intestate, given the fact that obtaining a probate document for such individuals are quite cumbersome with its attendant discomforts and d e l a y s .

A c c o r d i n g l y, Nigerians should imbibe property perpetration culture in order to reduce friction and misery of their dependents after their exit.

DO YOU KNOW? •

•

The Contributory Pension Scheme seeks amongst others to ensure that every worker receives his retirement benefits as and when due Section 4 (1) (b) of the PRA 2004 allows RSA holder upon retirement to utilize the balance of his RSA for.... ‘Annuity for life purchased from a life insurance company licensed by the National Insurance Commission with monthly or quarterly payments’.

•

Annuity is one of the modes of withdrawing retirement benefits under PRA 2004

• •

It is a product of insurance company Annuity is a regular income received from an i nsurance company in consideration for payment of premium

• • • • • • • • • • •

Only life annuity is recognised by PRA 2004 Retiree negotiates with insurance company Retiree obtains Annuity Provisional Agreement from insurance company Retirement by Annuity commenced in 2010 10 Life Assurance companies are currently underwriting retirement annuity 2,434 retirees on retirement by annuity The total premium paid amounts to N12.094 billion Total monthly annuity/pension averages N118.06 billion Approaches adopted by Insurance companies Direct contacts Through insurance agents

SEND YOUR QUESTIONS AND ENQUIRIES TO insuranceandyou@yahoo.com

32 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

PAPAL INAUGURATION Pope Francis begins Papacy with plea for the poor, weak Rides in open roof jeep Breaks security protocol Call for prayers, prays for disabled

BY SAM EYOBOKA, HUGO ODIOGOR, VERA SAM ANYAGAFU & OLAYINKA LATONA with Agency reports

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IX days after his election as the 266th occupant of the Throne of St. Peter, Pope Francis was officially inaugurated yesterday in front of the biggest crowd yet to see the newly elected Pontiff.

Crowds spilled out of St. Peter’s Square onto neighboring streets as Italian police said they were bracing for as many as 1 million people to descend on St. Peter ’s Square to watch the Mass that marks the official start of the papacy of the former Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio.

In his homily, Pope Francis implored the faithful to “never forget that authentic power is service, and that the Pope too, when exercising power, must enter ever more fully into that service.” He said that today, amid so much darkness, we need to see the light of hope.

His papacy formally began when he received the two symbols of the papacy, the lambswool Pallium collar that was placed over his shoulders to symbolise his role as shepherd of the flock, and the Fisherman’s Ring of St. Peter.

Francis, who is the 266th pope, abandoned much of the baroque pomp of his predecessor Benedict and signalled that he wants a Church whose first priority is the poor and disadvantaged.

He told the open-air congregation of world leaders, 500 priests and an estimated 500,000 worshippers: “All I ask of you is: Pray for me.” The official beginning of Francis’s pontificate— the first of a nonEuropean pope for 1,300 years—came six days after Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 76, then Archbishop of Buenos

Aires, was the unexpected choice of his fellow cardinals to succeed Pope Benedict XVI. At 8.50 a.m. local time, in front of hundreds of thousands of cheering pilgrims and 132 foreign delegations, Francis emerged from his temporary lodging at the Vatican hotel to tour the cheering crowds in an open white jeep, flanked by 20 security guards.

Onlookers said he gave some the “thumbs up” sign as he ushered in a less-regal approach.

He entered St. Peter’s Basilica to don his vestments and pray at the tomb of St. Peter before emerging into clear blue skies. He began his homily with the words: “Dear Brothers and sisters”. He went on to emphasize his commitment to the poor and quoted St. Francis of Assisi, from whom he took his papal name, calling on followers to be “protectors of God’s gifts”. “The Pope must... open his arms to protect all of God’s people and embrace with tender affection the whole of humanity, especially the

,

• • •

Pope Francis in an open Mercedes jeep marked SCV 1acknowledging cheers from Catholic faifthful.

Six sovereigns, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, Argentine President Cristina Fernandez, other leaders as well as heads of many other faiths were among the 130 delegations on the steps of the famous basilica.

He will also find himself greeting an international pariah, Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, who

In his homily, Pope Francis implored the faithful to “never forget that authentic power is service, and that the Pope too, when exercising power, must enter ever more fully into that service

poorest, the weakest and least important,” he said.

He spoke of the need to protect the environment and not allow “omens of destruction,” hatred, envy and pride to “defile our lives”. He said the Pope’s role was to “embrace with tender affection the whole of humanity, especially the poorest, the weakest, the least important”.

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has been under a European Union travel ban since 2002 because of allegations of vote rigging and human rights abuses. The Vatican is not part of the European Union, allowing Mugabe to travel there.

Among them was Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew from Istanbul, the first time the spiritual head of Orthodox Christians has

attended a Roman pope’s inaugural Mass since the Great Schism between western and eastern Christianity in 1054.

The former Buenos Aires Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio has aroused enormous enthusiasm and interest in the Catholic world due to the modest way he has assumed a post that was modeled after a Renaissance monarchy and carries titles such as “Vicar of Jesus Christ” and “Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church”.

The Vatican was in lockdown with royalty and leaning politicians from 132 countries. World leaders included US vice-president Joe Biden, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, French premier JeanMarc Ayrault, and King Albert II and Queen Paola of Belgium. The Queen, who has never attended a papal mass, was represented by her cousin, the Duke of Gloucester and his wife.

The UK Government sent Ken Clarke, a Minister without portfolio, and Baroness Warsi, the Minister for Faith and Communities.

Pope Francis, in

keeping with his reputation for modesty and lack of pomp, opted for a gold-plated silver ring, rather than the usual solid gold. The Piscatory ring depicts St. Peter with the keys entrusted to him by Jesus. Earlier he had made an early-hours phone call to Argentina, with his voice relayed live to pilgrims gathered in Buenos Aires’ Plaza de Mayo. “We all walk united,” he said. “We take care of each other and continue to pray for me.”

The row over claims that, as the Bishop of Buenos Aires, he colluded with or failed to oppose the brutal Argentine junta of the late 1970s and early 1980s, resurfaced again yesterday.

The Argentine division of the Church was said to be planning to make Carlos De Dios Murias, the young Franciscan priest tortured and killed by the Argentine regime in 1976, the first person to be beatified under the new papacy. In line with this message, the Mass on the steps of the giant St. Peter’s Basilica was simpler than the baroque splendor of his predecessor Benedict’s inauguration in 2005.

Pope Francis The Church’s mission “means respecting each of God’s creatures and respecting the environment in which we live. It means protecting people, showing loving concern for each and every person, especially children, the elderly, those in need, who are often the last we think about”, he said in the homily.

His homily focused on protection—of the environment, children, the elderly and those in need, who he said were “often the last we think about”. Francis was elected by a conclave of cardinals last week to take over from Benedict XVI. Benedict became the first pontiff in 600 years to abdicate last month. Citing his age, 85, he said he could no longer continue in the post.

Vanguard, WEDNESD AY, MARCH 20, 2013—33 WEDNESDA

Pregnant women tasked on hygiene

BY SIMON ADEWALE

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• L- R: Medical Director, Ikorodu General Hospital, Dr. Mobolaji Olukoya, Permanent Secretary, LSMoH, Dr. Femi Olugbile and Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals Vice-President in Africa, Gulf and India, Mads Bo Larsen during the commissioning of the pioneer Insulin Support Centre called Base of Pyramid (BoP) initiative at the General Hospital, Ikorodu, Lagos.

IGERIA Pregnant women have been advised to live a hygienic life in order to curb the growing rate of infant and maternal deaths in the country.

General Manager, Corporate Affairs and New Business Development of Seplat Petroleum Company Limited,Dr.Chioma Nwachukwu gave the charge during the 2013 edition of ASafe Motherhood Programme, by the company in conjunction with National Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, to educate pregnant women in the area on the need to be hygi-

enic during pregnancy.

At the programme with the theme AHygiene in Pregnancy” which held in Sapele, Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State, Nwachukwu, said the programme aimed at curbing maternal mortality in the area as well as ensure that women who get pregnant in the companys area of operation do not have their joy cut short. The programme which had in attendance over 3000 expectant featured lectures on pregnancy health practices.

The Resource persons, Dr. Ejiroghene Omeri and Dr. Ese Agbatutu, highlighted on the need for pregnant women to maintain a healthy lifestyle by washing hands before and after meals, brushing teeth, care for their breasts so as to guide themselves against deadly colostrums disease and also sleep under mosquito treated nets.

The pregnant women were also told to handle and store food items with care.

Succour for diabetics as insulin centre opens in Lagos

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

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OWARDS enhancing the quality, accessibility and affordability of diabetes treatment, the Lagos State government, in partnership with Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals Nigeria Limited and Sunny Kuku Foundation, have opened a pioneer Insulin Support Centre called Base of Pyramid (BoP) initiative at General Hospital, Ikorodu, Lagos.

The Centre which is a one-stop shop would not only ensure availability of insulin and diabetes services ranging

from blood glucose test to dietary and life support but would be manned by health professionals, who will treat and run awareness campaign for diabetes patients.

The One - Stop- Shop will also be a place where people with diabetes will be offered guidance on how to manage their diabetes, get their blood glucose tested and get easy and fast access to insulin.

Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Femi Olugbile,

said many diabetes patients, have been picked up through the regular screening exercise and enrolled into the healthcare system, some others, however, have been left unscreened for various socio-cultural reasons.

He said the BoP, which would also serve as walk-in-and-get-tested centre, would fill the gap that currently exists in yearly diabetes screening programme.

On his part, Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals Vice-President in Africa, Gulf and India, Mads Bo Larsen, who noted that diabetes remain a problem all over

the world traced the high burden in Africa to lack of access to treatment and capacity available to treat patients which make the disease progress.

Larsen said the goal of the BoP is to ensure that as many people that are diabetic have accessible care at affordable rate.

Medical Director of Ikorodu General Hospital, Dr. Mobolaji Olukoya disclosed that the hospital have a total 640 registered diabetic patients. He expressed hope that the pilot project would translate to a greater modelling that can be extended to all Nigerians.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

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ELLO Uche, My husband thinks that I am not interested in intercourse anymore. The problem is that there are things about him that turn me off. When we started dating, he used to be funny and sharp in his dressing. He always made me laugh even though my friends thought that he was below my level. Years after we are now married, I now believe that he is truly below my level. He has body odour and mouth odour. His clothes look old and he doesn’t even seem to notice these things. I am not sexually attracted to him but I don’t know how to tell him. So I just make up excuses that I have a headache or that I am not in the mood – Margaret Dear Margaret, what you have complained about happens in relationships. I make no excuses for your husband but quite often, when men and women get married, their lives are so taken over by domestic needs that they focus all their attention on their children and family in general while neglecting to take care of themselves. That is why a lot of married people gain weight and stop being fashionable without even realising it.

But this is not a hopeless situation. A life style change is all that is required to fix this problem. It is likely that your husband would rather spend his money on you than on himself. Married men derive more satisfaction from taking care of their wives and children.

So this is what I suggest. Buy him the kind of clothes that you want him to wear. Buy him a deodorant and tell him about the mouth odour. Once he realises what you are trying to do, he will start making the effort to take better care of himself. We are often so worried about hurting our partner’s feelings that we say nothing while bigger problems develop. So tell him the truth. Believe me, men will do anything to get regular sex and if brushing his teeth ten times daily and smelling like roses is what it takes, he will do these things – Uche Please can I get Exploding Thunder supplement

from you? My friend told me about it and gave me one capsule to try. It was amazing. Energy and hard erections were in abundance after I took it and I had a good time all through the weekend. Please please get it for me. Some of my friends are also interested – Friday Friday call the numbers here or visit www.zeevirtualmedia.com to order for it. We have it now and I will ensure it is always in stock. Everybody who tried Exploding Thunder liked it – Uche Dear Uche, I think I am fine. My erections are okay except that I cum too quickly and I never have the energy for second round and my wife always wants more. What should I do? Thank you - Samuel Samuel sexual energy varies from person to person.

You may not have any major problem. Sometimes stress and tiredness is all that is responsible for lack of sexual energy. I recommend taking a natural energy boosting supplement one hour before intercourse. Wonderland Performance Drink is very good for this. For your premature ejaculation, you can use a penis sleeve like Nasstoys Penis Extender to delay your ejaculation or you can use a delay cream such as Max Control Delay Spray. Both products are very good for premature ejaculation – Uche When I am with my wife, I don’t get an erection.

