No going back onBakassi, N5000 note— FG

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61714

**

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

BAKASSI PENINSULA: Legal dimensions —Pgs.38&39 of self determination threat

Two mobile policemen killed in Rivers —P.11

No going back on Bakassi, N5000 note— FG •Says resolution of N'Assembly not binding •Insists Nigeria 'll not appeal ICJ verdict on Bakassi •Sanusi means well for the economy — Maku

A

By JOSEPH ERUNKE

BUJA—THE Fed eral Government, yesterday, rebuffed criticisms against the introduction of N5,000 note in the country, insisting that there was no going back on the decision.

Similarly, the government insisted that, not Continues on Page 5

Teachers begin strike in 18 •P.29 states Monday

Dame Patience Jonathan: •P.17 Troubling repetition of recent history

OCHEREOME NNANNA Pg.19

THE HUB Pg.19

Mr & Mrs RECOVERED—Gadgets, arms, amunition, bombs allegedly recovered from the Boko Haram's communication centre by the Joint Military Task Force, JTF, Tuesday in Kano. Photos: Abdulsalam Muhammad

ECONOMY:

Pg..6

Mark chides Okonjo-Iweala, Sanusi

Jonathan sends 2013-2015 medium term expenditure to Senate—P.9

2—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20,

C M Y K

2012

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012—3

C M Y K

4—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20,

C M Y K

2012

Vanguard, THURSD AY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012—5 THURSDA

POCKET CARTOON

No going back on Bakassi, N5,000 note — FG Continues from Page 1 withstanding fresh facts that have been unearthed by the Vanguard to prove that Bakassi peninsula belongs to Nigeria, and which were concealed during trial, it will not appeal the 2002 verdict of the International Court of Justice which ceded the oil-rich peninsula to Cameroon.

Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, conveyed government’s position on the issues, Tuesday night in Abuja, while speaking as a guest of People’s Forum, a programme organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ. His position was in apparent response to the resolutions of the Senate, the House of Representatives and the Nigeria Bar Association which had variously urged the Federal Government not only to appeal the ICJ judgment but also halt the planned restructuring of the country’s currencies by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. Maku also said those who have so far commented on the issues at

different fora, were expressing their views, noting that expression of views was the fundamental right of every citizen in the country.

He said the resolutions of the two chambers of the National Assembly on the issues, asking the Federal Government not only to appeal the ICJ judgment on Bakassi but also direct the CBN to stop its proposed structuring of the country’s currencies, were not binding. He argued that only the law made by the National Assembly was binding on both the government and its citizens just as he said that the apex bank, being independent, should be allowed free hands to do its work like others in the developed world.

“A resolution by the National Assembly is not an Act. The National Assembly makes laws but the laws are different from resolutions. While the laws made by the National Assembly are binding on the government, including citizens, the same is not with resolutions. Resolutions are not binding on government as they

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

"

WHEN you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. May you live your life so that when you die, the world will cry and you will rejoice". Do your best in life.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else’s hands, but not you —Jim Rohn O-one can define your life purpose for you.

N Your life purpose is something within you. But first you must decide and know that you matter.

You are unique and different from everyone else and you are special. For 15 minutes each morning, take some time out to sit in a room free of distractions. Every day, try and find the time, an opportunity to sit quietly and concentrate on just being in the moment. Focus on you and experience a comfort within yourself.

To find out what matters to you and define your life purpose, it requires delving into your life from various angles to discover any matching themes.

You may want to find a nice quiet spot to answer these questions.

What do you love doing in your spare time or when working? What do you naturally do well? What are your 10 greatest successes throughout your life so far? (Note: this isn’t what someone else thinks, this is what you think) What causes do you feel passionate about?

What are the 10 most important lessons you have learned in life. How would your life be different today if you knew it was impossible to fail? Act as if your dreams are already a reality...and follow your bliss.

are just positions of the legislators. The government can say yes, we have seen your position but this way is better ”, he said.

On the Bakassi peninsula, the minister said shortly after the ICJ verdict, the Federal Government had since signed agreement with Cameroon not only to concede the Bakassi to it in accordance with the ICJ verdict but assist in resettling, as well as give protection to indigenes of the area who wish to remain in Nigeria.

“It is surprising that this issue is coming up again, this case was in the International Court of Justice for long and after years of legal arguments by both Nigeria and Cameroon, a judgment was passed in favour of Cameroon, and Nigeria, in respect to the ICJ judgment, came out and signed an agreement that it had honoured the judgment. Nigeria and Cameroon are neighbours and have a good standing relationship. The two countries have been living together and will continue to live together for ever.

They have been peaceful with each other for long. It is not at this time that they should begin to have problem over issues that should have been amicably resolved.

So, I think Nigeria’s position is still in conformity with the outcome of the International Court of Justice”, he said.

The minister charged people to try to harp on issues that would promote peace and harmonious co-existence instead of those that tend to cause unnecessary tension, saying what Africa needed for rapid growth and unity was peace among member countries. “Between Nigeria and Cameroon, there are several communities which members are Cameroon and which members are Nigerians; so I believe we have a duty to promote peace among ourselves, between the two countries”, he added.

Speaking on the planned restructuring of the currencies, the Information Minister said the CBN, which is responsible for the planned action should not be crucified as, according to him, its head, Mr Sanusi

Lamido Sanusi had not misled the country in any form.

He said the CBN boss meant well for the country, citing the action he took few months after mounting the saddle, which, he noted, had reformed the banking sector today and built customers’ confidence as well as provide efficient service delivery in the banks.

“I think the way the Central Bank of Nigeria has been able to manage our economy without borrowing, is quite commendable and should be appreciated”, he insisted.

The minister said no action of the apex bank as regards currency restructuring in Nigeria’s history had come without criticisms, saying at the end of the day, the same people who had stood against it would see reason and begin to applaud the development. “When the N20 note, N500 note and N1000 note were introduced, people said they were not good for our economy but after the whole thing, they began

to see reasons”, he noted.

He said the Economic Management Team endorsed the restructuring bid after the CBN boss was able to convince the team with his explanations on what the country stands to gain in carrying out the action, and urged every other citizen to do same.

“I think we should allow the Central Bank of Nigeria to provide leadership, give us what they are to do, it is not a matter of opinion poll but it is a matter that the experts know what they are doing. See the way he (Sanusi) took us through the period of financial meltdown, we were able to survive the

situation without borrowing. The Central Bank has exuded a lot of confidence that we should give them support”, he charged.

However, there were insinuations that President Goodluck Jonathan may agree to reverse his administration’s plan to introduce the 5,000 naira note. The President was said to have met with the leadership of the National Assembly hours after the stormy sessions of the Assembly on Tuesday and assured that any “approval given in this regard can be reversed since it is the wish of the people”. It is unclear whether the president has issued a directive to that effect.

Imoke urges political solution to Bakassi, oil block losses ….Seeks compensation for displaced Bakassi people

BY CLARA NWACHUKWU

L

AGOS—CROSS River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, said, yesterday, that in the interest of peace in the region, only a political solution can salvage the damages caused by the recent loss of Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon and 76 oil wells to its neighbouring state, Akwa Ibom.

Imoke told Vanguard exclusively in his office in Calabar, the state capital, that the precedent had been set in the Nigerian polity when former President Olusegun Obasanjo also devised a political solution to resolve the onshore/offshore dichotomy impasse between the littoral states and the Federal Government.

The governor said it was strange that his state was the only one in the South South region that was regarded as non-oil producing state,

adding that it was the loss of Bakassi that made Cross River a nonlittoral state.

He said: “Literally, we are the only state in the Niger Delta region, as it were, that is suffering from the consequences of a judgment without a political solution and making us the only state that is not producing when nothing has changed physically or geographically."

Against this backdrop, he argued that the development required political solution. He said: “The political solution basically should be addressed for the interest of peace. The political solution is one that we have seen applied in the past. So it is not something new, it is something that the parties involved can come together and agree on.”

He added that “ what this means is that it has revived the Bakassi agitation and since the Supreme Court acknowledged the International

Court of Justice, ICJ decision, the consequence is the loss to the people of Cross River and the people of Bakassi.”

Past precedent Imoke also recalled that it was a similar political solution that made Akwa Ibom, which lost out as an oil producing state following the Supreme Court ruling in 2002, on the onshore/offshore dichotomy, which vested offshore oil productions on the federal government.

As a result of the ruling, Akwa Ibom lost out from oil resource benefits because all its crude productions were offshore.

But the governor remembered that the then former Akwa Ibom state governor, Obong Victor Attah led a powerful agitation against the Supreme Court ruling, which eventually culminated into the 13 per cent derivation fund for all oil producing states.

6—Vanguard , THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

US to invest $6bn in Nigeria's agric sector

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

DINNER FOR UDUAGHAN—From left: Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, CON; Mrs. Isioma Monye; Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister of Finance; Mrs. Roli Uduaghan and Prof. Sylvester Monye during a dinner in honour of the governor’s CON award by President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja. Photo: Henry Unini.

Economy: Mark chides Okonjo-Iweala, Sanusi zSays Nigeria needs healing

BY HENRY UMORU & INALEGWU SHAIBU

A

BUJA—SENATE President, David Mark, yesterday reflected on the many problems facing the nation and asked the Head of the Economic Team of President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to stop chasing shadows.

Senator Mark in his welcome address to the Senate after an eight-week recess, observed that Nigeria needs healing to come out of the web of crisis that has engulfed the nation in recent time.

He also advised the Economic Team, which includes the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and others to come up with robust economic policies that would salvage the nation from its economic disasters.

He said: “Those who manage the nation's economy cannot afford to chase shadows while the economy is in the doldrums. What Nigerians expect, and deserve, is the introduction of fiscal and monetary policies that will create jobs, fix healthcare and infrastructure, and stimulate the economy.”

The Senate President also expressed concern over poor budget performances, demanding that President Jonathan should submit the 2013 budget to the National Assembly early, for quick passage.

He lamented that poor budget implementation had led to a rise in poverty in the land, stressing that the National Assembly would be more stringent with oversight to ensure full implementation of 2013 budget.

“The war against poverty must therefore be an unrelenting one. Its ultimate objective should be total eradication of poverty, and not just poverty reduction. A nation as blessed as ours has no business with poverty.”

Quick submission of 2013 budget

Insecurity and poverty

He said: “We return to plenary session to commence a scrupulous consideration of the 2013 budget estimates, once it is presented. It is, therefore, important that the Executive presents the budget early to afford us sufficient time to consider and debate it exhaustively before we can pass it.

“And our goal would be to pass it before the end of the year. When passed and signed into law, we will insist on full implementation. Over the years, our national budgets have raised hopes for a better life. Such hopes have remained largely unrealized.

“The Senate will activate and deploy its weapon of oversight to meticulously monitor the implementation of the budget. We have felt the pulse of the people, and the condition under which they live has rekindled our resolve to ensure that their living conditions are substantially improved as a reward for their faith in democracy.

Mark also lamented the near collapse of security in Nigeria orchestrated by the Boko Haram sect that has led to wanton killing of many innocent citizens, describing it as an that is evil very alien to Nigeria.

According to him, “We return from our recess to meet a nation sorely in need of healing, a nation previously free from strife and anomie, but now convulsing from a genre of violence that we all thought was alien to our shores.

“A new but formidable evil has now combined with old and familiar perils to present our nation with perhaps the greatest challenge to its corporate existence since the civil war.

“I urge you all, therefore, to prepare to take on the unprecedented challenges facing our nation. The times call for sacrifice and statesmanship, and for everyone to rise above narrow and parochial interests".

Mark who also commented on the abysmal performance of Nigeria at the 2012 London Olympics

and the general decline in sports, which he blamed on corruption, advocated mass sacking of sports administrators.

His words, “one issue that worries me deeply is the decline of our nation even in areas in which we once excelled. The reasons for this decline are not farfetched. Corruption, sloppiness and tardiness in p r e p a r a t i o n s , mismanagement, degradation and lack of maintenance and vandalization of national assets, absence of rigour and thoroughness in planning - these, and more, are the reasons for the rot.

Wants sport administrators sacked “Perhaps, no singular event reflects our current attitude to things, and exemplifies our decline, as the fiasco of Nigeria’s participation at the recently concluded 2012 London Summer Olympics. You will recall that our contingent failed to win a single medal in the games. Our fortunes are even more dismal in football, which is a national pastime, and a great unifying factor.

“This should not surprise you, after all, the National Stadium, Abuja, our supposed symbol of sporting excellence, was recently discovered to be decrepit, overtaken by weeds and reptiles".

BUJA—MINISTER of Agriculture and Water Resources, Akinwunmi Adeshina, has disclosed that investors from the United States of America, USA, have agreed to invest $6 billion in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

Adeshina made the disclosure while signing a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the Tony Elumelu Foundation, TF, with a view to boosting “AgriBusiness”, within the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.

According to the Minister, some of the derivable dividends for Nigeria in the partnership would include the establishment of two plants in the North which he said would use about 100,000 hectares of land each for the production of sugar-cane, saying the Federal Government had empowered 13 new rice meals with a total capacity of 210, 000 metric tonnes in the last one year.

He maintained that it was

in a bid to revolutionize the agricultural sector so as to make it more attractive to unemployed youths in the country that the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan decided to enter into partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation, saying it would “increase labour productivity and make it easier for youths to participate in farming.”

Meanwhile, in his speech, Elumelu, said he would use his business tentacles in the United Bank for Africa, UBA, where he once superintended, towards ensuring that affordable loans were made available to farmers in Nigeria.

Elumelu however blamed wrong agricultural polices by governments of African countries on ignorance.

He argued that African countries adopt wrong agricultural policies due to lack of awareness, so the foundation seeks to provide capacity for African government, which the foundation have done in Sierre leone and Liberia and now Nigeria.

Strike paralyses activities at FG's health institutions

BY CHIOMA OBINNA & CHARITY UGWUANYI

L

A G O S — HEALTHCARE services in the Federal Government ownedinstitutions in Lagos were yesterday paralysed following the nationwide indefinite strike embarked upon by health workers under the aegis of the Joint Heath Sector Unions, JOHESU. Meanwhile, the striking workers have vowed to continue with the action until the contentious Federal Government circular against the skipping of levels in the Consolidated Health Salary Scale, CONHESS 10, is withdrawn.

When Vanguard visited some of the hospitals in Lagos, only senior management staff and medical doctors were seen at their duty posts. Further inquiry, revealed that most of the nurses and some support staff, who were seen carrying files were all locum staff (casual workers). The situation was the same in all the hospitals and agencies in Lagos.

Other health workers in Igbobi Orthopaedic Hospital, Federal Medical Centre Ebute Metta, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, among others, visited complied with the directive.

At the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, although, the strike was effective patients were not turned back as locum staff were on hand to attend to a number of them.

A patient, who spoke to Vanguard on condition of anonymity, hinted that only a few registered outpatients were being attended to.

“We have been waiting since morning but only a few of us have been attended to, but we are hoping that they would also attend to us.” All the record departments of the various hospitals were deserted.

Speaking to Vanguard on telephone, the Acting National Chairman, JOHESU, Comrade Felix Olukayode Faniran, said there was no going back on the strike. He argued that a week ago, the Minister of Health had insisted that the circular against skipping subsists.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 — 7

C M Y K

8 —Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

Ansar-Ur-Deen youths fault FG on N5,000 note

BY OBOH AGBONKHESE

A

NSAR-Ur-Deen Youth Association of Nigeria, ADYAN, Lagos Branch, has faulted plans by the Federal Government to introduce N5,000 note and turn N20, N10 and N5 to coins, describing same as a policy that would cause “economic strangulation” of Nigerians.

At a briefing, weekend, on the association’s youth week, ADYAN’s Chairman, Mr. Shasore Jubril, said: “The proposed N5,000 note is going to cause economic hardship on the average Nigerian. The Federal Government should imitate its Ghanaian counterpart in

monetary policies.

“The coinage of N20, N10 and N5 notes will also lead to economic strangulation of the masses as it would cause inflation, since we cannot spend the coins as is the case with N1, 50k and 25k. The government should listen to the masses in their rejection of the plans for N5,000, N20, N10 and N5.”

Jubril said activities to mark the ADYAN youth week include spiritual diet, Jumat prayer, children funfair, singles and married seminar, football tournament, health talk and the grand finale luncheon/lecture on Youths and the Nation: A Call to Duty.

Pwajok, lawmaker's widow emergePDPcandidates inPlateau

BY AKANINYENE EZEKIEL

J

OS—IMMEDIATE past Chief of Staff to Plateau State Government, Mr. Gyang Pwajok, has emerged winner of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, primary election conducted to pick the party’s flag-bearer for Plateau North Senatorial bye-election slated for October, 6.

Pwajok resigned his position to contest the seat left vacant in July by the death of Senator Gyang Dantong, who represented the zone.

Earlier, primaries for the vacant seat for member representing Barkin Ladi in the state House of Assembly, saw the widow of the late lawmaker, Mrs. Kaneng Fulani, emerge unopposed as the party’s candidate.

Nigerian students' website launched

S

AMA Books Launch Services has launched Nigerian Students Welfare Network, NSWN, a website to collate information on Nigerian students to enable them access assistance.

Sama Books, a publishing, marketing and public relations company, in a statement

by Mr. Ewuzie Chinelo, Company Secretary, said the

Journalists attacked at burial of Bauchi attack victims

BY SUZAN EDEH

B

AUCHI—ANGRY youths, yesterday, attacked journalists at the burial of nine victims of last Sunday’s attack by unknown gunmen at the Yelwa Cemetery in Bauchi State.

It will be recalled that gunmen, last Sunday evening, attacked a group of people, who were playing cards at Zango, a suburb of Bauchi metropolis, killing nine and injuring five.

It was learnt that The Moment, Galaxy Television, NTA, BATV and FRCN, had reporters at the ceremony waiting to interview Mr. Lawi Pokti, Bauchi State Chairman of Christian Association Nigeria, CAN, when the angry youths attacked them.

It took the intervention of security agents to save the journalists from being lynched by the youths.

The youths chanted: “They killed our people, now you are here to take our pictures and show them so that they would laugh at us.”

Meanwhile, the state

the government by Director-General in the office of the Chief of Staff, Pastor Kennedy Masau, who led a delegation on a condolence visit to the bereaved families at COCIN Church, Zango.

Receiving the relief

P

EOPLES Democratic Party, PDP, Patriotic Youth Front, PPYF, has commended Governor Kashim Shettima of Bornu State for not singling out PDP as the only party where internal democracy was lacking in Nigeria during his remarks at the Leadership Newspapers 2012 Annual Awards, re-

BY PETER DURU

M

AKURDI— BENUE State Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Emmanuel Agbo, yesterday, escaped death by the whisker, when aggrieved members and delegates of the party from Okpokwu Local Government Area, descended on him. Security operatives rescued him.

Vanguard gathered from angry party members that the chairman’s offence was his alleged manipulation of the party’s primaries for chairmanship candidate for Okpokwu

Council in the forthcoming council elections in the state, which they said he skewed in favour of his younger brother, Mr. Sunday Agbo.

It was gathered that the delegates had arrived the Aper Aku Stadium venue of the primaries, but were refused entry to the venue, while the state party chairman also brought a different list of delegates of 22, instead of the authentic 92 delegates with which he conducted the primaries.

This alleged ‘kangaroo’ election drew the ire of the delegates, who defied the presence of security men

cently.

It also praised Shettima for calling on all political parties, to see the need for internal democracy as an urgent task that must be accomplished.

PPYF’s National Coordinator, Dr. Kayode Olufemi, in a statement, regretted that most speakers from opposition parties blamed PDP for the absence of internal de-

mocracy in the polity.

He said: “We monitored how every opposition leader and those who had fallen out of favour made PDP a punching bag.

“We were, however, astonished and amazed when we listened to Governor Shettima’s keynote address and also read copies; we were surprised and note that he is a frank and sincere politician.”

and wanted to lynch Mr. Agbo, before he was whisked out of the venue.

The delegates later stormed the state government secretariat with some of them bearing placards that read: Agbo, you are killing our party; State party chairman cannot impose his younger brother on us as chairman of local government; National Secretariat please save Benue PDP from disintegrating, among others.

Efforts to calm the delegates by security operatives, who barricaded the entrance to Government House, were rebuffed as the protesters demanded that Governor Gabriel Suswam should address them.

The protesters chanted war songs when political leaders from the council, including Chief Obande Obeya, former member of state assembly, Maria Aikulola and others joined them.

Minister of Interior, Mr. Abba Moro, who later arrived from Abuja, was able to calm the protesters and directed them to move to his residence, while he also went inside to meet with the Governor.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

materials on behalf of the bereaved families, the leaders of churches in Zango emphasised the need for government to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of the act and establish a security post in the area to check future occurrence.

... as Benue PDP chair escapes lynching over primaries

PDP Forum lauds Shettima's comments on internal democracy

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

network was open to Nigerian students of higher institutions in the West African sub-region for now.

It said students who register with the network can easily access capacity building and skills acquisition programmes, industrial and entrepreneurial training, online library and scholarship opportunities.

government has donated food items and money to families of the victims.

The donation, according to a statement by Mr. Ishola Adeyemi, Chief Press Secretary to the Bauchi State Governor, were made on behalf of

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

Do you support FG on N5,000 note?

I

T’s not okay. We should be doing something about the ones we have that are losing value. In the first place, why do we need N5000, N1,000 and now N5,000 single notes when salaries are not increased? The highest denomination should be N200.— Ms. Awodi Deborah, Student.

I

believe that the function of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, is currency management. If it is charged with that responsibility and given the necessary authority, I think we should allow the organisation do its job.— Dr. Bukola Adebayo, Political Scientist.

W

ITHIN our kind of system, the question should be what will be the effect of introducing N5,000?

If the disadvantage outweighs the advantage, then I feel it is not a welcome idea. For me, I don’t think it is worth the trouble at this stage.— Mr. Victor Otehi, Broadcaster.

T

HE N5,000 note has both negative and positive sides.

On the positive side, it helps Lamido’s vision of a cashless society. However, it has generated so much debate and it seems Nigerians have rejected it. Now, whose interest should come first?— Ms Dike Chika, Student.

I

am not in support of it one bit. It will bring our economy into disarray. Price of commodities will go up and buying things with lower denominations will become a problem. At the end of the day it will cause more harm than good to the country.—Ms Onuoha Miriam, Student.

A

LTHOUGH there are always two sides to a coin, Nigeria is not yet ripe for such.

The percentage of poor people is far higher than the rich, who probably need currency like N5,000 single note. The government should win the masses over first.— Mrs Adeola Olanrewaju, Educationist.

Vanguard , THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 — 9

Jonathan sends 2013-2015 Medium Term Expenditure to Senate • Sets $75/b for 2013-2015, oil production of 2.53 mbpd, 2.61 mbpd and 2.65 mbpd for 2013, 2014 and 2015 •Aggregate expenditure to further reduce from 71.47% in 2012 to 68.7% in 2013 •Capital expenditure to increase from 28.53% in 2012 to 31.3% in 2013.

•To focus on Security, Agriculture, Health, Niger Delta, Works, Transport, FCT, Aviation, Water Resources •Overhead to decrease in 2013 to N230 billion or 4.67 % of total Expenditure •To reduce GDP in the medium to Long term

By HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA—PRESI DENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, forwarded to the Senate a 2013-2015 medium term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper, with a promise that the 2013 budget will be a continuation of his fiscal consolidation.

The government in the paper disclosed that following its initiatives and in line with the trend since 2011, the share of recurrent spending in aggregate expenditure is set to further reduce from 71.47 per cent in 2012 to 68.7 per cent in 2013 while capital expenditure as a share of aggregate spending is set to increase from 28.53 per cent in 2012 to 31.3 per cent in 2013.

He also put it that in line with the policy of consolidation, the fiscal deficit is expected to continue on a declining path from 2.85 per cent of GDP in 2012 to 2.17 per cent of GDP in 2013.

According to President Jonathan, the Federal Government will sustain its efforts to increase revenue as well as that of capital spending in total expenditure, reduce the fiscal deficit and the corresponding borrowing requirement to a more sustainable level.

President Jonathan noted that in light of the huge amount paid on petroleum subsidy in 2011, the government will streamline the management of the subsidy scheme through the strengthening of the audit and verification process, adding that these will yield results in 2013, just as the SURE-P instrument will continue to be used as an intervention window to mitigate the impact of the partial subsidy removal.

Though the paper was read to the Senators by Senate President David Mark, but a three paragraph letter without details was made available, but according to the document which Vanguard obtained, the government C M Y K

said that in line with the oil-price based fiscal rule, a cautious oil benchmark price of $75 per barrel has been chosen for 2013-2015 period while oil production of 2.53 mbpd, 2.61 mbpd and 2.65 mbpd will be adopted for the 2013, 2014 and 2015 fiscal years respectively.

According to the document, "this is below the current world market price and is underpinned by our model of 10-year and fiveyear moving averages, with some adjustments.

Revenue in excess of the benchmark price continue to be sent aside in the Excess Crude Account, ECA/Sovereign Wealth Fund, SWF. The fund has been designed to reduce pro-cyclicality and delink public expenditure from oil price volatility.”

Focus on security, agriculture The government in the paper, plans to increase the contribution of tax revenue to the budget through continuous reforms to modernise and further improve tax administration. The government is also planning within this period, focus on Security, Agriculture, Power, Water Resources, Health, Education, Works, Transport, Aviation, Federal Capital Territory and Niger Delta, just as it intends to reduce the infrastructural gap, thereby energising the economy as ways of creating employment and to ensure an inclusive growth.

The document read in part, "Although aggregate expenditure is increasing in absolute terms, the goal is for government expenditure as a share of GDP in the Nigerian economy to reduce in the medium to long term. This is in line with the desire to promote the private sector. The reduction in the size of government will be achieved through stricter rationalisation of available resources including sustaining the reduction of overhead votes. The fig-

ure for overhead decreased from N536 billion in 2010 to N266 billion in 2012. It is expected to further decrease in 2013 to N230 billion or 4.67 percent of total expenditure.”

L-R: Prof. Adedokun Adeyemi; Mrs. Olufunke Oluyede, Chairperson, Lagos State International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA; and Mrs. Omotola Rotimi, representing Lagos State Deputy Governor, during the 2012 Annual Law Week Summit organised by FIDA, Lagos State, with the theme: 'Human Trafficking Prevention, International Prosecution -Labour Trafficking from the Village to City', in Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

ROAD TRAFFIC LAW

Okada riders protest across Lagos •Task-force arrests, impounds soldier’s vehicle

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI, MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO & DONALD ARJI

C

OMMERCIAL mo torcycle operators popularly called ‘Okada riders’, once again yesterday stormed different parts of Lagos metropolis in protest against restriction placed on their operations by the new traffic law enacted in July.

According to sources, the Okada riders. numbering hundreds stormed major highways, such as Lagos Abeokuta Express-

way, Agege, Ajegunle, Apapa, and Lagos Island areas, urging government to revert the restriction order on their operations.

Despite the on going fuel scarcity in the city, the operators chanting anti-government slogans, took over the roads causing traffic gridlock It took combined team of Rapid Response Squad, RRS of the Nigeria police to quell the situation and restored norm a l c y .

Part of the new law re-

stricts the operations of Okada on 475 roads across the state.

An official of the state Ministry of Transportation, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the protest, saying the situation was immediately put under check with no arrest made as the protesting Okada riders retreated accordingly.

Meantime, the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, has disclosed that the government has added 15,000 road signs in addition to the existing 10,000.

Deaths: Lagos PDP calls for disbandment of LASTMA

BY DAPO AKINREFON

T

HE Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has called for the disbandment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, for alleged misconduct by its officials.

A statement by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Taofik Gani, said the disbandment was imperative due to the loss of innocent lives caused by officials of LASTMA. It would be recalled that some officials of LASTMA allegedly attacked a bus driver on Tuesday beating him to death.