But when I am with my girlfriend, I perform normally. I don’t know what to do – Kevin Kevin such problems are psychological. There are no drugs for it. Try watching an adult movie during intercourse with your wife. It will get your erection up by tricking your mind into believing you are in bed with someone else – Uche That’s all for today. Adults in need of these novelties can call us on 08027901621 or 08051924159 or any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com.

We deliver to you wherever you are in Nigeria. For enquiries email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com - Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

34—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

I can’t get her off my mind

A kick in the teeth from her toyboy Dear Bunmi I'M 55 and a divorced mother of two boys. For almost two years, I’ve been seeing a really kind, nice man aged 45.

I’ve had a wonderful time with him. He was a generous man and we shared a happy relationship, or so I thought.

A few weeks ago, we were getting ready to go to a friend’s daughter ’s wedding in another state when he phoned to say he couldn’t go away with me. He said he was no longer interested in the relationship as he’d found someone younger he wanted to settle down with. As you can imagine, I feel crushed — I can’t believe that when I thought we were so happy, he’d been seeing another

woman on a serious basis. Is there any way you can make me feel a bit better?

Osas, By e-mail Dear Osas, The shock of being rejected, combined with the realisation that you’d been completely wrong about this relationship, is bound to leave you feeling shattered. Only, I can’t make you feel better. I can only help you think this through and perhaps come to term with your loss.

Coping with loss means dealing with a confusion of feelings all at once. You’re probably blaming yourself for dating a man 10 years younger, but he must have

found a lot to love in you as well. You feel angry with him and angry at yourself for being taken for a ride and I expect you dread the thought of starting all over again— a daunting prospect at your current age.

But you can survive. This man turned out to be the wrong one for you. The next one might be more honest and you’re more likely to check out what his true feelings are as you go along.

In the meantime, re-connect with friends and family and keep busy. When you’re completely healed emotionally, you’ll be at peace with yourself — with or without a man.

Do I have to invite her boyfriend?

Dear Bunmi, I’m getting married in a few months and looking forward to it immensely. However, I have a problem. I’ll certainly be inviting a good friend I used to share a flat with, but I can’t stand her boyfriend — he’s rude and arrogant. My fiance dislikes him too, and is adamant he doesn’t want him at the wedding.

My friend doesn’t know how I feel and would probably hit the roof if I told her as she’s besotted with this man.

I know I must let my friend

choose her own boyfriends, but do I have to invite him to my wedding?

Ruki, By e-mail

Dear Ruki, It’s your wedding and you don’t have to invite anyone you don’t want to! But if the friendship with your exflatmate is important to you and you don’t want to jeopardise it, I don’t think you can invite her on her own.

Since it’s still some months away, with luck by then she’ll have given up this man you and your fiance have taken such dislike to.

But even if she hasn’t, you don’t have to be aware of him among the crowd of all your other friends and family. If you can’t bear to put this man’s name on the invitation, you could simply address it to your friend and add ‘ ... and guest.’ I hope you have a very happy day.

My womanising ex is getting on my nerves! getting on my nerves. What should I do?

Jumai Bye-mail Dear Jumai, Your ex-lover was looking for a bit of fun initially and was unprepared for the fact that he’d ended up having real feelings for you. But that doesn’t alter the fact that he’s a liar and a cheat. And while he may have two lovers on the go, there’s only one person who really matters to

’

Dear Bunmi, I’m 46 and a divorced mother of two teenage children. Three years ago, I met this man at a wedding and he told me straight away he was a married man.

Despite this we carried on seeing each other as I felt safe with him knowing the relationship wouldn’t go anywhere. He confided in me about his problems at home, saying the spark had gone out of his marriage and that he and his wife only had sex once in a blue moon. Later, however, I discovered that they’ve had another baby!

We still carried on seeing each other because the sex was great. He then started going out with another single mother and that was when I put a stop to his fleet-footing.

But he won’t leave me alone.

He phones me all the time and tells me if he were to leave his wife for anyone, I would be the one. Quite frankly, he’s

him—himself and his big ego.

Well done for having the courage to end the relationship and for not crumbling under pressure. If you’re to have any hope of future happiness with a new partner, you must continue to be strong. You deserve better than to be strung along by a man who is nothing but an adventurer. Tell him you’ve really no feelings for him any more and if possible invent a new lover!

If you’re to have any hope of future happiness with a new partner, you must continue to be strong. You deserve better than to be strung along by a man who is nothing but an adventurer

Dear Bunmi, I’m 24 and haven’t had much experience with girls.

Recently, I started noticing a girl who works in a big supermarket I frequent. I soon realised she likes me too— whenever she served me, I could sense it. Now, I say hello. I wanted to get to know her and ask her out but I didn’t know how.

Now, I’ve found out she has a boyfriend and I’ve cooled off a bit, but I can’t get her out of my mind. I keep thinking, if I don’t do something to bring us together, I’ll always regret it.

Andrew, Bye-mail

Dear Andrew, You’re right. This needs

My girl can’t feel me inside her!

Dear Bunmi, This is definitely an embarrassment. When I make love to my current girlfriend, she often wonders if I’m actually insider her or not. She admits feeling me when I first enter her, but then she loses the sensation. I’m not particularly small, so what do you think is wrong? I’ve never heard this complaint before from past girlfriends.

Abu By e-mail

Dear Abu, Some women feel the very first thrust of a man’s penis as he enters her, but after

that, while men feel every little wonderful movement, such women don’t. They get desensitized and numb, and may not feel very much at all until climax.

Why don’t you try shifting positions so your penis hits different bits of her vagina?

Encourage her to deliberately clench her muscles so they grab onto you. Clitoral stimululation may also help, so that she’s getting some sensation while you make love. But don’t panic if she says her vagina never feels at the centre of the action— that, too, is perfectly normal!

My mum’s giving herself a reputation Dear Bunmi, MY dad left the family three years ago and my parents are now divorced. For those three years, my mum steered clear of relationships but recently, she’s linked up with some of her friends and has suddenly started enjoying going to parties and outings with men. To date, I’ve counted five different men in the last eight months and none of them lasted more than a few weeks.

I’m really worried about her and would want her to slow down.

Julie, By e-mail.

Dear Julie,

’

following up, whatever the outcome. Even if she has a boyfriend, that doesn’t mean she can’t be friendly and if your instincts are right, she certainly seems interested in you. Next time you see her, introduce yourself and say you’ve been meaning to talk to her for ages. If she’s shy too, it won’t be easy, but don’t give up.

Suggest you meet for a snack or a drink when she finishes work one day. If she’s serious about her boyfriend she’ll probably refuse— gracefully, I hope! If not, she’ll agree and you can take if from there. Whatever she says, you have taken a chance. I think that’s better than wishing and wondering about her for the rest of your life. Good luck!

If your dad had left two months ago, I’d be worried too - your mum would be having sex just to ease the pain of him leaving and in the end would probably feel bad about herself and even more upset. But she’s taking time to recover from her heartache - and now she’s finding out what she does and doesn’t want. Let her realise that you’re there if she needs to talk, but don’t interfere in her new love life.

Gently get the message across to her that the highest rate in sexually transmitted disease is among over-forties, who think they’re not at risk.

You need to tactfully check she’s using condoms.

Share your problems and release your burden. Write now to Dear Bunmi, Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos. or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013 — 35

LEISURE

YOUR LUCK TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 LIBRA; Happenings within your working arena’ll give genuine cause to smile and with efforts on your part you’re in for a rewarding day. Take advantage of your sex-appeal to enhance your love life. Experiment with ideas creatively.

SCORPIO ; Creativity may take front in what’s happening within your base of operation and the best for you is to join them. Lovers are fairly favoured.

SAGITTARIUS ; Tomorrow is your great day. Yet your being creative today can earn you un-expected good result at the end of the day. Be family minded now.

CAPRICORN ; Needed solution to challenges along your career/business lines will come through your being creative. Prepare to take good advice on your finances.

AQUARIUS; If you take unusual ideas coming to your mind today more seriously, thins’ll work favourably for you. The more financially ambitious you’re the better.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

A

RE you doing a good job? Fine!

So is the neighbour next door. What about your career, good?

There are probably a thousand and one individuals having a good career. What about your business?

Not doing badly? So are other people’s

... What else? businesses not doing badly too. But pause and think: Are you satisfied with your achievement so far?

If your answer to the above question is no, then ask yourself what is responsible

for your little success inspite of your great potential? Are you doing routine work?

Are you doing just what others are doing? Are you doing just enough to keep you going?

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”

You will not get super success if you continue to do routine and ordinary things. For hyper success, after doing the expected things, ask yourself -- what else can I do? Do more than is expected of me? Give the extra?

By Lanre Kehinde

PISCES; The Moon in your Star sign favours aggressive approach in a favourable way. Here is a day Artist among you can create master piece. Be stead-fast.

ARIES You’ll have much to gain if you’re more co-operative and embrace creative ideas of your close associates.

And it’s good to be friendly, loving and caring.

TAURUS ; Aggressive approach is not what you need at work now, but creative approach. You’ve got nothing to lose if you take good advice from your friends.

GEMINI ; Whatever anybody says about your ambition and desire success will crown your efforts today. The more creative you are the better for your cause. And lovers can make it an exciting and happy day. Show your sex appeal and be loving.

CANCER; Your ideas are brilliant and if you blend them creatively the sky’ll be the limit. Let people within your home base know that you truly care for them.

LEO; It does not matter who initiates creative idea that lead to success what is important is you should not be left in the cold all alone. The more co-operative you are the better for you. Don’t ignore your magnetic se-appeal.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

VIRGO.; Good luck and happiness indicated for you today. But then, the scope of your success’ll depend on how co-operative and creative you are both with your loved one and at work. Prepare to take good advice especially from younger person(s).

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

Basic characteristics of Capricorn Because they rarely day dream, Capricorn natives are set of practical people. This is because Capricorn is ruled by Saturn - the planet of career, sceptical and material things Although, the spirit of pessimism often times tempt the Capricorn born people, to succeed they will need to develop strong will that is indispensable to achievements of higher order because, series of challenges will come his/her way before he/she finally makes it to the top. Most natives of Capricorn are forced to shoulder many responsibilities early in life. Career building comes first in their priority lists which often leads to enviable career achievements that guarantee recognition. And another name for Capricorn is PATIENCE. Yet, he/she can appear mean in the business circle. And tell you that seriousness and business are synonymous. Above all, they are endowed with leadership capacity.

Capricorn ‘s quality is cardinal, element is the earth.

The cardinal aspect makes a natural leader with strong ability for hard work. Natives of cardinal signs crave for action and strongly desire prominence and often times make success of their love of action and desire for importance through relentless efforts.

The earthly connection with Capricorn further confirms innate ability for hard work and practicality .

Saturn is the planet of hard task, delay, depression, frustration, frustration but reward after so much struggles. Being a difficult teacher, Saturn usually takes its natives through many different tasks, challenges and delay. All these are meant to teach them virtues of patience and hard work. However, Saturn usually brings its natives recognition and reward.

The cautious side of Saturn always manifest in all Capricorn born people thus, but it is necessary for them to watch that side of their characteristics as they often push their cautious side too far and most of the time it results to black mood.

VIRGINIA

Commen3

dadadekola@yahoo.com

by Lawrence Akapa

36— Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

Oyerinde: CONGOS asks Police Commission to probe DIG Gana, others agencies in the country.

“We appeal to your Commission to ENIN CITY — CIVIL Society suspend Mr. Gana and other officers Organisations in Edo State, involved in this shabby investigation CONGOS, has called on the Police while a probe into the investigation is Service Commission, PSC, to probe the carried out and those found wanting investigation carried out by Nigerian tried to restore the image of the Nigeria Police Force, headed by Mr. Peter Gana Police.

“On July 27, 2012, a bosom friend of into the May 4, 2012 killing of the the slain secretary, and Executive Principal Private Secretary, PPS, to the Edo State Governor, Mr. Adams Director of a leading civil society organisation, Africa Network for Oshiomhole, Mr. Olaitan Oyerinde.

The group in a petition, by Mr. Environment and Economic Justice, Kaduna Eboigobodin and 13 others, ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor, was addressed to the PSC Chairman, Mr arrested by the Police, Federal Criminal Parry Osayande (rtd) said, “civil society Investigative Department, with reason organisations in Edo state are that there was a singular and dissatisfied with the show of shame by unconfirmed statement of a suspect, the Nigerian Police and the who they said, “confessed” that it was contradictions it had fed the public on one “David” that masterminded the the findings of the two security assassination.

“Though, Ugolor has been freed, we are still not satisfied, as satisfaction can only come when justice

BY SAMUEL OYADON- out amnesty for the Boko prevails. As we speak, GHA Haram sect, whose justice has not members have chosen to prevailed.

E N A G O A — remain faceless. What "This is because it is not S E N A T O R the Federal Government about Ugolor, it is about Clever Ikisikpo has is saying is that we the Nigerian state, it is defended the Federal cannot give you money about how Nigerians will Government’s decision when we don’t know who continue to view the not to grant amnesty to you are. You give police and how the Boko Haram something to somebody Nigerians will take insurgents, noting it was you know. seriously the “Some people are transformation message impossible to grant amnesty to unknown comparing Boko Haram of President Goodluck to the Niger Delta former Jonathan. persons.

Ikisikpo in an interview militants, but, in Niger “On August 1, 2012 , with Vanguard shortly Delta, if you call them Department of State after his thanksgiving (the militants), they will Security, DSS, paraded service at Kolo in Ogbia come out. But the Boko another set of suspects in Local Government Area Haram don’t and how do Abuja, and unlike the of Bayelsa State, said you want the Federal suspects in the police though amnesty was a Government to grant custody, who denied the means to rehabilitate and amnesty to them. allegation at that time, "What the government the DSS suspects gave integrate back into the society, persons who are is saying, which I also vivid and graphical prepared to change for believe, is they need description of how they good, it cannot be given rehabilitation, we need to killed Oyerinde, saying to persons who choose to integrate them into it was an armed robbery society. But how do we that went awry." remain faceless.

He said: “The President do so when they are was right to have ruled faceless?”

EMMAAMAIZE

B

Amnesty: Ikisikpo defends FG's stand on Boko Haram

Y

2015 guber: Deltans told to de-emphasise ethnicity

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI — NATIONAL Chairman of Urhobo Political Movement, UPM, Chief Ominimini Obiuwebvi, has urged Deltans to deemphasise ethnicity but use credibility and purposeful leadership as their yardstick in the election of the state governor in 2015.

Obiuwevwi, who spoke with newsmen shortly after a general meeting of the group in Agbarho, Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state, stressed the need for a detribalised Deltan to be given the opportunity to govern the state in 2015.

“We are opposed to ethnic agenda.

We want a governor, who is credible to take over from the current

administration in 2015. We are saying ‘no’ to ethnic agenda. Our yardstick for selection will be credibility and purposeful leadership,” he said.

On insinuations that the Urhobo people were being marginalised, he said: “The Urhobo people are the most educated and wealthy in the state.

There is no way any tribe can marginalise the Urhobo nation. The Urhobos from the onset are very peaceful people.

“Anybody executing ethnic agenda is a thief. Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan emerged in a keenly contested competition in 2007. In 2007, it was a collective decision of the people of Delta State to choose the most credible person as governor of the state. We will continue to support the most credible person.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013—37

Court to rule on application for DNA test in divorce suit

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN—FOLLOW ING allegation of adultery made by a top manager (name withheld) in one of the new generation banks in Benin City, Edo State, against his wife in a divorce suit before the state High Court sitting in Okada, the court has adjourned till March 22, to rule on an application for a DNA test on the two children of the couple.

The wife of the bank Manager (names withheld), also a staff of one of the new generation banks in Benin City, had in the suit, sought for the dissolution of the marriage, which she contracted with the respondent on November 2, 2002, over alleged uncaring attitude of the husband to the family.

The request for DNA test was made by counsel to the respondent, Mr L. Asirawede, when the woman confessed during cross examination that their land lord, who is now late, was the father of their last child.

Consequent upon her disclosure, the respondent informed the court that the other two children might not be his, and therefore amended his earlier application requesting for a DNA for the two children to enable him ascertain their biological father.

The trial judge, Justice Ehigiamusoe, thereafter, adjourned till March 22, to rule on whether a DNA should be conducted on the two children.

Cyprus Varsity, Amnesty Office differ over ex-militants’ withdrawal

BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North

B

ARELY four months after 67 ex-militants were withdrawn from Intercollege Larnaca, Cyprus, the university has fired back at the Amnesty Office in Nigeria, claiming that it was qualified to offer professional training for the ex-combatants and reintegrate them into normal life.

The university denied allegation by the Amnesty Office that it withdrew the students because the college was not accredited by relevant professional bodies to offer appropriate courses to the former militants.

The institution said in a letter sent to Vanguard, yesterday, that it was wrong for the Amnesty Office in Nigeria to claim that the students were withdrawn because the institution was not accredited to offer relevant courses for which the students were admitted.

The letter, by its Director, Dr. Nicos Nicolaou, said that Intercollege was duly accredited by relevant educational bodies in Europe to train students from diploma

to postgraduate programmes.

Nicolaou explained that the Niger Delta students were admitted for a programme run by a partner, United Kingdom Agency, which would require them to complete their training in a UK

institution after paying additional fees of about a thousand pounds each.

The university said Intercollege is one of the best schools in the region and had been recognised and honoured by many global educational bodies.

TRADE FAIR: President, Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Mines and Agriculture, ECCIMA, Dr. Theo Okonkwo (left) and Nigerian Ambassador to Vietnam, Amb. Matthias Okafor, during the Vietnam Day at the 24th Enugu International Trade Fair. Photo: Hill Ezeugwu.

2013 Women Day Award: Ijaw hail Okei-Odumakin

T

HE Ijaw Monitor ing Group, IMG, has described Dr. Josephine Okei-Odumakin, the winner of 2013 International Woman of Courage Award, as a blessing to Nigerian women in particular and Africa in general.

In a congratulatory message, Comrade Joseph Evah, Coordinator of IMG, the Ijaw said that Dr. Odumakin is a daughter of the Niger Delta region whose passion for the survival of the less privileged has become a reference point

It said: “We are an organisation with four campuses, the leading indepdendent tertiary education provider in Cyprus, the result of solid and systematic work by all, administration, faculty and staff, as well as the total contribution of the institution to tertiary institution not only in Cyprus but also in the region."

in world affairs.

He said: “The presentation of this year’s International Woman of Courage Award to our daughter of distinction by the American First Lady Mrs. Michelle Obama and American Secretary of State, John Kerry, before a global audience is an appreciation of our daughter’s uncommon service to humanity by the international community.

“The history of the struggle for a better Nigeria is not complete without the name of Okei-Odumakin and we

urge Nigerian women to continue to give her all necessary support to enable her effectively promote the course of women and children."

Edo College Old Boys meet

E

DO College Old Boys Association, ECOBA, Lagos Branch, will on Sunday, March 24, hold its bimonthly general meeting at the Zasarii Di Lusso Hotel, 13, Cornelius Odinjor Street, Lekki, Lagos, to be chaired by the associations Chairman, Senator Victor Oyofo.

The meeting, to commence at 3pm, is to be hosted by the Class of ‘83, according to the class coordinator, Mr. Adegboyega Jamgbadi, who noted that the Class will this year celebrate its 30th anniversary since graduating from the school.

Reyenieju gets kudos over Commonwealth parliamentary election

BY DANIEL GUMM

W

ARRI—A COALITION of political pressure groups, Eager Network for Development of Warri, ENDOW, yesterday, said that the election of Mr. Daniel Reyenieju as Vice-Chairman, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, African Region, has vindicated its earlier position that Reyenieju should re-run in 2015 because of his experience and increasing political network.

ENDOW noted Reyenieju’s calm, consultative and strategic contributions both within and outside the floor of the House Representatives on issues affecting the Niger Delta people in general and Warri Federal constituency in particular, and called on him to run again in the 2015 general polls.

The coalition, in a statement by its Chairman, Mr Ernest Ebisanine also called on Mr. Griftson Omatsuli, former Chief Whip of Warri South Legislative Arm, to contest the Warri South Constituency 1 seat in Delta State House of Assembly.

38 —Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

FG wants increased Chinese investment in Nigeria

BY VICTORIA OJEME

A

BUJA — THE Federal Government has called for an increased Chinese investment in the nation’s economy as part of measures to boost existing bilateral relations between both countries.

The Minister for Foreign affairs, Ambassador Olugbega Ashiru, made the call while receiving in his office, yesterday, a Chinese delegation, led by the special representative for African Affairs, Zhong Jianlura.

This came on a day the minister tasked newly recruited cadets in the foreign service to be patriotic in the discharge of their duties.

The Minister further reaffirmed that the two countries could cooperate in several economic key sectors, including power, agriculture, transportation and road construction, ”where China is active and where we could work together.”

Passage

T

HE family of the late Professor John Olubi Sodipo (the foundation ViceChancellor of Olabisi Onabanjo University) announces the demise of his wife, Otunba (Mrs) Florence Oyedokun Sodipo nee Oworu. She died in her sleep on February 18, 2013 at the age of 80 years.

Otunba Sodipo was born in Orunwa, north of Ijebu-Ode in 1932 into a Christian family and attended Methodist Primary School, Ijebu Ode and Teachers Training College, Iperu.

She is survived by Otunba (Dr). Femi Sodipo, Mr. Biyi Sodipo, Arch. Simbo AkinolaOdusola, Barr. Toye Sodipo and Mrs Tomi Adekoya and many grandchildren.

Burial arrangements have been fixed for April 17-19, 2013.

Late Otunba (Mrs) Florence Oyedokun Sodipo

Imo dep gov’s impeachment suffers setback ....As CJ fails to swear in panellists

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI — THE impeachment process of Imo State Deputy Governor, Sir Jude Agbaso, suffered a huge setback, yesterday, following the inability of the state Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Benjamin Ahanonu Njemanze, to swear-in the panellists as planned.

Although all the panellists were present in the Chief Judge’s court hall for the swearing-in, Justice Njemanze did not, however, go on with the exercise as the matter was pending in another court.

Vanguard recalls that Justice Njemanze had, last weekend, constituted a seven-member judicial panel, headed by Justice G. Ihekire, to investigate allegation of misconduct against the Deputy Governor, Sir Jude Agbaso.

Other members of the panel include Vin Onyeka, Egeonu Mere, Elder Humphrey Ajaelu, Mrs. Cecilia Chinyere Oladimeji, James Gozie Nze and Okparaku Nwarie.

Apart from the letter he received from the Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Njemanze also hinged his action pursuant to Section 188(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended,

and other laws enabling him in that behalf.

Agbaso was accused, among other things, of trying to enrich himself as well as cause JPROS International to transfer N458 million in two installments to two different bank accounts, on the

promise of award of two 15kilometre road contract in the state’s rural roads construction programme.

The deputy governor was told that the payment led to the abandonment of the execution of the contract by the contractor for

Representative of Enugu State Governor, Mr. Jude Akubuilo flanked on the right by the representative of the President of NACCIMA, Ide. J.C. Udeagbala; Economic Adviser to the Enugu State Governor, Prince Ogbogu Asogwa and President, Enugu State Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Theo Okonkwo, 2nd Deputy President of ECCIMA, Elder Ugo Chime, during the opening the 24th Enugu State International Trade Fair.

Anambra PDP blame crisis on national leadership

BY ENYIM ENYIM

A

WKA — STAKEHOLDERS of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Anambra State have blamed the protracted crisis in the party on past and present national leadership.

Rising from a reconciliation meeting convened by former running mate to Prof. Charles Soludo in the 2010 governorship election and governorship aspirant in the scheduled November 16, 2013, gubernatorial poll, Senator Emma Anosike, the stakeholders fingered the national publicity secretary of the party, Mr Olisa Metu, for being complacent in the matter.

According to the group, the national leadership of the PDP had been responsible for the seemingly unending crisis in the party in Anambra State for the 11 years.

However, the group resolved to accost Metu with the matter, with a view to prevailing on him to cause the resolution of the long standing crisis to enable the party capture Anambra State in the forthcoming governorship poll.

Speaking on the occasion, Senator Emma Anosike said there was need for members of the party to come together as one family to contest and have a landslide victory in the November

lack of funds, especially when Agbaso was unable to award the new contracts.