The party stated that “we demand the disbandment and or sack of the LASTMA General Manager, Mr. Babatunde Edu. “The outfit is obviously not fit and proper to man-

age traffic. We reiterate that LASTMA, as currently constituted is political and has revenue target, thus cannot discharge the responsibility of traffic management without being unprofessional and thereby causing avoidable accidents.

They indeed have financial targets to meet,” he said.

While it accused the traffic agency of not being effective in the control of traffic across the state, it stated that “LASTMA is for revenue and not sincerely to manage traffic in the state. It is a creation of the aggressive revenue drive of the ACN state government prompted by the continuous retainership of ALPHA BETA, the tax consultant..”

Furthermore, it accused LASTMA of the alleged

number of deaths recorded from the professional misconduct of LASTMA officers, saying; “there are also records of illegal arrests of motorists. We all remember the case of Yinka Johnson wrongfully accused of knocking down a LASTMA officer.

Opeifa said the massive installation of the signs would enable road-users to be conversant with the signs and their significance, adding that it would also assist road-users to know the restricted routes for motorcycles and tricycles, designated busstops, among others.

He, however, warned recalcitrant Okada riders and tri-cyclists in their own interest, to desist from plying the restricted 475 routes as anyone found violating the law will be appropriately sanctioned.

Soldier, driver arrested; vehicle impounded Meantime, the Lagos state Government while enforcing the new traffic law has arrested a military officer and a truck driver for driving against traffic on the Third Mainland Bridge.

The officer identified as Lance Corporal Umar Usman, was arrested along with a 33 year old driver of an articulated truck, Mr. Sagir Abubakar.

10—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20,

2012

L -R:Mr. Chuma Ezirim, Head e-Business; Mr. Bisi Onasanya, Group Managing Director /Chief Executive Officer and Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney,Head Marketing and Corporate Communication - all of First Bank Nigeria Plc - during the launch of First Bank Mobile Money [FIRSTMONIE] yesterday at Wheatbaker Hotel, Lawernce Street, Ikoyi, Lagos. PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi

ACN conniving with INEC to rig Ondo guber polls – Mimiko .He's hallucinating – Akeredolu

A

HEAD of the October 20, governorship election in Ondo State, the Olusegun Mimiko C a m p a i g n Organisation,MCO, has accused the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN of planning to rig the exercise in collaboration with some staff of the Independent Electoral Commission of Nigeria, INEC. It also called on the Chairman of INEC, Prof.

Attahiru Jega to monitor the activities of the Commission’s officials alleged to have aligned with the ACN to compromise on election day.

“A meeting recently held in the home of an

ACN leader in Lagos with some INEC officials where modalities were mapped out on the rigging plans in favour of the ACN candidate in the October 20 election,’’ MCO noted.

But while reacting to the allegations, the Akeredolu Campaign Organisation, ACO, described the claims as untrue and a product of hallucination.

A statement by ACO’s Director of Media, Publicity and Strategy Mr. Idowu Ajanaku, called on security agents and INEC not to allow themselves to be hoodwinked by the LP. His words: ‘’We in the ACN do not need to meet with INEC officials to

Passage

Security men from 11 states for Ondo guber polls

M

R. EZINNA Obiagwu, 82, of Akanu, Umuobom, Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo State, is dead.

A Christian wake-keep and service of songs were held yesterday at the family compound in Akanu, while the funeral mass holds today at St John’s Catholic Church, and interment follows immediately at the family vault.

He is survived by his widow, children and grandchildren including Kodilinye Obiagwu of The Guardian Newspapers.

Late Ezinna Obiagwu C M Y K

BY DAYO JOHNSON AKURE— SECURITY

personnel from 11 states of the federation including military men are to be deployed to maintain peace in the October 20 governorship election in Ondo State.

Also, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has promised to make the governorship election an improvement of the one that held in Edo State.

A d d r e s s i n g stakeholders in Akure, the Ondo State capital on the display of voters register ahead of the election, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Akin Orebiyi, said that materials for the October 20 election will arrive in all the wards across the

win elections in Ondo State. The question Mimiko should answer is whether we met with INEC officials before we won in Oyo, Ogun and Edo.. We will win the October 20 election because the people of Ondo State have been able to see through the charade and cosmetic projects that Mimiko has been parading.’’

In addition, Ajanaku said, ‘’For us in ACO, we have called the National Chairman of INEC on several occasions to investigate the activities of Mimiko as regards INEC in Ondo State. We have blown the whistle on his so called biometric registration scam."

state on Friday, October 19.

Orebiyi said that the Commission is well prepared for any antics that the politicians may want to play during the election to circumvent the efforts of the commission in ensuring a free and fair election.

“We have put in place machinery to ensure that the October 20 governorship election is an improvement of that of Edo State. In fact, this coming election will be the best ever conducted

by INEC and it is going to be a model.

“With adequate security personnel’s including the Military men then we are sure that this election will not only be free but will be fair.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012—11

Delta teachers' strike: NLC seeks gov's intervention

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

N

INTERACTIVE SESSION: Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon Elendu Nnena (right) with Hon Yakubu Balogun, member of the Committee, during one-day interactive session between the Foreign Affairs committee and people of Bakassi at the National Assembly Abuja. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Two Mobile Policemen gunned down in Rivers

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HAR COURT—TWO Mobile Policemen were, yesterday, shot dead at a spot close to Mile One Market in Diobu area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Details of the incident were hazy at press time, but eye witnesses said the anti-riot policemen were on motor bike, when some men suspected to be armed robbers

opened fire on them.

They reportedly died on the spot.

The incident caused panic in the area as traders and others at the Mile One Market ran for safety.

“We saw the deceased Mobile Policemen on the ground after they were shot dead,” a source told Vanguard, adding that the Police later came with a patrol vehicle to remove their corpses.

It could not be con-

firmed if the deceased anti-riot policemen were carrying rifles when they were shot.

Vanguard gathered that the incident occurred at 7a.m.

Confirming the incident to Vanguard, state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ben Ugwuegbulam, said the men were on foot patrol when the robbers shot them.

Lamenting the loss, he said the Police were on

FG inaugurates c’ttee on Ibaka sea port

BY CALEB AYANSINA

A

BUJA—FEDERAL Government has inaugurated the Project Development and Steering Committee, PDSC, of Ibaka Deep Sea Port in Akwa Ibom State, to boost the country’s economy and decongest existing sea ports. Government warned the committee against unnecessary bottlenecks.

Ibaka Deep Sea Port in Akwa Ibom State, to be completed in 2015, is to be jointly developed by the Federal Government, Akwa Ibom State Government and private investors under Public Private Partnership, to accommodate high volumes of cargo generated through international maritime trade and attain the status of a maritime hub for West and Central Africa.

Inaugurating the seven-man committee in

Abuja, Minister of Transportation, Senator Idris Umar, noted that it was obvious that the existing sea ports were over stretched and cannot cope with the current demand in the maritime sector.

He said: “It is impor-

tant to note that the maritime sector of Nigeria, with over 84,000 sq. nautical miles, is central to the nation’s economy as a veritable medium of transportation, global commerce resource exploitation and recreation."

the trail of the suspected robbers and would certainly track them down.

IGERIA Labour Congress, NLC, Delta State council, has called on Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to intervene in the ongoing strike by teachers in public primary and secondary schools in the state, to halt the crisis in the education sector.

The industrial action embarked upon on Tuesday by the teachers over improved conditions of service, had crippled academic activities in public schools in the state.

In a letter to the governor titled: “An appeal to avert the on-going strike action by teachers in Delta State,” state Chairman of NLC, Mr. Williams Akporeha, urged the governor to quickly intervene in the matter to resolve the on-going industrial action by primary and secondary school teachers in the state.

He said: “We write to draw your attention to

the strike and appeal for your intervention to avert the on-going industrial action by primary and secondary school teachers in the state. You will recall that the issue at stake had actually lingered for so long and deserves your immediate intervention to ensure continued peaceful industrial climate in the state.”

NLC noted that available records indicated that the issues at stake were: non-restoration of the 27.5per cent teacher ’s peculiar allowance, nonpromotion of stagnated school principals on SGL16 in the state to SGL17 and continued stagnation of university graduate teachers in primary school system on SGL14.

Others are non-payment of arrears of minimum wage to primary school teachers and nonpayment of arrears of the consolidated salary structure to primary school teachers.

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

Youths urged to promote peace

BY FESTUS AHON

U

G H E L L I — CHAIRMAN, Orhuwhorun community, Udu Local Government Area, Delta State, Mr. Victor Kagbare, has charged Nigerian youths to shun violence and promote peace in their respective communities.

Kagbare, shortly after he was sworn-in as Chairman of the commu-

nity, said peace was the bed rock of development in any community.

Promising to work with all stakeholders to attract development to the community, Kagbare thanked the people for the confidence reposed on him to serve.

He charged the people to give his administration the support it needs to succeed, assuring that he would run an open door policy.

Okpamen lauds Oshiomhole over continuation of programmes

BY SIMON ADEWALE UGOLOR RELEASED: Mr. Kaduna Eboigbodin, former Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Chairman, Edo State (left), congratulating Rev. David Ugolor after the latter's release from prison. Photo: Barnabas Uzosike.

I was framed up by Police—Ugolor

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM & OGIEVA OYENWENSE

B

ENIN—EXECU TIVE Director of African Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor, yesterday, said that the on-going reform in Nigerian prisons and decongestion will be impossible, if the Nigeria Police continue with the culture of illegal detention and framing-up of innocent citizens.

Ugolor, who was detained by the Police over the murder of the Principal Private Secretary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Mr. Olaitan Oyerinde, but was released last week following a court judgment, described his detention by the Police as illegal.

Breaking his silence on the issue, yesterday, he said he was framed up by the police.

He said: “My arrest and detention derived from a heinous frame up by the Nigeria Police, which brought one Garuba Usman Maisamari, a man I had never met in my life, to level a baseless criminal allegation against my person. The plot against me was thick and I thank God that today, the truth is out that I know nothing about the false allegation

levelled against me by the police and their evil collaborators.

“My arrest and detention, particularly now that the nation is talking about police reforms, further reinforces the need for a genuine reform of the Nigeria Police given their complicity in my ordeal. If I, an environmental and human rights activist, can suffer a frame up by the Police in

Crisis looms in C-River over selection of paramount ruler Addressing newsmen

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

C

ALABAR—KING MAKERS of Efut nation in Cross River State, have rejected alleged state government moves to impose paramount ruler of Calabar South Local Government Area of the state, even when the reigning paramount ruler, Muri

Munene Effiong Mbukpa is still on the throne.

Crisis is looming in the relatively peaceful Calabar South council, which in recent past, was notorious for diverse forms of crisis occasioned by cult clashes following plans by the state government to organise fresh selection of the Muri Munene, which the people said was concluded in 2009.

Bayelsa nurses on strike over salary

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

ENAGOA—RELA TIVES of patients at Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, yesterday, relocated their loved ones from the only federal referral institution in the state as nurses at the hospital embarked on indefinite strike to press home their demand for improved salary regime.

The aggrieved nurses, it was gathered, declared industrial dispute

the 21st century Nigeria and a globalised world, you could imagine what the innocent, ordinary Nigerian citizens are going through on a daily basis in the hands of the police.

“It is shameful and sad that even when the court of competent jurisdiction ordered the Inspector General of Police to release me unconditionally, he flagrantly disobeyed the court order."

over an alleged circular from the Federal Ministry of Health, through the Head of Service, which appeared offensive to their union.

The nurses, under the aegis of Joint Health Sector Unions, are demanding among others, that the said offensive circular from the Federal Ministry of Health be withdrawn to allow for industrial peace.

They also insisted that their demand for Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure,

CONTISS, be approved to enhance their salary structure.

When Vanguard visited the centre yesterday, it was noticed that some of the patients were being evacuated by relatives to private hospitals in Yenagoa.

A staff at the centre, who pleaded anonymity told Vanguard that most of the patients had been discharged because of the strike action, claiming that not all the nurses were involved in the strike.

yesterday, the Efut Combined Assembly accused the state government of instigating crisis in Efut nation and traditional institutions in the state, claiming that the current move by the state government was an invitation to chaos.

The Assembly noted that the only way government would conduct fresh selection process was by killing Muri Munene Mbukpa, who, the kingmakers said, performed all the traditional rites to bid farewell to the former monarch, who had long joined his ancestors in compliance with the tradition.

Noting that there was no vacancy on the throne of Muri Munene, the kingmakers said: “This vacancy was filled in accordance with the traditions and customs of the Efut with the selection of Muri Munene Mbukpa VII and was traditionally proclaimed the Muri Munene on November 6, 2009 by Efut Combined Assembly.

S

ENIOR Special As sistant on Public Affairs to Governor Adams Oshoimhole of Edo State, Mr Henry Okpamen, has commended the governor over his decision to continue with his laid down programmes and policies in order to move the state forward.

Briefing newsmen, Okpamen urged the people of the state to keep faith with the policies and programmes of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in the state. He assured that Oshoimhole will expand the state’s economy by increasing the Gross Domestic Product, GDP and create wealth during his second term, which begins in November.

IndiAfrica rewards enterprising youths Consulting; Vivian Ani,

I

NDIAFRICA:A Shared Future, an innovative youth outreach and people-to-people contact programme, will hold the finals of its first IndiAfrica Business Venture competition and awards ceremony on September 25.

A statement by the organisers said the finals will feature presentations by nine teams from Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa and India, before a nine-member grand jury that includes Jahman Anikulapo, Editor of The Guardian on Sunday; Enase Okonedo, Dean, Lagos Business School; Ini Onuk, Sustainability Expert and Chief Executive Officer, Thistlepraxis

Advisor, Enterprise Development Centre, Pan African University; Niyi Yusuf, Country Managing Director, Accenture Nigeria; Ozim Obasi, Senior Counsel & Compliance Leader, GE Sub-Saharan Africa; and, a team of three from India, led by Prof Aruna Reddy of Indian School of Business, Hyderabad.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 — 13

C M Y K

14—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER, 20, 2012

Fuel scarcity worsens in Imo O

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

WERRI—THE scar city of premium motor spirit, PMS, which started last week in Imo State, has worsened, as motorists are now forced to pay between N115N120 per litre.

Expectedly, black market sellers of the product have taken over several major roads in Owerri metropolis, while some filling stations had hectic time trying to contend

with the number of people struggling to purchase the now elusive product.

Vanguard gathered that even the mega station operated by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, ran out of the product, yesterday and none of the staff was prepared to talk on the issue.

“It is our duty to sell the product to our customers if we have it to dispense.

It is not true that we are hoarding fuel in this station. The truth is that we do not have petrol for now,” a pump attendant told Vanguard on condition of anonymity.

The situation appeared worse in local government areas outside the state capital, as a good number of the filling stations claimed they had run out of petrol, while the few that opened for business failed to sell at the approved N97.

Establish national software academy in honour of Agu, ISPON tells FG

BY EMEKAAGINAM

L

AGOS—IN recogni tion of his enormous contribution and achievement to the development of the Nigerian software industry, the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria, ISPON, has called on the Federal Government to honour late Engr. Simeon Agu, the founding father of the group by establishing national software academy in his name as a befitting posthumous award.

ISPON is the apex body of computer software and related services industry in

Nigeria.

The President of ISPON, Chris Uwaje who stated this Tuesday in Lagos during night of tributes in honour of the late Agu told Nigerian ICT community that Agu engaged IT and software revolution with potential digital resources for global economic cooperation.

"Agu was in the forefront of software Nigeria. Agu was epitome of local content in software. This is the time to remember him. This is the time to honour him” Uwaje explained.

According to the ISPON President, Agu was not only

synonymous with an embodiment of valuable legacies, but indeed, because the knowledge he left behind in the Nigerian software industry has become the most valuable commodity of the 21st century and remains a social continuum.

He described the late Agu as the senior advocate of local content in Nigeria software space, saying he has proven that the survival strategy for the future of Nigeria resides in software innovation, creativity, development and patronage by government.

Ambrose Alli Varsity V-C tasks FG on meaningful development National Gender Policy can afford any shade of

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN— A C T I N G Vice-Chancellor of Ambrose Alli University, AAU, Ekpoma, Prof.

Cordelia Agbebaku, has advocated the enactment of specific laws that will compel governments at all levels to implement the National Gender Pol-

icy in order to ensure the protection of women’s right and gender equality in Nigeria.

She noted that the stoppage of all forms of cultural and traditional discrimination against women was key to the realisation of vision 20:2020, adding that no nation desirous of achieving

Plagiarism, bane of Nigeria's educational devt —Provost

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

L

AGOS—THE Provost of the West Africa Theological Seminary, Dr William Udotong, has identified plagiarism and poor writing skills as the bane of Nigeria’s educational system.

Udotong made this observation during a press conference in Lagos as part of activities to mark the graduation of 162 students of the institution holding this Saturday at the School premises.

According to him, the Nigerian government

should urgently address the problem of plagiarism which he said has eaten deep into the educational system of the country.

He said: “The situation has become a terrible dilemma and that is why we are still where we are today. There is need to put in place technologies that could help determine originality of plagiarised works” Udotong further blamed the trend on the country’s poor teacher to student ratio, stressing that most schools in Nigeria has a ratio of 100 students to one lecturer.

gender imbalance in the management of its public affairs.

She spoke at a lecture on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality: A Case of Universality or Culture Relativism at the 44th Inaugural Lecture of the university in Ekpoma.

Prof. Agbebaku stressed the need for the National Assembly to repeal laws that discriminate against women, such as the laws on inheritance, divorce under customary law and others.

T

Award

HE INTERNA TIONAL Chemical Society of Nigeria holds its 35th annual conference in Owerri, Imo State, today, with Dr. Duke Okoro of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, FUPRE, Ugbomro, Delta State, bagging a Fellow award of the society.

Dr. Okoro, a lecturer and also ASUU secretary, FUPRE chapter, said: "This award will be held tenaciously in order to keep the best practice of the Chemistry profession sacrosant."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012—15

C M Y K

16 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012— 17

C M Y K

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

O

UR politicians never miss an opportunity to blame the military for the retarding growth of Nigeria. The 28-year cumulative hold on power the military had in the first 39 years of the nation’s life, agreed, left consequences Nigeria still suffers.

From the mass purge of the civil service in 1975 to creation of states, which stretched administrative resources of the country, corruption, insipid leadership and imperceptible future of Nigeria have been blamed on the military.

True as these may be, there is a limit to which the military can be blamed for the challenges Nigeria faces. While the military operated in the circumstances of its training and capabilities, civilians, who point at their democratic credentials as their best reason for being in office, have woefully failed to prove the difference.

If the military left a culture of corruption, civilians have improved on it. If the military mutilated the civil service, civilians have ignored it or explored the service to loot the country beyond imagination.

After 13 years of uninterrupted civil rule,

Damage military didn’t do during which the country earned more than $300 billion from crude oil, the lot of Nigerians has worsened. The infrastructure the military built has not been maintained. Civilian governments have not made any efforts to sustain the democratic culture, whether within their political parties, or in the administration of governments at federal, state and local government.

Elections have been promoted to the apex of the democratic ladder while political parties operate without any programmes for the benefit of the people they harass for votes when the calendar reads elections. Did the military mandate governments to neglect their people the way they have been doing since 1999?

Matters would have been different if gov-

ernments operated along the provisions of Section 14 (2b) of the 1999 Constitution, “The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.” How many governments since 1999 have shown concerns about the provisions of this section?

If the compassions that this section envisaged had been the purpose of governments, would they have budgets with minuscule provisions for capital expenditure which benefits majority of the people? Is the unprecedented corruption to be blamed on the military, when government officials and politicians have elected to elevate malfeasance to unimaginable levels?

Unless politicians are seeking more excuses for the disappointments they are serving the people, they should get on with the challenges of their plum positions and earn the offices they occupy.

With vision and purposeful leadership, whatever problems the military created could be overcome. However, civilian politicians appear to have found the best excuse for their choice to do nothing or at most, the minimal.

OPINION

BY BARTH NWALABARAONYE

W

HO says governance is a tea party. It is not and can never be because of the numerous challenges associated with it, which demands clear understanding of it, the ability to map out policies and programmes that will tackle the challenges without minding whose ox is gored. That is why the failure or success of any government is wholly dependent on the person who drives it, his priorities, polices and programmes, coupled with the calibre of people he works with.

And it was Arnold Glasow who once said that one of the tests of leadership is the ability to recognise a problem before it becomes an emergency. Also, according to the United Nations Social And Economic Commission for Asia and the Pacific, “Good governance has eight major characteristics: It is participatory, consensus-oriented, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective and efficient, equitable and inclusive and follows the rule of law. It assures that corruption is minimized, the views of minorities are taken into account and that the voices of the most vulnerable in society are heard in decision-making. It is also responsive to the present and future needs of society".

The above scenario best captures the ongoing revolutions and pragmatic approach to governance in Abia State as being championed and carried out by Governor Theodore Orji, especially since the end of the liberation struggle between the monsters called political godfathers and the people led by the Governor.

A seasoned civil servant who knows and believes that the civil service is the major driver of any government, Orji instituted a lot of reforms in the sector to clean the Augean stable. Such reforms include rapid and due promotions of workers, introducttion of biometric data capturing, increase in minimum wage, prompt payment of salaries and others.

C M Y K

Abia Govt and its policies and programmes As that is not enough, and knowing the importance of a conducive working environment for civil servants, he initiated the construction of a befitting five-storey Workers Secretariat in state capital Umuahia which is nearing completion. Meanwhile, the old secretariat in the state, which before now was a ghetto with decayed infrastructures, has been properly reconstructed and upgraded by the state government.

In what looks like borrowing a leaf from the Abia government, the Enugu State government recently announced plan to build a Workers Secretariat in the state at the cost of N13.6billio. This underscores the importance of good and functional workers secretariat.

Same applies to the International Conference Centre that is under construction in Umuahia. It is the first of its kind in the South East zone, if not in the whole country. The Centre apart from serving as a source of revenue for the government after completion will also go a long way in changing the face of Umuahia which before now was a glorified village.

One believes these are legacy projects that will stand the test of time.

I

n continuation of its people-oriented policies, the state government recently handed back 16 schools to their original owners, mostly churches. Remarkable the Catholic Church whose Bishop in Umuahia Diocese, Dr. Lucius Ugorji was critical of the government reforms which resulted in the handover of the schools was a beneficiary of the gesture.

It showed that Governor Orji is a leader with an exception.

This is so because rather than deny the Catholic Church of the gesture, he acted otherwise, believing that vengeance belongs to God. To the beneficiaries of the gesture, it was a

dream come true after many years of agitations and lobbying for the return of the schools. In order to ensure that they would not be stranded or frustrated, Gov Orji has made it clear that teachers in the affected schools would remain in the payroll of the government and would receive their pensions and gratuities.

It is hoped that the benefitting churches and communities would reciprocate the gesture by ensuring that the teachers and students in the affected schools are not witch-hunted, disengaged or maltreated because of the differences in their religious beliefs and practices. The beneficiaries, especially the churches, should ensure that the schools are affordable to the people, especially the less-privileged.

Following their outstanding performance in the national competitions where they made Abia State proud, Governor Orji offered 16 students of the state university scholarship award, thereby taking the financial load off their parents and encouraging them to do more. With such incentives from the state government, it is clear that the sky will be the starting point of such children in their quest for education.

Even when it is constitutionally right to run the council areas with caretaker committee chairmen, the Abia State government has put up plans to conduct local government election in the state by January next year. This was after the last elected council chairmen in the state inherited by the Governor Orji administration in 2007 put the state in huge debt even as they could not account for what the money was used for in terms of developmental projects. *Mr Nwalabaraonye, a retired civil servant, wrote from Owerri, Imo State

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 — 19

C M Y K

20 — VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

Local content board warns against indiscriminate acquisition of vessels

By GODWIN ORITSE

T

HE Nigerian Con tent Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has warned against the indiscriminate acquisition of vessels without specification by indigenous ship operators in the oil and gas industry.

Speaking at the christening of ‘ DSV Avianna at the Naval dockyard in Lagos the board Executive Secretary Engr Ernest Nwapa said that the development is giving the

board some challenges Nwapa warned that indigenous companies wishing to benefit from the opportunities must exercise diligence to ensure that vessels being procured meet the requirements.

He sttaed that the Federal Government through the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board will not permit a situation Nigerians that invest in marine vessels that meet set technical requirements stay without work while foreign owned vessels are engaged in

the industry.

“It is therefore imperative that assets procured

by Nigerians in this way must be put to work so as to guarantee the viability of the investments. Anything less than this will not only kill the Nigerian companies which are exposed to the loans but also threaten the local banks that funded the assets”.

Nwapa stated He noted that there has been an unprecedented interest from Nigerian banks seeking to understand the opportunities

and participate in marine vessel financing adding that there is evidence that Nigerian banks have participated in funding over 1bn dollar assets in this short period.

He explained that at the practical level, the government must address the fact the vessels so acquired by Nigerian are actually owned by Nigerians, and ensure that they are engaged with

contract that will optimize employment for Nigerians and keep money earned in the Nigerian economy.

Accoprding to the Executive Secretry of the board government will also ensure that the vessels are continuously be maintained in Nigeria just as the the issue of Temporary import permit is being looked into in such a way that it will benefit Nigerian businesses at the end of the day.

In order to address these posers, the Board has requested all the indigenous vessel owners to upload their details onto the Nigerian Content Joint Qualification System.

“Having done this, we are now in the process of verifying the authenticity of these claims before further categorizing marine vessel owners in line with marine vessel strategy”.

ACSA partners LASTMA road safety

By MAIMUNA MOHAMMED

T

HE African Center for Supply of Chain (ACSC) has concluded plans to partner with the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to sensitize Lagosians with the culture of safety while on the wheels.

The Center’s Director General Mr Obiora Madu,who disclosed this at stakeholders meeting in Lagos assuring that ACSC will work hard to encourage companies that run trucks and other commercial buses to build more training institute to ensure drivers grow through a deliberate policy of professionalism, He said car owners should have their drivers trained before handing over keys to them because drivers are the highest killer in Nigeria as a result of poor training skills.

He stated that the drivers training center is one of the ingredients for supply chain. noting that ‘’The training fee at present is N1,000, while duration period is one day and the maximum requirement is driver’s license’’.

According to him,drivers should drive in accordance with the road traffic laws adding that anybody caught driving and breaking traffic law should dealt with to serve as a deterant to others .

He noted that the maintenance of vehicles was one of the vital key to improving transportation cost reiterating the fact that many people bring in vehicles into Nigeria without understanding the skills in maintaining them.

He explained that before importers bring in vehicles they must understand the environment in which such vehicles are coming, saying that will based on this, they know how to put such vehicles to use/.

Madu also explained that the four keys to reducing transportation cost are to have a clear transportation strategy , clear process in place for drivers selection in other to recruit and place drivers in an effective key success,right investment & infrastructure and finally relationship management.

Escravos pilots decry faulty positioning of buoys

By GODWIN ORITSE

M

ARINE pilots operating in the Escravos Channel have decried faulty and wrong positioning of the fair way buoys on the channel, a development they said can lead to ship running aground and causing other marine accidents.

In an exclusive chat with Vanguard, Captain Solomon Prebo said that the current position of the buoys are misleading adding that and this can make an inexperienced pilot make mistakes that could run a vessel aground.

He said that complaints

have been lodged before the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on the development but nothing has been to correct the anormally done.

In a sharp reaction to the pilots claim, NPA’s General Manager in charge of marine operations Captain Ihenacho Ebubeogu castigated who ever made such claim saying “these buoys were laid only two weeks ago and they are till being observed.

Ebubeogu stated that the buoys were laid because the Ecravos breakwaters were failing and navigational aids were put there to assist the pilots and other water crafts.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 — 21

Inflation: Analyst harps on boosting production, industrial base NKIRUKA NNOROM

A

n investment banker, Mr. Wale Oluwo, has said that the best way to tackle the rising rate of inflation in the country is to ensure that the manufacturing sector is repositioned for greater productivity.