“This conduct amounts to gross misconduct in the performance of your duty as a deputy governor and Commissioner for Works and Transport,” the chief judge stated.

governorship election.

He regretted that the PDP crisis in Anambra State had lasted for so long and affected the electoral fortunes of the party in the past.

Anosike appealed to the national leadership of the party to resolve the matter immediately, if the party must win the forthcoming election.

JDPC urges FG to reverse Alamieyeseigha’s pardon

BY OLAYINKA LATONA

L

AGOS — THE Justice Development and Peace Commission, JDPC, of the Catholic Church has asked the Federal Government to reverse the pardon granted former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.

The JDPC also called for proactive measures to tackle insecurity and other challenges confronting the country.

Speaking on the state of the nation at a press conference in Lagos, JDPC Executive Director, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Fadele lamented that the position of Nigeria as 135th of 176 corrupt countries in the world according to the Global Corruption Perception Index only made a mockery of the nation’s anti-corruption

campaign, groups and the nation’s leaders He said: “According to Human Rights Watch, Nigeria lost $38 billion to corruption between 1999 and 2007; in 2010,civil servants pocketed N450 billion in the present administration alone while about N5 trillion could not be accounted for. They loot mindlessly and mercilessly.

“Nigeria has organs like the EFCC, Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) charged with the responsibility of sniffing out corrupt people and dealing with them accordingly, but they work discordantly, pursuing ephemeral small thieves like Internet scammers, cash couriers, pipeline vandals, among others." …

My short stay as Anambra gov was divine —Ubah

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

A

WKA — CHAIRMAN, Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Senator Andy Ubah, has described his short stay in office as governor of Anambra State in 2007 as ‘’divine.’.

He said having spent only 17 days in office before being removed by the court, "God used the removal to teach me some lessons which had been beneficial to me.’’

Speaking during an interactive session with members of Enugu Sports Club as well as students from tertiary institutions from across Enugu State in Enugu, weekend, Uba, representing Anambra South Senatorial district, gave a rundown of how he started his life, noting that hard work always paid.

On the position of Igbo in national politics, he called on Ndigbo to re-discover the enterprising and hard working spirit bequeathed to them by their progenitors by making use of such to advance their political interests in the country.

Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013 —39

LAUNCH: From left— Mr. Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy Senate President;`Mr. Abba Moro, Minister of Interior; Dr. Samuel Ortom, Minister of State, Trade and Investment; Mr. Emeka Wogu, Minister of Labour and Productivity, and Mrs Anastasia Daniel- Nwaobia, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, during the launching of Citizenship and Business Automation E-Citibiz web portal in Abuja, Monday.

INSPECTION: Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State on the phone with the contractor for Model School, Alekunwodo, Osogbo, during and unscheduled inspection of ongoing works in the school. With him is Mr. Elijah Akintola, Site Engineer.

WINNER: Mr. Ugochukwu Nwosu (right) and Mr. Ugochukwu Okoloedo, Area Sales Manager, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Port-Harcourt, at the presentation of a car to Mr. Nwosu, winner of Indomie Sub-Distributors promo star prize in Port-Harcourt.

COMMUNITY DEVT : Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan, Chairman, Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (right), addressing members of Ifelodun Tonade Community Development Association, CDA, during his tour of 74 CDAS in the council area.

C M Y K

SUPPORT EDUCATION : From right— Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State; Mr. Wale Alawiye-King, Chairman, House Committee on Education, and Mrs. Adeolu Idowu, Director, Legal Services, Etisalat Nigeria, at the Support Our Schools Initiative Corporate Social Responsibility Awards/Breakfast meeting of Lagos State Ministry of Education in Lagos.

INSPECTION: From left— Mr. Abdulnasir Hajaig, Managing Director, Hajaig Construction Company; Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State; Mr. Hameed Jamel, Site Engineer, Hajaig; and Mr. Sunday Adumo, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Roads, during the inspection of ongoing construction of the Iworoko-Ifaki Road, Ado-Ekiti, Monday.

BOOK PRESENTATION: From left— Mr. Clement Iloba, Public Affairs Manager, Julius Berger Nigeria; Nse Martina, Principal; and Zubairu Jubril, Vice Principal, both of Government Secondary School, Tudun Wada Wuse, during the donation of 200 books by the construction firm to the school library in Abuja. PHOTO: Gbemiga Olamikan.

ANTI-MOSQUITO: From left— Oba Mudashiru Odejobi, Alagodo of Agodo; Mr. Jimmy Bello, Supervisor for Health, Egbe-Idimu LCDA; Mr. Mohammed Fouani, Managing Director, Fouani Nigeria Limited; Mr. Junhwa Jeong, GM, Air Conditioning and Energy Solutions; and Mr. Charles Asinugo, Marketing Director, both of LG Electronics West Africa Operations, during the presentation of antimosquito air conditioners and treated mosquito nets to Agodo Health Centre in Egbe, Lagos.

40—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

ABU sacks 17

K

ADUNA—SEVENTEEN workers of the Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria, Kaduna State, have been relieved of their appointments by the authorities of the institution.

Acting Registrar of the institution, Malam Ahmed Kundila, announced this in a special news bulletin issued in Zaria, yesterday.

The bulletin read: “Governing Council of ABU at its regular meeting held on January 25 and 26, considered the report of the senior staff disciplinary committee on some cases of staff discipline referred to it by the management.

“The nature of the offences ranged from violation of study fellowship, leave of absence term to gross misconduct.”

According to the bulletin, the council, however, decided to re-instate Malam Salihu Babale of Public Affairs Department, terminated the appointment of six and dismissed 11 others, after careful deliberations.

FG inaugurates BEA scholarship

I

LORIN—MINISTRY of Education has inaugurated a Bilateral Education Agreement, BEA, scholarship programme for the 2013/ 2014 session.

Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyat Rufai in a speech at the ceremony in Ilorin, Kwara State, said that selected students in six states in the North Central zone, including the FCT, would be interviewed for the programme.

She said that the scholarship programme was as a result of the partnership the country had with its international agencies on education exchange programme.

The minister also said the programme was tenable with countries such as Russia, China and Ukraine, among others.

Speaking earlier, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State, said he was happy that the state was hosting the programme.

DONATION: From left— Mrs Yemisi Suswam, wife of Benue State governor (middle), Mrs Patricia Aghayere of Actlap Children Foundation, Canada (2nd left); and Dr. Paul Orhii, Director-General, National Agency for Food Administration and Control, NAFDAC (right), at the donation of anti-retroviral drugs by the Foundation in Markudi.

Alamieyeseigha: FG has endorsed corruption— CNPP

BY PETER DURU

M

AKURDI—CONFERENCE of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, has described the controversial pardon granted former Bayelsa State governor, Dieprieye Alamieyeseigha by President Goodluck Jonathan as an “endorsement of corruption and corrupt practices in Nigeria.”

Benue State Chairman of CNPP, Mr. Baba Agan, made this known yesterday while speaking in an interview with Vanguard in Makurdi, the state capital.

He said: “The decision of the administration was a clear indication that we are in the most corrupt era of our national history and development.

“How can Nigerians trust this government any more when it is glaringly supporting and encouraging individuals to loot the collective wealth of the people? What they have done is nothing but a slap on our collective interest and values as Nigerians because the world would continue to despise us as a people.

“Nigeria has suddenly become a reference point when the issue of corruption is mentioned in any part of the world just because our leaders have suddenly taken our collective destiny to a gambling table for reasons best known to them.

“They seem to forget that no man can play God on the surface of the earth: as leaders, we must have this at the back of our minds in all decisions we take at any given time.

“After all the voice of the

people is the voice of God, and if the people are against any decision of government

those in authority should learn to interpret same as God’s voice.”

Red alert: NEMA warns of flooding

BY EMEKA MAMAH

D

IRECTOR-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Alhaji Mohammed Sidi, yesterday, said Nigerians would witness heavy flooding during the forthcoming rainy season, but assured that the agency had reached out to all stakeholders to ensure “ we achieve effective disaster management.”

Alhaji Sidi spoke, yesterday, in Abuja when NEMA, National Orientation Agency, NOA; and National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, NESREA, signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, to coordinate efforts aimed at influencing attitudinal change towards the environment.

“We are going to have floods this year,” Sidi said, but assured Nigerians that NEMA was prepared for better response to emergencies this year.

According to the three agencies, the MoU will help to streamline activities of the stakeholders to provide information and remedies in the event of flooding as predicted by NIMET. Speaking at a joint press conference by the chief executives of the three agen-

cies, the Director-General of NOA, Mr. Mike Omeri, said President Goodluck Jonathan has directed all agencies of government responsible for mass sensitisation on disaster mitigation to get together to improve awareness of the problems in the country.

He said the directive led to several meetings of the affected agencies, culminating in the tripartite MoU. Omeri said the three agencies had evolved strategies that would mitigate the outcome of the “heavy” rainfall as forecast

by Nigeria Meteorological Agency, and urged Nigerians to imbibe what he called an “attitude adjustment” to address poor waste disposal habits.

Omeri said: “Out of grave concern, the Federal Government has directed that proper strategies be evolved to deal with flooding. The three agencies have agreed to work together to increase the impact of government’s concern on the issue.”

Director-General of NESREA, Mrs. Ngeri Benebo, spoke of the need for drastic action to change the attitude of Nigerians towards the environment to prevent “future man-made disasters” as climate change would result in heavier rainfall this year.

Lawmaker joins call for Boko Haram amnesty

BY SUZAN EDEH

S

ENATOR representing Bauchi Central District, Abdul Ningi has appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to reconsider his decision not to grant amnesty to Boko Haram Islamist group, saying the present insecurity challenges in the country needed to be addressed to avert further loss of lives and property.

He said Federal Government was ‘’greatly’’ marginalising the NorthEast geo-political zone in the scheme of things by abandoning the area in the heat of Boko Haram menace in some parts of the north.

Ningi spoke, yesterday, at the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, N o r t h - E a s t Stakeholders’ meeting in Bauchi, the state capital.

According to Ningi, the security situation in the country was tense and very disturbing, hence the need to grant amnesty to Boko Haram group, which had been waging war against the country to put an end to problem.

He said: “If these groups are demanding for amnesty, please for the sake of the lives of other innocent people and the peace and progress of this nation, they should be given what they are asking for.

“Since the insurgence of Boko Haram in 2001, count the number of lives we have lost."

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20 , 2013 — 41

42—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

Winds against Ajimobi’s soul in Oyo AFTER a year or so of lethargy even his enemies are agreed that Governor Abiola Ajimobi is now making progress in the governance of Oyo State. But along with success in the workplace, the governor is also being entangled on the political field.

BY OLA AJAYI

T

HE Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN through which Governor Abiola Ajimobi ascended to power is now fully engulfed in a crisis and is practically split into three factions.

Senator Ajimobi joined the ACN from the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, the platform he used for his unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign in 2007.

His entry into the ACN prior to the 2011 elections and his choice as the party ’s gubernatorial candidate were indeed laced in intrigues.

At that time, the then state leader of the party, late Lamidi Adesina was known to have only reluctantly caved in to the nomination of Ajimobi.

The late Lam, apparently

was mindful of the previous misunderstanding which drove Ajimobi away from him prior to the 2007 election. It was as such not surprising that ahead of the 2011 election that Lam was said to have favoured a serving senator, Olufemi Lanlehin ahead of Ajimobi.

Genesis

However, trouble started immediately after the party won the gubernatorial election as the various tendencies in the party struggled for ascendency in the nomination of candidates into the cabinet.

Many of the aggrieved party members who felt marginalized lamented that they would not open their eyes while those who did not work for the party’s victory

would be enjoying their labour.

Besides the rancour over the filling of the cabinet, many party supporters are also miffed by the over-riding influence of the wife of the governor, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi in the affairs of the party.

Even more troubling is the emerging crisis on the position of state leader of the party following the demise of Lam, himself a former governor of the state.

While some beneficiaries of Ajimobi’s government see the governor as the leader of the party in the state, others are of the view that the practice in the opposition party, PDP where the state governor automatically becomes the leader of the party should not be imported into the broom party. Others are, however,

,

•Ajimobi: Fixed gaze on 2015

calling for the enthronement of a former Secretary to the State Government, Chief Micheal Koleosho as the new leader of the party in the state.

A party stalwart in Saki West Local Government, Chief Micheal Ajibade recently described as disgusting and uncalled for, what he described as the orchestrated campaign by some individuals who are trying to plant a seed of discord within the party on the issue of the leadership of the party.

Chief Ajibade described people who are calling on Koleosho to be the state leader as being economical with the truth or playing mischief.

“Let me put the record straight, the former progressive governors from first republic till date combined both the public office and that of party leadership. Those who readily come to mind include: Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Bola Ige, Alhaji Lam Adesina. If they all occupied both positions what then stops Governor Abiola Ajimobi from combining both,” Ajibade queried.

Questioning Koleosho’s qualification for the position, he said: “it is same Koleosho that incited Ajimobi against former Lam Adesina on the issue of who should control the party, saying, being the governor he should be the state leader of the party. But Governor Ajimobi handled the issue with maturity.”

Many political analysts believe that if Ajimobi refused

Ajimobi have congregated under the Senator Ajimobi Campaign Organisation, SENACO, supporters of Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, are known as SOLAN while the third leg of the party are remnants of the support base of the late Lam Adesina.

Interestingly, Lam’s supporters and SOLAN are presently at daggers drawn with the governor.

The crisis in the party reached a climax recently when some members of the party demanded the outright removal of the State Chairman, Chief Akin Oke, and other members of the State executive.

They took their grievance into a protest to the party office where they carried placards with inscriptions such as “Governor, enough of Madam’s interest, Akin Oke Must Go; he is a traitor ” among others.

They vowed not to relent until the chairman and others were removed. Members of the NURTW were said to have attacked the protesters at the party secretariat in Yemetu, Ibadan.

The leaders of the protest, Messrs Sola Oyediran from Ibadan North-East Local Government and Sarumi Ibrahim Olawale, from Ibadan South-West Local Government councils, complained that they were fed up with the leadership of the party describing as unacceptable the delay in conducting council election.

They also called for

many party supporters are also miffed by the over-riding influence of the wife of the governor, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi in the affairs of the party.

to give heed to Lam Adesina, that it would be surprising for him to cave in to Koleosho or others whose influence and political aura could not match that of Lam. The ACN Publicity Secretary in the state, Mr. Dauda Kolawole, however, denies any knowledge of rift in the party saying “ what is happening now is mere individual differences. Those who complain they are being side-lined will be taken care of.”

His claim nonetheless, it is now generally agreed that the ACN in Oyo State is now split in three. Supporters of

,

“severance of all links with the office and/or person of the first lady of Oyo State in the running of the affairs of ACN in Oyo State; re-instatement of all suspended and dissolved wards and local government party executives and the dissolution of all the illegally constituted caretaker executives in the affected wards and local governments.”

Though, the leadership of the party believes the crisis would soon fizzle out, but those who look deeply see more serious trouble ahead.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013 —43

Senator Ewherido's Yellow Card for bad employers CORPORATE organizations and employers who have until now looked aside on issues concerning the wellbeing of their employees in the workplace could now be liable under an innovative legislative proposal from Senator Pius Ewherido.

BY HENRY UMORU

F

OR corporate organizations who have put profit above the lives of their workers the day of reckoning is at hand. A bill currently in the works in the senate aims to make corporate bodies criminally liable for breaches of safety that cause physical infirmity of their staff within the work place.

The push is coming through a bill sponsored by Senator Pius Ehwerido, DPP, Delta Central which prescribes various punishments for corporate organizations and their officials who are negligent towards the safety of their employees.

The bill entitled “a bill for an act to make provisions creating the offence of corporate manslaughter and for matters incidental thereto 2013.

Though the initiative from Senator Ehwerido was almost universally acclaimed, the process he has adopted was, however, not without some controversy as some of his colleagues led by the deputy senate president, Senator Ike Ekweremadu faulted it.

But irrespective of the

O

NE very close associate of Dipereye Alamieyeseigha was in jubilant mood last Thursday as the news of the presidential pardon of the former governor convicted of corruption distilled on Nigerians.

The associate, himself, a top ranking member of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN was particularly scornful of the condemnation of the pardon by Afenifere, the Yoruba sociopolitical group.

Irrespective of the near universal condemnation, the politician told your correspondent that he and other associates of the former governor were converging for a wild party in the Abuja residence of Alamieyeseigha that evening.

Whatever jubilation among friends of the governor-general would be understandable.

Besides, lifting the ignominy of being an ex-convict, it may have opened the way for Alamieyeseigha to further whatever political ambitions he may have.

Remarkably, this would not be the first time that Alamieyeseigha would be returning from the cold.

The first resurrection was in

*Ewherido: Yellow card for bad bosses legalese employed by Ekweremadu and a few others, Ehwerido’s bill was, nevertheless generally regarded as a yellow card for

corporate organizations with an inclination towards bad behaviour.

Presenting the bill to the senate in p l e a n a r y, Ehwerido, remarkably the only Democratic Peoples Party, DPP senator in the chamber, said the bill aimed to address the lacuna in the criminal code which did not m a k e provision for such acts as corporate negligence as a result of developments at the time of

the promulgation of the criminal code almost 100 years ago. ‘’This bill seeks to create the offences of corporate

POLITICAL METABOLISM with

EMMANUEL AZIKEN detritetradetoxifiedpolitics@gmail.com SMS 08052201189

Alams resurrects!

June 2001 when he was about to become the first sitting governor of that era to be impeached. The Bayelsa State House of Assembly which had Heineken Lokpobiri, now a senator, as speaker, had raised issues over alleged extrabudgetary expenditure and irregularities in appointments into boards made by Governor Alamieyeseigha. The Lokpbobiri led house and Alamieyeseigha were drawn in a battle of wits that some believed could have snowballed into ominous dangers for the governor.

The ‘intransigence’ of the house was matched with swift reprisal from Alamieyeseigha’s sympathisers at the end of which the House of Assembly complex was bombed, and Lokpobiri

removed as speaker. Lokpobori eventually spent the rest of his tenure on exile.

By mid 2002 Alamieyeseigha, together with another famed governor of that time, James Ibori of Delta State had positioned themselves as the leading political champions of the southsouth geopolitical zone. It was inevitable that when the consequences came the two would become primary targets.

For Ibori, the first dose was the initiation of the ex-convict saga.

For Alamieyeseigha, he was marked with Governor Chinwoke Mbadiniju of Anambra State for denial of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP gubernatorial ticket for the 2003 elections.

In the place of Alamieyeseigha,

manslaughter to make corporate bodies, entities and agencies culpable for their willful acts of negligence, dereliction of duty and or gross incompetence which lead to any event causing the death of a person and accessory to corporate manslaughter for persons who while working with corporate bodies and agencies fail, negligently perform and or sabotage their employers which result in any event causing the death of a person,” Ewherido said.

Explaining offence of Corporate Manslaughter, Senator Ewherido said, ‘’any act of willful negligence, dereliction of duty and or gross incompetence in the course of the legitimate activities of a body corporate, government department or agency specified in the schedule to this section, which causes the death of a person to whom the body is contractually bound howsoever or to whom the body by its activities owes a duty of care under common law is guilty of the offence of corporate manslaughter.”

Support for the bill came from Senators Magnus Abe, PDP, Rivers South, James Manager PDP, Delta South among others.

Emphasizing his opposition to the bill, Ekweremadu, PDP, Enugu West said, ‘’I do not intend to support this bill. In content, I have a problem with it. I have not seen man slaughter bill of UK or Hong Kong.

In terms of law, when you

talk about manslaughter, the punishment is jail but in terms of corporate manslaughter, you cannot take an organization to jail, I think there is a misconception and I think our senator should have a rethink. There is no instance of fear he is trying to express. It is entirely hypothetical.”

Senators Heineken Lokpobiri, PDP, Bayelsa Westand Paulinus Igwe PDP, Ebonyi Central also gave mixed support to the proposal.

Following the submissions, the bill was read the second time and passed on to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Human Rights for further legislative action.

As the senate president, Senator David Mark said: "It is a technical issue and that is why I concentrated on asking lawyers. We cannot pretend what it contains. If you convict a company, what happens? There is need for the public to be part of this bill.”

"Committee on judiciary should filter and bring a balance of what public opinion would be. Once you engage lawyers to sort out issues, they come with divergent opinions. I join others to appeal that we allow for public hearing and debate because it will be very interesting.”

Indeed, Senator Ewherido has indeed provoked an interesting debate that is bound to generate much attention from both corporate and individual Nigerians.

Timi Alaibe, popularly referred to as "Principal" by his political associates, was on standby as a shoo-in as the PDP candidate in Bayelsa State.

For most of December 2002, Alamieyeseigha was virtually a dead man politically, running from pillar to post, from Atiku Abubakar to Obasanjo and to all who could prevail. In the end, he won some reprieve, maybe because of Atiku’s strong intervention on his behalf.

But it was only for some time.

Two years later, he landed in prison in Britain. It is remarkable that the two leading champions of that era from the region, Alamieyeseigha and Ibori, have now tasted the prison treatment in the UK, both of them having been forced there from third countries.

Since his “miraculous” escape, Alamieyeseigha has laid low, not his former self and almost dead politically. President Goodluck Jonathan it is argued had a moral responsibility to help his former boss. That is irrespective of the fact that while he, Jonathan was deputy governor in Bayelsa, he was virtually a footnote in the affairs of the Alamieyeseigha administration.

However, presidential aides have now argued that Alamieyeseigha hason been helpful Continues page 47 in keeping the peace in the Niger Delta through appeasement of the boys. It is an argument that is, however, hollow. It points to the surrender by government to blackmail and intimidation.

Former Governor Timipirye Sylva was also known to have been chummy with the boys.

What is evident is that whosoever is governor of Bayelsa will have the ears of the boys.

Given the moral responsibility of Dr. Jonathan to his former boss, he could have gone about the pardon more circumspectly.

Presidential pardons in other climes have not been less controversial. In the United States, President Gerald Ford’s pardon of President Richard Nixon in 1974 was widely regarded to have cost him that year’s presidential election.

President Bill Clinton, perhaps learning from that mistake doled out his own pardons on his last day in office in January 2001.

By exerting this pardon at this time, the Nigeria administration has demonstrated a clear act of naivety. It is a pity.

44—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

attractive to investors.”

He warned that if the killings continue, it may reach a situation where people will not be able to travel to that part of the country. “And in reprisal, the South may create an unhealthy atmosphere for Northerners to campaign in these parts. This madness must stop.

Northern politicians must lead the battle for peace in their region and put insurgents on the leash.

Reps to meet SGF on terrorism

SCHOLARSHIP—From left: Prof . O. T. Ogundipe, member, Governing Council, University of Lagos(Unilag); Prof . Duro Oni Deputy VC Mangement Services, Unilag; Prof. Rahamon Bello, VC Unilag; MD L G Electronics West Africa Operations, Mr Deog Jun Kim and Prof. Babajide Alo, Deputy VC Academics & Research Unilag during the LG Unilag Scholarship Award in Lagos, yesterday.

Kano bombing: I packed my intestines with my cloth — Survivor ....UK, Reps, CAN, OPC, others condemn attack Continues from Page 5

reiterated UK commitment to support efforts to counter terrorism.

A statement issued, yesterday, and signed by Head Political Section, Paul Edwards said: “I was appalled to learn of another senseless bomb attack in the city of Maiduguri in northeast Nigeria.

Today’s attack outside a bank in the city has claimed the lives of more innocent Nigerians and follows the shootings at schools in Maiduguri yesterday in which a number of teachers were killed and students injured, as well as a bomb attack at a bus station yesterday in Kano.

“I wish to offer my condolences to the bereaved and injured and condemn those responsible for such despicable acts of violence. There can be no justification for these attacks which have killed and injured ordinary Nigerians going about their daily business.

The UK will continue to support the Nigerian authorities in their efforts to counter the terrorist threat in Nigeria and to help bring those responsible to justice.

CAN urges FG to prosecute suspects The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), on its part, called for synergy of the kano State Government and the security agencies to forestall future occurrence.

The President of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor who condemned the bombing also called for speedy prosecution of Boko Haram suspects by the Federal Government, while fishing out the sponsors of the sects.

Oritsejafor in a statement by his Special Assistant, Media and Public Affairs, Kenny Ashaka, in Abuja, urged security agencies to intensify intelligence gathering, and that, people should volunteer information to assist them, just as he commiserated with the families of the victims.