According to Oluwo who spoke to Vanguard in his Lagos office, efforts should be made to see that there is enough credit flow to the real sector, adding that it would bolster activity, as well as boost their production capacity.

He noted that the major cause of inflation in Nigeria was that goods and services have not risen to an extent where they exceed the quantum of money in circulation Oluwo said, “You have two options if you want to tackle inflation problem.

It is either you increase the amount of goods and services in the economy, so that the available money will be chasing more goods or you reduce the money in circulation. CBN is doing the second one and that is not good. You know what? What if inflation goes to 11 per cent today? Are you going to take interest rate to 13 per cent? When are you going to stop?

“They are curing the symptoms; the cause is that goods and services do not exceed money in supply. So, let’s make sure money gets to the people that produce the goods and services so that we have more goods than money in supply.

175.65

-5.45

2,584.00

-58.00

20.03

+0.12

113.11

-0.68

96.15

-0.47

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

154.78 251.502 202.0962 166.8427 1.9692 0.2856 237.6424 24.4931 41.2714 27.0983 239.4292

155.28 252.3145 202.7491 167.3817 1.9756 0.2956 238.4101 24.5727 41.4047 27.1858 240.2026

155.78 253.1269 203.4019 167.9207 1.9819 0.3056 239.1778 24.6522 41.538 27.2734 240.9761

CBN Exchange rate as at 19/09/2012

Acting Minister of Power, Architect Darius Dickson Ishaku flanked by Managing Director/CEO, Bank of Industry, Ms Evelyn Oputu (left) and permanent secretary, federal ministry of Power, Dr. Dere Awosika during the Minister’s meeting with the BOI’s MD at the Bank’s Headquarter in Lagos.

Power supply: Firm creates database to appraise Nigerian leaders

BY BOSE ADELAJA

L

ight-Up Nigeria project has created a website to appraise the level of good governance executed by Nigeria leaders in the area of electricity development.

According to the National Coordinator of the project, Mr. Frank Ukpabi, out of the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory in Nigeria, about 10 have submitted their various power projects which are currently under review on the website, adding that others will join the race soon.

He said, “Beginning from November 2012, Nigerians will have access to a data base where they can view and appraise some past and present leaders in the area of electricity performance.

“The project is designed to recognise, appreciate and encourage the three tiers of government in their efforts towards steady power supply and electrification. The days of endless waiting for public office holders for evaluation are over, especially in a critical sector like power as we want Nigerians to evaluate them while in office,’ he said.

Apart from the annual award, the coordinator said the project includes a magazine comprising the power projects on the website to guide Nigerians in nominations for the award categories.

He called on corporate organisations in Nigeria to imbibe the culture of electricity development and improve on their corporate social responsibilities, especially in the area of electrification.

Ukpabi said the award categories include Local Government award on lightings, State Governors’ electricity power awards as well as individuals/

Housing estate awards on lightings among others. He added that there will be awards for best performing and worst performing governors.

According to him, studies have shown that quite a number of Nigerians depend solely on power as their source of livelihood. “This was the view in the Nigerian manufacturing sector some years back when the problem of power supply became worrisome such that some Nigerian manufacturers shifted their base to Ghana and other parts of the world to stabilise their businesses which were almost crippled by

inadequate power supply,” he said.

A cross section of Nigerians, especially salon operators, frozen food dealers, cyber cafe operators; hospitals and hotels managers, told Vanguard about the losses they have incurred due to inadequate power supply.

Chief executive officer of Blessing business centre Ebute-Metta, Lagos, Mr. Okunola Alabi, said that tangible part of his income goes to diesel and fuel to power the alternative power supply. “We have resorted to alternative power supply to retain our customers although this does not come on a platter of Gold,’’ he said.

Firm set to establish $10bn refinery in Bayelsa

BY GODFREY BIVBERE & DAVID EBEATARHE-SAGUA

A

Nigerian firm, Epic Refinery and Petrochemicals Company Nigeria Limited, in conjunction with its foreign partners, Sino Asia Energy Company Limited, is set to commence construction of a $10 billion refinery with a daily production capacity of 100,000 barrels refined products at Oporoma, Bayelsa State.

Disclosing this in Lagos, Managing Director of Epic refinery, Sir Barango Mathew Wenke Jr., said that preliminary work at the 1,000 hectares of land has already commenced, awaiting approval from the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) for actual construction to begin.

The Epic refinery boss while making a presentation to DPR for license consideration for the refinery, noted that they have put all necessary

machinery in place to complete the construction work on the refinery 24 months from the date they get their license from DPR. He explained that while SAE Group is expected to carry out the construction work, the HSBC Global, will be providing the needed funds.

According to Wenke, HSBC will provide additional $20 billion for investment in the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry after the completion of the construction of the refinery.

He said this will include “the buying over of choice oil blocks,” establishment of retail outlets, etc. while the $10 billion will be used for the construction of the refinery, gas plant and a petrochemical plant.

He explained that they are holding talks with some local banks that would warehouse the funds before construction begins.

22 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

IOSCO to introduce standards for Islamic capital market products

By MICHAEL EBOH & RITA OBODOECHINA

T

HE International Orga nization of Securities Commissions, IOSCO, has disclosed that it is considering setting up a regulatory standard for global capital markets, stipulating the proper disclosure requirements for Islamic capital market products.

This, according to a statement by IOSCO, is in view of the growing recognition of the increasing significance of Islamic capital market, especially in view of rising cross-border transactions.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, had a couple of weeks ago partnered Lotus Capital to launch the NSE Lotus Islamic Index, NSE LII, designed to track the performance of Shari’ah compliant equities on the floor of the NSE. According to IOSCO, the growing recognition of the increasing significance of the Islamic capital market, especially in view of rising crossborder transactions, has triggered the need for stronger

oversight, greater transparency and more robust disclosure requirements.

Commenting on the proposed regulation, Datuk Ranjit Ajit Singh, Chairman of the Securities Commission of

Malaysia, SC, who is also an IOSCO Board member and the Vice-Chair of the IOSCO Emerging Markets Committee, said, “As the Islamic capital market expands and becomes more global, it is in-

creasingly important that issues surrounding investor protection and market integrity are addressed from a cross-jurisdictional perspective.

“It is therefore critical for

Managing Director, Med-View Airlines, Alhaji Muneer Bankole, Mrs. Remi Ajose-Adeogun and Mrs. Edida Nwolisa both representative of First Bank during the arrival of Med-View aircraft Boeing 737-400 from United States of America yesterday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

Why we requested Afromedia to convert dividend to bonus — Shareholders STORIES By NKIRUKA NNOROM

S

HAREHOLDERS of Afromedia Plc have said that financial state of the advertising firm and their general interest were the major motivation behind their decision to have their dividends converted to bonus.

Afromedia plc had in a motion during the annual general meeting held recently in Lagos declared a dividend of 2.5kobo for every 50 kobo share, amounting to the sum of N100.89 billion payable to shareholders whose names were registered in the Register of members as at the close of business on Thursday, April 19, 2012. Another sum of N100.87 billion was also set aside to be capitalised to allow the company issue bonus shares in the proportion of one ordinary share for every 10 ordinary shares held for the financial year ended 30th September, 2011.

However, shareholders unanimously rejected the cash dividend opting instead for its conversion to bonus issue, following which, the motion was amended and the sum of N201.77 billion was capitalized and was distributed in the proportion of one ordinary

share for every 10 ordinary shares previously held by shareholders.

Speaking to Vanguard on decision, the Chief Scribe of Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria, ISAN, Mr. Adebayo Adeleke, said they took the decision to convert the cash dividend to bonus as the total sum accruing to minority shareholders would amount to so little after deduction of the statutory with-holding tax.

“The company has not being in a good financial state, and when you are proposing paltry 2.5 kobo dividend that is still subject to withholding tax, how much will it amount to?

So, we looked at it and said they should convert it to bonus, because one can still convert the bonus to cash by selling the shares.

“Shareholders are becoming more sensitive. We considered overall interest of shareholders, the cash flow of the company and its survival. By the time they withdraw withholding tax, we will have nothing left. Also the company will spend money posting the dividend, coupled with other sundry expenses,” Adeleke stated.

He suggested that era of accepting penny dividends from quoted companies might be

over, saying that the same thing happened in UTC, where they asked the company to plough back the money

proposed as dividend into their operation, instead of wasting money processing and distributing them.

regulators and standard-setters such as the Islamic Financial Services Board, IFSB, and IOSCO to further examine disclosure regimes for Islamic capital market products, with a view to allowing more informed investment decisionmaking and to promote the further growth of the Islamic capital market.”

Also speaking, Mr Jaseem Ahmed, Secretary General of IFSB, explained that promoting cross-border financing and investment through Islamic finance is critical to attaining the depth and scale in Islamic capital markets needed to be competitive.

He said, “This will require the adoption of robust regulatory and disclosure practices that give confidence to investors and consumers alike.

IFSB hopes that this collaboration with IOSCO will facilitate a process leading to a set of practices that could be harmonised or mutually agreed upon.”

Mr David Wright, Secretary General of IOSCO, also said “The recent financial crises highlighted the importance of sound disclosure regimes in mitigating systemic risk and building confidence in the financial markets.

“Given the tremendous growth of the Islamic Finance industry - an increasingly important segment of the global financial markets – it is essential to achieve greater harmonization in disclosure requirements across jurisdictions where Islamic capital market products are offered.”

Fidelity, Access, Citi sign MoU with Shell on local content

T

HE Local Content initia tive of the federal government has received a boost as five deposit money banks, Fidelity Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc and First Bank Nigeria Plc, inluding two foreign institutions, Citi Bank and Standard Chartered Bank, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Shell Exploration and Production Companies in Nigeria.

The MoU signed in PortHarcourt will see the five money lenders providing support to Nigeria contractors towards the actualization of Nigeria’s Local Content aspirations.

The initiative is aimed at placing Nigerian contractors at the fore-front of service delivery to the Oil and Gas industry.

In his welcome address, Managing Director and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mutiu Sunmonu, said that Shell is committed to supporting the fed-

eral government’s efforts to reform the industry especially through the local content policy. He noted that the scheme will address the issue of access to funds which appears to be a serious nightmare to operators in the industry. “Financing of projects has traditionally been a major challenge to contractors’ growth and participation in the delivery of goods and services to the oil and gas industry” Sunmonu added that he is “positive that with the scheme being launched today, financing difficulties will be greatly reduced.”

He explained that banks have committed to relaxing the collateral security requirements, reducing interest rates and establish their competitive advantage and become global players.”

He called on the contractors to work in the spirit of the partnership by fulfilling their obligations to the banks. “The

presence of the Chief Executives of Nigeria’s most prestigious banks at this launching is an indication of their commitment to the success of this scheme. I, therefore call upon our contractors not to default on loan payments, and to apply the funds to the agreed projects. It is only by keeping to the spirit of the opportunity that you can become bigger, global business. Sunmonu said that he is optimistic that the scheme will play a key role in achieving Nigeria’s aspiration of contributing a significant proportion of the global energy requirement.

In his remarks, the Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Reginald Ihejiahi, described the venture as a national challenge which must be met, adding that Fidelity is proud to be associated with the initiative, while calling for more private sector-led initiatives in the country.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 — 23

Currency restructuring: CBN losing confidence in cashless initiative — Report T

HE decision by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to restructure the country ’s currency, shows that the apex bank lacks confidence in its cashless policy and will likely abandon the initiative designed to reduce cash transactions, according to a report by analyst at RTC Advisory Services Limited.

RTC, in its Business and Economic Review for the month of August 2012, prepared by Mr. Opeyemi Agbaje, Chief Executive Officer of the company, also stated that restructuring the country ’s currency is of no immediate value to Nigeria’s economic priorities.

According to him, the currency restructuring programme contradicts the CBN’s cashless economy initiative and adds no value to the nation’s critical priorities.

He said, “While we do not share the general perception of a link between higher currency notes and increased inflation, we believe the new CBN policy contradicts its ‘cashless’ banking initiative and adds no value to the nation’s critical priorities.

“The new policy thrust suggests abandonment or lack of confidence of the CBN in its ‘cashless’ initiative.”

Commenting on the general economic performance, Agbaje

said Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, current growth rate is a reflection of the low contribution of the financial sector to the growth and development of the economy.

He also attributed the low GDP growth rate to the sluggishness of the capital market, insecurity,

unavailability of credit to the private sector among others.

He said, “Second quarter GDP growth of 6.28 per cent is falling below the seven to eight per cent threshold and seems like a trend following first quarter 6.17 per cent.

“This may reflect financial sector tepidity, capital market sluggishness; agriculture strains, insecurity and

constrained private sector credit and activity.”

He further applauded Nigeria’s improvement in the Global Competitive Index, GCI, ranking — from 127th to 115th — saying, however, that insecurity and absence of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, may prevent the country from reaping the benefits of the improvement in the ranking.

From left: Mr Emeka Akwuaka,group company secretary, chief Dolapo Atekoja, chairman, Board of directors, and Mr Chris Oshiafi,group managing director/ CEO, all of Pan African Capital Plc during the company’s 5th Annual general meeting in Lagos.

T

HE Local Content Act of the Federal Government received yet another boost from the financial sector, as First Bank of Nigerian Plc said it has committed well over N500 billion to finance oil and gas projects in Nigeria as part of efforts to enhance local capacity and competitiveness.

This sum has led to the successful acquisition of a vessel — DSV AVIANNA — for Broron Oil and Gas Company.

Speaking at the commission of the vessel in Lagos, Mrs. Oluremi Adeogun, First Bank Group Head, Corporate Banking-Ikeja 1, said it is the first of its kind acquired by a 100 per cent indigenous Nigerian company and financed by First Bank as a strategic edge to expand filed operations in the Nigerian oil and gas sector and beyond.

She said the sum represents the bank’s total financing activities for the upstream, midstream, and downstream sub-sectors of the oil and gas

C M Y K

T

HE naira firmed slightly against the United States’ yesterday, a day after the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, left interest rates on hold and said it would keep monetary conditions tight.

The naira opened for trade at 157.50 to the U.S. dollar yesterday, higher than Tuesday’s close of 157.75.

Dealers said the naira was partly driven by inflows from foreign investors buying bonds at an auction on Wednesday and oil companies selling the dollar to lenders.

“Chevron sold around $113 million to some lenders.

Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG, sold an undisclosed amount and (there were) inflows from investors buying bonds,” one dealer said.

The CBN kept rates on hold for the sixth time in a row at 12 per cent on Tuesday, welcoming improved growth and a slight fall in headline inflation. But it said monetary measures will remain hawkish for the foreseeable future.

Stormberg advocates advancement in solar tech

BY KUNLE KALEJAYE

First Bank commits N500bn to petroleum projects’ financing

BY KUNLE KALEJAYE & VICTOR IGIRI

Naira firms after CBN rate decision

BY WILLIAM JIMOH & TOCHUKWU ANAETO

…Policy is of no value to Nigeria’s critical priorities

BY MICHAEL EBOH

B-R-I-E-F-S

industry in 2011.

According to her, First Bank has since 2011 availed to the Customer an Asset Finance facility of US$29.030 million utilized to finance a multifunctional field support vessel and other equipment for an

ongoing contract with Mobil Producing Unlimited.

Special Adviser to the President on Technical Matters, Mr. Eze Akachukwu who was present at the launching of the vessel said the local content law was enacted because there are

Nigerians who believes in the law.

“The local content law was enacted because there are Nigerians who believes that the law will be executed by Nigerians. Deep shore operations have long been left in the hands of foreigners.

Unity Bank launches revamped e-product

U

NITY Bank has announced a relaunch of its mobile banking application, Unity Mobile. The reintroduced product places the bank in a leading role in the financial services sector by providing customers with secure realtime mobile transaction capability, the bank’s Head of Media Relations, Sani Zaria, said.

Responding to press enquiries, Zaria said that apart from the convenience to customers of being able to bank from their mobile phones, Unity Mobile is

unique in its simplicity of use while remaining absolutely secure. He said the revamped Unity Mobile application was part of the bank’s ongoing rejuvenation process to improve service delivery to its customers.

According to Zaria, “Unity Mobile is very simple to use, it allows customers to have access to their accounts at any time of the day, and it is very secure as our IT infrastructure runs on Oracle 11g with Web Logic.” In addition, Zaria also said Unity Mobile reduces risks, saves customers’ time and cost as there is no longer

a need to carry cash around or go into the bank branch to conduct transactions. “You can even pay your utility bills and top up your phone from Unity Mobile,” he said.

It would be recalled that Unity Bank was the first deposit money bank in Nigeria using the ‘BANKS’ application software to upgrade its IT infrastructure to Oracle 11g with Web Logic. The upgrade was carried out to guarantee long term data integrity and confidentiality of the bank’s customers’ information and records as well as high level data resilience.

I

NDIGENOUS Nigerian engineering solutions provider, Stormberg Power Limited, has urged Nigerians to key into the advancement made in solar technology to provide cost-effective rural electrification with positive environmental impacts.

Speaking with newsmen in Lagos, Stormberg’s Chief Marketing Officer, Mr. Adetola Adebanjo, said Nigeria will be able to support the growth of the solar industry in the country “If we can learn from other countries and tailor various Nigerian market specific programs aimed at reducing the cost of solar power system.”

Describing solar power as the best developed and most broadly applied modern energy technologies, Adebanjo listed simple uses of solar energy in homes and industries to include the drying of clothes, wet substances and the use of the simple calculators.

“The simple calculator is one of the most popular items that use solar power. But these days there are so many more products that are using the growing technology.”

24 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

, Aba: Those illegal structures must come down

U

RBAN renewal is an activ ity that signposts a city is ready to leave behind the past and move into a newer phase of development. Former Singaporean leader, Lee Kwan Yew, in his famous book: From The Third World to the First, detailed the iron determination with which he fought long encrusted traditional values to build an exemplary city-state out of formerly stigmatised shanty water front settlements.

Of course, Singapore was not the first to go this route. It is the compelling story that its leader tells to an entralled reading world, especially the Third World, that makes it a handy example. Anyone familiar with the stories of old cities such as London, Paris, Rome, New York, Chicago, Barcelona, Beijing and the rest will be amazed at the vision and sacrifices that went into turning them into the modern marvels they are today.

The fad of urban renewal has caught up with many states in Nigeria with Lagos proving to be truly the Centre of Excellence.

Under the Bola Tinubu/Raji Fash-

ola continuous flow of visionary governance, Lagos has, in spite of itself, gradually begun to wear the looks of an emerging megacity and hub of modern business in the sub-region. The same trend is noticeable in Benin (a hardcore traditional city), Port Harcourt and Uyo. However, commercial and business cities in the South East zone seem determined to rebuff every effort aimed at bringing about change for the better, with Aba, Onitsha and Nnewi the biggest culprits.

The case of Aba is in particular focus today because the Governor of the State, Chief Theodore Orji, has announced his determination to demolish no fewer than 1,800 houses and shacks illegally erected on designated waterways. These distorted the “Garden City” approach to town planning which the colonial masters adopted for the development of railway towns, Port Harcourt and Aba.

T

he White man planned the centre of the Aba urban in

I want to encourage the government of Abia State to proceed and remove any structure that stands in the way provided for running water by the city’s planners; trading and commercial activities must be regulated

,

rectangular sections, each with gutters draining water into the massive Big Gutter that took all waste-water and floods away from the city and emptied it in the Aba River. As soon as it stopped raining, the flood disappeared as if by miracle. Many recreational parks, which were called “open spaces” were used to give the urban setting “breathing space” and room for children to play and adults to relax. This plan remained in effect until the regime of Chief Sam Mbakwe as the Governor of Old Imo State.

Mbakwe decided to upgrade the four principal urban towns left behind by the colonialists in old Imo State: Owerri, Aba, Umuahia and Okigwe. He took foreign loans and dug up these cities, widening the roads and drainage and sealing gutters and their contents off from view. He was abused by those whose oxen were gored in the process. But today, Mbakwe is often cited as the next best thing since Dr

Michael Okpara, even though the debt he took is still being paid today.

But as soon as the visionless military took over, all hell was let loose. The open spaces were invaded and residential and commercial structures sprang up.

People brazenly blocked the gutters, erected “German floors” over them and built shops on them.

Even the Big Gutter was not spared. So, whenever it rains in Aba flood water has nowhere to go anymore. It simply goes into people’s homes and the rest stays put on the roads, thus subjecting people to weeks of untold suffering until, somehow, it evaporates. Since it rains so heavily during the rainy season in Aba, most of the city is under the flood and mud until late in November.

A particular consequence of this anomaly is that roads do not last in Aba. Some roads are reconstructed almost every year, and yet by the next rainy season it is as if nothing was done.

The time has come for the dwellers of Aba to summon the courage to part ways with uncivilised living. When the war ended and Igbo people turned to trading as if with vengeance, it was seen as the only means through which a people who lost everything to the civil war could survive, especially in the face of well-laid out systemic marginalisation. Forty years have passed.

Igbo people has “survived” very nicely; in fact they have done better than some other Nigerians who lost nothing to the war. It is time to leave the stage of primitive survivalism and upgrade to modernisation, at least in tune with the above-mentioned cities and others not mentioned.

I want to encourage the government of Abia State to proceed

and remove any structure that stands in the way provided for running water by the city’s planners. Trading and commercial activities must be regulated. This “shop-mania” must be arrested.

There must be trading/commercial zones as well as dwelling/ recreational areas. It is only when the city is properly organised that you can have a planned approach to provision of basic amenities. Amenities cannot be provided in a jungle; and there is no greater jungle than urban jungles because then it is inhabited by human wild animals.

I

am happy that Governor Orji has summoned the courage to tackle this problem, rather than pander to cheap popularity and leave it for an in-coming regime to tackle. To build Aba into a Twenty First Century commercial and industrial city able to attract local and international business is a task that must be done. I advise the landlords and residents of the city to borrow a leaf from the selfsacrifice of the Oba of Benin, Omo N’ Oba Erediauwa Uku Akpolokpolor, who wrote Governor Adams Oshiomhole and the Edo State House of Assembly volunteering to allow the fence of his palace to be demolished if only to help actualise the urban renewal plans of the state government. Today, Benin is a showpiece of modernity with wide streets and very agreeable atmospherics.

However, I caution that all efforts must be made to ensure that nobody is victimised politically or otherwise. Any building covered by legitimate documents must be properly compensated according to the law if it has to go. Injustice or impunity must not come into it.

Emerging signs of 2015 HE press in Nigeria has been at tacked for poking its big nose in the affairs of others. It lambasts public officials with impunity and it attacks any governmental action with the supreme benefit of hindsight; it formulates bold policies without having to take responsibility for their implementation. On reading the Nigerian newspapers, one gets the impression that all the problems of Nigeria would disappear if only the President could appoint members of his cabinet solely from the editorial boards of the major newspapers.

This is how it is the world over. Empowered by the constitution, a proactive press adopts the attitude of monkey see, monkey do. The watch dog never sleeps. The press cannot remain quiet in the face of the evils going on in society.

As a negative response, government also adopts the attitude of the woodpecker – the headache is only for the person who is watching it. With time, government officials block their ears from what they regard as unnecessary noise from the press. All the same, government must, of necessity, learn to tolerate part of the noise for as long as it relies on the same “noise makers” to propagate its affairs.

A proactive press must constantly point to the direction of things to come. It is not too early to have a glimpse into 2015, where the early signs are frightening.

For a start, could it be really by accident or by design that there is so much noise coming from the INEC leadership at this time?

Whoever wants a good election must first seek to repair the electoral umpire’s home.

Corruption is the bane of our society. The compass to the future resides in the past. Absurdities shall never end. We are trying to be more benevolent than God. God is so merciC M Y K

ful but he is careful not to answer every prayer the way we want it. He who sees the end from the beginning will not answer a man’s prayer to give him a car if he knows that the man will drive himself to death with the car. A governor would steal his state blind. In the season of accountability, the governor rushes to court to slap an injunction on the anti-graft agency not to investigate him. Is this the type of injunction we should be respecting in the name of rule of law? Whatever happened to the legal doctrine, which forbids a man from benefitting from his own iniquities? There are issues on which whoever wants to rule a country must take a bold stand.

Is it really necessary to remind us that in politics, what people intend is often different from what they bring about? We saw it coming. We must congratulate our President on his dexterity in the act of clinging to power. Soon after he won the 2011 presidential race, he started the cling–to–power manouevre: first by seeking to increase the tenure of the President and governors to a single term of seven years; promising he will not benefit from the increase. What do we see now? Have the leaders of the SouthSouth and to some extent those of the South East not started luring him “to show interest in contesting”?

Our concern here is not on whether the President has a right to contest or not, but that he is entering into our house through the back door and for the remaining part of his tenure, governance is on leave of absence! Governance for which we elected the President is suffering in the hands of politics.

We are still travelling the familiar route.

General Muhammadu Buhari is out again.

This time around, he speaks with a tone that

,

T

Nigeria is drifting towards Plato's definition of a deteriorating society; if we are not going to end up dumping mediocrity on ourselves come 2015, this is the time to start asking and answering the difficult questions

,

suggests that he is the sole beneficiary of the emerging accord that is being forged between the so-called opposition parties. This was how he destroyed a similar accord in 2010, even before that accord was born.

When will these crass opportunists learn to know that they are no longer wanted? Buhari should have known that, particularly with his inflammatory speeches, the love for him has died. It is clear that he has failed because, all these years, he has been unable to groom a successor. The truth is that if they still succeed in making it a straight fight between Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, Nigerians will still go for the less of two evils and vote Jonathan. Then we shall still remain in this big mess!

There is another man who must remain in the struggle till “thy kingdom come”. In recent history, he was virtually the owner of what has now metamorphosed into the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN. In fact, he was already being treated as President-inwaiting.

Suddenly, he saw where the light was brighter. He jumped ship and returned to eat his own vomit. This was a manifest case of the inordinate ambition of a man who double-crossed himself. In this new home, he was beaten to his own selfish game. He has now been boxed to a tight corner.

And suddenly, too, he now remembers that the late Gen. Shehu Yar’Adua once had a formidable group, the People’s Democratic Movement, PDM, to which he belonged. But as the name suggests, that was a movement that is now kaput. Nevertheless, there is now an invitation in the market place asking members of the dead movement to regroup so as to oust the present government from power in 2015. But where are the members of the PDM? We (oops, they) are totally fragmented. The pieces are to be found in all the 60 political parties in Nigeria. Who can fix the jig-saw?

Nigeria is today drifting towards Plato’s classic definition of a deteriorating society – a society that permits mediocrity to dominate the affairs of government. If we are not going to end up dumping mediocrity on ourselves come 2015, this is the time to start asking and answering the difficult questions.

We must shine our eyes well, well.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 — 25

J

UST why don’t our leaders learn the lessons of history?

Why are they condemned to lunacy, by doing the same thing over and over and yet expecting to arrive at a different outcome?

We have entered the fourth week of the disappearance from the public space, of President Goodluck Jonathan’s wife, Dame Patience. Because no serious official information was forthcoming about the sudden disappearance of a woman who made sure of her presence in our lives, the rumour mill went into over-drive!

Dame Patience was said to have been whisked out of our country, suffering a ruptured appendix; yet others spoke of food poisoning during a visit to Dubai; there was talk of a tummy tuck which went awry and yet others even said the lady was dead.

Despite all that was buzzing in cyberspace, the more restrained attitude of the Nigerian media and the incoherent attempts at explanations by handlers who really deserve our pity much more than disgust, neither the Presidency nor other credible sources have offered meaningful explanations about Dame Patience’s disappearance in almost a month!

I assume that presidential handlers are deluding themselves that because she is the President’s wife, this was strictly a private issue and they were therefore not obliged to offer the country an explanation of her whereabouts. But they are wrong for so many reasons. Dame Patience goes around the country, milking her place as “First Lady” and she hugs the limelight, thus making her toing-and-froing part of the architecture of governance in our country.