According to the statement: “The Federal Government cannot continue to condemn these heinous acts of the enemies of unity and agents of death without prosecuting those already arrested. This does not add up in any way. The

Federal Government should do the right thing by prosecuting those already in its net with proven record of complicity.

“I plead with the government to fish out the sponsors of Jama’atul Ahlis Sunnah Lidda’awati Wal commonly called Boko Haram and the Islamic group, Jama’atu Ansaril Muslimina fi Sudan better known as Ansaru, an al-Qaeda-aligned group and a splinter group which specialty is the kidnapping and killing of Christian foreigners.

“Those betraying others by working underground with enemies of the nation should also be fished out and dealt with in accordance with the laws of the land.

“The barbaric and sustained bomb and gun attacks on innocent Nigerians is the reason why we in CAN are calling on the Federal Government to support our call for the branding of the Boko Haram sect as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation, FTO. “I, therefore, call on Nigerians to volunteer information to the various arms of the nation’s security agencies. I also call on members of the sect to

remember that in Islam, killing a human is an act that is equal in gravity to unbelief and regretted that some religious leaders and immature Clerics have no other weapon to hand than their fundamentalist interpretation of Islam which they use to engage people in struggle that serve their purpose.

OPC cautions Arewa, says attacks will generate bad blood President and founder of Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, Dr Fredrick Fasehun who also condemned the bomb attacks said: “With the recent cold murder of several polio immunisation officials, the killing of seven foreign hostages in the region, killing of school teachers and pupils and several senseless murder, it would be difficult for any citizens from the south to venture into the far north for business opportunities. Should this orgy of violence continue, the North will be the loser, as violence will only retard development and make the zone un-

MEMBERS of the House of Representatives, yesterday in a resolution, mandated the committees on Public Safety, Army, Defence and Police Affairs to engage the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, to solve the problem of terrorism in the country.

In the motion simply titled ‘need to end terrorism activities in Nigeria’ Olaifa who moved the motion said, “Several innocent Nigerians have been killed in the last threes years due to the activities of Boko Haram.”

Olaifa explained that “several conflicting details have been given as the reasons why the group decided to unleash terror on the Nigerian establishment and innocent Nigerians.

“The economy of the northern part of Nigeria, its education and other

social welfare programmes have nosedived significantly, further worsening the standard of living of the citizens."

Kano bomb Attack: It is callous, atrocious and ungodly — Ekweremadu Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu in his reaction described the Monday killings by a suicide bomber as callous, atrocious and ungodly.

In a statement by his Special Adviser, Media, Uche Anichukwu, Senator Ekweremadu who condemned in very strong terms, the bomb attacks in Kano, however, stressed that what took place was at variance with Nigerian cultures and religious faiths.

He said: “While calling on the security agencies to fish out the culprits, it is my fervent prayer that those behind these wicked acts come to repentance, embrace dialogue, patriotism, and respect for human life as prescribed by our laws, cultures, and religious faiths.”

The Deputy President of the Senate, who prayed for the peaceful repose of the dead and quick healing of the wounded, also condoled with the government and people of Kano State and all Nigerians who lost their loved ones in the attacks.

Imoke seeks proactive security measures

C

ALABAR—Gover nor Liyel Imoke of Cross River has enjoined security agencies in the state to be proactive in tackling security issues for the state to remain the safest in the country.

Imoke, who spoke when he received newly posted service commanders to the state, said the state could not have become the safest in the country, if security agencies were not proactive to security situations.

The service commanders include the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Kola Sodipo; Assistant Inspector General of Police Zone 6, Mr Jonathan Jonhnson; Commanding

Officer 207 Special Mobility Group Nigerian Air Force, NAF, AVM Andy Tsakr; Commanding Officer NNS Victory, Commodore James Oluwole and Commandant Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp, NCDC, Dr Benito Eze. The governor maintained that as a state, whose economy thrives on tourism and investment, there was need for peace to be maintained .

He called on the men and officers of the armed forces to exhibit high level of discipline to enable them perform their duties and pledged to support and assist them to ensure the state remains safe for investment.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013—45

US D V Lott er ou ma DV Lotter eryy: Wh Whyy yyou mayy be disqualified

BY VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU & PRISCA SAM-DURU

T

HE US Diversity Immigrant Visa Lottery makes up to 55,000 diversity visas available annually to countries with low rates of immigration to the United States, and out of this figure, Nigeria is said to have the largest number of entrants yearly.

The fact behind the DV Lottery which the Department of States only makes available at a particularly time of the year, is that the program comes in a two- stage process. It begins with an indication of interest to play the lottery through application and then the visa interview which is conducted when the applicant has won the lottery.

According to Vice Consul Rachael Okunubi, “Once you are selected you are told to submit application forms, photographs, supporting data for information in an actual application to the Kentucky Consulate centre, and then they

• Vice Consul Rachael Okunubi addressing participants will continue to help in scheduling your appointment here in your respective consul sections.”

On issues of interviewing successful players, who often times fail at interview stages, she said, “ Selectees are not guaranteed a visa, but only the right to have an interview to determine if they meet the minimum qualifications. All we do during interviews is just justifying that first, you meet the educational qualifications and secondly, that you meet every other requirement especially as it concerns list of dependents.”

Although the DV Lottery has continued to grow in Nigeria, there are still some misconceptions, which have led to a number of Nigerians who tend to go through agents that claim they work for US Consulate, thereby presenting information that is incorrect. In the process, the applicnts are duped of large sums of money.

To this light therefore, the US Consulate warns intending applicants of the dangers behind ‘not doing it yourself ’, which appears to be one of the major reasons people are disqualified.

Nigeria applicants should note that each year, between early October and early November, the US Department of States opens up her window for the DV Lottery random selection, during which applicants can go online to make entries free of charge.

Applicants are required to supply their names, dates of birth, countries of birth, and list of dependants. Results are usually ready in May. “So when you slot in your entry in your application form, you get your confirmation number and in May, you go online by typing your confirmation number to find out whether or not you have been selected for the lottery.”

Okunubi said.

Like other immigrants to the US, DV lottery players undergo a full medical and security screening and as regards qualifications, are expected to provide at least, the equivalent of a U.S. high school education or have, in the past five years, two years of work experience in an occupation requiring at least two years of training or experience.

Disqualification Improper filling of the Lottery application form according to Okunubi, remains another major reason for disqualification.

With the exception of your American citizen child, you must not forget to include every member of your house hold who is under 21 years old,as well as your spouse.

Use of agents/touts Reacting to the issue of agents that parade themselves as affiliates of the U.S. DV Lottery programs, Ms Okunubi quickly stated that, “ The U.S. Consulate does not mandate any agent to process any form of visa on our behalf. You have to go online and do it yourself, otherwise you may appear at the interview section, presenting information different from what is provided on your behalf in the application submitted, and this is enough ground to disqualify you.” she explained,adding that, “ “Unfortunately, some websites try to scam potential entrants to the lottery. These websites usually request entrants to pay for services and information about immigration procedures that are free on the Department of States website.

Fraudulent documents Presenting fraudulent documents to process your application can disqualify you.

Attaching fake spouses Applicants are strictly warned to desist from attaching fake spouse as the Department of States has put a law in place which places a permanent ban on the defaulters. Culprits are inotherwords, barred from getting any type of visa to U.S. Same is applicable to those who engage in human smuggling, which is also considered a serious crime under the U.S. immigration law. consularadvisory@vanguardngr.com

46—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

Kano killings fuel opposition to calls for Boko Haram amnesty

By SAM EYOBOKA & OLAYINKA LATONA

Adeboye lays foundation of provincial headquarters

By SAM EYOBOKA

WIFE of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor (Mrs.) Folu Adeboye recently urged Christians to live a life of holiness and uprightness to attract God’s unlimited blessings, saying that she had faced death more than 15 times.

Adeboye made this remark during a twin dedication of a Maternity Centre in Mowe area of Ogun State and the foundation laying ceremony of a new provincial headquarters of Ogun State Province 8 of the church at Aseese in Ogun State.

After commissioning the two projects by the province amidst thunderous applause from the congregation, the mother-inIsrael charged the mammoth crowd of wor-

shippers to always cultivate the habit of praise, noting that she just can’t stop talking about God’s mercy because her life is full of His mercy.

“I have faced death more than 15 times and that is why I am not afraid of witchcraft any more,” she stated but did not expatiate, adding “they have come several time and I will just tell them they have failed long time ago.”

Speaking on; ‘The celebration of the Pentecost’, she emphasized the need for the nation and her citizens stop their sinful acts for the nation to attain higher positions and live above fear and failures.

According to her, only nations that put their trust in God experience genuine peace and true progress, noting “Christians should not stop to pray to God for their needs

until answers come as delayed answer to prayer is not denial. Nigerians should seek God’s intervention for their country."

Mrs. Adeboye extolled the virtues of love, she said the twin projects can pass for the church’s corporate social responsibility, pointing out that it would impact positively on the host communities.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Pastor-incharge of Ogun State Province, Pastor Adea-gbo Akinlabi said the province was barely eight and half

months old but “we have a goal and by the special grace of God the maternity centre which is currently situate on a temporary site, would soon be mov-ed to a permanent site.”

Stating that whenever things like this happen, it is a call to duty and responsibility and therefore called on all members and well wishers to extend a helping hand to the church with a view to completing the headquarters project which he hoped would be commissioned in two years time.

GCM dedicates Gloryland Dome

I

T was moment of joy and thanksgiving as Glory Christian Ministries last weekend played host to dignitaries including

ministers of God from all walks of life as the church formally dedicated its ultramodern place of worship called “The Gloryland Dome”, reports OLAYINKA LATONA. GloryLand, according to the founding pastor, Dr. Iruofagha James was established 21 years ago with a three-phased vision of evangelism, equipping people for the work of ministry and preparing them for glory. According to the Bayelsa State-born minister, the formal dedication was designed by God to coincide with the annual church summit at its 21st anniversary.

In his message themed: “Let the flow continue”, the presiding bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission, TREM, Bishop Mike Okonkwo extolled the virtues of Pastor James, saying there is hope for the Church of God as the era of building ramshackled houses as places of worship are over.

Okonkwo said every child of God ought to radiate the glory of God in their various undertakings.

Encouraging the participants not to relent in doing the work of God, he urged church members to keep on serving the Lord and put on a shield of faith; saying the dedication of the building is a testimony of what God can do in individual’s life.

Leading the dedication prayer, the senior pastor of Later Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare quoted several verses from the Bible and prayed that the church will be a place of prayer, restoration, refuge and where holiness and righteousness will reign.

F

OLLOWING Monday's blasts by suspected Islamic militants, that left over 60 persons dead in a predominatly Christian neighbourhood of Sabon Gari, Kano, in Plateau State and in Borno State have further strengthened the opposition to recent clamours for amnesty for Boko Haram and the withdrawal of JTF from the North.

Muslim leaders including former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasir El-Rufai recently queued behind the Sultan of Sokoto to call for total amnesty for members of the Islamic militant group, Boko Haram while Borno Elders canvassed for the removal of the Joint Task Force from the North East region of the country.

After Monday's incidences, many more Christian leaders described both calls as totally misplaced, saying that those behind the calls should be bold enough to tell Nigerians that they know the Boko Haram members.

Speaking to Vanguard, in telephone interviews, CAN chairman in charge of Kano State, Bishop Ransom Bello and Apostle John Guobadia described the call for an amnesty as totally embarrassing, saying that the general question everybody had asked bordered on the identity of those to benefit from such an amnesty.

In his reaction, Bishop Bello wondered why those calling for amnesty have chosen this period to do so, “ why have they kept quiet all these while when Christians were being hacked to death on a daily basis and their places of worship torched while the respective governments refused to compensate the victims of the violence?

The CAN chairman urged those championing the call for amnesty to stop the campaign forthwith because it portrays them as not only supporters but sponsors of the Boko Haram cause. He argued that members of the Boko Haram are not even asking for amnesty, “so why are certain individuals crying more than the bereaved? They must stop this nonsense with immediate effect.”

Instead of empathizing with the Christian Community, Bello argued, “they have the effrontery to ask for amnesty on behalf of a faceless group who nobody can identify. Or are they telling the nation that they are behind the boys all this while? They should say so.”

In his reaction, Delta State-based Apostle Guobadia urged President Goodluck Jonathan to be weary of such self serving calls by individuals whose intentions for the development of the country are unclear. According to him, if the president ventures to heed the call for amnesty or the withdrawal of JTF from the North East, this nation may gravitate towards another civil war.

He maintained that God had been faithful to this country and it would therefore be out of place for the citizens to plunge the country into another catastrophe due to selfishness and the greed of a few individuals.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20 , 2013 — 47

48 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20 , 2013

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20 , 2013 — 49

Mali needs aid to rebuild, says French Minister D

ONORS need to pour aid into Mali over the next six months to rebuild its strife-hit north and stop defeated militants taking advantage of the chaos to return, France’s development minister said yesterday .

Paris launched a ground and air operation in its former colony in January to break Islamist rebels’ hold on the northern two-thirds of the country, saying the militants posed a risk to the security of West Africa and Europe.

The rapid offensive took back most of the territory seized by the militants nearly a year ago.

But there was now a risk locals could grow increasingly disaffected with the area’s grinding poverty and welcome back the al Qaeda-linked fighters, said officials at a Mali aid conference in

Lyon.

“The average revenue per day in Mali is 1 euro.

Underdevelopment and extreme poverty are a catalyst for groups that want to destabilize the

region,” Development Minister Pascal Canfin said on the sidelines of the conference.

“We are in a six-month battle for development,” he added.

He spoke at the first of a series meetings organized by the French government to draw up a development plan for Mali ahead of an international donor ’s

conference in Brussels in mid-May. Paris is looking to tap into existing France-Mali ties to get northern Mali back on its feet.

About 120,000 Malians

Syria, Iran dominate Obama’s visit to Israel

U

S President Barak Obama begins his visit to Israel today despite a gathering storm of explosive Mideast issues.

“This visit is not about trying to lay down a new initiative or complete our work on a particular issue,” Ben Rhodes, Obama’s deputy national security adviser, told reporters.

He said that with a new government in Israel, Obama’s goal is only to frame decisions that will be made over the next few months or years about

Iran’s nuclear program, the Syrian civil war and Israeli-Palestinian peace.

This will be Obama’s first trip to Israel and he

is going there will little expectations largely because his insistence on a two-state solution for the Palestinian issue and an

end to Jewish settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem have collided with the policies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Bombs kill over 60 on Iraq invasion anniversary

M

ORE than a dozen car bombs and suicide blasts tore through Shi’ite Muslim districts in the Iraqi capital Baghdad and other areas yesterday , killing nearly 60 people on the 10th anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion that ousted Saddam

Hussein. Sunni Islamist insurgents linked to al Qaeda are regaining ground in Iraq, invigorated by the war next door in Syria and have stepped up attacks on Shi’ite targets in an attempt to provoke a wider sectarian confrontation.

One car bomb exploded in a busy Baghdad market, three detonated in the Shi’ite district of Sadr City and another near the entrance of the heavily fortified Green Zone that sent a plume of dark smoke into the air alongside the River Tigris.

live in France - and the diaspora as a whole sends remittances back home worth between 6-10 percent of the economy.

Cyprus rejects bailout

C

YPRUS’ parliament has rejected a controversial levy on bank deposits, proposed as part of an EU-IMF 10bn-euro (£8.7bn; $13bn) bailout package.

No MPs voted for the bill, with 36 voting against and 19 abstaining.

The finance ministry had modified the package, proposing an exemption for savers with smaller deposits, but opposition had remained fierce.

As MPs debated the plan, thousands of protesters filled the streets outside parliament demanding a “No” vote.

50 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY,

MARCH 20, 2013

The compound where the incident occurred.

*The deceased, Late Mrs. Mary Iyabo Adeolu

How 60-yr-old woman was killed trying to settle scuffle

T

ragedy occurred recently at Oregun in Ikeja, Lagos when a 60- yearold woman lost her life while trying to settle a fight between her son and their next door neighbour.

The deceased’s husband who simply chose to be quoted as Mr. Adeolu, 63, from Ayetoro in Ekiti State, narrated how the ugly incident happened to Crime Alert. “I went to Opebi that day. I was not at home when the fight started. When I got home around 8:30pm, I met my next door neighbor, Tawa Anifowoshe and my 17- yearold son, Odunayo Adeolu fighting. From what I gathered, a customer came to buy roasted plantain (boli) from my wife’s stand that was being manned by our son Odunayo. My wife went to the church at Okoba to attend a programme. During the course of that transaction, there was an argument between my son and the customer over change. Then, I learnt that Tawa got involved in the matter and started fighting my son. From what I gathered, she took the hot rice she was boiling and poured it on my son. Not satisfied with that, she also hit him on the head with the pot and blood gushed out. The scar is still on my son’s head. At that point, my wife returned from the church. She saw blood gushing out of her son’s head and asked Tawa what the matter was. On

sighting my wife, Tawa grabbed her and said that Odunayo had been beating her since morning. She started abusing my wife by calling her names to the extent that she even removed the wrapper she tied on her waist.

“My wife told her that she had not been at home since morning, that she should calm down and explain what happened to her or if she did not feel like giving her that respect, she should go to Odunayo and settle what ever scores they had and leave her alone. But at that point,Tawa was not listening to any plea made by other neighbours to let go of my wife. Rather, she held my wife and was pushing her here and there. In the process, she hit my wife on the chest with her elbow. My wife slumped. We carried her into our room and tried to revive her, thinking she just fainted, but all our efforts amounted to nothing. That was when we resolved to rush her to a nearby hospital. On getting there, the doctor, examined and declared her dead! It was the worst moment of my life. My wife of 40 years died just like that; it happened just like a drama, after bringing up our six children, Adeolu is our last child; instead of settling to enjoy the fruits of our labour, see how life was snuffed out of her. Though she has been buried, I am still trying to come to terms with the whole thing.”

When asked if they have

peace as neighbours.

Crime Alert learnt that after the woman was pronounced dead, Tawa, 27, and a nursing mother, was arrested, charged to court and remanded at Kirikiri prisons.

In the testimony she gave in court, she stated that she

,

By Uju Mbanusi

*Deceased’s husband, Mr. Adeolu

My wife told her that she has not been at home since morning, that she should calm down and explain what happened to her or if she does not feel like giving her that respect, she should go to Odunayo and settle what ever scores they have, and leave her alone

been having any issues with the Anifowoshes prior to the incident; Mr. Adeolu said there was nothing of such, that they had been living in

,

did not intend killing the deceased, that it was the handiwork of the devil. Narrating what transpired between her and Adeolu that evening, she

said there was an argument over the balance Adeolu wanted to give their customer.

As she wanted to intervene, he pulled off her wrapper from her waist, prompting her to pour the hot rice she was boiling on him, and also hit him with the pot, inflicting some injuries on him in the process. It was at that point that the deceased came from the church. “I did not know what I was doing, I must have been very angry, because I was not aware that she was very close to me, I fiercely flung my arms and my elbow hit her on the chest. She slumped. We later learnt that she has been suffering from heart disease.

Maybe that must have contributed to her death.”

However, the deceased’s husband debunked this claim stating that his late wife had no record of heart disease, and that the autopsy result testified to that.

Lagos tenants raise alarm over co-tenant’s behavior •she wants to kill all of us

By ONOZURE DANIA

R

esidents of No. 10 Wegbo Street, Onike, off Iwaya Road, Yaba, Lagos, are begging for justice from all the appropriate authorities over the activities of one of their neighbours which they said is not only “ ver y destructive and worrisome but causing them sleepless nights”.

The landlord of the building, Mr. Humphrey Ezeaka who spoke with Crime Alert alleged that the middle-aged lady disturbs other tenants from sleeping with the constant noise they experience every night from 1am to 6am. According to him, “every night, she makes

loud noises by hitting hard objects on the decking of her two-bedroom apartment she rented in 2004. Her constant noise recently led to the death of the sick wife of a pastor in the area.

“The single lady started constituting nuisance in 2009.

That caused trauma, death and sleepless nights to my family, other tenants and nearby residents in the area.

“From 1am to 6am in the morning, she will wake up and start slamming, banging the door intermittently, knocking on Iron gates and water tank beams with keys, padlock and stones, hitting the decking of her flat with heavy objects causing vibration of the

building and disturbing the tenants living above her flat.

“The lady who is owing five years rent also padlocked the entrance door to the flat of a co-tenant while he was sleeping at night in February this year.”

The landlord also alleged that: “in December 2012, she maliciously fabricated a case of armed robbers entering her flat and stealing outrageous valuables running into millions of naira. She alleged that her co-tenants living above her were the ones who facilitated the robbery operation and when she reported the case to Sabo police station, the investigating police officer could not see any iota of truth in her claims.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013 — 51

Confession of a kidnap kingpin: How members of my gang kidnapped, killed hotel MD, two mobile policemen •Also killed abducted pregnant woman after collecting ransom •Kidnap victims from Imo State, take them to Rivers State

S

USPECTED leader of a kidnap syndicate that abducted the Managing Director, Naija Plaza Hotel, Oguta, Imo state and killed him after collecting a ransom of N2.1m from his relatives last month, has been arrested by Policemen attached to Ilemba Hausa division in Lagos.

The suspect, Chika Richard Nwabiarijie, who hails from Omoku Local Government Area of Rivers State, was arrested in a hotel around Ojo area, in the company of his wife.

26-year-old Richard, reportedly fled Rivers State to take cover in Lagos, following the arrest of other members of his gang by the Imo State Police Command.

The kidnappers numbering six and clad in Military camouflage as gathered, stormed the hotel located in Oguta, on February 24, 2013,where they killed two mobile policemen attached to the hotel during exchange of fire, before abducting their victim,one Emeka Asema.

Unfortunately, the lifeless body of the hotel manager was reportedly found days later at Umunoha in Mbaitolu Local Government Area of Imo State.

Before he was whisked into the police van, Crime Alert spoke with Richard, who, however dissociated himself from the abduction of the late hotel MD, saying other members of his gang were responsible.

But he disclosed that in one of the gang’s escapades which he partook in, a pregnant woman was abducted and killed even after receiving a ransom of N5 million from her relatives.

Hear him: “ I fled from Rivers to Lagos, to hide when I heard that members of my gang had been arrested. I swear to God, I was never involved in the kidnap of the hotel Managing Director. My colleagues did. They went to the hotel at about 8.30 pm and abducted him. In the process, they killed two mobile policemen on guard and made away with their riffles. The

manager was brought to our hide out in Rivers State where he was held hostage for some days before the sum of N2.1 million was received from his relatives as ransom.

On the day he was to be released, they blindfolded and drove him out of the compound. But midway into the journey to his home town, they killed him and dumped his body on the road.

Our modus Oparandi We don’t just abduct anybody any how. We must have gathered information on the person’s financial background before we strike.

We operated mostly in Imo state and our informant there is one Udo. Whenever he got information on anyone, he would alert us. I would then come from Rivers State and together with other members, we would be monitoring our target’s movement and security around the area before going into action.

Sometimes, we used motorbikes or cars and at other times we use both.

,

BY EVELYN USMAN

napped last from Imo State was a man who came on a visit. At the end, my share of the ransom was N300,000.

“But before then, we had kidnapped a pregnant woman who was killed after receiving ransom from her relatives. They told me they usually killed them so as to prevent them from revealing their identities to the police, since they are from the same state.

“We manufacture our weapons ourselves in Rivers State. I promise to take the police to the place. My job is just to join them to kidnap our target and also to keep watch over them.”

Asked if his wife was in the know, he shook his head, saying he only told her he was bringing her to Lagos for a treat.

How he was arrested Crime Alert gathered that operatives at the Imo State Police Command swung into action after the body of the hotel manager was discovered, during which the leader of the gang whose name was given as Okorie was arrested.

We don’t just abduct anybody any how. We must have gathered information on the person’s financial background before we strike

We would intercept the victim with the motorbikes or car and thereafter, order him/her to come out of the car. If we were operating on motorbikes, we would zoom off in the victim’s car and head straight for my place in Rivers,where the victim would be kept until ransom was paid.”

I get N500,000 in each operation Asked when and how he joined the gang, he replied, “ I was introduced to the gang by Udo and Uche who are on the run. We met in a bar in Rivers State and I was tempted because I had no job. Since I joined the gang, I have gone on operation three times. At the end of each successful operation, I got N500,000.