Constitutional amendment The lady is ferried around in presidential jets with closed airspace just as cities are locked down for her retinue to speed through; she even dared to suggest a constitutional amendment so “First Ladies” may “also enjoy” the perks of post-office life.

So intrusive has she become in our lives! So they cannot now plead privacy in matters concerning her health. The second issue is that in tune with the need for full disclosure as a central kernel of the governance process, they owe us the explanation of what is exactly wrong with the President’s wife.

By keeping things under wraps for almost a month, the Presidency shows much disrespect for the Nigerian people.

It is frightening just how much the cycles of history repeat themselves in contemporary Nigeria, as Marx once aptly described, as both a tragedy and a farce! Wind back to the end of 2009 and how President Umaru Yar'Adua’s health situation haunted the country.

The handlers of that ancien regime did everything to keep Nigerians off the trail of news about the situation at hand. The nation was on tenterhooks and governance all but collapsed, just C M Y K

know that full disclosure about Dame Patience’s position, especially when it first broke, could have won them some empathy, after all, despite everything else, Nigerians are human and are likely to wish the President’s wife well and such empathy might also have rubbed off presidential rating, which has become really low?

Dame Patience Jonathan and a troubling repetition of recent history

Dame Patience Jonathan as rumour and court intrigues became the order of the day.

Nigerians were angry not only to

be kept in the dark, but more sinisterly, even the then Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan, was kept out of the governance loop by a “cabal’ said to be headed by Yar’Adua’s wife but including a provincial group from his days as governor.

We reached a crisis point when something was bound to give, any which way, in Nigeria.

The empathy for the then Vice President became the wave which swept away the carefully

constructed political gimmick that left our country a joke nation, with a dying president, still upheld as ruling the roost. Goodluck Jonathan was swept into power as Acting President; and it was clear that the disgust felt by many Nigerians was one factor which worked in his favour during the 2011 election.

It is therefore incroyable (as the French say!), that the same President will choose to repeat the unwholesome approach which the Yar’Adua “cabal” employed to their own detriment during that really dark moment in our nation’s history. Why will the Presidency pretend that Nigerians can be kept in the dark forever?

Can’t they see that they have hurt themselves much more than they have helped? Didn’t they

Messy situation After Yar ’Adua’s death, a senator moved for a discussion of the entirely messy situation around the man’s hospitalization, the secret return to the country under cover of darkness, the problem with transfer of power, etc. But he was curtly over-ruled

by David Mark.

The ruling elite refused to learn a lesson from that frightening episode which almost dissembled the political system; and in a bizarre manner, the situation in respect of Dame Patience’s disappearance is coming to haunt them! It is clear as daylight, that the political elite holds us in absolute contempt!

The silence over the fate of Dame Patience Jonathan is so loud in its consequence. But on behalf of Nigerians, may we ask President Goodluck Jonathan: “Where is Dame Patience”?

Bola Tinubu’s terminological inexactitude

I

HAVE never met Bola Tinubu, but I have been told that he is a rather short man. I nevertheless get the feeling, that he must have a very tall ego; tall enough to fit the lofty ambitions of a man described as “National Leader” of his Action Congress of Nigeria party; a position I was also reliably informed, is not in the party’s constitution.

But what does it matter, Bola Tinubu literally ‘owns’ the party in truth, and whatever he chooses to be called only underlines his place as ‘owner ’, ‘main shareholder’, ‘lawgiver’ and the ‘primus inter pares’ of Nigeria’s leading opposition party.

In truth, I am not his fan whatsoever, but I am a political realist and I grudgingly accept that he is a consummate master of the smoke-filled recessesof Nigerian political intrigues, and has been able to eyeball (no pun intended!) the PDP to submission, especially in his South West redoubt.

He has constructed a laager in Yorubaland and it is therefrom that he is taking the politics of merger into Northern Nigeria.

What with the talks being held with Buhari’s CPC! If it works out, we face the interesting prospect of a political marriage between the North and the West, which can change a lot of things in our country, for better or worse.

But there is something eternally disturbing about the man. He has a tendency towards terminological inexactitudes: from the controversies about his academic records! The most recent issue is the alleged invitation to attend the Democratic Party’s National

Convention.

Tinubu’s spokesperson, Sunday Dare had written that: “Tinubu will be at the ringside as the Democratic Party concludes activities that will culminate in the nomination of President Barack Obama as its candidate for the November 2012 presidential elections in the USA”. The statement went further: “Tinubu received a gold card invitation which is prime…”, adding that Tinubu was invited as the leader of the opposition in Nigeria. But in a dramatic twist, online journalism sites claimed that Bola Tinubu had purchased the invitation for five thousand dollars, contrary to claims of “a gold card invitation which is prime”. Quoting a DNC source, the online site, said “the invitation card sent to Tinubu …was generic” and it “generally goes from the campaign organisation and not personally from President Obama”.

Opening for counter blows The ruling PDP, too long at the receiving end of Tinubu’s ACN’s political stick, found an opening for counter-blows, asking that Tinubu and his party come clean on the invitation. But the ACN’s Lai Muhammed, a longstanding Tinubu sidekick, pooh-poohed the challenge, alleging a smear campaign and shadow chasing

by Tinubu’s PDP opponents.

When the central figure returned from his “successful” American visit last weekend, which included a carefully arranged picture of the “leader of Nigeria’s opposition (Bola Tinubu)”

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu effusively clapping at the Convention, he asked the PDP to face serious issues of governance!

Well said! Eh? Except that we are not any clearer about the issue at hand. Lai Muhammed passed the buck that not ACN but “Tinubu Media Office that issued an unambiguous self-explanatory statement”. That may well be the truth, in terms of the point of origin of the spin that went decidedly wrong and exploded political bubbles in the faces of Tinubu and his party men.

They seemed to have missed the point. Politicians are wont to trying to do to the facts of situations, what Yuri Geller does to iron: bend them! When Tinubu got Sunday Dare to issue a statement that he was issued “a gold card invitation which is prime” as the “leader of the opposition in Nigeria”, it was clear that he was being “BIGGED UP” (as they say!), but like a hurriedly buried corpse with limbs sticking out of the grave, they didn’t reckon that the small lie could be

so easily discovered in the world of online journalism and open spaces of search and find!

The central issue is credibility, dear Tinubu, Lai Muhammed and the Action Congress. You have become the biggest opposition group in Nigeria and are locked in talks to create an alternative platform to the highly compromised and incompetent PDP. Nigerians expect you to be substantially different and be more responsible.

If you tell small lies about invitations to conventions in America, on behalf of a Bola Tinubu that many people say might very well be Nigeria’s next vice president, what big lies may you have been telling the Nigerian people?

It is frightening that Tinubu, the consummate politician, who has built a notable personality cult amongst his followers, especially in the Southwest, seems to repeatedly stumble upon an unfortunate character flaw. He is haunted by it; and though his generosity has helped to take the eyes of many commentators from this flaw, it is imperative, for the sake of the political and emotional hopes being invested in the merger talks, for Bola Tinubu and his handlers to respect the truth more consciously. The “gold invitation which is prime” tale does not do the man a lot of good!

26— Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012—27

C M Y K

28—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

STORIES BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

E

XECUTIVE Director, Human Resources, 7UP Bottling Company, Mr. Femi Mokikan, has said the only way Pension Fund Administrators, PFAs, can swindle money contributed into Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS, is if the National Pension Commission, PenCom, is not doing its supervisory responsibility effectively.

Mokikan in a interview with Pension and You, said however PenCom as presently constituted is effectively monitoring and supervising the PFA, the Pension Fund Custodians, PFCs, and other stakeholders in the sector.

According to him, “Every time I hear that the Pension Fund Administrator, PFA, is swindling money, I ask myself, how is it possible? Of course, I may not know enough but based on what we do here (7UP Bottling Company), each staff has a PFA, every PFA has a Pension Fund Custodian, PFC, the PFCs are very few, and they are backed by solid banks.

The PFA has no access whatsoever to this money. The money goes to the PFC. They will write a cheque in favour

PFAs can swindle contributors’ money if…, Mokikan of the PFC, then we will attach a list of the people that belong to the PFA that is using that PFC. We send a copy of the schedule to the PFA and another copy to the PFC. Once they confirm the cheque has arrived and cleared. I have my name in the P F C .

Immediately they are supposed to Mokikan credit my account and on a periodic basis, not as often as I want to, but I can access it myself. And when I have questions, I can ask my pensions and benefit manager. We have nothing to do with the PFC other than to pay this money. When you retire, we will give you a letter

and the data of your PFA. Instead of waiting for them to ask us, we just put the necessary information in the letter.”

“I am not aware of anyone one of those people who have gone and come back to say that

they were not paid. It may take a little time to go through the process because the people insist that unless the documentation is complete, they won’t pay anything. But for our own people, we do not have issues at all. There are two ways to collect your money; programmed withdrawal or annuity. For programmed withdrawal, you give them you account number and every period, they will be crediting you. The period may be a month three months or quarterly. The act is very stringent on where you can put money so it is the investment section of the act that will guide the PFCs. If PFAs are playing games with the money by saying now that the cheques is already with them, they then tell the PFC, transfer 10 million naira to a particular account and the PFC agrees to do that, it means that the National

Pension Commission, PenCom , is not supervising correctly because the terms are so strict that anyone of them that does that, there is a hammer (sanction). In my mind, they have done what they believe is reasonable and expect that it will work.”

He added that “if there is a gap, it will be in monitoring.

But concerning the structure, I am still very proud of it. In my little interactions with PenCom, I believe they are responsible. It is not in many government agencies that you get the kind of cooperation that you get with them. Before the reform, we were running our pension with an insurance company, then after the reform, we said the money should be transferred. It took us a while to get the money transferred, almost every week I was in PenCom office, and they gave us all the cooperation. The insurance company used the money to buy a house and they had to sell the house, but we were in a hurry. What most of the insurance companies that were managing pensions did, was to establish PFAs. But we monitored everything and at the end of the day, the money was transferred. I will give the reform a pass mark.”

PHCN retirees blame FG for missing Superannuation fund POWER Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN’s retirees have blamed the Federal Government for both the crisis and the missing fund in the PHCN pension scheme otherwise known as superannuation fund, SF. Under the National Union of Pensioners, NUP, Electricity sector chapter, in a memoranda to the panel of investigation on Pension Matters in the Power Sector traced the emergence of the SF to the 1960s.

In the memo by the President and Secretary of the union, Comrades Temple Ubani and Olukayode Ogunbiyi, claimed that the fund used in servicing the SF was expected to be a percentage (0/0) of the emoluments of the workers and at that time it was 35%, explain that “it was not a direct deduction from the salaries of the workers but a provision which cash backing was supplied by the employer.”

“It was agreed between Labour and Management that the contribution was to be made by Management, remitted to the Fund and kept for employees’ terminal benefits.

To manage the Fund properly, two accounts were maintained in Nigeria and in the UK. At the merger of NDA

ment recognized the need for the amalgamation of the two Schemes and this resulted in the re-negotiation of the terms of funding and the scope of coverage. It was then agreed that the contribution would be 25% and that it would cover all categories of staff, be it expatriates or Nigerians. Up to date, the money accruing to that fund though domicile in NEPA/PHCN, belongs to the Staff and the Pensioners in the Sector to take care of their gratuity and pensions and it is purely non-contributory - only the employees contributing L-R: Secretary to the National Union of Pensioners,Electricity Sector,Comrade Olukayode into the scheme. The provision Ogunbiyi,President of the Union,Mr.Temple Ubani,Consultant to the union,Mr.Tony Osoroh was initially based on basic saland the National Trustee,Mrs.Bamidele Alabi,during a bring in Lagos . aries but later migrated to total emoluments from the early and ECN in 1972 to become thority, NEPA, the workers and Gas Workers Union, NEG- 80’s up to the present time.”

National Electric Power Au- union, National Electricity WU, and the new manage-

N200bn unremitted fund On the controversial non-remittance of fund SF, the retirees said “We recall that sometime during the tenure of Engr. Hamman Tukur as the Managing Director, MD, of NEPA, it was alleged that he withdrew the sum of N20million from the SF to run the organization and declared that there was no difference between the Fund and the NEPA Account since the cash

is provided by NEPA. Though when he was challenged and accused of misappropriation of the Fund by the SF Board Members he retracted and promised to pay back the amount and this was the beginning of the funding challenges of the Fund. There was also a time when one Alhaji Ndanusa then the NEPA Board Chairman was quoted

in the media to have said that a whooping N190 billion meant for the SF was allegedly misapplied. No relevant government agency asked further questions.”

“During the Military regime of Abacha, it was also alleged that several withdrawals running into several millions were made from the Fund by top Executives of NEPA to ca-

ter for both capital and administrative expenses of the Authority. There were reports as well that NEPA/PHCN defaulted in paying the agreed contributions into the Fund several times over, amounting to billions of naira shortfall in the Fund. It has been revealed that up to 1983 remittances of the provision by the NEPA management was regular.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 — 29

Teachers begin strike in 18 states Monday

BY DAYO ADESULU

T

eachers in public primary schools are to embark on indefinite national strike on September 24, if the government fails to pay their 27.5 per cent Teachers Special Allowances (TSA) before Monday, September 24, the National President, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Michael Alogba Olukoya has said.

The national president who disclosed that the decision to proceed on indefinite strike was reached at their National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at Abuja recently said it was agreed that teachers in the 18 affected states which failed to pay the TSA should embark on indefinite strike next week Monday.

According to Olukoya, while 18 states of the federation have complied and started paying the TSA as agreed in 2008, 18 other states on the contrary, have failed to accede

*Mrs Victoria Mopelola Peregrino, Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary, Lagos State, Comrade Samson Kayode Idowu, Lagos State NUT Chairman and Comrade Sam Idowu, Ogun State NUT Chairman at the formal launching of customized laptops on e-teaching/learning for Lagos teachers where the strike for Lagos State teachers was declared. to the demand of the teachers in their various states.

Some of the affected states that are yet to pay the 27.5 per cent Teachers Salary Structure include Lagos, Abia, Cross River, Katsina, Delta, Ogun,

Ekiti, Kogi, Enugu, Ebonyi, Nasarawa, Kebbi, Niger and Zamfara states, to mention a few.

Olukoya said that the proposed strike slated for Monday would have taken off

in the month of July but shelved as a result of the intervention of the Minister of Education and other stakeholders in the sector. He, however, urged governors to intervene before the

Why African varsities don't make top 500 in global ranking DAUD OLATUNJI, ABEOKUTA

T

he Vice-Chancellor, University of Education, Winneba, Ghana, Professor Akwasi AsabereAmeyaw has disclosed why none of the universities on the African continent could make the recent 500 ranking in the world because they were wrongly assessed.

Ameyaw who delivered a distinguished lecture organised by TASUED National Alumni Association in Ijebu-Ode, said; “It is very alarming that no African university is ranked among the best 500 universities in the world.”

According to him; “They go to the web site and look at

20

Continues on page 36

themselves,let us set up our own criteria, our own standards and assess ourselves.

“Now, when they assess, what are they even assessing: they use your website, they don’t come to see what you are doing. In my university, they are saying that in Ghana, we are third, we are behind Kien

University.

“But I’m not too happy. Why? Because they used the website. They should have come to see what we are doing in Winneba against what Cape Coast is doing, for them to tell me that we have performed better than Cape

Continues on page 36

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

students benefit from Gani scholarship awards — Page 32

C M Y K

what is there. The process is not the best, I am not saying I am against it, it is not the best. *Professor “The good thing about it is that we Akwasi know where we are. Since we know where weare, can’t we move out of that? Someone was talking about proliferation of programmes, why concentrate all efforts on that.”

“Universities are universities, you want to admit and so they are measured by certain standards.

Yes, they know the standards they use.

“I agree that the standards are low because they have set thosestandards. But if what you are doing would pull our children out of the streets, would make them functional wherever they find

commencement of the industrial action as there will be no going back until they accede to their demand.

It will be recalled that after series of strikes by NUT from 1999 to May 29, 2007 when the late President Musa Yar ’Adua assumed office, he constituted a committee in 2008 to look into the agitation of NUT and subsequently approved the payment of 27.5 per cent increment to teachers.

Since 2008 when the agreement was reached, it was either the affected states renegotiated with their states' NUT to pay part of the 27.5 per cent or pay nothing at all.

Some of the defaulting states heaped the blame on insufficient fund in their state, arguing that the monthly federal allocation without Internally Generated Revenue is inadequate to pay teachers in the state.

Moreover, Vanguard findings revealed that some of the defaulting states see the payment of the TSS as a forgotten issue since implementation of minimum wage by states and Federal Government.

However, the position of Olukoya was that whatever is paid as minimum wage, teachers should have 27.5 per cent increment on their salary.

He said that he expected the

Gracias

Chinos — Page 33

Nigerian invents power-generating machine, makes Africa's first car

— Page 34

30 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

UAC storms Ajegunle with free weekend classes

BY DAYO ADESULU

L

ast weekend was the turn of students at Ajegunle to enjoy free holiday coaching from UAC’s Goodness League as hundreds of students in this part of Lagos trooped out for the free learning.

Determined to extend the benefits of the programme to more students and touch more lives, the organisation, during the just-concluded 2012 edition of the Goodness League, mobilised and stormed Ajegunle, a densely populated area of Lagos.

The Ajegunle community, which is home to millions of Nigerians of different ethnic, religious and socio-political backgrounds, is noted for its vibrancy inspite of the infrastructural deficits in the area. The Tolu Schools Complex, with16 secondary schools huddled together, must definitely pass for the largest concentration of secondary schools in Nigeria, if not

Africa, was the venue.

The enthusiasm with which the district, students and people of Ajegunle received the team indicates that there are many students ready to take advantage of such programmes as springboards to make a meaningful impact in life. Students thronged the venue of the free weekend classes throughout the period of the programme.

A student, Awe, solved the 3x3x3 Rubik’s Cube in 90 seconds and became a source of inspiration to the students as he went on solving one equation after the other with relative ease.

The award-winning Mathematics whizkid was able to demonstrate to the students that getting a good grade in the subject as well as other subjects considered difficult, is a matter of

PFL, foreign undergradutes meet Nigerian students

BY DAYO ADESULU

A

t the weekend, students in Nigerian universities were opportune to meet with foreign university representatives to explore the possibilities and options available to them abroad.

Speaking with newsmen during the interactive session in Lagos, Mrs Moyin Ogedengbe, Country Director, PFL Nigeria, said it is the first multi-dimensional expo of its kind with a number of university representatives from Australia, Canada, Dubai, New Zealand, USA and UK coming to Nigeria to interact with Nigerian students.

She noted that their coming have gone a long way to create a platform for students, parents, partner universities and PFL to interact with one another and explore possibilities and options.

Ogedengbe stated that “Studying abroad allows you to deepen and broaden your understanding of world, political and economic issues by seeing it from the perspective of a different society. You will also find out how other countries view your home country and its role in C M Y K

international affairs.”

She noted that study abroad students are seen as more motivated, inquisitive, flexible, independent and willing to try new things - qualities that employers look for.

“Study abroad students often return home with increased confidence and a sense of pride in what they have achieved,” she added.

The events are for all prospective students, families and sponsors interested in finding out more about studying overseas.

On fee waivers, she disclosed that discounts, grants, scholarships and travel awards are some forms of financial assistance available to prospective students.

Mr Ro m a n Ra d a r, representing West London College said, PFL has helped students from Nigeria, Ghana and other countries travel to the UK to study. “Students who are willing to study and practice in London are assisted with work visas," he said.

God’s grace, I will pass all my papers at one sitting,” Lawal enthused.

The Free Weekend Class is an aspect of UAC’s Goodness League initiative where the company mobilises its managers as volunteers to teach senior secondary school students during long vacations.

T

12 during 20 students t Ajegunle, Lagos. g in h c a er te me a *A volunteLeague Program s s e n d Goo T h e interest, determination and programme, which draws on and strictly follows - the Lagos discipline.

An elated Mustapha Lawal, State Government’s curriculum, a student of Newland Senior is geared towards preparing Secondary School, Ajegunle, students for the challenges of confessed that watching Awe life. The programme offers talk and solve those equations instructions in Guidance and English, was all he needed to challenge Counselling, Biology, himself not just to pass Mathematics, mathematics but to make a Chemistry, Physics, Economics and Accounts. The volunteers, distinction in it.

“If someone like him could principally UAC managers, accomplished achieve this, why not me? I will include apply some of the principles professionals and seasoned they have shared with us, put practioners – chartered in more effort, with special accountants, engineers, human attention on Mathematics resource experts, ICT experts, being my weak point and by marketing and communication practioners and lawyers.

FG to hand over almajiri schools to states by Dec.

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

T

he Federal Government has pledged to hand over completed and furnished almajiri and girl-child schools to state governments for onward enrolment by December this year.

The Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike who invited all the almajiri, girl-child and furnishing contractors to a meeting in Abuja Tuesday, urged the contractors that were yet to complete the various contracts given to them to do so on or before November in order for the schools to be handed over latest by December this year.

According to him, “We cannot hand over almajiri schools to state governments without furnishing the schools. We had to call for the meeting so as to know where the problem of delay lies whether in the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) or the contractors."

Some of the contractors at the meeting include those handling Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Delta, Ekiti, Zamfara,

Fafunwa foundation holds annual lecture

Rivers, Adamawa, Yobe, Jigawa, Irno, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Kaduna and Bayelsa states.

“The interest of government is to ensure that there are no lapses or excuses from any contractor to deliver on time.”

He remarked that government would only continue with contractors that deliver in the first phase on the second phase of the projects.

He, therefore, directed the management of UBEC to release funds to the various contractors as the need arises.

He commended the contractors for the seriousness shown in starting the construction of the various projects, while thanking the management and staff of UBEC for their tireless efforts at ensuring the completion of the projects.

The Federal Government under its integration of Western and Islamic education is constructing 100 schools in the country in two phases for that purpose with each state having a minimum of three of the schools.

he Fafunwa E d u c a t i o n a l Foundation has announced plans for its annual lecture for 2012.

Disclosing this to reporters at an interactive media session recently, Prof. Kayode Alao who is the chairman of the Academic Committee of the foundation noted that this year ’s edition, which holds on September 25, at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island,will be bigger than previous editions and will have Dr. Pat Utomi as the keynote speaker.

According to Prof. Kayode; “Building on the success recorded the previous years is as important as remembering the legacies of the founder and former Minister of Education, the late Professor Babatunde Fafunwa. He sacrificed a lot as an individual for the development of the educational sector. He set up this foundation as another avenue to add value to the sector. As a passionate Nigerian who understood the value of preserving our indigenous languages, he conceptualised the Fafunwa Indigenous Language Award aimed at rewarding an outstanding book written in any of Nigeria’s indigenous languages. Alongside this award, he also started the annual award for Ph.D students with the best thesis drawn from the six geographical regions of the country. Both events are now a very integral part of the annual Fafunwa Educational Foundation lecture.”

Also speaking, the chairperson of the local organising committee of this year’s edition, Dr. (Mrs) Pat Akumabor noted that with the support of Resourcery Plc, the winners of this year’s Ph.D thesis award will be rewarded accordingly; “The first prize winner will get N250, 000.00 while the first runner-up will get N150,000.00. The second runner-up will go home with 100,000.00.”

She noted; “This represents a significant improvement on the cash reward for the previous editions and a reflection of the partnership that the foundation enjoys with Resourcery over the years. This sponsorship is also a call to ensure the legacies of Professor Fafunwa does not die. This means that as parents, we must always ensure we speak our indigenous language to our children amongst other things.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 —31

Only quality education can free Nigeria from poverty — Prof. Osibajo

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

A

s the 2015 deadline set by the UN for its over 153 member-countries to attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), especially in the area of education,draws near, the need for Nigeria to improve its quality of education to be free from vicious poverty has been sued for.

In his remark at the Rev. Tony Akinyemi Scholarship Foundation (rTSF) public presentation of scholarship grants to no fewer than 50 students cutting across primary, secondary and tertiary institutions weekend, Prof. Yemi Osibajo (SAN) urged government and stakeholders in the education sector to work towards the funding and provision of quality education across the country, noting that quality education is the best way to tackle Nigeria’s high poverty rate.

Osibajo said; “Studies have shown that if an individual is given the slightest quality education, such one possesses every tendency to redeem himself out of poverty caused by various economic factors in the world. Aside corruption and other problems, Nigeria is today bedeviled with poverty amidst our abundant resources.”

While lauding the rTSF for using its scholarship scheme to positively impact the lives of many less privileged

children across the West Africa sub-region, the former Attorney-General of Lagos State reiterated the need to improve the quality of education in Nigeria. “The country is stricken with poverty today because there’s no education for a larger part of the country’s populace. As there’s no question that any nation which fails to educate its citizens will continue to remain in spiral poverty, I call on government at various levels in the country and other stakeholders to invest wisely in the education sector, especially through scholarship schemes and study grants.”

Expressing joy at the vision of supporting no fewer than 500 gifted children and students annually by 2020, through scholarships and grants, Rev. Tony Akinyemi, Senior Pastor, The Shepherd’s Flock International Church, (TSFIC), Ikeja, held that the need to empower younger generation through education necessitated the scholarship scheme named after him.

His words; “I feel excited that God is making it possible for me and my friends to touch many lives. When I was growing up, I wanted to go to school, but my parents could not afford sending me to school. Now, I’m happy that I and my friends are able to sponsor people whose

parents cannot afford to send them to school through the rTSF. In 2008, when we first started, we gave scholarship grants to 15 students cutting across all levels of education.

Today, it’s my joy that the number has increased to 50 and we aim at supporting a minimum of 500 gifted and less privileged children by 2020.”

Speaking further, Akinyemi noted that “an uneducated population is one whose full potentials cannot be tapped.

When you educate somebody, you help that person to bring out everything that God has deposited in him. But if that person is uneducated, even

though that person is potentially great, that greatness will never show. The person may die wretched out of ignorance. Even the Bible said my people die for lack of knowledge,” he submitted.

Meanwhile, the Secretary of rTSF, Mrs. Tola Abayomi *Prof. Yemi Osibajo congratulated beneficiaries of this year’s scholarship awards, having be a waste. “The Foundation scaled through the in its effort to shape you into Foundation’s merit-driven better citizens has also awards, while urging them to instituted a mentoring be good ambassadors of their programme. It will be our joy various families so that the if you utilise this opportunity,” efforts of the Foundation won’t Abayomi admonished.

Kwarapoly releases post-UTME has given the applicants two weeks (September 12th to 26th) to get their registration done. The applicants are to have Kwara State Polytechnic chosen as their first or second choice in their UTME and must have had a minimum score of 160. The school authority plans to hold the post-UTME examination in form of Computer Based Test (CBT), and this will take place at both the school’s mini campus and main campus.

The applicants are to go to the school’s main campus located at Jabba Road for their own screening, while the Pre-ND (part time) and HND (full-time and part-time students) are to go to the school’s mini campus popularly known as IOT which is located around the Illorin Teaching Hospital off Lagos road. The screening exercise will start the following week after the closure of the registration date.

other.

5. The bus was stationary when a car ran into it 6. Adun went to a stationery store to buy a note book.

7. His belt is loose.

8. The upper end of her wrapper is loose.

9. Don’t lose your head when others are keeping theirs.

10. You can lose your keys if you don’t put them in your pocket.

11. You are advised to listen to your parents’ advice.

12. Don’t ignore the advice of your teacher.

13. Let me give you a piece of advice.

14. Follow your doctor’s advice.

15. Seek legal advice before you buy the property.

7. Leadership is for mature people.

8. Girls are in some ways more mature than boys of their age.

9. A boy of eighteen years is sexually mature.

10. Wale has matured a great deal in the past one year.

11. She has matured into one of the best poets in the Creative Writing class 12. The students are all ready to write the examination.