The last person we kid-

•The suspect, Richard and Technology, IMT; 29-year-old Ifeoma Ukachukwu, a native of Oguma Oguta and 50year-old Ikechukwu Os-

During interrogation, 35-year-old Okorie who hails from Amii Igbere in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State but resides at Adimma House Ibocha Egbema, according to the Imo State Police boss, Musa Katsina, was discovered to have sneaked into Oguta where his girlfriend,one Ifeoma, harboured him for three days before the abduction of the hotelier.

Okorie’s confessional statement reportedly led to the arrest of four other members whose identities were given as Onyemuche Chris Ordukwu, a 26 -year-old barber from Obakata Quarters in Omoku Rivers State; Nze Damian Onyenye, 26 -year- old graduate from the Institute of Management

emba Hausa of Richard’s presence at the hotel, came to pick him and his wife, Monday, for onward investigation and prosecution.

Okada ban led us into robbery — Suspect •Reveals how he formed robbery gang while in prison

BY IFEANYI OKOLIE

,

sai who hails from Oguta as well.

Policemen from Imo state who reportedly alerted policemen at Il-

“

I was an Okada rid er and have been doing the job since I came to Lagos. But things became difficult for me following the restriction of motorcycles by the Lagos State government. At a point, my motorbike was seized by policemen and I could no longer fend for myself, let alone to take care for my aged parents and siblings back home.

Out of frustration, I formed a robbery gang which members were okada riders, in order to make ends meet”.

These were the exact words of a suspected leader of a six-man- robbery gang who specialized in snatching vehicles from their owners at gun point and selling same at give away prices.

The suspect, Edechukwu Ebuka along side five other members of his gang, were arrested by operatives at the Special

Anti Robbery Squad, Ikeja.

The gang as gathered, specialized in snatching only Toyota and Honda cars around Ikotun, Isheri Oshun, Igando, Egbeda and Ejigbo areas of the state.

Police sources hinted that they were arrested after under cover policemen contacted them to get them a car. “ We contacted them, pretending to be interested buyers. They told us not to worry that they would contact us when they had one. Few weeks later,they called to say they had an unregistered Toyota Camry for sale and we told them to bring it to Ajao Estate, from where they were arrested.

In an interview with Crime Alert, suspected leader of the gang, Ebuka who was discovered to have been to prison over similar case, revealed that “ while in prison, I met Obinna who introduced me to one Ifeanyi. While

there, I formed the gang.

Ifeanyi assured he would get ready buyers for any stolen Toyota and Honda cars. We sold the cars between N250,000N300,000.”

“Members of the gang are all okada riders.

When things became difficult, I told one of my friends, Okeke that we had to do something about our condition and he accepted. He met his friend one Alhaji, also an Okada rider who is now in South Africa,who provided us with a locally made gun.

“We have so far had five successful trips before we were arrested. After snatching any car, we would give it to Ifeanyi to sell for us, at the end of which we got N50,000 each. However we got less if the car had its plate numbers engraved on it”, he said.

The suspects as gathered would be charged to court soon.

52 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20 , 2013

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20 , 2013 — 53

C M Y K

54 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20 , 2013

C M Y K

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013 — 55

FIFA Rankings: NFF target top 15 for Eagles T

HE Nigeria Football Federation are hoping to see the Super Eagles move up at least to the 15th spot on the monthly FIFA rankings by the time the current

round of World Cup qualifiers are over in June futaa.com has gathered.

General Secretary of the NFF Barrister Musa Amadu gave the indica-

Eaglets thrash Aspire 7-1

I

N only their first friendly match since arriving at the famous Aspire Centre in Doha six days ago, the Golden Eaglest on Monday thrashed the local Team’95 7-1.

The game which was played at the Khaled Salman Pitch 4 started at 4.30pm local time and after a ding-dong affair, the Golden Eaglets got the first goal in the 22nd minute through Ifeanyi Matthew who thumped the ball into the net. Success Isaac followed with a brace in the 26th and 32nd minute.

Taiwo Awoniyi had in between, scored the third goal in the 30th minute as the Nigerians youngsters enjoyed a commanding first half performance.

Coach Manu Garba

brought on Alhassan Ibrahim and Emmanuel Asadu as replacements for Isaac and Izu Omego to contain the battling Aspire’s U-18 team.

The replacements paid off immediately as Bernard Bulbwa added the fifth goal in the 65th minute, Ibrahim capped his purposeful displays with a quick double strike in the 66th and 73rd minute. But the home side finally got a consolation goal through Ehtisham Yaskin with barely five minutes left on the clock.

“It is a good starting point for us here at the Aspire Centre,” Coach Garba said afterwards.

“The score line is not really important rather we have been able to see the players under different circumstance.

Wan anyyama Continues from BP Nigeria.

Wanyama had been identified as a doubt for the game after he pulled a thigh muscle during Celtic’s Uefa Champions League defeat at Juventus on March 6.

The electrifying Celtic midfielder says that the African champions will be under pressure when they host Harambee Stars in a 2014 World Cup qualifier his weekend.

Wanyama who linked up with the team and trained during Tuesday morning session despite speculation that he was injured, claimed that they have a chance of upsetting Nigeria.

“It will be a harsh match, it always is when you play away. We are a good team and will do our best. The pressure is on Nigeria, they are the champions. We come into

this match as the underdogs and football nowadays doesn’t recognize that, anything can happen and we can beat them.”

He also commented on Kenya’s poor record to their opponents that has seen them losing all their matches when the two meet.

“We have never beaten them but we have a young side that can get a result out of them. The coach has had time to prepare and I enjoyed my first day working with him, we’ll learn a lot from him.”

On the absence of his teammate Efe Ambrose, he was disappointed on missing out the chance to face him on an international fixture.

“It could have been good for him to be there and for me to get a chance to play against him on International level.”

tion in Abuja while speaking with newsmen as he reckons that the African Champions need to be better placed in the ordering of football countries. According to Amadu, expected victories against the Harambee Stars of Kenya in Cal-

abar and a good run in the remaining World Cup qualifying fixtures should see the Eagles take a leap from her present 30th spot in the world and fourth on the continent.

“At least by the end of June we want to see the

Super Eagles in a more respectable position like the 15th spot,” Amadu stated.

Nigeria’s best position on the monthly rankings is a 4th placing achieved just after the USA 94 World Cup.

COACHING/REFEREEING COURSE: A cross section of some of the coaches and referees at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Enugu listening to the lecturers . Photo: Henry Ogbu

FIFA World Cup duties for Bassey, OjoOba, Edibi

A

S the Super Eagles of Nigeria get set to confront Kenya in the FIFA, Brazil 2014 World Cup qualifier, the world soccer ruling body has handed assignments to three Nigerians. CAF General Coordinator and member of the NFF Technical Committee Paul Bassey has been appointed Match Commissioner for the explosive must win World Cup Group D match between Ghana and Sudan taking place on Sunday, March 24 at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.

The referees are from Malawi, while the Security Officer for the match is Egypt’s Dr Adnan El Guindy Doctor Bolaji Ojo Oba on his part has also been appointed by FIFA as Security Officer for the clash between Lesotho and Zambia.

Rio Olympics: NOC tasks Airforce on 2 gold medals

T

HE leadership of the Nigeria Olympic Committee which paid the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh a courtesy visit yesterday

•Ndanusa

at the Nigeria Airforce Headquarters on partnership for success at the Rio Olympics in Brazil in 2016, has urged the military outfit to give Nigeria two gold medals at the event.

NOC president, Engr.

Sani Ndanusa who led a delegation of six including 2nd vice president Jonathan Nnaji, 3rd vice president, Tijjani Umar, secretary Tunde Popoola, treasurer Aliyu Bappa Misau, Femi

Osaze Continues from BP they like they shouldn’t even give me 10 mins to play.

Threatening to ruin my career? Career I closed already last summer?

No harm to me.

“Want to treat me like an average player. The abuse and praise I get is it average? So get some extra from me too.”

The 31-year-old had ridden to Queens Park Rangers during January ’s transfer

deadline to push through a transfer but he was snubbed at the gate and fined £75,000 for a Twitter outburst afterwards.

West Brom issued a statement which read: “The club is aware of comments made by Peter Odemwingie which will be dealt with internally.”

He has also been involved in a fierce clash with Steven Reid in the medical room at the club’s training ground.

Ajagbe of Squash federation and Mr Mohammed of trado sports has been on visits to military and para

military formations to woo them in support of NOC’s roadmap towards better outing in the next Olympics.

Obafemi Continues from BP was instrumental to a 3-2 win the Eagles recorded in Nairobi against the Harambee Stars in a 2010 World Cup qualifier. The lethal finisher scored a brace to help Eagles win 3-2.

Yakubu Aigbeni scored the other goal.

Although the former Levante forward and Chelsea star Victor Moses arrived late and were not part of Tuesday evening’s training, they remained upbeat for the task ahead.

When both players finally made it to the Canaan City the head coach told them to relax in the hotel and wait for the next training session which comes up this evening at the Abraham Ordia Sports complex, University of Calabar.

As expected all 14 foreign based players arrived the Transcorp

Metropolitan Hotel Camp of the Super Eagles on Tuesday afternoon, despite local aviation workers’ dispute.

Infact, Chelsea star, Victor Moses had to take a detour through the Uyo Airport to be on time for Tuesday’s training, and the coaches liked the level of commitment shown by the players ahead of the weekend encounter against the Harambee Stars of Kenya.

All invited players took part in Tuesday evening’s training supervised under the watchful eyes of Head Coach, Stephen Keshi.

Despite early downpour in the Canaan City, which was spiced by drizzles throughout the day, the Eagles were compact and ready enough to give their all during the training session.

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

Owen retires!

More stories on pages 28 & 29 Wan aunts anyyama ttaunts Eagles

Obafemi ready to sink Kenya

A

FTER initial fears of being sidelined by injury, Celtic midfielder, Victor Wanyama has now been included in Kenya’s 19-man squad for the 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifier against African champions, Continues on Page 55

West Brom slam N19m fine on Osaze

N

S

UPER Eagles returnee striker, Obafemi Martins touched down in Calabar yesterday and vowed to sink the Harambee Stars of Kenya in a World qualifier in the Cross River State capital this weekend.

Martins who just signed a new deal with America Major League outfit, Seattle Sounders Continues on page 55

•Keshi

•RARING TO GO . . . Martins

PUZZLE

IGERIAN striker, Peter Odemwingie has been punished with another fine for his latest Twitter where he insinuated that West Brom are trying to ruin his career.

The latest outburst could have gotten Odemwingie sacked but the club will not be going that way though it is now almost sure that he will be sold in the summer with one year left on his contract.

He said on Twitter: “If

Continues on page 55

•Osaze

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

•Wanyama

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 End (6) 5 Tape (6) 9 Soothed (5) 10 Cad (6) 11 Blazed (6) 12 Skirmish (5) 14 Cupid (4) 17 Spoil (3) 18 Fury (4) 20 Pick-me-up (5) 22 Wrinkled (5) 23 Twisted (7) 24 Advantage (5) 26 Short (5) 29 Peruse (4) 30 Spasm (3) 32 Rush (4) 33 Decoration (5) 35 Signal (6) 36 Outlaw (6) 37 Liability (5) 38 Loophole (6) 39 Approached (6)

DOWN 1 Overlook (6) 2 Thought (6) 3 Appear (4) 4 Seraglio (5) 5 Allude (5) 6 Inactive (4) 7 Bartender (6) 8 Elbowed (6) 13 Drooping (7) 15 Awaken (5) 16 Placed (5) 18 Jockey (5) 19 Birds (5) 21 Feline (3) 22 Permit (3) 24 Tillable (6) 25 Ferocious (6) 27 Give (6) 28 Revised (6) 30 Principle (5) 31 Hut (5) 33 Fashion (4) 34 Tardy (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 4, Fresh 7, Heeded 9, Vie 10, Lac 12, Razor 13, Word 15, Doped 17, Become 19, Yell 20, Royal 22, Per 24, Duelled 27, Era 28, Arise 31, Area 33, Nipped 35, Scene 37, Wind 38, Gusto 39, Tag 41, Err 42, Lancer 43, Heard.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 1, Shower 2, Nearby 3, Gel 4, Fire 5, Ready 6, Spotless 8, Dado 11, Complaint 14 Dead 16, Peel 18, Clue 21, Overture 23, Reap 25 Erne 26, Drew 29, Idiocy 30, Endure 32, Aster 34, Peal 36, Cord 40, Gap.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

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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