13. The players are all ready to start the game.

14. I’ve eaten already, thank you.

15. By the time he got home, his children were already in bed.

16. I’m fifteen minutes late already.

ADEKUNLE OLADUNNI, Kwara State Polytechnic

T

he Kwara State Polytechnic has finally released the postUTME registration scratch card for the sum of N3,500 and has also set a date for the screening exercise.

No reason was given as to why it took so long, since other institutions have done theirs and are on the verge of releasing their admission lists. The school authority

Correction (Exercise 2)

Frequently Confused Words Correction (Exercise I) 1. The cashier did not take the customer’s remark as a compliment.

2. Compliments of the season!

3. Communal labour should complement government efforts on road repairs.

4. Men and women have strengths that complement each C M Y K

1. I would strongly advise against your having pre-marital sex before the wedding day.

2. I will contact the First Lady to advise her husband to heed the advice of prominent Nigerians on the state of the nation.

3. The police were called in to quell the violence.

4. Firemen came to quench the flames raging through the building.

5. Drink water to quench your thirst.

6. A mature student is an adult student.

zCONTINUES NEXT WEEK. Send requests/problems to Gabriel Osoba, Ph.D, Department of English, Lagos State University, Ojo, through Editor, Teach Yourself English, Vanguard Newspapers, PMB. 1007, Apapa, Lagos, or email: editor@vanguardngr.com & gabosoba002@yahoo.co

32 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

BRIEF

20

BY MOSES IKEBELI and NDIDI UCHE

P

rofessor Festus Iyayi, Faculty of Management Sciences, University of Benin UNIBEN has said that Nigeria can afford to run free education for its citizenry without any challenges, adding that if the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi could afford to single handedly give scholarships to Nigerian students since 1973 there should be no reason why the country cannot afford it.

Delivering a speech tittled: “After Education What Next” at the Gani Fawehinmi annual scholarship awards of 2012, where twenty students benefited from the award scheme, Professor Festus Iyayi emphasised the words of Nelson Mandela which says “education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world”. The professor spoke on countless issues affecting the education sector in Nigeria today, and reiterated that Nigeria is a nation that can afford a free education system. He also talked about how members of society relate to and use time.

His words “ given the fact that everything gets done in society through units of time, those societies that do more

BY EMEKA EMMANUEL

T

he Academic Staff Union of Universities (Calabar Zone) in its bid to honour its past President, Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie, has organised a distinguished public lecture on the topic; The Ethical and Leadership issues in Nigerian University System. The lecture was delivered by the renowned Prof. Ikenna Onyido who is the immediate past vicechancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.

The event which took place at the University of Calabar Senate Chamber witnessed the presence of other ASUU branches under Calabar Zone including Cross River State University of Technology (CRUTECH), University of Uyo, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, C M Y K

students benefit from Gani scholarship awards with the time that is available tend to do better than others”.

Prof. Festus also spoke concerning the state of different Universities campus in the country, “at any time on any university campus, or the campus of any other higher institution for that matter, some religious ceremony is going on noisily even with a class nearby”. He also complained about how some students use stoves in place of bunsen burners in the laboratories “ no one remotely draws attention to the library without books or power, or to the classrooms that are overcrowded, to the laboratories where stoves are used in place of bunsen burners or hostels where even pigs will refuse to sleep”.

On the way forward for the education system in Nigeria, Prof. Festus had this to say “better funding of the educational sector, better motivation of the participants involved in the process of education, redesign of the structure of the educational system to provide for more practical oriented learning especially at the lower levels, review of curriculum to ensure that its contents match and anticipate the needs of the economy and the bureaucracy, more effective regulation of the standards and of course, as in

Beneficiaries of Gani scholarship awards the millennium development goals, providing access to more members of the society to acquire an education”.

The president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) DR. Nassiru Fagge Isa, was the chairman of the event and he had this to say “ we at ASUU have ways of ensuring that the efforts of people like Fawehinmi are never left unattended”. He also shed light on a new group ASUU has come up with called the “Council for Popular Education”, he said the group will work closely with other groups like the TUC in reference to the dreams of the late chief Gani Fawehinmi. He also noted that in 2009, the Edo state government

ASUU honours past president Umudike and University of Calabar among others.

Prof. Ikenna Onyido, was the Vice-Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike between 2006-2011, chairman of the Committee of ViceChancellors (2012-2011), a visiting Scientist/Professor to universities in Canada, the US and Europe, and presently, Professor of Chemistry and Director of the Centre for Sustainable Development at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka.

In his presentation on The University System and National Destiny, Prof. Onyido opined that “The title of my

lecture is Ethical and Leadership Issues in Nigerian Universities. This is part of a broader conversation on the state of our universities, their relevance and their capacity to achieve their institutional objectives.” He further noted that “Universities that do not devote a large part of their energies and resources to the discovery of new truths through research, are not universities in any proper sense. Viewed from the standpoint of enhancing national development and societal advancement, universities are then a major source of national creativity and vitality, and this is

organised an event in conjunction with the ASUU chapter of the state, to celebrate the late Chief Gani shortly after his death.

Prof. Chukwuka Okonjo the Obi of Ogwashi-Ukwu on his part called on all to follow the footsteps of Gani Fawehinmi saying “if we follow the footsteps of Gani, in 23years time we will catch up with Canada the most educated nation in the world”. He also noted that the wealthiest nations in the world all pay special attention to education.

He had this to say concerning the late Fawehinmi “ what brings us here today is that there is a person called Gani, who pointed out long ago before we did that intellectuals must play a part in society”.

achieved through cooperation and productive competition.”

Speaking on the topic, Universities: Ideal and Purpose, Prof Onyido said that “the catalogue of woes in some of our campuses should be of serious concern to all of us who have decided to commit and dedicate our lives and energies to joining the effort in building and sustaining a viable university system that is worthy of its name. I shall not succumb to the temptation of generalizations which cast aspersions on all members of the academia, as the public often does. Within the university system, there is the good, the bad and the ugly. As often happens, the good is hardly mentioned and scarcely highlighted: only the bad and the ugly gain prominence in public commentaries on our universities.

Leadmode inducts 18 working professionals into UK postgraduate programmes

L

eadmode Resource Centre, a foremost international supported distance learning organisation in West Africa, in alliance with its UK partner Universities inducted 18 working professionals into United Kingdom postgraduate programme.

The induction programme, a professional-focused event, was the third for the year 2012.

The event was designed to give the new students the best start to an international standard of knowledge acquisition.

The Leadmode office manager, Miss Victoria Kingston, emphasised the benefits of the induction event.

She said, “The induction afforded the students an opportunity to have a face-toface interaction with other successful students, who passed the admission process and who may be on the same or similar programme of study.”

UNILAG, Inqaba Biotec hold session on DNA forensics

T

HE Department of Cell Biology and Genetics of the Faculty of Science, University of Lagos in conjunction with Inqaba Biotec of South Africa will hold a two-day colloquium on DNA forensics.

The programme, billed to hold September 24th-25th, at the Julius Berger Auditorium, at UNILAG will feature experts from the United States and Africa who are expected to speak on topics bordering on DNA, which include, DNA: Importance of life processes, DNA: Database Development and Management, Crime and Crime Scene Processing: Forensic Evidence, and DNA Evidence Presentation in Court.

Speakers include Dr Mathias Okoye, a professor of Forensic Pathology and President, Nebraska Institute of Forensic Science, Inc. Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska, USA, and Ed Huffine, Bode Technology, USA.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 — 33

Gracias

Chinos

By LAJU ARENYEKA ‘Gracias Chinos’ should be the male student’s every day tribute. Chinos trousers gained popularity in the U.S. when Spanish-American War veterans returned from the Philippines with their twill military trousers. Although their Nigerian origin is difficult to tell, their impact is not farfetched.

Chinos trousers transcend the barriers of age and time, and bridge the gulf between casual and corporate dressing.

With their new range of colours, it’s no wonder they are the fad for students across campuses. Female students aren’t off the Chinos train, as the preferred carton brown is merged with blouses, jackets and heels of different calibers.

For the guys, these pants could be used for play with a pair of moccasin shoes or snickers complemented by a cotton tee shirt and geeky glasses. They could also transform you into a corporate looking dude when worn with a great jacket and shirt.

Keep clean, and wear right, because Chinos is here to stay.

he t r o f s p i t y e n o M new semester

C M Y K

BY LAJU ARENYEKA ‘It will most likely be my richest semester’ you say to yourself. Deceived by the momentary fatness of your bank account just before the weevils of textbooks, handouts, dues and ‘just a little shopping’ take you back to square one. Won’t you ever learn? That calling home for money two weeks after is not an option; And that you’ll waste your entire school fees sleeping in class if you soak garri for the rest of the semester.

With these tips, I hope you’d learn: * Ding dong! The budget still works: Dear Quadlifer, I wish we could avoid this, but the budget-that annoying list that makes you realize that you have less than you thought it did- well that list is still the number one way to go.

Start by identifying the most important needs and their estimated costs before moving on to the less important. This implies that money for text books comes before your girlfriend’s birthday bash. * Flee unplanned expenses: It’s the same on every campus; smart business people who understand that students have the most disposable income at the beginning of the semester. I can assure you; no matter how good the price is in school, you would have got it at a better price during the holiday. Cut your coat according to your size and keep the extra material for later. * Multiply your cash: Now this is Arithmetic I can understand! There are a lot of advantages when it comes to doing business in school. You know the guys with the cash so it’s easy to channel your advertising in the right direction. Also anyone who owes will have to quit school entirely to avoid paying. Sell goods or services, it’s not like jobs are lining up to get you when you graduate anyway. * Go cashless: Banks weren’t built to serve as public bathrooms or as a trap for those with no integrity. The only way you’re permitted to hold so much cash is if there has never been a case of theft in your school. If that’s the case…it could start with you.

34— Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Nigerian invents powergenerating machine, makes Africa's first local car

By EBELE ORAKPO

P

erhaps, Nigeria would have joined the likes of Germany, Japan, India and Malaysia as an automobile manufacturer as far back as 1997 when Dr. Ezekiel Izuogu, an electrical/electronics engineer, a doctor of science and lecturer of communications and electronics engineering at the Federal Polytechnic, Owerri, made a prototype of his first ever all-African car which he named Z-600.

T h e c a r w h i c h B B C’ s Hilary Andersson described as the all-African dream machine, was made for the family market with a top speed of 140km (86m) per hour.

Ninety per cent of its parts were sourced locally. For instance, the horn was a doorbell and it would have been the cheapest car on the planet as it would have cost just $2,000 to own one.

According to Izuogu who had demonstrated a great flair for inventive and creative knowledge from early childhood, he was working on adapting the engine to allow the Z-600 to double up as a lawnmower or an electricity generator before a sad even occurred.

With the usual Nigerian lackadaisical attitude when it comes to things that will help project the country ’s image to the world positively, the authorities were not ready to invest money in the project and so in 2005, the South African Government invited him to build the car there. And since he who pays the piper dictates the tune, South Africa would have been the proud manufacturers of the Z-600 were it not for the incidence of March 11, 2006.

Unfortunately, this dream was not to see the light of d a y. A c c o r d i n g t o D r.

Izuogu, some armed men numbering about 12 broke into the Izuogu Motors factory on Saturday, March 11, between 1.00 and 2.00 C M Y K

a.m. and carted away various machines and tools including the design history notebook of Z-600, the design file Z-MASS, containing the design history for mass production of Z-600 car, and the moulds for various parts of the car.

Said Izuogu; “It seems that the target of this robbery is to stop the efforts we are making to mass-produce the first ever locally made car in Africa.

Other items stolen included locally produced timing wheel, locally produced camshaft, locally produced crankshaft, locally produced engine tappets, all 20 pieces each. Also stolen were ten pieces of locally produced Z600 engine blocks, ten pieces of locally produced pistons, four pieces of engine block mounds, four pieces of top engine block moulds, ten pieces of engine fly wheel and two pieces each of rear car and front mudguard moulds.”

The inventor regretted that not only did they lose over one N1 billion in monetary terms, but also time (about 10 years) and the energy it took to design and produce the moulds. “To worsen the matter, our design notebook was also stolen,” he stated.

He regarded the incident as a national economic disaster

*Dr. Ezekiel Izuogu

*The Izuogu machine, also called the self-sustaining emagnetodynamics machine.

*Nigerians surround first Nigerian made car, equipped with a self made 1.8L four-cylinder engine.

because the nation had lost a technological and intellectual property.

Izuogu machine: Before the Z-600 car, Dr. Izuogu had been working on ways to provide the nation and the world with clean, cheap and environmentfriendly energy source. So, after 33 years of intense research, he came up with a new branch of physics known as Emagnetodynamics, the branch of physics that studies the conversion of the energy of static magnetic fields into work. Before now, “the conventional electric motor was built on the principle/law of Michael Faraday which states that Force is exerted on a current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field.”

The two laws of Emagnetodynamics state as follows: *Force is exerted on a composite magnetic pole in the vicinity of an array of like poles. *This force is in the direction of the composite polarity similar to the array.

Based on these two laws, he invented the Izuogu machine, also called the self-sustaining Emagnetodynamics machine, a kind of electric motor that draws atomic energy from the nuclei of permanent magnets and therefore requires no input power to operate.

According to Izuogu, there are two versions of the Emagnetodynamics machine - the non-self-sustaining and the self-sustaining machine which can run for upwards of 30 to 40 years. He added that soft iron machine or the hard iron machine could be built from each of them.

He noted that the machines named M-1000 and M-6000, respectively, could drive 100 K VA and 5 Mega watt electric power generators with no noise, no pollution, and zero energy input.

“The M-60 prototype machine has been built and demonstrated, while the M1000 and M-6000 have been designed waiting to be built,” he said.

Scientists have experimented with nuclear reactors in their bid to seek energy source that is clean, cheap and environmentfriendly. However, this could not work as the dangers inherent in that are enormous. For instance, reports say that more than 20,000 people developed thyroid cancer and had to have their thyroids removed as a result of April 26, 1986 Chernobyl disaster. Till date, there is about 1,660 square-mile Exclusion Zone around the site of the Chernobyl disaster, 26 years after the accident.

Unlike nuclear reactors, the Izuogu machine draws atomic energy without the dangers and complications of nuclear reactors.

Izuogu said that besides generating electricity, the machine can also power big luxury buses and trams.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 — 35

Green Nwankwo Foundation donates 8,000 books to institutions

By AMAKA ABAYOMI

W *From left: Mr. Segun Aina, President, CIBN, H.R.H. Prof. Eze Green Nwankwo, the donor, Prof. Walter Ofonagoro, former Minister of Information/Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Mark Wabara, former Chairman, defunct Hallmark Bank Plc and Engr. Ifeanyi Ukachu, Mayor of Okigwe, Imo State during the book donation to 200 higher institutions in Nigeria by Prof. Green Nwankwo Foundation at the Bankers’ House, Lagos.

By FAVOUR NNABUGWU

F

ederal Government has entered into technical partnership with the United Kingdom, UK, to borrow expertise on employable skills for school drop-outs across the country.

Stamping the partnership with Highbury College, Portmouths, UK on behalf of the Federal Government in Abuja Tuesday, the Minister of State for Education, Barr.

Nyesom Wike, said that government appreciated vocational skills model of Highbury College for the development of vocational education in the country.

Wike who received a fiveman delegation of the college at his office led by principal and chief executive of the UK College, Mrs Stella Mbubaegbu stated that the Federal Government was working hard to ensure that school drop-outs loitering the streets of the country are gainfully engaged in carpentry, engineering, fashion, automotive for entrepreneurial and commercial use.

“We are entering into technical partnership with Highbury College for them to guide us on how the project will be concluded while they also provide relevant curriculum for our vocational schools.”

He said that Highbury team would help the country to identify relevant industries that will partner with the Nigerian vocational schools for internship and onward employment.

“We are keen to share good C M Y K

orried by the dearth of textbooks in the country ’s tertiary institutions, the Professor Green Nwankwo Foundation has donated 8,000 books to 200 institutions and state libraries across the nation.

According to the initiator of the Foundation, Prof. Green Onyekaba Nwankwo (OON), pioneer Head of Department of Finance and former Dean of Faculty of Business Administration, University of Lagos, the objective of the

donation is to demonstrate accountability and stewardship to the professional world of finance and academics which he joined since 1960.

“When I returned to Nigeria after a 12-year sojourn in the UK to establish the Department of Finance at University of Lagos, I was faced with the daunting challenge of paucity and virtual absence of indigenous literature on banking and finance in Nigeria.

“I found there were no indigenous texts as Nigerian institutions and environment were largely undocumented, and most of the texts being used were mostly by American or British authors.”

Nwankwo, who said the benefitting institutions would each get a total of 40 book titles on banking, finance, economic development,

politics, governance, management and other social sciences, disclosed that the donation is geared towards bridging the wide supply gaps in this area.

“This would mark the beginning of a new private initiative to drive the process of equipping tertiary institutions with the much desired academic materials at no cost to the government or the institutions.”

Praising Nwankwo for his contributions to the education sector, the Chairman of the occasion and former Minister of Information, Prof. Walter Ofonagoro, said such gesture would promote the reading culture among students.

“We have to encourage the reading culture by enabling students have access to reading materials, and this is one way of supporting that. I did well when I was in school in the 50s’ because I had access to books from the state library and this enhanced my performance in national and international examinations.

But the reverse is now the case as most schools lack books in their libraries and students end up photocopying reading materials.

FG, UK partner on employable skills for school drop-outs practices with our international partners.

Together, we can improve and develop education, both here and in the UK. “Our focus is to use technical and vocational education to create jobs for Nigerian youths. We hope to provide quality training that would assist the youths to enhance their standard of living.

“We want to make sure we engage the youth especially those that dropped out of schools for one reason or the other, so that at the end of the day, they will have something to fall back on even when they decide not to go back to school.”

The minister had led a high powered delegation to Highburty College, which has a strong record of providing partnership and support in the country.

He said that the Federal Government would create close to a million jobs through investments in technical and vocational education (TVE).

While in Portsmouth, he stated that the Jonathan administration was committed to the empowerment of Nigerian youths to contribute to national development.

He said the Federal Ministry of Education has commenced collaboration with educational institutions in Taiwan, South Korea and the UK to create access to functional vocational education for Nigerian youths.

He said; “Our focus is to use technical and vocational education to create jobs for Nigerian youths. We hope to provide quality training that would assist the youths

enhance their standard of living.

“Our children must have functional skills across different trades. The government will make vocational and technical

education very attractive to our youths."

He said that it was high time technical and vocational education assumed its rightful place to help solve the economic challenges facing Nigerians.

Varsity pro-chancellors should be selfless-- BABALAKIN

T

he Chairman, BiCourtney Limited, Dr Wale Babalakin (SAN) has called on pro-chancellors to be visionary and committed to the development of education, saying that, “prochancellors should be willing to invest huge personal resources into achieving desired goals without expecting any kind of reward.”

This selflessness, stakeholders in education sector including President Goodluck Jonathan, had observed in Wale Babalakin whom they described as one of the pillars of education in the country.

It will be recalled that in President Goodluck Jonathan's recent media chat, he described Babalakin as the person that has been helping the Federal Government to “stabilize the universities.”

Also, the leadership of the two central unions in tertiary institutions, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)

and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), has, on various occasions, acknowledged Babalakin’s role in bringing them to terms with the government.

At the recent inauguration of ASUU’s national headquarters in Abuja, its immediate past president, Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie, praised Babalakin for the “ u n p r e c e d e n t e d understanding and passion he has shown for the university's cause, particularly in his role as the chairman of the Federal Government/ASUU Implementation Monitoring Committee.”

Similarly, his counterpart in NASU, Mrs. Ladi Iliya, noted at the recent inauguration of the union’s own national headquarters in Abuja that Babalakin had always responded positively to the union whenever it called on him for support, adding; “Dr.

Babalakin is not just here for us today as a person, but also as the chairman of the implementation committee of our agreement with the Federal Government. He has always been there for us. We have been working with him for some time. His word is his bond. If he says he will be somewhere, you can be sure he will be there.”

Also as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council of UNIMAID, it is on record that Babalakin coordinated the construction of a multi-million naira independent power project, which currently guarantees 20 hours uninterrupted electricity supply to the institution. Besides, he has also donated over N13 million to the university to execute various projects, including over N12 million for the upgrading of its library in 2010 and also purchased stethoscopes for indigent students of the university’s college of medicine.

36—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

BRIEF

King’s College celebrates years of academic exellence

BY DAYO ADESULU

A

s King’s College Old Boys Association, KCOBA, celebrates its 103 years of existence, the principal, Otunba Dele Adepeju has said that it will take the collective efforts of all stakeholders in the sector to give Nigerian children sound education. “Education for all is the responsibility of everybody in the sector,” he said.

Giving reasons why KCOBA should celebrate academic excellence from 18th to 23rd of September, Adepeju noted that Kings College which was founded in 1909 had since produced notable citizens in all walks of life in this country.

Speaking on the school's antecedents, Dr Leke Oshiniyi, vice-president, KCOBA said that one of the things he disliked in Nigerians is that they don’t celebrate their heroes, adding that whereas the likes of Chief Justice Adetokunbo Ademola, the late Anthony Eromosele Enahoro, the late Odumegwu

Stadium, King’s College, TBS, Lagos.

After the novelty match, the celebrants and well-wishers will be entertained by the King’s College cultural dancers and entertainers at the Assembly Hall of the school in the evening.

There shall be KCOBA 103rd founder ’s day dinner at the Assembly Hall on Saturday and on Sunday 23rd, all KCOBA members are expected to converge at the Cathedral Church, Marina for anniversary thanksgiving service by 11 am, followed by the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Emeka Ojukwu, Malam place Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to on Thursday, while Friday, mention a few, ought to be 21st is slated for anniversary celebrated. jumat service designed to Speaking at a joint press pray for the peaceful coconference, Adepeju outlined existence of Nigerians at the events that will take place at Syrian Mosque situated at the week-long celebration. Ribadu Road, Ikoyi.

According to him, on Tuesday Moreover, the same Friday, 18th, there will be a he added that there shall be symposium titled; Vision novelty match between King’s 20:2020, which Way Forward, College staff and Queen’s which will be delivered by College staff at the Mini Samsudeen Usman, former Minister of Finance and the present Minister of National Planning Committee at the Assembly Hall, King’s College, TBS, Lagos. Wednesday 19th will witness the inauguration of School-Based Management Committee (SBMC) and Students Representative Council (SRC).

Similarly, he added that the founder's From left: Olu Akpata, general secretary, KCOBA; Dele Olapeju, principal, day lecture and KCOBA; and Leke Oshunniyi, vice-president, KCOBA, at the 103rd anniversary joint press conference of Kings College Old Boys Association commissioning of in Lagos. projects wil take

Teachers begin strike in 18 states Monday Continued fron page 29 Vice-President, Sambo who was Kaduna State governor and part of the committee on education in 2008 when the agreement was reached to act, but has been keeping mum over the issue.

He noted that some states which receive less federal allocation and have little or no internal generated revenue had since implemented the 27.5 per cent to their teachers. Whereas, buoyant states are still complaining of lack of revenue.

On his part, the NUT, Lagos State wing chairman, Comrade Samson Kayode Idowu who urged Governor Babatunde Fashola’s not to renege on paying their 27.5 per cent TSA, said failure to do so before 24th Monday, all teachers in the state will stay away from classrooms come September 24, 2012.”

He said, “We are looking forward with passion to resume the new academic session as scheduled unless we are barred by the inaction of the government on the full payment of 27.5 per cent TSA to our teachers. If Lagos State government fails to accede to our demand before 24th C M Y K

September, all teachers should stay away from classroom from Monday 24, September.”

According to Idowu, the Lagos State government for the past months had resolved in paying 9 per cent out of the 27.5 per cent, while NUT in the state is insisting on nothing, but the full implementation of the TSS. Idowu reiterated, “If there is any reason for Lagos State government to renege on our 27.5 per cent Teachers Special job related Allowances, I think it should be over by now, considering the quality of our teachers and their contribution to educational development of Lagos State.”

Asked if it was going to be a warning strike, Idowu reiterated that a warning strike is not necessary as the warning to government has been overdue since 2008.

The chairman made the declaration at the launching and distribution of the first batch of NUT customised laptops on elearning and teaching to Lagos State teachers at NUT Pavilion, Ikeja.

Idowu who gave reasons for Lagos teachers adopting elearning method of teaching said if the world has become a global village as we say, we

must key into the system and avail our children of international best teaching and learning practices.

He added that the computer is fast replacing the lesson notes and electronic teaching

is relegating the manual method to the background all over the world, noting that teachers should be ICT-compliant to be worthy of their professional calling.

Top 500 in global ranking Continued fron page 29 Coast. So, what they are saying is according to their own criteria.”

He, however, urged African governments to adequately fund universities, adding that, “ yes, if we want to get to their standard, our governments will need to pump more money into the universities to set up those equipment.

“But by our standards, let us ensure that we do that which would benefit our people. We are not training people for Europe, we are not training anyone for America, let us train our people to solve our problems; there are myriad problems in Africa that we can address.

“By ranking, we are nowhere but don’t get disturbed, it has

been so and would remain so for quite a long time. We will get there; it’s because of globalization. If they were cut off from us and you couldn’t get to them, they have no business assessing us.

“TASUED is the first university of education in Nigeria, why can’t we put all that is needed to train people to be good teachers in here so that probably, we become trainers. That is the way out.

But if we continue to spread wide, you always spread when we don’t have the resources.”

In his remarks, the national president of the alumni association, Tajudeen Uthman insisted that specialised university of education is the only solution to the problem facing the sector.

Proprietress tasks parents/ teachers on children education

By PRISCA SAM-DURU

P

arents and teachers have been charged to double their efforts towards educating the children by creating enough time for their nurture, rather than leave them at the mercy of internet facilities.

The proprietress of LeaveGreen Schools, Lagos, Yetunde Fawehinmi, who gave the charge during the weekend at the presentation of a story book for children titled Ranga, decried the negative influence of children’s exposure to internet facilities which gives them opportunity to learn foreign ways of life at the expense of their true identity.

She noted that because children are already in tune with internet, parents and teachers have big roles to play so as to redirect their focus on Nigeria and Africa.

According to her, “Rather than leave our children at the mercy of the internet, we should provide them with quality books by African writers, try to teach them about Nigeria, our cultures, what we produce as a community, state, etc, as this will help their education."

LASU introduces new results processing software

By ALADE AROMASHODU

D

ata Processing Unit of Lagos State University, recently demonstrated a new students’ results processing software (Model I), to deans, heads of department, lecturers and other stakeholders at the MBA Aud i t o r i u m , O j o Campus.

The Head of Data Processing Unit, Dr. Moses Akanbi while welcoming participants to the open demonstration of the new model, noted that the newly designed and approved Lagos State University (LASU) Students’ Results Processing Software was aimed at removing hitches of the past in the area of processing students’ results.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012—37

Yvonne Nelson débuts as producer Stories BY AYO ONI KOYI

A

FTER years of successful spells as an accomplished actress, highly controversial but talented Ghanian actress, Yvonne Nelson, is trying out her luck as a film-maker. Her first effort which has been translated in a wave-making flick ‘Single and Married’ is hitting the cinemas in Ghana and Nigeria before the end of the month. The Ghana première is set for September 22nd at the Accra Silverbird Cinema while the Lagos one comes up on September 28th at same Silverbird Cinema in Lagos.

From the trailer and the power-packed cast it appears Yvonne has done right by her self even though this will be her first experience as a producer.

The storyline explains happenings in marriage,

with greater focus on how most men eternally crave to love and be loved.

The movie told the suspensefilled story of Jay, played by 2011 Pan African best Actor Chris Attoh, a top league real estate contractor; Kim (Yvonne Nelson) ex-model and fashionista and a contemporary housewife; Raymond (Kweku Elliot) an accomplished sculptor; Paula (Nadia Buari) a stuck-up lawyer; Ranesh (Kofi Adjorlolo), a 69-year-old multimillionaire and Vida (Tana Adelana), a woman just in it for the money.

The lives of these six characters were inter-woven in a comic but thrilling plot of love, lust and lies. The very essence of their personalities was tested and at the end of it all, marriage became just a game everyone played. It also starred Eddie Watson, Anita Erskine, Efya, Tiffany and it was directed by Pascal Amanfo. Anita Erskine played the role of narrator and did a marvellous job at that.

Ne w Music sensation SG: New

S

•Selom Gert

The twelve-track album has hit tracks like ‘Alone in Lagos’, ‘Swagger on Check’ ‘Million Dalla’ and many more.

Selom Gert is a guy truly on his own, establishing his own record label ‘City of Gold’ Entertainment after he finished his studies in the United Kingdom. In 2012 he moved to Nigeria and launched his first ‘mixtape’ called Hi Deaf Nation’ and held the album listening party at the Ember Creek in Ikoyi in August, where as he said “ I introduced the public to my style of music and at the same time experimented with different types of sound’ “My Genre of music is rap and rhythm and Blues. I am taking the music avenue because for a long time there hasn’t been anybody to represent the Apapa Local Government in terms of entertainment since the likes of Baba Fryo and Daddy Showkey raised the profile of the area.

My aim is making music to promote and encourage youths in Apapa and its environs to see the brightest side of the future and desist from any nefarious act’ he stated.

Ukoh

Never plan a future with someone that has no future plan for themselves

Gordons (comedian)

When a Fulani tells you is just a walkable distance, get ready to walk for 5km Peter Okoye”PeterPSquare (musician) P-Square is set to perform at the 4th annual Lion Lager Summer Festival on 13 th October in Harare, Zimbabwe

Nkem Owoh (actor)

I remember the first time armed robbers attacked my house, they only stole a torch-light to find their way because NEPA took light

Ayo Animashaun (Headies)

•Vyonne Nelson

•Nicki

I am taking after Daddy Showkey and Baba Fryo ELOM Eruedoja, known simply as SG, Selom Gert may very well be the next big thing on the music scene in the country after release of his latest ‘mixtape’ ‘ Hi Deaf Nation’ which has been having a delightful run on the airwaves for sometime now.

Adaora (actress)

B

UTT-swaying, sexy Onika Tanya Maraj, a Trinidadian-born American rapper known by her stage name Nicki Minaj, has joined what has become known as the revamped “Idol” judges’ panel. She, along with country music crooner, Keith Urban complete the deal, joining Mariah Carey and Randy Jackson on the hit Fox show.

The judges and host Ryan Seacrest arrived in New York Sunday for their first day of judging.

Minaj is getting $12 million

Sexy Nicki Minaj joins ‘Idol’ judges panel for a one-year deal on the hit Fox singing series, a person in the music industry with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Sunday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the deal.

A representative for Urban wouldn’t disclose the singer ’s compensation for “Idol.”

The announcement also settled the status of Randy Jackson. He will stay put as the sole remaining original “Idol” judge, scotching rumors he might assume a different role on the popular talent competition.

This trio will join pop star Mariah Carey at a judges’ panel now expanded to four members from its previous three. The AP reported in July that Carey is receiving just shy of $18 million for a one-year contract with a renewal option.

It is totally wrong and out of place for a police man or a Lastma officer to jump into your car as way of arresting you for a traffic offence.

Rita (actress)

Dominic

I found another Bobo that pays more attention to me.

You know, I am big on attention

Basketmouth (comedian)

99% of our government officials give the rest a bad name

Banky Wellington ? @ B a n k y W (musician)

I just pray we win, and Giroud scores RT @oladeji2000: @BankyW baddest boss,how many goals do uuuu think arsenal ll give montepiller tomm

Mike Ezuruonye ?@realmikeezu (actor)

Home chilling at the Moment,reminiscing as to why some peepz get satisfaction in trying to make you make a wrong Move.

I’ve so built my body to absorb BEEF

Nasir El-Rufai ?@elrufai (former minister) “When there is doubt, then there is no doubt” - Robert De Niro in the movie “Ronin”.....hmmm......

38—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

BAKASSI PENINSULA:

Legal dimensions of self determination threat Femi Falana, SAN, in this piece examines the legal dimensions of Bakassi peninsula residents self determination threat

BY FEMI FALANA, SAN

T

HE contemporary boundary problems that exist between NigeriaandCameroonparticularlyover theownershipandcontrolofBakassi Peninsula can be traced primarily to colonialism,thescrabbleforAfricanterritories and the creation of artificial boundariesinAfrica.Inthescramble for Africa which started with the Berlin Conference of 1884-85 and was completedbytheturnofthe20thcentury,thecolonialmastersarbitrarilycreated several latitudinal and longitudinal boundaries using physical borders such as rivers, hills, mountains, natural vegetation and human fiat to establish artificial nation-states without due regard to the wishes and aspirationsofthelocalcommunities.

According to Alberto Alesina, WilliamEasterlyandJaninaMatuszeski in their publication entitled Artificial States (2006), there are three ways in whichthosewhodrewborderscreated problems; "First they gave territoriestoonegroupignoringthefactthat another group had already claimed thesameterritory.Second,theydrew boundary linessplittingethnic(orreligious or linguistic) groups into deferent countries, frustrating national

ambitions of various groups and creating unrest in the countries formed.

"Third they combined into a single countrygroupsthatwantedindependence". The scholars further posited thattheresultsofartificialboundaries canbedisastrousinthat"Artificialborders increase the motivation to safeguard or advance nationalist agendas at the expense of economic and politicaldevelopment".

It isafactthatmostAfricantribesare cut by political border lines and culturallyhomogenousethnicgroupsare sometimesdividedbetweendifferent countriesandsomecasesalsoethnic groups that share no cultural on ethnocentricrelationshipareforcedtoform a single country. While it should be noted that this phenomenon is commoninmanypartsoftheworldwhere artificialboundarieswerecreated,Africa appeared to be the most affected andtheresultanteffecthasbeenconstant conflicts, legal challenges to boundary demarcation and several othercartographyrelatedclashes.

InNigeria,theSouthernandNorthernprotectorateswereamalgamated in 14 by Lord Ludgard to form the federation of Nigeria with over 250 ethnic groups. Despite this, the ethnocentricsurveyofNigerianinternational boundaries would reveal that

several of these ethnic groups spilled overtoNigerianneighbouringstates ofRepublicofBeninwhereyoufinda goodpresenceofYorubainthesouthwestandHausainthenorthwest,Niger,ChadandCameroonrespectively..According to Dr. Wondwosen Teshomein"ColonialBoundariesofAfrica: The Case of Ethiopia's Boundary withSudan" quotingLoisel(2004: 4), citing Miles (1994: 68), these "borders were drawn essentially according to the geopolitical, economic and administrativeinterestsof thecolonialpowers,often takenintoaccountataglobal scale. The most often citedexampleisthatofthe divisionoftheHausaland, between today's Niger andNigeria.TheFrancoBritishtreatiesof1904and 1906redrewtheborderin favour of the French side, in exchange for France's renunciation of fishing rightsoffthecoastofNewfoundland".

The case of the boundary between Nigeria and Cameroon in the eastern part of the country has a morecomplexdimension.

AfterthetreatyofVersailles FEMI FALANA, SAN

havebeenquestionedattheInternational Court of Justice. But Nigeria's defencewaserroneouslyanchoredon thelegalvalidityofthetreaty.Theruling of the Court could not have been otherwiseinthecircumstances.

By 1946followingthedissolutionof the League of Nations, these territories were re-designated as trust territories. Thus, the British portion of the Cameroonswasplacedunderthecontrol of the British government by virtue of a Trusteeship agreement betweentheUnitedNationsTrusteeship CouncilandBritain.Thereasonwhy the territory was not given to Britain permanently to form part of Nigeria was because the United Nations envisagedthattheterritorywouldeventuallybecomeanindependentstate.

Continues tomorrow

,

Map of Bakassi peninsula in April 1926

in 1919, the German territory of Kamerun was divided between French and the British League of Nations mandate with the French taking a largerportionoftheterritory.TheBritishmandatecomprisedNorthernand SouthernCameroonandwereruled directlyfromNigeriathoughtheywere not legally and politically speaking, territorialpartofNigeria.

At this juncture, I wish to submit thatthetreatyof1919liketheCession Treaty of Lagos of 1861 is illegal in everymaterialparticular.Thenatives whose landed property were seized or confiscated were not involved in the"negotiations"whiletheKingswho ceded them did not have the authority or consent of the owners. Under thedoctrineofnemodatquodnothabetrecognizedinEnglishandFrench laws, thetransferoftheterritorieswas illegal. In Amodu Tijani v. Secretary, SouthernProvinces(1915)3NLR24 the Plaintiffs successfully challenged the acquisition of their land in Lagos on the ground that King Docemo (Dosumu) had no right to alienate it under native law and custom.

ThePrivyCouncilheldthat"amere changeinsovereigntyisnottobepresumed as meant to disturb rights of privateowners,andthegeneralterms ofaCessionareprimafacietobeconstrued accordingly". See also Oduntan Osinowo v. Attorney-General (1912) 2 NLR 79. The illegality of the ceding of Bakassi Peninsula by the BritishcolonialregimeandtheYakubu Gowon military regime ought to

The illegality of the ceding of Bakassi Peninsula by the British colonial regime and the Yakubu Gowon military regime ought to have beenquestionedat the International Court of Justice. But Nigeria'sdefence was erroneously anchored on the legal validity of the treaty. The ruling of the Court could not havebeenotherwise in the circumstances

,

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 — 39

The story of Bakassi island Nowa Omoigui undertakes an historical excursion into the agreements on Bakassi dispute and asserts that the Obong of Calabar voluntary signed a treaty of protection with the British in 1884 who eventually ceded it to Germany RIGINS of the Dispute: When the Obong of Calabar signed a “Treaty of Protection” with Britain on September 10, 1884, Britain agreed to “extend its protection” to the Obong and his Chiefs. The Obong agreed and promised to refrain from entering into any agreements or treaties with foreign nations or Powers without the prior approval of the British Government. That is, he signed away his Kingdom as a British protectorate. This type of subterfuge was Ahmadu Ahidjo, former Camerounian president Gen. Yakubu Gowon carried out with many of our ancestors. All of this was before “Nigeria” was created. Note too that ish mandate and administered unlike agreements between metcoterminous with “Nigeria” but ropolitan powers these so called not actually merged. The old 1913 protectorate agreements with Afborder was retained. To codify this rican Kingdoms did not have further, another agreement was precise definitions of boundaries. signed December 29, 1929 and On November 15, 1893, Britain January 31, 1930 between Sir and Germany defined their Graeme Thomson, Governor of boundaries in Africa, supplethe Colony and Protectorate of mented by another agreement Nigeria, and Paul Marchand, on March 19, 1906. These covCommissaire de la République ered British and German TerriFrançaise au Cameroun. This tories from Yola to Lake Chad.

Declaration was ratified and inIn 1900, 1903 and 1906, key corporated in an Exchange of declarations made - and militarNotes on January 9, 1931 beily enforced - which created the tween the French Ambassador in colonies of ‘Northern Nigeria’ London and the British Foreign and ‘Southern Nigeria’ (inclusive Minister. Again, maps from that of the Colony of Lagos). the period show the Bakassi peninObong of Calabar was neither sula within “British Cameroons”, consulted nor did he resist. This not the “Colony and Protectorate •Disputed map of Bakassi peninsula was all conducted between metof Nigeria”. Neither the Obong ropolitan powers and they undernor his people, nor any other stood what they were doing. shrimps and an undertaking that deficit in “Northern Nigeria”. “native Nigerians” protested.

“Protectorates” became “Colo- Britain would not seek to expand British and German maps of “Ni- General Gowon was born a few nies”. Note the difference. In eastwards. The British were in- geria” from January 1914 clearly years later.

1913, Britain - for the colonies of terested in uninterrupted and se- show Bakassi peninsula in Ka“Southern” and “Northern” Ni- cure sea lane access to Calabar, merun. There was no resistance Trusteeship geria - and Germany - for “Ka- a key trading post. Since the from the Obong of Calabar or his agreements merun” - reached an agreement Germans already had the option people or any other native “Nion their border from Yola to the of using Douala environs as a gerians” for that matter.

The Second World War broke Sea. The First World War broke out out in 1939. Native Nigerians port, they conceded the “navigable portion” of the offshore in 1914. In 1916, Britain invad- also fought for Britain. After the Agreement border to Britain. In exchange, ed German Kamerun. Among the war, the British and French on their border Britain conceded the Bakassi Nigerian troops and carriers League of Nations mandates peninsula proper to Germany. In fighting for Britain were natives over the Southern and Northern The first of these agreements other words, to get Germany’s of Nigeria, including some from Cameroons and Cameroun were was signed in London on March cooperation not to threaten access present Cross- River State. At the replaced by trusteeship agree11, 1913 titled: “(1) The Settle- to Calabar, Bakassi peninsula end of the war, all German terri- ments under the new United ment of the Frontier between was conceded by Britain. tories were divided between Nations - approved by the GenNigeria and the Cameroons, The Obong did not resist. Note France and Britain by the Treaty eral Assembly on December 13, from Yola to the Sea and (2) The that “Nigeria” did not yet exist. of Versailles.

1946. These UN agreements reRegulation of Navigation on the This was long before General ratified the prior borders as codCross River”. The second was Gowon was born. In January he League of Nations ified by the previous Anglo-Gersigned at Obokum on April 12, 1914, “Nigeria” was created by placed them under British man and Anglo-French agree1913 by Hans Detzner, repre- amalgamation. Neither the or French mandate. The bound- ments. Maps from that period senting Germany, and W. V. Nu- Obong nor any other traditional aries between British and French show Bakassi peninsula in the gent, representing Britain. It ad- ruler, Emir, or Chief anywhere mandated Kamerun was defined Cameroons, not the real Nigedressed the precise demarcation in “Nigeria” was consulted about by the Franco-British Declaration ria. On August 2, 1946 Britain diof the Anglo-German Boundary it let alone its borders. As was of July 10, 1919 by Viscount Mil- vided the Cameroons into two, between Nigeria and Kamerun the practice then, it was done for ner, the British Secretary of State called “Northern Cameroons” from Yola to the Cross River. British economic reasons - to ex- for the Colonies, and Henry Si- and “Southern Cameroons”. The There were eight accompanying tend the railway system of mon, the French Minister for the 1946 ‘Order in Council’ conmaps.

“Northern Nigeria” to the sea and Colonies. In this agreement tained detailed provisions deFor Bakassi (also spelled Baka- to use excess tax revenues - de- Bakassi and the rest of what be- scribing the border separating si) peninsula in particular, the rived from spirits - from “South- came known as “British Came- these two regions, now conveGermans were interested in ern Nigeria” to correct a budget roons” were placed under Brit- niently administered from colo-

T

C M Y K

nial Nigeria - but not part of it.

In 1954, the Secretary of State for the Colonies issued a legal order defining the border between Nigeria’s “Eastern region” and the “Southern Cameroons.”

Bakassi Peninsula was in the “Southern Cameroons”, distinct from the Eastern region and the Calabar province and maps from that period show this very clearly. General Gowon had not yet joined the Nigerian Army. Neither the Obong nor his people nor any other native Nigerians protested. In March 1959, the UN asked Britain to clarify the wishes of the people living in Northern and Southern Cameroons trusteeship territories in the run up to the “independence” of Nigeria and Cameroun. Maps from that period show Bakassi peninsula in the Cameroons, not the real Nigeria.

Continues tomorrow

,

O

BY NOWA OMOIGUI

Britain conceded the Bakassi peninsula proper to Germany. In other words, to get Germany’s cooperation not to threaten access to Calabar, Bakassi peninsula was conceded by Britain

,

40 —VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

dayobenson@yahoo.com I N S I D E

CBN has right to issue currency note as approved by the President — Lawyers

Counsel Corner Prison decongestion, national

— Pg 37

— Pg 38

•Justice Ayo Salami

•President Jonathan

issues discourse herald Lagos Legal year — Pg 39

•Justice Dalhatu

•CJN Aloma Muktar

Will there be a substantive PCA?

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

B

ELIEVE it or not, the Nigerian judiciary is on the verge of setting a new record! This time, it is not about a woman becoming the first female Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, or a serving judge being found dead in his hotel room.

Reminiscent of the unprecedented stench of crisis that oozed from the judiciary whilst the feud that existed between the former CJN, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu and embattled president of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami lasted, the ominous finger of crisis has started prodding again.

Remarkably, one way or the other, the Appeal Court has always played a lead role in the chronological order of confusion that has befallen the Nigerian judiciary in recent times.

Whereas the Court of Appeal in Nigeria was established by virtue of section 237 of the 1999 constitution, as amended, section 239 on the other hand, invested it with the original jurisdiction to hear and determine specific cases.

According to the section, the appellate court, to the exclusion of any other court of law in Nigeria, has the powers to answer questions relating to whether –(a) any person has been validly elected to the office of President or Vice-President under this constitution; or (b) The term of office of the President or Vice-President has ceased; or (c) the office of President or Vice-President has become vacant.

Besides, it has the core jurisdiction to entertain appeals from the Federal High Court, the High Courts of both the FCT Abuja and the 36 states of the federation, Sharia Court of Appeal, Customary Court of Appeal and from decisions of a court martial or other tribunals as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly.

,

C M Y K

More so, section 238 (5) stipulates that: “Except on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, an appointment pursuant to the provisions of subsection 4 of this section shall cease to have effects after the expiration of three months from the date of such appointment, and the President shall not reappoint a person whose appointment has lapsed.”

,

This evidently depicts the enormity of judicial responsibilities bestowed on the appellate court by the Nigerian constitution.

However, one could rightly opine that since its establishment in 1976, the appellate court in Nigeria may not have witnessed too many controversies than has bedeviled it within the past two years.

Prominent among them include the looming constitutional crisis

regarding the continued stay of Justice Dalhatu Adamu as the acting President of the Court of Appeal.

Never in the annals of the Nigerian jurisprudence had the tenure of an acting PCA been renewed for five consecutive times.

Recently, President Goodluck Jonathan extended the tenure of the acting PCA for the 5th time, a move that has continued to generate ripples within the judicial circles, especially among ranking judges on the appeal court bench.

Specifically, it is now a year and six weeks since the embattled PCA, Justice Salami, was suspended from office by the National Judicial Council, NJC, over alleged judicial misconduct.

The Council had at the end of its 7th Emergency Meeting on August 18, 2011, ordered Salami to hand over the affairs of the appellate Court to the next most senior justice of the court.

Salami’s sin was that he refused to recant his allegation that a former CJN, Justice Katsina-Alu, of pressurizing him to pervert justice in a governorship election appeal dispute involving Sokoto State.

The NJC had on August 10, 2011, handed Salami 7-days to tender a written apology to Justice KatsinaAlu and the council, saying two separate panels it constituted to probe the allegation, found him guilty of “judicial misconduct.”

According to NJC, “having therefore established that the allegation/complaint by the President, Court of Appeal, Hon.

Justice Isa Ayo Salami, OFR, against the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu, GCON regarding the Sokoto Gubernatorial Election Appeal was false. ”Council decided that it is misconduct contrary to Rule 1(1) of the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, sequel to the recommendation of the NJC, President Jonathan, promptly appointed Justice Adamu to take over the affairs of the appellate court in acting capacity.

Though President Jonathan drew his powers from the provisions of section 238(4) of the 1999 constitution, which states that: “If the Office of the President of the Court of Appeal is vacant or if the person holding the office is for any reason unable to perform the functions of the office, then, until a person has been

Continues on page 43

EDITORIAL TEAM Dayo Benson (Editor) Innocent Anaba Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 —

41

CBN has right to issue currency note as approved by the President — Lawyers

By BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

W

C M Y K

•Bamidele Aturu

•Chief Morah Ekwunoh

reserved for printing the new notes, outside the fund covered by the Appropriation Bill, then the CBN can go ahead with its planned implementation. It should be noted that by the provision of the CBN Act, the CBN is an autonomous body, not tied to the apron spring of the Federal Government.

Chief Morah Ekwunoh I agree, but only in part, with the view that proposed introduction of N5000 note, and change of some paper denominations, namely N5, N10 and N20, to coins without appropriation by the National Assembly, has run counter to the provisions of section 81 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended; and section 17 of the Central Bank Of Nigeria Act. The superstructure of this stand is built on the foundation that, whereas the exercise is in clear violation of section 81 of the said Constitution, same cannot be said of its violation of section 17 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, Volume 2,

Cap C.4, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 Under the said section 81, financial year estimates of the revenue and expenditures of the Federation for the financial year, which, of course, includes acts, costs, and expenses relating to re denomination of the Currency, should be presented to the National Assembly for legislative approval.

This, not having been

,

ITH the controversy surrounding the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) attempt to introduce a single N5,000 note and reduce existing N5, N10 and N20 notes to coins by early 2013 without appropriation by the National Assembly, Vanguard Law & Human Rights sought the view of lawyers on whether the apex bank has power to carry out a comprehensive review of the country’s currency as allegedly approved by the President, without clearance from the National Assembly.

Excerpt Qudus Mumuney Section 17 of CBN Act empowers the CBN to print notes, mint coins and other approved legal tenders. On the strength of the provision of Section 17, the CBN is empowered to print notes and coins, however, such power is subject to the provision of the constitution (Section 81).

The intention of CBN to introduce new notes and/or change certain denominations is on course only to the extent that the fund requested for such action must have been provided for in the Appropriation Bill.

If there is no provision for this in the Appropriation Bill, then the CBN would be acting ultra vires the provision of Section 81 of the constitution.

The provision of Section 81 of the Constitution is with respect to authorization of expenditure from consolidated revenue fund. It is to the effect that the National Assembly, upon presentation by the President of the Appropriation Bill, would approve the revenue and expenditure of the Federation for the year represented by the Appropriation Bill. The government cannot make expenditure not otherwise approved by the National Assembly.

However, if the CBN has a separate fund

•Qudus Mumuney wrong in a democratic setting which we are all working very hard to nurture.

However, the Central Bank can still put its house in order, by taking shelter under section 81 (4)(b) of the same Constitution, through which supplementary, and un-anticipated, acts, costs and expenses, as in this case, can be accommodated and, in law, justified.

As to whether the proposed exercise violates section 17 of the

The Central Bank can still put its house in order, by taking shelter under section 81 (4)(b) of the same Constitution, through which supplementary, and un-anticipated, acts, costs and expenses, as in this case, can be accommodated and, in law, justified.

done in this case of sudden proposed introduction of N5000 note, and change of some denominations to coins, in strict law, violently violates the spirit, goals and intendment of the said section 81. This is

,

Central Bank of Nigeria Act, my take is that it does not, since, under the said section, the Bank has the sole right of issuing notes and coins throughout Nigeria, and no other person, other than the Central Bank, shall issue

currency notes, bank notes or coins or any document or token capable of passing as legal tender. Its legislative authority in this regard appears further cast in iron, when section 18(b), among others, of the same Act, confers on it the sole power to issue and re-issue, for exchange, notes and coins.

It is against the background of the aforementioned crystal clear positions that I agree, only in part, that the proposed introduction of N5000, and change of some notes to coins without appropriation by the National Assembly, has run counter to section 81 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and, section 17 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act.

Bamidele Aturu What I think is that Section 18 of the CBN Act requires a presidential approval before they can change the currency, otherwise it will be illegal. On CBN Governor’s threat to go on with the plan of carrying out a comprehensive review of the country’s currency , well I think he is just bluffing. I think he would back out at some stage. He cannot do that unless the president has approved it. If the president has not approved, then he cannot go ahead.

He should produce the presidential approval, if he is saying that the president has approved it. It cannot just be by

words of mouth. If he is alleging that the president has approved, then he should bring out the documents showing that the president has approved it. However, the National Assembly is not the one required under Section 18 of the CBN Act, only the president can.

Relevant section of the CBN Act reads: “The bank shall have the sole right of issuing currency notes and coins throughout Nigeria and neither the Federal Government nor any State Government, Local Government, other person or authority shall issue currency notes, bank notes or coins or any documents or tokens payable to bearer on demand being document or token which are likely to pass as legal tender.

“The bank shall arrange for the printing of currency notes and the minting of coins; issue, re-issue and exchange currency notes and coins at the bank’s offices and at such agencies as it may, from time to time, establish or appoint; arrange for the safe custody of unissued stocks of currency notes and for the preparation, safe custody and destruction of plates and paper for the printing of currency notes and disc for the minting of coins; and arrange for the destruction of currency notes and coins withdrawn from circulation under the provisions of section 20 (3) of this Act or otherwise found by the bank to be unfit for use.”

42— VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

VANGUARD LAW IN PIX Do I owe this landlord contractual obligation?

Lagos State judiciary celebrates 2012/2013 Legal Year Lagos State judiciary heralds the 2012/2013 legal year with commemorative services held both at the Central Mosque, Lagos and the Cathedral Church, Marina. Here are the pictures from the event by Wahab Abdulah.

I

LIKE your views on tenant and landlord issues. I rented a shop in an elite area of Abuja. I signed a contract to pay before I’ll enter.

But there was a shed by a corner in front of the shop, so i paid a deposit asking the landord to eject it before I’ll pay more. He asked me to pay the balance so it will help him to pay the owner of the she off. I’m not sure it won’t take too long. I want to abort the lease. Can I ask for refund of the deposit? Can he hold me to a contract when I don’t trust him? He says I should pay the balance as agreed, that I can only protest if he then fails. I want to just go and forget the deposit but I am afraid he’ll sue me and compel the balance.

Justice Kazeem Alogba (with mic) adressing lawyers and judges at the mosque services.

Justice Funmilayo Atilade, Lagos State Deputy Gov., Mrs. Adejoke Adefulure, BishopAdebola Ademowo, Lagos CJ, Justice Ayo Philips and Justice Opeyemi Oke.

Alhaji A. Mshelia.

A

S earlier discussed in this column sometime ago, contract is simply an agreement between two or more parties to perform a task or render a service in exchange for consideration, that is, money. For a contract to be valid there must be an offer and acceptance as well as the consideration. When a party makes an offer to the other party and the latter accepts the offer which involves financial obligation on the part of the one accepting the offer, a contract is deemed to have taken place. Note that a Contractual agreement can be written or oral. Since you accepted to rent a shop in the high brow area of Abuja as you described it and you have paid a deposit, that implies that you have accepted the offer from your would be landlord. You have entered a Contractual obligation with him. Moreso, when you have a signed document to that effect. Legally, you are bound by the contract you have entered into. If you fail to pay the balance, he can sue for specific performance of the contract as ytou are anticipating. I wonder why you are having a change of mind over the rent, since he assured you that you have the right to complain if you complete the payment and he fails to deliver his promise. If however you choose to walk away and forget about the deposit you paid, the landlord will not loose anything and in that instance he cannot compel you to come and pay the balance of the rent that you are no longer interested in, since you have already forfeited your deposit.

Governor Babatunde Fashola SAN poses with Justice Taofiquat Oyekan-Abdulah

Justice Habeeb Abiru and Justice Mojisola Dada.

Governor Babatunde Fashola, SAN, (2nd right) in a group photograph with some judges at the Central Mosque, Lagos.

Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye with a guest at Igbosere High Court

Sacked without payments

S

IR, I am happy to come across your address on the law page of Vanguard. My name is Imoh Akpan from Akwa Ibom state. I am based in Ijebu-Ode Ogun state. I work with Adeco Project Engineering. My friend Samuel Otomodu worked with Consolidated Breweries plc for 12 years and he was sent away without benefit. What can we do?

Imoh Akpan, Ijebu Ode

Governor Fashola (middle) with some senior Advocates of Nigeria

The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA,Lagos Mr. Taiwo Taiwo (2nd left) and other members of the Bar.

Y

OUR question does not disclose enough details as to the circumstances that led to your friend being sacked without his entitlements.

I need to know the terms and conditions of his employment, as well as the nature of the job. This information will enable me to have a full picture of what actually happened, via-a-vis the position of the law, on the issue of his type of employment; and whether the employer acted within the confines of the law or otherwise.

You can send your questions to dayobenson@yahoo.com or 08056180119 (text only) C M Y K

Another two senior members of the Bar at the ceremony

A Cross-Section of Judges at the the cathedral Church, Marina, Lagos.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 — 43

Prison decongestion, national issues discourse herald Lagos Legal year

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH & ONOZURE DANIA

T

HE release of 233 inmates, majority of whom were awaiting trials inmates from the Kirikiri Prisons, Lagos by the Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Ayotunde Philips formed part of the activities lined up to mark the celebrations of the 2012/2013 judicial Legal year in Lagos state.

Though, the release of inmates of the prisons by the Chief Judge was not something unusal, but this year’s own, was remarkable because of the CJ’s promise to decongest the prison when she assumed office in June this year.

Most of the lucky inmates who secured their freedom had stayed for over twelve years in detention without progress in their trial.

Justice Philips, who was accompanied by senior members of the judiciary includs Judges and the Chief Registrar, who released the 133

inmates from the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison and 103 from the Medium Security Prison.

She however pushed forward the attempt to release inmates from the women prisons, also located in Kirikiri vicinity to another date.

Apart from the ongoing legal year programme, the chief judge was empowered to release the inmates in pursuant to the powers conferred on her under Section 1 (1) of the Criminal Justice Custody Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2007.

In her remark, Justice Philips said, “there is a saying in the legal circle that it is better for 10 guilty persons to be free than for one innocent person to be incarcerated. We have gone through the list of those recommended for release. So for those of you who qualified to be released, you are very lucky that your names have come up. So, go and sin no more.”

She urged those who regained their freedom

•Justice Ayotunde Philips, Lagos State Chief Judge to turn a new leaf and go out to contribute their quota to the society, adding, “I promised during my swearing-in ceremony that I will do my best to decongest the prisons in Lagos State.”

She emphasised that she will not limit the exercise only to the legal year activity.

She said that she intended to pay regular visit to the prisons during her tenure than what obtained during the previous administrations.

Welcoming the team, the Deputy Comptroller of Prisons of the Kirikiri Maximum Prison, Mr. Olu Tinuoye disclosed

that it was very unusual for chief judges of Lagos state to visit the prisons.

“By this visit, a lot of them expect freedom. It is a matter of regret that Judges in the state have not been visiting the prison regularly. This is why their (inmates) expectations are very high,” he said.

Tinuoye said a lot of the inmates awaiting trials have not found life easy behind the bars especially because they are in custody for petty offences.

His counterpart at the Medium Security Prison, Mr. Tunde Ladipo commended the

Will there be a subs e PC A? substtantiv antive PCA? Continues from page 40 appointed to and has assumed the functions of that office or until the person holding the office has resumed those functions, the President shall appoint the most senior Justice of the Court of Appeal to perform those functions.”

More so, section 238 (5) stipulates that: “Except on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, an appointment pursuant to the provisions of subsection 4 of this section shall cease to have effects after the expiration of three months from the date of such appointment, and the President shall not reappoint a person whose appointment has lapsed.”

Thus, except for the caveat in sub-section (5) of that portion of the constitution, the first tenure of the acting PCA ought to have expired in November,

2011.

The implication of his continued stay in office in acting capacity is that other senior judges on the appellate court bench have been shut out, as Adamu, according to Jonathan, will remain in the office even if it takes donkey years to settle the pending litigation over Salami’s suspension.

It would be recalled that President Jonathan had insisted that he would not recall Salami until all the court cases pertaining to his removal were disposed off.

Jonathan who took the stand even after the NJC implored him to reinstate the embattled PCA who is due to retire on October 13 next year, maintained that the case was already sub-judice.

Meanwhile, as the controversy ranges, the renewal of Justice Adamu’s tenure has continued to create disquiet in the Court of

Appeal as some legal pundits believe there might have been a constitutional oversight.

They contended that going by the tenets of fairness and equity, Adamu should not have spent more than two terms in acting capacity.

According to this school of thought the ideal thing would have been for the government to allow the Office of the PCA to be rotated every three months among senior justices of the court until the resolution of the lingering legal crisis.

Already, there are insinuations that Adamu was specifically hand-picked towards ensuring that Salami remained in suspension till his retirement date.

A Senior Judicial officer of the Supreme Court, who spoke to Vanguard, said the rationale behind the plot was to pave way for an immediate commencement of a

perjury proceeding against Justice Salami who the NJC hitherto found guilty of lying on oath in an affidavit he personally deposed to before a Federal High Court in Abuja wherein the top echelon of the Nigerian judiciary under Justice KatsinaAlu, was accused of abetting judicial corruption.

Meantime, the high court is yet to resume hearing on the substantive suit filed by Salami after the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal declined to transfer the legal-feud to the National Industrial Court, NIC, for adjudication.

Thus as it stands today, Justice Adamu who is currently enjoying his fifth-tenureextension, may actually enter into history as the longest serving acting President of the Court of Appeal.

Efforts of the Lagos state government for taking care of the prisons.

The week long events which commenced Monday, kicked-off with a discourse on socio-economic and security challenges facing the nation.

Lagos State governor, Mr. Raji Babatunde Fashola, SAN, set the tone for the discourse, when he called on the legal practitioners to take a cursory look on many challenges facing the country, especially the issue of security and other social problems confronting the nation.

He said, considering the vital position occupied by lawyers and judges he noted this has put them on the edge of right the wrongs in the country.

According to the governor the roles of lawyers, the judiciary and Judges, no doubt, cut across all human endeavor, thereby placing onerous task on their shoulders.

“Our country is at great crossroad, facing enormous challenges that put to test our self governance and democracy. In my own view, lawyers and Judges have very important roles to play.”

He said it is the law that regulates the society, especially when the country is faced with issues of national security and economic development. He said it is law that regulates man and guaranteed his properties.

“Man makes law to cater for the national security, it secures man and protects his property, so our success depends on the success of the judiciary. In Nigeria, road traffic constitutes challenges to our socio-economic development. If there is traffic problem, a worker will not be able to get to his work timely. If he stays unduly in traffic, he will affect his health.

“We work with the lawmakers to create law for good governance, so we should do justice no matter what it takes, your lordships should give your judgment and do justice and ensure that nobody is unjustly punished. You are economic engineers, how quickly justice is dispensed with, will definitely lead to several developments.

A lot is expected from the judiciary arm of government, “ he said.

He therefore called on them to emulate the great men who have performed excellently in the state judiciary and learn from them and also pass on the great legacy to the incoming generation.

In his sermon, feeling strong about insecurity that pervades the country, the Archbishop of Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos, The Most Rev. Adebola Ademowo at the church service also decried the rate at which the nation’s values were deteriorating, saying something urgent must be done to arrest the situation.

Bishop Ademowo said lawlessness pervades the country at all levels, stating this may not augur well for the nation.

“Nigeria is deteriorating in standard, there is danger everywhere and there is nowhere that is safe in the country and there is no respect for human lives again.

Nigeria was not like this before.”

Beside he charged judicial officers to dispense justice without fear or favour, urging judges to emulate God as legal practitioners also have roles to play in ensuring a just society.

He also threw his weight behind the new Lagos Traffic law, describing it as a welcome development that the society needs to restore sanity on the roads where everyone now does what he wants, calling on Nigerians to address the security challenges and restore the sanctity of lives and safety of property.

He also urged the judicial officers to address the issue of Prison congestion, adding that justice is a quality that originated from God who first ordained judges, citing instances in the bible where God personally appointed judges over his people. the week long programme ends on Friday with a dinner by the chief Judge, justice Ayotunde Philips.

44—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

Amadioha, the Igbo traditional god of thunder sacrifice before an Mbari house is declared open after its completion by Mbari workers (Ndi mgbe).

In some villages and communities of Igboland, people might not afford to build for Amadioha, hence they represent it by a forked stick which is found in front of the shrine. For a newlyerected Amadioha cult, a large white linen cloth is normally used as its emblem which is suspended by two strong long poles,

,

pended horizontally in the air by two strong big forked sticks, one on each side. Some charms and medicinal grass are tied to the suspended pole, smeared by blood of a foul, and pasted with feathers. It is believed that any evil doer can never pass under it and go free without being struck to death or afflicted with an incurable disease. Big trees and thick bush normally surround the Amadioha shrine. Antiquated objects like broken pots, boxes, bottles, mirrors, iron pots and cups are found inside the Amadioha grove. There are special instruments in Amadioha grove which are represented in Mbari paintings. A few of them are:Ogu (hoe), Mpi Okpu(animal horn),

In the belligerent days of our forebears when there were frequent occurrences of inter-tribal war, the Igbo people always revere and worship Amadioha for protection and victory in time of war

Ofurum, “Mbari to Ala”, Umuofeke, Agwa, ca. 1963. Photo © by Herbert M. Cole, 1966.

By APOLLOS OZIOGU IBEABUCHI

A

MADIOHA (god of thun der) belongs to the category or group of divinities which is said to manifest the wrath of the Supreme Being, and they symbolize the thunderbolt or the meteorite stone with which God hurls to strike to death the wicked or evil doers.

Thus, Amadioha falls into the class of gods known as war divinities often depicted in the Mbari house by a statue of man holding a gun. Like the Igbo peoples, other ethnic groups in Nigeria have their own local names for war divinities or gods of thunder as follows: Sokogba (Nupe) Ogiuwu (Edo); Eto, Itiri, Egba (Urhobo); Sango, Jakuta, Oramfe (Yoruba) etc.

Amadioha is believed to be a god of great military might. It is described as the “General” of all the divinities in Igboland, a military engineer, a tactician and armiger.

Impending doom The Igbo believe that “Omuma igwe”(Lightning) associated with Amadioha is a sign of impending doom or evil from the gods, and they believe also that it has a track. Hence the natives normally avoid those tracks to be on the safe side. They too believe that “Egbe elu-igwe” (thunder) is the messenger of Amadioha which is normally sent to destroy the evil doers, or houses and trees in which evil things are hidden or buried such as poison etc.

There are cases when the evil men and women are struck to death by thunder as they are returning from where they have gone to import some dangerous charms and poisons to kill their fellow neighbours, relations or friends because of disputed land

or property.

Most farm-lands are also being destroyed by thunder because of the charms some evil people have buried there to harm or kill their opponents or enemies. In the belligerent days of our forebears when there were frequent occurrences of inter-tribal war, the Igbo people always revere and worship Amadioha for protection and victory in time of war. That is the main reason the cult of Amadioha is regnant in most parts of the defunct Owerri province and its environs, if not to the present.

It is germane to reiterate that Mbari house is associated with gods of land such as: Ala (earth goddess); Amadioha (god of thunder) and Ota Miri (river god); a river god takes it’s name after the river of that locality or community. It is also of a paramount importance to note that wherever one sees an Mbari house, there is always a cult of Amadioha especially in places where people are affluent and moneyed enough to build for Amadioha cult.

Amadioha is among the major gods of the land which receive

one on each side. The white cloth does not contain any diagram or mark whatsoever, and it is never replaced, if it is dirty; or mended, if it is torn. It is also never brought down from the poles as long as the priest of the shrine is living. It is when the priest dies that a new one can be mounted during his burial ceremony.

Building of the Amadioha cult is normally done at a very strategic place. However, in most certain areas, the front of the Amadioha occupies one or both sides of the main road that is a busy one for the natives like the road leading to their village stream or river or farmlands. There, a long bamboo pole is normally sus-

,

Opi ele(antelope horn) , Igbugbo (metal gong)and Nma (knife).

There are some animals that are sacred and dedicated to god of thunder(Amadioha). They are often regarded as the daughters and property of Amadioha. Nobody dares harm or kill them to avoid the wrath of Amadioha.

Among them are: Ebulu Amadioha (ram of Amadioha). Aturu Amadioha (sheep of Amadioha); Ehi Amadioha (cow of Amadioha). No man or woman can molest or harm them for any reason. They are also other animals like dogs and goats that are sacred and dedicated to Amadioha.

Re-branding Nigeria through the book

By JIMOH BABATUNDE

A

S part of its avowed bid to re brand the image of the country, the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation last week presented a delightful photographic book that captures Nigeria’s cultural festivals, destinations, arts and craft, historical monuments and national heroes to the public.

The book which is first of its kind is a riveting photographic documentation of the history, culture and people of Nigeria and a visual delight of sorts that makes for enjoyable reading was presented to the public by the Director-General of the NTDC, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe at the tourism village in Abuja.

Speaking at the event, Otunba Runsewe observed that the book called, “Nigeria” is a compilation of the great country Nigeria, national heroes, historical artifacts, holiday resorts, arts and craft and many more all in efforts aimed at promoting and marketing Nigeria in line with international best practice.

Reechoing this position in his foreword to the book, the NTDC helmsman observed that, “This document is an attempt to give expression in symbolic form to the various phases of the socio political evolution of Nigeria. The beautiful photographs and historical landmarks in the book serve as representative samples of Nigerian history and portray the distinguishing characteristics of the diverse landscape, culture, tradition, history, economy and

government of Nigeria.”

Speaking further, Runsewe stated that the initiative was an effort of Public Private Partnership (PPP) saying the expectation is to create more awareness for tourism with a view to generating employment in the sector.

Otunba Runsewe also introduced to the media, two city guides on Abuja and Lagos which include such content as business, economy, agriculture, finance, entertainment amongst

D G of NTDC Otunba Olusegun Runsewe presents the book to public while Mr Akin Onipede,Director of Communication NTDC looks on.

Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan

others.

The NTDC boss declared that the corporation had already distributed the book and the city guides to all Ministers, Governors, Senators, Newspaper Editors, Captains of industry, and other top public office holders again with a view to networking with every relevant stakeholder in the drive to market Nigeria as a viable destination to the international community.

According to Otunba Run sewe, this will translate to direct foreign exchange and a major boost for the local economy with the hope of reducing crime and insecurity pointing out that tourism has the potential to achieve this and more.

Otunba Runsewe revealed that the book will also feature in the NTDC portal which is very rich in content while highlighting the role of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in tourism promotion and development assuring that the corporation has since been in alignment with the global trend.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012—45

C M Y K

46 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSD AY , SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 — 47 THURSDA

Cartoon: France closes embassies in 20 countries readers to a blog it also

A

French magazine Charlie Hebdo ridiculed the Prophet Mohammad on Wednesday by portraying him naked in cartoons, threatening to fuel the anger of Muslims around the world who are already incensed by a film that mocked him.

France in response says it will close its embassies and schools in 20 countries. The decision to temporarily close some embassies comes at a time when France is already on heightened alert over possible attacks by al Qaeda on French interests in West Africa. A Foreign Ministry spokesman said France was closing its embassies, consulates, cultural centres and schools in 20 countries on Friday as a “precautionary measure”.

Charlie Hebdo has a long reputation for being provocative. Its Paris offices were firebombed last

November after it published a mocking caricature of Mohammad, and the editor Staphane Charbonnier has been under police guard ever since.

Speaking outside his offices in an eastern neighbourhood with many residents of North African origin, Charbonnier said he had not received any threats over the latest cartoons. In a message on its Twitter account, Charlie Hebdo said its website had been hacked, but referred

uses.

Riot police were deployed to protect the magazine’s Paris offices after it hit the news stands with a cover showing an Orthodox Jew pushing the turbaned figure of Mohammad in a wheelchair.

On the inside pages, several caricatures of the Prophet showed him naked. One, entitled “Mohammad: a star is born”, depicted a bearded figure crouching over to display his buttocks and genitals.

Palestinians don’t want peace — Mitt Romney

U

S Republican pres idential candidate Mitt Romney told donors that Palestinians “have no interest” in peace with Israel and suggested that efforts at Middle East peace under his administration would languish, according to comments

captured on newly released video of his private remarks to wealthy donors.

Romney said Palestinians are “committed to the destruction and elimination of Israel” and that the prospects for a two-state solution to Middle East peace were dim.

48 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 — 49

C M Y K

50 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 — 51

C M Y K

52 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

L-r: Rev Isaac Oladimeji, Director of Music, Lagos West Baptist Conference; Rev. Dr. Jacob Aremu, Chairman; Mrs Mary Adeniji, wife of LWBC President; and Rev. Dr. Julius Adeniji, President, Lagos West Baptist Conference at the briefing on the fourth edition of Life Way Internnational conference coming up in Lagos this month. Photo by Joe Akintola, Photo Editor

C M Y K

The family of Ahiuma-young at the burial ceremony of late Mrs. Anna Ahiuma-young at Alisimie Agbor, Delta State. Photo: Barnabas Uzosike

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 — 53

The possibility of secession remains unless...— Ogbemudia initiated improvements in the areas of sports, urban development, education, public transportation, housing and commerce. He built the Ogbe Sports Stadium, now named after him, and in August 1973 he commissioned the 3-storey National Museum in Benin City. Other projects included the Agbede Mechanized Farm, Rural Electrification Board, Bendel Steel Structures, Bendel Pharmaceuticals, Bendel Boatyard, the University of Benin and the Bendel Line. In later years, people looked back on his governorship as a time when much was achieved, followed by stagnation in later administrations. In July 1975, he retired alongside 11 other military governors by Gen. Murtala Muhammed. The retirement of the governors found guilty of corruption was converted to dismissal. Among these was Brigadier General Samuel Ogbemudia, whom Murtala had appointed eight years earlier, and whom he replaced with Colonel George Agbazika Innih. Ogbemudia was tried for abuses while in office, but acquitted.

As the man marked his 80 birthday, he spoke to Vanguard on his days at the Government House, Benin and other national issues. Excerpts:

BY SAM EYOBOKA & GLADYS ABUGOH

M

ANY Nigerians recall with nostalgia the lofty contributions of Afuze and Ogbe Hard Court and many other sporting activities and they are of the opinion that you are the real pillar of sports. When you look at the rot in the nation’s sports today, how do you feel?

The answer to your question would make me step on toes but I do not mind. I cannot mark my own script. I cannot score myself, whether I am the authentic pillar of sports in Nigeria or not.

Now looking back I will say what I believe. I don’t think that it is only Ogbemudia that is unhappy with current development of our sports sector.

Do you remember how Nigerians felt when we won the Under 17 World Cup? Now we couldn’t even qualify for African Nations’ cup. It is that bad, not only football but also for other games. We are not making progress. Just look at the London Olympics, what do you see yourself? You ask me what we can do to turn things around.

Entertainment and recreation The ball is in the court of Government. I have always said and I appeal even at the risk of repetition, that if we want to use sports only for entertainment and recreation, then our attention to it and investment in it so far is okay.

But if we want to use sports for national mobilization and galvanization, massive economic revival and influence foreign affairs, etc, then our attention to it and investments in it must not just double, it should triple or C M Y K

•General Ogbemudia

even quadruple!

My belief is that government has not been able to effectively cross-breed various ideas for sports development and aggregate these ideas and interests for possible policy formulation that would emancipate the Ministry of Sports from the current syndrome of abysmal failures in every international outing to that of fame and respect for sports loving Nigerians. I call on the Federal Government to take control and reorganize sports.

You were once a Minister of Labour and Productivity. Where did Nigeria get it wrong? Why do we have a large army of unemployed youths ?

The Ministry of Labour and government generally cannot

provide all the jobs Nigerians need. The private sector is mostly responsible for employment.

That must be understood by everybody. The expectation for employment from Government by the people is too high.

Government tries to meet this by employing people that sometimes are not needed, and the Labour Unions would not allow Government to retrench, rationalize or downsize the work force.

That is why government bureaucracy is too large, leading to high recurrent expenditure.

Worse still, productivity is low because of redundant workers, yet there is still unemployment.

The universities and other higher institutions of learning are turning out graduates yearly into

the Labour market. The answer does not lie in one jacket. It is multifarious, but government must show the light, by creating the enabling environment where private sectors could probably take the lead. You were talking of Sports moments ago. Let me tell you, Sports and Agriculture if well developed can absorb a sizeable number of our unemployed youths and even some that are unemployable.

Look at the Sports Industry in Europe and America; even Asia. You can understand what UEFA is now trying to do with Sports. Without Sports, millions of their children would be jobless and perhaps would also be militants. That is also the case with Agriculture, which has demonstrated its capacity to employ people in the past, with huge potentials for the future. The film industry is also there and

,

RETIRED Brigadier-General Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia, two-time governor of Mid West State and later Bendel State, was born in Benin on September 17, 1932. He joined the Nigerian Army in 1957 at the age of 25 with very minimal opposition from his only surviving parent, his mother. He attended the officer cadet school at Aldershot, England in 1960, and was commissioned second lieutenant in 1961 and served with the UN peacekeeping force in the Congo for 16 months, and in Tanzania in 1964. He was appointed as an instructor to the Nigerian Military School, Zaria in 1964. In January, 1966, a coup d’état overthrew the civilian government of Nigeria and Major Samuel Ogbemudia played a pivotal role in the July 1966 counter-coup by disarming his troops in Kaduna. One month later he was transferred to the area command, Benin City, fighting with government forces in the Nigerian Civil War. Ogbemudia was later appointed military administrator of Mid-West State in September 1967 following the liberation of the state from the secessionist forces. A populist, dedicated to reconstruction after the war, he

action.

Fifty-two years after political independence would you say that the Nigeria of your dream has evolved?

I am not one of those that dreamt of Nigeria. Our political leaders did. I was a soldier then.

My duty was to support civil authority. The dreams as expressed by our leaders were lofty. Unfortunately, they couldn’t manage the politics and things fell apart. Fifty two years in the life of a man is a long time. Such a man will most probably be a grand-father, doing the second lap of his journey. However, 52 years in the life of a nation is very small.

The advanced democracies of this world are much older. Having said that, we must admit that mistakes have been made and we should courageously avoid such areas or mistakes for the future. We must take care to build a nation as we develop our country, otherwise the possibility of secession would remain.

Specifically, will you say that subsequent leaders of Edo State have followed your

We must admit that mistakes have been made and we should courageously avoid such areas or mistakes for the future; we must take care to build a nation as we develop our country, otherwise the possibility of secession would remain

Nigerians are trying in that regard. So there are lots of opportunities for employment generations that are yet to be tapped. All we need is to convince ourselves that we can do it, and develop the courage to match our conviction with

,

development blueprint?

I was governor of Mid West as a military officer and later Bendel State as an elected civilian governor; not of Edo State, although the present Edo State was an integral part of Mid West Continues on page 54

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 — 54

Mimiko 'll be returned against critics’ wishes — Olulana Dr. Rotimi Olulana, was the governorship candidate of Labour Party in Lagos State, in Aprill 2011 elections. In this encounter, the real estate business magnate told Vanguard how his party in Lagos was working hard to ensure that Ondo indigines living in Lagos were mobilised home to vote for Governor Olusegun Mimiko in the October 20 governorship election.

Excerpts:

Y

OUR party’s candidate in Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, is labouring hard to sustain his position for second term in the coming election. What are you doing as party stalwarts from outside the state to ensure his victory?

If you watched the media these days you would see that we in Lagos State have been trying our best to mobilise for him because we know that a lot of Ondo indigenes live in Lagos and they will all be going home to vote during the election. So you can see that we are really mobilising for him as our own contribution and we believe strongly that Mimiko is going to win that election.

How would you react to the allegation that Governor Mimiko runs Ondo State Government like his family business?

I don’t think it is wrong for a governor to run his government as his own family business because, any person or persons vested with the responsibility of governance in a given state is supposed to take that state as his own property and do it to the best of his ability and knowledge.

change in Lagos State come 2015, I can only tell you that we are already working from the background because it is our determination to take over from Barrister Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN). But ‘how’ is what we cannot discuss for now.

But there is a merger arrangement going on, in order for opposition parties to successfully wrestle power from PDP come 2015, what is your opinion about such merger side by side your resolve to win

,

BY BASHIR ADEFAKA

were stepping down and mobilising your supporters for Governor Fashola at the election. More than one year after, do you have any reason to regret your decision?

If you are talking of performance of Governor Fashola, I have no regret at all for stepping down to support him.

His policies especially the new Traffic Law have been misconstrued in sections of the state. What is your take on that?

I don’t think it is wrong for a governor

to run his government as his own family business because, any person or persons vested with the responsibility of governance in a given state is supposed to take that state as his own property and do it to the best of his ability more states as a party?

It is the responsibility of the national body to decide whether they want to merge with any party of interest or not. Then, we at the state level will comply.

It was popularly reported during the last days to the 2011 governorship election that you

,

Definitely, in every government policy there is bound to be pros and cons where you find some people finding it easy while others are not finding it easy.

I will not say anything to the contrary talking about those laws because I know that there is no policy of the government that is totally acceptable to the people.

*Olulana There are some people that the policy would assist to advance while such policy would bring some people down. It is now left for the government to look at the basic reason for that law and see which area it needs to amend because any policy that is not in the interest of majority of the people is not a good law.

What is your general view of the state-of-the-nation presently?

Well, I would say categorically that I begin to realise the present administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is trying to advance the economy of this country.

It is true that in the area of security, he hasn’t been able to achieve much. But when it comes to the people and the character of the people, if the government is doing something to advance

the course of economy, it must be in collaboration with the entire populace. By this I mean that the entire populace must contribute their own quotas toward the development of the economy of the country.

But in situation where the government and the governed, because that is what is happening now, are only concentrating on stealing state money, it is a sad situation. And this is a general phenomenon in Nigeria today, which is bad.

I pray that God will re-orientate the minds of the people and government needs to do a lot to re-engineer the minds of the people and let people understand that government cannot do all things alone.

Ability and knowledge So, if someone says he’s running government as if it is family business, yes; it is because he is committed. Commitment to duty can make some people feel that you are running the affair of your state as your own business. It shows responsibility.

It shows commitment. It shows complete temptation to duty. So that is the way I look at it.

There was once a time when AC (ACN) could only be proud of one state. Today, they can boast of six states. The Labour Party is another scenario of this example with Ondo State as the only pride of government they have at the moment. What are you doing as a party to ensure a spread beyond Ondo State?

I can only talk about Lagos State which is my own state. But I can also say that our party is working hard to ensure that we not only win Ondo State but also we want to extend the leadership of governance to other states of the federation including Lagos.

As to what we are doing to make ourselves relevant in the rumoured quest for ruling party C M Y K

The possibility of secession remains Continues from page 53

and Bendel State. The challenges of development were a little different at the time I was on the saddle. There was civil war. And I needed to protect our people.

Nigeria’s unity was threatened and Mid West sacrificed a lot to help the Federal Government to restore it. The State received the brunt of the war and we needed to rebuild it. We also needed to modernize it to meet world’s standard. In most of the areas we addressed, a futuristic view was taken into account. To construct a road for example, I would ask the Commissioner and the engineer, what do they think would be the volume of traffic this road would carry in 10 to 20 years time? And we set out to construct the road to meet the projection. That applied to all other areas.

Now, as regards blueprints, I do no think that successive governments were bound by what we did. They were free to accept, adopt, adapt or abandon anything, provided what they chose to do meet the challenges of the time and the aspirations of the people as they saw it.

On a comparative note, Mid West or Bendel State cannot be the same as Edo State today. While it could be said that development in my time commensurate

with the economic expectation of that era, the expectation of today, brought about by the issue of globalization of the economy has tended to stretch development beyond snapping point.

Thus most governments have not been able to muster enough strength or build up equal alacrity to rebound in the face of too many requests. But government should strive to do something constantly for the people in order to restore hopes even if these developments are not seen to be total.

Are you a fulfilled man? ot just fulfilled, also a grateful man, grateful to God, to Nigeria, to Bendel and to my people. That is why all the energy left in me is now put at the disposal of God, my Country and my people. I am not looking for job or contract but willing and ready to do anything that would contribute to the growth and happiness of our people.

Looking back now, what are those things you would have done differently?

Sometimes when I see how bad things are in Nigeria, I regret that most politicians have not learnt any lesson. I was too loyal to the military and to

N

government. There was little or nothing I could do since my main duty was to support civil authority. However, I look at the past with nostalgia when Nigerians used to pull one string with rapture and enthusiasm.

When the military finally decided to quit and restore civil government, I sought a political party that would adopt sports, transportation, agriculture, education and health care delivery as the central theme of its government but failed. Rather, the party would generalize everything and step out on all fronts. These seem to be falling apart today. However, I thank God for everything.

One of the hallmarks of your 80th birthday is the launching of the Osaigbovo Ogbemudia Foundation. What do you aim to achieve with this?

The main thrust of the Foundation is to support the prevention and control of diabetes, which I have found to be posing a major health challenge to Nigerians. It is even more malignant for older persons and I think I could help put smiles on their faces so they could have hopes of counting more years on earth particularly for those who are managing to eke out a living.

The other objectives of the Foundation are on some of the issues above, including Good Governance and Development, especially for the youths which will manifest with time.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 — 55

N5,000 note'll devastate nation’s economy —FIN

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

A

VISIT: Dr. Martins Oni, Director-General, Police Assistance Committee (PAC) (middle), addressing members of National Anti-Corruption Volunteer Corps (NAVC), Lagos chapter, during a courtesy call to PAC office in Lagos.

INDUCTION: From left: Rotn. Bukola Sekoni-Akinyemi, Rotn. Kola Okunola, Rotn. Obinna Ezeanozie, Rotn. Charles Akinpelu, Rotn. Tony Egboko, Rotn. Samson Omodara, newly inducted President of Rotary Club of Ogba; Rotn. Azuka Izunobi, immediate past President; Rotn. Emeka Nwajei, Rotn.

Adesina Adegbite, Rotn. Ifeoma Orhurhu, Rotn. Titus Nwagwu and Rotn.

Wale Okubule, during the induction of board members for 2012/2013 Rotary year, at the Rotary House, Ikeja GRA, Lagos.

BUJA—A PRES SURE group, the Foundation for Integration in Nigeria, FIN, weekend, rejected the plan by the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, to introduce N5,000 note, saying the move would cause devastating effect on the nation’s economy.

The group which stated this in a communiqué issued at the end of its National Executive Council, NEC, meeting in Abuja, insisted that the planned change of the N5, N10 and N20 notes to coins would cause inflation and raise the cost of goods and services beyond the reach of ordinary citizens.

In the communiqué signed by FIN’s National President, Comrade John Adie, and his deputy, Ishaku Garba, the group said: “The continued culture of corruption and the brazenness with which it is practised is killing the economy of the country. Corruption is an enemy of development.

Government

should be sincere in its fight against corruption.”

The communiqué also urged the Northern leaders to collaborate with Federal Government to stop the menace of the bombing being perpetrated by the Boko Haram. It said: “We urge political leaders to stop

FG flags off N10m Abuja pedestrian bridges project

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

T

HE Federal Gov ernment has flagged off the construction of six pedestrian bridges, estimated to cost N10million in various parts of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememem, at the event in Abuja, yesterday, said government was committed to safeguarding the lives of its citizenry.

The six bridges are at Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway by Tafawa

B

AUCHI—FOUR persons have been killed while five others were seriously injured in an auto crash on Bauchi –Kano Road, in Bauchi State.

Vanguard gathered that the four persons who died were burnt beyond recognition while those injured are receiving treatment at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital, Bauchi.

Confirming the incident, Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Mr. Henry Olatunji, told newsmen, yesterday, in Bauchi that the accident involved two vehicles, a Honda Accord and a Peugeot J-Five.

He said the accident was as a result of downpour and over speeding by the drivers. He said all nine occupants of the two vehicles were male adults, adding that his team had evacuated the C M Y K

injured and the dead to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital,

Bauchi.

He advised motorists to observe traffic regula-

tions and avoid over speeding, especially during the rainy season.

Tambuwal advocates social media that will facilitate the for govt affairs development of social

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE, just back from Clombo

C

OLOMBO— SPEAKER of the House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, has advocated the use of social media in day to day running of government affairs.

He said the platform offers unlimited opportunity to enhance good governance and transparency in all parts of the world.

Tambuwal, who made this disclosure when he delivered a paper titled: The role of social media in modern day politics, at the closing session of the 58th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, CPA, confab in Colombo, Sri Lanka, said develop-

ing countries must invest resources, time and energy to develop ICT infrastructure in their localities.

He said: “I wish to recommend that African and other developing countries should support the programmes and policies

media infrastructure in their countries.”

Tambuwal noted that based on careful examination of the context of social media and politics, it is incontrovertible fact that the role which the media plays in modern politics, particularly in Africa, is decisive.

Delta monarch harps on peace

O

DIOLOSBO of Irri Kingdom, HRM Oviesa Eba Ojenuwe II, Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta State, has enjoined the people of the kingdom to work relentlessly towards building on the prevailing peace and unity in the kingdom and the state at large.

The monarch, who spoke during his third coronation anniversary,

noted that peace was a fundamental prerequisite to accelerated development.

The traditional ruler who conferred traditional chieftaincy titles on Rear Admiral John Kpokpogri (rtd), a one time governorship aspirant in the state, Chief Edwin Ozah and his wife, Chief Rita Ozah among others, advised the people to shun acts that were capable of breeding rancour and acrimony.

Balewa Way (Old Secretariat junction); Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway by Olusegun Obasanjo Way (Wuye junction) and Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway by Ahmadu Bello Way (Banex Junction).

The others are at Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway by Shehu Shagari Way (by NICON Junction); Shehu Yar ’Adua Way by Okonjo-Iweala Way (VIO Mabushi Junction) and Shehu Yar’Adua Way by Ladi Kwali Way (Sheraton Hotel).

NIOB decries recurrence of building collapse

BY FESTUS AHON

Auto crash: Four killed on Bauchi-Kano U ...five others injured road

BY SUZAN EDEH

making divisive and undemocratic utterances to allow President Goodluck Jonathan to perform.

“We urge President Jonathan to deliver on his campaign promises to Nigerians or forget 2015 as Nigerians will decide his fate through the ballot."

G H E L L I — CHAIRMAN of Delta State chapter of Nigeria Institute of Builders, NIOB, Mr. Moses Juwah, has decried the recurring cases of building collapse in parts of the country.

Juwah, at a visit of the institute to the Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, stressed the need for the federal and state governments to take prompt action to checkmate the lapses by moving for the

amendment of the existing urban and regional planning law.

He also canvassed the need for the constitution of the State Building Code Advisory and Code Enforcement committees in line with the approved National Building Code, adding that incessant cases of building collapse had been of great concern to NIOB. Juwah noted that the role of the institute was to establish a high standard of professional practice and conduct for members.

Customs impounds two container loads of expired drugs

BY IFEYINWA OBI

P

ORT and Terminal MultiServices Limited, PTML, Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has impounded two 40-foot container loads of expired drugs and arrested a suspect in connection with the seizure.

The containers with registration number GCNU 4680871 and GCNU 4623001, were said to have been imported from United States of America, USA. Briefing journalists yes-

terday, Customs Area Controller of the command, Mr. Zakari Jibrin, said the seized drugs were concealed among hospital equipment and were discovered by his officers while conducting physical examination of the content of the containers.

He said: “These expired drugs are dangerous to the health of Nigerians. This is what they are doing and they are killing us. Some Nigerians would have bought these things, consumed them, and at the end, they would have died."

56 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20,

C M Y K

2012

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 — 57

Appetite or Hunger?

T HE two main drives that influence our desire to eat and thus take in food are hunger and appetite. Hunger, our primary physiological or internal drive is controlled by internal body mechanisms.

Organs such as the liver and brain interact with hormones, nervous system and other parts of the body to influence feeding behavior. Appetite on the other hand, is our primary psychological drive to eat and is affected by external food choice mechanisms such as seeing a tempting bowl of egusi soup.

When you fulfill either or both drives by eating sufficient food, it brings about a state of satiety, temporarily halting our desire to continue eating, all thanks to the hypothalamus, our satiety regulator.

When stimulated, either by hunger or appetite, cells in the feeding center of the hypothalamus signals us to eat. As we eat, hunger decreases. When we are full, the satiety center of the hypothalamus are stimulated and we stop eating.

Chemicals, surgery and some cancers can destroy the feeding and satiety centers.

Without the feeding center activity, we tend to eat little and eventually lose weight and without the satiety center activity, we

eatrightconsult@yahoo.com 08091276796

eat our way to obesity!

Feeding behavior also changes in response to body fat content. Surgical removal of body fat like liposuction and tummy tuck can increase food consumption. Social customs, peers and authority figures can influence the desire to eat. Concern about appearance when on a date can influence the food choices made. We are also likely to eat more when we are with a large group of people than when with a few people or alone. Also when someone else is ‘picking up the cheque’, we tend to overeat. The easy

with Funke Oshifuye availability of fast food has made weight control even harder. But does appetite really regulate what we eat? Almost everyone including me has encountered a mouth watering dessert and devoured it even on a full stomach. We often eat

because we see food. It smells good, looks good and tastes good. We might eat because it’s the right time of the day eg breakfast or lunch or we are celebrating.

Stress or depression can often send you to the refridgerator.

The next time you pick up a candy bar, a bowl of ice cream or ask for a second helping, ask yourself, Why am I eating?

Where food is ample, appetite-not hunger mostly triggers eating. Try to keep track of what triggers your eating for a few days.

Appetite or Hunger? Keep in mind that your body is not a dumping ground. You can eat your way to obesity overtime if you are not careful to balance your energy intake with your energy expenditure.

Foundation seeks subsidised cancer treatment for children

O

VER 6,000 children aged below 12 are diagnosed with cancer in Nigeria annually, and the Children Living with Cancer Foundation, CLWCF, an NGO, is calling for free hospital admission and subsidised treatment for such children.

Founder/President, CLWCF, Dr. Nneka Nwobbi, regretted that most Nigerian children living with cancer die due the huge cost of treatment as well as the lack of support systems s uch as inadequate diagnostic and treatment equipment, poor

patient-doctor ratio, among others.

Only 25 per cent of those diagnosed obtain the required follow-up treatment and of the 40 per cent that get any form of treatment, "approximately only less than 10 per cent goes into remission."

Currently, there are no specialised nurses in most oncology departments of health facilities the country.

She said childhood cancer was still largely unknown in Nigeria. The Foundation is marking the 2012 Childhood Cancer Month with the

theme, "Walkathon", with a threekilometre run/walk coming up Saturday, September 22, as part of the awareness creation on the burden of the disease in Nigeria. September is Childhood Cancer Month. Goal is to raise funds for purchase of a Cold Centrifuge with capacity to separate 12 bags of blood at a time. Participants are to pay a registration fee of N5, 000 for the walk which commences from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, to the National Stadium, Surulere and back to LUTH.

Rural surgical practitioners to hold conference in Lagos

T

HE Association of Rural Surgical Practitioners of Nigeria, ARSPON, will next month offer free surgical services to over 100 patients in Ikotun area of Lagos as part of its activities to mark 5th Annual Scientific Conference tagged: ‘EKO AKETE 2012.’

The theme of the conference billed to hold 14 through 16 November 2012 is “Documentation: The Soul and the Heart of Rural Surgery and Research’, while the

sub-themes are: ‘Survey of Surgical Capacity in Rural Nigeria – Opportunities for Change’ and ‘Scientific Publications from Rural Surgical Practice in Nigeria.’

According to the Chairman, Conference Organising Committee, Dr L. A. Durojaye, the conference which would be preceded by a pre-conference workshop at Maciland Medical Centre between the 12th and 13th of November

2012 will offer free surgical services to over 100 patients with surgical cases within Ikotun and its environs.

Durojaye who implored all doctors and other interested individuals and corporate organisations to visit the event website said the conference would creates unique learning platforms on practical surgical skills/cases, exchange programmes among practitioners and other surgical experts.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

G

OOD day sir. Please is it advisable for one to have sex during her menstruation period? Also, what types of solutions are available for dealing with menstrual pain? Thank you – Amanda Dear Amanda, the medical opinion of doctors is that a couple can have sex during their period if they are comfortable with the idea. Doctors also site that sex during menstruation may help provide pain relief for menstrual cramps and also help shorten a woman’s period.

Now that is the medical opinion of doctors. My personal opinion is that a woman’s period is that time of the month where she should get some rest and be taken care of by her partner. Women should not be pressured into having sex at such times. A woman’s body should be respected during this period by her man through patience, understanding and assistance.

A lot of women experience pain during their periods and their partners can help them by giving them massages especially on the lower back. Yes I know that men can be under pressure sometimes but they can and should be patient. It is just for a few days.

Towards the ending of the period, women can give their men oral sex or a hand job if they want to. Otherwise, the men should remain patient.

As for dealing with menstrual pain, doctors recommend lots of sleep, eating foods that are low in fat and high in fibre and also taking the drug Ibuprofen. You can get that in pharmacy stores everywhere – Uche Dear sir, I notice a lot of men listen to your advice. Can you please tell them that women really like oral sex? A lot of men that I know are terrible in bed and just keep doing all the wrong things – Ije Dear Ije, like I have said in the past, a lot of men like the idea of oral sex too but are unable to give it due to vaginal odour. No matter how beautiful a woman is, she can never expect to get oral sex without having a bath. In addition, she must use the Anal Duche regularly to clean both the vaginal and anal passages. The proximity between the vaginal and anal cervices can be logistically problematic for men. So it is all about hygiene - Uche C M Y K

Hello. I am Mustapha. I am married with two kids and was opportune to read your column.

Please I am suffering from weak erection and low sperm count. I cannot last more than one round and I have premature ejaculation too. I am also a bit hypertensive. Thank you – Mustapha Dear Mustapha, the supplement that will be best for your weak erection, considering that you are hypertensive, is Sex Volts. Sex Volts will also help you have intercourse for several rounds.

To help with your low sperm count, you need another supplement called Repro Aid. It does wonders for fertility. Finally, to stop your premature ejaculation, apply Rock hard Delay Cream minutes before intercourse. It will delay your ejaculation and enable you last longer – Uche My wife and I are trying to spice up our relationship but we don’t know what to do. Sometimes we are in bed just looking at each other and all I can think of is jumping right into sex– Clement Dear Clement, you can play games together. Romantic adult games like Love Rewards Game or Afternoon Delight Game can give you lots of ideas on what to do – Uche How can a woman who has had children be tighter down there? Grace Dear Grace, a combination of a vagina tightening cream and orgasm balls will help tighten and rejuvenate the pelvic muscles. Use Tight Stuff Oriental Oil and Nen Wa Balls for this – Uche That’s it for today. The names of the people featured here have been changed for their privacy.

Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call 08027901621 or 08051924159 or any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com. Zee Virtual Media delivers to you wherever you are in Nigeria. For enquiries, send your emails to custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com - Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media..

58 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 — 59

Abia Warriors hook former Heartland Glo presents N350m sponsorship we rightly belong given cheque to NFF coach the way the club is run

U

MUAHIA-BASED Abia Warriors have started preparations for the 2013 national league season with the hiring of a new coach, Chijioke Osuagwu who two seasons back was the Chief coach of reigning Nigerian champions , Heartland FC of Owerri.

Chairman of Abia Warriors, Chief Emeka Inyama said Osuagwu signed a one year deal with a mandate to assist the club’s technical adviser, Ifeanyi Onyedika take the club to the elite class of the nation’s domestic league.

Inyama stated that he was particularly impressed with the CV of the young tactician who started his coaching career with the

•Chief Inyama disbanded Busdor FC of Port Harcourt.

“We are impressed with the rich CV of Osuagwu who before now has been with Busdor and Heartland.

We signed him as Chief Coach to assist our technical adviser, ifeanyi ontedika. We have given the duo the mandate to take the club to the elite division which is where

Eagles

Continues from BP

yond assembling players and scaling through some matches.

Segun Odegbami and Adokiye were among the numerous Nigerians who frowned at the result of the 2013 Nations Cup match in Monrovia. They said the result was not acceptable and that in their time Nigeria easily overran the likes of Liberia.

Okpala, one of the assistants of Stephen Keshi, admitted that Eagles did not live up to expectation in that match and accepted the criticisms in good faith.

But he added that there were no longer minnows in football and recalled that even in the time of Adokiye and Odegbami Liberia also drew with Nigeria in matches the Eagles admitted that Liberia were better. And these happened at a time Nigeria was a giant to Liberia in football.

“With the likes of Christian Chukwu, Adokiye, Odegbami, Tunde Bamidele, Emma Okala, late Muda Lawal the Green Eagles were, arguably, the best in the continent but Liberia drew with them two times, once in 1979 and in 1981, although Chukwu and Okala had retired at the time we played the second friendly match in 1981,” Okpala said, adding that Liberia had always C M Y K

presented a strong opposition to Nigeria although Eagles beat them 2-0 in a friendly last February.

Adokiye further reacted saying that “friendly match is a VIRTUAL COMPETITION where the main objective may not be to win.”

But his reaction made it clear that he was not referring only to the current Eagles team but all the senior national teams since after the Clemence Westerhof era.

Said he: “Inconsistency has become a consistent feature of our senior team.

The fact is that in the last 13 years or so, after Westerhof ’s 1989-1994 set (the last set of carefully picked and groomed players), we have consistently found it seriously challenging to beat even the smallest teams in Africa. Others may be growing but we have stagnated and are even retrogressing.

We no longer produce players. This is the issue.”

Okpala would also not dispute this and said that it was for this reason, that a rebuilding process was on to produce a strong team for Nigeria. He added that this would take time and that Nigerians needed to be more patient, considering the poor state of the game at the time they took over.

and the level of funding we are getting from Gov Theodore Orji,” Inyama stated.

Osuagwu in a chat with sports journalists after the interview that saw him get the Abia Warriors job said he would put in his very best to realize the dream of the club’s management and fans.

Osuagwu said he was taken aback by the kind of facilities the club boasts of at its Umuahia club house declaring that the club has what it takes to play in the premier league.

G

LOBACOM on Tuesday in Abuja presented a cheque of three hundred and fifty million naira (N350m) to the Nigerian Football Federation as the five-year sponsorship deal it signed with the Federation last year entered the second season.

Presenting the cheque to the President of NFF, Alhaji Aminu Maigari at the Glass House, Abuja, Director of Mike Adenuga Group, Mr. Niyi Adewunmi said that “Globacom believes that its sponsorship of the NFF and the national teams will make

Mikel

Continues from BP Chelsea stars John Mikel Obi and Victor Moses,” a top official revealed.

Several top officials who accompanied the Eagles to Monrovia earlier this month clamoured for the recall of Mikel after the team’s midfield collapsed against a rampant home team.

Mikel has yet to play under Keshi, who took charge of the Eagles in November.

However, West Bromwich Albion striker Osaze Odemwingie will have to wait a little longer before he returns

to the Eagles fold, another top official said.

“For Osaze, he would just be returning from his three-match ban and the coach feels he has not seen enough of him so I don’t think he would be making the Liberia game,” the official revealed.

It was also gathered that the Eagles coach is expected to name his squad for the AFCON return leg next week with the camp opening for home-based players in the first week of next month.

The match will be played on October 13 in Calabar.

Golden Eaglets Continues from BP Federation (NFF) confirmed late Tuesday night that the game would go ahead on Saturday so that the Nigerien contingent would be able to meet up with their travelling arrangement after the game.

All arrangements were geared towards hosting the game on Sunday in order to encourage huge turnout of spectators at the U.J Esuene Sports Stadium but the change to Saturday became necessary after consultations between the NFF and the Fédération Nigerienne de Football.

In a related development, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has picked Algerian match officials for the Sunday ’s second leg game.

The centre referee is

Sofiane Bousetter while Bouabdallah Omari and Mohammed Bechirene would serve as Assistant Referee 1 and 2 respectively. The fourth official is Mehdi Charef while Ivorian Sinko Zeli who was the centre referee when Nigeria beat Namibia 4-0 in a Nations Cup qualifier in 2000 at home would serve as Match Commissioner.

Meanwhile, match tickets for the Golden Eaglets-Junior Menas match has been fixed for N200 for popular side.

The covered seat would go for N500 while the State Box is as low as N1000.

The cheap price tickets, according to officials, are to encourage a huge turnout of spectators to watch the Nigerian youngsters in their first qualifier on home soil in Calabar.

Nigerian football to soar.”

He reassured the Federation and all Nigerians that “Globacom believes that

this is a partnership that works and must continue to deliver value to the delight of all Nigerians.”

Sunshine Continues from BP disclosed that Enugu Rangers and Enyimba could tell the story better since losing in the semifinals to Ahly paved way for the victors to emerge as champions.It also left the Nigerians with sad tales.

He said,”In 1982,Ahly retired the great Emma Okalla from soccer. It was in the second leg of the semis.The Flying Antelopes had won the first leg 1-0 at home.Until the Cairo match, Rangers did not lose at away, having drawn1-1 in Angola with Primeiro de Agosto[Okalla bagged a red card],and beaten AS Kaloum,Guinea and Algeria’s RS Kouba respectively. However, the Egyptians bombed them 40 and went ahead to beat

Asante Kotoko in the finals.”

Enyimba according to the ex-governor, got their dose in 2008. The first leg in Aba ended goalless.

Ahly won the second leg semis 1-0. Again they lifted the trophy after the finals.

“Enyimba bore a grudge before the 2008 clash. Ahly had dethroned them as two-time champions in 2005. It was bad because the Egyptians became the first to beat the Elephants home and away in an international duel. In Aba, Emad Mohammed gave the visitors a 1-0 advantage, in the return leg, Atanda Shakibu gave Enyimba the lead only for the homers to rally round to a 2-1 win,”Kalu added.

Flying Eagles Continues from BP Flying Eagles during an invitational tournament earlier in the year in Cape Town, are poised to ruin Nigeria’s chances of defending the trophy they won in South Africa in 2011.

Obuh said that the South Africans are not a push over, but his boys are in good shape to do a good job of the first leg.

“We’ve done our homework well, there is no injury worry, at least, for now. We pray for luck,

supports and prayers of Nigerians.

“The game won’t be easy but we’re determined not to falter again to the South Africans,” said Obuh.

He added he is hopeful that the South African will not terminate his ambition of winning the trophy for the second time in a row.

“Sure, the players are fit, fitness was paramount in our preparations for the match. Of course, we understand that without fitness, you can’t play well nor achieve your aim."

Mancini Continues from BP Group D but insisted City would not falter again in the group stages this season.

He added: “I think other teams will lose here but now we have five games to qualify.

“So it’s important we beat Dortmund in our next game at home.

“We know it will be difficult as they are a top team but we want to go through and we should go through.”

City led twice through Edin Dzeko and Aleksandar Kolarov but Marcelo, Karim Benzema and Ronaldo gave Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid a stunning

“We’re not meeting victory. them for the first A distraught Harttime, said: I’ve played “They are athem veryabout good team but so are we. You can’t go 2-1 up and lose.

“It’s a great stadium and they have an amazing manager and players. But we dug deep and went ahead twice.

“Then we lost it so it’s hard to come off the field and be positive after conceding three.”

Mourinho, who slid along on his knees after Ronaldo’s winner, said: “It doesn’t matter about my celebration, what mattered was the match and the way people who love football around the world enjoyed it.”

60—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012—61

C M Y K

62—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20,

C M Y K

2012

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 — 63

C M Y K

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

R

Golden Eaglets tackle Junior Menas on Saturday

T

HE eagerly awaited first round, second leg 2013 African

qualifier between Nigeria and Niger will hold on Saturday as

scheduled.

The Nigeria Football Continues on Page 59

Eagles lack stars — Adokiye •Traces plunge to post Westerhof era

BY ONOCHIE ANIBEZE

A

FTER reading the response of Sylvanus Okpala to critics who have descended heavily on the Eagles after the September 8 match that ended 2-2 in Liberia, Chief Adokiye Amiesimaka made further observations. They appear indisputable.

“We are no longer producing great players,” he said, noting that the challenge had gone be Continues on Page 59

C

OACH Stephen Keshi has included Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi for next month’s AFCON clash, it has been gathered.

Mikel opted out of the first leg in Monrovia, which finished 2-2, when it was first learnt that the game would be played on an artificial

Ghana Mexico Brazil Uruguay

TODAY'S

Saturday, September 22 v Gambia 9am v USA 11am v Canada 1pm v Colombia 4pm Sunday, September 23 v Germany 11am v New Zealand 11am v Japan 2pm v China 2pm

PUZZLE

turf.

According to top officials of the glass house.Coach Stephen Keshi handed his programme to the NFF technical department Tuesday.

“The coach has plans to name a killer squad that would include Continues on Page 59

Amajitas give Flying Eagles coach jitters F

FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup North Korea France Nigeria Azerbaijan

Mikel returns for Liberia

LYING Eagles coach, John Obuh admitted that facing South Africa’s under-21 team the Amajitas in the first leg of the African Youth Championships

•Mikel YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 2 Squander (5) 7 Prima-donna (4) 8 Haven (6) 9 Play (5) 11 Couch (3) 13 Through (3) 15 Paradise (4) 16 Tune (3) 18 Plant (4) 19 Memory-loss (7) 20 Expectant (4) 22 Wear (4) 23 Determined (7) 25 Fat (4) 27 Pull (3) 28 Expensive (4) 30 Finish (3) 31 Parched (3) 33 Inapt (5) 36 Wreckage (6) 37 Sea-eagle (4) 38 Consumed (5)

qualifiers will be an uphill task.

The South Africans drawing confidence from the 1-0 defeat they handed the Obuh led Continues on Page 59

O B E R T O MANCINI angrily slapped down Joe Hart last night after Cristiano Ronaldo broke City ’s hearts at the Bernabeu.

The Manchester City keeper was furious after his side threw away a 21 lead with just three minutes left.

Hart moaned: “It’s not on. You can’t go 2-1 up with five minutes to go and lose the game. Who else can we blame? We can only blame ourselves.”

But Mancini snapped: “Joe Hart should stay in goal and make saves. If anyone should criticise the team it should be me, not Joe Hart. I am the judge, not Joe Hart.”

Mancini admitted the pressure is now on in

Continues on Page 59

Why Sunsine must beat Ahly — Kalu

B

EAT Al-Ahly,become A f r i c a n champions.A loss will not only create a sad record,it means no Nigerian side ever stopped the Egyptian giants in the CAF Champions’ League semis, that is authoritative from former Abia state governor Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu.

Kalu who spoke yesterday

Continues on Page 59

DOWN 1 Discharged (5) 2 Lump (3) 3 Spring (3) 4 Epoch (3) 5 Away (3) 6 Tally (5) 10 Principal (4) 11 For (7) 12 Deciphered (7) 13 Commended (7) 14 Merry making (7) 16 Scope (5) 17 Renovate (5) 18 Bird (3) 21 Obtain (3) 24 Depressed (4) 26 Below (5) 29 Stadium (5) 32 Snoop (3) 33 Employ (3) 34 Healthy (3) 35 Number (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Tract 5, Slacks 8, Haste 10, Intone 11, Loop 14, Linear 15, Succumb 18, Lie 19, Err 21, Skit 23, Sneer 24, Moses 27, Tab 29, Lad 31, Dormant 32, Shiver 34, plane 35, Neuter 38, Laden 39, Earthy 40, Legal.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 2, Run 3, Choice 4, Tan 5, Sell 6, Adonis 7, Spirit 9, Segment 12, Oil 13, Peek 16, Undo 17, Bread 20, Rebound 22, Iron 24, Muscle 25, Slim 26, Savant 28, Immune 30, Den 33, Rely 36, Eel 37, Era.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-8944295. Advert Dept: 01-7924470; Hotline: 01-8737028; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

C M Y K